Qualities of Enlightened Beings

A concise summary of Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 1 Chapter 4

The following are examples are given in Srimad Bhagavatam to describe the qualities of enlightened saints

Srila Vysadeva

• Composed Srimad Bhagavatam because it describes those duties that are dear to the self-realized being and to those beings who are desiring to become self-realized

• Composed Mahabharatha, a great epic to help under-privileged people get the message of the Vedas through stories

• He was compassionate to uplift the human consciousness towards enlightenment through his writings

• He realized that the Vedic sacrifices purify minds and divided the Vedas into Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva so that it becomes accessible to the people with less memory, less intellectual capacity and under-developed faith

King Parkishit

• Grandson of Arjun (Son of Abhimanyu)

• As a King, he always worked for the welfare, development and happiness of others

• He possessed wealth, strength and youth but he lived a simple life free of all worldly attachments

• Completely situated in devotional service to the Lord

• Well regarded for his saintly qualities although he was an emperor

Sage Sukadev

• Son of Srila Vysadeva

• Recited Srimad Bhagavatam to King Parikshit

• Fully enlightened personality from birth

• He was totally detached from the World and looked ignorant and dumb as a result

• His only interest was to preach the message of self-realization to the interested

• Other saints recognized him to be the most enlightened but an ordinary person thought he was retarded

• He had no distinction between male and female