PREFACE We must know the present need of the human
society.
And what is that need ? The human society is no longer bounded by geographical limits
of a particular country or community.
The human society is broader than that in the middle age, and the world tendency is
to belong to one state or one human society.
The ideals of spiritual communism according to Srimad Bhagwatam are based more or less
on oneness of the entire human society nay the entire Energy of the living being.
The need is felt by great thinkers how to make it successful ideology.
Srimad Bhagwatam will fill up the gap of human society and it begins, therefore, with aphorism
of Vedanta Philosophy as Janmadyasya yatah to adjust the ideal of common cause.
The human society, at the present moment, is not in the darkness of oblivion.
It has made rapid progress in the field of material comforts of life, education and economic
development of the entire world.
But it suffers a pin-prick somewhere in the social body at large and therefore there is
large scale quarrel even on less important issues.
Therefore there is the want of the clue as to how they can become one in peace, friendship
and prosperity by the common cause.
Srimad Bhagwatam will fill up this gap by ontological aspect of human education.
It is therefore a cultural presentation for re-spiritualisation of the entire human society.
Srimad Bhagwatam should be introduced also in the schools and colleges as it is recommended
by the great student devotee Prahlad Maharaj in order to change the demoniac face of society.
7.6.1 Koumara acharet prajna dharman bhagwataniha
Durlabham manusam janma tad api adhrubam arthadam Disparity of the human society is due to the
basic principle of a Godless civilisation.
There is God or the Almighty One from whom everything emanates, by Whom everything is
maintained and in Whom everything is merged to rest.
The material science has tried to find out the ultimate source of creation very insufficiently
but it is a fact that there is one Ultimate Source of everything that be.
This ultimate source is explained rationally and authoritatively in the beautiful Bhagwatam
or Srimad Bhagwatam.
Srimad Bhagwatam is transcendental science not only to know the ultimate source of every
thing but also to know our relation with Him and our duty towards perfection of the human
society on the basis of this perfect knowledge.
It is a powerful reading matter in Sanskrit language and is now rendered into English
version elaborately so that simply by its careful reading one will know God perfectly
well, so much so that the reader will sufficiently be educated to defend himself from the onslaught
of the atheist.
Over and above the reader will be-able to convert others in accepting God as concrete
principle as anything.
It begins with the definition of the Ultimate Source as the bonafide commentary of the Vedanta
Sutra by the same author Srila Vyasdeva and gradually it develops into nine canto's up
to the highest stage of God realization.
The only qualification required to study this great book of transcendental knowledge, is
to proceed step by step cautiously and not to jump on half-hazardously like reading an
ordinary book.
The book should be gone through chapter to chapter one after another and the reading
matter is so arranged by its original Sanskrit text, its English transliteration, synonyms,
translation and purportful explanation that one is sure to become a God-realised soul
at the end of finishing the first nine canto's.
The tenth canto is distinct from the first nine canto's, because it deals directly with
the transcendental activities of the Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna.
One will be unable to capture the effects of the 10th canto without having gone through
the first nine canto's.
The book is complete in twelve canto's each independent but it is good for all to get
them by small instalments one after another.
It is a large voluminous literature and let us have it by parts of not more than 350 to
400 pages at a time.
So that the reader may conveniently go through it without being taxed heavily both physically
and mentally.
I must admit my frailties in presenting the First Part but still I am hopeful of its good
reception by the thinkers and leaders of the Society, on the strength of the following
statement of Srimad Bhagwatam.
Tad baga visarga janata agha viplavbo Yasmin pratislokam abaddha vatyapi
Namani anantasya jasho ankitani yat Srinnwanti gayanti grinanti sadhabah
"On the other hand the literature which is full with description of transcendental.glories
of the Name, Fame, Form, Pastime of the Unlimited Supreme Lord, -is a different creation of
transcendental vocabulary all meant for bringing about a revolution in the impious life of
a misdirected civilization of the world.
Such transcendental literatures even though irregularly composed, is heard, sung and accepted
by the purified men who are thoroughly honest."
(pp. 259) I am obliged to Sri Hanuman Prasad Poddar
of the Gita Press and "Kalyan" fame, who has gone through my work and appreciating the
endeavour, has helped through the Dalmia Jain Trust to meet part expenditure of this publication.
My thanks are due also to other friends who have helped me in undertaking this great task.
Om Tat Sat.
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami.
Dated at Delhi December 15, 1962.