The Hindu : Essence of Vedas in Bhagavatham

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Thursday, Dec 19, 2002

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Miscellaneous - Religion

Essence of Vedas in Bhagavatham

CHENNAI DEC. 19 . While each sacred text invariably deals with a particular theme focussing on the need to uphold virtue, the Bhagavatham is a valuable work that incorporates all the ten incarnations of the Lord with details and narrates the life of Krishna in particular from His birth to His exit. Besides these topics, there is enormous information on Cosmos, the rule by several emperors and a fund of philosophic matter. It is said that if a scholar's erudition is to be tested, he should be found well versed in expounding the Bhagavatam even as the genuineness and purity of gold is to be assessed only in flames. Its origin is interesting. Sage Vyasa, who had presented to the world the epic, Mahabharatam, in which he had referred to the presence of Krishna only at intervening periods while the main story related to the triumph of Righteousness over evil, once felt much agitated.

The introduction to this work says it is the essence of the Tree of the Vedas, dropped on earth from the mouth of Suka (son of Vyasa) and is full of nectar of Supreme Bliss. It has unmixed sweetness (devoid of rind, seed or other superfluous matter). "Drink it till there is consciousness left in you", the verse adds. Vyasa taught this benedictory work to his son, Suka, who recited it to a king, who was cursed to die in a week. Vyasa, feeling uneasy at heart once, sat reflecting at a secluded spot. "I have studied the Vedas, served the elders and honestly followed the precepts, contributed the Mahabharatam, but my soul has not yet realised its true nature."

While he was sorrowing that something was wanting in him, Sage Narada, who had earlier made Valmiki to write the Ramayana, said that he should now recall the exploits of the Lord as He incarnated as Krishna, for the benefit of the entire humanity. The sage asked him to describe at full length the acts of God in His incarnation as Krishna. The wise have declared, the sage added, that the abiding purpose of a man's austere penance, sacred knowledge, sacrificial performances, recitation of the Vedas with correct intonation, enlightenment and bestowal of gifts, is to recount the virtues of the Lord. In a discourse, Sri Perukkaranai Chakravarthiachariar mentioned how Narada told Vyasa about his own life and how he was blessed by sages because of his service to them and how he was later enabled to acquire spiritual knowledge, mystic powers and devotion to the Lord.

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