Dr. L.S. Varshneya,
Senior Professor and Head of Hindi Department,
Dean, Faculty of Arts; Honorary Librarian,
Allahabad University, Allahabad
Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has really done a great service to Indian philosophy, religion and culture by translating Srimad Bhagavatam into English with learned commentaries and has, thus, provided source material to the western world. Other philosophical and religious works published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust also present a golden opportunity to the western philosophers and scholars to drink deep at the celestial fountain of ancient Indian philosophical and spiritual wisdom.
O.P. Bharadwaj, Principal,
Government College for Men,
Chandigarh
I have gone through Srimad Bhagavatam, Third Canto, Part I as translated and commented upon by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
Srimad Bhagavatam is one of the greatest classics of India. Its study gives a complete picture of the ethical values as pursued by the people of India from time immemorial. This commentary is a significant contribution to the religious literature of this country. Many of the conflicting views on certain slokas have been beautifully resolved by Swamiji. The book is beautifully printed and has been profusely illustrated. I congratulate the members of the Society for bringing out this monumental work in such a lucid form.
I shall be looking forward to the publication of other Cantos of this great Classic.
Asoke Chatterjee Sastri,
M.A. (double), D. Phil., D. Ger., Ph.D., D.Lit.,
Pancatirtha, Mahopadhyaya, Vacaspati,
Griffith Prizeman (double), Umeshchandra Prizeman (double),
Dept. of Sanskrit, University of Calcutta
I have carefully gone through the Srimad Bhagavatam, Fourth Canto, Part Two edited with word by word English rendering, versewise English translation and brief purport of each verse by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The volume covers eleven chapters, i.e., from 9 to 19 of the fourth Skandha.
The purport of each verse as presented by His Divine Grace attracts the attention of the scholars. With apt quotations from the Vedas, Isa, and Katha Upanishads, Gita, Brihatsamhita and other ancient texts and from the different established Bhagavatam commentators, he has provided the readers with a good specimen of the philosophical excellence of the Bhagavata Purana.
The printing, binding and the illustrative pictures have infused fresh charm to this value.
Dr. Siddhesvara Bhattacharya,
M.A. (Hous.), Ph. D. (Lon), D. Litt. (Little),
Mayurbhanj Prof. Of Sanskrit and Head of Dept. of Sanskrit,
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
As a symbol of earnestness to propagate Krishna consciousness to the world at large, the edition of the Srimad Bhagavatam sponsored by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada deserves appreciation. The get-up and printing are excellent.
Asit K. Banerjee, M.A. Ph.D.,
Professor and Head of Dept. of Bengali and
Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music,
University of Calcutta
It was a unique experience when I was just casually going through the pages of a neat booklet entitled “Krishna Consciousness is Authorized.” Now I have come to learn the entire life history of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
I have also seen three monumental publications, namely Srimad Bhagavad-gita, Bhagavata Purana and Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita –all translations from original Sanskrit and Bengali.
The world, tormented by psychic troubles like avarice, lust and other baser qualities of mind, will never escape from utter annihilation of soul unless it finds refuge in Divine Grace.
I have particularly read some portions of the English translation of Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, and I think this book is capable of saving mankind from the clutches of Maya, that is, the illusory concept of the world which is metaphysically a negation.
I have no doubt that ISKCON will lead the world to the path of Divine Grace.
Dr. P.M. Upadhye, M.A., Ph.D.,
Professor and Head of Sanskrit & Prakrit,
Parle College, Bombay
The Puranas constitute a distinct class of literature in the history of Indian literature, and of the eighteen Puranas or Maha Puranas, the Bhagavata Purana enjoys a greater popularity than any other Purana . It is chiefly because the Bhagavata Purana is the soul of God to devotees. It inspires millions of people to lead the path of devotion even up to this date. If one wants to know the science of devotion, he must read the Bhagavata Purana without which the very principle of devotion cannot be understood. In this sense the work is a towering mark in the history of devotional works.
The Bhagavata Purana is a very voluminous work consisting of 18,000 verses speaking loudly the glory of God, Vishnu-Krishna, the very soul of devotion. There are different editions of this Purana with or without translation of the text, but these editions are not neatly printed or not easily available. Therefore the attempt of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust to publish the entire work with translation in English is quite laudable.
