A Summary of the Srimad Bhagavata Mahapuranam ( 04/04/2013. )

My dear Priyavrata, according to our association with different modes of material nature, the Supreme Personality of Godhead gives us our specific bodies and the happiness and distress we achieve. One must therefore remain situated as he is and be conducted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, exactly as a blind man is led by a person who has eyes with which to see. By material means, one cannot avoid the happiness and distress unique to his particular body. There are 8,400,000 bodily forms, each destined to enjoy and suffer a certain amount of happiness and distress. This we cannot change, for the happiness and distress are ordained by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in accordance with whose decision we have received our bodies. Since we cannot avoid the plan of the Supreme Godhead, we must agree to be directed by Him, just as a blind man is led by a person who has eyes. Under any circumstances, if we remain in the condition allotted to us by the Suprem

My dear boy, all of us are bound by the Vedic injunctions to the divisions of varnäsrama according to our qualities and work. These divisions are difficult to avoid because they are scientifically arranged. We must therefore carry out our duties of varnäsrama-dharma, like bulls obliged to move according to the direction of a driver pulling on ropes knotted to their noses. In this verse, the words tantyäà guna-karma-dämabhih are very important. We each get a body according to our association with the guëas, the qualities or modes of material nature, and we act accordingly. As stated in Bhagavad-gétä, the four orders of the social system—namely brähmana, kshatriya, vaiçya and südra—are arranged according to guëa and karma, their qualities and work. There is some controversy about this, however, because some say that since one receives a body according to the guna and karma of his past life, it is one's birth that determines his social status. Others say, however, that one'

My dear Priyavrata, by the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, all living entities accept different types of bodies for birth and death, activity, lamentation, illusion, fear of future dangers, and happiness and distress. Every living entity who has come to this material world has come here for material enjoyment, but according to his own karma, activities, he must accept a certain type of body given to him by material nature under the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As stated in Bhagavad-gétä (3.27), prakåteù kriyamäëäni guëaiù karmäëi sarvaçaù: everything is being done by prakåti, material nature, under the direction of the Supreme Lord. Modern scientists do not know why there are varieties of bodies in 8,400,000 forms. The fact is that all these bodies are ordained for the living entities by the Supreme Personality of Godhead according to the living entities' desires. He gives the living entities freedom to act as they like, but on the other hand

Skandham-5. Chapter-1 Slokam-12. One cannot avoid the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, not by the strength of severe austerities, an exalted Vedic education, or the power of mystic yoga, physical prowess or intellectual activities. Nor can one use his power of religion, his material opulence or any other means, either by himself or with the help of others, to defy the orders of the Supreme Lord. That is not possible for any living being, from Brahmä down to the ant. In the Garga Upaniñad, Gargamuni says to his wife, etasya vä akñarasya praçäsane gargi süryä-candramasau vidhåtau tiñöhataù: "My dear Gargé, everything is under the control of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Even the sun, the moon and other controllers and demigods like Lord Brahmä and King Indra are all under His control." An ordinary human being or animal who has accepted a material body cannot go beyond the jurisdiction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead's control. A material

Lord Brahmä, the supreme person within this universe, said: My dear Priyavrata, kindly hear attentively what I shall say to you. Do not be jealous of the Supreme Lord, who is beyond our experimental measurements. All of us, including Lord Çiva, your father and the great sage Mahärñi Närada, must carry out the order of the Supreme. We cannot deviate from His order. Of the twelve great authorities in devotional service, four—Lord Brahmä himself, his son Närada, Sväyambhuva Manu and Lord Çiva—were present before Priyavrata. They were accompanied by many other authoritative sages. Brahmä first wanted to impress upon Priyavrata that although these great personalities are all authorities, they cannot possibly disobey the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is described in this verse as deva, which means "always glorious." The power, glory and potencies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead can never be diminished. In the Éçopaniñad, the Lord is

