Contents
CHAPTER ONE
Indications of Evidence - pramana nirdesah
[Ch.1 pramana nirdesah]
[Ch. 1 pramana nirdesah]
[Ch. 1 pramana nirdesah]
[Ch. 1 pramana nirdesah]
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[Ch. 1 pramana nirdesah]
[Ch. 1 pramana nirdesah]
[Ch.1 pramana nirdesah]
01.01.01 Invocation
O my Lord, Sri Krsna, son of Vasudeva, O all pervading
Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto
You. I meditate upon Lord Sri Krsna because He is the Absolute
Truth and the primeval cause of all causes of the creation,
sustenance and destruction of the manifested universes. He is
directly and indirectly conscious of all manifestations, and He
is independent because there is no other cause beyond Him. It is
He only who first imparted the Vedic knowledge unto the heart of
Brahmaji, the original living being. By Him even the great sages
and demigods are placed into illusion, as one is bewildered by
the illusory representations of water seen in fire, or land seen
on water. Only because of Him do the material universes,
temporarily manifested by the reactions of the three modes of
nature, appear factual, although they are unreal. I therefore
meditate upon Him, Lord Sri Krsna, who is eternally existent in
the transcendental abode, which is forever free from the illusory
representations of the material world. I meditate upon Him, for
He is the Absolute Truth.
11.14.03-10 Sri Krsna to Uddhava
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: By the influence of
time, the transcendental sound of Vedic knowledge was lost at the
time of annihilation. Therefore, when the subsequent creation
took place, I spoke the Vedic knowledge to Brahma because I
Myself am the religious principles enunciated in the Vedas. (3)
Lord Brahma spoke this knowledge to his eldest son Manu, and the
seven great sages headed by Bhrgu Muni then accepted the same
knowledge from Manu. (4) From the forefathers headed by Bhrgu
Muni and other sons of Brahma appeared many children and
descendants, who assumed different forms as demigods, demons,
human beings, Guhyakas, Siddhas, Gandharvas, Vidyadharas,
Caranas, Kindevas, Kinnaras, Nagas, Kimpurusas, and so on. All of
the many universal species, along with their respective leaders,
appeared with different natures and desires generated from the
three modes of material nature. Therefore, because of the
different characteristics of the living entities within the
universe, there are a great many Vedic rituals, mantras and
rewards. (5 7) Thus, due to the great variety of desires and
natures among human beings, there are many different theistic
philosophies of life, which are handed down through tradition,
custom and disciplic succession. There are other teachers who
directly support atheistic viewpoints. (8) O best among men, the
intelligence of human beings is be wildered by My illusory
potency, and thus, according to their own activities and whims,
they speak in innumerable ways about what is actually good for
people. (9) Some say that people will be happy by performing
pious religious activities. Others say that happiness is attained
through fame, sense gratification, truthfulness, self-control,
peace, self interest, political influence, opulence,
renunciation, consumption, sacrifice, penance, charity, vows,
regulated duties or strict disciplinary regulation. Eachz
11.14.11 13 Sri Krsna to Uddhava
All the persons I have just mentioned obtain temporary
fruits from their material work. Indeed, the meager and miserable
situations they achieve bring future unhappiness and are based on
ignorance. Even while enjoying the fruits of their work, such
persons are filled with lamentation. (11) O learned Uddhava,
those who fix their consciousness in Me, giving up all material
desires, share with Me a happiness that cannot possibly be
experienced by those engaged in sense gratification. (12) One who
does not desire anything within this world, who has achieved
peace by controlling his senses, whose consciousness is equal in
all conditions and whose mind is completely satisfied in Me finds
only happiness wherever he goes. (13)
<11.14.14>
11.19.17 Sri Krsna to Uddhava
From the four types of evidence Vedic knowledge, direct
experience, traditional wisdom and logical induction one can
understand the temporary, insubstantial situation of the material
world, by which one becomes detached from the duality of this
world.
