Srimad Bhagavatam, Volume 3

Srimad Bhagavatam has been declared by Sri Caitanya as the only authentic
commentary on the Brahma Sutram. It is well known that Bhagavan
Vedavyasa compiled the different Vedas and the Upanisads, as also laid down
the true import of the same by means of his aphorisms, known as Brahma
Sutram. The Sutram being difficult. he further condescended to write the
Bhagavatam in the form of Puranam with the object of making the teachings
of theVedas, as laid down in the Brahma Sutram, an easy access. This shows
the great importance of the Bhagavatam a work from the pen of the great
compiler of the Vedas himself as the right key to the secret lore of the Vedas
and the Upanisads, though it is not written in the style of an usual
commentary on the Brahma Sutram.
Being unware of such significance of the Bhagavatam, the Indian mind has
been used to hold that the Bhagvatam carries only the Bhakti cult of the
Pancharatra tradition, and is not directy concerned with the teachings of the
Vedas. The major emphasis, therefore, given to the Sariraka and the other
Bhasyas of the Brahma Sutram, and the claims of the Bhagavatam in this
direction was ignored altogether. It has therefore, been the signal service of
Sri Caitanya and his school of Goudiya Vaisanavas to install the Bhagavatam
in the place of honour which it deserves as the only rightful descendent of the
vedic lore coming down straight from Bhagavan Vyasadeva himself Thus
taking the Bhagavatam as the sole commentary on the Brahma-Sutram we not
only rightly assess the full scope of the Bhagavatam, but also to a proper
comprehension of the subject matter of the Brahma-Sutram itself which has
been the matter of great controversy amongst its authoritative commentators.
We are, indeed, very grateful to Sri A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami for both of
his volumes on the Bhagavatam, in which he has spared no pains to interpret
the Bhagavatam in the right manner showed by Sri Caitanya and his school, as
also clear up the misunderstanding regarding the scope of its teachings. His
'Elaborate Puport' appended to each verse of the test has been quite
illuminating in this respect. We have no doubt that with the publication of
these volumes the rightful interpretation of the Bhagawatam, which has been
the gift of Sri Caitanya and his Goswami followers, has now been made
available to the English knowing world for the first time, and that it will go a
great way in making the great foutain-head of Divine knowledge and Lovewhich
the Bhagawatam is-rightly appreciated and whole heartedly accepted
by the wohle of the humanity.
These volumes speak very highly of Swamiji's scholarship and specially of his
love of cultural pursuits, when we look into his enormous labour and sacrifice
in producing them almost single-handed and that, too, at the ripe age of 68.
We earnestly pray to the Almighty that He may spare Swamiji for all the years
he may require to finish his Magnum opus of 60 volumes, and earn the love
and gratitude of his fellowmen in the pursuit of Divine Love and Grace-nay of
the entire humanity.