Canto 1 |
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Chapter 1: Questions by the Sages
(1) Let there be the salutation of the original appearance of Him, Vâsudeva, the Fortunate One, from whom, being present here and in the beyond, for the purpose of recollection and full independence, the vedic knowledge in the heart was imparted of the first created being [Lord Brahmâ]. About Him are the enlightened [as surely also the ordinary] souls, like with a mirage of water to the [fire of the] sun, in a state of illusion wherein, through the action and reaction of the modes of material nature, there is the illusion of the factual. Upon Him I meditate who is always self-sufficient and of the transcendental, the negation free from illusion and the Absolute of the truth.
(2) Herein [in this book] is rejected deceitful religiosity [of ulterior motives], and finds one the highest, comprehensible to selfless truth-loving ones. Herein is offered the factual substance of well-being that uproots the threefold miseries [as caused by oneself, others and by nature]. What is the need of other stories when in here is found the beautiful story of the Fortunate One as compiled by the great sage [Vyâsadeva] which, with help of the ones pious and diligently of service, forthwith in the heart confines the Controller. (3) It is the ripened fruit from the desire tree of the vedic literatures that flowing from the lips of S'ukadeva manifested as sweet nectar perfect in every way; o you expert and thoughtfull ones delighting in devotion, ever relish the home of the S'rîmad Bhâgavatam!
(4) In the forest of Naimishâranya, a spot favored by Vishnu, sages headed by the sage S'aunaka performed a thousand-year sacrifice for the Lord of heaven and the devotees on earth. (5) One morning, burning the sacrificial fire, with due respect, the sages asked S'rîla Sûta Gosvâmî, who was offered a seat of honor, the following: (6) "You, free from all vice as you are and familiar with the stories and historical records, are said to be well versed in the religious scriptures that you explained as well. (7) As the eldest of the scholars of the Vedas you know Vyâsadeva, the Lord among them - and Sûta, you know as well the other ones well versed in physical and metaphysical knowledge. (8) Being so conversant, pure and simple by their grace, tell us, your honor, of the secrets you have learned from those spiritual masters as a submissive disciple. (9) Being blessed thereof with ease and a long life, from your goodness please tell us, what you could ascertain to be the absolute and ultimate good that all people deserve. (10) In general, o honorable one, are the people in this age of Kali lazy, misguided, unlucky and above all disturbed. (11) There are many scriptures with as many prescribed duties each separately demanding attention. Therefore o sage, tell us for the good of all living beings what, to the best of your knowledge, is the essence by which the soul is satisfied. (12) Be blessed Sûta, you know the purpose for which the Supreme One, the protector of the devotees, appeared in the womb of Devakî as the son of Vasudeva. (13) Please, for the good and upliftment of all living beings explain it to us, aching for it, as you should [after the tradition]. (14) Entangled in the complications of birth and death will we, even not being fully conscious, find liberation if we respect the name of the Lord who is feared by fear itself. (15) O Sûta, simply associating in devotion will sanctify us directly, as Ganges water would do but only after using it. (16) Who, eager for liberation, wouldn't rather want to hear of the Lord His worshipable virtuous deeds and His glories as the sanctifier in the Age of Quarrel [Kali]? (17) He is hailed by the great souls for His transcendental glories. Please tell us, who are eager to believe, about the pastimes of His descend in time. (18) Therefore, describe to us, o sagacious one, the auspicious adventures and pastimes of the multiple incarnations of the Supreme Controller His personal energies. (19) We, relishing the palatable at every step, are never tired of associating with the One Glorified and hearing about His adventures. (20) In the guise of a human being was He with Balarâma [His elder brother] of a superhuman performance. (21) Knowing of the onset of the Age of Kali, we for a longer period have assembled to sacrifice here at this place reserved for the devotees, taking our time to listen to the stories about the Lord. (22) By providence we met your goodness to help us as the captain of the ship through this insurmountable age of Kali that is so threatening to the good qualities. (23) Please tell us with whom we should take shelter, now the Lord of Yoga S'rî Krishna, who is the Absolute Truth and the protector of the religion, has left for His own abode."
Second edition, loaded 22 Jan. 2006.
