Summary of Srımad-Bhagavatam from the Narada Purana Translation by Jan Mareš; from Śrī Bṛhan-nāradīya Purāṇa, Pūrva-bhāga (“fore part”), Bṛhad-upākhyāna (“the larger episode”), Part 4, Chapter 96.

(5) (1) (4) parīkṣic-chuka-saṁvāde brahmovāca vyāsasya caritaṁ puṇyaṁ sṛṣṭi-dvaya-nirūpaṇam marīce śṛṇu vakṣyāmi pāṇḍavānāṁ tathaiva ca brahma-nārada-saṁvāde vedavyāsena yat kṛtam parīkṣitam upākhyānam devatā-caritāmṛtam śrīmad-bhāgavataṁ nāma itīdaṁ samudāhṛtam purāṇaṁ brahma-sammitam The virtuous [i.e., bestowing puṇya, or pious merit] The conversation between Parīkṣit and Śukadeva [in the Second Canto] describes two types of creation, and the Brahmā said: Listen, O Marīci [a son of Brahmā]. I will stories of Vyāsa, the Pāṇḍavas, and Parīkṣit are narrated conversation between Brahmā and Nārada describes the tell you about the Purāṇa named Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, there [in the meeting] in detail. nectar of the Lord’s activities. devoted to the subject of Brahman [with focus on Śrī Kṛṣṇa] and rendered by Vedavyāsa.

(2) tad aṣṭādaśa-sāhasraṁ (6) kīrtitaṁ pāpa-nāśanam sura-pādapa-rūpo ’yaṁ purāṇa-lakṣaṇaṁ caiva skandhair dvādaśabhir yutaḥ sṛṣṭi-kāraṇa-saṁbhavaḥ dvitīyo ’yaṁ samuditaḥ Its eighteen thousand glorious verses in twelve cantos skandho vyāsena dhīmatā have the form of a wish-fulfilling tree and destroy sins. The Second Canto of very intelligent Vyāsa also describes the characteristics of the Purāṇas and the process of creation. (7) caritaṁ vidurasyātha maitreyeṇāsya saṁgamaḥ sṛṣṭi-prakaraṇaṁ paścād brahmaṇaḥ paramātmanaḥ

[The Third Canto tells of] the meeting between Vidura and Maitreya. It has a section on creation and ends with descriptions of Brahman and Paramātmā.

(3) bhagavān eva viprendra viśva-rūpī samīritaḥ tatra tu prathama-skandhe sūta rṣīṇāṁ samāgame

O best of brāhmaṇas, in the First Canto, in the meeting of Sūta with the sages, the universal form of Bhagavān is described. Painting by Dīrghā Devī Dāsī

42 BACK TO GODHEAD • NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 • BACK TO GODHEAD 43 (11–12) (14) naraka-sthitir ityeṣa gajendra-mokṣaṇākhyānaṁ saṁsthāne pañcamo mataḥ manvantara-nirūpaṇe ajāmilasya caritaṁ samudra-mathanaṁ caiva dakṣa-sṛṣṭi-nirūpaṇam bali-vaibhava-bandhanam

vṛtrākhyānaṁ tataḥ paścān [The Eighth Canto] describes Gajendra’s liberation, the marutāṁ janma puṇyadam manvantaras [periods ruled by the Manus], the churning ṣaṣṭho ’yam uditaḥ skandho of the ocean, and the bondage of the opulent Bali. vyāsena pari-poṣaṇe (15) The Fifth Canto also describes the stay in hell. The story of Ajāmila, the progeny of Dakṣa, the story of Vṛtra, matsyāvatāra-caritam and, at its end, the virtuous birth of the Maruts are spo- aṣṭamo ’yaṁ prakīrtitaḥ ken about by Vyāsa in the Sixth Canto, which concerns sūrya-vaṁśa-samākhyānaṁ (8–9) yadoś ca dattātreyeṇa the Lord’s comprehensive mercy. soma-vaṁśa-nirūpaṇam kāpilaṁ sāṁkhyam apy atra śrī-kṛṣṇoddhavasya ca tṛtīyo ’yam udāhṛtaḥ The Eighth Canto provides the story of Matsya as well satyāś caritam ādau tu as the story of the Sūrya-vaṁśa [the dynasty of the sun- yādavānāṁ mithontaś ca dhruvasya caritaṁ tataḥ god] and gives the description of the Soma-vaṁśa [the muktāv ekādaśaḥ smṛtaḥ dynasty of the moon-god]. bhaviṣya-kali-nirddeśo pṛthoḥ puṇya-samākhyānaṁ mokṣo rājñaḥ parīkṣitaḥ tataḥ prācīnabarhiṣam ity eṣa turyo gadito veda-śākhā-praṇayanaṁ visarge skandha uttamaḥ mārkaṇḍeya-tapaḥ kriyā saurī vibhūtir uditā The Third Canto also describes the [original] Sāṅkhya of sātvatī ca tataḥ param Kapila. Beginning with the story of Satī and the virtuous story of Dhruva, the supreme Fourth Canto narrates the purāṇa-saṁkhyā-kathanam virtuous stories of Pṛthu and Prācīnabarhiṣat, and of the āśraye dvādaśo hy ayam visarga [the secondary creation, by Brahmā and others]. ity evaṁ kathitaṁ vatsa śrīmad bhāgavataṁ tava (13) The talks between Nārada and Vasudeva, between Yadu prahlāda-caritaṁ puṇyaṁ and Dattātreya [as an avadhūta brāhmaṇa], and between varṇāśrama-nirūpaṇam Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Uddhava, as well as the mutual end and saptamo gadito vatsa (16–17) liberation of the Yadus, are remembered in the Eleventh vāsanā-karma-kīrtane Canto. The future of Kali-yuga, the liberation of King vaṁśyānucarite prokto Parīkṣit, the expansion of Vedic branches, the austerities navamo ’yaṁ mahāmate The virtuous story of Prahlāda and a description of varṇ- of Mārkaṇḍeya, and the transcendent supreme glory of kṛṣṇasya bāla-caritaṁ āśrama based on material desires are narrated in the Sev- Lord Kṛṣṇa are described along with the enumeration of kaumāraṁ ca vraja-sthitiḥ enth Canto, O dear child, which concerns the description the Purāṇas in the Twelfth Canto. Thus I have narrated of materially motivated activities. to you, O dear child, the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which kaiśoraṁ mathurā-sthānaṁ concerns the ultimate shelter. yauvanaṁ dvārakā-sthitiḥ bhū-bhāra-haraṇaṁ cātra nirodhe daśamaḥ smṛtaḥ (10) The Ninth Canto, concerning a description of dynasties, priyavratasya caritaṁ speaks of various vaṁśas and their characteristics, O tad vaṁśyānāṁ ca puṇya-dam great sage. The story of Kṛṣṇa’s childhood, His life in brahmāṇḍāntargatānāṁ ca Vraja as a young boy, His life in Mathurā as an older lokānāṁ varṇanaṁ tataḥ boy, His life in Dvārakā in His youth, and His removal of the earth’s burden are remembered in the Tenth Canto [The Fifth Canto narrates] the virtuous story of Priya- in regard to the topic of annihilation. vrata and his dynasty, as well as the description of the universe with its lokas [worlds]. (18–21) nāradena tu saṁvādo vasudevasya kīrtitaḥ 44 BACK TO GODHEAD • NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2017 • BACK TO GODHEAD 45 deyaṁ bhāgavatāyedaṁ jīva is free from outside-in control; dvijāya prīti-pūrvakam this is called the stage of liberation. CALENDAR In this stage the jīva is completely This calendar is calculated for 13 – Saphalā Ekādaśī saṁpūjya vastra hemādyair indifferent to (i.e., not controlled bhagavad bhaktim icchatā Mayapur, West Bengal, India. Fasting from grains and beans. by) material happiness, distress, crit- The dates, derived from a lunar yo ’py anukramaṇīm etāṁ icism, praise, friend, foe, activity, śrāvayec chṛṇuyāt tathā calendar, may vary by one day 19 – Appearance anniversary confusion, and illumination. for other locations. For the exact of Śrīla Locana Dāsa Ṭhākura, sa purāṇa śravaṇa jaṁ The easiest way to become free prāpnoti phalam uttamam dates for your area, go to www. a great devotee of Kṛṣṇa from the tyranny of the body that sup- vaisnavacalendar.com. known for his Bengali If on the full-moon day of the month of Bhādra one presses the jīva’s capacity for inside- Because the Hare Kṛṣṇa move- devotional songs. places Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam on a golden throne, gives it out control is to perform bhakti, as ment comes in disciplic line from as a gift to a brāhmaṇa with loving affection, worships Kṛṣṇa explains in the Gītā (14.26): Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the cal- 21 – Disappearance anniver- him, and offers him clothes, gold, and other gifts, one endar includes not only dates rel- sary of Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, will get the desired devotion to the Lord. Even by recit- māṁ ca yo ’vyabhicāreṇa evant to all followers of the Vedic one of the Six Gosvāmīs of bhakti-yogena sevate (22) ing or listening to this enumeration, one will achieve the tradition but also dates relating Vṛndāvana. supreme fruit of listening to that Purāṇa. sa guṇān samatītyaitān to Lord Caitanya’s associates vaktuḥ śrotuś copadeṣṭur brahma-bhūyāya kalpate and prominent spiritual masters 29 – Putradā Ekādaśī anumoditur eva ca iti śrī bṛhan nāradīya purāṇe pūrva bhāge bṛhad in His disciplic succession. Fasting