SB (1962) Volume 1 Preface
We must know the present need of the human society. And what is that need ? The human society is no longer bounded by geographical limits of a particular country or community. The human society is broader than that in the middle age, and the world tendency is to belong to one state or one human society. The ideals of spiritual communism according to Srimad Bhagwatam are based more or less on oneness of the entire human society nay the entire Energy of the living being. The need is felt by great thinkers how to make it successful ideology. Srimad Bhagwatam will fill up the gap of human society and it begins, therefore, with aphorism of Vedanta Philosophy as Janmadyasya yatah to adjust the ideal of common cause.
The human society, at the present moment, is not in the darkness of oblivion. It has made rapid progress in the field of material comforts of life, education and economic development of the entire world. But it suffers a pin-prick somewhere in the social body at large and therefore there is large scale quarrel even on less important issues. Therefore there is the want of the clue as to how they can become one in peace, friendship and prosperity by the common cause. Srimad Bhagwatam will fill up this gap by ontological aspect of human education. It is therefore a cultural presentation for re-spiritualisation of the entire human society.
Srimad Bhagwatam should be introduced also in the schools and colleges as it is recommended by the great student devotee Prahlad Maharaj in order to change the demoniac face of society.
(verse in Devanagari)
- Koumara acharet prajna dharman bhagwataniha
- Durlabham manusam janma tad api adhrubam arthadam::
Disparity of the human society is due to the basic principle of a Godless civilisation. There is God or the Almighty One from whom everything emanates, by Whom everything is maintained and in Whom everything is merged to rest. The material science has tried to find out the ultimate source of creation very insufficiently but it is a fact that there is one Ultimate Source of everything that be. This ultimate source is explained rationally and authoritatively in the beautiful Bhagwatam or Srimad Bhagwatam.
Srimad Bhagwatam is transcendental science not only to know the ultimate source of every thing but also to know our relation with Him and our duty towards perfection of the human society on the basis of this perfect knowledge.
It is a powerful reading matter in Sanskrit language and is now rendered into English version elaborately so that simply by its careful reading one will know God perfectly well, so much so that the reader will sufficiently be educated to defend himself from the onslaught of the atheist. Over and above the reader will be-able to convert others in accepting God as concrete principle as anything.
It begins with the definition of the Ultimate Source as the bonafide commentary of the Vedanta Sutra by the same author Srila Vyasdeva and gradually it develops into nine canto's up to the highest stage of God realization. The only qualification required to study this great book of transcendental knowledge, is to proceed step by step cautiously and not to jump on half-hazardously like reading an ordinary book.
The book should be gone through chapter to chapter one after another and the reading matter is so arranged by its original Sanskrit text, its English transliteration, synonyms, translation and purportful explanation that one is sure to become a God-realised soul at the end of finishing the first nine canto's.
The tenth canto is distinct from the first nine canto's, because it deals directly with the transcendental activities of the Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna. One will be unable to capture the effects of the 10th canto without having gone through the first nine canto's. The book is complete in twelve canto's each independent but it is good for all to get them by small instalments one after another.
It is a large voluminous literature and let us have it by parts of not more than 350 to 400 pages at a time. So that the reader may conveniently go through it without being taxed heavily both physically and mentally.
I must admit my frailties in presenting the First Part but still I am hopeful of its good reception by the thinkers and leaders of the Society, on the strength of the following statement of Srimad Bhagwatam.
(verse in Devanagari:)
- Tad baga visarga janata agha viplavbo
- Yasmin pratislokam abaddha vatyapi
- Namani anantasya jasho ankitani yat
- Srinnwanti gayanti grinanti sadhabah
"On the other hand the literature which is full with description of transcendental.glories of the Name, Fame, Form, Pastime of the Unlimited Supreme Lord, -is a different creation of transcendental vocabulary all meant for bringing about a revolution in the impious life of a misdirected civilization of the world. Such transcendental literatures even though irregularly composed, is heard, sung and accepted by the purified men who are thoroughly honest." (pp. 259)
I am obliged to Sri Hanuman Prasad Poddar of the Gita Press and "Kalyan" fame, who has gone through my work and appreciating the endeavour, has helped through the Dalmia Jain Trust to meet part expenditure of this publication.
My thanks are due also to other friends who have helped me in undertaking this great task. Om Tat Sat.
December 15, 1962.
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami.