A Collection of quotes and teachings from Srimad Bhagavata Purana
In this world, you should realize that we should not become inordinately attached to anyone or anything. When the body which we think is ours; when even this has to be abandoned when we leave this world, what then can one say about one’s sons and one’s wife?
In this world, you should realize that we should not become inordinately attached to anyone or anything. When the body which we think is ours; when even this has to be abandoned when we leave this world, what then can one say about one’s sons and one’s wife?
Alone we come to this world and alone we walk the road to dusty death. Alone, man earns ‘punya’ and again, alone, man earns ‘papa’ also.
Wealth which a man has earned by unrighteous means is taken away from him by his enemies who come in the shape of his sons and his dear ones and near ones! The man who guards such wealth which is earned unrighteously, is indeed, a fool. He is never happy since he has done wrong. He does not enjoy the wealth either.
Use your intellect; control the wayward mind and try to maintain a neutral state of mind wherein you will be able to treat all things alike; where there is no feeling of mine and thine. (Source – an interaction between Akrura and Dhritarashtra in the Bhagavata Purana)
Bhagavata Purana Quotes
He from whom the creation, sustenance and dissolution of the universe takes place,
who is both the material and instrumental cause of it, who resides as Knowledge in all beings, who is self-luminous, who revealed the wisdom of the Vedas in the mind of Brahma the Creator, whose wisdom is the wonder of even the gods, in whom the worlds created out of the three Gunas exist without affecting Him in the least whose light of consciousness is over beyond the reach of Maya, upon that Truth supreme we meditate.
Ocean of Maya
The cause of happiness or misery is no other than one’s self; it is an idea of the mind.
As travelers meet by chance on the way, so does man meet a wife, children, relatives, and friends; let him therefore be in the world and yet separate from it.
Though the sages speak in diverse ways, they express one and the same truth.
Delusion completely overcomes man’s sense of right and wrong.
One’s own Self is one’s chief Guru. By knowledge of Self alone through perception, inference and mystic communion one obtains the great bliss.
As the moon is perfect, in spite of its waning and waxing, which do not exist in it, so is Atman ever perfect, in spite of its seeming imperfections.
Do not entertain uncharitable thoughts towards others; for man reaps what he has sown; the pain he has inflicted on others returns to him in due course. Retaliation perpetuates the vicious circle of cause and effect – wholehearted worship of the Lord wipes out sorrow from your heart in an instant. (Suniti’s advice to Dhruva)
Noble souls in this world bear no ill will at all towards their fellows. Ill will is an indication that one recognizes diversity, and diversity is born from wrong identification of the body with the self. (Vishnu advices King Pritu)
God is realized by him whose mind is purified by duties performed unselfishly. (Vishnu to King Pritu)
Of the four goals of life only liberation is of permanent value; righteousness, enjoyment of pleasure and acquisition of wealth are subject to termination. (Sanatkumara to Pritu)
Advaita Teachings In The Bhagavata
That from which creation and destruction are definitely known to emerge, is the resort which is called the Highest Brahman, the Highest Self.
Whatever is sat or asat is not different from Hari (Vishnu).
In the beginning, before the creation, I (Vishnu) alone was in existence. There was nothing else – neither sat or asat nor their cause. There was deep sleep everywhere. After the creation of the universe what exists, is I. I am the universe. What remains is me.
Brahma says “Bhagavan, after a very long time you have been realized by me today. It is indeed the defect of beings conditioned by body that your essential nature is not realized by them. Nothing other than you exists. Anything else is not pure because it is you who appear to be many due to the mixture of the qualities by your creative energy."
Teachings On Overcoming The Ocean Of Maya
A chapter in the Bhagavata Purana deals with the dialogue between King Nimi and Nava Yogis. One of the questions asked by King Nimi was on how to cross the
Sage Prabuddha answers: One who has taken sole refuge in Narayana, the Supreme Lord, crosses over the ocean of Maya
It is not, however, possible to do this without adopting certain basic disciplines and ways of life.
First of all one must realize that wealth, family and friends by themselves cannot give one perfect happiness.
This conviction one must get from one’s own experiences as well as by keenly observing the experiences of others and the nature of the world of things and happenings around.
This conviction one must get from one’s own experiences as well as by keenly observing the experiences of others and the nature of the world of things and happenings around.
After getting the conviction, one who is eager to know the path by which he can cross over the mire of Maya, should approach a Guru who is well-versed in the scriptures as well as firmly established in his intimate experience of the Divine.
To overcome Maya, he should practice internal and external cleanliness, austerity, forbearance, silence, self-study, straightforwardness, non-injury, Brahmacharya and equanimity of mind under all circumstances. He should perceive the Lord in all beings.
He should not unnecessarily punish himself physically or mentally. Whatever work he does, he should dedicate them all to the Lord. He should seek the company of good people and spend his life with them and getting absorbed in Narayana.
Such a person crosses over Maya.
Personal Worship in Hinduism
At the personal level, one who is eager to overcome the effects of Karma, can practice the worship of Lord Vishnu according to Tantric rites. One can adopt for worship any of His forms according to one’s liking.
The Tantric rites comprise of invoking the Lord’s presence in an image, offering Him ceremonial bath, clothes, ornaments, sandalwood paste, garlands, flowers, food items, light and by chanting Moola Mantra, singing His hymns and concluding the worship by transferring His presence from the image to one’s own heart. Such a devotee gets all his desires fulfilled and attains liberation from Samsara soon. (This topic is mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana during the dialogue between King Nimi and Nava Yogis.)