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Wisdom From Srimad Bhagavad Purana

A collection of wisdom from Srimad Bhagavad Purana.

When there is the earth to lie upon, why trouble about a bed? When one's arm is readily available why require pillows? When there is the palm of one's hand, why seek for plates and utensils? When there is the atmosphere or a bark or other similar stuff to clothe oneself in, what need is there of silks?

I consider him a hero who, having dedicated his whole heart and soul to the love of Bhagavan Sri Krishna, frees himself from worldly attachments, attains true knowledge and drops his body wherever it happens to fall – unknown, unwept and unsung. (Vidura to Dhritarashtra)



Are there no rags by the wayside? Do not trees yield their gifts? Have streams, that always support others, dried up? Is not God (Sri Krishna) the friend of those who have surrendered everything? Why then do the Wise wait upon the rich, who are blinded by and intoxicated with their wealth? — Srimad Bhagavata, II.2.

Whenever the rulers of the earth, their intellects clouded by tamas, live unrighteous lives and thus promote unrighteousness on earth, then Bhagavan (who is purity itself) descends on earth in various forms, manifesting the divine attributes of omnipotence omnipresence and omniscience and also truth, justice, compassion and divine activity.

A greedy man loses his fame, his learning and his wisdom. Lust is quelled by fasting; anger ceases when its consequence manifests itself; but there is no cessation of greed, even if a man becomes the lord of the earth.

When one’s own body is but a composition of the elements, and subject to disease, old age and death, how foolish it is to assume responsibility for others! Can one who is being swallowed by a python offer protection to another?

Desire directed towards me (Bhagavan) is no desire at all, even as seed roasted in fire is no seed. 

Man here is bound by the threefold attachment or desire: desire for wealth, desire for wife and children and desire for moksha.

One should conquer desire, by non-gratification; anger, by desirelessness; greed by seeing the evil of wealth; fear by grasping the truth; grief and delusion by wisdom; pride by service of saints; obstacles of yoga, by silence.

Desire eclipses all that is good and noble in one’s heart and desirelessness is the gateway to liberation.

Great is the travail of those who endeavor to cross the ocean of samsara, beset by the crocodiles of the six categories (the five senses and the mind; or desire, anger, greed, vanity, delusion and jealousy).

He who performs actions prescribed by the Veda, without attachment and without desire for reward here or in heaven is liberated.

Three paths of yoga (union with Bhagavan) have been laid by Sri Krishna – jnana, karma and bhakti. Jnana is suited to one who is not interested in rituals. Karma is for one who has faith in rituals. Bhakti is for one who has taste for hearing the stories and glory of Bhagavan.

Karma and consequent rebirth are the result of the feeling of ‘I’ and ‘mine’.

Just as we get unhappiness without our striving for it, we shall also get happiness in this world without effort, by the force of our past karma.

Just as fire assumes different forms in accordance with the burning object, so Bhagavan Sri Krishna, who alone is all this, appears in infinite forms. 

Just as a dreamer creates various forms, including himself, in a dream, even so it is the one Bhagavan Sri Krishna who experiences everything through the intelligence of all. He is the storehouse of all existence and bliss. One should adore and cling to him alone, and to nothing else – for elsewhere there is great downfall for oneself.