Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Bhakti Vaibhava
Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 1, Chapter 1 1
BREAK DOWN OF CHAPTER 1
Section I
Verses 1-3
Section II
Verses 4-8
Section III
Verses 9-23
Bhakti Vaibhava
Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 1, Chapter 1 2
Chapter -1
Questions by the Sages
A humble offering to the assembled devotees
All Glories to Çréla Prabhupäda
Introduction
Çrémad-Bhägavatam hits on the target of Absolute Truth – This differentiates from
the common understanding of conception of God
• Conception of God indicates controller
• Conception of Absolute Truth indicates summum Bonum, or ultimate source of all
energies
Bhakti Vaibhava
Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 1, Chapter 1 3
1A Çréla Vyäsadeva begins by offering obeisances and defining the Absolute Truth
(“oà namo bhagavate väsudeväya”) – This is explained in para 1 of purport
• What does this indicate– This directly indicates Lord Kåñëa, son of Vasudeva and
Devaké, as the primeval Lord
• References for Kåñëa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead - Säma-veda
Upaniñad, Bhagavad-gétä, Padma Puräëa, Brahma-saàhitä and Kåñëa-
sandarbha
• Importance of name ‘Väsudeva’ – “Väsudeva indicates …. Devaké”.[purport]
o Väsudeva indicates the plenary portion of the Personality of Godhead, and all
the different forms of the Lord, being identical with Väsudeva, are indicated in
this text
o The name Väsudeva particularly indicates the divine son of Vasudeva and
Devaké. Çré Kåñëa is always meditated upon by the paramahaàsas, who are the
perfected ones among those in the renounced order of life
Link 1A to 1B: Çrémad-Bhägavatam begins with the definition of the ultimate source,
based on Vedänta-sütra 1.1.1 (janmädy asya yataù). It is a bona fide commentary on the
Vedänta-sütra by the same author, Çréla Vyäsadeva.
Bhakti Vaibhava
Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 1, Chapter 1 4
o Çrémad-Bhägavatam answers natural inquiries of a philosophical mind, about
the origin of creation
o Çrémad-Bhägavatam establishes Supreme will behind all activities
o Refutes atheistic conception of ‘No creator’
Analogy of ‘space satellites to establish the presence of superior
intelligence’
• Author worships the supreme intelligence behind all the creation as ‘Para’
or parameçvara (para 4)
o Author of Çrémad-Bhägavatam at once accepts supermost intelligence and
worships Para-tattva, chief of all living personalities, Çré Kåñëa – Other
references to support this are –
Vedic literature – Absolute Truth is the chief of all and possesses super
most inconceivable energies
Bhagavad-gétä – There is no other ‘Para-tattva’ than Himself (Ref Bg. 7.7
mattaù parataraà…….)