from grains and beans. sāhāya-kartur gaditaṁ upākhyāne caturtha pāde “One who engages in full devotional bhakti-bhukti-vimukti-dam śrīmad bhāgavatānukramaṇī nirūpaṇaṁ nāma service, unfailing in all circumstances, ṣaṇṇavatitamo ’dhyāyaḥ at once transcends the modes of ma- Month of Keśava One who speaks, hears, teaches, appreciates, and follows terial nature and thus comes to the (November 5 – December 3) this summary narration will get devotion to the Lord, This is Śrī Bṛhan-nāradīya Purāṇa, Pūrva-bhāga, Bṛhad- level of Brahman.” Performing bhakti upākhyāna, fourth part, named “The Description of enjoyment in this world, and liberation. not only frees one from the control NOVEMBER Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam,” chapter 96. of the guṇas but also makes one a 14 – Utpannā Ekādaśī (23–24) surrendered associate of Kṛṣṇa. In Bhakta Jan Mareš, born in Prague, Czech Republic, has Fasting from grains and beans. prauṣṭhapadyāṁ pūrṇimāyāṁ been practicing Kṛṣṇa consciousness since 1993. He is a this state the devotee is now con- trolled by prema, or love for Kṛṣṇa. hema-siṁha-samanvitam translator and editor for the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. 30 – Mokṣadā Ekadaśī The devotee still has the capacity to Fasting from grains and beans. choose, but the choices available in The anniversary of the day on the spiritual world are in the context DO WE HAVE FREE WILL? They are the two obstacles.” Bala- would be no need for the knowledge which Lord Kṛṣṇa spoke the of how to make Kṛṣṇa happy. Thus (continued from page 19) deva Vidyābhūṣaṇa comments: of the Gītā and the Bhāgavatam. Thus, Bhagavad-gītā. the jīva is dependent in its capacity the person who does not even the jīva has the capacity to choose If the actions of men were under to choose, whether in the material know about the punishment? All (inside-out), but it is limited by the Month of Nārāyaṇa the control of their sinful natures, world or the spiritual world. In fact, people follow their sinful desires, information it receives (outside-in) to (December 4 – January 2) then the positive and negative in all of existence the only indepen- even though those desires cause make that choice. When it receives injunctions of scripture would be destruction of the very goals they dent person with complete free will useless. . . . The scriptures, which the knowledge of bhakti it is pre- DECEMBER pursue – artha, dharma, kāma, to do as He likes is Kṛṣṇa Himself. direct one to associate with the sented, then the jīva learns about its and mokṣa. For a person devoid of saintly persons, will turn one away identity as separate from the mind, association of saintly persons, even REFERENCES 7 – Disappearance anni- from, and make one detest, what intelligence, and body. It now has the if he has knowledge of scripture, versary of Śrīla Bhakti- is forbidden, even though it is option to choose between material what can punishment accomplish? (1) Cashmore, A. R. (2010), “The siddhānta Sarasvatī pleasurable to the mind, by mak- He will not be able to destroy activities and bhakti’s activities. The Lucretian swerve: The biological Ṭhākura, the spiritual mas- ing one understand the undesirable the strong influence of those bad jīva of course does not become free basis of human behavior and the consequences of the forbidden act. ter of Śrīla A. C. Bhakti- desires. from the body, but the mind, intelli- criminal justice system.” Proc Natl vedanta Swami Prabhupāda. And they will also make one have gence, and body now become vehi- Acad Sci USA 107:4499–4504. Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta attraction for and engage in acts cles in the jīva’s acquiescing to (2) Ibid. Sarasvatī Ṭhākura The next verse is an injunction: prescribed by scripture by making bhakti’s instructions. Now begins one understand their favorable (3) Hinsen, K. (2010), “A scientific indriyasyendriyasyārthe results, even though these may be the struggle. The jīva has to make a model for free will is impossible.” rāga-dveṣau vyavasthitau unpleasant for the mind. Thus the daily choice to either serve Kṛṣṇa – Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 107:E149. (6) Dawkins, R. (2006), The God (2016), “A simple task uncovers a tayor na vaśam āgacchet positive and negative injunctions i.e., to perform bhakti – or to serve (4) de Duve, C. (1995), Vital Dust Delusion (Bantam Press, London). postdictive illusion of choice.” tau hy asya paripanthinau of scripture are not useless. Kṛṣṇa’s material energy, māyā. (Basic Books, New York). (7) Wegner, Daniel M. and Wheat- Psychological Science, 27(6). By steadily progressing on this (5) Cashmore, A. R. (2010), “Reply ley, Thalia (1999), “Apparent mental “Attachment and repulsion are firmly If the jīva had no capacity to under- path, the jīva becomes transcenden- to Hinsen: Free will, vitalism, and causation: Sources of the experience Hari Parāyaṇa Dāsa is a disciple of fixed in each of the sense objects. stand the consequences of harmful tal to the guṇas – that is, free from distinguishing cause from effect.” of will.” American Psychologist, His Holiness Rādhā Govinda Mahā- Therefore one should not come under and beneficial actions, and to direct the agitation caused by the material Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2010 107 Vol. 54(7): 480–492. rāja. He lives in Alachua, Florida, control of attachment and repulsion. its intelligence accordingly, there body, mind, and intelligence. Then the (38) E150. (8) Bear, Adam and Bloom, Paul with his family.

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