|| Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran||

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 18 – The methods of devotion and supremacy of Bhagavath Mahapuran

In order to achieve the highest state of spirituality one should undergo various austerities, it requires renunciation, sense of abandonment, wisdom, devotion, perseverance, discipline, enthusiasm, courage, etc..  The scriptures describe the path of righteousness and guidelines to follow the practice of devotion.  The Vedas holds supremacy that was not written by Rishis, hence it is known as ‘Apaurusheya’, the rules and regulations prescribed in it called ‘Sanatana Dharma’. The Vedas are the authority of all the scriptures, Vedanga has six auxiliary disciplines connected to the studies of Veda.  These are the limbs of Veda; there are Six Vedangas which are Shiksha, Chandha, Vyakarana, Niruktha, Jyothisha, and Kalpa.  The Veda and Vedanga are not easy to understand for ordinary people, even though the deities’ were fallen in love with it.  Once Lord Krishna tells Uddhav “ Uddhav, No one knows thoroughly about the Veda other than me.”  Therefore, Maharishi Vedavyasa composed eighteen Puranas and Upa Puranas, two epics/ Ithihas known as Srimad Ramayan and Mahabharath that includes Bhagavad Gita as well.  Maharishi Vedavyasa elaborately describes the knowledge of Veda all through these Puranas.  The Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran holds supremacy in all the Puranas, it is called ‘Precious Jewel of all Puranas’, rest of the Puranas talks about the path of righteousness and the meritorious reward.  The Bhagavath Mahapuran is an exquisite scripture that talks about the love and devotion to the supreme Lord and his pastimes and virtues. The deities came to know about the lecture of Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran, all the deities were arrived with the pot of nectar of immortality and requested Shukadev Maharaj for those immortal stories of Srimad Bhagavath Mahapuran in exchange for the nectar of immortality.  But, Shukadev Maharaj refused to give the scripture which is superior to the nectar of immortality.  King Pareekshith listened to these immortal stories from Shukadev Maharaj for seven days.   As it was predestined, on the seventh day, the King got bitten by serpent Thakshaka and left his mortal coil, ultimately his soul was taken to the abode of deities.