According to Indian saintly-philosophers Vedic literature s In the revealed scriptures, the ultimate object of knowledge is L history dates back 5,000 years. The Vedas were com- Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead. The purpose of performing piled in Sanskrit, the oldest language on earth, and they establish sacrifice is to please Him. Yoga is for realizing Him. All fruitive the guidelines for a perfect human civilization. Among them the activities are ultimately rewarded by Him only. He is the supreme sage Vyāsadeva compiled the world famous Mahābhārata, which knowledge, and all severe austerities are performed to know Him. contains one hundred thousand verses. It is the largest epic poem Dharma, or religion, is rendering loving service unto Him, as He in the history of mankind, and it is also known as the history of is the supreme goal of life. Bharata-varṣa. The Vedasare the most extensive and comprehen- sive anthology of divine thoughts given to humanity, and the Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead, is the only object of Bhagavad-gītā is acknowledged as the key book in understanding worship. The perfection of human life is to establish one's relation- its conclusions. It is the most revealing chapter (Bhīṣma-parva) of ship and ultimately revive our lost loving service unto Him. That the Mahābhārata, composed of seven hundred verses and spoken is the sum and substance of the Vedas. In the Bhagavad-gītā the same by Śrī Kṛṣṇa to his friend Arjuna on the historical battlefield of goal is confirmed by the Lord in His own words; the ultimate Kurukṣetra. Śrī Kṛṣṇa is revered by Arjuna as the Supreme Person- purpose of the Vedas is to know Him only (B.G.-15.15). All the ality of Godhead, and He manifested Himself as such at Kurukṣetra revealed scriptures are prepared by the Lord through His incarnation to substantiate their historical conversation. What Śrī Kṛṣṇa in the body of Srila Vyāsadeva just to remind the fallen souls, exposes there is appraised by world renown Vedic scholars-and conditioned by material nature, of Śrī Krena, the Personality of apprised by saintly authorities-as the most revealing description Godhead. No demigod can award freedom from material bondage. of the reasons for the conditioned state in the human form of life. That is the verdict of all Vedic literatures. Impersonalists who have Thus, on a progressive path of elaborate explanations, He estab- no information of the Personality of Godhead minimize the om- lishes the different practices of yoga to reconcile the human being's nipotence of the Supreme Lord and put Him on equal footing with most precious demand-one's ultimate spiritual identity. all other living beings, and for this act, such impersonalists get
freedom from material bondage only after great difficulty. They can When Srila Vyāsadeva, as a literary incarnation of Godhead, surrender unto Him only after many, many births in the culture of finished the compilation of the Vedas, he felt unsatisfied. He had transcendental knowledge. described in the Mahābhārata the essence of the ideal civilization, but still he felt an uneasiness in his heart. Although he described Bhagavad-gītā states that all sacrifices and all activities are to the historical qualifications of the most elevated class of people on be conducted for the satisfaction of Yajña or Viṣṇu, who is a direct Earth, the Aryans, he considered his work to be incomplete. Thus, expansion of the Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. This is the case he was inspired to compilea book addressing the most essential goal also with the yoga systems. Yoga means to get into touch with the in human civilization-devotional service, or the practical Supreme Lord. Paramātmā realization is but partial realization of principle of love for the personal Godhead. This treatise came to Viṣṇu or Vasudeva, and if one is successful in that attempt, one be known as the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, or the narrations of "the realizes Vasudeva in full. But by ill luck, most yogis are stranded by transcendental sweetness of the pastimes of the Supreme Person- the powers of mysticism achieved through the bodily process. Ill ality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa." Such descriptions are based on the fated yogis are given a chance in the next birth by being placed in different activities of the Supreme Lord, which also include His the families of learned brāhmaṇas or in the families of rich mer- most confidential pastimes. chants in order to execute the unfinished task of Vasudeva realiza-
tion. If such fortunate brāhmaṇas and sons of rich men properly In the Bhagavad-gītā Śrī Kṛṣṇa explains His identity in three utilize the chance, they can easily realize Vasudeva by good different aspects: as Brahman, Paramātmā, and Bhagavān. Brahman, association with saintly persons. Unfortunately, such preferred being His all-pervading energetic characteristic; Paramātmā, be- persons are captivated again by material wealth and honor, and ing His multiple, personal and omniscient aspect, localized in the thus they practically forget the aim of life. center of every atom and in the heart of all living entities as their eternal companion; finally, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, In the Bhagavad-gītā it is said that those who are mahatmās, or Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa, in His capacity of being the original person, those whose minds have been so broadened as to be engaged in the having a transcendental body full of eternity, knowledge and bliss. service of Lord Kṛṣṇa, are under the influence of the internal The word Kṛṣṇa means "the all attractive person." Therefore, potency of the Lord and the effect is that such broad minded living according to the historical references given in the Vedas, Śrī Kṛṣṇa's beings are constantly and undividedly engaged in the service of the unique, enchanting complexion, peerless strength, unattainable Lord. That should be the aim of life. And that is the verdict of all wisdom, unrivaled wealth and prestige, and absolute self- the Vedic literatures. No one should engage in fruitive activities or dependence, makes Him the all-attractive person —whose original dry speculation about transcendental knowledge. Everyone should two-handed form is resembled by humans —and is unquestionably engage himself in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. recognized as God Himself. Nor should one worship different demigods who work as different