• Çrémad-Bhägavatam establishes the ideal of a common cause – Thus
“janmädy asya yato” establishes Supreme Lord as the primeval cause of all
causes of creation, sustenance and destruction of universes
Link 1B to 1C: Lord, being the primeval cause, is both the material cause and efficient
cause. Prakåti which appears to be the material cause, is an energy of the Lord and is
thus non-different from the Lord. Thus Lord is the material cause through Prakåti
• Lord takes the form of time (which is efficient or indirect cause) to influence
Prakåti (which is material or direct cause)
• Thus lord is both, the direct (material) and the indirect (efficient) cause
Bhakti Vaibhava
Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 1, Chapter 1 5
o Thus refutes the illusion of materialists that “he is the only creator” “The
materialist wrongly ……………….. intelligence” (Para 8)
Link 1C to 1D Question: One may object that since the mahat-tattva and other elements
had not arisen, the Lord could not have a body which could perform actions, and thus
could not have done all the creation
Answer: Therefore this verse says that the Lord is independent (svaräö)
• Lord is conscious of every minute details but at the same time aloof and
independent
o Analogy : Chief engineer of a complicated construction knows every nook
and corner of his construction but still he does not personally take part (para
7)
• He is simultaneously one and different (Para 7)
o Analogy : Gold mine and gold objects
1E No other living entity equals to the Supreme Lord - This is the importance of
two words “abhijïaù and svaräö” (Para 9)
• Only Lord is fully cognizant (as told in 1C) and fully independent (as told in 1D)
o Neither Brahmä, nor brains like Einstein, nor Mäyävädis nor atheists like
Rävaëa, etc can claim to be so(Para 9)
• Lord is called asamaurdhva (no one is equal to or greater than Him) (Para 10)
o Creates just by glance
o Creates machines in duplicate male and female forms – power to reproduce
o Thus refutes that “God is no more expert than a watchmaker”
o Supreme Lord is ‘All perfect (confirmed by ‘çruti-mantra’)
Lesson: Surrender and become Mahätmä (Para 11) – After defining Kåñëa as all-
perfect , all-attractive Supreme personality of Godhead, the Absolute Truth & cause
of all causes, now Çréla Prabhupäda recommends that every one surrender to Him
& become a great soul, a mahätmä
Link 1E to 1F :- Question: One may object that in the creation of the universe, one
should understand that Lord Brahmä has independent powers, for in the çruti, it is said,
Brahmä was born before other creatures; he alone existed. Therefore Brahmä should be
the object of worship.
Answer: the verse answers this objection in the second line, it is the Lord (satyam
param), who revealed (tene) the Vedas (Brahmä ) – knowledge of Himself – to Brahmä
(ädi-kavaye). Thus Brahmä is dependent on the Lord.
Bhakti Vaibhava
Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 1, Chapter 1 6
tene brahma hådä ya ädi-kavaye muhyanti yat sürayaù (1F – 1H)
• Ref Vedic lit. ‘Brahmä, who may be compared to sun, is not the ultimate creator ’
• Ref. Çrémad-Bhägavatam 1.1.1 ‘Brahmä was taught by Supreme Lord ’
• Ref Bhagavad-gétä 9.10 ‘Kåñëa only superintends the creative energy (Prakriti) &
thus not Brahmäji’
• Ref çruti/småti ‘Absolute Whole is the source of creation, maintenance &
destruction’
o Thus refutes material scientists who say ‘Sun is the source of all’, they cannot
explain the source
1G Question: One may object that it is well known that Brahmä did not study the Vedas
from anyone.
Answer: That is true. He received it in his mind. (hådaye).
1H Question: Perhaps Brahmä realized the truth of Vedas on his own (from within the
mind) just as a person sometimes gets a realization during sleep.
Answer: Brahmä independently does not have the power to realize this knowledge,
for even the greatly learned sages and demigod are bewildered about this (muhyanti yat
sürayaù).
Please note : Points1G and 1H have been taken from äcäryas commentaries to establish
the connections.
1J Absolute Truth is in the spiritual sky, not the material sky. In the material
sky everything is relative truth (para 6)
• In material sky, everything is relative truth which implies, one truth depends on
something else
• Absolute Truth – Holds true in all phases of time
• This cosmic creation results from interaction of the three modes of nature (yatra
tri-sargo)
• The temporary manifestations are so created as to present an illusion of reality to
the bewildered mind of the conditioned soul, who appears in so many species of
life, including the higher demigods, like Brahmä, Indra, Candra, and so on
(muhyanti yat sürayaù)
• Analogy of shadow : The manifested cosmic creation appears as reality (amåñä).
But reality, of which this is but a shadow, is in the spiritual world
• In actuality, there is no reality in the manifested world. There appears to be
reality, however, because of the true reality which exists in the spiritual world
• Analogy of Mirage : External manifested energy in the form of material existence
is only temporary and illusory like the mirage in the desert
1R Conclusion :-
• This Çrémad-Bhägavatam will gradually elevate the unbiased reader to the highest
perfectional stage of transcendence.
