Preface to Srimad-Bhagavatam

Globalization in the Face of Disparity
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, respectfully called “Srila Prabhupada” by more than ten thousand of disciples and followers all over the world, remains, even after his departure in 1977, the 20th Century’s foremost proponent of the science of Krishna consciousness (as presented in his acclaimed Bhagavad-gita As It Is and some 160 published titles) and of the sankirtan movement of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the ancient, authoritative line of disciplic succession known as the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya.


Spiritual Classics

Read online or buy a copy today
Srimad-Bhagavatam set

set of Srimad-Bhagavatam, 30 volumes, $179.00 at Krishna Store


Just as you might invest in a set of Encyclopaedia Britannica for reference, invest your time to read and study Srimad-Bhagavatam, the spiritual encyclopaedia. Srimad-Bhagavatam and other original books by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada free online at Prabhupadabooks.com. Or buy the set for your own library or for a friend: Srimad Bhagavatam [1977 Edition, Compact 30 Volume] at Krishna Store.

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 yatah 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 re-spiritualization of the entire human society.

Srimad-Bhagavatam should be introduced in the schools and colleges, for it is recommended by the great student-devotee Prahlada Maharaja in order to change the demoniac face of society.

kaumara acharet prajno
dharman bhagavatan iha
durlabham manusham janma
tad apy adhruvam arthadam

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.6.1)

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-shlokam abaddhavaty api
namany anantasya yasho ‘nkitani yach
chrinvanti gayanti grinanti sadhavah

“On the other hand, that literature which is full with descriptions of the transcendental glofies 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

This entry was posted in KRSNA Books, KRSNA Consciousness, Wonderful KRSNA and tagged . Bookmark the permalink.