The Srimad Bhagvatam, Second Canto, Part I, published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, is a fine example of the work undertaken by the trust. The book contains the Sanskrit text in original, its English translation and its purport wherever necessary. From these contents it becomes clear to me the very sound scholarship coupled with love for God viz. Devotion of H.D. Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The book also presents 12 colour illustrations based on the Purana itself. The coloured pictures will inspire many devotees to know and see the glory of God.
The translation in English is quite simple and readable, and it is useful to foreign as well as Indian students of Sanskrit learning. I am charmed by reading this work. When the world is facing too many human problems, the only saving factor is the love-gospel of Lord Krishna propounded to bring about a sane social order in the world. In this respect the Bhaktivedanta movement is trying to achieve this goal through such publications of the important books on devotion, viz. Bhagavata Purana part by part. Lastly I should say that the book is a great contribution to the Purana studies and a good addition to the library of any university or college where Sanskrit studies are undertaken. This book also serves the purpose of knowing the devotional cult in India. I sincerely wish a grand success in this mission of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust and it is hoped that the entire Bhagavata Purana will be in the hands of scholars of Indology in general and scholars of the devotional school in particular in the near future.
Hanuman Prasad Podder,
Editor, ‘Kalyan’
Pujya Swamiji, Sadar Pranam,
First of all I should happily acknowledge receipt of the great book Srimad Bhagavatam (First Volume) and I warmly thank you for sending the above.Secondly, it is a source of great pleasure for me that a long cherished dream has materialised and is going to be materialised wit this and the would-be publications. I thank the lord that due to His Grace this publication could see the light.
I again thank you for the rich gift.
With salutation to Shri Hari. Yours obediently.
Bhavan’s Journal, 21-7-1963,
Dr. P. Nagaraja Rao
The translation [of the Srimad-Bhagavatam] is easy and flowing. We have first the verse in Devanagari script and then word for word meaning. In the end, we have the purport (tatparya ). This elaborate method is very helpful to the ardent student of Bhagavatam who lacks in Sanskrit knowledge. It is admitted on all hands that Bhagavatam is the most difficult text among the Puranas. The author richly deserves the gratitude of the devotees for his pious and learned labour of love.
Dr. Zakir Husain,
Former Vice President of India
Dear Shri Swamiji Maharaja,
Thank you for your letter of the 16th August. I have read your book Srimad Bhagavatam with great interest and much profit. I thank you again for the kind thought which must have prompted you to present it to me. With kind regards. Yours sincerely.
Biswanath Das,
Former Governor of Uttar Pradesh
Srimad Bhagavatam by Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami is a very useful publication for the English-knowing public to get into the spirit of the Gita. The introduction is a masterful exposition of the Gita Dharma. I commend this volume to the thoughtful public.
Economic Review 15-4-1963
At a time when not only the people of India but those of the West need the chastening quality of love and truth in the corrupting atmosphere of hate and hypocrisy, a work like this will have uplifting and corrective influence. What is God? He is truth, i.e. is love. Even an atheist must admit the supremacy of these qualities and how much they are needed by the people of the world, who have been taught to deny God and therefore these qualities, does not require much emphasis.
The author has attempted a tremendous task. The scheme of the book is to give the Sanskrit text with the English synonyms of words, translations and purports. A perusal will give us in sample measure knowledge of the original. The essence of Srimad Bhagavatam is the exposition of the Absolute Truth. For an understanding of what Absolute Truth is we would recommend this book.
Prof. K.S. Ramakrishna Rao, M.A.,
Department of Philosophy,
Maharanis Arts College for Women,
Mysore
Srimad Bhagavatam in English by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is a masterpiece of Hindu religious literature. It has been my great pleasure to have read Canto 1, Vols. 1, 2 and 3, and I am fortunate to have lived to see the writings of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The books have been nicely produced. The paper and the printing are of fine quality and the get-up excellent. The Bhagavata literature is a witness to revelation, a product of inspiration, objective truth rooted in philosophy and revealing great truths of life.
I recommend Srimad Bhagavatam to all who have a serious philosophical and religious interest in the subject.
