Confidential Nature of the Book Bhāgavata

The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, often referred to as the grantha-bhāgavata, is much more than a historical or philosophical text; it is the literary incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because of its divine nature, it remains confidential and inaccessible to those who approach it with mundane intellect or professional motives. This article explores the sacred status of the book, the necessity of studying it under the guidance of a realized devotee, and the transformative power that arises from serving both the book and the person.

Sound Incarnation of God

The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is identified as the sound representation of the Supreme Lord. As such, it is worshipable in the same manner as the Deity in the temple. Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that one should never treat it as an ordinary book, for it carries the full potency of Godhead to liberate the sincere soul.

• One Bhagavata is this book, book Bhagavata. This book Bhagavatam is the sound incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
• We should always understand that granthas, or the scriptures, should be worshiped as God. That is sound incarnation of God. It should not be neglected. Dont neglect Bhagavad-gita or Bhagavata as ordinary books.
• One of the bhagavatas is the great scripture Srimad-Bhagavatam, and the other is the pure devotee absorbed in the mellows of loving devotion.

Necessity of the Living Guide

Because the literature is confidential, it is sealed to those who are not devotees. To unlock its meaning, one must hear it from a "Person Bhāgavata"—a devotee whose very life is molded by the precepts of the book. Śrīla Prabhupāda strictly advises against hearing from professional reciters, noting that the true purport is revealed only by the living bhāgavata.

• Bhagavata means the book Bhagavata and the person bhagavata. The person bhagavata is spiritual master or any exalted devotee. He is bhagavata, maha-bhagavata.
• Srimad-Bhagavatam is the text of the Personality of Godhead and His unalloyed devotees, who are also known as the bhagavatas, and any outsider should have no access to this confidential literature of devotional service.
• This is book bhagavata, and a devotee is person bhagavata. So according (to) our Caitanya Mahaprabhus cult, the Bhagavata should be studied from the person bhagavata, not from the professional reciters.

Combined Process of Advancement

Spiritual progress is accelerated when the neophyte devotee serves both the book and the person. The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam provides the message of Godhead, and the pure devotee exemplifies it. Through the interaction of these two bhāgavatas, the Lord becomes pleased and instills deep transcendental love into the heart of the aspirant.

• The messages of the book Bhagavata have to be received from the devotee Bhagavata, and the combination of these two Bhagavatas will help the neophyte devotee to make progress on and on.
• One should always serve the person bhagavata or the book Bhagavata. Bhagavaty uttama-sloke bhaktir bhavati naisthiki. Then one will be fixed immovably (naisthiki) in devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
• Through the actions of these two bhagavatas the Lord instills the mellows of transcendental loving service into the heart of a living being, and thus the Lord, in the heart of His devotee, comes under the control of the devotees love.

Conclusion

The Book Bhāgavata is the supreme gift of Śrīla Vyāsadeva to humanity, made available to sincere souls who wish to escape material existence. However, its confidential treasures are guarded. By approaching the text through the transparent medium of the Person Bhāgavata, one gains access to the highest realm of devotional service, proving that the book and the devotee are identical manifestations of the Lord's mercy.

Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani

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