6 / Sources of Absolute Knowledge

We require to hear about the method of relishing the
Srimad-Bhagavatam, the most elevated text on the science of
God consciousness, the matured and ripened fruit of the tree
of Vedic wisdom. The Sanskrit word rasa means juice, just like
the juice of an orange or a mango. And the author of the
Srimad-Bhagavatam requests that you kindly try to taste the
rasa, or juice, of the fruit of the Bhagavatam. Why? Why shali
I taste the juice of the fruit of the Bhagavatam? Because it is
the ripened fruit of the Vedic desire tree. As a desire tree,
whatever you want you can have from the Vedas. Veda means
knowledge; it is so complete that whether you want to enjoy
in this material world or you want to enjoy spiritual life, both
kinds of knowledge are there. If you follow the Vedic prin-
ciples, then you will be happy. This is like the codes of the
state. If the citizens obey, then they will be happy, there will
be no criminal trespassing, and they will enjoy life. The state
does not come to you for nothing just to trouble you, but if
you live according to the state law there is no question of
unhappiness.

Similarly, this conditioned soul, the living entity, has come
here to this material world for enjoyment and for material
happiness. And the Vedas are the guidance: all right, enjoy—
but you enjoy according to these principles. That is called
Veda. Therefore, everything is there. Just as we sometimes
perform a marriage ceremony in the temple. What is this
marriage ceremony? It is the combination of man and woman,
