Narada Muni Instructs Vyasadeva

Chapter 4: The Appearance of Sri Narada

Ch. 4 OutlineCh. 4 Outline

1-13: Saunaka Inquires from Suta 1-13: Saunaka Inquires from Suta GosvamiGosvami

14-33: Suta Gosvami Retells Srila 14-33: Suta Gosvami Retells Srila Vyasadeva’s Accomplishments in Having Vyasadeva’s Accomplishments in Having Compiled the Vast Vedic LiteratureCompiled the Vast Vedic Literature

Saunaka Inquires about the Saunaka Inquires about the Bhagavatam’s HistoryBhagavatam’s History

Saunaka eagerness to hear Bhagavatam Saunaka eagerness to hear Bhagavatam has increased due to its being “as brilliant has increased due to its being “as brilliant as the sun” bestowing knowledge on those as the sun” bestowing knowledge on those in the darkness of Kali-Yugain the darkness of Kali-Yuga

Saunaka recognized Krishna-katha as the Saunaka recognized Krishna-katha as the medicine to cure the ills of kali-yuga.medicine to cure the ills of kali-yuga.

He probes deeper, asking Suta about the He probes deeper, asking Suta about the Bhagavatam’s HistoryBhagavatam’s History

Saunaka’s QuestionsSaunaka’s Questions

After hearing of the greatness of Bhagavatam, Suanaka inquires about the history of how the Bhagavatam came to be compiled and disseminated.

Serving the Purpose of BhagavatamServing the Purpose of Bhagavatam

A community of realized souls are required to serve the purpose of A community of realized souls are required to serve the purpose of Bhagavatam:Bhagavatam:

““Personal realization does not mean that one should, out of vanity, Personal realization does not mean that one should, out of vanity, attempt to show one's own learning by trying to surpass the previous attempt to show one's own learning by trying to surpass the previous acharya. He must have full confidence in the previous acharya, and acharya. He must have full confidence in the previous acharya, and at the same time he must realize the subject matter so nicely that he at the same time he must realize the subject matter so nicely that he can present the matter for the particular circumstances in a suitable can present the matter for the particular circumstances in a suitable manner. The original purpose of the text must be maintained. No manner. The original purpose of the text must be maintained. No obscure meaning should be screwed out of it, yet it should be obscure meaning should be screwed out of it, yet it should be presented in an interesting manner for the understanding of the presented in an interesting manner for the understanding of the audience. This is called realization… No learned man should be audience. This is called realization… No learned man should be willing to hear a person who does not represent the original acharya. willing to hear a person who does not represent the original acharya. So the speaker and the audience were bona fide in this meeting So the speaker and the audience were bona fide in this meeting where Bhagavatam was being recited for the second time. That where Bhagavatam was being recited for the second time. That should be the standard of recitation of Bhagavatam, so that the real should be the standard of recitation of Bhagavatam, so that the real purpose can be served without difficulty. Unless this situation is purpose can be served without difficulty. Unless this situation is created, Bhagavatam recitation for extraneous purposes is useless created, Bhagavatam recitation for extraneous purposes is useless labor both for the speaker and for the audience.” Prpt 1.4.1labor both for the speaker and for the audience.” Prpt 1.4.1

Saunaka’s First Set of InquiriesSaunaka’s First Set of Inquiries

Srila Vyasadeva how alreadyComplied all the Vedic literature,Including the MahaBharata.Therefore, what would inspireHim to go through all the troubleOf compling the another vast Vedic litearture, i.e., the Srimad-Bhagavatam.

Saunaka’s 2Saunaka’s 2ndnd Set of Questions Set of QuestionsSukadev was completely on the Transcendental platform, not even seeing the difference between male and female, or any species. Being so situated, he didn’t’ even were clothes. How was he recognize when he look like Dumb man, as the speaker of the Bhagavatam. Also, he never stayed in one spot longer then it takes one to milk a cow (30 min.) yet he stayed in one spot for 7 days to speak Bhagavatam?

