Srimad-Bhagavatam, Second Canto

by A.C. Bhaktivedanta

Srimad-Bhagavatam, an epic philosophical and literary classic, holds a prominent position in India's voluminous written wisdom. The timeless wisdom of India is expressed in the Vedas, ancient Sanskrit texts that touches upon all fields of human knowledge. Originally preserved through oral tradition, the Vedas were first put into writing by Srila Vyasadeva, the "literary incarnation of God." After compiling the Vedas, Srila Vyasadeva was inspired by his spiritual master to present their profound essence in the form of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Known as "the ripened fruit of the tree of Vedic literature," Srimad-Bhagavatam is the most complete and authoritative exposition of Vedic knowledge.After writing the Bhagavatam, Vyasa taught it to his son, Shukadeva Goswami, who later spoke the Bhagavatam to Maharaja Parikshit in an assembly of sages on the bank of the sacred Ganges River. Although Maharaja Parikshit was a great rajarshi (saintly king) and the emperor of the world, when he received notice of his death seven days in advance, he renounced his entire kingdom and retired to the bank of the Ganges to seek spiritual enlightenment. The questions of King Parikshit and Shukadeva Goswami's illuminating answers, concerning everything from the nature of the self to the origin of the universe, are the basis of Srimad-Bhagavatam.This edition of Bhagavatam is the only complete English translation with an elaborate and scholarly commentary, and it is the first edition widely available to the English-reading public. This work is the product of the scholarly and devotional effort of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the world's most distinguished teacher of Indian religious and philosophical thought. His Sanskrit scholarship and intimate familiarity with Vedic culture combine to reveal to the West a magnificent exposition of this important classic.

Genres: Religion, Hinduism, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Philosophy

826 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

His Divine Grace Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (अभय चरणारविन्द भक्तिवेदान्त स्वामी प्रभुपाद)was born as Abhay Charan De on 1 September 1896 in Calcutta, India.

He first met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami, in Calcutta in 1922. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, a prominent devotional scholar and the founder of sixty-four branches of Gaudiya Mathas (Vedic institutes), liked this educated young man and convinced him to dedicate his life to teaching Vedic knowledge in the Western world. Srila Prabhupada became his student, and eleven years later (1933) at Allahabad, he became his formally initiated disciple.

At their first meeting, in 1922, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura requested Srila Prabhupada to broadcast Vedic knowledge through the English language. In the years that followed, Srila Prabhupada wrote a commentary on the Bhagavad-gita and in 1944, without assistance, started an English fortnightly magazine.

In the last ten years of his life, in spite of his advanced age, Srila Prabhupada circled the globe twelve times on lecture tours that have took him to six continents. In spite of such a vigorous schedule, Srila Prabhupada continued to write prolifically. His writings constitute a veritable library of Vedic philosophy, religion, literature and culture.

Reviews

[Michael Nguyen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The beginning of the text is interesting because it teaches you how to perform yoga of the body and controlling prana in the body. The purports are largely pseudoscientific biblical literalism, promoting creationism as a science, and a lot of unverified claims. The purports also appropriate Samkhya and Upanishadic ideas into the worship of Krishna. It feels very mishmash in its approach, and syncretic, and avaidhika. It jumps from character to character, topic to topic, there's no overall narrative or chronological structure. It feels like the text was haphazardly put together rather than a cohesive theological explanation of the world. A lot of fire, earth, water, wind and mention of sensory organs - but with science we know that the elements are more than the four elements of ancient days. There are 118 elements on the periodic table. Before Prabhupad criticises scientific materialists and atheists, he should study chemistry.

[Gareth Huw Snaith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jaya!

[Aruna Arriane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This canto starts with Sri Sukadeva Maharishi answering King Parikshit's first two questions. The following chapters contain how Srimad Bhagavatam was given by Krishna to Brahma in just four lines, followed by how it was passed down in a disciplic succession. The Canto explains how material creation occurs, which will be of great interest to science-minded people. Finally, Saunaka Rishi requests Suta Goswami to continue narrating the story of Vidura meeting Maitreya Rishi.

[Tanay Agrawal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply awesome! The philosophical discourses between Lord Brahma and Lord Krishna is my favourite

[Abhishek Vipul Thakkar]

Admire the transliterations and the detailed explanations of Srila Prabhupada but some explanations felt totally absurd, vague, misogynistic and forced opinions. Love the way the summary of Bhagavatam has been explained in a few verses in this canto. How creation takes place and what role does Brahmaji play in it? This question is well answered. Lord Krishna's position as The Supreme Personality of Godhead is indicated perfectly by citing from various scriptures. Overall, it's an enlightening read but many opinions of the author bugged me. Srila Prabhupada writes in canto 2, chapter 10, shloka 45 that it is actually the father who gives birth to a child and not mother. That appears totally irrational as it's the mother who gives birth to the child though the father gives sperm. But on the whole, the book is worth reading and it is highly elevating spiritually except a few points that really sounded absurd and irrational.