This is the 6th section of an in-depth course on the Srimad Bhagavatam we are conducting.
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In this part:
Vyasadeva's vision
- Śaunaka Ṛṣi is asking how the Srimad Bhagavatam was compiled. Suta Goswami answers by describing the meditation of Vyasadeva before starting his work.
- "Thus he fixed his mind, perfectly engaging it by linking it in devotional service [bhakti-yoga] without any tinge of materialism, and thus he saw the Absolute Personality of Godhead along with His external energy, which was under full control." (SB 1.7.4)
- Maya is not an independent force, but simply one of the energies of the Lord, who is completely under His control.
- The Lord can't be covered by Maya, just as the souls engaged in His service. Only the souls who reject their eternal nature and become averse to the service of the Lord become thus covered by Maya.
Vyasadeva didn't just see the causes of the misery of the living entities, but also the solution for such miseries: the linking process of devotional service.
- Devotional service is the real goal of all Vedic literature. However, in most of the Vedas, this point is not so clear. Vyasadeva meditated on writing a book that would directly convey this message and nothing more.
Atmaramas are also attracted to Srimad Bhagavatam
- Sukadeva Goswami was already an ātmārāma. He was not attracted to anything of this world. How is that, that he accepted staying with Vyasadeva in his house to study such a vast literature as the Srimad Bhagavatam?
- "All different varieties of ātmārāmas [those who take pleasure in the ātmā, or spirit self], especially those established on the path of self-realization, though freed from all kinds of material bondage, desire to render unalloyed devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead. This means that the Lord possesses transcendental qualities and therefore can attract everyone, including liberated souls." (1.7.10)
- The fact that Suta Goswami became attracted to the Srimad Bhagavatam proves that not only the Srimad Bhagavatam is transcendental, but devotional service to the Lord is higher than mere liberation and is capable of attracting even liberated souls.
- Even after one becomes free from all material contamination, there is still something higher, which is love for Krsna.
Aśvatthāmā punished
- Aśvatthāmā wanted to revenge the death of his father Dronacarya during the battle of Kuruksetra.
- Understanding he would not be able to fight with the five Pandavas, he decided to avenge his father by killing their five sons during their sleep.
- He wanted to please Duryodana, but instead, he became mortified with the death of the last male descendants of the dynasty.
- Even more distressed was Draupadi, who lost all her five children in such a terrible way. Arjuna tried to console her by promising to bring her the head of Aśvatthāmā.
- Arjuna chased Aśvatthāmā in his chariot and quickly started catching up with Him. To avoid being killed, he threw a brahmastra, without knowing how to withdraw the weapon.
- Angry, Arjuna tied Aśvatthāmā like an animal, threw him on the back of his chariot, and brought him back to the camp.
Parīkṣit saved
- The battle of Kuruksetra was organized by the Lord to fulfill many different purposes, such as punishing the Kauravas, installing Yudhisthira on the throne, eliminating the burden of impious Ksatriyas over the planet, sending the pous warriors back to Godhead, and so on. The Lord brought them all of them together and organized a battle where they could kill each other and simultaneously attain liberation.
- With the battle finished and the Pandavas well-established in their rightful position, the Lord was preparing to return to Dvaraka when Uttara, the daughter-in-law of Arjuna appeared screaming for help. Aśvatthāmā had thrown two other brahmastras, one aimed at the five Pandavas, and another at Pariksit inside the womb.
Prayers of Queen Kunti
- After observing the wonderful way Krsna protected the Pandavas from the brahmastras, and pained by the idea that Krsna was leaving for Dwarka, Kuntidevi offered a set of beautiful prayers to the Lord.
6 сен 2024
