Shloka 2
Transmission of Bhāgavata Wisdom and Brahmā’s Vision of the Supreme Lord on Ananta
सोऽहं नृणां क्षुल्लसुखाय दु:खं महद्गतानां विरमाय तस्य । प्रवर्तये भागवतं पुराणं यदाह साक्षाद्भगवानृषिभ्य: ॥ २ ॥
so ’haṁ nṛṇāṁ kṣulla-sukhāya duḥkhaṁ mahad gatānāṁ viramāya tasya pravartaye bhāgavataṁ purāṇaṁ yad āha sākṣād bhagavān ṛṣibhyaḥ
অতএব আমি এখন ভাগবত পুরাণের বর্ণনা শুরু করছি, যা স্বয়ং ভগবান মহর্ষিদের কাছে বলেছেন, যাতে তুচ্ছ সুখের জন্য মহাদুঃখে জড়িয়ে থাকা মানুষরা সেই দুঃখ থেকে বিরতি পায়।
The sage Maitreya proposed to speak on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam because it was especially compiled, and traditionally comes down in the disciplic succession, for the solution of all the problems of human society. Only one who is fortunate can have the opportunity to hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in the association of pure devotees of the Lord. Under the spell of material energy, the living entities are entrapped in the bondage of many difficulties simply for the sake of a little bit of material happiness. They engage in fruitive activities, not knowing the implications. Under the false impression that the body is the self, the living entities foolishly relate to so many false attachments. They think that they can engage with materialistic paraphernalia forever. This gross misconception of life is so strong that a person suffers continually, life after life, under the external energy of the Lord. If one comes in contact with the book Bhāgavatam as well as with the devotee bhāgavata, who knows what the Bhāgavatam is, then such a fortunate man gets out of the material entanglement. Therefore Śrī Maitreya Muni, out of compassion for the suffering men in the world, proposes to speak on the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam first and last.
FAQs
This verse says that chasing petty, temporary pleasures results in duḥkha (suffering), and the Bhāgavata Purāṇa exposes and counteracts that illusion.
He declares the purpose of the Bhāgavatam: it corrects those absorbed in trivial enjoyment and gives relief to those who seek the shelter of saintly devotees, being a scripture spoken directly by the Lord to the sages.
Reduce dependence on short-lived pleasures and intentionally seek satsanga—learning and practicing Bhāgavatam teachings in the company of sincere devotees—to find lasting inner relief.