By Agrani Krishna Das, ISKCON Bangalore
Srimad-Bhagavatam, an epic philosophical and literary classic, holds a prominent position in India’s voluminous written wisdom. The timeless wisdom of India is expressed in the Vedas, ancient Sanskrit texts that touch upon all fields of human knowledge. Originally preserved through oral tradition, the Vedas were first put into writing by Srila Vyasadeva, the “literary incarnation of God.” After compiling the Vedas, Srila Vyasadeva was inspired by his spiritual master to present their profound essence in the form of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Known as “the ripened fruit of the tree of Vedic literature, “Srimad-Bhagavatam is the most complete and authoritative exposition of Vedic knowledge.
After writing the Bhagavatam, Vyasa taught it to his son, Shukadeva Goswami, who later spoke the Bhagavatam to Maharaja Parikshit in an assembly of sages on the bank of the sacred Ganges River. Although Maharaja Parikshit was a great rajarshi (saintly king) and the emperor of the world, when he learned he would die in seven days, he renounced his entire kingdom and retired to the bank of the Ganges to seek spiritual enlightenment. The questions of Kind Parikshit and Shukadeva Goswami’s illuminating answers, concerning everything from the nature of the self to the origin of the universe, are the basis of Srimad-Bhagavatam.
This edition of Bhagavatam is the only complete English translation with an elaborate and scholarly commentary, and it is the first edition widely available to the English-reading public. This work is the product of the scholarly and devotional effort of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the world’s most distinguished teacher of Indian religious and philosophical thought. His Sanskrit scholarship and intimate familiarity with Vedic culture combine to reveal a magnificent exposition of this important classic.
With its comprehensive system of providing the original Sanskrit text, roman transliteration, precise word-for-word equivalents, a lucid English translation and a comprehensive commentary, it will appeal to scholars, students and laymen alike. The entire multivolume text, promises to occupy a significant place in the intellectual, cultural and spiritual life of modern man for a long time to come.
What the reviewers say about Srimad-Bhagavatam, by His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada:
“It has been my great pleasure recently to have read the Srimad-Bhagavatam in the superb edition authorized by A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. I am sure this monumental work will go far to bring the sublime message of Bhagavatam to numerous people who otherwise would miss this opportunity.”
Dr. Alex Wayman
Professor of Sankrit
Columbia University
“Srimad-Bhagavatam is a valuable source material for several categories of readers. With its exhaustive plan of providing the original Sanskrit text, its Roman transliteration, English synonyms, English translation and elaborate commentary by a scholar and practitioner of philosophy, it is attractive to serious students and scholars of religion and philosophy. I recommend this series to anyone as an important and useful reference work.”
Professor C.P.Agarwal
Chariman
Department of Humanities
University of Michigan
Book a copy for yourself
You may choose to keep a copy for yourself or give it as a gift to your parents or relatives. The narrations in Srimad-Bhagvatam are so interesting that once started reading, you will never keep the book down. Due to Gita Jayanti month, the Srimad-Bhagavatam is now available at the discounted rates as follows:
English – Actual cost – Rs 9,999/- After discount – Rs 8100/-
Kannada – Actual cost – Rs 6666/- After discount – Rs 5100/-
Hindi – Actual cost – Rs 6666/- After discount – Rs 5400/-
Other languages available – Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Malyalam, Marathi (not complete), Oriya (not complete)
Free delivery in Bangalore. In case of other cities, postal charges include.
To order your copy, you can either contact me on agranikrishnadasa@gmail.com or on +91 9844108109/ +91 9342671723
Discounts valid till Jan 20th, 2013
Preface to Srimad-Bhagavatam by His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
We must know the present need of human society. And what is that need? Human society is no longer bounded by geographical limits to particular countries or communities. Human society is broader than in the Middle Ages, and the world tendency is toward one state or one human society. The ideals of spiritual communism, according to Srimad-Bhagavatam, are based more or less on the oneness of the entire human society, nay, of the entire energy of living beings. The need is felt by great thinkers to make this a successful ideology. Srimad-Bhagavatam will fill this need in human society. It begins, therefore, with the aphorism of Vedanta philosophy janmady asya yatau [SB 1.1.1] to establish the ideal of a common cause.
Human society, at the present moment, is not in the darkness of oblivion. It has made rapid progress in the field of material comforts, education and economic development throughout the entire world. But there is a pinprick somewhere in the social body at large, and therefore there are large-scale quarrels, even over less important issues. There is need of a clue as to how humanity can become one in peace, friendship and prosperity with a common cause. Srimad-Bhagavatam will fill this need, for it is a cultural presentation for the respiritualization of the entire human society.
Disparity in human society is due to lack of principles in a godless civilization. There is God, or the Almighty One, from whom everything emanates, by whom everything is maintained and in whom everything is merged to rest. Material science has tried to find the ultimate source of creation very insufficiently, but it is a fact that there is one ultimate source of everything that be. This ultimate source is explained rationally and authoritatively in the beautiful Bhagavatam, or Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Srimad-Bhagavatam is the transcendental science not only for knowing the ultimate source of everything but also for knowing our relation with Him and our duty toward perfection of the human society on the basis of this perfect knowledge. It is powerful reading matter in the Sanskrit language, and it is now rendered into English elaborately so that simply by a careful reading one will know God perfectly well, so much so that the reader will be sufficiently educated to defend himself from the onslaught of atheists. Over and above this, the reader will be able to convert others to accepting God as a concrete principle.
Srimad-Bhagavatam begins with the definition of the ultimate source. It is a bona fide commentary on the Vedanta-sutra by the same author, Srila Vyasadeva, and gradually it develops into nine cantos up to the highest state of God realization. The only qualification one needs to study this great book of transcendental knowledge is to proceed step by step cautiously and not jump forward haphazardly like with an ordinary book. It should be gone through chapter by chapter, one after another. The reading matter is so arranged with its original Sanskrit text, its English transliteration, synonyms, translation and purports so that one is sure to become a God-realized soul at the end of finishing the first nine cantos.
The Tenth Canto is distinct from the first nine cantos because it deals directly with the transcendental activities of the Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna. One will be unable to capture the effects of the Tenth Canto without going through the first nine cantos. The book is complete in twelve cantos, each independent, but it is good for all to read them in small installments one after another.
I must admit my frailties in presenting Srimad-Bhagavatam, but still I am hopeful of its good reception by the thinkers and leaders of society on the strength of the following statement of Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.5.11):
tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavo
yasmin prati-slokam abaddhavaty api
namany anantasya yaso ‘Snkitani yac
chrnvanti gayanti gayanti sadhavah
“On the other hand, that literature which is full with descriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, fame, form and pastimes of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a transcendental creation meant to bring about a revolution in the impious life of a misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literatures, even though irregularly composed, are heard, sung and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest.”
Om tat sat
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Dated at Delhi
December 15, 1962
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