Dr. B.H. Kapadia,
Reader and the Head of the Dept. of Sanskrit,
Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat
I have very carefully gone through the copy of Canto 1, Part 3 of the Srimad Bhagavatam . The book is very nicely written and has an attractive get-up. The translation, the notes, the explanations of the words and the philosophy is done at its best. It gives an idea of the Bhagavata Philosophy with the Vedanta, Bhakti, Samkhya, etc. The work is useful not only to the Orientalist and the scholar of the Sanskrit language and philosophy, but is of advantage to the layman as well.
Dr. Jagdish Sharma,
M.A., Dip. Lib. Sc. (Delhi),
M. Lib. Sc., Ph.D. (Lib. Sc.) (Michigan)
University Librarian-cum-Professor of Library Science,
Panjab University, Chandigarh
Author of 19 books, including Encyclopedia Indica
India’s contribution toward the revivalism of the Hindu civilization and culture by way of printing the Harvard-Oriental series was tremendous, but the work done by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is unsurpassable. His Holiness has done a great service to the Indian culture by re-interpreting the concept enshrined in the Srimad Bhagavatam.
This edition of Srimad Bhagavatam will go a long way to help the scientists in rediscovering phenomena of the universe which are yet to be discovered. The printing and the get-up of the book is excellent. The thoughts of this Srimad Bhagavatam radiate to anyone who sees it. This book helps to brighten the gloomy and dark clouds which are covered by the nuclear fear and apprehension of society.
Dr. N.C. Choudhury, Deputy Director,
Anthropological Survey of India,
Government of India, Calcutta
Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was not only a great religious teacher and the founder of a new Vaishnava order, but I consider him, apart from his divine grace, a great social reformer. At a time when the highly segmentary social system of Bengal marked by rigid hierarchy made social oppression and indignity to human life as the order of the day, he appeared on the scene to propagate a message of love, humility and tolerance. It is through his simple life and message of love that he wanted to bring all classes of people to a common platform irrespective of their caste and creed. I think this aspect of Mahaprabhu’s life has not been properly highlighted.
In Bengal Chaitanya Charitamrita is a literary gem. Its translation into English has made this valuable book available to a larger international audience for which Swami deserves our gratitude.
Prof Dr. Sukumar Sen,
Khaira Prof. Of Indian Linguistics and Phonetics,
Head of Dept. of Comparative Philology,
University of Calcutta.
Fellow, Sahitya Akademi, Fellow, Asiatic Society,
Co-founder, Indian Linguistic Society,
Hon. Degree, Burdwan University.
Chairman, Paribhasa Samsad, Govt. of West Bengal
Author of 34 books, including History of Bengali Literature in 5 volumes
The Chaitanya Charitamrita, Nectar of the Activities of Chaitanya, is more important than any other work on Chaitanya and His faith: it incorporates the rheterico-philosophical theories of Chaitanya and Vaishnavism as propounded by Damodar Svarupa, and accepted by Sanatana, Rupa, and other Vaishnava leaders at Vrindavan. Krishnadas Kaviraj was a good Sanskrit scholar and had been in close contact with Sanatana, Rupa, Raghunatha and other Vaishnava leaders at Vrindavan, and like Vrindavan das was a follower of Nityananda. As a veteran of the Vrindavan school, Krishnadas accepted Chaitanya as the joint avatar of Krishna and Radha and therefore the completest of the avatars. His treatment of the life of the master follows this viewpoint. As a biography, Krishnadas’s work is of a very high standard, as he has never failed to cite authority for his statements. Chaitanya Charitamrita is, however, not merely a biography; it is a compendium of the Vaishnava faith in both the mystic and philosophical aspects. Again, this masterpiece in Bengali is a very remarkable work; it is the most scholarly book that has yet been written in Bengali on the subject, but the proper Vaishnava spirit of humility is never absent. Krishnadas treated the last eighteen years of Chaitanya’s life in detail as it had not been done by any of his predecessors. As a biography of Chaitanya, Chaitanya Charitamrita is also unique as it gives detailed accounts of the master’s extensive travels. Krishnadas’s command over the language was much in advance of his time. He wrote verses with as much facility and force as prose. Therefore as a biography and as a work of thought, Krishnadas’s Life of Chaitanya is a landmark in new Indian literature.
Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is an excellent production both outwardly and inwardly. The Chaitanya-charitamrita is perhaps the Veda of Chaitanya-Vaishnavism. Here the text is given in Bengali. It is followed by synonyms, which is followed by a faithful translation. Sometimes “purport” has been added.
I am of the opinion that this edition will help the novice in Chaitanya-Vaishnavism in understanding the essentials of Chaitanya’s faith and at the same time it would be an excellent aide to the learners of the mother tongue of Sri Chaitanya.
S.K. Saraswati,
President, The Asiatic Society,
Calcutta
Krsnas-tu bhagavan svayam sings the Mahabharata bard. In the Srimad Bhagavad-gita this Divine Manifestation or the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as He came to be recognised by our great acharyas, has left His message to the world covering all aspects of life, material as well as spiritual. In a manner this message may be said to have moulded Indian civilisation and culture through the ages.
Who was Krishna? The Mahabharata gives some glimpses of His personality and character. The Harivamsa and a few Puranas contain accounts of His life and achievements. The most detailed account is found in the tenth skandha of the Srimad Bhagavatam, and in this text we find also an exposition of His message and teachings. This along with its commentaries came to be considered as the fountainhead of all thoughts connected with Krishna and has inspired many a religious teacher and reformer, spiritually as well as emotionally, in a profound manner.
The Krishna trilogy by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is an English rendering of the life and teachings of Krishna as described in the tenth skandha of the Srimad Bhagavatam . Although abridged, it includes every essential point that is relevant to the understanding of Krishna, His personality and the philosophy attaching to His different activities. In a lucid style the author exposes the total personality of Krishna and this exposition has been illumined by his clear insight based on his life-long study of the subject with sincerity and devotion.
Asutosh Bhattacharya, M.A., Ph.D.,
Rabindranath Tagore Professor of Bengali and
Head of the Dept. of Modern Indian Languages,
University of Calcutta (retired); Fellow, Sangeet Natak Akademi,
National Academy of Dance, Drama and Music for India,
Visiting Professor in Bengali Folklore, Leningrad State University, USSR
Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita by Krishnadas Kaviraj is one of the most outstanding contributions to human intellect and spiritual realization. The text as edited and translated by one of the greatest exponents and followers of Sri Chaitanya’s school of thought and way of life, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, has been based on the present-day context. Most of the older commentaries have been out of date, and they are no more applicable to our present life. Therefore an edition in the line has been done by His Divine Grace and has fulfilled the need of the time. It is a matter of great satisfaction that the message of love, faith and devotion of Sri Chaitanya is being carried to the farthest corner of the world through the effort of preaching through the present edition of the Great Book of Devotion (Bhakti).
Vishwanath Shukla,
M.A., (Sanskrit), M.A. (Hindi), LL.B., Ph.Dl,
Reader, Department of Hindi,
Muslim University, Aligarh
I consider as one of my greatest spiritual thrills that which I had through a physical darshan (look) of his Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada on the 30th of March 1976 for the first time.
I had the rare privilege to see with my own eyes the very embodiment of Krishna consciousness, the be-all and end-all of all beings.
Sri Swami Prabhupada has established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, which is spread in 108 cities around the world. All the members of ISKCON are pure Brahmins and Vaishnavas initiated in the most austere sadhana recommended by the greatest Goswamis of Vrindavan: Sri Rupa Goswami, the author of Bhaktirasamrita Sindhu and Sri Sanatana Goswami, the author of Hari Bhakti Vilasa and many other works.
I had earlier known Srila Prabhupada through his enormous works on Krishna bhakti, the nucleus of all Indian Vedic spiritual literature. To name a few of them, the Bhagavad-gita As It Is, The Nectar of Devotion, Krishna (3 Volumes), Teachings of Lord Chaitanya, the Srimad Bhagavatam, Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita and the commentary on Sri Ishopanishad will suffice.
It is noteworthy to mention that the Ishopanishad Bhasya is the greatest contribution of Srila Prabhupada as it completely refutes the Mayavada arguments of Shankaracharya. This book is a treasure to be possessed by every western scholar.
Words fail me to describe the height of scholarship and devotion manifested in the volumes mentioned above. Our future generations and the posterity will definitely find a better world to live in through the efforts of Srila Prabhupada as He stands for the feelings of International Brotherhood and spiritual integration of all mankind, which is the backbone of the Vedic santana dharma of India. The literary world outside India, particularly the westerners, should be highly indebted to Him, who has so scientifically acquainted them with what is best in Krishna conscious India.
I may be permitted to recommend to all scholars, professors and other Dharmacharyas the great importance and contribution of the books of Sri Swami Prabhupada.
Ram Raj Singh,
Minister of Education and Rural Development,
Bihar, Patna
I have gone through the books published by Bhaktivedanta Book Trust and have found them extremely instructive. The vivid illustrations make the book very much readable. These books are invaluable and should find a place in every good library.
Dr. K.K. Raja
Bhagavad-gita is the most popular and authoritative text on Hinduism and has had a perennial appeal to scholars and devotees, both in India and abroad. There have been several commentaries and interpretations to this sacred text in the various languages of India and the West. The text forms the teachings of Lord Krishna to Arjuna at the battlefield before the beginning of the great war. It treats of the various paths of knowledge, action, discipline and faith. The relative importance of the various paths is left vague in a synthetic approach and there is scope for the reader to select what suits his attitude. The Bhagavad-gita is considered as part of the prasthanatraya, along with the major Upanishads and the Brahmasutra.
The present sumptuously produced volume, giving the text in Devanagari and Roman scripts, word meanings and explanations in English, is an attempt to bring out the meaning of the Gita as Krishna really intended it. Actually it is the interpretation of the text from the modern point of view of a devotee of Krishna. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, a student of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, and the head of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, deserves praise for bringing out this excellent, popular interpretation of the Gita.
Sri R. Subrahmanyam,
M.A., Deputy Director (Research),
Lok Sabha Secretariat
A strange feature of the modern world is that in spite of vast advances in science and technology and the establishment of a good number of institutions for human welfare, mankind has not found true peace and happiness. Knowledge of material sciences and arts has increased tremendously in recent times, and millions of volumes on each fill the libraries the world over. People and leaders in every country are generally well-versed in these arts and sciences, but despite their efforts, human society everywhere continues to be in turmoil and distress.
The reason is not far to seek. It is that they have not learnt the science of God, the most fundamental of every other art and science and cared to apply it to the facts of life. The need of the hour is therefore to do it, if mankind is not only to survive but flower into a glorious existence.
To teach this science of God to people everywhere and to aid them in their progress and development towards the real goal of life, Srimad Bhagavatam is the most eminently fitted. In fact, this great and ancient work of Vyasa will fill this need of the modern times, for “it is a cultural presentation for the re-spiritualisation of the entire human society.”
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of the ISKCON movement, has taken upon himself, in addition to his ceaseless travels and other multifarious activities in the service of the Lord, the stupendous task of translating this Sanskrit work into English in about sixty volumes, for the welfare and happiness of mankind. It is really astonishing how he is able to do this single-handed, and when one comes to think of this, apart from his other great literary works, one is tempted to wonder if he is not the same Vyasa Muni reborn today to adapt his own old work into a universal language of this age for the spiritual uplift of the modern man.
So far, eight volumes of this most beautiful literature on God have been brought out by the ISKCON and the rest are under preparation. Needless to say that in keeping with the excellence of their other publications, the publishers have seen to it that the printing, get-up and pictures in these volumes are also of the highest quality, as though to serve as an ornament to the divine contents of the books.
This is a rare opportunity to people and leaders of every country, race and community in the world to know and understand the glorious science of God and work for their perfection. I would say that this encyclopaedia of spiritual knowledge is more important an fundamental than the encyclopaedia of any other branch of knowledge and should therefore find a rightful place not only in the public and private libraries, big and small, of educational and other institutions as also of every household but above all in the hearts and minds of every man and woman.
Dr. T.M. P. Mahadevan,
Centre of Advanced Study to Philosophy,
University of Madras, Madras
The Srimad Bhagavatam is widely acclaimed as the Bible of Devotion par excellence.
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who has been the messenger of the gospel of God devotion abroad, has brought out an exquisite edition of the Bhagavatam with an English translation and explanation. The translator brings the spirit of the text, and the explanation is lucid. Going through the Third Canto, Part Four, I find that the reader can get utmost benefit from this publication. The format, the get-up, the illustrations are all pleasing to the eye as well as to the mind.
Dr. Ram Gopal, M.A., Ph.D.,
Kalidasa Professor of Sanskrit and
Head of Sanskrit Department, Punjab University
It has been my great pleasure to go through the Second Canto, Part Two, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, translated and annotated by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Besides giving the original Sanskrit text with Roman transliteration, English synonyms and English translation, this edition provides an elaborate, erudite and lucid exposition of each verse in the form of “purport.” It is a valuable contribution to the understanding of the Srimad-Bhagavatam . I recommend this book to all students of Indian religion, philosophy and culture.
Prof. Dilip Kumar Biswas,
Head of the Department,
Ancient Indian and World History,
Government Sanskrit College, Calcutta
The Srimad Bhagavatam is a great Puranic text which has served as the basic source of inspiration for the various branches of the Bhakti cult in medieval India. Indeed it would not be a hyperbole to assert that the fundamental tenets of Gaudiya Vaishnavism are in their mature form based on Book Eleven of this celebrated text, just as the ingenenous Vaishnava tradition of the neighbouring state of Orissa can be said to have developed around the Tenth book. The Krishna-Gopi theme, in its purist form, has been regarded by Indian seers and saints as representing deep mutual love that unites God and His worshippers. It, however, finds only casual (and not always authentic) mention in earlier texts like the Mahabharata, Hala’s Gathasaptasati, etc. It develops in some of the later texts like the Hari-vamsa, Vishnu Purana, Padma Purana, Varaha Purana and Brahmavaivarta Purana . It, however, attains full bloom in the Bhagavata, the one great purpose of which seems to have been to glorify the passionate love of the Gopis for Krishna as a concrete expression of the philosophy of saranagati—the keynote of medieval Vaishnava thought. The beautifully produced volumes of this important text with English translation, commentary, notes and index by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada will, I am sure, go a great way to popularize the spiritual teachings of the Bengal School of Vaishnavism in the English-speaking world.
Dr. Sachin Roy,
Director, Indian Museum,
Calcutta
The Chaitanya Charitamrita is indeed a pioneer work and a veritable contribution in the field of literary history. The present volume (Antya Lila Volume 3) deals with the last eighteen years of Sri Chaitanya’s perpetual and ever-increasing religious beatitude, as witnessed by Svarupa Damodara Goswami, the master’s constant companion during these years. This volume presents not only the strange experiences of the master but widens also the knowledge of the common readers.
The English translation and commentary of the author, who in spite of his much advanced age, completed the masterpiece, are lucid and understandable and at the same time speak of the vast erudition of the scholastic author.
The arrangement, printing, binding etc. of the book are commendable.
Swami B.H. Bon Maharaj,
Rector, Indian Institute of Oriental Philosophy,
Vrindavan
This is to certify that His Holiness Tridandi Svami A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj is well known to me and we greatly appreciated his scholarly writings of the Bhagavatam, and some of his articles were published on our Research Journal “Indian Philosophy and Culture.” Svamiji is a bonafide initiated disciple of my Spiritual Master Om Vishnupad Sri Srimad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada and subsequently accepted the renounced order of life from one of my god-brothers, Swami Bhakti Prajhan Keshava Maharaj. He is an approved preacher in the disciplic order of Lord Sri Chaitanya who preached Krishna consciousness all over India 480 years ago. We are so happy to learn that Svamiji is doing very well in preaching the message of Lord Sri Chaitanya in the western hemisphere successfully.
Dr. Tirah, President,
Indian Library Association
Delhi
It is a great honour for me to have the pleasure of examining the publications of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. I find all of them to be of exceptional value for use in educational institutions and libraries. Particularly the ancient classic Srimad Bhagavatam I recommend to all students and readers in Indian philosophy and culture. The original text is presented, along with roman transliteration, word-for-word synonyms, accurate translation and extremely lucid commentary and exposition. It is a remarkable work, and definitely a landmark in the matter of elevating humanity toward world unification and divine consciousness.
