106 The Nectar of Devotion

the ripened fruit of this desire-fulfilling tree of the Vedas. A tree is
honored by the production of its fruit. For example, a mango tree is
considered very valuable because it produces the king of all fruits, the
mango. When the mango fruit becomes ripened it is the greatest gift
of that tree, and Srimad-Bhagavatam is similarly held to be the ripened
fruit of the Vedic tree. And, as ripened fruit becomes more relish-
able when first touched by the beak of a parrot, or suka, so Srimad-
Bhagavatam has become more relishable by being delivered through
the transcendental mouth of Sukadeva Gosvami.

Srimad-Bhagavatam should be received in disciplic succession with-
out any breakage. When a ripened fruit comes from the upper part of
the tree onto the ground by the process of being handed down from
a higher branch to a lower branch by persons in the tree, the fruit
does not break. Srimad- -Bhagavatam, when received in the parampara
system, or disciplic succession, will likewise remain unbroken. It is
stated in the Bhagavad-gita that the disciplic succession, or parampara,
is the way of receiving transcendental knowledge. Such knowledge
must come down through the disciplic succession, through authorized
persons who know the real purpose of the sastra.

Sti Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommended that one learn Srimad-
Bhagavatam from the mouth of the self realized person called bhaga-
vatam. Bhagavata means “‘in relationship with the Personality of God-
head (Bhagavan).”’ So the devotee is sometimes called bhagavatam,
and the book which is in relationship with devotional service to the
Supreme Personality of Godhead is also called Bhdgavatam. Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommended that in order to relish the real
taste of Srimad-Bhagavatam, one should take instruction from the
person bhdgavatam. Srimad-Bhagavatam is relishable even by a lib-
erated person. It was admitted by Sukadeva Gosvami that although
he was liberated from within the very womb of his mother, it was
only after relishing Srimad-Bhagavatam that he became a great devo-
tee. Thus, one who is desirous of advancing in Krsna consciousness
should relish the purport of Srimad-Bhagavatam through the dis-
cussions of authorized devotees.

In the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Second Canto, Ist Chapter, 9th verse,
Sukadeva Gosvami admits that although he was very much attracted