Source texts:
Questions by the Sages
Let there be the salutation of the original appearance of Him, Vâsudeva, the Fortunate One, from whom, being present here and in the beyond, for the purpose of recollection and full independence, the vedic knowledge in the heart was imparted of the first created being [Lord Brahmâ]. About Him are the enlightened [as surely also the ordinary] souls, like with a mirage of water to the [fire of the] sun, in a state of illusion wherein, through the action and reaction of the modes of material nature, there is the illusion of the factual. Upon Him I meditate who is always self-sufficient and of the transcendental, the negation free from illusion and the Absolute of the truth.O my Lord, S'rî Krishna, son of Vasudeva, O all-pervading Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. I meditate upon Lord S'rî Krishna because He is the Absolute Truth and the primeval cause of all causes of the creation, sustenance and destruction of the manifested universes. He is directly and indirectly conscious of all manifestations, and He is independent because there is no other cause beyond Him. It is He only who first imparted the Vedic knowledge unto the heart of Brahmâjî, the original living being. By Him even the great sages and demigods are placed into illusion, as one is bewildered by the illusory representations of water seen in fire, or land seen on water. Only because of Him do the material universes, temporarily manifested by the reactions of the three modes of nature, appear factual, although they are unreal. I therefore meditate upon Him, Lord S'rî Krishna, who is eternally existent in the transcendental abode, which is forever free from the illusory representations of the material world. I meditate upon Him, for He is the Absolute Truth. (Vedabase)
Herein [in this book] is rejected deceitful religiosity [of ulterior motives], and finds one the highest, comprehensible to selfless truth-loving ones. Herein is offered the factual substance of well-being that uproots the threefold miseries [as caused by oneself, others and by nature]. What is the need of other stories when in here is found the beautiful story of the Fortunate One as compiled by the great sage [Vyâsadeva] which, with help of the ones pious and diligently of service, forthwith in the heart confines the Controller.
Completely rejecting all religious activities which are materially motivated, this Bhâgavata Purâna propounds the highest truth, which is understandable by those devotees who are fully pure in heart. The highest truth is reality distinguished from illusion for the welfare of all. Such truth uproots the threefold miseries. This beautiful Bhâgavatam, compiled by the great sage Vyâsadeva [in his maturity], is sufficient in itself for God realization. What is the need of any other scripture? As soon as one attentively and submissively hears the message of Bhâgavatam, by this culture of knowledge the Supreme Lord is established within his heart. (Vedabase)
It is the ripened fruit from the desire tree of the vedic literatures that flowing from the lips of S'ukadeva manifested as sweet nectar perfect in every way; o you expert and thoughtfull ones delighting in devotion, ever relish the home of the S'rîmad Bhâgavatam!
O expert and thoughtful men, relish S'rîmad-Bhâgavatam, the mature fruit of the desire tree of Vedic literatures. It emanated from the lips of S'rî S'ukadeva Gosvâmî. Therefore this fruit has become even more tasteful, although its nectarean juice was already relishable for all, including liberated souls. (Vedabase)
In the forest of Naimishâranya, a spot favored by Vishnu, sages headed by the sage S'aunaka performed a thousand-year sacrifice for the Lord of heaven and the devotees on earth.
Once, in a holy place in the forest of Naimishâranya, great sages headed by the sage S'aunaka assembled to perform a great thousand-year sacrifice for the satisfaction of the Lord and His devotees. (Vedabase)
One morning, burning the sacrificial fire, with due respect, the sages asked S'rîla Sûta Gosvâmî, who was offered a seat of honor, the following:
One day, after finishing their morning duties by burning a sacrificial fire and offering a seat of esteem to S'rîla Sûta Gosvâmî, the great sages made inquiries, with great respect, about the following matters. (Vedabase)
"You, free from all vice as you are and familiar with the stories and historical records, are said to be well versed in the religious scriptures that you explained as well.
The sages said: Respected Sûta Gosvâmî, you are completely free from all vice. You are well versed in all the scriptures famous for religious life, and in the Purânas and the histories as well, for you have gone through them under proper guidance and have also explained them. (Vedabase)
As the eldest of the scholars of the Vedas you know Vyâsadeva, the Lord among them - and Sûta, you know as well the other ones well versed in physical and metaphysical knowledge.
Being the eldest learned Vedantist, O Sûta Gosvâmî, you are acquainted with the knowledge of Vyâsadeva, who is the incarnation of Godhead, and you also know other sages who are fully versed in all kinds of physical and metaphysical knowledge. (Vedabase)
Being so conversant, pure and simple by their grace, tell us, your honor, of the secrets you have learned from those spiritual masters as a submissive disciple.
And because you are submissive, your spiritual masters have endowed you with all the favors bestowed upon a gentle disciple. Therefore you can tell us all that you have scientifically learned from them. (Vedabase)
Being blessed thereof with ease and a long life, from your goodness please tell us, what you could ascertain to be the absolute and ultimate good that all people deserve.