Slokam-9. Lord Brahmä, the father of Närada Muni, is the supreme person within this universe. As soon as Närada saw the great swan, he could understand that Lord Brahmä had arrived. Therefore he immediately stood up, along with Sväyambhuva Manu and his son Priyavrata, whom Närada was instructing. Then they folded their hands and began to worship Lord Brahmä with great respect. As stated in the previous verse, Lord Brahmä was accompanied by other demigods, but his specific carrier was the great swan. Therefore as soon as Närada Muni saw the swan, he could understand that his father, Lord Brahmä, who is also known as Hiraëyagarbha, was arriving. Thus he immediately stood up with Sväyambhuva Manu and his son Priyavrata to receive Lord Brahmä and offer him respect. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Slokam-10. My dear King Parékñit, because Lord Brahmä had finally descended from

Thinking himself a king, King Rahügaëa was in the bodily conception and was influenced by material nature's modes of passion and ignorance. Due to madness, he chastised Jaòa Bharata with uncalled-for and contradictory words. Jaòa Bharata was a topmost devotee and the dear abode of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although considering himself very learned, the King did not know about the position of an advanced devotee situated in devotional service, nor did he know his characteristics. Jaòa Bharata was the residence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; he always carried the form of the Lord within his heart. He was the dear friend of all living beings, and he did not entertain any bodily conception. He therefore smiled and spoke the following words. The distinction between a person in the bodily conception and a person beyond the bodily conception is presented in this verse. In the bodily conception, King Rahügaëa considered himself a king and chastised J

Çré Çukadeva Gosvämé continued: The first created being and most powerful demigod in this universe is Lord Brahmä, who is always responsible for developing universal affairs. Born directly from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he dedicates his activities to the welfare of the entire universe, for he knows the purpose of the universal creation. This supremely powerful Lord Brahmä, accompanied by his associates and the personified Vedas, left his own abode in the highest planetary system and descended to the place of Prince Priyavrata's meditation. Lord Viñëu, the Supreme Self (ätmä), is the source of everything, as explained in the Vedänta-sütra: janmädy asya yataù [SB 1.1.1]. Because Brahmä was born directly from Lord Viñëu, he is called ätma-yoni. He is also called bhagavän, although generally bhagavän refers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead (Viñëu or Lord Kåñëa). Sometimes great personalities—such as demigods like Lord Brahmä, Närada or Lord Çiva—are als

Çukadeva Gosvämé continued: My dear King, Prince Priyavrata was a great devotee because he sought the lotus feet of Närada, his spiritual master, and thus achieved the highest perfection in transcendental knowledge. With advanced knowledge, he always engaged in discussing spiritual subjects and did not divert his attention to anything else. The Prince's father then asked him to take charge of ruling the world. He tried to convince Priyavrata that this was his duty as indicated in the revealed scriptures. Prince Priyavrata, however, was continuously practicing bhakti-yoga by constantly remembering the Supreme Personality of Godhead, thus engaging all his senses in the service of the Lord. Therefore, although the order of his father could not be rejected, the Prince did not welcome it. Thus he very conscientiously raised the question of whether he might be diverted from devotional service by accepting the responsibility of ruling over the world. Çréla Narottama dä

Skandham-5 Chapter-1 2.  In Bhakti-rasämåta-sindhu it is said that by executing devotional service to the Lord, one can understand the transcendental position of the living being and the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot be understood by any means except bhakti. The Lord confirms this in Çrémad-Bhägavatam (11.14.21). Bhaktyäham ekayä grähyaù: "only by executing devotional service can one appreciate Me." Similarly, in Bhagavad-gétä (18.55) Lord Kåñëa says, bhaktyä mäm abhijänäti: "simply by discharging devotional service, one can understand Me." Thus for a bhakta to become attached to family affairs is impossible, since a bhakta and his associates are liberated. Everyone is searching after änanda, or bliss, but in the material world there can never be any bliss. It is only possible in devotional service. Attachment for family affairs and devotional service are incompatible. Therefore Mahäräja Parékñit was so

