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Sri Shukadeva explains how to overcome the fear of death
After the devastating Mahabharatha war between the members of the
Kuru dynasty,
Maharaj Parikshit, the lone descendant of Maharaj Pandu, the rightful
heir to the throne,
was cursed to die within one week.
On learning of the decree which sealed his fate, Maharaj Parikshit asked
Sukadeva Goswami:
'now that I am certain of my impending demise, what are my duties,
according to the wise?'
Sukadeva answered: Raja, your question is glorious. This kind of inquiry
is perfect.
The modes of nature are very strong, But you will transcend them and by
hearing the highest wisdom.
For real insight, Son of Bharata, Everyone desiring liberation should
approach the Supreme Lord, Bhagavan,
By hearing, chanting, and also memorization of His names, attributes and
pastimes.
The goal of mystical knowledge, yoga practice, or fulfilling one's
religious dharma
Is to awaken to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The culmination is
the remembrance of Narayana.
This glorification is called Srimad Bhagavatam, a supplement to the
Vedas, the essence of the Vedas.
I studied Bhagavatam at the age of twelve, from my father, Dvaipayana
Vyasadeva.
Even though I was fully self-realized I was attracted, Raja, to these
excellent verses
Describing the Lord's transcendental pastimes. That was my favorite
subject of those which I rehearsed.
I will recite for you that same. The greatness of Shukadeva son of
VyasaDeva is that of an exalted self-realized person and thus he was
able to impart the Absolute Truth as it is to Maharaja Pariksit.
Sukadeva Goswami answered questions about the universe, the soul, about
Lord Krsna, etc. for seven consecutive days. He was above the four
defects of ordinary humans: (1) tendency to cheat, (2) tendency to make
mistakes, (3) tendency to be illusioned, and (4) imperfect senses.
Nothing in the modern science books is even close in comparison to the
words of Sukadeva Goswami. What is constantly being updated, changed,
and replaced [as in the case of modern science] cannot be taken as
truth. Srimad-Bhagavatam is eternally true; it does not need updates or
fixes. All the prophecies foretold in the Srimad-Bhagavatam have come
true and will continue to come true.
The words of the Srimad-Bhagavatam are not to be dismissed lightly
by our imperfect limited vision. Srimad-Bhagavatam cleanses desire for
material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the
urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when
properly heard and chanted." This is also the qualities of Vaisnava guru
— to eradicate the misconceptions which have been collected due to
mental speculation, jnana, or one's particular sensual taste based
around furtive material desire. nasta-prayesu abhadresu nityam bhagavata
sevaya bhagavaty uttama sloke bhaktir bhavati naisthiki "By regularly
hearing the Srimad Bhagavatam and by rendering of service to the pure
devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely
destroyed, and the loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, Who
is praised with transcendental hymns, is established as an irrevocable
fact." tada rajas tamo bhavah kama lobhadayas ca ye ceta etair
anaviddham sthitam sattve prasidati As soon as irrevocable loving
service is established in the heart, the effects of nature's modes of
passion and ignorance, such as lust, desire, and hankering, disappear
from the heart.
Then the devotee is established in goodness, and he becomes
completely happy." evam prasanna manaso bhagavad bhakti yogatah bhagavat
tattva vijnanam mukta sangasya jayate "Thus established in the mode of
unalloyed goodness the man whose mind has been enlivened by contact with
devotional service to the Lord gains positive scientific knowledge of
the Personality of Godhead in the stage of liberation from all material
association." bhidyate hrdaya granthis chidyante sarva samsayah ksiyante
casya karmani drsta evatmanisvare "Thus the knot in the heart is
pierced, and all misgivings are cut to pieces. The chain of furtive
actions is terminated when one sees the self as the master and not a
sensual slave." ato vai kavayo nityam bhaktim paramaya muda vasudeve
bhagavati kurvany atma-prasadanim "Certainly, therefore, since time
immemorial, all transcendentalists have been rendering devotional
service to Lord Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, with great delight,
because such devotional service is enlivening to the self." uttama sloka
caritam cakara bhagavan rsih nihsreyasaya lokasya dhanyam svasty-ayanam
mahat
"This Srimad Bhagavatam is the literary incarnation of God, and it
is compiled by Srila Vyasadeva, the incarnation of Godhead. It is meant
for the ultimate food of all people, and it is all successful, all
blissful and all perfect." krsne sva-dhamopagate dharma jnanadibhih saha
kalau nasta-drsam esa puranarko 'dhunoditah "This Bhagavat Purana 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 Purana." And so the great son of
Vayu preached this great science of bhakti yoga to all the fortunate
souls who came there. Everyone flocked far and near to hear this full
transcendental message of Srimad Bhagavatam now being placed in the
embodiment of the Bhagavatam.
Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada explains in his purport to
Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.18, "..... that there are two types of Bhagavatas,
namely the book Bhagavata and the devotee Bhagavata. Both the Bhagavatas
are competent remedies, and both of them or either of them can be good
enough to eliminate the obstacles. A devotee Bhagavata is as good as the
book Bhagavata because the devotee Bhagavata leads his life in terms of
the book Bhagavata and the book Bhagavata is full of information about
the Personality of Godhead and his pure devotees, who are also
Bhagavatas. Bhagavata book and person are identical. "The devotee
Bhagavata is a direct representative of Bhagavan, the Personality of
Godhead. So by pleasing the devotee Bhagavata one can receive the
benefit of the book Bhagavat. Human reason fails to understand how by
serving the devotee Bhagavata or the book Bhagavata one gets gradual
promotion on the path of devotion. But actually these are facts
explained by Srila naradadeva, who happened to be a maidservant's son in
his previous life. The maidservant was engaged in the menial service of
the sages, and thus he also came into contact with them. And simply by
associating with them and accepting the remnants of foodstuffs left by
the sages, the son of the maidservant got the chance to become the great
devotee and personality Srila Naradadeva. These are the miraculous
effects of the association of Bhagavatas. And to understand these
effects practically, it should be noted that by such sincere association
of Bhagavatas one is sure to receive transcendental knowledge very
easily, with the result that one becomes fixed in the devotional service
of the Lord.
The more progress is made in devotional service under the guidance
of the Bhagavatas, the more one becomes fixed in the transcendental
loving service of the Lord. The messages of the book Bhagavata,
therefore, have to be received from the devotee Bhagavata, and the
combination of these two Bhagavatas will help the neophyte devotee to
make progress on and on." The book Bhagavatam itself goes on to say in
SB 1.1.3: nigama kalpa taror galitam phalam suka mukhad amrta drava
samyutam pibata bhagavatam rasam alayam muhur aho rasika bhuvi bhavukah
"O expert and thoughtful men, relish Srimad Bhagavatam, the mature fruit
of the desire tree of Vedic literatures. It emanated from the lips of
Sri Sukadeva Goswami. Therefore this fruit has become even more
tasteful, although it's nectarean juice was already relish able for all,
including liberated souls." Bhagavata paragiya bhagavata sthani - one
should understand Srimad Bhagavatm from the devotee Bhagavat who has
realised Bhagavatam. In the Srimad Bhagavatam the transcendental patimes
of the Lord are narrated, and the narration is systematically depicted
by Srila Sukadeva Goswami.
Thus the subject matter is appealing to all classes of persons,
including those who seek liberation and those who seek to become one
with the supreme whole. In Sanskrit the parrot is also known as Suka.
When a ripened fruit is cut by the red beaks of such birds, it's sweet
flavour is enhanced. The Vedic fruit which is mature and ripe in
knowledge is spoken through the lips of a Sukadev Goswami, who is
compared to the parrot, not for his ability to recite the Bhagavatam
exactly as he heard it from his learned father, but for his ability to
present the work in a manner that woud appeal to all classes of men. The
Srimad-Bhagavatam is disclosed by the great devotee Sukadeva Goswami to
Maharaja Pariksit who is awaiting impending death in seven days time.
Maharaja Pariksit inquires from Sukadeva Goswami about the way of
perfection. Sukadeva Goswami answers Maharaja Pariksit's questions in an
assembly of learned saints on the bank of the Ganges.
Finally Sukadeva explained to the Maharaja: The Supreme is ever present
and without past or future
and hence He is not subject to passing away even for the space of half a
moment.
His realm is known as Goloka only to a very few self-realized souls in
this world.
Remember these hymns of Lord Brahma. now that you have heard these
instructions
You can easily practice the austerity of spiritual association, and
successfully reach the transcendental destination.
By hearing these verses of praise which Lord Brahma offers every
morning,you will receive the supreme benefit,
and will return to your original spiritual position.
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