Srimad Bhagavatham : 6.3.19.

Skandham-6


Chapter-3.


Slokam-19.




dharmam  tu  sakshad  bhagavat-pramitam


na  vai  vidur rshayo  napi  devah,



na  siddha-mukhya  asura  manushyah


kuto  nu  vidyadhara-caranadayah.



dharmam  =  real religious principles, or bona fide laws of religion;

tu  =  but;

sakshat  =  directly;

bhagavat—by the Supreme Personality of Godhead;

pranitam  =  enacted;

na  =  not;

vai  =  indeed;

viduh  =  they know;

rshayah  =  the great rishis such as Bhrgu;

na  =  not;

api  =  also;

devah  =  the demigods;

na  =  nor;

siddha-mukhyah  =  the chief leaders of Siddhaloka;

asurah  =  the demons;

manushyah  =  the inhabitants of Bhulokam, the human beings;

kutah  =  where;

nu  =  indeed;

vidyadhara  =  the lesser demigods known as Vidyadharas;

carana  =  the residents of the planets where people are by nature great musicians and singers;

adayah  =  and so on.



Real religious principles are enacted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although fully situated in the mode of goodness, even the great rishis who occupy the topmost planets cannot ascertain the real religious principles, nor can the demigods or the leaders of Siddhaloka, to say nothing of the asuras, ordinary human beings, Vidyadharas and Caranas.

When challenged by the Vishnudutas to describe the principles of religion, the Yamadutas said, veda-pranihito dharmah: the religious principles are the principles enacted in the Vedic literature. They did not know, however, that the Vedic literature contains ritualistic ceremonies that are not transcendental, but are meant to keep peace and order among materialistic persons in the material world.


Real religious principles are nistraigunya, above the three modes of material nature, or transcendental. The Yamadutas did not know these transcendental religious principles, and therefore when prevented from arresting Ajamila they were surprised.

Materialistic persons who attach all their faith to the Vedic rituals are described in Bhagavad-gita (2.42) -

 wherein Krishna says :  "veda-vada-ratah partha nanyad astiti vadinah" :

'the supposed followers of the Vedas say that there is nothing beyond the Vedic ceremonies.'


Indeed, there is a group of men in India who are very fond of the Vedic rituals, not understanding the meaning of these rituals, which are intended to elevate one gradually to the transcendental platform of knowing Krishna :

(vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah [Bg. 15.15]).

Those who do not know this principle but who simply attach their faith to the Vedic rituals are called veda-vada-ratah.



Herein it is stated that the real religious principle is that which is given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That principle is stated in Bhagavad-gita.

Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja: [Bg. 18.66]

 one should give up all other duties and surrender unto the lotus feet of Krishna. That is the real religious principle everyone should follow. Even though one follows Vedic scriptures, one may not know this transcendental principle, for it is not known to everyone. To say nothing of human beings, even the demigods in the upper planetary systems are unaware of it. This transcendental religious principle must be understood from the Supreme Personality of Godhead directly or from His special representative, as stated in the next slokams.

To be continued  ...