06.09.36 Demigods to Sri Visnu
O Supreme Personality of Godhead, all contradictions can be
reconciled in You. O Lord, since You are the Supreme Person, the
reservoir of unlimited spiritual qualities, the supreme
controller, Your unlimited glories are inconceivable for the
conditioned souls. Many modern theologians argue about right and
wrong without knowing what is actually right. Their arguments are
always false and their judgements inconclusive because they have
no authorized evidence with which to gain knowledge of You.
Because their minds are agitated by scriptures containing false
conclusions, they are unable to understand the truth concerning
You. Furthermore, because of polluted eagerness to arrive at the
right conclusion, their theories are incapable of revealing You,
who are transcendental to their material conceptions. You are
one without a second, and therefore in You contradictions like
doing and not doing, happiness and distress, are not
contradictory. Your potency is so great that it can do and undo
anything as You like. With the help of that potency, what is
impossible for You? Since there is no duality in Your
constitutional position, You can do everything by the influence
of Your energy.
10.87.36 The Personified Vedas to Maha Visnu
It may be proposed that this world is permanently real
because it is generated from the permanent reality, but such an
argument is subject to logical refutation. Sometimes, indeed, the
apparent nondifference of a cause and its effect fails to prove
true, and at other times the product of something real is
illusory. Furthermore, this world cannot be permanently real, for
it partakes of the natures of not only the absolute reality but
also the illusion disguising that reality. Actually, the visible
forms of this world are just an imaginary arrangement resorted to
by a succession of ignorant persons in order to facilitate their
materialz
06.04.31 Prajapati Daksa to Sri Visnu
Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the all-pervading
Supreme Personality of Godhead, who possesses unlimited
transcenљdental qualities. Acting within the cores of the hearts
of all philosophers, who propagate various views, He causes them
to forget their own souls while sometimes agreeing and sometimes
disagreeing among themselves. Thus He creates within this
material world a situation in which they are unable to come to a
conclusion. I offer my obeisances unto Him.
04.11.22 Svayambhuva Manu to Dhruva Maharaja
The differentiation among varieties of life and their
suffering and enjoyment is explained by some to be the result of
karma. Others say it is due to nature, others due to time, others
due to fate, and still others say it is due to desire. 04.29.48
Narada Muni to King Pracinabarhi Those who are less intelligent
accept the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies as all in all. They do
not know that the purpose of the Vedas is to understand one's own
home, where the Supreme Personality of Godhead lives. Not being
interested in their real home, they are illusioned and search
after other homes.
04.11.23 Svayambhuva Manu to Dhruva Maharaja
The Absolute Truth, Transcendence, is never subject to the
understanding of imperfect sensory endeavor, nor is He subject to
direct experience. He is the master of varieties of energies,
like the full material energy, and no one can understand His
plans or actions; therefore it should be concluded that although
He is the original cause of all causes, no one can know Him by
mental speculation.
06.04.32 Prajapati Daksa to Sri Visnu
There are two parties namely, the theists and the atheists.
The theist, who accepts the Supersoul, finds the spiritual cause
through mystic yoga. The Sankhyite, however who merely analyzes
the material elements, comes to a conclusion of impersonalism and
does not accept a supreme cause whether Bhagavan, Paramatma or
even Brahman. Instead, he is preoccupied with the superfluous,
external activities of material nature. Ultimately, however, both
parties demonstrate the Absolute Truth because although they
offer opposing statements, their object is the same ultimate
cause. They are both approaching the same supreme Brahman, to
whom I offer my respectful obeisances.
11.22.04-5 Sri Krsna to Uddhava
Lord Krsna replied: Because all material elements are
present everywhere, it is reasonable that different learned
brahmanas have analyzed them in different ways. All such
philosophers spoke under the shelter of My mystic potency, and
thus they could say anything without contradicting the truth. (4)
When philosophers argue, "I don't choose to analyze this
particular case in the same way as you have," it is simply Myz
11.03.43-46 Avirhotra to Maharaja Nimi
Prescribed duties, nonperformance of such duties, and
forbidden activities are topics one can properly understand
through authorљized study of the Vedic literature. This difficult
subject matter can never be understood by mundane speculation.
The authorized Vedic literature is the sound incarnation of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, and thus Vedic knowledge
is perfect. Even the greatest learned scholars are bewildered in
their attempts to understand the science of action if they
neglect the authority of Vedic knowledge. (43) Childish and
foolish people are attached to materialistic, fruitive
activities, although the actual goal of life is to become free
from such activities. Therefore, the Vedic injunctions indirectly
lead one to the path of ultimate liberation by first prescribing
fruitive religious activities, just as a father promises his
child candy so that the child will take his medicine. (44) If an
ignorant person who has not conquered the material senses does
not adhere to the Vedic injunctions, certainly he will engage in
sinful and ir religious activities. Thus his reward will be
repeated birth and death. (45) By executing without attachment
the regulated activities prescribed in the Vedas, offering the
result of such work to the Supreme Lord, one attains the
perfection of freedom from the bondage of material work. The
material fruitive results offered in the revealed scriptures are
not the actual goal of Vedic knowledge, but are meant for
stimulating the interest of the performer. (46)
11.05.05 Camasa Rsi to Maharaja Nimi
On the other hand, brahmanas, members of the royal order and
vaisyas, even after being allowed to approach the lotus feet of
the Supreme Lord, Hari, by receiving the second birth of Vedic
initiation, can become bewildered and adopt various materialistic
philosophies.
11.05.11 Camasa Rsi to Maharaja Nimi
In this material world the conditioned soul is always
inclined to sex, meat eating and intoxication. Therefore
religious scriptures never actually encourage such activities.
Although the scriptural injunctions provide for sex through
sacred marriage, for meat eating through sacrificial offerings
and for intoxication through the acceptance of ritual cups of
wine, such ceremonies are meant for the ultimate purpose of
renunciation.
11.05.13-14 Camasa Rsi to Maharaja Nimi
According to the Vedic injunctions, when wine is offered in
sacrificial ceremonies it is later to be consumed by smelling,
and not by drinking. Similarly, the sacrificial offering of
animals is permitted, but there is no provision for wide scale
animal slaughter. Religious sex life is also permitted, but only
in marriage for begetting children, and not for sensuous
exploitation of the body. Unfortunately, however, the less
intelligent materialists cannot understand that their duties in
life should be performed purely on the spiritual platform. (13)
Those sinful persons who are ignorant of actual religious
principles, yet consider themselves to be completely pious,
without compunction commitz
11.05.15 Camasa Rsi to Maharaja Nimi
The conditioned souls become completely bound in affection
to their own corpselike material bodies and their relatives and
paraphernalia. In such a proud and foolish condition, the
conditioned souls envy other living entities as well as the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, who resides in the heart of
all beings. Thus enviously offending others, the conditioned
souls gradually fall down into hell. (15)
11.11.18-19 Sri Krsna to Uddhava
If through meticulous study one becomes expert in reading
Vedic literature but makes no endeavor to fix one's mind on the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, then one's endeavor is certainly
like that of a man who works very hard to take care of a cow that
gives no milk. In other words, the fruit of one's laborious study
of Vedic knowledge will simply be the labour itself. There will
be no other tangible result. (18) My dear Uddhava, that man is
certainly most miserable who takes care of a cow that gives no
milk, an unchaste wife, a body totally dependent on others,
useless children or wealth not utilized for the right purpose.
