What is Rejected from the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
The pursuit of religion is often misunderstood as a method to simply secure material comforts or escape the miseries of worldly existence. However, the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam establishes the highest, most unadulterated standard of spiritual life by completely sweeping away all such mundane motivations. As definitively stated in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.1.2, dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo 'tra—all cheating, materially motivated religions are completely rejected from this great scripture. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that this rejection encompasses not only the pursuit of piety (dharma), economic development (artha), and sense gratification (kāma), but also the deeply subtle desire for personal liberation (mokṣa). Furthermore, the Bhāgavatam firmly kicks out the speculative theories of impersonalists, such as the idea that the material world is entirely false or that ordinary living entities can become equal to the Supreme Lord, Nārāyaṇa. By methodically rejecting these contaminated philosophies and practices, the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam paves the way for the highest truth: unalloyed, loving devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, understandable only by those who are completely pure in heart.
Teachings Overview
This article explores Śrīla Prabhupāda’s precise explanations regarding what is philosophically and practically rejected from the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. It details the kicking out of kaitava-dharma (cheating religion), the dismissal of materially motivated rituals, the rejection of the desire for liberation, and the refutation of impersonalist and speculative theories.
Key Teachings
- Any religious system based on sense gratification or that fails to accept the Supreme Lord as the absolute father is rejected as a cheating religion (kaitava-dharma).
- The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam completely rejects all religious activities motivated by material goals, including the four standard puruṣārthas (dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa).
- The specific prefix 'pra' in the opening verse indicates the absolute rejection of the desire for personal liberation, which is considered a subtle form of cheating.
- Speculative impersonalist philosophies, such as the idea that the world is false or that everyone is Nārāyaṇa, are firmly rejected by the Bhāgavata philosophy.
Kicking Out Kaitava-Dharma (Cheating Religion)
True religion must be founded on a clear relationship with the Supreme Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam immediately distinguishes itself from ordinary scriptures by kicking out any system that fails to recognize the Supreme Father or that uses religiosity as a mask for subtle or gross sense gratification.
Defining Real and Bogus Dharma
"Actual philosophy is this: the religion means surrender to Krsna. Anything else which does not surrender to Krsna, that is not religion. That is rejected in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, dharmah projjhita-kaitavo (SB 1.1.2): all cheating religion is rejected."
Śrīla Prabhupāda defines true religion as surrender to Kṛṣṇa, rejecting all else as cheating.
"Bhagavata says, dharmah projjhita-kaitavah atra: "All cheating type of religious system is kicked out, rejected." Actually, it is not required. It is simply bogus. Real dharma is here, to abide by the laws of God. That is real dharma."
"Any religion that does not accept the Supreme Lord as the absolute father is called kaitava-dharma, or a cheating religion. Such religious systems are rejected in Srimad-Bhagavatam (SB 1.1.2): dharmah projjhita-kaitavo ‘tra."
Śrīla Prabhupāda identifies religions failing to accept the absolute father as cheating systems.
"All pretentious religiosity based on gross or subtle sense gratification is completely rejected in the process of bhagavata-dharma, or the transcendental religion that is the eternal function of the living being."
Beyond Materially Motivated Religiosity
Most religious practitioners approach God with demands for wealth, success, or sensory enjoyment. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is not meant for such materially motivated persons; it propounds a higher truth accessible only to those whose hearts are cleansed of ulterior motives.
Rejecting Rituals for Sense Gratification
"The great scripture Srimad-Bhagavatam, compiled by Maha-muni Vyasadeva from four original verses, describes the most elevated and kindhearted devotees and completely rejects the cheating ways of materially motivated religiosity."
"Completely rejecting all religious activities which are materially motivated, this Bhagavata Purana propounds the highest truth, which is understandable by those devotees who are fully pure in heart - SB 1.1.2."
"Ritualistic activities for economic development and sense gratification and, after frustration in sense gratification, the desire to become one with the Supreme Lord, are all completely rejected in the Bhagavatam."
"Dharma not supported by the Vedas is rejected from srimad-bhagavata-dharma."
