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BHAGAVATAM What the reviewer sy aio the Sona

Bhagavatam, by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhakti-
; vedanta Swami Prabhupada:

Srimad-Bhégavatam, an epic philosophical and
literary classic, holds a prominent position in “It has been my great pleasure recently to have
India’s voluminous written wisdom. The timeless read the Srimad-Bhagavatam a superb edition
wisdom of India is expressed in the Vedas, ancient authorized by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Pisin.
Sanskrit texts that touch upon all fields of human pada. I am sure this monumental work will go far to

knowledge. Originally preserved through oral tradi- bring the sublime message of the Bhagavatam to

tion, the Vedas were first put into writing by Srila numerous Westerners who otherwise would miss this
Vyasadeva, the ‘‘literary incarnation of God.”” After Opportunity.”

compiling the Vedas, Srila Vyasadeva was inspired De. Ken Weneue
by his spiritual master to present their profound | . :
essence in the form of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Known
as ‘‘the ripened fruit of the tree of Vedic literature,”

Srimad-Bhagavatam is the most complete and au- ‘‘Srimad-Bhagavatam ty: a, stelle aces ee
thoritative exposition of Vedic knowledge. | terial for several categories of readers. With its ex-

After writing the Bhagavatam, Vyasa taught it to | haustive plan of providing the original Sanshrit text
his son, Sukadeva Gosvami, who later spoke the He Biman tanslueaiion, English synon sn
Bhagavatam to Maharaja Pariksit in an assembly of English translation and elaborate cbacesieds by i
sages on the bank of the sacred Ganges River. Al- scholar and practitioner of philoeeptiy, ivexnnet but
though Maharaja Pariksit was a great rdjarsi (saintly be attractive to serious students ota scholars of

king) and the emperor of the world, when he religion and philosophy. I recommend this series to
received notice of his death seven days in advance, he anyone as an important and useful reference work.”

renounced his entire kindgom and retired to the
bank of the Ganges to seek spiritual enlightenment.
The questions of King Pariksit and Sukadeva
Gosvami’s illuminating answers, concerning every-
thing from the nature of the self to the origin of the
universe, are the basis of Srimad-Bhaégavatam.
This edition of Bhagavatam is the only complete “The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust editions of
English translation with an elaborate and scholarly famous religious classics of India with new transla-
commentary, and it is the first edition widely avail- tions and commentaries are an important addition to
able to the English-reading public. This work is the our expanding knowledge of spiritual India. The new

Professor of Sanskrit
Columbia University

Professor C. P. Agrawal
Chairman

Department of Humanities
University of Michigan

Divine Grace A.C. Bhakivedanta Swami Prabbu ae ne nen mines nelly
pada, the world’s most distinguished teacher of —

Indian religious and philosophical thought. His Chief, Gueaiad Division
Sanskrit scholarship and intimate familiarity with New York Public Library

Vedic culture combine to reveal to the West a mag-
nificent exposition of this important classic.

With its comprehensive system of providing the
original Sanskrit text, Roman transliteration, precise
word-for-word equivalents, a lucid English transla-
tion and a comprehensive commentary, it will appeal
to scholars, students and laymen alike. The entire
multivolume text, presented by the Bhaktivedanta
Book Trust, promises to occupy a significant place in
the intellectual, cultural and spiritual life of modern
man for a long time to come.

