Srimad bhagavatam online with Sridhar Sawmi's commentary
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Srimad bhagavatam is the foundation base of the gaudiya vaishnavism. It is the philosophy that propounded by Caitanya mahāprabhū. In the introductory verse of śrīcaitanyamatamañjuṣā it is stated that
ārādhyo bhagabān brajeśatanaystaddhāma vṛndāvanaṃ
ramyā kācidupāsanā yā brajabadhūbargena kalpitā।
śāstraṃ bhāgabataṃ pramāṇamamalaṃ premā pumārtho mahāna
itthaṃ śrīcaitanyamahāprabhorṛmatamidaṃ tatrādaro naḥ paraḥ।।
The importance of Srimad bhagavatam in gaudiya vaishnavism is also understandable in this way that chaitanya mahaprabhu accepted it as the commentary of brahma sūtra Every sect has his own commentary on brahma sūtra. But śrīcaitanya mahāprabhū did not wrote any comentary of brahma sūtra. mahāprabhū said that—
In garuḍa purāṇa it is also stated that— Srimad bhagavatam is the purport of the brahma sūtra.
“arthohayaṃ brahmasūtrāṇāṃ"
The oldest and most influential commentary of Srimad bhagavatam is bhābārtha dīpikā written by Sridhar swami. Other commentaries wriiten earlier than sridhar swami is not available nowadays .
Some says Sridhar swami was a mayavadi, some connects him with the disciplic succession of Govardhan math in puri, According to some scholars during 18th century in advaitavadi sect there was a flourish of bhakti cult, Sridhar swami, madhavendra puri, Ishwar puri though taken initiation from advaitavadi sect they were devotees.
And they says that Sridhar swami wrote commentaries on Srimad bhagabatam in a way so that it attracts advaitavadis.
But according to Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati, Sridhar swami was in a disciplic succession of Rudra sect.
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu about Sridhar swami's commentary on Srimad bhagavatam
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gave a highly bonafide place to sridhar swami among the comentators of Bhagabatam.Once Vallavacharya came to meet with Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He wrote a commentary on Srimad bhagavatam. He doesnot consider sridhar swami as a authority and asked sri chaitanya mahaprabhu to hear his own commentary. Then mahaprabhu replied
śrīdhara sbāmī prasādete bhāgabata jāni।
jagadaguru śrīdharasbāmī guru kari māni।।
This incidence is described in চৈতন্যচরিতামৃত.
CC Antya 7.112 : The next day when he came to the assembly of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, he sat down after offering obeisances to the Lord and said something with great pride.CC Antya 7.113: "In my commentary on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam," he said, "I have refuted the explanations of Śrīdhara Svāmī. I cannot accept his explanations.
CC Antya 7.114: "Whatever Śrīdhara Svāmī reads he explains according to the circumstances. Therefore he is inconsistent in his explanations and cannot be accepted as an authority."
CC Antya 7.115: Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu smilingly replied, "One who does not accept the svāmī [husband] as an authority I consider a prostitute."
CC Antya 7.132: "You have dared criticize Śrīdhara Svāmī, and you have begun your own commentary on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, not accepting his authority. That is your false pride.
CC Antya 7.133: "Śrīdhara Svāmī is the spiritual master of the entire world because by his mercy we can understand Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. I therefore accept him as a spiritual master.
CC Antya 7.134: "Whatever you might write due to false pride, trying to surpass Śrīdhara Svāmī, would carry a contrary purport. Therefore no one would pay attention to it.
CC Antya 7.135: "One who comments on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam following in the footsteps of Śrīdhara Svāmī will be honored and accepted by everyone.
CC Antya 7.136: "Put forth your explanation of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam following in the footsteps of Śrīdhara Svāmī. Giving up your false pride, worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa.
Writings of sridhar swami:-
ātmaprakāśa commentary of biṣṇupurāṇa, subodhinī commentary of bhagabadagītā, bhābārtha dīpikā commentary of Srimad bhagavatam, brajabihāra kābya, and few verses written by Sridhar swami are collected in padyābalī of Sri rupa goswami (verse 15, 28, 43)Srila prabhupada about Sridhar swamis commentary on Srimad bhagavatam
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam has many ṭīkās, or commentaries, following the paramparā system, but Śrīdhara Svāmī's is first. The commentaries of all the other ācāryas follow his. The paramparā system does not allow one to deviate from the commentaries of the previous ācāryas. By depending upon the previous ācāryas, one can write beautiful commentaries. However, one cannot defy the previous ācāryas. The false pride that makes one think that he can write better than the previous ācāryas will make one's comments faulty. At the present moment it has become fashionable for everyone to write in his own way, but such writing is never accepted by serious devotees. Because of false pride, every scholar and philosopher wants to exhibit his learning by interpreting the śāstras, especially the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, in his own way. This system of commenting in one's own way is fully condemned by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Therefore He says, 'artha-vyasta' likhana sei. Commentaries written according to one's own philosophical way are never accepted; no one will appreciate such commentaries on the revealed scriptures.(Purport of C.C Antya 7.134)
Sridhar swami was glorified by lord Shiva
Once in varanasi mayavadis' questioned about the commentary by Sridhar swami as it was refuting the mayavad philosophy. So they prayed to lord shiva to judge the authenticity between the mayavadi and sridhar swamis commentary. The lord shiva orderd to keep both the commentary infront of him. Accordingly on that night both the commentaries were kept in the Vishwanth temple of Varanasi. In the next morning when the temple was opened everyone observed commentary of Sridhar was kept above all. And lord Siva stated that he ,Sukadeva Goswami and Srila Vyasadeva may or may not understand the Srimad Bhagavatam and all Vedic litteratures but Srila Sridhara Swami does because He is directly taught by Lord Narasimhadeva Himself.
This book is dedicated to His Divine Grace A. C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupad, founder acharya of international society of krishna consciousness. Who enlightens the world with the knowledge of Srimad bhagabatam
Download Srimad bhagavatam with english translation of Sridhar swami commentary
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INDEX
Canto 2
Canto 3
Canto 4
Canto 5
Canto 6
Canto 7
Canto 8
Canto 9
Canto 10
Canto 11
Canto 12
