Bhagvata glory

Bhagvata glory (Padma Puran)

We sing the glory of Sri Krsna, who is all truth, all consciousness and all bliss, who is responsible for the creation, sustenance and destruction of the universe, and who puts an end to the threefold agony (viz.,1-that having its origin in one’s own body or mind; 2-that inflicted by other creatures and 3- that having its source in natural calamities). (1.1)

Bhagvata was expound in (this age of) Kali by the sage Suka with the object of completely destroying the fear of being caught in the jaws of the serpent of Time. There is no means other than this conducive to the purification of the mind. One gets(to hear) Bhagvata only when there is virtue earned in one’s past lives. (1.12)

All the hosts of seers came to regard Bhagvata as an embodiment of the Lord(Himself) in the Kali age and capable of conferring the reward of speedy access to Vaikuntha(the Divine realm of Lord Vishnu) by merely being heard. (1.20)

Bhagvata is emanated from the essence of the Vedas and Upnisads. Having an existence apart from them and representing their very fruit as it were, it appears to be the very best. (2.67)

Bhagvata is on a par with the Vedas, has been revealed by the sage Vedavyasa for establishing Bhakti, Jnana and Vairagya. (2.71)

When due to rise of the tide of fortune accumulated in the course of many past lives a man actually secures the fellowship of saints, it is then alone that wisdom dawns on him dispersing the darkness of infatuation and pride occasioned through the agency of ignorance. (2.76)

One should constantly attend and constantly listen, to an exposition of Bhagavata, through the hearing of which Sri Hari takes up His abode in one’s heart. (3.25)

Since it is not possible in the age of Kali to control the vagaries of the mind, to observe rules of conduct strictly and remain consecrated to a sacred purpose for a long period of time, it is considered advisable to hear the whole of it in the course of a week. (3.47)

Bhagavata is superior to Yoga; it is superior to meditation and spiritual enlightenment. What shall we say of its superiority?  The wonder of it is that it is superior to everything else. (3.54)

This constitutes, therefore, a visible verbal manifestation of Sri Hari. It drives away all one’s sin by being waited upon, heard, read or seen. (3.62)

Those men who constantly perpetrate sinful deeds, who are ever addicted to immoral practices, who take to evil ways, who are consumed by the fire of anger, and who are wicked and full of passion are purified in Kaliyuga through a seven days listening of Bhagavata. (4.11)

There is no substance in this world. It is full of misery and is a source of great infatuation. Neither son nor wealth really belongs to us. A man attached to these has to burn day and night on their account. (4.74)

Cease you identify yourself with the body consisting of bones, flesh and blood. Give up forever the feeling of meum with regard to wife, son and so on. Constantly look upon this world as momentary. Taste the joy of dispassion and be established in devotion to the Lord. (4.79)

Constantly practice the virtue of remembering the Lord. Abandon all temporal duties. Wait upon saintly persons and give up the thirst for the pleasures of sense. Ceasing at once to dwell on the shortcomings and excellences of others, enjoy you exclusively the delight of serving the Lord and listening to His stories. (4.80)

Infructuous is spiritual wisdom which is not firmly rooted; hearing of scriptures is marred through listlessness; counsel which is received with a doubting mind is lost and fruitless is the muttering of a sacred text done with restless mind. (5.73)

Faith in the words of a preceptor, the thought of one’s wretchedness, the subjugation of one’s mental aberrations and unfaltering devotion to the hearing of Bhagvata, if these and other such virtues are accomplished, then alone is the hearing Bhagvata efficacious. (5.75)

Heard even once this most sacred story bids fair to burn one’s whole mass of sins. If read on the occasion of a Sradda, it brings satiation to the manes and if read carefully  everyday it leads to cessation of rebirth. (5.90)

The months of Bhadrapada, Aswin and Kartika, Margdirdh, Ashadha and Sravan these are harbingers of Moksha for those commencing an exposition of Bhagvat during any of these months. (6.3)

Bhagvata is the fruit(essence) of the wish-yielding tree of Veda, dropped on earth from the mouth of the parrot-like sage Suka, and is full of nectar of supreme bliss. It is unmixed sweetness(devoid of rind, seed other superfluous matter). Go on drinking this divine nectar, again and again, till your body-consciousness ceases.(6.80)

The glorious Bhagvata is the ornament of the Puranas and the wealth of the Vaisnavas; in it stands celebrated the(one)supreme Reality, which is all consciousness(as well as all truth and all bliss), free from(all) impurity(in the form of conduct with Maya) and which is the goal of Paramahansa(ascetics of the highest order) alone. In this Purana withdrawal from(all) activity, coupled with spiritual enlightenment, dispassion and Devotion, has been expounded. A man devoutly listening to it, carefully reading it and given to pondering it bids fair to get liberated. (6.82)

This nectar (in the shape of the Bhagvata) does not exist in paradise, in Satyaloka(the highest heaven, the realm of Brahma, the creator) , in kailasa(the realm of Lord Shiva) and (even) in Vaikuntha( the realm of Lord Vishnu). Therefore quaff it, highly fortunate ones!  Never, o never cease taking it. (6.83)