In a lecture delivered at Śrī Saccidānanda Maṭha in Cuttack, Odisha, on July 9th, 1929, His Divine Grace Oṁ Viṣṇupāda 108 Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Ṭhākura, founder of the worldwide Śrī Caitanya Maṭha and Śrī Gauḍīya Maṭha, spoke the following words: “adhokṣaja tattva śravaṇaik vedya”.

By these words, he preached that śravaṇa (hearing) is the only perfect path for devotional practitioners. Vedānta-sūtras like ‘śāstra-yonitvāt’ (Vedānta-sūtra 1.1.3) and ‘śrutes tu śabda-mūlatvāt’ (Vedānta-sūtra 2.1.27). confirm the authenticity of the words of śruti regarding the subject matter of spiritual knowledge.

In Chapter 16, Verse 24 of Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā, Lord Kṛṣṇa instructs Arjuna as follows:

tasmāc chāstraṁ pramāṇaṁ te kāryākārya-vyavasthitau
jñātvā śāstra-vidhānoktaṁ karma kartum ihārhasi

“One should therefore understand what is duty and what is not duty by the regulations of the scriptures. Knowing such rules and regulations, one should act accordingly, so that one may gradually be elevated.”

Thus, knowledge about Brahman can only be obtained via the words of Vedānta. Furthermore, one can only come to know about Adhokṣaja Lord Śrī Hari by hearing the pastimes of the Supreme Lord from unalloyed pure devotees. The pure devotees speak śabda-brahma (transcendental sound), which is understood to be self-evident, and the hearing of which is the only authentic means to learn about the absolute meaning. The Skanda Purāṇa declares that the four Vedas, Mahābhārata, Mūla-Rāmāyaṇa and Pañcarātra are counted as authentic scriptures:

ṛg-yajuḥ-sāmātharvāś ca bhārataṁ pañcarātrakam
mūlarāmāyaṇaṁ caiva śāstram ity abhidhīyate
yacchanukulametasya taccha śāstram prakīrtitām
ato nyagrantha vistaro naiva śāstram kuvatarm tataḥ
(Bhaviṣya Purāṇa)

“The Ṛg Veda, Yajur Veda, Sāma Veda, Atharva Veda, Mahābhārata, Pañcarātra and original Rāmāyaṇa are all considered Vedic literature. The Purāṇas (such as the Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇa, Nāradīya Purāṇa, Viṣṇu Purāṇa and Bhāgavata Purāṇa) are especially meant for Vaiṣṇavas and are also Vedic literature. As such, whatever is stated within the Purāṇas, Mahābhārata and Rāmāyaṇa is self-evident. There is no need for interpretation.”

Although we need to understand and refer to the scriptures mentioned in the preceding quoted verse, above all we are to take shelter of the most authentic of all scriptures, namely Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, written by the literary avatāra (descended personal manifestation of Kṛṣṇa) named Śrīla Kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyana Vedavyāsa Muni. Hence, as per the Garuḍa Purāṇa, it is stated:

artho ’yaṁ brahma-sūtrāṇāṁ bhāratārtha-vinirṇayaḥ
gāyatrī-bhāṣya-rūpo ’sau vedārtha-paribṛṁhitaḥ

“The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the authorized explanation of Brahma-sūtra, and it is a further explanation of Mahābhārata. It is the expansion of the Gāyatrī Mantra and the essence of all Vedic knowledge.”

Śrīla Vrindāvana Dasa Ṭhākura, who is non-different from Śrīla Vyāsadeva, has glorified the superiority of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam as follows in the simplest language:

cāri veda dadhi bhāgavata navanīta
mathilena śuka khāilena parīkṣita

The understanding of this verse is that the four Vedas are like curd, whereas the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is like the butter resulting from the churning of the four Vedas. Śrīla Śukadeva Goswāmī churned the curd in order to get butter and Parīkṣit Mahārāja tasted the butter.

The four Vedas (Ṛk, Yajur, Sāma and Atharva), Mahābhārata, Mūla-Rāmāyaṇa and Pañcarātra are called sad-śāstra, eternal scriptures. Concomitantly, the scriptures that confirm the teachings of these eternal scriptures also fall into the category of sad-śāstra. However, all scriptures not subscribing to the above-mentioned standard fall into the category of asad-śāstra, non-eternal scriptures.

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the translation of the Brahma-sūtras and purport of the Mahābhārata. Above all, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the commentary on Gāyatrī and the true purport of all the Vedas.

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as the best among all authentic scriptures, and instructed us to hear it regularly. In his commentary on the Bhāgavatam called Krama-sandarbha, Śrīla Jīva Goswāmī (one of the famous six gosvāmī followers of Śrī Caitanya Mahaprabhu) wrote the following on the 18th Verse, 5th Chapter of the 7th Canto of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: ‘tatrāpi śravaṇe śrīmad bhāgavatam śravaṇastu param śreṣṭhaṁ’.

While studying Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Mahābhārata, Rāmāyaṇa and other scriptures we come across many famous sages, saints, and saintly kings. By learning about the pastimes of these legendary personalities, we can more easily understand the actual purport of all Vedic scriptures. Thus, an attempt is hereby made to compose this purāṇic caritāvalī (narrative of great purāṇic personalities).

Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha