Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 1 Chapter 1 Text 1 Svaräö – Completely independent

Text 1 oà namo bhagavate väsudeväya janmädy asya yato ’nvayäd itarataç cärtheñv abhijïaù svaräö cärtheñv abhijïaù svaräö tene brahma hådä ya ädi-kavaye muhyanti yat sürayaù muhyanti yat sürayaù tejo-väri-mådäà yathä vinimayo yatra tri-sargo ’måñä vinimayo yatra tri-sargo ’måñä dhämnä svena sadä nirasta-kuhakaà satyaà paraà dhémahi satyaà paraà dhémahi

Translation O my Lord, Çré Kåñëa, son of Vasudeva, O all-pervading Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. I meditate upon Lord Çré Kåñëa because He is the Absolute Truth and the primeval cause of all causes of the creation, sustenance and destruction of the manifested universes. He is directly and indirectly conscious of all manifestations, and He is independent because there is no other cause beyond Him. It is He only who first imparted the Vedic knowledge unto the heart of Brahmäjé, the original living being. By Him even the great sages and demigods are placed into illusion, as one is bewildered by the illusory representations of water seen in fire, or land seen on water. Only because of Him do the material universes, temporarily manifested by the reactions of the three modes of nature, appear factual, although they are unreal. I therefore meditate upon Him, Lord Çré Kåñëa, who is eternally existent in the transcendental abode, which is forever free from the illusory representations of the material world. I meditate upon Him, for He is the Absolute Truth.

Independence in material world “Independence is our birth right.” It is illusion in this material world. Everyone is dependent on something or someone for survival, nourishment, happiness, and so on. Subjugation by, uncontrolled mind and senses,& polluted intelligence. E.g. prayers of king Muchukunda on how kings are controlled by queens. Independence or freedom of football.

Declare our dependence on Lord Dependence brings complete peace & fearlessness, e.g. child’s dependence on father – Srila Prabhupada’s experience in childhood. Similarly devotees dependent on Lord for all their needs, under all circumstances makes them peaceful and fearless, e.g. Vrajvasis

Lord is completely independent Svarat – only position of Supreme Lord and no one else including the most powerful demigods like Brhama and Shiva. E.g. Brahma chastised by Lord Nrsimha and forbidden to give benediction to demons like Hiranyakashipu. E.g. Lord Shiva trying to protect Banasura and Lord Krishna punishing him in presence of Lord Shiva and Lord Shiva was helpless. Also Ravana destroyed. E.g. Indra trying to destroy Vrindavan or trying to forbid Krsna from taking parijat flower.

Also free to benedict or punish Lord Brahma steeling calves and cowherd boys out of curiosity and yet Krsna didn’t care to reply him, even though he begged forgiveness and offered beautiful prayers. On other hand Indra tried to kill all the inhabitants of Vraja including Krsna and when he came to offer prayers and beg forgiveness Krsna did talk to him.

Process of becoming dependent on Svarat