SB (1965) Volume 3 front matter
Vedanta & Srimad Bhagwatam
Review by The Indian Philosophy & Culture, Vrindaban
Quaterly Journal of the
INSTITUTE OF ORIENTAL PHILOSOPHY
Vrindaban U.P. (INDIA)
SEPTEMBER
1964
Srimad Bhagavatam Second Part Canto 1, Chap. VII, verse 8, to Chap. XII with Original Text, Transliteration, English synonym, English Translation and Purport of the text. Edited by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. Published by the League of Devotees, Vrindaban (U. P.) 1964. Page vii, iv, 65 to 748. Price Rs 16/- only.
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 Love-which the Bhagawatam is-rightly appreciated and whole heartedly accepted by the whole 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.
ALL GLORY TO SRI GURU AND GOURANGA
Yasya rastre prajah sarvas trasyante saddhi asadhubhih
Tasya mattasya nasyanti kirtir ayur bhaga gatih.
Esha rajnam paro dharmo hi artanam artinigrahah
Ata enam vadhisyami bhutadroha asattamam
(pp. 1023)
SRIMAD
BHAGWATAM
of
KRISHNA DWAIPAYANA VYAS
ENGLISH VERSION
(Third Volume)
By A.C. BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI
LIST OF OTHER BOOKS
(In English)
- 1. GEETOPANISHAD.
- 2. CHAITANYA CHARITAMRITA ESSAYS AND TEXT.
- 3. SCIENCE OF DEVOTION.
- 4. EASY JOURNEY TO OTHER PLANETS.
- 5. PRACTICAL THEISM.
- 6. MESSAGE OF GODHEAD.
- 7. ISOPANISHAD.
- 8. PRAYERS OF KING KULASHEKHAR.
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SRIMAD
BHAGWATAM
THIRD PART
(From Thirteenth to Nineteenth Chapters End
of the First Canto)'
Original Sanskrit text, Roman transliteration, English
Synonyms of word to word, English
Translation and
Elaborate PURPORTS
by
A.C. BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI
1965
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