254 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta [Madhya-lila, Ch. 19

PURPORT

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura gives the following commentary on the
words bhdgavata vicara. As confirmed in the Mundaka Upanisad (1.1.4,5), there
are two kinds of educational systems:

dve vidye veditavya iti, ha sma yad brahma-vido vadanti—para caivapard ca.
tatrapara rg-vedo yajur-vedah sama-vedo ‘tharva-vedah siksd kalpo vyakaranarh
niruktam chando jyotisam iti. atha para yaya tad-aksaram adhigamyate.

“There are two kinds of educational systems. One deals with transcendental
knowledge [para vidya] and the other with material knowledge lapard vidyd]. All
the Vedas—Rg Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, Atharva Veda and their corollaries
known as siksa, kalpa, vyakarana, nirukta, chanda and jyotisa—belong to the in-
ferior system of material knowledge [apara vidya]. By para vidya, one can under-
stand the aksara, Brahman or the Absolute Truth.” As far as Vedic literature is con-
cerned, Vedanta-stitra is accepted as the para vidyd. Srimad-Bhagavatam is an ex-
planation of that pard vidya. Those who aspire for liberation (mukti or moksa) and
introduce themselves as vaidantika are also equal to those groups aspiring to im-
prove religion (dharma), economic development (artha) and sense gratification
(kama). Dharma, artha, kama and moksa are called catur-varga. They are all within
the system of inferior material knowledge. Any literature giving information about
the spiritual world, spiritual life, spiritual identity and the spirit soul is called para
vidya. Srimad-Bhagavatam does not have anything to do with the materialistic
way of life; it gives transcendental information to educate people in the superior
system of pard vidyd. Sandatana Gosvami was engaged in discussing the
bhagavata-vidya, which means he discussed transcendental superior knowledge.
Those who are karmis, jfanis or yogis are not actually fit to discuss Srimad-
Bhagavatam. Only Vaisnavas or pure devotees are fit to discuss that literature. As
stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam itself (12.13.18):

srimad-bhagavatarh puranam amalam yad vaisnavanam priyam
yasmin paramahamsyam ekam amalari jfdnam param giyate
yatra jnana-viraga-bhakti-sahitam naiskarmyam aviskrtam
tac chrnvan supathan vicdrana-paro bhaktya vimucyen narah

Although Srimad-Bhagavatam is counted among the Puranas, it is called the spot-
less Purana. Because it does not discuss anything material, it is liked by transcen-
dental Vaisnava devotees. The subject matter found in Srimad-Bhagavatam is
meant for paramahamas. As it is said: paramo-nirmatsaranam. A paramaharmsa is
one who does not live in the material world and who does not envy others. In
Srimad-Bhagavatam, devotional service is discussed to arouse the living entity to
the transcendental position of jAana (knowledge) and vairdgya (renunciation). As
stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.12):
