Assignment

As described in S.B Canto1, Ch.4 and 5, explain the reason for Srila Vyāsadeva’s dissatisfaction,
using analogies and Sanskrit phrases from relevant verses. Identify general principle can be
drawn from Śrīla Vyāsadeva, discontent. Explain the relevance of these principles to your own
life and how could you apply them to advance your spiritual progress.   

Title 
Śrīla Vyāsadeva Uvaca
By
Ananta Daya Nitai Dasa

Introduction
Śrīla Vyāsadeva, the compiler of the four Vedas by his divine vision saw anomalies of
approaching kali yuga. He envisioned that people of kali yuga will become dull-headed in
understanding the spiritual subject matter and deviate from the Vedic path forgetting the real
goal of life. Showing compassion, he split one Veda into four and entrusted it to his chief
disciples. After splitting the Vedas still, he wanted to make it available to the less intelligent
class of people like Vaishyas and sudras. He compiled the 5th Veda, ithiasas, Puranas, and
Mahabharat, so that all classes of people will get benefited.

Reason for Despondency of Srila Vyāsadeva.

Śrīla Vyāsadeva, after delineating the karma kanda section and impersonal aspect of absolute
truth felt unsatisfied of his work nātuṣyad dhṛdayaṁ tata (S.B 1.4.26). The great sage Śrīla
Vyāsadeva, although he has given the path of dharma for the welfare of people evaṁ pravṛttasya
sadā bhūtānāṁ śreyasi (S.B 1.4.2) felt his work incomplete and started to find out the cause for
his despondency. 

The path of dharma starting from religiosity, economic development, sense gratification, and
liberation is vividly described in detail by Śrīla Vyāsadeva, which is a dream for a conditioned
soul. So, to educate the conditioned soul and gradually elevate them to the impersonal aspect of
the absolute truth Śrīla Vyāsadeva, presented the Vedas in such a way that people would
gradually lose the taste for worldly attraction and strive for liberation from material bondage.   

While the condition soul thus dreams about spiritual engagements, the liberated soul is awake
similarly, the engagement of condition soul appears to be a dream for the liberated soul 
(S.B 1.4.4 Analogy in purport)

Śrīla Vyāsadeva, himself found out the cause of his despondency as he reflects iṁvā bhāgavatā
dharmāna prāyeṇa nirūpitā (S.B 1.4.31) Bhagavad dharma or devotional service of the living
entity is the only means of dharma by which both living entities and Lord can become satisfied.

  Śrīla Vyāsadeva, concentrated in the gradual process of spiritual progress of condition soul and
has over emphasized in some scriptures about the mind and body as self. This mistake was
diagnosed by Srila Narada muni the spiritual master for Śrīla Vyāsadeva, as he states parituṣyati
śārīra ātmā mānasa eva vā (S.B 1.5.2) when Śrīla Vyāsadeva, was contemplating about the
cause of his despondency.    
Srila Naradha Muni also pointed out another reason for his despondency, simply the impersonal
realization of the absolute truth is not sufficient to satisfy both the condition and liberated
soul. jijñāsitam adhītaṁ ca brahma yat tat sanātanam tathāpi śocasy ātmānam (S.B 1.5.4). He
states that Śrīla Vyāsadeva, did not sufficiently glorify Lord Vasudev or Krishna which is the
cause of his despondency.     

those words which do not describe the glories of the Lord are considered by saintly person to be
like unto a place of pilgrimage for crows. Despite all decorative language full of mundane
similes and metaphorical arrangements, they do not glorify the Lord. Such poetry and prose is
considered decoration of a dead body (S.B1.5.10 purport).   

General principles 
To understand absolute truth, the personality of God head mere study of Vedas, performing
austerities, and following the rules and regulations of karma kanda will not suffice oneself for
realizing the personality of God Head. This was stated by Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita nāhaṁ
vedair na tapasā na dānena na cejyayā (B.G 11.53). Śrīla Vyāsadeva, reflects his dissatisfaction
in (S.B 1.4.28-29) as he states that despite disciplinary vows, unpretentiously worshiped the
Vedas, the spiritual masters, and the altar of sacrifice. Nevertheless, his heart was not satisfied.
Similarly, one cannot become satisfied by the mere performance of studying the Vedas or
performances of sacrifices if he is not engaged in the devotional service of Lord Sri Krishna.   
The impersonal aspect of the absolute truth is not the complete realization of the personality of
God Head Lord Sri Krishna and therefore one cannot become satisfied even if he is liberated
from material bondage.    

Personal application:
As a visually challenged person, the principle of devotional service to the Lord is much easier
and more practical for me. It is difficult even for a normal person to become qualified and to
study the Vedas and to understand its imports under the guidance of a spiritual master is not such
an easy thing. It is by HDG AC. Bhakti Vedanta swamy Srila Prabhupada all the import of the
Vedas is made easy for me.

The real process of devotional service starts from hearing the glories of Lord and this is very
much relevant in my case as I heard hundreds of audio files of Srila Prabhupada’s divine lectures
which transformed me from karma kandi to devotee of Lord Sri Krishna in less than one year.
Such transformations happened in me automatically without any compulsion. I did mangala
arathi in my house for the first time, chanted from 8-16 rounds and gave up my favourite food
stuff which is not encouraged by Srila Prabhupada.

I started reading Bhakti scriptures through audio files of Srila Prabhupada and heard guru
maharaj’s discourses for further clarification. Even though I cannot engage in physical
devotional activities such as deity worship, cooking Prasad, cleaning the temple, Vaishnava Seva
or guru maharaj services, still I can engage myself in preaching about the glories of Lord sri
Krishna and Srila prabhupada and Goswamie’s of our parampara in our Bhakti vriksha center
and also in other outreach village programs with the help of my younger brother and my mother.
They are also happily supporting me in such preaching programs.     
Conclusion
Devotional service to Lord Sri Krishna is practical as it can be practiced easily even by a visually
challenged person without much difficulty. Just like parikshit maharaj heard Srimad
Bhagavatam and attained the perfection stage. One should try to hear Srimad Bhagavatam from
pure devotees of ISKCON who are strictly following in the footsteps of Srila Prabhupada. By
engaging in Vani Seva under the instruction of pure devotees of our acharya like Srila
Prabhupada one can easily progress in Krishna consciousness.  

Total Word Count

Introduction                                                     - 95
Reason for Despondency of Śrīla Vyāsadeva -238
Personal application -234
Conclusion                                                      - 67
                                                                      ----------   
Total                                                               634
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