136 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 8, Ch. 4

this narration as it is, without deviation, to counteract the troubles
of bad dreams.

PURPORT

Every verse in the Vedic literature, especially in the Srimad-
Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gitd, is a Vedic mantra. Here the words
yathdnukirtayanti are used to recommend that this literature be pre-
sented as it is. Unscrupulous persons, however, deviate from the actual
narration and interpret the text in their own way with grammatical jug-
glery. Such deviations are to be avoided. This is a Vedic injunction sup-
ported by Sukadeva Gosvami, one of the mahdjanas, or authorities. He
says, yathdnukirtayanti: one should recite the mantra as it is, without
deviation, for then one will be eligible to rise to the platform of all good
fortune. Sukadeva Gosvami especially recommends that those who are
bréhmanas (Sucayah) recite all these mantras after rising from bed in
the morning.

Because of sinful activities, at night we have bad dreams, which are
very troublesome. Indeed, Maharaja Yudhisthira was obliged to see hell
because of a slight deviation from devotional service to the Lord.
Therefore, duhsvapna—bad dreams—occur because of sinful activities.
A devotee sometimes accepts a sinful person as his disciple, and to coun-
teract the sinful reactions he accepts from the disciple, he has to see a bad.
dream. Nonetheless, the spiritual master is so kind that in spite of having
bad dreams due to the sinful disciple, he accepts this troublesome busi-
ness for the deliverance of the victims of Kali-yuga. After initiation,
therefore, a disciple should be extremely careful not to commit again any
sinful act that might cause difficulties for himself and the spiritual
master. Before the Deity, before the fire, before the spiritual master and-
before the Vaisnavas, the honest disciple promises to refrain from all
sinful activity. Therefore he must not again commit sinful acts and thus
create a troublesome situation.

TEXT 16
game aft: stat Tak FeaTT |
rat aiqaat aaa fry: 28
