Tasting the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as the Ripened Vedic Fruit
The vast expanse of Vedic literature is compared to a desire tree capable of fulfilling all aspirations of the living entity. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the ultimate culmination and sweetest essence of this vast tree is the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. As celebrated in scriptures like the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.1.3, this scripture represents the mature, ripened fruit of all Vedic wisdom, completely free from the husk of material motivation or dry philosophical speculation. When this transcendental fruit was spoken from the pure lips of Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī, its nectar became doubly relishable, just as a fruit touched by a parrot becomes exceedingly sweet. By submissively tasting the transcendental mellows (rasa) of this scripture under the guidance of the person bhāgavata, the soul receives the perfect spiritual medicine to cure the disease of material existence and awakens to eternal bliss.
Teachings Overview
This article explores the transcendental nectar found within the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and why thoughtful souls are requested to relish its juice. It highlights the scripture's position as the cream of the Vedas, its supreme sweetening by Śukadeva Gosvāmī, and its potency as the ultimate medicine for material entanglement.
Key Teachings
- The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the ripened, nectarean fruit of the Vedic desire tree and the essence of all Vedānta philosophy.
- Spoken by Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the scripture became doubly sweet and relishable for all liberated souls.
- Tasting the transcendental mellows of the Bhāgavatam acts as the sovereign medicine (bhava-auṣadhi) for the disease of birth and death.
- Relishing this spiritual literature naturally removes all hankering for mundane writing and temporary material enjoyment.
The Ripened Fruit of the Vedic Desire Tree
The Vedic scriptures provide knowledge for all human endeavors, but their ultimate prize is pure devotional service. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam contains the concentrated essence and delicious juice (rasa) of the entire Vedic desire tree, inviting thoughtful souls to drink its transcendental sweetness.
The Concentrated Essence of the Vedas
"Why shall I taste the juice of the fruit of the Bhagavatam? Because it is the ripened fruit of the Vedic desire tree. As a desire tree, whatever you want you can have from the Vedas."
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains why one should taste the juice of the Bhāgavatam.
"The Sanskrit word rasa means juice, just like the juice of an orange or a mango. And the author of the Srimad-Bhagavatam requests that you kindly try to taste the rasa, or juice, of the fruit of the Bhagavatam."
Śrīla Prabhupāda defines the meaning of transcendental rasa.
"Srimad-Bhagavatam is accepted as the essence of all Vedic literature and Vedanta philosophy. Whoever tastes the transcendental mellow of Srimad-Bhagavatam is never attracted to any other literature."
Śrīla Prabhupāda affirms the supreme authority and essence of the Bhāgavatam.
"You who are thoughtful and who relish mellows should always try to taste this ripened fruit."
Śrīla Prabhupāda encourages thoughtful souls to taste this ripened fruit.
Doubly Sweetened by Śukadeva Gosvāmī
The delivery of spiritual sound through a pure devotee enhances its potency and sweetness. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights the analogy of the parrot touching a ripe fruit to explain how the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam became even more relishable when spoken from the lotus lips of Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī.
The Lips of the Pure Devotee
"Relish Bhagavatam, the mature fruit of the desire tree of Vedic literatures. It emanated from the lips of Sri Sukadeva. Therefore this fruit has become more tasteful, although its nectarean juice was already relishable for all, including liberated souls."
Śrīla Prabhupāda describes the enhanced taste from the lips of Śukadeva Gosvāmī.
"If the mango is tasted by the parrot, it becomes doubly tasty. The word suka means parrot, and Sukadeva Gosvami spoke Srimad-Bhagavatam. It is therefore more relishable from his lips."
Śrīla Prabhupāda illustrates the analogy of the parrot and the mango.
"As the Bhagavatam was first spoken by Sukadeva Gosvami, it is therefore mentioned that as the parrot touches ripened fruit and it becomes even sweeter, so this Srimad-Bhagavatam, because it was touched first by Sukadeva Gosvami, has become still more tasteful."
Śrīla Prabhupāda notes the supreme sweetness added by Śukadeva Gosvāmī.
