(These explanations of Srimad Bhagavatam were published in the weekly Gaudiya magazine during Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Thakura´s time. Later on, they were published in the monthly Gaudiya magazine in 1964-65.)
yam brahma varunendra-rudra-marutah stunvanti divyaih stavair
vedaih sanga-pada-kramopanisadair gayanti yam sama-gah
dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa pasyanti yam yogino
yasyantam na viduh surasura-gana devaya tasmai namah
“Unto that personality whom Brahma, Varuna, Indra, Rudra and the Maruts praise by chanting transcendental hymns and reciting the Vedas with all their corollaries, pada-kramas and Upanisads, to whom the chanters of the Sama Veda always sing, whom the perfected yogis see within their minds after fixing themselves in trance and absorbing themselves within Him, and whose limit can never be found by any demigod or demon—unto that Supreme Personality of Godhead I offer my humble obeisances.”
nama-srestham manum api saci-putram atra svarupam
rupam tasyagrajam uru-purim mathurim gostavatim
radha-hundam giri-varam aho radhika-madhavasam
prapto yasya prathita-krpaya sri gurum tam nato ‘smi
“I bow down to the beautiful lotus feet of my spiritual master, by whose causeless mercy I have obtained the supreme holy name, the divine mantra, the service of the son of Sacimata, the association of Srila Svarupa Damodara, Rupa Gosvami, and Rupa’s older brother Sanatana Gosvami, the supreme abode of Mathura, the blissful abode of Vrndavana, the divine Radha-kunda and Govardhana Hill, and the desire within my heart for the loving service of Sri Radhika and Madhava in Vrndavana.”
It is never possible, from our present condition, to engage in the service of, attain the association of, and receive knowledge of that transcendental Absolute Truth who is beyond the reach of our present sense perception. We will never become successful, even if we employ all of the energies at our disposal in that endeavor because we are limited, insignificant living entities and so are incapable of finding by ourselves the path of auspiciousness. The truth of the matter is—we tend to always invite the path of danger. Even if we try to discuss topics concerning our ultimate benefit, we will always fail to realize the transcendental nature of the Absolute Truth. Besides this, we are always afflicted with various diseases and causes of lamentation, and we are dependent upon others. There is no one in this world who can deliver us from the great danger we face—only the dearmost associates of Sri Hari and no one else are actually able to show us the true path of auspiciousness.
How can an insignificant person like me understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose glories are not understood by both demigods and demons, who is seen by the yogis within their hearts, who is greeted with songs from the Sama-veda, and who is offered prayers by Brahma, Varuna, Indra and the Maruts? And yet, by the mercy of the spiritual master, it is possible to realize the Supreme Lord, who is the worshipable Lord of that person by whose mercy I am able to know the Absolute Truth—His names, forms, qualities and pastimes.
How this is so is explained in this verse:
aradhyo bhagavan vrajesa-tanayas tad-dhama vrndavanam
ramya kascid upasana vraja-vadhu-varga-virya kalpita
srimad-bhagavatam amalam puranam prema pum-artho mahan
sri-caitanya mahaprabhor matam idam tatradarah na parah
“The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the son of Nanda Maharaja, is to be worshiped along with His transcendental abode, Vrndavana. The most pleasing form of worship for the Lord is that which was performed by the gopis of Vrndavana. Srimad-Bhagavatam is the spotless authority on everything, and pure love of God is the ultimate goal of life for all men. These statements, for which we have the highest regard, are the opinion of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.”
No philosophy contrary to that of Sri Caitanyadeva can flourish in this world. All other philosophies of this world are manufactured from the constant flow of thoughts that run through our minds. The enlightenment of Krsna consciousness that is confirmed by our own self-realization has been made available by the most merciful Sri Krsna Caitanya.
What has Sri Caitanyadeva abstracted from Srimad Bhagavatam? The worship of the Supreme Lord, Sri Krsna. This is the ultimate teaching of Srimad-Bhagavatam. There are many statements in the scriptures, such as aradhyo bhagavan brajestanayah that indicate the son of the King of Braja as being supremely worshipable, and aradhanam sarvesam visnoraradhanam param—that among all types of worship, worship of Lord Visnu is topmost. These statements substantiate the conclusion that Sri Krsna is the only worshipable Lord of all.
The Supreme Lord is the absolute complete whole. As long as we remain attracted to incomplete objects, and as long as false ego, false pride and false proprietorship remain prominent within our hearts, we cannot make any progress on the path of realizing the Absolute Truth.
We foolishly imagine many forms as supreme and, as a result of becoming attracted to those forms, we end up achieving imperfection. Therefore, the best course is to simply depend on Sri Caitanyadeva in this regard. Sri Caitanyadeva did not indulge in any kind of worldly debate. Rather, He was totally indifferent to all discussions other than those dealing with spiritual subject matters. His only concern was to award the ultimate benefit to all living entities. He said, “The heart of ordinary people is their mind, but my heart is the abode of Vrndavana.” He declared that the son of Nanda Maharaja is the ultimate object of all kinds of worship.
The worship of Krsna in Braja is more perfect that the worship of Krsna in Mathura or Dvaraka. He is worshiped by all Brajavasis. Sri Krsna is the worshipable Lord of those who have graduated to the realm of Braja. Their selfless worship of Krsna is not established on the principle of, “not this, not this” and self-sufficiency. No temporary mundane conception should be accepted as being ultimate truth. Krsna, the son of the King of Braja alone is the object of worship. Krsna is the fountainhead of all incarnations, such as Vasudeva, Sankar- sana, the Purusa avataras, Matsya, Kurma, etc. It is by Him that all these incarnations are empowered, and it is He who is the personification of all transcendental mellows and thus the only object of worship.
The perfection of Krsna’s pastimes is revealed in Vrndavana. Let the pastimes of Gopinatha in Vrndavana be the object of our discussion rather than the insignificant conceptions of those who are fond of worldly literature and philosophy. Let the pastimes of Nanda’s son; who is served by His elder brother, Baladeva, and friends like Sridama; who is eagerly served by His servants, such as Raktaka, Patraka and Citraka; and who is also the object of service for the cows, sticks, flute, horn, the banks of the Yamuna and the kadamba trees, became the only object of our discussion.
Gaura Hari Haribol