SB 1.7.11 (1964)

SB (1964) Seventh Chapter - The Son of Drona Punished

SB 1.7.10 (1964) - SB 1.7.12 (1964)

Compare Versions: SB 1964 with SB 1972-77

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

TEXT No. 11

Harer gunakshipta mati bhagwan vadarayanih adhyagat mahad akoyanam nityam vishnujana priyah

ENGLISH SYNONYMS

Harer-of Hari the Personality of Godhead, Guna-transcendental attribute, Akshipta-being absorbed in, Mati-mind, Bhagwan-powerful, Vadarayani-son of Vyasadeva, Adhyagat-underwent studies, Mohad-great, Akhyanam-narration, Nityam- regularly, Vishnujana-devotees of the Lord, Priyah-beloved.

TRANSLATION

Srila Sukadeva Goswami son of Srila Vyasdeva was not only transcendentally powerful but also he was himself very dear to the devotees of the Lord. As such He underwent the study of the great narration (Srimad Bhagwatam).

PURPORT

According Brahmavaivarta Puranam Srila Sukhdeva Goswami was a liberated soul even within the womb of His mother. Srila Vyasudeva knew it that the child after his birth will not stay at home and therefore, he (Vyasdeva) impressed upon Him the synopsis of the Bhagwatam so that the child could be made attached to the transcendental activities of the Lord. After his birth the child was still more educated in the subject of the Bhagwatam by recitation of the actual poems.

The idea is that generally the liberated souls are attached to the feature of impersonal Brahman with monistic view of becoming one with the Supreme Whole. But by the association of pure devotees like Vyasdeva even the liberated soul also becomes attracted by the transcendental qualities of the Lord. By the mercy of Sri Narada, Srila Vyasdeva was able to narrate the great epic Srimad Bhagwatam and by the mercy of Vyasdeva Srila Sukdeva Goswami was able to catch up the import of the transcendental Bhagwatam. The transcendental qualities of the Lord is so attractive that Srila Sukdeva Goswami became detached from being completely absorbed in the matter of impersonal Brahman and positively took up the Personal activity of the Lord.

Practically He was thrown from the impersonal conception of the Absolute thinking within Himself that he had simply wasted so much time in devoting so much valuable time in the impersonal feature of the Supreme or in other words He got more realising humour in the matter of Personal feature than in the impersonal. And from that time not only He himself became very dear to the Vishnujana or the devotees of the Lord but also the Vishnujana also became very dear to Him. The devotees of the Lord who do not wish to kill the individuality of the living entities and desire to become personal servitor of the Lord do not very much like the impersonalists and similarly the impersonalists also who desire to become one with the Supreme, are unable to evaluate the devotees of the Lord. As such from time immemorial these two transcendental pilgrims are sometimes competitors with one another. In other words each of them likes to keep separate from one another on account of the ultimate personal and impersonal realisations. As such it appears that Srila Sukdeva Goswami also had no liking for the devotees. But since He himself became a saturated devotee He desired always the transcendental association of the Vishnujana and the Vishnujana also did like His association since He became a Personal Bhagwat. Thus both the son and the father were completely cognisant of the transcendental knowledge in Brahman and afterwards both of them became absorbed in the matter of Personal features of the Supreme Lord. The question as to how Sukdeva Goswami was attracted by the narration of the Bhagwatam is thus completely answered by this Sloka.

(Compare SB 1.7.11 Current Edition)

SB 1.7.10 (1964) - SB 1.7.12 (1964)