Readings from Bhagabata

Bhagabata was composed by Vyasa Deva, son of sage Parasar, on the advice of the great sage Narada. Vyasa Deva compiled all the eighteen Puranas and the great epic Mahabharata. But even so he did not gain mental satisfaction from them. Sage Narada advised him to write something for the guidance of the common man, to live a stainless life on earth, to earn mental peace. That was what brought about the great scripture Bhagabata. We know how popular Bhagabata became with the common masses in its translations in the regional languages all over India. From our own experience in Orissa we know how popular the didactic sayings of the scripture in its translation by saint-poet Jagannath Das became in the 16th century and how it has maintained its popularity all these hundreds of years. A couple of its popular sayings will show its merit at a glance: 1) He is praiseworthy person on earth, who does well to others in his life’s path. 2) Whose heart is bereft of ire, is friend to the world entire.