"Then Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu recited some verses from Srimad-Bhagavatam and explained them vividly, thus enjoying the taste of transcendental sweetness with great happiness."
Śrīla Prabhupāda describes Lord Caitanya enjoying the Bhāgavatam's sweetness.
Qualifications for Relishing Transcendental Mellows
Appreciating the profound rasa of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam requires a purified heart free from mundane desires. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that one who approaches the text under the guidance of the person bhāgavata, without material hankering or dry mental speculation, easily relishes this eternal bliss.
Freedom from Material Hankering
"Everyone in this material world is hankering for enjoyment, but one who is free from this hankering can taste how relishable the Bhagavatam is."
Śrīla Prabhupāda identifies the qualification to taste the scripture's nectar.
"The word bhagavata refers to anything in relationship to Bhagavan, the Supreme Lord, and the Hare Krsna mantra is also bhagavata. Thus Pariksit said that the taste of Bhagavata can be relished by one who is free from hankering to satisfy material desires."
Śrīla Prabhupāda cites Parīkṣit Mahārāja on relishing the taste of Bhāgavata.
"Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommended that in order to relish the real taste of Srimad-Bhagavatam, one should take instruction from the person bhagavatam. Srimad-Bhagavatam is relishable even by a liberated person."
Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights Lord Caitanya's recommendation to learn from the person bhāgavata.
"Anyway, for persons who have a natural taste for understanding books like the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, devotional service is easier than for those who are simply accustomed to mental speculation and argumentative processes."
Śrīla Prabhupāda contrasts natural taste with argumentative speculation.
The Supreme Medicine and Daily Study
Immersing oneself in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is not merely an intellectual pursuit, but the ultimate spiritual cure. Śrīla Prabhupāda instructs that daily, minute discussion of this literature acts as the divine medicine (bhava-auṣadhi) to eradicate material contamination and protect society from toxic influences.
Curing the Material Disease
"Why should this Bhagavata be tasted? Bhavausadhi: it is the medicine for our disease of birth and death."
Śrīla Prabhupāda defines the Bhāgavatam as the cure for birth and death.
"We discuss (in the daily classes on Srimad-Bhagavatam) the subject matter very minutely and inspect it from all angles of approach and savor the new understandings."
Śrīla Prabhupāda describes the method of daily Bhāgavatam study.
"When men have a taste for this literature (Bhgavad-Gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam), the other literatures, which are catering poison to society, will then automatically cease."
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains how spiritual taste counteracts poisonous literature.
"We should increase our taste for hearing and chanting about Visnu, Krsna. That engagement you have fully in the Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita. So stick to these two books, or Caitanya-caritamrta. Caitanya-caritamrta is still far advanced."
Śrīla Prabhupāda urges devotees to increase their taste for authorized scriptures.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a devotee continue tasting the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam?
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that one should continue tasting the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam both while seeking transcendental bliss and perpetually after achieving full absorption in it.
What happens to a person's attraction to other books once they read the Bhāgavatam?
Śrīla Prabhupāda confirms that anyone who becomes attached to reading the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam completely loses all taste for reading ordinary, mundane literature.
Why is Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam considered the best medicine for the conditioned soul?
Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that the Bhāgavatam is bhava-auṣadhi, the sublime transcendental remedy that directly cures the material disease of repeated birth and death.
How did Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaking the Bhāgavatam increase its sweetness?
Śrīla Prabhupāda illustrates that just as a mango becomes doubly delicious when touched by a parrot's beak, the Bhāgavatam became even more relishable from the pure lips of Śukadeva Gosvāmī.
Conclusion
The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is not an ordinary philosophical treatise, but the ripe, nectarean fruit of the entire tree of Vedic wisdom. Śrīla Prabhupāda demonstrates that by hearing and relishing its transcendental mellows, the soul is directly freed from the dualities and miseries of material life. Made doubly sweet through the pure lips of Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī, this divine literature satisfies the heart's deepest yearning for eternal rasa. By making the daily study and discussion of the Bhāgavatam one's primary spiritual engagement, any sincere person can cure the disease of material existence, transcend all mundane attractions, and relish pure love for Lord Kṛṣṇa forever.
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 Tasting 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.