Please, therefore, being blessed with many years, explain to us, in an easily understandable way, what you have ascertained to be the absolute and ultimate good for the people in general. (Vedabase)
In general, o honorable one, are the people in this age of Kali lazy, misguided, unlucky and above all disturbed.
O learned one, in this iron age of Kali men have but short lives. They are quarrelsome, lazy, misguided, unlucky and, above all, always disturbed. (Vedabase)
There are many scriptures with as many prescribed duties each separately demanding attention. Therefore o sage, tell us for the good of all living beings what, to the best of your knowledge, is the essence by which the soul is satisfied.
There are many varieties of scriptures, and in all of them there are many prescribed duties, which can be learned only after many years of study in their various divisions. Therefore, O sage, please select the essence of all these scriptures and explain it for the good of all living beings, that by such instruction their hearts may be fully satisfied. (Vedabase)
Be blessed Sûta, you know the purpose for which the Supreme One, the protector of the devotees, appeared in the womb of Devakî as the son of Vasudeva.
All blessings upon you, O Sûta Gosvâmî. You know for what purpose the Personality of Godhead appeared in the womb of Devakî as the son of Vasudeva. (Vedabase)
Please, for the good and upliftment of all living beings explain it to us, aching for it, as you should [after the tradition].
O Sûta Gosvâmî, we are eager to learn about the Personality of Godhead and His incarnations. Please explain to us those teachings imparted by previous masters [âcâryas], for one is uplifted both by speaking them and by hearing them. (Vedabase)
Entangled in the complications of birth and death will we, even not being fully conscious, find liberation if we respect the name of the Lord who is feared by fear itself.
Living beings who are entangled in the complicated meshes of birth and death can be freed immediately by even unconsciously chanting the holy name of Krishna, which is feared by fear personified. (Vedabase)
O Sûta, simply associating in devotion will sanctify us directly, as Ganges water would do but only after using it.
O Sûta, those great sages who have completely taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord can at once sanctify those who come in touch with them, whereas the waters of the Ganges can sanctify only after prolonged use. (Vedabase)
Who, eager for liberation, wouldn't rather want to hear of the Lord His worshipable virtuous deeds and His glories as the sanctifier in the Age of Quarrel [Kali]?
Who is there, desiring deliverance from the vices of the age of quarrel, who is not willing to hear the virtuous glories of the Lord? (Vedabase)Text 17
He is hailed by the great souls for His transcendental glories. Please tell us, who are eager to believe, about the pastimes of His descend in time.
His transcendental acts are magnificent and gracious, and great learned sages like Nârada sing of them. Please, therefore, speak to us, who are eager to hear about the adventures He performs in His various incarnations. (Vedabase)
Therefore, describe to us, o sagacious one, the auspicious adventures and pastimes of the multiple incarnations of the Supreme Controller His personal energies.
O wise Sûta, please narrate to us the transcendental pastimes of the Supreme Godhead's multi-incarnations. Such auspicious adventures and pastimes of the Lord, the supreme controller, are performed by His internal powers. (Vedabase)
We, relishing the palatable at every step, are never tired of associating with the One Glorified and hearing about His adventures.
We never tire of hearing the transcendental pastimes of the Personality of Godhead, who is glorified by hymns and prayers. Those who have developed a taste for transcendental relationships with Him relish hearing of His pastimes at every moment. (Vedabase)
In the guise of a human being was He with Balarâma [His elder brother] of a superhuman performance.
Lord S'rî Krishna, the Personality of Godhead, along with Balarâma, played like a human being, and so masked He performed many superhuman acts. (Vedabase)
Knowing of the onset of the Age of Kali, we for a longer period have assembled to sacrifice here at this place reserved for the devotees, taking our time to listen to the stories about the Lord.
Knowing well that the age of Kali has already begun, we are assembled here in this holy place to hear at great length the transcendental message of Godhead and in this way perform sacrifice. (Vedabase)
By providence we met your goodness to help us as the captain of the ship through this insurmountable age of Kali that is so threatening to the good qualities.
We think that we have met Your Goodness by the will of providence, just so that we may accept you as captain of the ship for those who desire to cross the difficult ocean of Kali, which deteriorates all the good qualities of a human being. (Vedabase)
Please tell us with whom we should take shelter, now the Lord of Yoga S'rî Krishna, who is the Absolute Truth and the protector of the religion, has left for His own abode."
Since S'rî Krishna, the Absolute Truth, the master of all mystic powers, has departed for His own abode, please tell us to whom the religious principles have now gone for shelter. (Vedabase)
For
this original translation a one-volume printed copy
has been used with an extensive commentary.
ISBN: o-91277-27-7
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