Supreme Science of Bhāgavata

The term bhāgavata signifies the highest echelon of spiritual knowledge. It is derived from the word Bhagavān, meaning the Supreme Personality of Godhead who possesses all opulences. Therefore, the "Bhāgavata science" or bhāgavata-dharma is the study of the nature of God and the living entity's eternal relationship with Him. Unlike mundane sectarian religions, the Bhāgavata presents a universal, scientific analysis of reality that rejects all deception and establishes the ultimate welfare for all beings.

Meaning of Bhāgavata

Etymologically, bhāgavata means "in relationship with God." Just as Bhagavān refers to the Lord who possesses all fortunes, a bhāgavata is one who possesses the Lord in their heart. This science is the remedy for the ignorance of identifying the self with the body. It teaches that human life is meant for brahma-jijñāsā—inquiry into the Absolute—and that any education devoid of this understanding is merely "working like an ass."

• Bhagavan is the first nominative case from the word bhagavata, and from bhagavata, Bhagavatam. Bhagavatam means in relationship with God and in relationship with the devotees of God.
• After the evolutionary process of lower than human being, when we have come, we have got this body, human form of body, the business is brahma-jijsasa, jivasya tattva-jijsasa. That is the Bhagavata.
• This so-called technical education or smoking education, drinking education and so many rascal education. This is not education. Education means bhagavata education: to understand God. That is wanted.

Bhāgavata Communism

One of the most profound applications of this science is the concept of "Bhāgavata Communism." While material communism claims everything belongs to the state, the Bhāgavata asserts that everything belongs to God. In this vision, there is equal right for everyone, but with a broader scope: a householder or leader must ensure that no living being within their jurisdiction—whether a human, a cow, or even a lizard—goes without food.

• Bhagavata communism says that even if you have got a lizard in your room, you must give him something to eat. If you have got a serpent in your room, you must give it something to eat. Nobody in your house should starve.
• Everything belongs to God; nothing belongs to us. This is Bhagavata communism. As the communists, they say, Everything belongs to the state, we say Everything belongs to God.
• This is Bhagavata communism. The communists are thinking in terms of their own country. But we, a devotee, we think in terms of all living entities, wherever he is, either in the sky or in the land or in the water.

Rejecting Cheating Religion

The Bhāgavata is uncompromising. It declares that any religious system that does not lead to the love of God is a "cheating religion" (kaitava-dharma,). It dismisses rituals performed for material gain as a waste of time and labor. The Bhāgavata stands alone as the spotless Purāṇa, kicking out all pretension to reveal the actual Absolute Truth.

• Whatever is going on throughout the whole world in the name of religion, according to Bhagavata, they're all cheating. They're all cheating. Bhagavata kahe taha paripurna chale. Chale means cheating.
• Except Krsna Consciousness or Bhagavata Dharma or religion of the Bhagavata, any other system of religion is only pretension, that is the fact.
• If by your worldly acquisition, if by your religious principles, if you are becoming very highly thoughtful man of character - but if your aptitude is not Krsna consciousness, then Bhagavata says srama eva hi kevalam, it is simply laboring, thats all.

Conclusion

The supreme science of the Bhāgavata is the ultimate light for human civilization. It provides the intellectual framework to understand God, the social philosophy to create universal peace, and the spiritual medicine to cure the disease of repeated birth and death. By taking shelter of this science, one transcends the platform of animalistic life and enters the eternal family of the Supreme Lord.

Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani

• Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Bhagavata.