CONTENTS:
- Who is Sukadeva Goswami and what is Srimad Bhagavatam;
- Questions and Answers;
- Srila Prabhupada's Appreciation;
- Guru Maharaja’s Instructions.
1. WHO IS SUKADEVA GOSWAMI AND WHAT IS SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM?
Krishna along with His associates left and went back to the spiritual world. Srimati Radharani had a parrot named Suka and this parrot always used to sing the name of Krishna for the pleasure of Srimati Radharani.
One day the parrot flew in Krishna’s garden and started to chant and it sounded like Radharani:
“Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare”
Krishna saw this beautiful parrot and Krishna kept the parrot. Lalita and Vishaka found the parrot and told Krishna to give it back. They called the parrot but he wouldn’t come so they went to complain to Mother Yashoda that Krishna stole their parrot and they wanted their parrot back. Mother Yashoda dragged Krishna to bath and they got the parrot back. Krishna told Suka to stay back after Krishna left this world and Suka was crying but Krishna said the world needs to know about Me and My pastimes. Please create the good fortune for them. Suka also wanted to hear the glory of Krishna not only sing the glory.
Lord Shiva was telling Parvati the Srimad Bhagavatam. They were under a tree and listening to Lord Shiva narrating the story of Krishna, when He was approaching the pastimes, Parvati was not interested in philosophy and she fell asleep. Lord Shiva was still speaking but Parvati was asleep and Suka was responding when Lord Shiva narrated the entire Srimad Bhagavatam. At the twelfth Canto Parvati woke up and said I didn’t hear the tenth Canto and explained that she fell asleep. Lord Shiva was walking and he saw Suka bird. See parrots can imitate so Suka imitated the voice of Parvati. Lord Shiva said that unqualified people should not hear Srimad Bhagavatam and He picked up His trident and chased the parrot. Vyasadeva narrated to his wife and she was wonderstruck so her mouth was open and Suka flew into her mouth. Lord Shiva said “When one listens to Srimad Bhagavatam he becomes immortal and it is only for humans not birds. What happens when this bird listens to Srimad Bhagavatam? This bird will become immortal” and then Lord Shiva left. This bird stayed in the womb for 16 years on the request of Vyasadeva and the Lord, Sukadeva finally came out.
When Parikshit Maharaja was preparing to leave his body then Sukadeva Goswami narrated Srimad Bhagavatam to the sages at Naimasharanya. When Sukadeva Goswami spoke, it became very relishable. Another example when we speak then understand the subject and ask questions.
Bhagavat is the book and the person. The book can’t reciprocate but the person can. When listening we have questions and answers. When one does not understand he questions. That is essential when trying to receive proper knowledge. Questions and Answers are very important in understanding this topic. When the opportunity comes take full advantage of it. The more we approach the topic the more we want to know. It is an endless ocean of information. We should never think that we understood everything.
2. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH GURU MAHARAJA
Q: Sukadeva Goswami was reciting the Holy Name but I heard he was on Brahman platform?
A: Everyone can receive knowledge from the self-realised soul. His body changed from a parrot to a human. Vyasadeva may or may not know Krishna but Sukadeva Goswami knows Krishna, divya-jnana hrde prakasito.
Q: You said that Srimad Bhagavatam talks about Srimati Radharani but there are other personalities described?
A: The manifestation of Srimati Radharani is indirect. The ultimate essence is Srimati Radharani’s love for Krishna and that purpose is the tenth Canto. The objective of the tenth Canto is permeated throughout the Srimad Bhagavatam.
Q: What should be our attitude to receive Srimad Bhagavatam?
A: Wait for the mercy. The real purport you won’t understand. Regulation comes through devotional service. Divya-jnana hrde prakasito serving the bona fide spiritual master, how? By depending on the mercy of the spiritual master and Srila Prabhupada. Bhaktivedanta purports are the manifestation of Srila Prabhupada’s mercy.
Q: When did Sukadeva Goswami change from impersonal to personal?
A: There are two considerations: Hearing and submitting to a bona fide spiritual master. By hearing Sukadeva Goswami was transformed from a parrot to a human. And although he was self-realised to teach the lesson He accepted a bona fide spiritual master just like Krishna went to Sandipani Muni’s ashram and accepted him as His guru.
Q: How to make Srimad Bhagavatam class more interesting when speaking to others?
A: When you speak prepare yourself properly and only discuss Krishna katha and make sure you are practising. Anyone can sit on the Vyasasana and speak. When you speak prepare yourself nicely before you speak, study, speak properly about the topic and the topic is Krishna Consciousness. Become qualified even if you are a neophyte. We have to learn to preach. Speak with substance and make it interesting. Krishna katha can make one spellbound. It becomes relishable to the ears and the heart. Don’t take it so lightly. Srila Prabhupada has given an ocean of informations. Srila Prabhupada gave the example someone goes to a distant place and brings back valuable informations to present it in a proper way. Present it properly then the presentation is beautiful. Read Srila Prabhupada’s books carefully. Make it a point to read Srila Prabhupada’s books at least for 30 minutes daily. It will enhance your spiritual impetus. Listen to the tapes. HH Tamal Krishna Goswami listened to the tapes when going to the bathroom. Wake up and go to the bathroom and play these tapes nowadays there are so many gizmos so there are so many ways.
3. SRILA PRABHUPADA'S APPRECIATION
Bhaktivedanta purports are the manifestation of Srila Prabhupada’s mercy. Don’t take it so lightly. Srila Prabhupada has given an ocean of informations.
4. GURU MAHARAJA’S INSTRUCTIONS
Questions and Answers are very important in understanding this topic. When the opportunity comes take full advantage of it. The more we approach the topic the more we want to know. It is an endless ocean of information;
We should never think that we understood everything;
Read Srila Prabhupada’s books carefully, make it a point to read Srila Prabhupada’s books at least for 30 minutes daily. It will enhance your spiritual impetus; and
Listen to the tapes. HH Tamal Krishna Goswami listened to the tapes when going to the bathroom. Wake up and go to the bathroom and play these tapes nowadays there are so many gizmos so there are so many ways.
(The content of this E-magazine is based on a lecture given by His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami on 17th September 2015 in Surat, India)
(Compiled and Edited by Hemavati Radhika Dasi)