'Bhagavad Purâna'
'The Story of the Fortunate One'
based on the Divine Discourses of Bhagavân S'rî Sathya Sai Baba .
Those who are working or speaking very nicely or badlyare by a saintly person praised nor criticized;freed from good and bad qualitieshe sees things equally
Vyâsadeva (S.B. 11.11: 16)
Vyâsadeva (S.B. 11.11: 16)
1. What is Bhâgavatam?
[S'rîmad-]Bhâgavatam is one of the greatest of the eighteen Purânas.
2. What is the essence of the 18 Purânas?
"Paropakaraha Punyaya, Papaya Parapedanam." To do good to others is merit. To hurt and cause suffering to others is sin.
3. What is the main theme of Bhâgavatam?
It is the story of the Divine glory of Lord Hari and His devotees.
4. What are the subjects dealt with in Bhâgavatam?
It gives a description of the creation of the universe, the story of the Avatâras, the story of Nârada, a detailed narration of the Avatâra of Krishna and many other episodes.
5. Who wrote Bhâgavatam in Sanskrit?
Sage Vyasa.
6. Who inspired the Sage to write Bhâgavatam?
Sage Nârada.
7. Who narrated Bhâgavatam even before Vyâsa?
Brahmâ narrated Bhâgavatam to Vyâsa, sage Vyâsa to S'uka.
8. How does Vyâsa begin the Bhâgavatam?
Sage Vyâsa begins Bhâgavatam as a narration by the sage S'uka to king Parîkchit who was on his death bed because of a curse.
9. What is the curse?
King Parîkchit was cursed that he would die of a serpent bite on the seventh day commencing from the day he was cursed
[S'rîmad-]Bhâgavatam is one of the greatest of the eighteen Purânas.
2. What is the essence of the 18 Purânas?
"Paropakaraha Punyaya, Papaya Parapedanam." To do good to others is merit. To hurt and cause suffering to others is sin.
3. What is the main theme of Bhâgavatam?
It is the story of the Divine glory of Lord Hari and His devotees.
4. What are the subjects dealt with in Bhâgavatam?
It gives a description of the creation of the universe, the story of the Avatâras, the story of Nârada, a detailed narration of the Avatâra of Krishna and many other episodes.
5. Who wrote Bhâgavatam in Sanskrit?
Sage Vyasa.
6. Who inspired the Sage to write Bhâgavatam?
Sage Nârada.
7. Who narrated Bhâgavatam even before Vyâsa?
Brahmâ narrated Bhâgavatam to Vyâsa, sage Vyâsa to S'uka.
8. How does Vyâsa begin the Bhâgavatam?
Sage Vyâsa begins Bhâgavatam as a narration by the sage S'uka to king Parîkchit who was on his death bed because of a curse.
9. What is the curse?
King Parîkchit was cursed that he would die of a serpent bite on the seventh day commencing from the day he was cursed
10. Who cursed King Parîkchit?
Thapasvin Sringi.
Thapasvin Sringi.
11. Why did he curse?
One day king Parîkchit went for hunting. After some time he was very thirsty and was in search of an âs'rama. He caught sight of one and entered. He called aloud. But no one answered. He saw a sage deep in meditation. There were signs of people moving about, but none came to him. He got angry because he did not receive the honor due to him as the ruler of the country. He saw a dead serpent on the ground, he lifted it and put it round the neck of the sage and went his way. When Sringi, the son of the sage (S'amîka) came to know about the sinful act, he cursed that the man who committed the sin would die of a serpent bite within seven days
One day king Parîkchit went for hunting. After some time he was very thirsty and was in search of an âs'rama. He caught sight of one and entered. He called aloud. But no one answered. He saw a sage deep in meditation. There were signs of people moving about, but none came to him. He got angry because he did not receive the honor due to him as the ruler of the country. He saw a dead serpent on the ground, he lifted it and put it round the neck of the sage and went his way. When Sringi, the son of the sage (S'amîka) came to know about the sinful act, he cursed that the man who committed the sin would die of a serpent bite within seven days
12. What was the reaction of Sringi's father to his son's hasty action?
S'amîka did not approve of the hasty action of his son. He should not have cursed the ruler of the country because it would affect the entire country. Parîkchit had been a righteous and a kind ruler, but for this one impulsive act, yet he could not do anything, but asked his son, to see that the king was informed about the curse.
13. How did the king receive the curse?
King Parîkchit was sad and sorry for his impulsive act and welcomed the curse as a boon, because he was given a chance of involving himself in holy activities before his death.
14. What do we learn from this episode?
Whether one commits a sin, knowingly or unknowingly, one has to suffer the consequences, but repentance would absolve him of the sins committed.
15. What do we learn about the life of Sage Nârada from Bhâgavatam?
Nârada was the son of a servant maid. She was serving some Rishis who had come to a forest, to stay for four months (Chathurmasya Vrata). Nârada was a small boy. He would often sit and listen to these sages. When they were about to leave after four months, he wanted to follow them. But they advised him, to chant the name of Hari, and to take to the path of devotion. He was made to realize, that God alone is the dearest to an individual and none other. One day when Nârada's mother died of a serpent bite, he left the forest in search of his goal. One day he heard a divine voice warning him to give up the desire of having the vision of God too. Then he took to "Soham" ("I am That" - "I am God") meditation and gave up his life only to take a new life form.
16. What is the special name given to each chapter in Bhâgavatam?Skanda [Canto].
S'amîka did not approve of the hasty action of his son. He should not have cursed the ruler of the country because it would affect the entire country. Parîkchit had been a righteous and a kind ruler, but for this one impulsive act, yet he could not do anything, but asked his son, to see that the king was informed about the curse.
13. How did the king receive the curse?
King Parîkchit was sad and sorry for his impulsive act and welcomed the curse as a boon, because he was given a chance of involving himself in holy activities before his death.
14. What do we learn from this episode?
Whether one commits a sin, knowingly or unknowingly, one has to suffer the consequences, but repentance would absolve him of the sins committed.
15. What do we learn about the life of Sage Nârada from Bhâgavatam?
Nârada was the son of a servant maid. She was serving some Rishis who had come to a forest, to stay for four months (Chathurmasya Vrata). Nârada was a small boy. He would often sit and listen to these sages. When they were about to leave after four months, he wanted to follow them. But they advised him, to chant the name of Hari, and to take to the path of devotion. He was made to realize, that God alone is the dearest to an individual and none other. One day when Nârada's mother died of a serpent bite, he left the forest in search of his goal. One day he heard a divine voice warning him to give up the desire of having the vision of God too. Then he took to "Soham" ("I am That" - "I am God") meditation and gave up his life only to take a new life form.
16. What is the special name given to each chapter in Bhâgavatam?Skanda [Canto].
17. How many Cantos are there?Twelve.
18. Who is the famous writer of Bhâgavatam in Telugu?Bammera Pothana.
19. What is an Avatâra?Avatârana means descent. Avatâra is the descent of the nameless and attributeless divinity in a form suitable to execute the task of destroying the wicked and protecting the good.
20. How many types of Avatâras are there?Avatâras are many in number. There are some Avatâras that appear on earth only for a short time, fulfill the Avataric mission and disappear, Matsya (fish), Kurma (tortoise), Varâha (boar), Narasimha (half-man half-lion) and Vâmana (dwarfman). There is the Avatâra of Râma who is called an Amsa-Avatâra because He shared the divinity with His three brothers (Lakshmana, Satrughna and Bharatha); the Krishna Avatâra is an example of Purna-Avatâra (total).
21. Mention the 10 Avatâras of Vishnu.The ten Avatâras in sequence are Matsya, Kurma, Varâha, Narasimha, Vâmana.Paras'urâma, Râma, Krishna, Buddha and Kalki.
21. Mention the 10 Avatâras of Vishnu.The ten Avatâras in sequence are Matsya, Kurma, Varâha, Narasimha, Vâmana.Paras'urâma, Râma, Krishna, Buddha and Kalki.
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