Summary OF

Before reciting this Srimad-Bhagavatam, which is the very means of conquest, one should offer respectful obeisances unto the Personality of Godhead, Narayana, unto Nara- Narayana Rsi, the supermost human being, unto mother Sarasvati, the goddess of learning, and unto Srila Vyasadeva, the author.

By regular attendance in classes on the Bhagavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact.

v2-3 Suta Goswami first offers obeisances to his spiritual master Sukadev Goswami to seek his blessings before speaking. Glorifies the qualities of Sukadeva Goswami – master of all sages, compassionate, self realized at birth v4- Invokes the blessings of the disciplic succession v5- Finally he offers respects to the assembled sages and expresses appreciation for the relevant questions asked by them.

v6- Sukadeva Goswami answers the first question Q1: “ What is the ultimate good for people in general?” A: “ The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self.” (Paro Dharma)  SP defines dharma, differentiates between pravritti marg & nivritti marg  Defines Pure Devotional service  Ahaituky  Apratihata

v7- Second question answered Q2: “What is the essence of all scriptures?”  To render devotional service unto the SPG, Sri Krsna  Knowledge & detachment automatic by product

What if I do Activities that Do Not Bring About Love of God? v8- Describes what is not religion; -Srama eva hi kevalam v9- Main purpose of occupational duties is to gain ultimate liberation from material life, not material gain  Religion is to carry us out of this world, not to facilitate our enjoyment

Occupational engagements, including so called religiosity Material gain Fulfill material desires Satisfy sense gratification

v10- How should material gain be utilized and what should one’s desires be while in the material world?  One should utilize material gain to seek the Absolute Truth.  One should desire only enough wealth to maintain one’s life v11- Defines Absolute Truth: “Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth call this nondual substance Brahman, Paramātmā or Bhagavān”  3 levels of understanding Absolute Truth -Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan

v12 - How can we realize the Absolute Truth in full?  Only By devotional service  Seriously inquisitive(eagerness to hear)  Equipped with - with knowledge & detachment v13 - What is the goal of Varnasrama dharma?  “And in each and every one divisions of life, the aim must be to please the supreme authority of the Personality of Godhead”.  “Institution is not meant for artificial domination of one division over another”.

v14- What are the specific activities that should be performed to attain perfection?  Constantly hear, glorify, remember and worship the SPG, Sri Krsna with one pointed attention. 15- What would be the result of remembering the glories of Krsna?  This is the way to cut the knot of karmic reactions Pastimes are transcendental to the modes of material nature By constant association with the spiritual activities of the Lord thru rememberance Conditioned soul gradually gets spiritualized and ultimately severs the knot of material bondage

v16- How to get taste for hearing? “O twice-born sages, by serving those devotees who are completely freed from all vice, great service is done. By such service, one gains affinity for hearing the messages of Väsudeva.”  14 Stages of Spiritual Development: 1. Satam-krpa- the mercy of devotees 2. Mahat-seva-service to the devotees. 3. Sraddha-faith. Indicated by “ sraddadhanasya” 4. Gurupadasraya- seeking shelter at the feet of a guru. Punya-tirtha- nisevant; tirtha also means guru. 5. Bhajanesu sprha-eagerness to worship/hear-->by taking shelter of guru-- >eventually taste

v17- Krishna Helps those who are Eager to Hear  Covers part of stage 5 and also describes the beginning of clearing stage of material desires from the heart. v18 - By regularly hearing SB and serving the pure devotees:  Anarthas are almost removed  Firm faith develops  Next 3 stages of spiritual development: 6) Bhakti-bhakti.- devotional service established. 7) Anarthapagamam- disappearence of obstacles. The phrase nasta-prayesv abhadresu means the inauspicious things are almost completely destroyed. 8) Tatha nistha-then steadiness is achieved. Naisthiki means nishta (steady).

v19 - Devotee is not affected by modes of passion and ignorance  Firmly fixed in goodness  Has developed higher taste  On the way to rise to suddha sattva  Next 2 Stages of Spiritual development: 9) ruci - taste. The heart is not pierced by sense objects. Thus one arrives at actual spiritual taste. 10) atha-asakti - then firm attachment. Sthitam means “fixed” or firmly attached.

v20 - One is established in suddha sattva; one becomes enlivened  Brahmana Vs Vaishnava (purport)  The next 4 stages…. 11) Ratih - is the deep liking or deep transcendental attachment in love. Indicated by the phrase “evam prasanna-manasah. “ 12) Prema - devotional love. Indicated by phrase bhagavad-bhakti- yogatah. One develops pure love for God. 13) Atha-darsanam-then vision, audience with the Lord. Indicated by bhagavat-tattva-vijnanam. 14) Harer madhuryanubhava- direct experience of Lord Hari’s sweetness. (also in Verse 21) v21- Describes the effect of seeing Krsna  The knot of false ego w/in the heart is cut  Sees oneself in relation to Krsna.

v22 - Conclusion of Verses  Describes the glories of DS to Lord Krsna  DS offers facility to re-establish our lost connection with the Lord-it is the only way!! – The Worship of Brahma,Vishnu, and Siva v23- confirms that Lord Vishnu should be rendered DS  Vishnu is transcendental to the 3 modes.  Ultimate benefit can derived only from Him

v24 – Further explains why Lord Vishnu should be worshiped.  Describes how mode of goodness is better than the mode of passion & Ignorance, by giving us analogy of how Fire is better than the smoke & wood.  How one can come to the platform of MOG v25 - Following in the footsteps of the Mahajans  They know the purpose of religion  By following these great authorities, one becomes eligible for liberation

v26 &27-Difference between Vishnu-tattva & Jiva tattva  How should we regard the many other demigods?  Why do people worship demigods?  “The aim of life is to end the miseries of life and not to increase them.”(purport 27) v Establishes Vasudeva as the Actual Object of Worship  Purpose of all Vedas, sacrifices, yoga, fruitive activities, knowledge, austerity, religion, life- is Sri Krsna, the SPG.

30-33 – Answers the fourth question of the sages. Q4 “Which adventures does Lord perform in His incarnations (esp related to creation)?” describes the Lord’s interaction with the material world  “Whether Krsna is creating universes or acting in a way that resembles the activities of ordinary living beings, His activites are always transcendental”  This understanding is foundational to understand Krsna’s Vrindavan pastimes. (HG Bhurijana Pr)

32- How to perceive Lord Ksirodakasayi Vishnu?  By the process of hearing and chanting through the agency of Spiritual Master. 33- The Lord expands into the heart of all living beings as Supersoul and facilitates the living being’s desire to enjoy and also tries to turn them towards real happiness. 34- Answers the third question Q3 “ For what purpose did the Lord appear?”  He manifests His transcendental pastimes to attract the conditioned souls to His eternal abode

Srila Prabhupada ki jay!!!