Bhagavatham Canto 1, Story #3: Vyasa Begins the Bhagavatham
After receiving sage Narada’s guidance, Vyasa Rishi sat near the sacred waters of the Saraswati River and began meditating on the Supreme Lord. With a clear mind and heart, Vyasa was divinely inspired to compose the Srimad Bhagavatham, the essence of all Vedic knowledge.
In his meditation, Vyasa saw the Lord's creation—how the universe, bound by time and karma, causes the souls to be entangled in material existence. He also saw that only through pure devotion (bhakti) to Lord.
Vishnu can one transcend this cycle of birth and death. Empowered with this realization, Vyasa began to compile the Bhagavatham, describing the divine pastimes of the Lord in vivid detail, filled with stories that would elevate the hearts of all beings.
The sage thus created a scripture that was timeless and accessible to all, carrying the message of love and surrender to the Lord.
The verse that captures Vyasa’s realization:
**"स एव हि पुमांसां नित्योत्तमः शुभः।
शृण्वतां स्वकथां कृष्णः पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तनः"**
**"sa eva hi pumāṁsāṁ nityottamaḥ śubhaḥ |
śṛṇvatāṁ svakathāṁ kṛṣṇaḥ puṇyaśravaṇakīrtanaḥ"**
(“The Supreme Lord Krishna, whose stories are pure and full of virtue, brings joy to all who hear His divine narrations.”)
This set the foundation for the Bhagavatham to be narrated to the world.
