Srimad Bhagavatam Skanda 1 - The Subject, Eligibility and Fruit

|| Sri Veda Vyasaya Namaha ||

Hari Om

Srimad Bhagavatam cleanses kalimala or the pollutant of Kali, destroys sins, shows the indweller, the Lord, in oneself by bringing Vairagya towards the materialistic world, and gives pure devotion, crystal clear and clean knowledge. 

Always being satisfied, having no expectations with full of attributes, stainless, creates, sustains, destroys, regulates all non-living including liberates all living just by expression of his attributes is the only Lord having the Lordship. My salutations to HIM. My Salutations to Goddess Lakshmi who always wonders about the attributes of Lord to whom she is dearest. By assigning the most important and difficult task of locating Goddess Sita or getting the Sanjeevani, has been dear to Lord. My Salutations to Prasanna Hanuman in whose abode resides Goddess of Bhakti. Appearing always as sweet sixteen and bitten the sweetest fruit of all seasons and in whose orchestration only the best of Bhagavatas like Indra, Bali, SanatKumara, Uddhava, Narada, Prahlada, Dhruva, do sankeertana, my salutations to Sri Sukacharya the dear son of Lord and all the Bhagavatas. By repetition of whose name the quintessence of Vedas would be understood easily, my prostration to such Guru Sri Raghavendra

The Subject, Eligibility, and Fruit of Srimad Bhagavatam

धर्मः प्रोज्झितकैतवोऽत्र परमो निर्मत्सराणां सतां वेद्यं वास्तवमत्र वस्तु शिवदं तापत्रयोन्मूलनम् ।

श्रीमद्भागवते महामुनिकृते किं वा परैरीश्वरः सद्यो हृद्यवरुध्यतेऽत्र कृतिभिः शुश्रूषुभिस्तत्क्षणात् ॥

This verse was repeated by Sri Sukacharya to the Sapthaha gathering arranged by Narada Rishi and narrated by Sanathkumara in our earlier post of SBM 12 - The Power of Srimad Bhagavatam Sapthaha organized by Narada Rishi has already been elaborated. Below is for ready reference:

Srimad Bhagavatam contains the complete knowledge of Dharma which holds one from falling down, purifies and puts on to the path leading to the Lord. This path seeks the continued practice of honoring, worshipping, admiring & praising The Lord without any jealousy or expectation nor being deceptive. While being on the path, it removes all sorts of difficulties, bestows prosperity, makes one sajjana or virtuous and solidifies bhakti or devotion. Hence, Srimad Bhagavatam composed by The Lord Veda Vyasa himself is great and guarantees to reveal The Lord who is always present in the heart of all the individuals.

Here, Lord Veda Vyasa continuing the mangalacharana or the verse of prayer reemphasizes the Subject of Srimad Bhagavatam, indicates the eligibility or quality required and the fruit of studying Srimad Bhagavatam. Also, the relation between these three is told here:

In this Srimad Bhagavatam, without any deceit and being honest one has to follow the Supreme Dharma of nishkama karma or action of propitiating Lord without any expectation is affirmed. Also, while appeasing the Lord not being envious or Jealousy through the study this Srimad Bhagavatam which is authentic and auspicious removes Tapatraya or all types of difficulties of the Virtuous. Srimad Bhagavatam composed by Sarvagnya or All-Knowing Lord Veda Vyasa is the King of all Puranas. The study of this would blossom the Lotus of Heart occupied by the Lord at the earliest. However, for those who study and do anusandhana or practice Srimad Bhagavatam including service to Guru would be blessed with aproksha jnana or the sight of the indweller immediately. 

To summarize, Lord Veda Vyasa has indicated the following in this sloka: 

· The main subject is the accomplishment of Lord and
· The intermediate subject being following Dharma.
· The eligibility being virtuous without Jealousy and having no expectations
· Fruit being the sight of the indweller, Lord Himself!

Lord Veda Vyasa has started this verse by the word Dharma. So let’s understand it.

Dharma is the manner one needs to live as defined in Shastra. These are intense and most of the practices have disappeared from the Society. A simple examples could be starting a work by offering prayers to Lord, acceptance of his Lordship, Faith in him, Speaking Truth, Non-Violence, being conscious that he is the prime mover, acceptance or being satisfied with whatever he has given or the intensity of same being aparigraha or non-possession, and hence submission of all deeds to Lord. In our earlier post of SBM 08 - Srimad Bhagavatam, Redemption from Sins, we had seen the meaning of the Kannada Poem, Siri Ramana Tava Charana of Jagannatha dasaru that listed common man’s activities which pushes one to the hell and taught how to seek refuge in Lord. If one doesn’t follow these manners, he would fall to hell. In other words, following such manner would hold one falling down to Hell and hence is called Dharma. 

As Dharma, the Mother Earth also hold us from falling. So too the God Sesha on whose hood is the mother Earth like a small pebble of sand. God Sesha has been held by Vayu. Lord and Goddess hold all of these in their Kurma Roopa or form of Tortoise. Hence, understanding that Lord who holds one falling is Dharma. To do so, we need a crystal clear or clean mind. The mind that is devoid of Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, and Matsarya or Arishadvargas. The cleansing of mind from Arishadvargas would happen by following the Dharma. Hence, the following of this Dharma would blossom the Lotus of heart and reveal the Lord. 

धर्म एव हतो हन्ति धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः | 

तस्माद्धर्मो न हन्तव्यो मा नो धर्मो हतोऽवधीत् ||

The above verse of Mahabharata having the popular line of Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitaha comes out clearly that one who protects Dharma is protected by Dharma.

After having understood the Subject of Srimad Bhagavatam briefly, Lord Veda Vyasa has told the eligibility as only for Sajjana or Virtuous. All along in Srimad Bhagavatam, Lord Veda Vyasa has described exhaustively the attributes of Sajjana or Virtuous. However, here he has said निर्मत्सराणां सतां Nirmatsaraanam satam and before telling the outcome or fruit of studying Srimad Bhagavatam. Clearly indicating that only the Sajjana or Virtuous who is Nirmatsaraanam or one who is not having Jealousy nor Greed nor being Wicked or Hostile would be eligible for Srimad Bhagavatam. Hence while studying Srimad Bhagavatam one should understand Bhagavata dharma and practice by implementing in the day to day life. Hindu scriptures attach the highest importance to the eligibility. However, we see in our current day times, various mantras or practices being followed without considering the eligibility and initiations. As Lord has defined the path to each and everyone and has indicated the eligibility, we are bound by that and is an attribute of Virtuous.
The other few attributes of the Virtuous being Titiksha or having Patience and endure the ragging of samsara or the grind of life. Else, we are prone to doing more mistakes and sin. As is a vicious cycle in nature. Also, the prayers to the Lord doesn’t yield results as per our wishes. This is because we are not aware of the intensity of Sins which we might have committed over births. We are seeing several examples of the attribute of Patience like with that of Prahlada or with that of Pandavas in this Srimad Bhagavatam. The other being Karunikaha or merciful or compassionate. One could be resolute with patience, not react to any adverse situations and becomes stony-hearted, the same is not being accepted as virtuous. Hence suggests being compassionate. Suhruda or good-hearted, friendly and intimate. One should always wish the good of all virtuous. ajatashatruvaha or should not have any enemy who is virtuous. Also, in other words having enmity towards Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, and Matsarya or Arishadvargas. Shantha or serene or calm or being peaceful when one trumps over Arishadvargas. Sadhu bhushanaha or wearing the ornaments of Saints like having Jnana, Bhakti, Vairagya and always doing good deeds. sarva Sanga viverjita or disassociation with all those who have an attachment with materialistic happenings and the most important Guru Bhakti that is the key for being virtuous.

Lord Veda Vyasa has indicated Srimad Bhagavatam in this verse. So let’s understand why so!

