Srimad-Bhagavatam at a Glance

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About the Book:

nigama-Kalpa-taror galitam phalam
Suka-mukhad amrta-drava-samyutam
pibata bhagavatam rasam alayam
muhur aho rasika bhuvi bhavukah

O expert and thoughtful men, relish Srimad-Bhagavatam, the nature fruit of the desire tree of Vedic literatures. It emanated from the lips of Sri Sukadeva Gosvami. Therefore this fruit has become even more tasteful, although its nectarean juice was already relishable for all, including liberated souls.

Nasta-prayesv abhadresu
nityam bhagavata-sevaya
bhagavaty uttama-sloke
bhaktir bhavati naisthiki

By regular attendance in classes on the Bhagavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact. SB 1.2.18

Introduction:

OVERVIEW OF THE SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM

Lord Krsna came here to reestablish religion and to reveal His loving pastimes in the spiritual world. When He left, it was as if the sun had set. The world was plunged into the darkness of ignorance and irreligion. In Krsna's absence, the Srimad-Bhagavatam, His sound incarnation, made its appearance to illuminate the hearts of those desiring to cross the difficult ocean of this age of Kali.

The cantos of the Srimad-Bhagavatam are compared to different parts of Lord Krsna's body. The First and Second Cantos are likened to His lotus feet; the Third and Fourth Cantos are compared to His legs; the Fifth, to His navel; the Sixth, to His chest; the Seventh and Eighth, to His arms; the Ninth, to His neck; the Tenth, to His smiling face; the Eleventh, to His forehead; and the Twelfth, to His head. (Please refer to the foldout at the back of the book for an illustration of these ideas. For explanations of the foldout, see the individual canto summaries.)

The first nine cantos provide the philosophical understanding we need to approach Krsna's smiling face. Worship of Krsna begins with His lotus feet, the First and Second Cantos. Devotees offer tulasi leaves to Krsna's lotus feet and pray for the ability to advance in devotional life.

Srila Prabhupada says in his Preface to the Srimad-Bhagavatam that it begins with a definition of the ultimate source of everything and gradually develops in nine cantos up to the highest state of God realization. The only qualification we need to study this great book is to proceed chapter by chapter. The reading matter is so arranged that we are sure to become God-realized after finishing the first nine cantos. He writes: "The Tenth Canto is distinct from the first nine cantos because it deals directly with the transcendental activities of the personality of Godhead Sri Krsna. One will be unable to capture the effects of the Tenth Canto without going through the first nine cantos. The book is complete in twelve cantos, each independent, but it is good for all to read them in small installments one after another."