SB 1.3.41 (1962)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT No. 41
Tad idam grahayamasa sutam atmavatambaram veda itihashanam saram saram samudhritam
ENGLISH SYNONYMS
Tad—that, Idam—this, Grahyamasha—made to accept, Sutam—unto His son, Atmavatam—of the selfrealised, Varam-most respectful, Sarva-all, Veda-Vedic literatures (book of knowledge), Itihashanam-of all the histories, Saram-cream, Samuddhritam-takenout.
TRANSLATION
Sri Vyasdeva made that received by His son who is the most respectful amongst the self-realised, after taking out the cream of all Vedic literatures and histories (of the universe).
PURPORT
Men with a poor fund of knowledge accept history of the world since the time of Buddha or since 600 B.C. and prior to this period all histories mentioned in the Scriptures are calculated by them as imaginary stories. That is not a fact. All the stories mentioned in the Puranas and Mahabharat etc. are actual history not only of this planet but also of other millions of planets within the universe. Sometimes the history of other planets beyond this world appear to such men of poor fund of knowledge, as something nonbelievable. But they do not know that different planets are not equal in all respects and as such some of the historical facts derived from other planets do not correspond with the experience of this planet. Considering the different situations of different planets as also time and circumstances, there is nothing wonderful in the stories of the Puranas nor they are imaginary. We should always remember the maxim that one man's food is another man's poison. We should not therefore reject the stories and histories of the Puranas as imaginary. The great Rishis like Vyasa had no business to put some imaginary stories in His literatures.
In the Srimad Bhagwatam such selected historical facts taken out from the histories of different planets have been depicted. It is therefore accepted by all the spiritual authorities as the Maha Purana. Special significance of these histories is that they are all connected with activities of the Lord in different time and different atmosphere. Srila Sukhadeva Goswami is the topmost personality of all the self-realised souls and He accepted as the subject matter of studies from His father Vyasdeva. Srila Vyasdeva is the great authority and the subject matter of Srimad Bhagwatam being equally important, He delivered the message first to His great son Srila Sukhdeva Goswami. It is compared with cream of the milk. The Vedic literature are like the milk ocean of knowledge. Cream or butter is the most palatable essence of milk and so also is Srimad Bhagwatam as it contains all palatable instructive as well as authentic versions from different activities of the Lord and His devotees. There is no gain, however, in accepting the message of Bhagwatam from the unbelievers, atheists and professional recitors who make a trade of the Bhagwatam for the laymen. It was delivered to Srila Sukhdeva Goswami and He had nothing to do with Bhagwat business or to maintain family expenses by such trade. Srimad Bhagwatam should therefore be received from the representative of Sukhdeva, who must be in the renounced order of life without any family encumbrance. Milk is undoubtedly very good and nourishing food and drink. But when it is touched by the mouth of a snake the milk is no longer nourishing rather it is the prima-facie source of death. Similarily those who are not strictly in the Vaishnava discipline should not make a business of this Bhagwat and shall become the cause of spiritual death for so many hearers. In the Bhagwat Geeta the Lord says that the purpose of all the Vedas is to know Him (Lord Krishna) and Srimad Bhagwatam is Lord Sri Krishna Himself in the form of recorded knowledge. Therefore, it is the cream of all the Vedas and because it contains all historical facts of all times in relation with Sri Krishna, it is factually the essence of all histories.