Journey of Soul Described in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam acts as a mirror to the conditioned soul, revealing the painful history of its material existence. It traces the journey of the living entity from the suffering in the womb to the struggles of life, and finally to the destination after death. These descriptions are not meant to frighten, but to enlighten the soul about the reality of its bondage and to inspire a desire for the eternal freedom of the spiritual world.
Ordeal of Birth
One of the most profound sections of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the description of the child in the womb. Kapiladeva describes how the soul, cramped in a bag of fluid and bitten by worms, suffers intensely. In this helpless state, the soul prays to the Supreme Lord for deliverance, only to forget everything upon taking birth.
- In the Srimad-Bhagavatam the world of the unborn, the childs stay in the womb of the mother, its suffering, etc., are all very graphically described.
- The precarious condition of the living entity within the womb of his mother is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam.
- The body has developed to that seven months condition because there is a spirit soul. Otherwise how it becomes seven months developed? You'll find this description in Srimad-Bhagavatam.
Transmigration and Karma
The Bhāgavatam scientifically explains how the soul changes bodies. It is not random; it is determined by the subtle body composed of mind, intelligence, and false ego. The text describes how the living entity is carried by his own desires and karma to various species, sometimes rising to heavenly planets and sometimes falling into lower forms.
- How the spirit soul transmigrates from one type of body to another is nicely described in Srimad-Bhagavatam.
- The learned brahmanas description indicates different types of births, for one lies down according to ones body. Sometimes one takes birth as an animal and sometimes as a king.
Hellish Planets
For those who transgress the laws of nature, the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam describes specific hellish conditions. Śukadeva Gosvāmī lists twenty-eight types of hells, such as Kumbhīpāka and Mahāraurava, where souls suffer according to their specific sins. These descriptions serve as a warning to those engrossed in sinful life.
- Sukadeva Gosvami describes the following twenty-eight hells: Vaitarani, Puyoda, Pranarodha, Visasana, Lalabhaksa, Sarameyadana, Avici, Ayahpana. Ksarakardama, Raksogana-bhojana, Sulaprota, Dandasuka. Avata-nirodhana, Paryavartana and Sucimukha.
- Indeed, the hellish conditions already described await the sinful men responsible for such suffering.
Allegory of King Purañjana
To help us understand the subtle workings of the self, the Bhāgavatam presents the allegory of King Purañjana. The King represents the soul, the city represents the body, and the Queen represents the intelligence. Through this story, the text describes how the soul becomes captured by material intelligence and the senses, forgetting its true identity.
- The allegory of King Puranjana, described herein according to authority, was heard by me from my spiritual master, and it is full of spiritual knowledge.
- When thus attracted by the beauty of the material energy, one becomes very eager to enjoy. This is elaborately described in this instance of Puranjanas becoming attracted by the beautiful woman.
Conclusion
The journey of the soul as described in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is a cycle of suffering, but the text also provides the exit. By understanding these descriptions, a thoughtful person becomes detached from the material body and seeks the path of perfection, which brings the journey to its ultimate, blissful conclusion.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.