Bhakti Vaibhava
Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 1, Chapter 1 9
• It will enable him to transcend the three modes of material activities: fruitive
actions, speculative philosophy, and worship of functional deities as inculcated
in Vedic verses.
• Ultimate aim of religion is beyond the four primary subjects of religion (Para 1)
• Cheating religion –’Kaitava Dharma’ (Para 2)
o They are all propelled by dharma(pious activities), artha(economic
development), Kama(satisfaction of the senses) & Moksa( liberation from material
bondage )- All are different stages of sense gratification
o They are all propelled by ‘Competition to Lord over’
o Temples replaced by factories proove the lower nature of this religion
• Position of Çrémad-Bhägavatam vs Vedas with respect to Religion (Para 3)
o Vedas prescribe regulated Dharma, Artha, Kama & Moksa to avoid undue
competition for sense gratification’
o Çrémad-Bhägavatam, on the other hand, is transcendental to all sense
gratificatory activities
Bhakti Vaibhava
Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 1, Chapter 1 10
• Basis of material life – Competitive Sense gratification(para 3)
o Three Vedic paths to support this – karma-käëòa, jïäna-käëòa and
upäsanä-käëòa
o Cause of this competition is ‘envy’
• Transcendentalists – They are transcendental to competitive sense gratification
/they are non-envious (para 3), this is because -
o Their goal is eternal blissful life Back to Godhead
o They are real well-wishers of society
Thus Socialist conception of competitionless society is rejected – because
it involves competition for the post of a dictator
Lesson :- In the material conception, one falsely thinks himself the lord of all he
surveys, and therefore he is always troubled by the threefold miseries of life. But as soon
as one comes to know his real position as transcendental servant, he at once becomes
free from all miseries
Bhakti Vaibhava
Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 1, Chapter 1 11
çrémad-bhägavate mahä-muni-kåte kià vä parair éçvaraù (2E)
Bhakti Vaibhava
Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 1, Chapter 1 12
3A This verse invites the readers to relish Çrémad-Bhägavatam
• Vedas which are compared to desire tree give regulated principles of knowledge
• “Regulated knowledge involves a gradual raising of the living entity to the
spiritual platform ”
• Highest spiritual realization – ‘Supreme Personality of Godhead is reservoir of all
spiritual tastes or rasas ’
• Exchange of constitutional rasa with the Lord is the platform of actual happiness
(Para 6)
• Rasas in material world – perverted form and temporary (Para 6)
Bhakti Vaibhava
Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 1, Chapter 1 13
3F How can one learn to relish Rasa with Kåñëa (Para 8)
• Proof – Çukadeva Gosvämé even though liberated, was attracted (Ref. SB 2.1.9)
• Conclusion – Supreme Absolute Truth is not impersonal – otherwise
transcendental rasa is not possible
3H Expert & thoughtful men relish Çrémad-Bhägavatam (Para 11 & 12)- “muhur
aho rasikä bhuvi bhävukäh”
• Effect of proper reception - one can relish transcendental rasas distinctly from
perverted rasas
• How to properly receive –A ‘sincere & serious’ person should carefully approach
o Approach in the footsteps of Çukadeva Gosvämé, gradually in the stages of
transcendental realization
o Need to understand from bonafide representative
o Avoid non-bonafide professional reciters
Section II
Text 4-8
Text 4 :- After the prelude the main topic of Çrémad-Bhägavatam starts now. (Çrémad-
Bhägavatam, after its first recitation by Çréla Çukadeva Gosvämé, was repeated for the
second time at Naimiñäraëya)
Lesson :- The devotees of Lord Viñëu offer all kinds of sacrifices for His pleasure. The
devotees are always attached to the service of the Lord, whereas fallen souls are attached
to the pleasures of material existence
5 All the sages performed morning duties, offered vyäsäsana to Süta Gosvämé and
inquired with great respect
8 Further qualifications – Submissive and thus endowed with all the favors from
spiritual master
Bhakti Vaibhava
Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 1, Chapter 1 15
Lesson :- The secret of success in spiritual life is in satisfying the spiritual master and
thereby getting his sincere blessings
Section-III
Text 9-23
Link 8 to 9 – after hearing last few verses, Süta Gosvämé may agree to speak to all the
subjects he has learned, but sages demand in text 9 “Only the Absolute and ultimate
Good”
