Introduction Xx)

the liberated state. Also, if persons who are trying to be liberated hear
such narrations as Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, then their path
of liberation becomes very clear. Bhagavad-gita is the preliminary study of
Srimad-Bhagavatam. By studying the Gitd, one becomes fully conscious
of the position of Lord Krsna; and when he is situated at the lotus feet of
Krsna, he understands the narrations of Krsna as described in the Srimad-
Bhagavatam. Lord Caitanya has therefore advised His followers that their
business is to propagate Arsna-katha.

Krsna-kathad means narrations about Krsna. There are two Krsna-kathas:
narrations spoken by Krsna and narrations spoken about Krsna. Bhagavad-
gita is the narration or the philosgphy or the science of God, spoken by
Krsna Himself. Srimad-Bhdgavatam is the narration about the activities
and transcendental pastimes of Krsna. Both are Arsna-katha. It is the order
of Lord Caitanya that Arsnea-katha should be spread all over the world,
because if the conditioned souls, suffering under the pangs of material
existence, take to Arsna-katha, then their path of liberation will be open
and clear. The purpose of presenting this book is primarily to induce
people to understand Krsna or Arsna-katha, because thereby they can
become freed from material bondage.

This Arsna-katha will also be very much appealing to the most material-
istic persons because Krsna’s pastimes with the gopis (cowherd girls) are
exactly like the loving affairs between young girls and boys within this
material world. Actually, the sex feeling found in human society is not
unnatural because this same sex feeling is there in the original Personality
of Godhead. The pleasure potency is called Srimati Radharani. The
attraction of loving affairs on the basis of sex feeling is the original feature
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and we, the conditioned souls,
being part and parcel of the Supreme, have such feelings also, but they are
experienced within a perverted, minute condition. Therefore, when those
who are after sex life in this material world hear about Krsna’s pastimes
with the gopis, they will relish transcendental pleasure, although it appears
to be materialistic. The advantage will be that they will gradually be
elevated to the spiritual platform. In the Bhdgavatam it is stated that if
one hears the pastimes of Lord Krsna with the gopis from authorities with
submission, then he will be promoted to the platform of transcendental
loving service to the Lord, and the material disease of lust within his heart
will be completely vanquished. In other words, it will counteract the
material sex life.

Krsna will be appealing to the liberated souls and to persons who are
trying to be liberated, as well as to the gross, conditioned materialist.