1. Sri means wealth or abundance or rich and hence elevates one higher. This wealth could be in terms of money or Gold or Land or Vehicle, or Knowledge or conduct or practice of Dharma or one who has done the best dharma. As a Shrothru or student, studying Bhagavata is ramania or delightful. Since it gives happiness. Even without understanding if one keeps reading or hearing the verses of Bhagavata he would experience Happiness. There is no other Purana as delightful or abundance in happiness as Bhagavata and hence is Srimad.
2. The Katha Shravana or hearing stories and even repeated hearing of the stories in Bhagavata is delightful. It is rich in taste or abundant in flavor. We have heard in Srimad Bhagavata Mahatmyam, how Parikshit Raja left food and water to hear Bhagavata Katha day and night for seven days full of happiness. Hence is Srimad or rich in taste.
3. Bhagavatam starts with Janmadhyasya Yatha which is the Janmadyadhikarnam of Brahma Sutra. Also, Bhagavata is filled with the meaning of Vedas and Vedanta for Scholar. Hence it is Srimad or abundance of Knowledge.
4. Of immeasurable Knowledge & Happiness, Lord Veda Vyasa, having recuperated Vedas, compiled them into four sections, narrated Brahma Sutra, Puranas and Mahabharata having Bhagavad Gita & Vishnu Sahasrnama pretended as if he missed something important and then wrote Bhagavata. Hence, indicating that all knowledge in Vedas, Vedanta, Seventeen Purana and Mahabharata has to be converted to Bhakti as in Bhagavata. Hence is Srimad or abundance of Bhakti.
5. Bhagavata means holy or divine or sacred and has in abundance. Hence Srimad.
6. So too the Bhagavata Dharma. Hence Srimad.

7. What all we heard about the Glory or Mahtmyam of Bhagavata including Jnana, Bhakti & Vairagya regaining their youth or how Dundukari lost his ghost-hood or how Gokarna was received by Lord himself. Those are the richness of Srimad Bhagavata. 

For our anusandhana or to understand the principles of philosophy in this verse, draw essence and implement it by practicing in our day to day activities of life, the prayer goes thus: 

Srimad Bhagavatam has the complete knowledge of Dharma and holds one from falling down, purifies and puts on to the path leading to the Lord. I pray to Lord for his blessings to walk on this path surpassed with divineness and practice of honoring, worshipping, admiring & praising him. Also, for the destruction of my ugly behaviors like jealousy, expectations, deceptions showing-up from time to time. I beg to Lord to remove all sorts of difficulties, bestow prosperity, make me virtuous and solidify bhakti or devotion. This Srimad Bhagavatam composed by The Lord of asceticism, Shri Veda Vyasa himself is great and hereby continues to pray to the indweller no different from him to engulf my heart in a remarkable way and reveal himself in a magnificent way.

As we practice or do anustana, all our acts tend towards the Lord. In all that we see, we will be able to appreciate the Glory of the Lord. In all that we hear, will be the names of the Lord and the song of his attributes. Whatever one reads becomes an indoctrination in Lord. 

निगमकल्पतरोर्गलितं फलं शुकमुखादमृतद्रवसंयुतम् ।

पिबत भागवतं रसमालयं मुहुरहो रसिका भुवि भावुका ॥
This verse was repeated by Sri Sukacharya to the Sapthaha gathering arranged by Narada Rishi and narrated by Sanathkumara in our earlier post of SBM 12 - The Power of Srimad Bhagavatam Sapthaha organized by Narada Rishi has already been elaborated. Below is for ready reference:

Hey, Virtuous & Warm-hearted ones, Lord Vishnu's bhaktas, you are having a taste for spiritual experience. In a tree called Vedas which is kalpavruksha or a wish-fulfilling, the tastiest fruit has been borne. Like the tastiest fruit is bitten by Suka or Parrot and the saliva of parrot further increases the taste. So too, Srimad Bhagavatam narrated by me Suka is elaborated literature of Vedas is like the juice of fruit from the tree of Vedas and easy to relish. All of you enjoy and relish the Juice as also being done by the Virtuous of the higher world till they get moksha.

Here, Lord Veda Vyasa himself has to applaud Srimad Bhagavatam out of his love towards mumukshu’s or ones desirous of Moksha so that they are motivated to take-up Srimad Bhagavatam immediately.

Hari Om

Sri Krishnarpanamastu

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