Srimad Bhagavatam, Volume 3

Srimad Bhagawatam, First Canto, Volume Three
dsstributing sound in the air. So instead of vibrating some nuisance sound of
sense enjoyment, if the state arranges to distribute sound transcendental in the
shape of resounding the holy name, fame, activities of the Lord as they are
authorisedly stated in the Bhagwat Geeta or Shrimad Bhagwatam then,
certainly a favourable condition will be created and re-establishing the
principles of religiosities in the world and thus the executive heads who are so
much anxious to drive away corruption from the world, will be successful by
this good attempt. Nothing is bad if they are properly used for the service of
lord.
Na anudwesti kalim samrat saramga iva sarabhuk
Kusalani asu sidhanti netarani kritani yat.
Na—never, Anudwesti—necessarily grudges, Kalim—un to the personality of
Kali, Samarat—the emepror, Saramgo—realist like the bees, Iva—like,
Sarabhuk—one who accepts the substance, Kusalani—auspicious objects,
Asu—immediately, Sidhyanti—become successful, Na—never, Itarani—
which are inauspieious, Kritani—being performed, Yat—as and as.
Maharaj Parikshit was realist as the bees who are apt to accept the
essence only. He knew it perfectly well that in this age of kali auspicious
things produce good effects immediately while the opposite number acts
when actually performed. So he was never envious unto the personality of
Kali.
The age of Kali is called in other words the fallan age. In this fallan age on
account of the living being's having been fallan in an awkward position the
Supreme Lord has given some spectal facilities to them in this age. So by the
will of the Lord a living being does not become a victim of sinful act untill
one actually performs the same. In other ages simply by thinking of doing a
sinful act one used to become a victim of the act. On the contrary a living
being, in this age it is awarded with the result of pious acts simply by thinking
of it Maharaj Parikshit being the most learned and experienced king by the
Grace of the Lord, he was not unnecessarily envious of the personality of
Kali, because he had in his mind not to give any chance to him for performing
any sinful act. He protected his subjects from falling a prey to the sinful acts
of the age of Kali and at the same time he gave full facility to the age of Kali
by alloting him some particnlar places. As we will have it at the end of the
Srimad Bhagwatam it is said there that inspite of all nefarious activities of the
personaiity of Kali, there is a great advantage of the age of Kali that one can
attain salvation simply by chanting the holy name of the Lord. As such the
King Parikshit Maharaj made organised effort to propagate chanting of the
holy name of the Lord and thus he saved the citizens from the clutches of the
Kali. It is for this advantage only sometimes great sages wish all good for the
age of Kali. In the vedas also it is said that by discourse of Lord Krishna's
activities one can get rid of all disadvantages of the age of Kali. In the
beginning of the Srimad Bhagwatam it is also said that recitation of Srimad
Bhagwatam the Supreme Lord becomes at once arrested within one's heart.
These are some of the great advantages of the age of Kali and Maharaj
Parikshit took all the advantages and did not think any ill of the age of the
Kali, true to his Vaishnaivte cult.
Kim nu valesu surena kalina dhira bhiruna
Apramattah pramattesu yo vriko nrisu vartate
Kim—what, Nu—may be, Valesu—among the less intelligent persons,
Surena—by the powerful, Kalina—by the personality of Kali Dhira—self
controlled, Bhiruna—by one who is afraid of, Apramattah—one who is
careful, Pramattesu—among the uncareful, Yo—one who, Vriko—tiger,
Narisu—among the men, Vartate—exists.
Maharaj Parikshit thought within himself that the personality of Kali
might be very powerful for the less intelligent class of men but those who
are self controlled have nothing to be afraid of him He is tiger-like
powerful and careful for the uncareful foolish persons.
Those who are not devotees of the Lord are so to say uncareful less intelligent
person. Unless one is not throughly intelligent, one cannot be a devotee of the
Lord. Those who are not devotees of the Lord fall prey to the actions of Kali.
Therefore, the only antidote for the actions of the personality of Kali namely
gambling intoxication, prostitution and slaughrteting of animals the four
primary basic heads of all corruptions in the human society. By
promulgamation of statutory acts against corruption or by setting up enquiry
commissions against such corruptions, committed even by the heads of
administration and merchants it will not be possible to bring about a saner
condition in the society unless we are prepared to accept the modes of action
adopted by Maharaj Parikshit i. e. to say by propagation of devotional service
of the Lord among the common man.
Upavarnitam etad vah punyam parikshitam maya
Vasudeva katha upetam akshyanam yad aprichhata.
Upavarnitam—almost everything described, Etad—all these, Vah—unto you,
Punyam—pious, Parikshitam—about Maharaj Parikshit, Maya—by me,
Vasudeva—Lord Krishna, Katha—narrations, Upetam—in connection with,
Akhyanam—statements, Yad—what, Aprichhaia—you asked from me.
