Since the last 4-5 days, I have been engaged in the service of finding golden purports from Srimad Bhagavatam. A lot of my time is going (rather, being the best utilized) in screening the purports right from the First Canto. Currently, I am going through the Third Canto.

Bhagavatam is amazing. And when you read Srila Prabhupada’s purports, it becomes even more enchanting.

Some of the verses I had relished long ago came into my vision again. I was overjoyed to read them. I wanted to spend more time with them, but I had to move ahead to complete the service. It felt just like meeting old friends. We may have enjoyed their company a lot in the past, but now we are involved in something else. And when we suddenly get a chance to speak with them, even for a short while, it revokes old memories. We wish we could stay longer, but other duties await.

HH Mahavishnu Maharaja would say that a celibate should marry Srimad Bhagavatam. It has the potential to fully satisfy the mind and senses. It contains all rasas. That is why Mahaprabhu, in his five conclusive truths, describes Srimad Bhagavatam as the authority.

In fact, not only a celibate, but everyone must develop a relationship with Srimad Bhagavatam.

There is a beautiful verse that states this.

vedāḥ purāṇaṁ kāvyam ca prabhur mitraṁ priyeva ca
bodhayantīti hi prābhus tri-vṛd bhāgavataṁ punaḥ
“The Vedas, Puranas, and poetic works (kavya) instruct one like a master, friend, or beloved respectively, but Srimad Bhagavatam instructs like all three.”

Bhagavatam is THE incarnation of Krishna. After Krishna departed from this world, Srimad Bhagavatam appeared to lead the misguided world from darkness to light. (SB 1.3.40)

We may want to read Srimad Bhagavatam, but there may be some challenges.

What if we don’t have any taste to read Bhagavatam?

None of us developed a ‘taste’ in our hobbies right the first time we took part in them. Most likely, we performed that activity for repeated number of times, and then we began to like them. For instance, a boy doesn’t make cricket his hobby the first time he takes a bat in his hand. But after spending a lot of time watching and playing cricket, it becomes his hobby. In the same manner, we need to also spend time with Srimad Bhagavatam. The time spent with Bhagavatam is non-different than spending time with Krishna. Why won’t we develop taste?

The taste for Srimad Bhagavatam can develop very quickly in the association of devotees who have a natural fondness for it. Mahaprabhu specifically instructed Raghunath Bhatta Goswami to learn Srimad Bhagavatam from a realized soul. And how fond Raghunath was of Bhagavatam! Like a cuckoo, he could recite a single verse in multiple melodies. He would cry in ecstasy while reading the transcendental pastimes of Lord Krishna described in the Bhagavatam. When Mahaprabhu sent him to Vrindavan, he again instructed him to constantly read Srimad Bhagavatam and always chant the Holy Name.

What if we feel Srimad Bhagavatam or Srila Prabhupada’s purports to be repetitive?

A layman in music, who doesn’t understand tone, semitone, or melody, may feel every raga sounds the same. Even a beginner in music school may not grasp the subtle differences between them. But an expert knows how each melody is uniquely rich.
In the same way, one who is not conversant with Srimad Bhagavatam may feel it is repetitive. But those who have gone deep can extract newer and newer jewels from this unlimited mine. The more we read, the more we relish.

A boy and girl in love do not find their meetings repetitive. Even if it is the same person, same place, and same conversation, they experience newer and newer joy every time. All problems and difficulties are not just resolved, they are dissolved in that love.

Material sense gratification is repetitive. Prahlada Maharaja compares it to chewing what has already been chewed. We have tried to enjoy in various ways, but all attempts have ended in frustration.

In contrast, every reading of Srimad Bhagavatam brings fresh joy. Each encounter feels like meeting an old friend or dear lover. We can go on conversing for hours.

This ever-new nature of Srimad Bhagavatam is stated as follows:

tad eva ramyaṁ ruciraṁ navaṁ navaṁ
tad eva śaśvan manaso mahotsavam
tad eva śokārṇava-śoṣaṇaṁ nṛṇāṁ
yad uttamaśloka-yaśo ’nugīyate
SB 12.12.50
“Those words describing the glories of the all-famous Personality of Godhead are attractive, relishable, and ever fresh. Indeed, such words are a perpetual festival for the mind, and they dry up the ocean of misery.”

Therefore, giving up all hesitation, we must dive deep into the glories of Srimad Bhagavatam. It has the power to awaken transcendental emotions and fill our hearts with unending bliss.