Shloka 51
Bhagavān’s Avatāras, Their Protections (Poṣaṇa), and the Limits of Knowing Him
इदं भागवतं नाम यन्मे भगवतोदितम् । संग्रहोऽयं विभूतीनां त्वमेतद् विपुलीकुरु ॥ ५१ ॥
idaṁ bhāgavataṁ nāma yan me bhagavatoditam saṅgraho ’yaṁ vibhūtīnāṁ tvam etad vipulī kuru
ഓ നാരദാ, ‘ഭാഗവതം’ എന്ന ഈ ദൈവവിജ്ഞാനം ഭഗവാൻ എനിക്ക് സംക്ഷേപമായി ഉപദേശിച്ചു; ഇത് അവന്റെ വിവിധ വിഭൂതികളുടെ സമാഹാരമാണ്. നീ ഇതിനെ വിപുലമാക്കുക.
The Bhāgavatam in a nutshell, spoken by the Personality of Godhead in about half a dozen verses, which will appear ahead, is the science of God, and it is the potent representation of the Personality of Godhead. He, being absolute, is nondifferent from the science of God, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Brahmājī received this science of Godhead from the Lord directly, and he handed over the same to Nārada, who in his turn ordered Śrīla Vyāsadeva to expand it. So the transcendental knowledge of the Supreme Lord is not mental speculation by the mundane wranglers, but is uncontaminated, eternal, perfect knowledge beyond the jurisdiction of material modes. The Bhāgavata Purāṇa is therefore the direct incarnation of the Lord in the form of transcendental sound, and one should receive this transcendental knowledge from the bona fide representative of the Lord in the chain of disciplic succession from the Lord to Brahmājī, from Brahmājī to Nārada, from Nārada to Vyāsa, from Vyāsadeva to Śukadeva Gosvāmī, from Śukadeva Gosvāmī to Sūta Gosvāmī. The ripened fruit of the Vedic tree drops from one hand to another without being broken by falling suddenly from a high branch down to the earth. Therefore unless one hears the science of Godhead from the bona fide representative of the disciplic succession, as above mentioned, for one to understand the theme of the science of Godhead will be a difficult job. It should never be heard from the professional Bhāgavatam reciters who earn their livelihood by gratifying the senses of the audience.
FAQs
This verse states that the Bhāgavata was spoken by Bhagavān to Brahmā and is a summary of the Lord’s vibhūtis (divine manifestations and opulences).
Brahmā indicates the teaching he received was a concise compendium; he instructs Nārada to elaborate it for wider understanding and transmission through paramparā.
Seek authentic spiritual knowledge through a trustworthy lineage, and study/teach sacred wisdom in a clear, expanded way so others can understand the Lord’s presence and guidance in life.