Sources of Absolute Knowledge 47
of understanding Krsna, after many, many births. But the
Bhagavatam is called the essence of life, the ripened fruit of
the Vedas, because the Bhagavatam gives you directly what is
needed in your life.

The Vedas are divided into four: Sama Veda, Rk, Atharva
and Yajus. Then these are explained by the Puranas, of which
there are eighteen. Then these are still further explained by
the Upanisads, of which there are 108. The Upanisads are
summarized in the Vedanta-sittra, and the Vedanta-sittra is still
again explained by the Srimad-Bhagavatam, by the same author.
This is the process. So the Bhagavatam is the essence of all
Vedic knowledge.

Naimisaranya is a very famous and sacred forest in northern
India, where all the rsis, the sages, generally go to aid their
spiritual advancement of life. This Srimad-Bhagavatam was
first discussed in this age in that forest. When it was discussed,
the great saint Sita Gosvami_ was asked by his audience: Now
that Krsna has gone back to His abode, with whom is transcen-
dental knowledge now resting? This question was raised. The
Bhagavad-gita was spoken by Krsna Himself, and it contains all
descriptions of jiidna-yoga, karma-yoga, dhyana-yoga and
bhakti-yoga. Now this inquiry was made: Where can you get
spiritual knowledge, now that Krsna is gone? The answer was
that Krsna, having departed, has left us the Srimad-Bhagavatam.
It is the representation, the sound representation, of Krsna.
The Bhagavatam is not different from Krsna, as the Gita is not
different from Krsna. They are absolute. Krsna and Krsna’s
sound vibration are not different. Krsna and Krsna’s name are
also not different. And Krsna and Krsna’s form, again, are not
different. This is absolute. It requires realization.

This Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam are sound incar-
nations of Krsna. The Srimad-Bhagavatam is also the literary
incarnation of Krsna, and it is the fruit of Vedic knowledge.
You may have experience that there is a bird which is called a
