Copyright © r The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
| Canto 6: Prescribed Duties for Mankind | Chapter 1: The History of the Life of Ajāmila |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 6.1.20
atra codāharantīmam
SYNONYMS
atra — in this connection; ca — also; udāharanti — they give as an example; imam — this; itihāsam — the history (of Ajāmila); purātanam — which is very old; dūtānām — of the order carriers; vishnu — of Lord Vishnu; yamayoh — and of Yamarāja; samvādah — the discussion; tam — that; nibodha — try to understand; me — from me.
TRANSLATION
In this regard, learned scholars and saintly persons describe a very old historical incident involving a discussion between the order carriers of Lord Vishnu and those of Yamarāja. Please hear of this from me.
PURPORT
The Purānas, or old histories, are sometimes neglected by unintelligent men who consider their descriptions mythological. Actually, the descriptions of the Purānas, or the old histories of the universe, are factual, although not chronological. The purānas record the chief incidents that have occurred over many millions of years, not only on this planet but also on other planets within the universe. Therefore all learned and realized Vedic scholars speak with references to the incidents in the Purānas. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī accepts the Purānas to be as important as the Vedas themselves. Therefore in Bhakti-rasāmrita-sindhu he quotes the following verse from the Brahma-yāmala:
aikāntikī harer bhaktir
utpātāyaiva kalpate
[BRS 1.2.101]
"Devotional service of the Lord that ignores the authorized Vedic literatures like the Upanishads, purānas and Nārada-pańcarātra is simply an unnecessary disturbance in society." A devotee of Krishna must refer not only to the Vedas, but also to the purānas. One should not foolishly consider the Purānas mythological. If they were mythological, Śukadeva Gosvāmī would not have taken the trouble to recite the old historical incidents concerning the life of Ajāmila. Now the history begins as follows.
Copyright © r The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness