Inquiries Into the Absolute: Digest 121, Uniqueness and

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Digest 121, April 14th, 2005. Answers by His Holiness Romapada Swami Maharaja

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Uniqueness and accessibility of Srimad Bhagavatam

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While reading Srimad Bhagavatam (Canto 1, Ch 4 http://vedabase.net/sb/1/4/en) I

read that Srila Vyasdeva was not satisfied at heart although he finished

compiling the 4 vedas, Mahabharat, 108 Upanishads, puranas & Vedanta Sutras.

The reason is also given: "He did not glorify the Supreme Personality of

Godhead & pure devotional service."

 

My questions:

 

1. Does this mean that without Shrimad Bhagavatam, the Vedas are not perfect &

complete?

 

Answer: Srimad Bhagavatam is an integral part of the Vedas; it is described as

the cream of Vedic knowledge or as the ripened fruit of the Vedic tree. The

most valuable part of a tree is its fruit, and so also the Bhagavatam

represents the essence of the Vedas. So, yes, Vyasadev's presentation of the

Vedas remained incomplete until he elaborately presented the Srimad Bhagavatam;

hence he was feeling despondent and unfulfilled.

 

 

2. How did people in the previous ages attain pure devotional service if S.B.

was not available?

 

Answer: The Vedas are all eternal - including the Upanishads, Puranas and

Itihasas. What Srila Vyasadeva did at the end of Dvapara yuga was to compile

and present them in a systematic written form for the benefit of the

less-qualified population of the Kali age.

 

Within the Bhagavatam itself we find conversations and narrations spanning many

previous ages. The narrations of Prahlad preaching pure devotional service to

his classmates and demoniac father, or Lord Kapila instructing His mother

Devahuti, for instance, took place in Satya yuga. Also, as stated in BG 4.7

(http://vedabase.net/bg/4/7/en), the Lord Himself descends in every age to

establish the yuga-dharma, just as He did in the form of Nara-Narayana Rishi or

Lord Caitanya and He also sends His empowered incarnations and representatives

such as Vyasadev. Thus, by the arrangement of the Lord, the path of pure

devotion is made available to people in all ages, according to time, place and

circumstance.

 

 

Is it possible to cross all stages of anartha nivrtti?

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Q: Is it possible in Krishna Consciousness to cross all the stages of anartha

nivritti in one life time and become a pure devotee? Can our efforts, along

with Krishna's mercy, help us achieve pure transcendental love of Krishna in

this life time itself?

 

Answer: Yes, most definitely, Srila Prabhupada assured us, that it is possible

to achieve pure loving devotion to Krishna in this very life time. The deciding

factors are, as you have mentioned in your question, the intensity of our

efforts taken up under proper guidance and in a mood of submission to Guru and

Krishna, combined with the mercy of Krishna.

 

Pure devotional service, like the intense rays of the sun, when performed with

singular focus and attention in the matter of hearing, chanting, worshiping and

serving devotees, can very quickly uproot all anarthas (unwanted things in the

heart) and bring us to the stage of pure devotion. (Cf SB 1.2.14,18-21)

http://vedabase.net/sb/1/2/14/en

http://vedabase.net/sb/1/2/18/en

http://vedabase.net/sb/1/2/19/en

http://vedabase.net/sb/1/2/20/en

http://vedabase.net/sb/1/2/21/en

 

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