Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 1 Chapter 2

Canto 1 Chapter 2 Divinity and Divine Services BREAKDOWN SECTION 1 (1.2.1 – 1.2.5) — 1.2.5) — Çréla Süta Gosvämé’s reply begins with obeisances SECTION 2 (1.2.6 – 1.2.7) — Çréla Çréla Süta Gosvämé’s answers, Çaunaka Åñi’s first and second questions SECTION 3 (1.2.8 – 1.2.15) — Only Bhakti is to be gained through performance performance of one’s work SECTION 4 (1.2.16 – 1.2.21) — Bhakti progresses SECTION 5 (1.2.22 – 1.2.29) — The conclusion is that Hari, Väsudeva, Lord Kåñëa is the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and only He should be served (1.2.22) – Çréla Süta Gosvämé concludes 1.2.16 – 1.2.21 (1.2.23 – 1.2.25) – The worship of Brahmä, Viñëu & Çiva (1.2.26 – 1.2.27) – Worship of the other demigods (1.2.28 – 1.2.29) – Väsudeva Väsudeva is the actual object of worship SECTION 6 (1.2.30 – 1.2.34) — Väsudeva, Kåñëa manifests the material worlds in His 3 Viñëu features ( puruña puruña -avatärs ) (1.2.30 – 1.2.33) – Answer to question 4 raised by the sages in SB 1.1.17 (1.2.34) – Answer to question question 3 (from SB 1.1.12)

S E C T I O N I (1.2.1 — 1.2.5) 1 Çréla Süta Gosvämé attempts to reply – – Srila Vyasadeva reports that Çréla Süta Gosvämé perfectly satisfied by the questions, thanked and attempted to reply Qualifications of Çréla Çukadeva Gosvämé (text 2 & 3) – Çréla Süta Gosvämé offers obeisances to his spiritual master, Çréla Çukadeva Gosvämé and acknowledges spiritual master’s grace by enumerating his qualifications qualifications 2A Çukadeva Gosvämé can can enter the heart of all – Therefore Çréla Süta Gosvämé begs his grace so that this message can satisfy the hearts of all kinds of audience (Para 3 ) • Power of a Vaiñëava to elevate all kind of people, even a low born to the highest platform (kiräta-hüëändhra , Ref: SB 2.4.18) 2B Çréla Çukadeva Gosvämé Gosvämé is beyond the need of reformatory reformatory ceremonies Çréla Çukadeva Gosvämé being a Vaiñëava fulfils the ultimate aim of varëäçrama training (another example: Srila Haridas Thakur) Study the process of varëäçrama as prescribed for one willing to study Vedas (para 1 & o •

Lesson I : Anyone, therefore, who becomes a Vaiñëava accepted by the first-class Vaiñëava, or uttama-adhikäré Vaiñëava, is already considered a brähmaëa, regardless of his birth or past deeds Lesson II : Any lowborn person—be he a Kiräta, Hüëa, Ändhra, Pulinda, Pulkaça, Äbhéra, Çumbha, Yavana, Khasa or even lower—can be delivered to the highest transcendental position by the mercy of Vaiñëavas

2) LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 1.2.2 & 1.2.3 Srila Çukadeva Gosvämé who is described as having power to deliver all living entities spoke this most confidential supplement to Vedänta-sütra out of great compassion for struggling conditioned souls Bhakti Vaibhava

Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 1, Chapter 2

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In Text 3 Çréla Süta Gosvämé practically summarizes the complete introduction of ÇrémadBhägavatam 3A Position of Srila Çréla Çukadeva Gosvämé as the spiritual master of all the sages – “spoke this most confidential supplement to the cream of Vedic knowledge, after having personally assimilated it by experience”[Translation] Srila Çréla Çukadeva Gosvämé is a thoroughly realize master, both on Vedänta-sütra and its commentary (para 1) • To avoid of the misuse of Vedänta-sütra by unscrupulous men, Vyasadev gave a natural commentary, Çrémad-Bhägavatam (para 2) Çrémad-Bhägavatam – unrivaled commentery ; Sankracarya did not even touch ÇrémadBhägavatam ; avoid mayavadis misleading opinion (para 3) Çrémad-Bhägavatam as a literature for Paramahaàsa and transcendental torchlight to see the Absolute truth as Brahman, Paramätmä, and Bhagavän; in the darkest region of creation (para 3) •

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3B Great compassion of Çréla Çukadeva Gosvämé in the form of Çrémad-Bhägavatam •

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Çréla Çukadeva Gosvämé’s mood of reciting – boundless mercy upon bewildered conditioned souls Status of conditioned living entities – bewildered in the darkest region of creation. Material world as darkest region of creation Still one can get out simply by desiring o Why do they not get out? Analogy of a “foolish camel and thorns” o Karmis Vs. intelligent jïänés – Vedänta-sütra is meant for jïänés

4 Setting the way of chanting Puräëas (To be follow by all preachers) – Çréla Süta Gosvämé continues offering obeisances feeling unqualified and begging for mercy. Thus he sets the way of chanting Puräëas by offering obeisances to 4 personalities 5 Acknowledging the audience – Çréla Süta Gosvämé offers respects to the sages of Naimiñäraëya for asking questions which have three characteristics – • kåñëa-sampraçno – They are about Kåñëa Questions of the sages are perfect – They are the sum and substance of the Vedic o inquiries (Ref Bg 15.15 vedaiç ca sarvair..) in line with the theme of Çrémad-Bhägavatam, that is, focus on Absolute truth (Ref: SB 1.1.1) (Para 1) • Loka-maìgalam – for the welfare of the world Whole world is full of questions - birds, beasts, humans ( Para 2) o But no one is satisfied • Ätmä suprasédati ! completely pleasing to the self Complete satisfaction of soul only by questions about Kåñëa (Para 3) o !

Lesson I : Satisfaction of the soul can only be obtained by questions and answers on the subject of Kåñëa, which is possible by hearing and reading Çrémad-Bhägavatam Lesson II : One should learn the Çrémad-Bhägavatam and make an all-around solution to all problems pertaining to social, political or religious matters. Çrémad-Bhägavatam and Kåñëa are the sum total of all things

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S E C T I O N I I (1.2.6 — 1.2.7) Text 6 & 7 present the standard of first class, transcendental religion 6A Answers the first question of the sages – The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord • Two types of occupations prescribed by the Vedas (para 1) – pravåtti-märga , or the path of sense enjoyment, and the other is called the nivåtti-märga, the path of sacrifice • Superior quality of occupation – The path of sacrifice for supreme cause (devotional service ) is the superior path out of the two because Material life is the diseased life – Temporary, illusory and full of misery o Actual life is the spiritual existence – Eternal blissful and full of happiness o • Devotional service is the eternal occupation (para 2) Dharma implies “that which sustains one’s existence” o Living being’s sustenance of existence is to coordinate his activity with the all attractive o Supreme Lord Krsna – in a relationship of servant and the served Realize the intimacy – This relationship of servant and the served is the most congenial o form of intimacy It’s a new experience, have patience – This relationship is transcendental and is o completely distinct from our experience in material existence. One can realize it as devotional service progresses Lesson : Everyone should engage himself in that transcendental loving service of the Lord, even in the present conditional state of material existence. That will gradually give one the clue to actual life and please him to complete satisfaction 6B Must be pure in quality – Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self (Ahaituki apratihata) • Any mixture of material enjoyment aggravates the material disease and increases its duration (para 1) 7 Answer to the second question of the sages about the essence of all scriptures – All scriptures ultimately point out bhakti as the supreme most occupation • As a process (para 1) Bhakti is topmost transcendental activity and not material emotional affairs – Fulfills all o purposes and processes of revealed scriptures Process: Sublime for pure devotee and easy for neophytes o Qualification: Open for all (top to bottom) – Ref Bg 9.32, 33. o Includes all other processes as corollary factors o • In terms of expected results (para 2) Pure devotional service gives all good qualities o Gives perfect knowledge and real detachment by the grace of almighty o

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S E C T I O N I I I (1.2.8 — 1.2.15) LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 1.2.7 & 1.2.8 Çréla Süta Gosvämé now adds emphasis to his assertion of the importance of Bhakti, by speaking the same truth of SB 1.2.6, but in negative terms

Occupational duties and Kåñëa consciousness (Text 8-11) 8 Devotional service as the ultimate need – without which there is no satisfaction of the spirit soul in any occupational duty • Three different kind of occupational duties are defined according to man’s different conceptions of life – bodily level, mental level and spiritual level (para 1) • No satisfaction without fulfilling the needs of the soul (para 2) Analogy: Cleaning cage of the bird o • Need of spirit soul is to get out of limited sphere of material bondage and fulfill the desire of complete freedom, only possible in devotional service (para 3) Failure of even Salvationists to pickup the fountainhead of all liberties o Lesson I : Without knowing the need of the dormant soul, one cannot be happy simply with emolument of the body and mind Lesson II : There is a dormant affection for God within everyone; spiritual existence is manifested through the gross body and mind in the form of perverted affection for gross and subtle matter. Therefore we have to engage ourselves in occupational engagements that will evoke our divine consciousness

LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 1.2.8 & 1.2.9 One may ask, “Its wonderful to think that goal of my work is loving Kåñëa, but practically speaking, isn’t the first objective of my work is to provide an income to ensure to security and comfort of me and my family?” 9 Material gain is never the goal – Definitely “No”. Main purpose of occupational duty is liberation from material life and any material gain achieved should not be used for sense gratification Material gain is the usual motivating factor in any occupational duty including those of religion, for any ordinary man Pure devotional service is automatically followed by “perfect knowledge” and “detachment” from material world – thus material gain is not emphasized •

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LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 1.2.9 & 1.2.10 Then how do we use material gain for? 10 Search for the Absolute Truth must be the ultimate end – Material gain should be used only for self preservation and healthy life, not for sense gratification; purpose of human life is to inquire about Absolute truth and one should be overwhelmed with such research work Misdirected material civilization has sense gratification as ultimate end in all spheres of life (political field to Salvationists) Correct direction for real happiness – engage in seeking the Absolute truth •

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Lesson : Seekers of the Absolute Truth are never allured by unnecessary engagements in sense gratification because the serious students seeking the Absolute Truth are always overwhelmed with the work of researching the Truth Bhakti Vaibhava


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LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 1.2.10 & 1.2.11 What is the Absolute Truth? 11 Absolute Truth defined – Çréla Süta Gosvämé defines the Absolute truth as one non-dual substance perceived differently as Brahman, Paramätmä and Bhagavän Less intelligent arguers Vs. perfect seers of Absolute Truth (Para 1) In the Absolute, there is no sense of relativity, because knower is non-different from known Cause of relativity in material world – Living entities identifies with inferior energy o • •

LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 1.2.11 & 1.2.12 How can we realize Absolute Truth in full?

Importance of hearing SB as a process to achieve perfection (Text 12-22) 12 Devotional service as the means to realize – By rendering devotional service according to what has been heard from Vedänta-çruti, and thus based on foreground of full knowledge and detachment form material association Bhaktas as the best of four classes of humans and the three classes of transcendentalists Three kinds of devotee (bhaktas) based on degree of knowledge and detachment Path of realization by proper reception form the right source (Para 2) Avoid nondevotee reciters – Analogy of serpant and milk o Without proper hearing, there is no actual progress. (Ref: çruti småti… ) • • •

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Lesson : A sincere devotee must, therefore, be prepared to hear the Vedic literature like the Upaniñads, Vedänta and other literatures left by the previous authorities or Gosvämés, for the benefit of his progress. Without hearing such literatures, one cannot make actual progress. And without hearing and following the instructions, the show of devotional service becomes worthless and therefore a sort of disturbance in the path of devotional service 13 Devotional service as the only purpose of Varëäçrama – Everyone’s aim, regardless of external situation(varëa or äçrama), should be to please the Personality of Godhead Cause of artificial predominance in Varëäçrama – because aim of life is missed by too much sense gratification Actual purpose of divisons of Varëäçrama – Smooth social intercourse and high thinking selfrealization Highest perfection of Varëäçrama – Cooperate jointly for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord •

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LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 1.2.13 & 1.2.14 Accepting the preeminence of Bhakti, how should we act? 14 By any means, focus on devotional service – With one pointed attention, hear, glorify, remember, and worship Personality of Godhead, the protector of devotees. Carry out this goal by any means (Çréla Prabhupäda says) Four general occupations in any varëa and äçrama, which usually brings no good for anyone “One pointed attention” - Redirect these 4 tendencies (to glorify etc) to the real object of glorification, the Supreme being. That is the way to real happiness. (Essence of Purport) • •

LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 1.2.14 & 1.2.15 But how can I remove the karmic reactions that bind me to the world and cause me to value things other than Kåñëa?

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15 Remembering Kåñëa overpowers all karmic conditionings Sharp sword of remembering Kåñëa slashes through these knots and thus cuts through our material existence, therefore practice such remembrance Kåñëa’s activities are beyond the modes, transcendental and thus spiritualizes the condition soul Liberation (cutting the knot of fruitive bondage) is the byproduct of devotional service Pure jïäna without coating of Bhakti cannot give liberation o Bhakti yoga is independent of karma and jïäna o Text 15 presents “the perfect way, that is, devotional service” to cut through material knots Role of guidance of Gosvämés literatures, to practice devotional service for all varëa and o äçrama •

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Lesson : Therefore, any sensible man who is above the average man with a poor fund of knowledge must constantly remember the Personality of Godhead by hearing about Him, by glorifying Him, by remembering Him and by worshiping Him always, without cessation. That is the perfect way of devotional service

LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 1.2.15 & 1.2.16 One may honestly ask, “What can I do? As easy and important as the process may be, I simply have not acquired the taste either for chanting or hearing Kåñëa katha ? - Answered in 1.2.16-1.2.21 more thoroughly

SECTION IV (1.2.16 — 1.2.21)

BH AKTI

Pro gr ess es

16A Serve great souls – Perform service to those devotees who are free form all vices “Mercy of great souls” as the only hope for hopelessly destined demoniac souls who are discussed here based on Bg 16.19-20 “Punya tirtha nisevänat” – Serve great souls on the platform of God, but they are not God They are called mahätmäs, or térthas – they preach according to particular time and o place, to urge people to become devotees They never tolerate being called God – e.g Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu o •

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Lesson I : The servants of God come to propagate God consciousness, and intelligent people should cooperate with them in every respect Lesson II : The Lord is more pleased when He sees that His servants are properly respected because such servants risk everything for the service of the Lord and so are very dear to the Lord 16B Such service gives taste for hearing Gain the quality by serving them, especially the foremost qualification for going back to Godhead – “EAGERNESS TO HEAR” •

LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 1.2.16 & 1.2.17 What next? 17 Lord helps the sincere soul and cleanses the heart – Kåñëa, the Supersoul in the heart is pleased. And cleanses the desire for material enjoyment. Lord is reciprocally respondent and helps devotees in all respects, when He sees the sincerity Transcendental sound is non-different form Kåñëa. (punya – sravana – kirtana ) (para 1) •

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Lord is more anxious and eager to help, responds to even a slight sincerity of a few interested men (para 2) Lord’s help has great power to help us cross over any kind of sins (para 3) Grace of God gives “sufficient strength” and eliminates “all disturbing elements”. (especially women and wealth) (para 4)

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LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 1.2.17 & 1.2.18 What occurs after we become eager to hear, which begins the clearing of material desires from the heart?

Text 18 gives two effects of Bhägavata sevä (Text 18A & 18B) 18A Bhägavata sevä destroys all anarthas – All troublesome to the heart is completely destroyed • Thus, Çréla Prabhupäda establishes Bhägavata sevä as the remedy for eliminating all inauspiciousness from the heart – “Person and Book Bhägavataas” Human reason fails to understand the power of Bhägavata-sevä Potency of Bhägavata sevä – e.g Närada Muni o Conclusion: Receive book Bhägavata from person Bhägavata – Their combination will help one to make on going progress •

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18B Gradually loving service is established as an irrevocable fact LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 1.2.18 & 1.2.19 What happens after a devotee reaches nishtä as indicated by the word naiñöhiké in Text 1.2.18? 19 Effect of lower modes disappear – Effects of passion and ignorance (like lust, desire and hankering) disappear from heart. Thus established in goodness, there is complete happiness Text 1.2.19 indicates, it is difficult to advance in Bhakti under passion (which causes destruction) and ignorance (which causes sleepiness) Satisfaction/ happiness – devotees’ satisfaction in transcendental state (brahma-bhüta/ ätmänandé ) Vs. satisfaction of inactive fool in ignorance Activity – devotional service is unalloyed activity of the soul and not a state of inactivity Frees one from all diseased activity and fixes one in çuddha-sattva / vasudev state – one o sees Kåñëa eye to eye Qualities – Devotee is qualified with all good qualities of God, and is never harmful, foolish or passionate •

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LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 1.2.19 & 1.2.20 What does a progressive soul experience after Bhakti?

Text 20 gives two effects after being established in pure goodness (Text 20A & 20B) 20A Mind is enlivened by devotional service 20B Gains positive scientific knowledge of the Personality of Godhead • Thus Çréla Prabhupäda establishes how Text 1.2.20 explains the qualification necessary for us to know the Supreme Personality of Godhead – one qualifies to attain such knowledge only after complete freedom from all material association (modes) • Çréla Prabhupäda establishes the rarity of such knowledge (Ref Bg 7.3 & 18.55) 21 Describes the liberation and reiterates the effects already described – Liberation from fruitive bondage and perfect enlightenment is thus a byproduct of “Scientific knowledge of Personality of Godhead” Bhakti Vaibhava


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• Perfect enlightenment – Attaining “scientific knowledge of Personality of Godhead” means

seeing ones own self simultaneously (para 1) Analogy : Kåñëa is like sun; all misgivings about self which are like darkness are o destroyed Ref Bg 10.11, Lord personally enlightens and eradicates all the misgivings in the heart of o sincere devotee • Perfect way of receiving enlightenment – Submissive aural reception by service and surrender and non challenging attitude (para 2) • Result of enlightenment by devotional service (para 3) Knot of ahankara is untied and freedom from chain of karma o Lesson I : One cannot challenge the authority of the Supreme and know Him also at the same time. He reserves the right of not being exposed to such a challenging spirit of an insignificant spark of the whole, a spark subjected to the control of illusory energy

S E C T I O N V (1.2.22 — 1.2.29) 22 Conclusion of texts 16 to 21 – Speciality of devotional service is described as providing great delight to all the transcendentalists because it is enlivening to the self Speciality of forms of Kåñëa as compared to other forms of personality of Godhead – Original form and more attractive to the higher transcendentalist Forms of Kåñëa and Balaräm provides more facility for intimate personal contact Lord’s pastimes are eternal but are manifested in due course, one’s in a day of Brahma Analogy: Eternal pastimes are compared to rising of sun on the eastern horizon o Thus refutes that pastimes of Kåñëa are something newly accepted o •

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LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 1.2.22 & 1.2.23 What about Brahmä, Viñëu and Çiva? They are creator, maintainer and destroyer of the universe. Aren’t these powerful deities the natural recipients of devotional offerings? – One may ask. Thus Çréla Süta Gosvämé explains the relationship between the deities and Kåñëa in ÇrémadBhägavatam 1.2.23 – 25

Kåñëa in relation to His various expansions (Text 23-29) 23 Ultimate benefit comes from Viñëu worship – Transcendental personality of Godhead is indirectly associated with modes and accept 3 qualitative forms – Brahmä, Viñëu and Çiva, but ultimate benefit is from Viñëu, the form of quality of goodness Thus this confirms that Kåñëa, by His plenary parts should be rendered devotional service, as explained in previous verses. Focus on following points in the purport – Various Viñëu-tattvas and Kñérodakaçäyé Viñëu as the deity of quality of goodness Manifestations of Viñëu as integrated forms (Godhead) and separated forms (jévas) Viñëu forms are always beyond material energy, unlike the jévas o To continue prison life worship demigods/ to be released, worship Viñëu • •

