Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.22.25
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
This verse is especially mentioned to substantiate the devotional process of hearing the subject matter. A devotee does not like to hear anything other than subjects dealing with spiritual activities, or the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We can increase our propensity for devotional service by hearing Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from realized souls. The more we hear from realized souls, the more we make advancement in our devotional life. The more we advance in devotional life, the more we become detached from the material world. The more we become detached from the material world, as advised by Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the more we increase in attachment for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, a devotee who actually wants to make progress in devotional service and go back home, back to Godhead, must lose interest in sense enjoyment and associating with persons who are after money and sense gratification. This is the advice of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu:
niṣkiṣcanasya bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya pāraṁ paraṁ jigamiṣor bhava-sāgarasya sandarśanaṁ viṣayiṇām atha yoṣitāṁ ca hā hanta hanta viṣa-bhakṣaṇato ’py asādhu
(Cc. Madhya 11.8)
The word brahmaṇi used in this verse is commented upon by the impersonalists or professional reciters of Bhāgavatam, who are mainly advocates of the caste system by demoniac birthright. They say that brahmaṇi means the impersonal Brahman. But they cannot conclude this with reference to the context of the words bhaktyā and guṇābhidhānena. According to the impersonalists, there are no transcendental qualities in the impersonal Brahman; therefore we should understand that brahmaṇi means “in the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as admitted by Arjuna in Bhagavad-gītā; therefore wherever the word brahma is used, it must refer to Kṛṣṇa, not to the impersonal Brahman effulgence. Brahmeti paramātmeti bhagavān iti śabdyate ( Bhāg. 1.2.11 ). Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān can all be taken in total as Brahman, but when there is reference to the word bhakti or remembrance of the transcendental qualities, this indicates the Supreme Personality of Godhead, not the impersonal Brahman.
- 2019-11-18 SB 04-22-25 - Ratripada Radhika Mataji
- Madhuresh Pr SB 04-22-25 Telugu - ISKCON Proddatur
- Suresvar Pr SB 04-22-25 - 2011-12-09 ISKCON Mayapur
- BCS SB 04-22-25 - Fueling your Spiritual Life - 2017-09-16 Ujjain
- Bhanu Sw SB 04-22-25 - 2010-05
- GKG SB 04-22-25 - 2007-05-21 Los Angeles
- GKG Hindi SB 04-22-25 - Sravanam Kirtanam Ka Mahatva - 2016-06-11 ISKCON Vrindavan
- JPS SB 04-22-25 - First Gaura Purnima in Keturi Gram - 1982-03-09 Mayapur
- SNS SB 04-22-25 - How to increase our Krishna Consciousness - 2020-08-20
- SNS SB 04-22-25 - Above the Cloud-50-Your Authentic Voice in Bhakti - 2022-02-20
- SatsvaRDG SB 04-22-25 - 1992-10 Vrindavan
My note
Source: vedabase.io