9 Sages ask the first question to Süta Gosvämé, the appointed Äcärya.
Link 9 to 10 - Süta Gosvämé may say that “OK I will present all the scriptures which I
have studied; you can ascertain the best of all of them”
But sages present the condemned state of kali-yuga in text 10 and demands in text 11
that Süta Gosvämé should select the essence of scriptures and present it
10 They describe the “condemned state of affairs” of the people in the age of kali
Bhakti Vaibhava
Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 1, Chapter 1 16
o Sense gratification as the standard- Material sense gratification is now the
standard of civilization
o Concocted religious faiths – Encourage sense gratification of people in name
of religion
• Quarrelsome nature of kali-yuga – Hot and cold war among nations and
groups
Lesson– The devotees of the Lord are always anxious for the spiritual improvement of
the general public. Sages of Naimiñäraëya consider the condemned state of kali and
seek the easy remedy from Sükadev Gosvämé.
11 Sages present the second question- Select the essence of all scriptures by which
their hearts may be fully satisfied.
Link 12-13 – Following verses explain the reason the sages present these questions and
the subject matter they are intending to hear
13A This verse sets the conditions for hearing the transcendental message of
Absolute truth, and thus sets the stage for upcoming fourth (text 17) and fifth (text 18)
question
Bhakti Vaibhava
Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 1, Chapter 1 17
Link 13 to 17: Before raising the fourth question in text 17, sages increases the listener’s
enthusiasm by glorifying the potency of lord’s name, pastimes and paraphernalia.
13B Potency of transcendental message – “one is uplifted both by speaking them and
by hearing them” (Translation13)
14 Glorifies the power of the holy name as non-different from the lord –“even feared
by fear personified” [purport 14]
16 Simple method of hearing and glorifying the lord – One conquers all the vices of
kali and establishes real peace and friendship.
• Most condemned nature of kali-yuga - ‘quarrelsome features’
• Who can get out of it – Those engaged in pure devotional service
17 Sages present the fourth question – “Explain the adventures of Lord in relation to
the creation”
• Two types of creation – Spiritual creation vs. material creation
• Less intelligent men – Attracted to material creations which are perverted shadows
of spiritual kingdom
o Analogy- compared to cinemas
• More intelligent people are guided by sages towards spiritual creation.
• Lord favors as ‘incarnations’ to attract conditioned souls
o 2 types of conditioned souls- karmis and jnanis
Bhakti Vaibhava
Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 1, Chapter 1 18
18 Sages present the fifth question- “Narrate the pastimes of lord’s incarnations”
• All auspicious (çubhäù) nature of these pastimes- “Benefit those who are present
during such activities and those who hear such narrations”
Link to 19 :- Sages who were tired of performing the sacrifices express a great relief at
a chance of hearing about Kåñëa and expresses an insatiable appetite for such subject
matter in next verse(they will never get tired of hearing about Supreme Lord)
20 Again sages expresses their eagerness to know about the supreme Lord,
especially super human pastimes of Kåñëa and Balaräma, like lifting Govardhan Hill
• First nine cantos explain the transcendental nature of the Lord and Tenth canto
describes His specific pastimes
• Different process are designed according to different life spans in different yugas
• Sages knowing the in competencies of Kali-yuga took up the recommended
process
• Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu recommends all Indian to preach this message of
Bhagavad-gétä and Çrémad-Bhägavatam
23 Sages present the sixth question – “Since Çré Kåñëa, the Absolute Truth, the master
of all mystic powers, has departed for His own abode, please tell us to whom the
religious principles have now gone for shelter”
Bhakti Vaibhava
Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 1, Chapter 1 19
The 6 questions of the sages headed by Çaunaka åñi
Süta explains that the ultimate benefit for people in general is to develop love of God
through devotional service to Çré Kåñëa or His plenary parts (especially SB 1.2.6-7)
Throughout the Second Chapter of the Bhägavatam and especially in 1.2.6-7, and continuing
on to text 28, Çré Kåñëa is confirmed as the only object of worship, and establishing one's lost
relationship with Him is proclaimed as the essence of the Vedic literatures.
