Srila Prabhupada on Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.5-6

BY: SUN STAFF

Feb 24, 2019 — CANADA (SUN) — A serial exploration of Srila Prabhupada's preaching on Srimad Bhagavatam.

A few weeks ago, as we presented Srila Prabhupada's preaching on Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.4, we inadvertently included the SB 1.1.5 Bhagwatam verse due to some confusion in the dates of combined lectures listed in the Folio. Today we begin anew, offering SB 1.1.5 and 1.1.6, starting with the verse and purport from the original Bhagwatam, and following tomorrow with a summary of essential points from the combined lecture.

Following is Text 5 of the First Chapter, First Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, with the sloka from Bhagwatam on the left, and from Bhagavatam (without diacritics) on the right:

Ta ekada tu munayah pratar huta agnayah Satkritam sutam asinam prapachhu idam adarat

ta ekada tu munayah pratar huta-hutagnayah sat-krtam sutam asinam papracchur idam adarat

Here is the original Bhagwatam text for SB 1.1.5:

SRIMAD BHAGWATAM
FIRST CANTO
FIRST CHAPTER
TEXT NO. 5


Ta ekada tu munayah pratar huta agnayah
Satkritam sutam asinam prapachhu idam adarat

ENGLISH SYNONYMS

Ta —the sages, Ekada —one day, tu —but, Munayah —sages, pratar —morning, huta —burning, agnaya —fire, satkritam —due respects, Sutam —Sri Suta Goswami, asinam —seated on, prapachhu —made querries, idam —on this (as follows), adarat —with due regards.

TRANSLATION

So one day the great sages after finishing the morning duties by burning the sacrificial fire and offering respectful seat to Srila Suta Goswami made enquiries about the following with great regards.

PURPORT

Morning time is the best and the most suitable occasion for holding holy service and here are the indications for such spiritual association. The great sages offered to speaker of Bhagwat a respectful elevated seat for comfortable accomodation. Such seat is called the Vyasa Asana or the seat of Sri Vyasadeva. Sri Vyasadeva is the original spiritual preceptor for all men. And all other preceptors are considered to be His representative. Representative means one who can exactly present the view point of Sri Vyasadeva. Sri Vyasadeva impregnated the message of Bhagwatam unto Srila Suka Deva Goswami and Sri Suta Goswami heard it from him (Sri Suka Deva Goswami). All bonafied representatives of Sri Vyasdeva in the right chain of disciplic succession are to be understood as Goswamins because such Goswamins restrain all the senses from being deviated from the path of previous Acharyas. The Goswamins do not deliver lectures on Bhagwat capriciously but they execute the service most carefully with regard for his predicessor who delivered the spiritual message unbroken.

The listeners of the Bhagwat from such bonafide representative of Sri Vyasdeva may put questions to the speaker for eliciting the clear meaning but it must not be done in challenging spirit but must be submitted with great regard for the speaker and the subject matter. That is the way recommended in the Bhagwat Geeta. One must learn the transcendental subject by submissive aural reception and that also from the right sources. And thus the sages asked the speaker with great respect.

As seen below, there are a number of differences between the original Bhagwatam translation (left) and the later BBT version (right):

So one day the great sages after finishing the morning duties by burning the sacrificial fire and offering respectful seat to Srila Suta Goswami made enquiries about the following with great regards.

One day, after finishing their morning duties by burning a sacrificial fire and offering a seat of esteem to Srila Suta Goswami, the great sages made inquiries, with great respect, about the following matters.

Following is Text 6 of the First Chapter, First Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, with the sloka from Bhagwatam on the left, and from Bhagavatam (without diacritics) on the right:

Rishaya Uchuh:— Twaya khalu puranani setihasani cha anagha Akhyatani api adhitani dharma shastrani yani uta.

rsaya ucuh tvaya khalu puranani setihasani canagha akhyatany apy adhitani dharma-sastrani yany uta

Here is the original Bhagwatam text for SB 1.1.6:

SRIMAD BHAGWATAM
FIRST CANTO
FIRST CHAPTER
TEXT NO. 6


Rishaya Uchuh:—
Twaya khalu puranani setihasani cha anagha
Akhyatani api adhitani dharma shastrani yani uta.

ENGLISH SYNONYMS

Rishaya—the sages, uchuh—said, twaya—by you, khalu—undoubtedly, puranani—supplimentary to the vedas with illustrative narration, setihasani—with the histories also, cha—and, anagha—freed from all vices, Akhyatani—explained, api—although, adhitani—well read, dharma shastrani—scriptures giving right directions to progressive life, yani—all these, uta—said.

TRANSLATION

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.

PURPORT

A Goswami or the rightful representative of Srila Vyasadeva must be free from all kinds of vices. The preliminary vices are 1. Illicit connection with women, 2. Indulgence of unnecessary animal slaughter, 3. To live a life of intoxication and 4. Endeavouring in the matter of speculative gambling of all descriptions. A Goswami therefore, is freed from all these symptomatic uncleanness before he can dare to sit on the Vysa Asana. Noboby should be allowed to sit on the Vyasa Asana who is not spotless in character with special reference to the above four principles. He shall not only be freed from all such vices but also he must be well versed in all revealed scriptures or the Vedas. The Puranas are also parts of the Vedas. And histories like the Mahabharata or Ramayana are also parts of the Vedas. The Acharya or the Goswami must be well acquainted with all these literary field. To hear and explain them is more important than reading. One can only assimilate the knowledge of the revealed scriptures by hearing and explaining. Hearing is called SHRABAN and explaining is called KIRTAN. Therefore these two processes namely Shraban and Kirtan are two principal factors in the progressive spiritual life. One who has properly grasped the transcendental knowledge from the right source by submissive hearing only can properly explain the subject.

As seen below, there are a number of differences between the original Bhagwatam translation (left) and the later BBT version (right):

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.

The sages said: Respected Suta Gosvami, you are completely free from all vice. You are well versed in all the scriptures famous for religious life, and in the Puranas and the histories as well, for you have gone through them under proper guidance and have also explained them.

Bhaktivedanta Book Trust

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