Sharanagati

“Shrimad Bhagavatam” is just like one story, imbedded into another. The broadest sense is: the sages of Naimisharanya coming together listening for the lecture, so to say. There Suta is the speaker and he remembers what was happening on the banks of Ganges. He repeats the conversation between Shukadev and Parikshit. And Shukadev repeats many things that he had heard before. So one story is imbedded into the other.

And as it is known to you – how many topics the “Bhagavatam” discusses? It discusses ten topics, because this is a Maha Purana; Maha Purana discusses ten topics, small Purana discusses five topics. If you read the beginning of the Second Canto, there you can find the list of the topics. So please, don’t frustrate me; next time when I come and I ask: “How many topics the “Bhagavatam” discusses?” – no answer. Please, study, make a list, learn – what are the topics, what are the subjects of a Maha Purana. Like: creation, secondary creation, rules and regulations, the story of incarnations, the story of kings, the way of salvation, definition of moksha, what is to be done by the people, what is the final protection – all these different topics are mentioned and discussed in the “Shrimad Bhagavatam”. By this we can define what is what. If there is a big literature, but it does not discuss these topics – then this is not a Purana.

So, the greatest circle of “Shrimad Bhagavatam” is actually you, now! Because here now we repeat what was repeated 5 000 years back. The questions were put: what is to be done by human beings? And this we should understand. Not only understand – but put it into practice.

In the latter sections of the First Canto when Parikshit already understands that he will die in seven days, he says to the sages that were coming together that “It doesn’t matter that I have to die, you all go on with glorification of Vishnu.” This is sacrifice. I sacrifice my life, but it doesn’t matter – kirtan should go on! Worship should go on.

The method of learning we can learn from the “Bhagavatam” – and this is inquiry. The sages, I think, were very well aware what to do. Still they were asking.