Pariksit’s Birth and Amazing ActivitiesPariksit’s Birth and Amazing Activities

Saunaka’s 3Saunaka’s 3rdrd Set of Questions Set of Questions

Pariksit was born as Emperor of the World; he had no problemMaintain the kingdom; he was young and had the power to Enjoy fully; he didn’t even have to ask for taxes because Everybody was please, including his enemies, to bring all wealthTo him due to his great administration. He renounce all of this to Sit at bank of Ganga to hear Bhagavatam?

Compassion: The Inseparable Compassion: The Inseparable Quality of a DevoteeQuality of a Devotee

““Those who are devoted to the cause of Those who are devoted to the cause of the Personality of Godhead live only for the Personality of Godhead live only for the welfare, development and happiness the welfare, development and happiness of others. They do not live for any selfish of others. They do not live for any selfish interest. So even though the Emperor interest. So even though the Emperor [Parékñit] was free from all attachment to [Parékñit] was free from all attachment to worldly possessions, how could he give up worldly possessions, how could he give up his mortal body, which was shelter for his mortal body, which was shelter for others?” SB 1.1.12others?” SB 1.1.12

Realization: Real Qualification for Realization: Real Qualification for Speaking BhagavatamSpeaking Bhagavatam

““We know that you are We know that you are expert in the meaning expert in the meaning of all subjects, except of all subjects, except some portions of the some portions of the Vedas, and thus you Vedas, and thus you can clearly explain the can clearly explain the answers to all the answers to all the questions we have just questions we have just put to you.” SB 1.4.13put to you.” SB 1.4.13

Vyasadeva’s Difficulty: Answering Vyasadeva’s Difficulty: Answering the Saunaka’s First Set of Questionsthe Saunaka’s First Set of Questions ““The great sage Vyasadeva saw anomalies in The great sage Vyasadeva saw anomalies in

the duties of the millennium. This happens on the duties of the millennium. This happens on the earth in different ages, due to unseen forces the earth in different ages, due to unseen forces in the course of time The great sage, who was in the course of time The great sage, who was fully equipped in knowledge, could see, through fully equipped in knowledge, could see, through his transcendental vision, the deterioration of his transcendental vision, the deterioration of everything material, due to the influence of the everything material, due to the influence of the age. He could also see that the faithless people age. He could also see that the faithless people in general would be reduced in duration of life in general would be reduced in duration of life and would be impatient due to lack of goodness. and would be impatient due to lack of goodness. Thus he contemplated for the welfare of men in Thus he contemplated for the welfare of men in all statuses and orders of life..” SB 1.4.16-17all statuses and orders of life..” SB 1.4.16-17

Vyasadeva foresees the degradation of the peopleof the age of kali and deeply contemplates the welfare of the people during the age of kali. He thus concludes to complied the Vedic literature, in a more easily understood way, giving a means for the fallen to gradually progress toward the goal of life.

Division of the VedasDivision of the Vedas

Yajur Veda

Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva-Veda

Sumantu Muni Angira

Develops AtharvaVeda

Vaisampayana RishiDevelops Yajur

Veda

Jaimini RishiDevelops Sama

Veda

Paila RishiDevelops Rig Veda

The Fifth VedaThe Fifth Veda

Fifth Veda

Puranas Mahabharata Itihasas

Romaharsana Suta(Suta Gosvamis

Father)

Special Significance of Special Significance of MahabharataMahabharata

““The purpose of the Mahabharata is to The purpose of the Mahabharata is to administer the purpose of the Vedas, and administer the purpose of the Vedas, and therefore within this Mahabharata the summary therefore within this Mahabharata the summary Veda of Bhagavad-Gita is placed. The less Veda of Bhagavad-Gita is placed. The less intelligent are more interested in stories than in intelligent are more interested in stories than in philosophy, and therefore the philosophy of the philosophy, and therefore the philosophy of the Vedas in the form of the Bhagavad-Gita is Vedas in the form of the Bhagavad-Gita is spoken by the Lord Sri Krishna. Vyasadeva and spoken by the Lord Sri Krishna. Vyasadeva and Lord Krishna are both on the transcendental Lord Krishna are both on the transcendental plane, and therefore they collaborated in doing plane, and therefore they collaborated in doing good to the fallen souls of this age.” Prpt 1.4.25good to the fallen souls of this age.” Prpt 1.4.25

Result of Welfare without Krishna Result of Welfare without Krishna

““O twice-born Brahmanas, still his mind O twice-born Brahmanas, still his mind was not satisfied, although he engaged was not satisfied, although he engaged himself in working for the total welfare of himself in working for the total welfare of all people.” 1.4.26all people.” 1.4.26

““Thus the sage, being dissatisfied at heart, Thus the sage, being dissatisfied at heart, at once began to reflect, because he knew at once began to reflect, because he knew the essence of religion, and he said within the essence of religion, and he said within himself:” 1.4.27himself:” 1.4.27

““The sage began to search out the The sage began to search out the cause of not being satisfied at heart. cause of not being satisfied at heart. Perfection is never attained until one Perfection is never attained until one is satisfied at heart. This satisfaction is satisfied at heart. This satisfaction of heart has to be searched out of heart has to be searched out beyond matter.” SB 1.4.27beyond matter.” SB 1.4.27

“Actually our position is that we are always rendering service to someone, either to our family, country, or society. If we have no one to serve, sometimes we keep a pet cat or dog and render service to it. All these factors prove that we are constitutionally meant to render service, yet in spite of serving to the best of our ability, we are not satisfied. Nor is the person to whom we are rendering that service satisfied. On the material platform, everyone is frustrated. The reason for this is that the service being rendered is not properly directed.” SSR Ch. 1

Loving Service: An Internal NecessityLoving Service: An Internal Necessity

““I am feeling incomplete, though I myself am I am feeling incomplete, though I myself am fully equipped with everything required by the fully equipped with everything required by the Vedas.” 1.4.30Vedas.” 1.4.30

““Purification of the living being submerged in Purification of the living being submerged in matter is made possible by the prescribed matter is made possible by the prescribed activities in the Vedas, but the ultimate activities in the Vedas, but the ultimate achievement is different. Unless it is attained, achievement is different. Unless it is attained, the living being, even though fully equipped, the living being, even though fully equipped, cannot be situated in the transcendentally cannot be situated in the transcendentally normal stage. Srila Vyasadeva appeared to have normal stage. Srila Vyasadeva appeared to have lost the clue and therefore felt dissatisfaction.” lost the clue and therefore felt dissatisfaction.” Prpt 1.4.30Prpt 1.4.30

Guhyam Akhyati PrcchatiGuhyam Akhyati Prcchati

““This may be because I did not specifically This may be because I did not specifically point out the devotional service of the point out the devotional service of the Lord, which is dear both to perfect beings Lord, which is dear both to perfect beings and to the infallible Lord.” 1.4.31and to the infallible Lord.” 1.4.31

Vyasadeva opens his heart to the Vyasadeva opens his heart to the audience (i.e. the readers of the audience (i.e. the readers of the Bhagavatam), by honestly expressing his Bhagavatam), by honestly expressing his defect in his welfare work.defect in his welfare work.

Just as Vyasadeva is feeling despondent, Narada Muni, Vyasadeva spiritual master, arrives on the scene, allowing Vyasadeva the opportunity to reveal his heart and thus get a remedy for his despondency.

Vyasadeva immediately get up to worshipNarada Muni with great veneration equal to That of Brahmaji (the creator). Brahma, the first student and and professors of the Vedas,Learnt the transcendental science from KrishnaAnd taught it to Narada. Narada is theRepresentative of Brahma and therefore Respected as good as Brahma. This is the wayTo honor the representative of paramapara.