SB (1962) First Chapter
SB 1.1.1 (1962): Oh my Lord Sri Krishna the son of Vasudeva the all prevading Personality of Godhead, I do offer my respectful obeisances unto You. I do meditate upon Him because He is the Absolute Truth and is the Primeval cause of all causes of this manifested universes in the matter of creation sustenance and destruction. Directly and indirectly He is conscious of all different manifestations but still He is independent of any other cause beyond Himself. It is He only who imparted first the Vedic knowledge unto the heart of the original living being namely Brahmaji and unto Whom even the great sages and demigods become illusioned as much as there is illusory representation of water in the fire or land on the water and so on. It is on account of Him only the temporary manifestation of the material universes made by the reaction of the three modes of nature appears to be factual although it is unreal. I do therefore meditate upon Him Who is eternally existent in the trancendental abode which is for ever free from the illusory representation of the material world and He is therefore the Absolute Truth.
SB 1.1.2 (1962): In this Bhagwat Puranam all so called religious activities, covered by fruitive intentions, are completely rejected and the highest Truth, understandable by the cent per cent pure hearted devotees, is inculcated. The highest truth is the factual reality distinguished from the shadow is described herein for every one's welbeing and causing uprooting of the threefold miseries. The beautiful Bhagwatam is compiled by the great sage Sri Vyasdeva (in his mature stage) and as such what is the need of other scripture (for self realisation)? As soon as a person applies his attentive and submissive aural reception to the messages of this (Bhagwatam) the Supreme Lord at once becomes fixed up compact by such culture (of knowledge).
SB 1.1.3 (1962): Oh the expert and thoughtful men! Please know it that Srimad Bhagwatam is the mature fruit of the desired tree of Vedic literatures and it is emanated from the lips of Sri Sukdeva Goswami. For this the nectarine fruit has become more tasteful although it is already readily swallowable nectarine juice which is relished by all up to those who are already liberated souls.
SB 1.1.4 (1962): Once upon a time the great sages headed by the sage Shounaka assembled at the specific holy place in the forest of Naimasharanya to perform a great sacrificial ceremony to be finished in one thousand of years and that for the satisfaction of Vishnu the Lord and His devotees.
SB 1.1.5 (1962): So one day the great sages after finishing the morning duties by burning the sacrificial fire and offering a respectful seat to Srila Suta Goswami made enquiries about the following with great regards.
SB 1.1.6 (1962): The sages said, "Respected Suta Goswami, you are completely freed from all vices. You are well versed in all the scriptures that are famous for religious life as well as in the Puranas and histories as you have gone through them under proper guidance as also explained them.
SB 1.1.7 (1962): The seniormost learned Vedantist Oh Suta Goswami, you are acquainted with knowledge of Vyasdeva who is an incarnation of Godhead as well as with other sages who are fully conversant in all kinds of physical and metaphysical learnings.
SB 1.1.8 (1962): And because you are submissive your spiritual masters have endowed you with all the favours, of the spiritual masters, for gentle disciples. As such you can let us know all that you learnt from them scientifically.
SB 1.1.9 (1962): You are, therefore, requested to explain to us what you ascertained to be the absolute and ultimate good for the people in general,—out of your considered and made easy opinion. Oh you are blessed with good old age.
SB 1.1.10 (1962): The public, men in this iron age of quarrel, are almost always meagre in the duration of life. Oh the member of learned society, they are not only so but also very lazy, misguided, unlucky and above all they are always disturbed.
SB 1.1.11 (1962): There are multifarious varieties of scriptures and in all of them there are many many prescribed duties which are to be learnt for many many years even by division of subject matters. Oh the sage, please, therefore, select out the essence of all such scriptures and explain it for the good of all living beings so that they may become fully satisfied in heart by such instruction.
SB 1.1.12 (1962): Oh Suta Goswami all blessing upon you. You know as to for what purpose the Personality of Godhead appeared in the womb of Devaki as the son of Vasudeva.
SB 1.1.13 (1962): Oh Suta Goswami, you ought to explain us, who are endevouring for knowing it eagerly, the topic about the Personality of Godhead and His incarnations as they were done by the previous Acharyas,—because such description and hearing both are for the good and upliftment of living being.
SB 1.1.14 (1962): Living beings, who are entangled in the hurdle of birth and death, even though too complicated, can get freedom at once even by unconsciously chanting the holy Name of Krishna which is feared even by the personified Fear.
SB 1.1.15 (1962): Oh Suta Goswami, the great sages who have completely taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord, can at once sanctify others who may come into touch with them while the water of the Ganges can do so after a prolonged use only.
SB 1.1.16 (1962): Who is there not willing to take to the business of hearing the virtuous glories of the Lord if he at all desires to get deliverance from all vices in this age of quarrel.
SB 1.1.17 (1962): His transcendental acts are very magnanimous and great learned sages like (Narada) and others do narrate them. Please, therefore, speak to us, who are all eager to hear them, about His adventures which He performed in His various incarnations.
SB 1.1.18 (1962): Therefore oh the sagacious Suta Goswami, please narrate the transcendental pastimes of the Supreme controller Godhead's multi-incarnations which are auspicious adventures and pastimes executed by His internal potencies.
SB 1.1.19 (1962): We shall never be in rest even though continuously hearing the transcendental pastimes of the Personality of Godhead who is glorified by good prayers. Those who have developed the particular humour of transcedental mellow, do relish in every step such description of pastimes of the Lord.
SB 1.1.20 (1962): Lord Sri Krishan the Personality of Godhead along with Valarma played apparently like the human being but He performed many superhuman acts although masked like that.
SB 1.1.21 (1962): Knowing it well that the age of Kali has already begun we are assembled here with a prolonged programme for performing sacrifices in the shape of hearing the transcendental message of Godhead.
SB 1.1.22 (1962): We think that your goodness is met by us by the will of providence just to accept you as the captain of the ship which desires to cross over the difficult ocean of Kali which deteriorates all the good qualities of the human being.
SB 1.1.23 (1962): Please let us know as to whom the religious principles have taken shelter at the present moment when Sri Krishna the Absolute Truth and the Master of all mystic powers has had departed for His own abode.