Translated by Gopiparanadhana Dasa
Publisher: Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, Grödinge, Sweden, 2002
ISBN: 91-7149-439-1

This work is the first of a projected three-volume English translation of Sanatana Gosvami's two-part 16th century magnum opus, the Brhad-bhagavatamrta. As a self-contained didactic narrative, Volume One ('Finding the Essence of the Supreme Lord's Mercy') offers us a fascinating, often humorous, exploration, clarification, and elaboration of themes and motifs found in the Caitanya Vaisnava tradition's most central text, the Bhagavata Purana.

As noted by the translator, Gopiparanadhana Dasa, the Brhad-bhagavatamrta belongs broadly to the quest genre of literature. As one follows sage Narada in his search for the 'greatest recipient of Krsna's mercy' it becomes clear that the quest's reward is a cumulative understanding and appreciation of krsna-bhakti, unreserved devotion to the Supreme Lord, understood by Sanatana to be Krsna as celebrated in the Bhagavata Purana.

As in any good quest story, the journey itself is the reward. Narada's search allows the reader or listener to meet several exemplar devotees encountered in the Bhagavata Purana, this time 'off stage', as it were, enabling Sanatana to unfold a nuanced presentation of the Bhagavatam's devotional message in a concentrated if not altogether systematic manner. Sanatana's auto-commentary, closely paraphrased by the translator, offers yet further explication and enrichment of the text. The commentary serves in several capacities, such as highlighting links between a given verse and previous verses; offering proof-texts from a variety of sources; adding interesting details; and exploring theological ramifica-tions of statements in the text.

A glance at the 'Expanded Table of Contents' (in the back of the book) makes clear the pattern structuring Narada's travels. Upon meeting each successive recipient of Krsna's mercy, Narada's praise is refuted by the recipient of praise, who directs Narada onward to the one he considers more praiseworthy. One soon catches the point: Narada's praises are always fitting and true (to the Bhagavatam's presentation of devotional reality), and the refutations by the respective devotees (showing their humility, but also their genuine appre-ciation of other devotees) are equally fitting and true (in pointing always beyond themselves to the greater reality of which they are parts). While bringing readers to understand the Caitanya Vaisnava message that Krsna's associates in Vrndavana (especially the gopis) are the greatest recipients of His mercy, Sanatana conveys several lessons prerequisite to becoming oneself a participant in Krsna's loving exchanges.

It is clear that this is a work written mainly for persons aspiring to become adepts in krsna-bhakti, and who are probably more or less familiar with the Bhagavata Purana. At the same time, it is so structured, especially with the explanatory commentary, that it can serve as an introduction, or even as a 'study guide' for the Bhagavatam. Yet it goes further, invit-ing even the accomplished reader of the Bhagavatam to explore with Sanatana the question left unresolved in that text: Does Krsna ever return to Vrndavana, and if not, why not?

To deal with these questions, one is taken, along with an unwitting Krsna, to 'Nava-vrndavana', a facsimile of the original fashioned by Visvakarma, the cosmic architect. What follows, as Krsna awakens, is a touch of situation comedy culminating in Krsna expressing confusion over His own identity: 'When Krsna looked around the seacoast, He noticed His own great city visible in the distance. Krsna was surprised and exclaimed, What is this? Where am I? Who am I?' (7.54). Only after He has inadvertently demonstrated the depth of his affection for the Vrndavana residents (all present as statues) to the on-looking Dvaraka residents does Krsna 'come to His senses', reminded by Balarama of His mission to 'remove the burden of the earth', and hence duty-bound to remain in Dvaraka. On the suggestion that He should reassure his Vrndavana devotees by returning to them, Krsna reasons that His personal presence in Vrndavana would only aggravate the problem (of their suffering feelings of separation) rather than solve it.

This last episode is particularly intriguing as a study of Krsna's two competing identities, as Gokulesvara and Vaikunthesvara - the Lord of Gokula (Vrndavana, the realm of sweetness and intimacy) and of Vaikuntha (the transcendent majestic realm). But perhaps even more interesting is the notion that Krsna's devotees can put Him into 'illusion' for the sake of showing His devotion for His devotees, a notion that serves to counterpoint a theme running throughout the work, namely the problem of communicating exalted truth through language, coupled with the issue of qualified readership, addressed in the commentary to the first verse:

Is it not beyond the scope of good fortune for ordinary persons to hear about and understand the uniqueness of devotion of Krsna? Since this book attempts to make public the secret glories of Krsna, one might therefore ask whether writing such a book is not a hopeless endeavour. (p. 7)

The answer, we are assured, is that by the mercy of Krsna in His form as Sri Caitanya the endeavour is by no means hopeless. Implied is that readers/listeners are granted access to that mercy, such that by the end of this first volume he or she will be ready to adopt the same mood of humility qualifying the sages of Prayaga after hearing from Narada, in prepara-tion to read or hear the second part of the work wherein one accompanies the spiritual aspirant Gopa Kumara on his journey to Goloka, the ultimate realm of krsna-prema.

With this volume, the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust presents its first complete translation from a Sanskrit text done by followers of Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. All previous BBT publications had been translations and commentaries by Prabhupada, completions of translations and commentaries begun by Prabhupada, or compilations of selected lectures by him.

This volume represents a very positive indication that members of ISKCON and its publisher, the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, are competent to carry on the legacy of Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in conveying the teachings and devotional understanding of the Caitanya Vaisnava tradition. With the effective conveyance of this literary tradition, one can hope to see the makings and continuation of a genuinely vibrant devotional culture able to attract thoughtful persons to participate in its ongoing enrichment.

Krsna Ksetra Dasa (Kenneth R. Valpey)

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