Major Truths Declared in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is unique among Vedic literatures because it does not compromise with the illusions of the material world. It offers a series of major declarations that cut through ignorance and establish the Absolute Truth. From the rejection of materially motivated religion to the harsh assessment of modern civilization, these verdicts are designed to wake the sleeping soul. This article explores the specific truths declared in the text regarding the nature of religion, the position of humanity, and the supremacy of the Supreme Lord.
Rejection of Cheating Religion
In its opening verses, the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam makes a revolutionary declaration: it completely discards kaitava-dharma, or cheating religion. Any system of belief that aims at material benefits—religiosity, economic development, sense gratification, or even liberation—is rejected. The only process accepted is unmotivated devotional service to the Lord.
- In the beginning of Srimad-Bhagavatam it is declared, dharmah projjhita-kaitavo ’tra: cheating religious systems in terms of these (religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation) 4 material principles are completely discarded.
- Bhakti-yoga is the ultimate goal of both karma-yoga and jnana-yoga, and in the same way in this chapter it is emphatically declared that bhakti-yoga is the ultimate goal of the different varieties of worship of the different demigods.
Animalistic Civilization
The Bhāgavatam does not flatter human society. It boldly declares that anyone who identifies the self with the body, who considers the land of their birth worshipable, or who accepts others merely on the basis of bodily relationships, is living in an animal civilization. Furthermore, leaders who are unenlightened in the science of Kṛṣṇa are compared to animals leading other animals.
- In another part of Srimad-Bhagavatam, the acceptance of the body as oneself, the acceptance of others as kinsmen in relationship to this body and the acceptance of the land of ones birth as worshipable are declared to be the products of an animal civilization.
- All men, they have been declared in the Bhagavata abodha-jata (SB 5.5.5), born fools and rascals. But these are very strong words. But if we state this strong, that is another foolishness.
- The Bhagavatam openly declares that although a person may be a great leader of such dogs and hogs disguised as men, if he has no taste for being enlightened in the science of Krsna, such a leader is also an animal and nothing more.
Uselessness of Dry Scholarship
Even great learning is declared useless if it is devoid of devotion. The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam compares a scholar of the Vedas who is not a devotee of Lord Viṣṇu to a person maintaining a cow that gives no milk. This declaration strips away the pride of academic knowledge and establishes that the only true success is recognizing the Lord as the supreme sentient being.
- Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.11.18) declares: If one is learned in the Vedic literature but is not a devotee of Lord Visnu, his work is a useless waste of labor, just like the keeping of a cow that does not give milk.
- In the Vedic literature - whether the Upanisads, Vedanta-sutra, Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam - it is declared that the Lord is a sentient being and is supreme over all other living entities. His glorious activities are identical with Himself.
Conclusion
The declarations of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam are "strong words," but they are necessary medicine for the conditioned soul. By accepting these major truths—that material life is animalistic without Kṛṣṇa, and that pure devotion is the only goal—one can escape the illusion of "born fools" and attain the highest perfection of life.
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 Declared 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.