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Brilliant As The Sun: A retelling of Srimad Bhagavatam #1
Brilliant As The Sun: A retelling of Srimad Bhagavatam: Canto One: The Sages of Naimisharanya
Srimad Bhagavatam is the most prominent of the Puranas, or histories of the Ancient World. The original Sanskrit text of the work, penned by the great sage Vyasadeva, says it is 'as brilliant as the sun', because its teachings can illuminate our consciousness even in the darkest times. Much like the Arabian Nights, it has an intricate structure of stories within stories; epic tales of divine incarnations, saints, sages, gods and earthly kings that span vast periods of time. This volume introduces the foundational story; a conversation among many learned sages and yogis at the holy site of Naimisharanya.
Srimad Bhagavatam describes how the earth goes through cyclical ages not unlike the four seasons in a year. Five thousand years ago, the world entered the most terrible of the four ages, otherwise known as Kali Yuga, or the ‘Age of Quarrel and Hypocrisy’. This era is characterised by terrific acts of violence such as large scale animal slaughter, systematic destruction of the planet's food supplies, and the merciless affliction of civilian populations by warlords and governments alike. All of this leads to escalating miseries as the dreadful age unfolds.
Aware of our impending plight through prophetic visions, the compassionate sages of Naimisharanya seek a way to help us. One of their number, Suta Goswami, goes in search of a solution and encounters a dialogue between an emperor cursed to die and a great mystic. From this discussion Suta discovers how anyone, no matter how drastic their circumstances, can transcend their misery and experience boundless joy by comprehending the science of God and the soul. He returns to the sages and faithfully repeats the secrets he has heard, and this becomes the Srimad Bhagavatam.
Described as the "literary incarnation of God", Srimad Bhagavatam elevates its sincere readers to pure spiritual consciousness, beyond the reach of all misery. It describes the living being as an eternal part of the all attractive Supreme Person, Krishna. We are not meant to suffer and Srimad Bhagavatam assures us that our pain will end when we properly apply the spiritual science it expounds. It is the most conclusive self-help book ever written, offering the reader the means to rise above all of the personal, interpersonal, national and international problems we face today.
Krishna Dharma, is the author of popular retellings of the Indian epics ‘Mahabharata’ and ‘Ramayana’. With the assistance of his wife Chintamani Dhama Dasi, he now brings to life the greatest of India's spiritual classics without compromising its essential spiritual message.
Srimad Bhagavatam describes how the earth goes through cyclical ages not unlike the four seasons in a year. Five thousand years ago, the world entered the most terrible of the four ages, otherwise known as Kali Yuga, or the ‘Age of Quarrel and Hypocrisy’. This era is characterised by terrific acts of violence such as large scale animal slaughter, systematic destruction of the planet's food supplies, and the merciless affliction of civilian populations by warlords and governments alike. All of this leads to escalating miseries as the dreadful age unfolds.
Aware of our impending plight through prophetic visions, the compassionate sages of Naimisharanya seek a way to help us. One of their number, Suta Goswami, goes in search of a solution and encounters a dialogue between an emperor cursed to die and a great mystic. From this discussion Suta discovers how anyone, no matter how drastic their circumstances, can transcend their misery and experience boundless joy by comprehending the science of God and the soul. He returns to the sages and faithfully repeats the secrets he has heard, and this becomes the Srimad Bhagavatam.
Described as the "literary incarnation of God", Srimad Bhagavatam elevates its sincere readers to pure spiritual consciousness, beyond the reach of all misery. It describes the living being as an eternal part of the all attractive Supreme Person, Krishna. We are not meant to suffer and Srimad Bhagavatam assures us that our pain will end when we properly apply the spiritual science it expounds. It is the most conclusive self-help book ever written, offering the reader the means to rise above all of the personal, interpersonal, national and international problems we face today.
Krishna Dharma, is the author of popular retellings of the Indian epics ‘Mahabharata’ and ‘Ramayana’. With the assistance of his wife Chintamani Dhama Dasi, he now brings to life the greatest of India's spiritual classics without compromising its essential spiritual message.
- GenresSpirituality
205 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2014
43 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Krishna Dharma
32 books60 followersKrishna Dharma is an acclaimed author and teacher of Vedic wisdom, best known for his accessible retellings of India’s great epics, including the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Srimad Bhagavatam. A lifelong practitioner of bhakti-yoga, he writes with both devotion and clarity, bringing ancient spiritual teachings into a modern, readable style. Over decades of study, he has become recognized for his ability to preserve the depth and philosophical richness of the original texts while making them engaging for contemporary readers. Krishna Dharma’s work reflects his commitment to sharing timeless guidance, uplifting values, and practical spiritual insight with audiences around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 8, 2023
A fantastic retelling of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is the most essential book of the Vedic tradition. It is Vyasadeva’s explanation of his famous but terse Vedanta Sutra and an expansion of the Gayatri. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda has translated an extensive version that includes the original Sanskrit, word-for-word, translations and commentaries that include comments from the great Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa, Śrīdhara Svāmī and others. This version allows one to dive directly into just the translation with a novel like flow.
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is the most essential book of the Vedic tradition. It is Vyasadeva’s explanation of his famous but terse Vedanta Sutra and an expansion of the Gayatri. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda has translated an extensive version that includes the original Sanskrit, word-for-word, translations and commentaries that include comments from the great Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa, Śrīdhara Svāmī and others. This version allows one to dive directly into just the translation with a novel like flow.
October 10, 2024
The start of something very special
His Grace’s version is the gold standard and should be read, but when you have questions or need a verse presented a little differently, Krishna Dharma’s version does it well. Namaste.
His Grace’s version is the gold standard and should be read, but when you have questions or need a verse presented a little differently, Krishna Dharma’s version does it well. Namaste.
November 19, 2020
This is beautiful.
June 22, 2024
The wonderful pastimes of God, as they called it in the book. :)
The stories are engaging, pleasant, well-narrated.
The stories are engaging, pleasant, well-narrated.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews