Sage Krishna Dvaipayana- Vyasa is the author of Maha Bharata- the magnum-opus in classical Sanskrit literature. It is regarded as the fifth Veda (Bharatah Panchama Vedaha). He codified the four Vedas- Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva, promulgated the Puranas. He expounded Vedanta through Brahma Sutras the aphorisms of the Vedanta Philosophy.
Even though He ever remained whole-heartedly engaged in the welfare of the living beings by His numerous compositions listed above. His heart seemed to be not satisfied.
The sage who knew the secret of Dharma sat afflicted in a secluded place and said to Himself. "By Me, who has observed the austerities prescribed in the Vedas, without any expectation of reward in return, the Vedas were reverently studied, the preceptors were duly served and the sacrificial fires were worshipped and the precepts were honestly followed under the name of Bharata, the meaning of the Vedas was laid bare by Me. Still my soul in the form of this body seems to have not realized the object of My Avatara (incarnation) even though I stand foremost among those endowed with spiritual radiance".
When the sage was thus feeling discontented, the celestial sage Narada called at His hermitage. Narada submitted that in spite of His stupendous effort, He had not adequately sung the pure glory of the supreme Lord Vasudeva.
यथा धर्मादयो ह्यर्था मुनिवर्यानुवर्णिताः ।
न तथा वासुदेवस्य महिमा ह्यनुवर्णितः ।।
(Bhagavatam X-5-9 Sloka) Narada further said
स वाग्विसर्गो जनताघविप्लवो यस्मिन् प्रतिश्लोकमबद्धवत्यपि ।
नामान्यनन्तस्य यशोंकितानि श्रृण्वन्ति गायन्ति गृणन्ति साधवः ।। (Bhagavatam X-5-11 Sloka)
"That composition the outpouring of the Lord's glory wipes off the sin of all humanity even though each verse in it is faulty (full of flaws), in which there are names of the imperishable Lord marked with fame, and for this reason, pious men listen to, sing and repeat it to others. Hence You highly blessed Vyasa of unerring insight, possessed of sacred renown, devoted to truth and steadfast in resolve to protect those who seek refuge in Him (The Supreme Lord) recapitulate with concentration the exploits of Sri Hari who wields unthinkable power or who pervades the entire universe with His great strides with a view to have release of all form of bondage, compose Bhagavatam which expounds the glory of the Lord Vasudeva, thereby you would feel satisfied of realizing the purpose of your incarnation."
After having appraised the need of a composition totally dedicated to the glory of Lord Vasudeva, the sage Narada departed from the hermitage.
Vedavyasa held His mind in concentration and then elaborated in great detail the incarnation of Krishna, His childhood, noble deeds, heroic valour and awe-inspiring exploits, getting rid of the huge evil forces and also His own race and finally returning to His abode in Vaikuntha.
This exclusive delineation of Sri Krishna's life and deeds constitute the tenth and eleventh Skandhas (chapters) of Srimad Bhagavatam.
The English rendering of the verses in these two chapters is given in this book to enable the English knowing devotees to go through the work constantly and experience the thrill and joy and also develop a deep sense of devotion towards the Lord Sri Krishna who is Lord Vishnu Himself incarnate.
Of the principles Dharma, Jnana and Vairagya, the Supreme Being is the very embodiment. Bhakti (devotion) to the personality of the Lord is to be achieved and its achievement means and includes the principles Dharma etc., (Jnana, Karma and Bhakti) as expounded in Bhagavatam. Jnanai.e. to know Him truly is to love Him wholeheartedly and devotion can be of the best form when it is informed and permeated by the knowledge of the Lord's majesty, the various facets of His Supreme greatness.
Vedas (1184)
Upanishads (499)
Puranas (630)
Ramayana (743)
Mahabharata (361)
Dharmasastras (166)
Goddess (500)
Bhakti (243)
Saints (1506)
Gods (1292)
Shiva (373)
Journal (184)
Fiction (60)
Vedanta (361)
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Visual Search
Manage Wishlist