{first volume} {Chapter Two} Shri Vyasa Ji said- Ugrasrava, the son of Romaharsha, was filled with joy after hearing the questions of the Brahmavadi rishis (rishis) of Shaunkadi. He praised and congratulated the sages for asking such an auspicious question and started talking. Sut Ji said- At that time, when Sri Shukadev Ji's Yagyopavit Sanskar (the most auspicious ceremony of wearing the sacred thread mostly by Brahmins) was not performed, there was no auspicious time to perform worldly or Vedic rituals. Come, he (Shukdevji) left alone, with the intention of taking sanyasa (a life of renunciation, purifying everything). Seeing him leave home and all at such a young age, his father Vyas Ji, driven by fear and grief at parting with his son, exclaimed, 'Son! Son!’ At that moment, absorbed in the divine, the trees responded on behalf of Shukdev Ji. I pay my respects to the great man Shri Shukadev Ji who is in the hearts of all. This text of Srimad Bhagwat Mahapuranam, which evokes waves of devotion in one, is very divine and spiritual. It is the essence of all Vedas and when read with complete sincerity, devotion and purity, helps to experience and awaken the true form of God. An unprecedented lamp that illuminates spiritual principles for those trapped in the darkness of ignorance and lack of spiritual knowledge in this world. Out of compassion for such spiritual seekers, the great sage Shri Shukdev Ji expounded and expounded on this pure, blissful and life-changing purana (scripture). I pay my respects to him. Salutations to the greatest incarnations of God among humans, Nara-Narayana, all sages, Saraswati Devi and Sri Vyasa Dev Ji, we should read this Srimad Bhagwat Mahapurana to free ourselves from external illusions and sufferings. as well as the inner world. Addressing all the sages Soot Ji further said- You all have asked a very beautiful question for the welfare of the world as this question is related to Lord Krishna and leads to self-realization. The best dharma for human beings is devotion to Lord Krishna—free from all desires and expectations, selfless and steadfast devotion. With such devotion, one becomes immersed in a state of gratitude and attains the realization of the Supreme Being who resides within us in the form of soul, who is the embodiment of pure bliss in the heart. After developing devotion to Lord Sri Krishna, the manifestation of selfless wisdom and detachment occurs, one becomes completely absorbed in Him with unconditional love. Even following the Dharmamarga (Dharma) properly, if one does not get overwhelmed by listening to the divine stories of the Lord, and does not experience the bliss of selfless devotion, then everything is in vain. The purpose of dharma is moksha (liberation; moksha). It should not be used as a means of acquiring wealth. Wealth should be used for righteousness, not for enjoying material desires and pleasures. The purpose of physical desires is not to satisfy the senses but to sustain life. The goal of life is also the search for truth and knowledge. Reaching heaven is not the ultimate goal of human life. Those with high spiritual knowledge and wisdom refer to the indivisible, non-dual, blissful knowledge as tattva (ultimate supreme truth), which some refer to as Brahma (creator of this entire universe), some as Paramatma (the). the ultimate soul) and some Bhagavanta (God. Bhakti rishis experience that supreme truth in their hearts through Bhagavata sravana, with wisdom and renunciation. Shaunkadi rishis! The only reason human beings follow their respective varnas and asramas. Dharma, as the Lord pleases. So, diligently, with concentration, constantly chanting the compassionate Supreme Lord, One should meditate and worship. The knot of karma is very strong. A wise man cuts that knot with the sword of meditation and devotion to God. So who doesn't love God's stories? Shaunkadi sages! Visiting holy places creates the will to serve, followed by the desire to listen to divine stories, which strengthens our faith, which leads to intense interest in God's stories. Both hearing and singing the glories of Lord Krishna purify us. The Lord enters the hearts of pure, selfless, devoted listeners of divine stories and destroys all negative samskaras and negative tendencies, for He is eternally benevolent and merciful to the pure-hearted. Even after continuously reading or listening to Srimad Bhagwat Mahapurana, or being in the presence of the Lord and surrounded by devotees, all the negativity within us will arise. Nature has three forms – sattva, rajas and tamas. Accepting these, God in the forms of Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra performs the role of creation, maintenance and destruction of the universe. However, the ultimate welfare of human beings is possible only after worshiping and worshiping the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu, which is full of sattva guna. Smoke is superior to wood, fire is superior to smoke, fire gives good results in Vedic rituals and yagas, similarly, compared to tamas, rajas is superior and sattvaguna is superior to rajas as it leads to the attainment of God. In ancient times, great souls used to worship Sri Vishnu who was filled with sattva guna for their welfare. Even now, those who follow in their footsteps are devoted to the same prosperity. Those who wish to cross the ocean of this material worldly existence, who do not speak ill of others, who do not see fault in others, do not worship the fierce forms of Bhairava and other pretatmans, full of rajasic and tamasic qualities, but worship them. Vishnu and his other incarnations are full of sattvaguna. But those whose nature is rajasic and tamasic, they worship the Bhutas, ancestors and Prajapatis with the desire for wealth, power and progeny, because their nature is identical with those beings. Vedas refer only to Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna is also the purpose of all yagnas (homas). Yoga is done for Sri Krishna, and the culmination of all actions is in Lord Sri Krishna. Spiritual knowledge leads to attaining the universal form of Lord Krishna. Penance is done to please Lord Krishna. All religious rites are performed for Sri Krishna and all actions and all works converge in Him. Although Lord Krishna is absent from Prakriti (the original or natural form of anything; the original or basic substance) and its attributes, His divine power or maya, from the perspective of the phenomenal universe, is but a mere mythic imagination. The view of science is that it creates this universe and everything in it. These three gunas- sattva, rajas and tamas are all manifestations of the same maya; Yet God, who dwells in them, appears to be associated with them. In fact, he is the embodiment of pure wisdom. Fire is essentially the same, but when it appears in different types of wood, it is different. Similarly, God is one but appears as many according to the diversity of living beings and the forms of worship. God, through the subtle elements, the senses and the mind, creates various living entities and then, entering each of them, experiences the essence of this worldly life. He creates all beings with the intention of showering everyone with his blessings and grace through his lilas (divine drama) and takes various incarnations among gods, humans, animals and birds.

"Jai Jagannath"