STORIES FROM SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM - 1: HOW SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM CAME TO BE WRITTEN

What is Srimad Bhagavatam and how did it come to be written?

The great sage Vyasa – also known as Veda Vyasa, Krishna Dwaipayana or Badarayana – accomplished the superhuman task of categorizing the Vedas. He also categorized the Itihasas (Ramayana and Mahabharata) and Puranas. He is the author of the Mahabharata and the eighteen major Puranas.

Vyasa’s son Sri Suka was a great Yogi and realized soul right from birth. At a very young age, when he was a mere boy, one day, Suka left home and started walking towards the forest. Vyasa followed him out of attachment for his son, but Suka did not look back and kept walking.

On the way, there was a pond in which several ladies were bathing. When Suka passed by, he did not seem to take notice of them, neither were the ladies bothered by his presence. However, when Vyasa came along in a few moments following his son, the ladies immediately covered themselves.

Puzzled at this, Vyasa asked the ladies, “When my young son passed by, you all continued bathing unconcerned. However, in the presence of an old man like me, you seem bashful. What is the reason for this?” The ladies explained, “O revered Sage, your son has realized his oneness with God or Brahman. In his mind, there is no body-consciousness and therefore no distinction between the sexes and therefore no trace of lust. That is why we did not feel self-conscious in his presence. In your case, great though you may be, you are still conscious of the difference of sex.”

Pondering over what the ladies had said, Vyasa felt a great feeling of depression coming over him. “I have studied and categorized the Vedas and written the Mahabharata which teaches everybody about Dharma. I have been blessed with uncommon knowledge. In spite of achieving all this, it appears that I have not realized my true nature (oneness with God or Brahman).”

While Vyasa was sadly reflecting thus, the celestial sage Narada arrived at his Ashrama (hermitage). Seeing Vyasa’s dejection, Narada asked him the reason. Vyasa told him what was troubling his mind and requested Narada to point out a remedy.

Narada advised Vyasa, “O Sage, although you have accomplished so many great things, you have failed to sing adequately the glory of Sri Hari (Maha Vishnu). Concentrate your mind and recall the great deeds and glory of the Lord. No evil can ever befall one who adores the lotus-feet of Sri Hari.”

Vyasa followed Narada’s advice and composed a great work recounting the exploits and glory of the Lord. It is thus that Srimad Bhagavatam or Bhagavata Mahapuranam came into being. This sacred work tells the stories of the Lord in his various Avataras. Especially, the Lord’s Avatara as Sri Krishna is dealt with at great length.

Vyasa was able to get rid of his depression and gain immeasurable bliss in his heart by composing Srimad Bhagavatam. He taught this great Purana to his son Sri Suka. Suka, in turn, recited it to king Parikshit (the grandson of the Pandavas). When Parikshit realized that he had only seven days of life remaining, at Suka’s advice, he spent those last seven days listening to Suka’s expounding of the Bhagavatam. While Suka was reciting it to Parikshit, a Suta (a person with parents from different castes) named Ugrasrava (son of Romaharshana, a disciple of Vyasa) was present and he too learnt the Bhagavatam by Suka’s grace. Later, Suta recited the Bhagavatam to Saunaka and other Rishis.

It has been declared that by merely hearing a reading of the Bhagavatam with faith and devotion, one’s sins are burnt away, one gets liberation from Samsara (the cycle of birth and death) and attains a place in Vaikuntha, the abode of Sri Hari. 

 

(SB 1.4.4 to 5; 1.3.40 to 45; 1.4.25 to 33; 1.5.2 to 22)