Hare Krsna,
Stepping back a little bit into the beginning of the study of the Third canto, we see that the humble Vidura’s inquiries to Maitreya begin with the topics relevant to the common man who is suffering in this world, yet he also expressed his exclusive interest in hearing Krsna-katha. In the first chapter of the Third canto, Vidura asked a series of questions to Maitreya Rsi. Vidura inquired about the purusa-avataras, how the Lord expands into many forms during the time of creation, the Lord’s various pastimes that produce auspiciousness for brahmanas, cows and devatas. Vidura also inquired how the Lord created different planets along with their rulers where living entities are situated in different modes. He also asked how the Lord (as Brahma) creates the natures, activities, forms, features, and names of the different living creatures.
In response, Maitreya Rsi describes the magnificent creation of the universe originating from Maha-Visnu, His expansion into it as Garbhodakasayi Visnu and the manifestation of the virat-rupa, but ultimate he humbly declares his inability to describe the Lord’s unlimited glories (SB 3.5-6).
Vidura’s profound questions in SB 3.7 about various topics are similar to the questions of Pariksit Maharaja in SB 2.8, and the answers to these questions are found throughout the entire Srimad Bhagavatam. One of the many questions asked by Vidura is:
“O learned brāhmaṇa, please describe how the leader of all the demigods, namely the Prajāpati, Brahmā, decided to establish the various Manus, the heads of the ages. Please describe the Manus also, and please describe the descendants of those Manus.” (SB 3.7.25)
This line of questions by Vidura forms the prelude to how Maitreya is building the story of populating the universe, focusing on the generation by Svāyambhuva Manu and his descendants because they were great devotees of the Lord.
From SB 3.8, Maitreya describes the fascinating events of Brahma’s life: his birth, search for the Absolute Truth, meditation, and the beautiful darsana he had of Garbhodakasayi Visnu. Brahma’s prayers and the Lord’s response reveal the glory of the combination of a devotee’s service attitude and the Lord’s empowerment.
An important realization that stands out for me from this lesson is that a sincere devotee like Vidura does not jump directly into hearing the intimate pastimes and activities of the Supreme Lord as described in the tenth Canto. It is recommended that whenever we take darsana of the Deity form of the Lord, we first start by seeing His lotus feet, and eventually go up to His beautiful face. Similarly, the twelve cantos of the Srimad Bhagavatam correspond to the different limbs of the Supreme Lord. According to the Padma Purana, the first two cantos correspond to the Lord’s lotus feet. The Third and the Fourth Cantos correspond to His thighs.
I am sure Vidura kept this in mind when he put forth his questions to Maitreya Rsi. He may have felt unqualified to ask about the confidential pastimes of the Lord. Therefore he wanted to understand the Lord’s creative potency first.
“In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam there are ten divisions of statements regarding the following: the creation of the universe, subcreation, planetary systems, protection by the Lord, the creative impetus, the change of Manus, the science of God, returning home, back to Godhead, liberation, and the summum bonum. To isolate the transcendence of the summum bonum, the symptoms of the rest are described sometimes by Vedic inference, sometimes by direct explanation, and sometimes by summary explanations given by the great sages.” (SB 2.10.1-2)
Therefore, when we study Srimad Bhagavatam, we should gradually progress from the first canto to the next canto. This way we will be able to understand the Supreme Lord’s greatness.
One must first understand the Supreme Lord’s greatness before understanding His sweetness.
Vidura’s line of questioning and Maitreya’s response reveal to us an important principle of how to advance slowly and progressively in the study of scriptures (and especially Srimad Bhagavatam). For a sincere devotee, the Lord’s pastimes about the creation of the universe and the descriptions of the various planetary systems are as purifying and enlightening as the Lord’s confidential pastimes. This is because the Supreme Lord Krsna is the Absolute Truth. Everything related to Him including His pure devotees such as Lord Brahma and Svayambhuva Manu are also absolute and transcendental in nature. It is important to understand the family lineage of Svayambhuva Manu because the rest of Srimad Bhagavatam describes the various descendants of Svayambhuva Manu.
“”Vidura was not interested in hearing the history of persons who merely engaged in sex life, but he was interested in the progeny of Svāyambhuva Manu because in that dynasty good devotee kings appeared who protected their subjects very carefully with spiritual knowledge. By hearing the history of their activities, therefore, one becomes more enlightened. An important word used in this connection is parama-sammataḥ, which indicates that the progeny created by Svāyambhuva Manu and his sons was approved of by great authorities. In other words, sex life for creating exemplary population is acceptable to all sages and authorities of Vedic scripture.” (SB 3.21.1 P)
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 