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Oh the sages, now I have almost described everything in the matter of
narrations about Lord Krishna in connection with the history of the
pious king Maharaj Parikshit, as you did ask from me.
Srimad Bhagwatam means the history of the activities of the Lord. And the
activities of the Lord are performed in relation with the devotees of the Lord.
Therefore, the history of the devotees is not different from the history of Lord
Krishna's activities. A devotee of the Lord accepts both the activities namely
the activities of the Lord as well as that of His pure devotees, on the equal
level as they are all transcendental.
Ya yah katha bhagawatah kathaniyo urukarmanah
Guna karma ashrayah pumbhih samsevyas ta vubhusubhih.
Ya—whatever, Yah—and whatsoever, Kathah—topics, Bhagwatah—about
the Personality of Godhead, Kathaniyo—were to be spoken by me,
Urukarmanah—of Him who acts wonderfully, Guna-transcendental qualities,
Karma—uncommon deeds, Ashrayah—involving, Pumbhih—by persons,
Samasevyas—ought to be heard by, Sa—all of them, Vubhusubhih—by those
who want their own welfare.
Those who are desirous of achieving complete perfection of life must
submissively hear all topics in connection with the transcendental
activities and qualities of the Personality of Godhead who acts
wonderfully.
Systematic hearing of the transcendental activities, qualities and name of Lord
Sri Krishna pushes one towards eternal life. Systematic hearing means to
know Him gradually in truth and fact, and this knowing Him in truth and fact
means to attain eternal life as it stated in the Bhagwat Geeta. Such
transcendental glorified activities of Lord Sri Krishna is the prescribed
remedy for counteracting the process of birth, death, oldage and diseases
considered to be material awards for the conditioned living being.
Culmination to such perfectional stage of life is the goal of human life by
attainment of transcendental bliss.
When we hear about the transcendental qualities and activities of the
Personality of Godhead, we may always remember what has been spoken by
the Lord Himself in the Bhagwat Geeta (Bg. 4.9) His acts, even when He acts
in the human society, are all transcendental as they are all accentuated by the
spiritual energy of the Lord distinguished from His material energy. As stated
in the Bhagwat Geeta such acts are called "Divyam" means He does not act or
take His birth like an ordinary living being under the custody of material
energy. Neither His body is material nor changeable like that of ordinary
living beings. And one who understands this fact either on the version of the
Lord or through authorised sources does not also take his birth again after
leaving the present material body. Such enlightened soul is admitted in the
spiritual realm of the Lord and be engaged in transcendental loving service of
the Lord. Therefore, the more we hear about the transcendental activities of
the Lord as they are stated in the Bhagwat Geeta and Shrimad Bhagwatm, the
more we can know about His transcendental nature and thus make definite
progress on the path of Back-to-Godhead.
Sri Risayah uchuh:
Suta jiba samah soumya saswatim visadam yasah
Yastam samsasi krishnasya martyanam amritam hi nah.
Sri Risayah uchuh-The good sages said, Suta-oh suta Goswami, Jiba—we
wish you live for, Samah—many years, Saumya—grave Saswatim—eternal,
Visadam—particularly, Yasah—in fame, Yastam—because you, Samsasi—
speaking nicely, Krishnasya—of Lord Sri Krishna, Martanam—of those who
die, Amritam—eternaty of life, Hi—certainly, Nah—our.
The good sages said, oh you grave Suta Goswami! may you live for many
years with eternal famc particularly because you are very nicely speaking
about the activities of Lord Krishna the Personality of Godhead and they
are just like nectarine for mortal being like us.
Systematic hearing of the transcendental activities, qualities and name of Lord
Sri Krishna pushes one towards eternal life. Systmatic hearing means to know
Him gradually in truth and fact; and this knowing Him in truth and fact means
to attain eternal life as it stated in the Bhagwat Geeta. Such transeendental
glorified activities of Lord Krishna is the prescribed remedy for counteracting
the process of birth, death, oldage and diseases considered to be material
awards of the conditioned living being. Culmination to such perfectional stage
of life is the goal of human life by attainment of transcendental bliss.
Karmani asmin anaswase dhuma dhumratmanam bhavan
Apayayati govinda pada padma asavam madhu.
Karmani—performance of, Asmin—in this, Anaswase—without any
certainty, Dhuma—smoke, Dhumratmanam—tinged body and mind,
Bhavan—your goodself, Apayayati—very much pleasing, Govinda—the
Personality of Godhead, Pada—feet, Padmasava—nectarine of lotus flower,
Madhu—honey.
The sages said, "we have just begun performance of this fruitive activity
namely sacrificial fire without any certainty of its result on account of