Srimad BhagavatamSrimad Bhagavatam

Canto 1 Chapter 1Canto 1 Chapter 1

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Svaräö – Completely Svaräö – Completely independentindependent

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oà namo bhagavate väsudeväyaoà namo bhagavate väsudeväyajanmädy asya yato ’nvayäd itarataçjanmädy asya yato ’nvayäd itarataç

cärtheñv abhijïaù svaräöcärtheñv abhijïaù svaräötene brahma hådä ya ädi-kavayetene brahma hådä ya ädi-kavaye

muhyanti yat sürayaùmuhyanti yat sürayaùtejo-väri-mådäà yathätejo-väri-mådäà yathä

vinimayo yatra tri-sargo ’måñävinimayo yatra tri-sargo ’måñädhämnä svena sadä nirasta-kuhakaàdhämnä svena sadä nirasta-kuhakaà

satyaà paraà dhémahisatyaà paraà dhémahi

TranslationTranslationO my Lord, Çré Kåñëa, son of Vasudeva, O all-pervading O my Lord, Çré Kåñëa, son of Vasudeva, O all-pervading

Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. I meditate upon Lord Çré Kåñëa because He is unto You. I meditate upon Lord Çré Kåñëa because He is the Absolute Truth and the primeval cause of all causes of the Absolute Truth and the primeval cause of all causes of the creation, sustenance and destruction of the the creation, sustenance and destruction of the manifested universes. He is directly and indirectly manifested universes. He is directly and indirectly conscious of all manifestations, and He is independent conscious of all manifestations, and He is independent because there is no other cause beyond Him. It is He only because there is no other cause beyond Him. It is He only who first imparted the Vedic knowledge unto the heart of who first imparted the Vedic knowledge unto the heart of Brahmäjé, the original living being. By Him even the great Brahmäjé, the original living being. By Him even the great sages and demigods are placed into illusion, as one is sages and demigods are placed into illusion, as one is bewildered by the illusory representations of water seen bewildered by the illusory representations of water seen in fire, or land seen on water. Only because of Him do the in fire, or land seen on water. Only because of Him do the material universes, temporarily manifested by the material universes, temporarily manifested by the reactions of the three modes of nature, appear factual, reactions of the three modes of nature, appear factual, although they are unreal. I therefore meditate upon Him, although they are unreal. I therefore meditate upon Him, Lord Çré Kåñëa, who is eternally existent in the Lord Çré Kåñëa, who is eternally existent in the transcendental abode, which is forever free from the transcendental abode, which is forever free from the illusory representations of the material world. I meditate illusory representations of the material world. I meditate upon Him, for He is the Absolute Truth.upon Him, for He is the Absolute Truth.

Independence in Independence in material worldmaterial world

““Independence is our birth right.”Independence is our birth right.”It is illusion in this material world.It is illusion in this material world.Everyone is dependent on something or Everyone is dependent on something or someone for survival, nourishment, someone for survival, nourishment, happiness, and so on.happiness, and so on.Subjugation by,Subjugation by,uncontrolled mind and senses,& uncontrolled mind and senses,& polluted intelligence.polluted intelligence.E.g. prayers of king Muchukunda on how E.g. prayers of king Muchukunda on how kings are controlled by queens.kings are controlled by queens.Independence or freedom of football.Independence or freedom of football.

Declare our dependence on LordDeclare our dependence on Lord

Dependence brings complete peace & Dependence brings complete peace & fearlessness,fearlessness,e.g. child’s dependence on father – Srila e.g. child’s dependence on father – Srila Prabhupada’s experience in childhood.Prabhupada’s experience in childhood.

Similarly devotees dependent on Lord for Similarly devotees dependent on Lord for all their needs, under all circumstances all their needs, under all circumstances makes them peaceful and fearless,makes them peaceful and fearless,e.g. Vrajvasise.g. Vrajvasis

Lord is completely independentLord is completely independent

Svarat – only position of Supreme Lord and no Svarat – only position of Supreme Lord and no one else including the most powerful demigods one else including the most powerful demigods like Brhama and Shiva.like Brhama and Shiva.E.g. Brahma chastised by Lord Nrsimha and E.g. Brahma chastised by Lord Nrsimha and forbidden to give benediction to demons like forbidden to give benediction to demons like Hiranyakashipu.Hiranyakashipu.E.g. Lord Shiva trying to protect Banasura and E.g. Lord Shiva trying to protect Banasura and Lord Krishna punishing him in presence of Lord Lord Krishna punishing him in presence of Lord Shiva and Lord Shiva was helpless. Also Shiva and Lord Shiva was helpless. Also Ravana destroyed.Ravana destroyed.E.g. Indra trying to destroy Vrindavan or trying to E.g. Indra trying to destroy Vrindavan or trying to forbid Krsna from taking parijat flower.forbid Krsna from taking parijat flower.

Also free to benedict or punishAlso free to benedict or punish

Lord Brahma steeling calves and cowherd Lord Brahma steeling calves and cowherd boys out of curiosity and yet Krsna didn’t boys out of curiosity and yet Krsna didn’t care to reply him, even though he begged care to reply him, even though he begged forgiveness and offered beautiful prayers.forgiveness and offered beautiful prayers.

On other hand Indra tried to kill all the On other hand Indra tried to kill all the inhabitants of Vraja including Krsna and inhabitants of Vraja including Krsna and when he came to offer prayers and beg when he came to offer prayers and beg forgiveness Krsna did talk to him.forgiveness Krsna did talk to him.

Process of becoming dependent Process of becoming dependent on Svaraton Svarat