Similarly, one who studies Vedic knowledge devoid of My glories
is also most miserable. (19)
11.21.35-36 Sri Krsna to Uddhava
The Vedas, divided into three divisions, ultimately reveal
the living entity as pure spirit soul. The Vedic seers and
mantras, however, deal in esoteric terms, and I also am pleased
by such confidential descriptions. (35) The transcendental sound
of the Vedas is very difficult to comprehend and manifests on
different levels within the prana, senses and mind. This Vedic
sound is unlimited, very deep and unfathomable, just like the
ocean. (36)
11.21.40-42 Sri Krsna to Uddhava
The Veda is then elaborated by many verbal varieties,
expressed in different meters, each having four more syllables
than the previous one. Ultimately the Lord again withdraws His
manifesta tion of Vedic sound within Himself. (40) The Vedic
meters are Gayatri, Usnik, Anustup, Brhati, Pankti, Tristup,
Jagati, Aticchanda, Atyasti, Atijagati and Ativirat. (41) In the
entire world no one but Me actually understands the confidential
purpose of Vedic knowledge. Thus people do not know what the Veda
is actually prescribing in the ritualistic injunctions of karma
kanda, nor what subject is actually being indicated in the
formulas of worship found in the upasana kanda, nor that which is
elaborately discussed through various hypotheses in the jnana
kanda section of the Veda. (42)
11.19.33-39 Sri Krsna to Uddhava
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Nonviolence,
truthfulљness, not coveting or stealing the property of others,
detach ment, humility, freedom from possessiveness, trust in the
principles of religion, celibacy, silence,z Absorbing the
intelligence in Me constitutes mental equilibrium, and complete
discipline of the senses is selfcontrol. Tolerance means
patiently enduring unhappiness, and steadfastness occurs when one
conquers the tongue and the genitals. The greatest charity is to
give up all aggression toward others, and renunciation of lust is
to be understood to be real austerity. Real heroism is to conquer
one's natural tendency to enjoy material life, and reality is
seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead everywhere.
Truthfulness means to speak the truth in a pleasing way, as
declared by great sages. Cleanliness is detachment in fruitive
activities, whereas renunciation is the sannyasa order of life.
The true desirable wealth for human beings is religiousness, and
I, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, am sacrifice. Religious
remuneration is devotion to the acarya with the purpose of
acquiring spiritual instruction, and the greatest strength is the
pranayama system of breath control. (36 39)
11.19.40 44 Sri Krsna to Uddhava
Actual opulence is My own nature as the Supreme Personality
of Godhead, through which I exhibit the six unlimited opulences.
The supreme gain in life is devotional service to Me, and actual
education is nullifying the false perception of duality within
the soul. Real modesty is to be disgusted with improper ac
tivities, and beauty is to possess good qualities such as
detachment. Real happiness is to transcend material happiness and
unhappiness, and real misery is to be implicated in searching for
sex pleasure. A wise man is one who knows the process of freedom
from bondage, and a fool is one who identifies with his material
body and mind. The real path in life is that which leads to Me,
and the wrong path is sense gratification, by which consciousness
is bewildered. Actual heaven is the predominance of the mode of
goodness, whereas hell is the predominance of ignorance. I am
everyone's true friend, acting as the spiritual master of the
entire universe, and one's home is the human body. My dear friend
Uddhava, one who is enriched with good qualities is actually said
to be rich, and one who is unsatisfied in life is actually poor.
A wretched person is one who cannot control his senses, whereas
one who is not attached to sense gratification is a real control
ler. One who attaches himself to sense gratification is the
opposite, a slave. (40 44)
12.04.41-43 Sukadeva Gosvami to Maharaja Pariksit
Long ago this essential anthology of all the Puranas was
spoken by the infallible Lord Nara Narayana Rsi to Narada, who
then repeated it to Krsna Dvaipayana Vedavyasa. (41) My dear
Maharaja Pariksit, that great personality Srila Vyasadeva taught
me this same scripture, Srimad Bhagavatam, which is equal in
stature to the four Vedas. (42) z
12.05.01 Sukadeva Gosvami to Maharaja Pariksit
Sukadeva Gosvami said: This Srimad Bhagavatam has
elaborately described in various narrations the Supreme Soul of
all that be the Personality of Godhead, Hari from whose
satisfaction Brahma is born and from whose anger Rudra takes
birth.
[Ch. 1 pramana nirdesah]
[Ch.1 pramana nirdesah]
01.03.41 Suta Gosvami to Saunaka Rsi
Sri Vyasadeva delivered it to his son, who is the most
respected among the self-realized, after extracting the cream of
all Vedic literatures and histories of the universe.
01.03.43 Suta Gosvami to Saunaka Rsi
The Bhagavata Purana is as brilliant as the sun, and it has
arisen just after the departure of Lord Krsna to His own abode,
accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost
their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the age of
Kali shall get light from this Purana. 12.13.14 Suta Gosvami to
Saunaka Rsi
All other Puranic scriptures shine forth in the assembly of
saintly devotees only as long as that great ocean of nectar, is
not heard.
[Ch. 1 pramana nirdesah]
