258 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta [Madhya-lila, Ch. 24

by so-called intelligence or experimental knowledge; na—nor; ca—also; tikaya—
by imaginary commentary.

TRANSLATION

“[Lord Siva said,] ‘I may know; Sukadeva Gosvami, the son of Vyasadeva,
may know; and Vyadsadeva may know or may not know the Srimad-
Bhagavatam. On the whole, the Srimad-Bhagavatam, the spotless Purana, can
be learned only through devotional service, not by material intelligence,
speculative methods or imaginary commentaries.’ ”

PURPORT

Devotional service includes nine processes, beginning with hearing, chanting
and remembering the activities of Lord Visnu. Only one who has taken to devo-
tional service can understand Srimad-Bhagavatam, which is the spotless Purana for
a transcendentalist (paramaharsa). So-called commentaries are useless for this
purpose. According to the Vedic injunction: yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve
tatha gurau. All Vedic literatures maintain that Srimad-Bhagavatam has to be
learned from the person bhagavata, and to understand it one has to engage in
pure devotional service. Srimad-Bhagavatam cannot be understood by so-called
erudite scholars or grammarians. One who has developed pure Krsna conscious-
ness and has served the pure devotee, the spiritual master, can understand
Srimad-Bhagavatam. Others cannot.

TEXT 314

wef far rater Fafine Sa |
wale sca qEtetga acd HfaH NOs |

artha suni’ sanatana vismita hana
stuti kare mahdprabhura carane dhariyd

SYNONYMS

artha suni’—by hearing the meaning (of the dtmdrdma verse); sandtana—
Sanatana Gosvami; vismita hafid—becoming struck with wonder; stuti kare—
offers prayers; mahaprabhura—of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; carane dhariya—
touching the lotus feet.

TRANSLATION
After hearing all the explanations of all the different meanings of the at-
marama verse, Sanatana Gosvami was struck with wonder. He fell down at the
lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and began to offer prayers.