Śrīla Prabhupāda affirms that any dharma unsupported by the Vedas is rejected from bhāgavata-dharma.
Rejecting the Desire for Liberation (Mokṣa)
While many religious systems consider liberation from material existence to be the ultimate goal, the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam places it in the same category as material sense gratification. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights that the specific Sanskrit prefix used by Vyāsadeva indicates the absolute rejection of the desire for mokṣa.
The Rejection of the Four Puruṣārthas
"This verse (SB 1.1.2) of Srimad-Bhagavatam rejects as cheating processes all religious activities that aim at achieving materialistic goals, including dharma, artha, kama and even moksa, or liberation."
"The prefix 'pra' (in the verse from Srimad-Bhagavatam) indicates that the desire for liberation is completely rejected."
"In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said that all types of pseudo religion is rejected. You can ask any religious man, "What is your conception of God?" he cannot give any clear conception."
Śrīla Prabhupāda connects pseudo religion to an inability to provide a clear conception of God.
Rejecting Impersonalism and Speculative Philosophy
The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam does not compromise with the speculative theories of the impersonalist philosophers or modern mundane scientists. Śrīla Prabhupāda clearly demonstrates how the Bhāgavata philosophy rejects the idea that the material world is false, the notion that the Supreme Lord is formless, and the arrogant claim that ordinary living entities are equal to God.
Defeating Speculation with Absolute Truth
"This verse (SB 5.18.32) completely rejects the theory of brahma satyam jagan mithya, which states that spirit, or Brahman, is real, whereas the manifested material world, with its great variety of things, is false. Nothing is false."
"When it is said that Narayana, the Supreme Being, is situated in everyone's heart, this does not mean that everyone has become Narayana or that a particular poor man has become Narayana. Such a conclusion is rejected herein - SB 7.14.18."
Śrīla Prabhupāda rejects the foolish conclusion that an ordinary poor man has become Nārāyaṇa.
"Srimad-Bhagavatam, however, does not agree with such impersonalists. It is clearly stated herein that the Supreme Lord rests in yoga-nidra, as previously discussed. And because He sleeps, naturally He must breathe."
"Recently they (modern scientists) have said that they have gone to the moon but did not find any living entities there. But Srimad-Bhagavatam and the other Vedic literatures do not agree with this foolish conception."
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is meant by 'cheating religion' in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam?
Śrīla Prabhupāda defines a cheating religion (kaitava-dharma) as any system that does not accept the Supreme Lord as the absolute father and demands surrender.
Is the desire for spiritual liberation accepted as a pure motivation?
Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that the specific Sanskrit prefix 'pra' in the Bhāgavatam indicates that even the desire for personal liberation is completely rejected as a subtle material motive.
Does the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam consider the material world to be false or an illusion?
Śrīla Prabhupāda firmly states that the Bhāgavatam rejects the impersonalist theory of jagan mithyā; the material world is temporary, but it is not false.
Since God is in everyone's heart, does that mean everyone is equal to Nārāyaṇa?
Śrīla Prabhupāda emphatically rejects this conclusion, explaining that the Lord's presence in the heart does not elevate an ordinary living entity to the status of the Supreme Being.
Conclusion
The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is uniquely established as the spotless Purāṇa specifically because it ruthlessly clears away all forms of spiritual compromise and mundane motivation. Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully unpacks the concept of dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo 'tra, revealing that anything less than pure, unalloyed surrender to Kṛṣṇa is fundamentally a cheating religion. By rejecting the standard material pursuits of dharma, artha, and kāma, as well as the subtle, selfish desire for mokṣa (liberation), the Bhāgavatam elevates the practitioner to the platform of causeless devotional service. Furthermore, it protects the innocent seeker by thoroughly defeating the speculative errors of impersonalists and modern scientists who fail to understand the absolute, personal nature of the Supreme Lord. Ultimately, by knowing exactly what the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam rejects, the sincere soul can clearly identify and embrace the highest, most pure truth of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
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 Rejected from 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.