The Identity of the Supreme

In the very beginning Vyasadeva wants to make clear the purpose of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Thus he begins, om namo bhagavate vasudevaya: "I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Lord." Bhagavate indicates the Supreme, the greatest of all. If one is the greatest athlete, the greatest movie star or the greatest scholar, he can be called the supreme in that respect. Thus "supreme" refers to the greatest, no one can be greater than or equal to the Supreme.

Vyasadeva writes, om namo bhagavate vasudevaya: "I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme, or God." (Bhagavate also means God.) He particularly uses the word vasudevaya to indicate the son of Vasudeva and Devaki. In Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said that Krsna is the son of Vasudeva and Devaki. Thus the complete meaning of this statement is, "I offer my respectful obeisances unto Krsna, that particular son of Vasudeva and Devaki who is the Supreme God." In the very first line of this verse, therefore, Vyasadeva gives us direct and pertinent information regarding the subject matter of Srimad-Bhagavatam. It is Krsna, the Supreme Personality of, Godhead, the son of Vasudeva.

The first aphorism of Vedanta-sūtra states, athato brahma-jijnasa: "Now is the time to understand the purpose of life." What is the proper utilization of our advanced intelligence, and what is the purpose of life? These questions constitute brahma-jijnasa, or inquiry about the Supreme Absolute Truth. If one studies very carefully and is able to derive the proper perspective from the Vedas, he can understand that the overall purpose and design of Vedic knowledge is threefold.

There are three categories of Vedic understanding. Veda means knowledge, and to assimilate Veda is to assimilate knowledge. The three categories of knowledge are given as abhidheya, sambandha and prayojana. Sambandha refers to knowledge of our relationship with the Supreme Lord, abhidheya refers to the process of developing that relationship and approaching God, and prayojana is the perfection of the relationship. Thus the goal, purpose and design of the Vedas is to understand our relationship with God, function according to that relationship, and go back home, back to Godhead. That is Krsna consciousness, or God consciousness.

The verse continues, janmady asya yataḥ. This refers to the Supreme Lord as "He from whom everything emanates." This is scientific information of the Supreme Lord. There are many scriptures in the world which give information that God is great, God is good, etc., but Srimad-Bhagavatam scientifically sets forth detailed information about God in order to clear up all misgivings or unclear points about what God is.