The learned author, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, is a world-renowned saint and savant in the field of Vedic philosophy and its practical application in the modern world, where he has opened over a hundred spiritual ashrams for the study and cultivation of Vedic knowledge. Factually, he is unequalled in his efforts to establish the Vedic way of life, sanatana-dharma in all countries of the world.
Certainly I am most grateful that this message of the Bhagavata is being spread for the benefit of the world by such a qualified personality as Swami Bhaktivedanta.
Sri N.O. Trivedi,
Head of Sanskrit Department,
Principal, M.B. Arts & Commerce College,
Gondal District, Rajkot, Gujrat
I saw some of the volumes of Srimad Bhagavata edited by Swami Bhakti Vedanta Prabhupada. They are nicely printed. The word by word translation of the verses is done. At the same time, purport of the verses is explained in lucid language. The principles explained in Shri Bhagavata are clearly explained in the books. I am pleased to recommend the book to scholars, as well as to those interested in philosophy in general.
Bhakti and knowledge as the means of moksha are nicely stated and elaborated in the volumes. The story of Lord Krishna is narrated in lucid language.
Smt. S. Deoskar, Librarian,
Government Divisional Library, Nagpur
There cannot be any difference of opinion regarding propagation of India’s Dharma all over the world through these beautiful volumes. I endorse your views in this. Respectfully.
Dr. Krishna Gopal Goswami,
Asutosh Professor and Head of the Department of Sanskrit,
Calcutta University
It is gratifying to note that Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada has undertaken the magnificent task of editing this monumental scripture, Srimad-Bhagavatam, with transliteration, a lucid translation and a very illuminating exposition in the form of purport in English with sympathetic understanding. The said edition of the Bhagavata series, we hope, will serve as a boon to the English-knowing world for its abiding values and ennobling thoughts of spiritual perspectives to give correct lead to mankind in midst of sickening contemporary problems.
Review by the Adyar Library,
Bulletin No. 27 (1-4) 1963
There are numerous editions of the text with or without commentaries in Sanskrit and translations into English, and almost all the Indian languages. However, the present edition has its own value, containing the original text in Devanagari type together with Roman transliteration and English translation, with elaborate notes and comments in English for each verse. The notes and comments are highly valuable, as they reveal the inner meaning of the text. The editor’s vast and deep study of the subject and critical insight are reflected in these notes and comments.
Dr. O.B.L. Kapoor,
Emeritus Chairman, Philosophy Department and Chancellor,
K.N. Government Postgraduate College,
Varanasi, India
Sri Chaitanya is the pioneer of a great social and religious movement that began in India a little less than five hundred years ago. Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita is the most authoritative biography of this great saint and reformer. But the work is more than a biography. Its greatness consists not so much in the literary skill with which the story of Chaitanya’s life is told, but in its complete exposition of the profound tenets of the philosophy and religion of Sri Chaitanya as exemplified in his life.
It is a remarkable document of great historical and sociological importance. As a literary piece, it is regarded as a work of great merit having no parallel in the whole of Bengali literature. As a religious text, its sanctity is comparable to that of the Bhagavad-gita and the Srimad Bhagavatam. This English edition translated by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is superb. It contains the original Sanskrit and Bengali verses with their English transliteration, word-for-word synonyms, translation and elaborate purports, easily bearing testimony to the author’s profound knowledge of the subject.
K. Swaminathan,
Chief Editor of The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi
It is a rare pleasue to handle and peruse this luxurious edition of our great devotional classic, Srimad Bhagavatam.
Krishna being the most charming embodiment of universal consciousness, all approaches to Him, whether of karma, bhakti, yoga or jnana, are legitimate and rewarding. But none is more fascinating or popular than the way of total self-surrender shown by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
I wish all success to the movement for the spread of Krishna consciousness, and in particular to this magnificent project for bringing the treasures of the Bhagavatam to the Western reader.
Go to Reviews by Distinguished Western Scholars
Click on the links below to view listings of Institutions of Higher Learning, Public Libraries and Private Libraries and Others worldwide who have placed orders for whole sets of Srimad-Bhagavatam and/or Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. These lists are by no means complete.
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