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

Skandham-5. Chapter-3.  Slokam-10. My dear King Parikshit, because Lord Brahma had finally descended from Satyalokam to Bhulokam, Narada Muni, Prince Priyavrata and Svayambhuva Manu came forward to offer him objects of worship and to praise him in highly qualified language, according to Vedic etiquette. At that time, Lord Brahma, the original person of this universe, felt compassion for Priyavrata and, looking upon him with a smiling face, spoke to him as follows. That Lord Brahmä descended from Satyaloka to see Priyavrata indicates that the matter was very serious. Narada Muni had come to advise Priyavrata about the value of spiritual life, knowledge, renunciation and bhakti, and Lord Brahma knew that Narada's instructions were very impressive. Therefore unless Lord Brahma personally went to Gandhamädana Hill to request Priyavrata, Lord Brahma knew that prince Priyavrata would not accept his father's order. Brahma's purpose was to break Priyavrata's ...

Skandham-5. Chapter-3. Slokam-9. O Lord of lords, we are completely ignorant of the execution of dharma, artha, kama and moksha, the process of liberation, because we do not actually know the goal of life. You have appeared personally before us like a person soliciting worship, but actually You are present here just so we can see You. You have come out of Your abundant and causeless mercy in order to serve our purpose, our interest, and give us the benefit of Your personal glory called apavarga, liberation. You have come, although You are not properly worshiped by us due to our ignorance. Lord Vishnu was personally present at the sacrificial arena, but this does not mean that He had any interest in His own personal  benefit. Similarly, the arca-vigraha, the Deity in the temple, is present for the same purpose.  Out of His causeless mercy, the Supreme Personality of Godhead presents Himself before us so that we can see Him. Since we have no transcendental vi...

Skandham-5. Chapter-3. Slokam-8. All of life's goals and opulences are directly, self-sufficiently, unceasingly and unlimitedly increasing in You at every moment. Indeed, You are unlimited enjoyment and blissful existence itself. As far as we are concerned, O Lord, we are always after material enjoyment. You do not need all these sacrificial arrangements, but they are meant for us so that we may be benedicted by Your Lordship. All these sacrifices are performed for our fruitive results, and they are not actually needed by You. Being self-sufficient, the Supreme Lord does not need huge sacrifices. Fruitive activity for a more opulent life is for those who desire such material opulence for their interest. if we do not act to satisfy the Supreme Lord. we engage in mäyä's activities. We may construct a gorgeous temple and spend thousands of dollars, but such a temple is not required by the Lord. The Lord has many millions of temples for His residence. and He does...

Skandham-5. Chapter-3. Slokam-7. We have engaged in Your worship with many things and have offered  sacrifices unto You, but we think that there is no need for so many arrangements to please Your Lordship. Sri Rupa Maharishi says that if one is offered varied foods but has no appetite, the offering has no value. In a big sacrificial ceremony there may be many things accumulated to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but if there is no devotion, attachment or love for the Lord, the arrangement is useless. The Lord is complete in Himself, and He does not need anything from us. However, if we offer Him a little water, a flower and a tulasi leaf, He will accept them. Bhakti, devotional service, is the main way to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is not a question of arranging huge sacrifices. The priests were regretful, thinking that they were not on the path of devotional service and that their sacrifice was not pleasing to the Lord. Continue...

Skandham-5. Chapter-3. Slokam-6. O Supreme Lord, You are full in every respect. You are certainly very satisfied when Your devotees offer You prayers with faltering voices and in ecstasy bring You tulasé leaves, water, twigs bearing new leaves, and newly grown grass. This surely makes You satisfied. One does not need great wealth, education or opulence to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If one is fully absorbed in love and ecstasy, he need offer only a flower and a little water. As stated in Bhagavad-gétä, patraà puñpaà phalaà toyaà yo me bhaktyä prayacchati: "If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower. fruit or water, I will accept it." (Bg. 9.26) The Supreme Lord can be pleased only by devotional service: therefore it is said here that the Lord is surely satisfied by devotion and nothing else. Quoting from the Gautaméya-tantra, the Hari-bhakti-viläsa states:  "Sri Krishna, who is very affectionate toward His devotees,...

Skandham-5. Chapter-3. ( 3. RSabhadeva's Appearance in the Womb of Merudevi, the Wife of King Nabhi : ) Slokam-4 & 5. The priests began to offer prayers to the Lord, saying: O most worshipable one, we are simply Your servants. Although You are full in Yourself, please, out of Your causeless mercy, accept a little service from us, Your eternal servants. We are not actually aware of Your transcendental form, but we can simply offer our respectful obeisances again and again, as instructed by the Vedic literatures and authorized acaryas. Materialistic living entities are very much attracted to the modes of material nature, and therefore they are never perfect, but You are above the jurisdiction of all material conceptions. Your name, form and qualities are all transcendental and beyond the conception of experimental knowledge. Indeed, who can conceive of You? In the material world we can perceive only material names and qualities. We have no other power tha...