Skandham-5. This chapter describes how King Priyavrata enjoyed royal opulence and majesty and then returned to full knowledge. King Priyavrata was detached from worldly opulence, and then he became attached to his kingdom, but finally he again became detached from material enjoyment and thus achieved liberation. When King Parékñit heard about this, he was struck with wonder, but he was somewhat bewildered as to how a devotee with no attachment for material enjoyment could later become attached to it. Thus in astonishment he questioned Çukadeva Gosvämé about this. In response to the King's inquiries, Çukadeva Gosvämé said that devotional service, being transcendental, cannot be deviated by any material influences. Priyavrata had received transcendental knowledge from the instructions of Närada, and therefore he did not want to enter a materialistic life of enjoyment in a kingdom. He accepted the kingdom, however, at the request of such superior demigods as Lo

Skandham-4.2, Chapter-26. Slokam- 1 to 26. (1-3) Nârada said: 'Once upon a time he [King Purañjana] went to the forest called Pañca-prastha ['the five destinations'] carrying his bow, golden armor and inexhaustible quiver. He traveled on the two wheels and one axle of a swift chariot with golden ornaments that, being drawn by five horses, had one sitting place, seven armor plates, three flags and two posts for his harnesses. He carried five weapons and two special arrows. Together with his eleventh commander and his one chariot driver who held one set of reins, he knew five objectives and five different ways of approach.  (4) Having taken up his bow and arrows he was very proud of having left his wife behind, for that was a thing next to impossible for him. [But] inspired by the evil thought of hunting he went there to kill animals. (5) With the demoniac darkness of a lack of enlightenment in his heart he had taken to the horrible practice of mercilessly with

 Skandham-4.2, Chapter-25, Slokam- 1 to 62. (1) Maitreya said: 'After thus having given instruction, the Destroyer worshiped by the sons of Barhishat vanished from there right before the eyes of the princes. (2) While they at that water for an endless number of years executed austerities, all the Pracetâs recited the prayer as sung by Lord S'iva. (3) Oh Vidura, meanwhile a compassionate Nârada as a knower of the spiritual truth instructed King Prâcînabarhi who had a mind full of attachment to fruitive activities: (4) 'Oh King, [he said] what spiritual welfare do you expect from fruitive activities? That way engaged you will not see the misery disappear nor will the ultimate good of happiness be attained.' (5) The king replied: 'I don't know oh great transcendental soul, my intelligence is occupied by my desire for the fruits. Please enlighten me on the pure, spiritual knowledge that will relieve me of my workload. (6) In the superficial duties o

Skandham 4.2, Chapter-24, Slokam- 1 to 79. (1) Maitreya said: 'The son of Prithu who because of his great actions became known as Vijitâs'va [see 4.19: 18], became emperor and gave his younger brothers he cared a lot about, the rule over the different directions of the world. (2) The master offered Haryaksha the eastern part, the south he offered to Dhûmrakes'a, the western side was for the brother with the name Vrika and the northern direction he gave to Dravina. (3) He who from [what he did in relation to] Indra [also] was honored with the name Antardhâna ['invisibly present'], begot in his wife S'ikhandinî three children who carried the approval of everyone. (4) They were named Pâvaka, Pavamâna and S'uci. They  in the past had been the gods of fire but now, because of a curse of sage Vasishthha, had taken birth again in order to regain that status by the progress of yoga. (5) Antardhâna who didn't kill Indra despite of the fact that he knew

Skandham-4.2 Chapter 23:  Prithu Mahârâja Returns Back Home : Slokam- 1 to 39.    (1-3) Maitreya said: 'King Prithu who fully conversant with everything concerning the soul as the protector of the people endlessly had promoted all that he had created, saw one day that he physically was getting old. Fully in accord with the instructions of the Supreme Ruler he in this world following the dharma of devotees, had provided for the maintenance of all the moving and nonmoving living beings. He left the earth to his sons and with pity towards his aggrieved citizens he alone with his wife went into the forest for his austerity. (4) As perfect as he formerly had been in his understanding when he conquered the earth, he at that place perfectly understood that he according to the rules and regulations of a retired life had to engage seriously in the practice of severe austerities.   (5) At first he so now and then ate bulbs, roots, fruits and dry leaves, then he drank only water f