Verse 2.21.16

Bengali text, Devanagari and Unicode transliteration of verse 2.21.16:

চারি-বেদ—`দধি’, ভাগবত—`নবনীত’ মথিলেন শুকে, খাইলেন পরীক্ষিত ॥ ১৬ ॥

चारि-वेद—`दधि’, भागवत—`नवनीत’ मथिलेन शुके, खाइलेन परीक्षित ॥ १६ ॥

cāri-veda—`dadhi’, bhāgavata—`navanīta’ mathilena śuke, khāilena parīkṣita || 16 ||

cari-veda—`dadhi’, bhagavata—`navanita’ mathilena suke, khailena pariksita (16)

English translation:

(16) “The four Vedas are like yogurt, and Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is like butter. Śukadeva Gosvāmī churned, and Parīkṣit Mahārāja relished the result.

Commentary: Gauḍīya-bhāṣya by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura:

The Vedic literatures have been compared with yogurt. Śukadeva churned that yogurt, and as a result, butter, in the form of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, which is the purport of the Vedas, was produced. Śrī Parīkṣit renounced material enjoyment and received the purport of all Vedic literatures from Śrī Śukadeva. The site of Hastināpura is situated on the border of the Meerut District. At the edge of the Muzzafarnagar District near the locality of Bhūkhāraheḍi subdivision of the Bhopā police station lies the village of Śukaratala, where Śrī Parīkṣit Mahārāja sat down on the bank of the Ganges and heard the purport of the Vedas from Śrī Śukadeva within one week. Just as butter, the essence of yogurt, is extracted by churning, prema-bhakti, the essence of the Vedas, is extracted by removing insignificant sediments like karma-kāṇḍa (fruitive activities) and jñāna-kāṇḍa (mental speculation). Since Parīkṣit gave up all other topics and accepted this essence, exalted devotees are known as sāra- grāhī, or those who accept the essence. Because of bad association, pseudo-devotees accept the principles of enjoying the fruits of work and renouncing the fruits of work. In this way they pollute their existence by

taking on such burdens. One should accept the pure essence devoid of sediment rather than other essences mixed with sediment. Such is the food and drink of a self-realized soul. Although among people fond of sediments those who enjoy the fruits of work make a show of grossly carrying burdens and those who renounce the fruits of work make a show of externally being free of burdens, they all subtly carry heavy burdens.

Both are averse to accepting the essence.