Volume 7 - Prabhupada

254 Sri Caitanya-caritamta [Madhya-lila, Ch. 19PURPORTSrTia Bhaktisiddhanta SarasvatT Thakura gives the following commentary on thewords bhagavata vicara. As confirmed in the MuQc;iaka Upani?ad (1.1.4,5), thereare two kinds of educational systems:dve vidye veditavya iti, ha sma yad brahma-vido vadanti-para caivapara ca.tatrapara rg-vedo yajur-vedal) sama-vedo 'tharva-vedal) sik?a kalpo vyakaraQarilniruktaril chando jyoti?am iti. atha para yaya tad-ak?aram adhigamyate."There are two kinds of educational systems. One deals with transcendentalknowledge [para vidya] and the other with material knowledge [apara vidya]. Allthe Vedas-g Veda, Yajur Veda, Sarna Veda, Atharva Veda and their corollariesknown as sik$a, kalpa, vyakaraQa, nirukta, chanda and jyoti?a-belong to the inferiorsystem of material knowledge [apara vidya]. By para vidya, one can understandthe ak?ara, Brahman or the Absolute Truth." As far as Vedic literature is concerned,Vedanta-sutra is accepted as the para vidya. Srimad-Bhagavatam is an explanationof that para vidya. Those who aspire for liberation (mukti or mok?a) andintroduce themselves as vaidantika are also equal to those groups aspiring to improvereligion (dharma), economic development (artha) and sense gratification(kama). Dharma, artha, kama and mok?a are called catur-varga. They are all withinthe system of inferior material knowledge. Any literature giving information aboutthe spiritual world, spiritual life, spiritual identity and the spirit soul is called paravidya. Srimad-Bhagavatam does not have anything to do with the materialisticway of life; it gives transcendental information to educate people in the superiorsystem of para vidya. Sanatana GosvamT was engaged in discussing thebhagavata-vidya, which means he discussed transcendental superior knowledge.Those who are karmis, jflanis or yogis are not actually fit to discuss Srimad­Bhagavatam. Only Vail)avas or pure devotees are fit to discuss that literature. Asstated in Srimad-Bhagavatam itself (12.13.18):srimad-bhagavataril puraQam amalaril yad vai?Qavanaril priyarilyasmin paramahamsyam ekam amalaril jflanaril pararil giyateyatra jflana-viraga-bhakti-sahitaril nai?karmyam avi?krtariltac chwvan supathan vicaraQa-paro bhaktya vimucyen narai)Although Srimad-Bhagavatam is counted among the PuraQas, it is called the spotlessPuraQa. Because it does not discuss anything material, it is liked by transcendentalVail)ava devotees. The subject matter found in Srimad-Bhagavatam ismeant for paramaharilas. As it is said: paramo-nirmatsaraQam. A paramaharilsa isone who does not live in the material world and who does not envy others. InSrimad-Bhagavatam, devotional service is discussed to arouse the living entity tothe transcendental position of jflana (knowledge) and vairagya (renunciation). Asstated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.12):