This question is answered in 1.2.34, "to reclaim those in the mode of pure goodness." Also
1.3.28. In addition, this question is answered in 1.8.35, 9.4.61, 10.8.48-50, and 10.33.37.
In 1.2.30-33 the Bhägavatam explains how Lord Väsudeva creates the material substance and
enters into it as the Purusa incarnations. Cantos 2 & 3 explain the creation of the universe.
The Lord's incarnations are described within the Canto 1 Chapter 3 & Canto 2 Chapter 7
where many incarnations are listed. Descriptions of the incarnations are expanded
throughout the remainder of the Bhägavatam - éça-anukathäù (One of the 10 subjects of the
Bhägavatam)—the science of God and of His avataras & great devotees.
From commentaries on the Bhägavatam by Çréla Jéva Gosvämé & Çréla Visvanath Cakravarti
Thäkura.
Bhakti Vaibhava
Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 1, Chapter 1 20
QUESTIONS BY THE SAGES
1.1.1
1. What is the most confidential part of the Çrémad-Bhägavatam?
2. Explain why Çréla Vyäsadeva purposely invokes a Gäyatré mantra, dhémahi.
3. Why does there appear to be reality in the material world?
4. Why are the words abhijïaù and svaräö significant?
5. Explain how the impersonalist philosophers have given indirect impetus to the
abominable mundane sex life.
1.1.2.
1.1.3.
10. Explain why Çrémad-Bhägavatam is described as the ripened fruit of all Vedic
knowledge?
1.1.4– 1.1.23
1. List the qualities of a representative of Vyäsadeva. (5-8)
2. Spiritual wellbeing is automatically followed by what? (9)
3. List points from the sages analysis of the people in this age of Kali (10)
4. Vasudeva is the symbol of what? (12)
5. Why pure devotees more powerful than the waters of the Ganges? (15)
6. Explain the meaning of the titles Prabhupäda and Viñëupäda. (15)
7. How are those who are not conversant with the activities of the Lord and His
transcendental realm sometimes favored by the Lord? (17)
8. List the requests / questions of the sages to Çréla Süta Gosvämé. (9-23)
Bhakti Vaibhava
Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 1, Chapter 1 21
Important analogies
1.1.1: The modern scientist, for example, has created space satellites, and by
some arrangement or other, these satellites are thrown into outer space to fly
for some time at the control of the scientist who is far away. Similarly, all the
universes with innumerable stars and planets are controlled by the intelligence
of the Personality of Godhead.
1.1.1: In the desert mirage there is no actual water. There is only the
appearance of water. Real water is somewhere else. The manifested cosmic
creation appears as reality. But reality, of which this is but a shadow, is in the
spiritual world. Absolute Truth is in the spiritual sky, not the material sky.
1.1.4: Detached branches and leaves dry up gradually despite all watering
attempts. Similarly, human society, when it is detached from the Personality of
Godhead like detached branches and leaves, is not capable of being watered,
and one attempting to do so is simply wasting his energy and resources.
1.1.17: The material creations are manifested for some time as perverted
shadows of the spiritual kingdom and can be likened to cinemas. They attract
people of less intelligent caliber who are attracted by false things
Bhakti Vaibhava
Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 1, Chapter 1 22