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24 Come to the mode of goodness to worship Viñëu – One has to rise to the platform of goodness (sattva) to be eligible to perform devotional service and to realize the Absolute Truth Analogy of fire wood : for how Goodness is better than Passion, which is better than Ignorance (see translation) Bonafide spiritual master can expertly elevate anyone from tamas to sattva and further irrespective of any impediments •

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Forms of material energy (E.g: demigods) cannot help any one to raise to sattva guëä and get out of material existence; only Viñëu-tattva can help Mode of passion can only give a slight clue of realization of Absolute Truth

Lesson : Sincere candidates must, therefore, approach an expert spiritual master for such a progressive march, and the bona fide, expert spiritual master is competent to direct a disciple from any stage of life: tamas, rajas or sattva 25 Mahäjanas reveal the goal of religion – Thus great sages in the past have set the purpose of all religion and whom to worship to achieve that ultimate aim Purpose of religion - release oneself from material bondage and regain the life of freedom in the transcendental world Conclusion: Follow 12 Mahäjanas and know the purpose of religion to attain supreme benefit •

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26 Respect demigods but reject demigod worship – One may respect demigods but never equalize Viñëu-tattva and jiva-tattva ; thus this verse rejects demigod worship Difference between Viñëu-tattva and jiva-tattva by power (para 2) One who puts them in same category is called päñaëòé o Choice of worship is based on different modes (para 3 ) Serious seekers of liberation worship only Viñëu-tattva (only Viñëu is mukti-päda , not even Brahmä etc) •

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LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 1.2.26 & 1.2.27 Why people still worship demigods if Viñëu can provide all – because of the effect of lower modes 27 Worship of demigods (and any jiva-tattvas ) is motivated by material desires under effect of lower modes Less intelligent men worship demigod (Ref: Bg 7.20-23) Ultimate provider of all material gain is Viñëu Himself and not the demigods Material gain is entangling – Aim of life is to end miseries and not to increase material gain (Para 1) Demigod worship condemned – examples Demigod worship rejected by Kåñëa in Vrindavana o SB 1.1.2 (kaitava dharma ) condemns demigod worship for material gain as cheating o religion • • •

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Lesson : One should work hard and worship the Supreme Lord by the fruits of one's hard labor for existence, and that should be the motto of life LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 1.2.27 & 1.2.28 There is only one religion in the world to be followed by one and all, and that is the Bhägavata-dharma, or the religion which teaches one to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead and no one else. This is explained in next verse 28 In Conclusion Väsudev /Sri Kåñëa is the only object of worship and the goal of all religion References from BG used in purport to support these points Väsudev as goal of Vedas – Established in para 1 based on Bg 15.15 & 7.19 o Väsudev as goal of Sacrifices – Established in para 2 based on Bg 3.9 o Väsudev as goal of Yoga – Established in para 2 based on Bg 6.15 & 6.40 o Väsudev as goal of Knowledge – Established in para 3 based on Bg 13.11 (18 point of o knowledge) Väsudev as goal of Austerities – Established in para 4 based on Bg 16.17 (austerity in o mode of goodness) Para 5 – Aim of all sacrifices/yoga/ knowledge/ austerities and aim of everything life is •

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To change the quality of energy influencing us – material or spiritual Constantly engage in devotional service to remain under the shelter of divine energy o (Ref: BG 9.13) • Lord is always transcendental to material energy Analogy – King Vs. managers & prisoners with respect to law (Lord is transcendental to o prisoners and managers, that is jévas and demigods) o

Lesson : No one should bother himself with fruitive activities or dry speculation about transcendental knowledge. Everyone should at once engage himself in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. Nor should one worship different demigods who work as different hands of the Lord for creation, maintenance or destruction of the material world

