Love Stories: Shrimad Bhagavatam

Recently, I have been hearing Shrimad Bhagavatam  quite frequently and also reading it sometimes. Although I am no authority to comment on the glorious position of the Shrimad Bhagavatam, I will write something for those who do not know about it. In short, Shrimad Bhagavatam is the collection of love stories, love of souls with Supreme Personality of Godhead. It's subject matter is love of god, its for the lover devotees of the God, Shri Krishna.
             Shrimad Bhagavatam is also called to be the Lord Krishna in the Literature form (Shrimad Bhagvato-ayam sakshat krishna eva hi). Before departing from this material world, Lord Krishna had assured Uddhava that he is going nowhere but residing in the form of Shrimad Bhagavatam so that common people can reach to him in this age of quarrel, madness and hypocrisy. To me, there has never been or will never be any literature greater than SB. SB satisfies the humans completely as it gives the ultimate thing in the world, Love of God. One who has read many books but did not hear about SB, is really unfortunate.

Shukdev Goswami narrating Shrimad Bhagwatam to King Parikshit (from: BBT)

              Legend has it that after compiling four Vedas, Upanishads and all other vedic literature, Shri Vyasdeva was not feeling happiness, he was still very morose and kind of dissatisfaction was occupying his heart. When Narada muni arrives to meet Vyasdev, he converys Narada muni about his state of mind and seeks for the remedy of it. To this, magnificent devotee of the lord, Narada muni replies, "O Vyasdev, although you have compiled all the  vedic literature, you have not complied anything which teaches pure love of Godhead, you have somewhat deceived and deluded  people by narrating different rituals which are only for fruitive activities for personal gain. You should compile a literature which will teach the pure love of god and by hearing which the people will be immediately satisfied." After these instructions, Shri Vyasdev created this magnificent and most ripen fruit of all vedic literature, Shrimad Bhagavatam. SB itself declares that literature which does not describe love of god and his pastimes is like the pilgrimage place for the crows and the intelligent do not go there.
            Shimad BhagavatGita contains the theory or the knowledge of the Bhaktiyoga while Shrimad Bhagavatam gives the nice illustrations for the Bhaktiyoga. For e.g., Gita discusses the  four types of people who approach the God and these four types are those who are the distressed (aarta), inquisitive (jigyasu), those who desire the wealth (artharthi) and the knowledgeable (gyani) while Shrimad Bhagavatam has the narrations about each type of devotee of the god. In SB, the distressed seeker of the god is Gajendra, inquisitive devotee is king Parikshita, Dhruva is the desiring devotee of God (he wanted to please the God to be able to sit on the lap of his father) and the knowledgeable devotee of the God is Uddhava.
            So, if you feel motivated, please read or hear Shrimad Bhagavatam and get the unlimited mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna.

Mat ja mat ja Mathura.......(gopi bhaav when Lord is leaving Vrindavan...)

ओ रे कन्हैय्या पडू तोरे पैय्या
मत जा मत जा मत जा मथुरा
कुंजन की गलियों मै दौड़ लगाये
चोरी चोरी माखन को अब कौन खाए
घेर घेर लायेगा कौन तेरी गैय्या
ओ रे ...

विरह का दुःख गोपी कैसे सहेंगी
तेरी राधारानी अब कैसे जियेगी
रो रो के मर जाएगी तेरी मैय्या
ओ रे ...

गोपी विराहने का अब कौन सहारा
जपति रहेंगी हम नाम तुम्हारा
रोम रोम बस जाओ दाउजी के भैय्या
ओ रे कन्हैय्या पडू तोरे पैय्या
मत जा मत जा मत जा मथुरा .....

Yudhishthira's Wisdom

Yudhistira was considered to be the one the most sensible human beings present on the Earth. Respecting his sense and truthfulness, his chariot used to ride two inches higher than the ground level.

        Once in his kingdom, a debate took place over "what is the biggest surprise in the world?" Numerous intelligent people took part in the debate. They began to present strong logical statements but no single answer was approved with the consent of everybody present there . Finally they approached Yudishtira because they knew it is very hard to find the more logical person than him.

 Some suggested, building strong body and exercising power is the biggest surprise - Yudhishtira replied, possessing power is just an investment fruit, more you give more you get like that and its no surprise.

 Some other suggested,  being beautiful and possessing some beautiful art like singing is the biggest surprise. Yudhistira replied, all arts and beauty is obtained by fate, they are inborn depending on previous deeds and that's no surprise.

Some  suggested, Earning the money is the biggest surprise- Yudhishtira replied, Even the prostitute earns," whats the surprise in it?"

Rest suggested, Everything is surprise- the plant grows, water flows, we get older n all that- Yudhistira replied, these are the laws of nature, which are strong by defination, so cant be a surprise. Surprise has to be the contrast.

Then all were tired of making guesses, so they finally asked Yudhishtira about his own opinion about the surprise.

 Yudhistira, the very sane man, replied "God's ways are wonderful. God is in the form of Krishna in front of our eyes. His names are extremely wonderful. He has manifested himself into his names, So he and his names are indifferent. Chanting his name properly, even once can get us rid of so many sins that we cant even think of. Yet people manage to find the place in Hell after dying,  is the biggest surprise in this world when chanting his name once can reduce so much burden of deeds on us. I cannot comprehend this. This is just like dying out of hunger when we have served food in front of us. So I call this as the biggest surprise".

All people got convinced why Yudhishtira was respected so much.