Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. First Canto, "Creation"

by A.C. Bhaktivedanta

We must know the present need of human society. And what is that need? Human society is no longer bounded by geographical limits to particular countries or communities. Human society is broader than in the Middle Ages, and the world tendency is toward one state or one human society. The ideals of spiritual communism, according to Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, are based more or less on the oneness of the entire human society, nay, of the entire energy of living beings. The need is felt by great thinkers to make this a successful ideology. Śrīmad Bhāgavatam will fill this need in human society. It begins, therefore, with the aphorism of Vedānta philosophy janmādy asya yatah to establish the ideal of a common cause.

Genres: Religion, Hinduism, Spirituality, Philosophy

414 pages, Hardcover

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

[Sasha Russell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read the verses, skip the commentary.

I like the verse translations as they are easy to understand and tell everything clearly. I despise the commentary because it is all a way to push service to what this "holy man" author believes is God. I don't like the way he completely buys in to Krsna being the ultimate godhead and then pushes it onto the reader.

[Sandeep Kumar]

This canto provides us the most important questions asked by parikshit maharj, that what should a mortal man do.
This canto provides detailed information about why one should study it and what are its results.

[Belle Meade School]

294.5

[Jason Southgate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speed-reading first to frame the overall story... Come back in ten years or so.

[Ksatrya Krsna · Rating 5 out of 5]

All glories to Srila Prabhupada ❤️

[Ananga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Book, actually we are fortunate enough to have the full set, which is a God-send for re-search. It takes many year's to read the S.B. But it is very worth-while and answers every question concerning, creation, mankind and his struggles, where we come from and our ultimate destination. It's coverage is extensive.

[Loka-Pavani Dasi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect as always

[John]

nonfiction,meditation,history

[Zorig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great History. And knowledg About God