LINK BETWEEN TEXTS 1.2.29 & 1.2.30 In Texts 30-34, Çukadeva Gosvämé answers fourth question of Çréla Süta Gosvämé. Now Çréla Süta Gosvämé described that the same Vasudeva, who is the goal of all worship, acts as Viñëu feature to create the material world 30 Lord begins as Käraëodakaçäyé Viñëu – Lord creates all causal and effectual energies for material world, but remains transcendental and spiritual (this is accepted by Çaìkaräcärya) 31 Then Lord expands as Garbhodakaçäyé Viñëu and then Kñérodakaçäyé Viñëu – Lord enters the material substance to help the living entities, but remains transcendental (Ref. sruti – Analogy of two birds) 32 Analogy: Lord as supersoul pervades all , like fire permeates wood, but remains absolute one without a second Appear to be of many varieties – Matter, anti matter, proton etc., are all different effects of Paramätmä’s features of the Lord How to perceive that Absolute one without a second? – By the process of legitimate hearing and chanting of transcendental subject matters Analogy: Fire in wood can be kindled by fire – need of divine grace of spiritual master by receptive ear to kindle the spiritual consciousness Humanity Vs. Animality – A human being can hear properly, whereas an animal cannot •

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33 Supersoul helps the living entity to fulfill their desires of material happiness and He also tries to convert them to real happiness Analogy: father is not directly but indirectly affected by suffering and enjoyment of the sons •

34 Answers to the third question of Çaunaka Åñi, “Lord descends as incarnations to reclaim those in the mode of pure goodness” deva-tiryaì-narädiñu – Lord incarnates in every living society (demigods and other species) to create a desire for back to Godhead lokän vai loka-bhävanaù – Lord appears differently in time place and circumstances but not change His transcendental position Lélävatäränurato – Lord may appear Himself as incarnation or through representative •

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1.2 DIVINITY AND DIVINE SERVICE Important questions for memorization Bhakti Vaibhava


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Define dvija, vipra & Vaiñëava. (2) Explain the terms pravåtti-märga & nivåtti-märga (6) Identify 3 levels of occupational duties (8) What is the first qualification of a devotee eligible for entering the kingdom of God? (16) List some of the results of serving the servant of God. (16) List the two very difficult problems for the devotee on the path back to Godhead. (17) What is the remedy for eliminating all inauspicious things within the heart? (18) Explain how a devotee Bhägavata is as good as the book Bhägavata. (18) Describe the specialty of devotional service unto Lord Çré Kåñëa (22) Describe the development of consciousness resulting from hearing about Krsna. (17-22) Explain the term Bhägavata-dharma (27) Briefly analyze the role of the Paramätmä. (31-34)

List of essay questions

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Qualifications of Srila Çukadeva Gosvämé (2-3) Supreme occupational duty (6-7) Occupational duty and Kåñëa consciousness (8-11) Three feature of Absolute Truth (11) Importance of hearing SB as the process to achieve perfection (12-22) Kåñëa in relation to various expansions (23-29)

Analogies: 1.2.8: Without knowing the need of the dormant soul, one cannot be happy simply with emolument of the body and mind. The body and the mind are but superfluous outer coverings of the spirit soul. The spirit soul's needs must be fulfilled. Simply by cleansing the cage of the bird, one does not satisfy the bird. One must actually know the needs of the bird himself. 1.2.23: as maintenance of the prison house is concerned, it is done by Viñëu, as much as the state prison house is maintained by the state. Anyone, therefore, who wishes to get out of this prison house of material existence, which is full of miseries like repetition of birth, death, disease and old age, must please Lord Viñëu for such liberation. 1.2.28-29: In the prison house there are the prisoners and the managers of the prison house. Both the managers and the prisoners are bound by the laws of the king. But even though the king sometimes comes in the prison, he is not bound by the laws of the prison house. The king is therefore always transcendental to the laws of the prison house, as the Lord is always transcendental to the laws of the material world. 1.2.33:The sufferings and enjoyments of the sons are indirectly the sufferings and enjoyments of the father. Still the father is not in any way affected directly by the suffering and enjoyment of the sons.

Bhakti Vaibhava


11

Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 1 Chapter 2

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