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Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
“Completely rejecting all religious activities which are materially motivated, this Bhāgavata Purāṇa propounds the highest truth, which is understandable by those devotees who are pure in heart. The highest truth is reality distinguished from illusion for the welfare of all. Such truth uproots the threefold miseries. This beautiful Bhāgavatam, compiled by the great sage Śrī Vyāsadeva, is sufficient in itself for God realization. As soon as one attentively and submissively hears the message of Bhāgavatam, he becomes attached to the Supreme Lord.” Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.1.2
“This Bhāgavata Purāņa is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Kṛṣṇa to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the age of Kali shall get light from this Purāṇa.” Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.3.43
The Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared on this earth planet just before the advent of Kali-Yuga, also known as the Iron Age of Quarrel and Hypocrisy, and returned to His eternal home at the beginning of this age, about 5000 years ago. During His stay on this planet, He spoke Bhagavad-Gītā and eradicated all pretentious principles of religiosity. Prior to His departure, He empowered Śrī Vyāsadeva, through the great sage Nārada Muni, to compile the messages of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. These two literatures are like torchbearers for the spiritually blind people of this age who are entrapped by the material energy, hardly knowing the religious principles of life, who cannot see anything beyond the needs of the body, and who are always disturbed in some way or other. Bhagavad-Gītā is the preliminary study of the Bhāgavatam, and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is considered to be the ripened fruit of all Vedic literatures. It is the literary incarnation of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa and is therefore non-different from Him.
This majestic spiritual masterpiece, when carefully studied from beginning to end, takes the reader through all the necessary preliminary studies of the Godhead to finally reach the Tenth Canto, which deals directly with the wondrous activities of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. For one who is not envious, he is sure to be God realized by the end of applying himself to the first nine Cantos, and will be able to appreciate the subject matter of the intimate dealings and relationships between Kṛṣṇa and His associates as described in the Tenth Canto. If Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is not studied in a systematic way, or is presented by someone who is not pure in motive, confusion is the guaranteed result. Śrīla Prabhupāda has given us this proper presentation to provide the best opportunity for our spiritual progress. It is a great gift, painstakingly offered to us for our eternal benefit.
The First Canto is especially significant, as Śrīla Prabhupāda was not sure how much he would be able to translate in the time he had with us. He therefore packed as much philosophy into his purports to the verses of the First Canto Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam to guarantee that we would have access to this wisdom. He actually told us that he had given us the entire philosophy of Kṛṣṇa Consciousness in the First Canto Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, so these three volumes are especially replete with eternal wisdom.
We are offering on this website a 30 volume set of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam that includes only the works that were personally translated and commented upon by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda. This set ends with Tenth Canto, 13th chapter, which describes the pastime of Lord Brahmā, the Lord of the Universe, stealing Kṛṣṇa’s cowherd boyfriends and calves from the pasturing grounds of Vṛndāvana. Śrīla Prabhupāda was softly dictating this famous story in his final days in his room in Vṛndavāna, India. After Śrīla Prabhupāda’s departure from this world, the rest of Tenth Canto, and also the 11th and 12th cantos, were translated by some of his disciples according to his desire, and are available from other sources.
This great work is presented to us by the mercy of the Lord, the great sages, and the entire lineage of spiritual teachers beginning with the empowered compiler of this work, Śrī Vyāsadeva, out of their compassion and deep concern for the well-being of the fallen souls who are suffering so drastically in this world. The rendition being presented here has been passed down through this lineage without change or disturbance. A sincere and serious person can thus at once enjoy the nectarean experience of these unadulterated teachings, experiencing transcendental emotions with every read.
To purchase a copy and learn more please visit PurelyPrabhupada.com