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Canto 1 Creation
What is Srimad-Bhagavatam?
This r mad-Bh gavatam is the literary incarnation of God, and it is compiled by r la Vy sadeva, the incarnation of God. It is meant for the ultimate good of all people, and it is all-successful, allblissful and all-perfect. (SB1.3.40)
This Bh gavata Pur na is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Krsna to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the age of Kali shall get light from this Pur na. (SB 1.3.43)
r mad-Bh gavatam 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.
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In the r madBh gavatam there are ten divisions of statements regarding the following: the creation of the universe
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subcreation
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planetary systems
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That Purana is known as SrimadBhagavatam which explains the topmost principles of religion with reference to the Gayatri mantra and which tells of the killing of the demon Vrtra. This Purana has eighteen thousand verses. Matsya Purana
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Bhagavatam is the essence of All Vedas This Srimad-Bhagavatam is the most perfect Purana. It is the natural commentary on the Vedanta-Sutra, it establishes the meaning of the Mahabharata, it is a commentary on Gayatri, it explains and expands the meaning of the Vedasit was spoken by the Supreme Lord Himself. It has twelve cantos, hundreds of chapters, and eighteen thousand verses-Garuda Purana
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Thus the great sage Vy sadeva, who is very kind to the ignorant masses, edited the Vedas so they might be assimilated by less intellectual men. Out of compassion, the great sage thought it wise that this would enable men to achieve the ultimate goal of life. Thus he compiled the great historical narration called the Mah bh rata
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Summary of the Questions asked by Saunaka 1. Pleaseexplain to us, in an easily understandable way, what you have ascertained to be the absolute and ultimate good for the people in general. (Text 1.1.9) Answer: (Text 1.2.6) 2. There are many variety of scripturesTherefore, O Sage, please select the essence of all these scriptures and explain it for the good of all living beings, by such instructions their hearts may be fully satisfied. (Text 1.1.11) Answer: (1.2.7) 3. You know for what purpose the Personality of Godhead appeared in the womb of Devaki as the son of Vasudeva. (Text 1.1.12) Answer: (1.2.34 and Tenth Canto) 4. [The Lords] transcendental acts are magnificent and gracious, and great learned sages like Narada sing of them. Please, therefore, speak to us, who are eager to hear about the adventures He performs in his various incarnations. (Text 1.1.17) Answer: (1.2.30) 5. O wise Suta, please narrate to us the transcendental pastimes of the Supreme Godheads multi-incarnations. Such auspicious adventures and pastimes of the Lord, the Supreme Controller, are performed by His internal powers. (Text 1.1.18) Answer: First Canto, Third Chapter. 6. Since, Sri 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. (Text 1.1.23) Answer: (1.3.43)
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The great sages are [1]always anxious to do good to the people in general, and as such the sages headed by aunaka and others [2]assembled at this holy place of Naimis ranya with [3]a program of performing a great and continuous chain of sacrificial ceremonies. Forgetful men do not know the right path for peace and prosperity. However, the sages know it well, and therefore for the good of all men they are always anxious to perform acts which may bring about peace in the world. They are [4]sincere friends to all living entities, and at the [5]risk of great personal inconvenience they are [6]always engaged in the service of the Lord for the good of all people. (Purport SB 1.1.4) 32
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Lord Visnu is just like a great tree, and all others, including the demigods, men, Siddhas, C ranas, Vidy dharas and other living entities, are like branches, twigs and leaves of that tree. By pouring water on the root of the tree, all the parts of the tree are automatically nourished. Only those branches and leaves which are detached cannot be so satisfied. Detached branches and leaves dry up gradually despite all watering attempts. Similarly, human society, when it is detached from the Personality of Godhead like detached branches and leaves, is not capable of being watered, and one attempting to do so is simply wasting his energy and resources. (Purport SB 1.14) 39
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Vrtr sura said: All living entities who have taken birth in this material world must die. Surely, no one in this world has found any means to be saved from death. Even providence has not provided a means to escape it. Under the circumstances, death being inevitable, if one can gain promotion to the higher planetary systems and be always celebrated here by dying a suitable death, what man will not 41 accept such a glorious death?
Vrtrasura Encouragement
There are two ways to meet a glorious death, and both are very rare. One is to die after performing mystic yoga, especially bhakti-yoga, by which one can control the mind and living force and die absorbed in thought of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The second is to die on the battlefield, leading the army and never showing one's back. These two kinds of death are recommended in the stra as glorious.
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But if in this battle you cut off my head with your thunderbolt and kill my soldiers, O Indra, O great hero, I shall take great pleasure in offering my body to other living entities [such as jackals and vultures]. I shall thus be relieved of my obligations to the reactions of my karma, and my fortune will be to receive the dust from the lotus feet of great devotees like N rada Muni. O my Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, will I again be; able to be a servant of Your eternal servants who find shelter only at Your lotus feet? O Lord of my life, may I again become their servant so that my mind may always think of Your transcendental attributes, my words always glorify those attributes, and my body always engage in the loving service of Your Lordship?
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O my enemy, just look at me. I have already been defeated, for my weapon and arm have been cut to pieces. You have already overwhelmed me, but nonetheless, with a desire to kill you, I am trying my best to fight. I am not at all morose, even under such adverse conditions. Therefore you should give up your moroseness and 44 continue fighting.
Vrtrasura Encouragement
O my enemy, consider this battle a gambling match in which our lives are the stakes, the arrows are the dice, and the animals acting as carriers are the game board. No one can understand who will be defeated and who will be victorious. It all depends on providence.
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