Text 133] The Process of Devotional Service 405
Bhagavatam can only be recited by one who has unflinching faith in the lotus feet
of Krsna and His devotee, the spiritual master. One should try to understand
Srimad-Bhagavatam from the spiritual master. The Vedic injunction states: bhak-
tya bhagavatamm grahyam na buddhyd na ca tikaya. One has to understand Srimad-
Bhagavatam through the process of devotional service and by hearing the recita-
tion of a pure devotee. These are the injunctions of Vedic literature—sruti and
smrti. Those who are not in the disciplic succession and who are not pure devo-
tees cannot understand the real mysterious objective of Srimad-Bhagavatam and
Srimad Bhagavad-gita.
TEXT 132
aaAalSae Aanyatreca fafer users
nama-sankirtanam sriman-
mathura-mandale sthitih
SYNONYMS
nama-sankirtanam—chanting the Hare Krsna mahd-mantra; sriman-mathura-
mandale—in Mathura, where Krsna specifically performs His pastimes; sthitih —
residence.
TRANSLATION
““‘One should congregationally chant the holy name of the Lord and reside
in Vendavana.’
PURPORT
Navadvipa-dhama, Jagannatha Puri-dhama and Vrndavana-dhama are con-
sidered to be identical. If one goes to Mathura-mandala-bhimi for sense gratifica-
tion or to make a livelihood, he commits an offense and is condemned. Whoever
does so must be penalized in the next life by becoming a hog or a monkey in
Vindavana-dhama. After taking on such a body, the offender is liberated in the
next life. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura remarks that residing in
Vrndavana with a view to enjoy sense gratification surely leads a so-called devo-
tee to a lower species.
TEXT 133
QREGSTN AM BH LAW AVC |
QW AAI AUB APSBIE SawaAca | 09 W
