According to the acaryas the real narration of "Srimad-Bhagavatam" starts with the Third canto. First two cantos are like an introduction to the whole topic, they teach the methodology how to understand "Srimad-Bhagavatam".
The real subject matter of "Srimad-Bhagavatam" is asraya, or the Supreme Lord, or the ultimate shelter. Absolute Truth contains all the contradictions which are there, but we always try to apply material logic to the sphere of the transcendence. Therefore Sukadeva Gosvami explains it in such a way that we still will be able to understand it if we go through this scheme of "Srimad-Bhagavatam" properly. Ten subject matters, starting with sarga or creation, are there to explain asraya in such a way that we are able to understand asraya. Before entering Krisna lilas we need to change our consciousness. There are two categories of people: 1) who are enjoying illusory dream-like happiness, they are sleeping; 2) they are fainted or unconscious because of suffering. Therefore lila-katha can not enter their ears and go into the heart.
To get rid of this disease of absorption in this material world we need to hear about the nature of Maya again, again and again. The first thing which we have to understand by going through the Third canto is that this material world is not here by chance. This topic of sarga is there to free us from the illusion that we are independent. Third canto is describing the creation in connection with the Lord.
Very important idea of the Third canto is to help us to get free from this natural greed for enjoyment which we are born with. Describing the design of the Universe, Sukadeva Gosvami is describing our own psychological makeup and how to get rid of these problems. We need purification because we have so many unwanted desires and attachments, therefore pilgrimage is very important. We should enter into this pilgrimage, which Vidura did, but through the cantos of "Srimad-Bhagavatam" and meditate on the Supreme Lord intensely for the internal purification, and ultimately we will achieve the Supreme Lord in the Tenth canto.
We have to understand very clearly that it is hopeless even to hope to become happy in this material world. Now we are trying to take shelter of something else, and the Third canto is preparing us to take shelter of krishna-katha which is there in the Tenth canto and in the beginning of the Third canto. The whole idea of sankhya philosophy, which is repeated several times, is to free us from the illusion that, by the means of exploiting material nature, we can become happy. We don’t see God by looking at the material nature, God created it in such a way that it seems to be easily exploitable, and those who take it for granted, they try to do it, but all their attempts to become happy by this means fail.
Third canto gives the key to understanding the Lord by meditation. We can really sincerely start praying to the Lord after long meditation, when we purify our heart and our consciousness we are able to understand who He is and who we are. Time is this power of how the will of the Lord is established in this world. The will of the Lord establishes the rules which we have to follow to become happy. Yajna is the means to employ the material energy in the service of the Lord according to the will of the Lord.
You may live in this world and suffer by trying to enjoy this world illegally, or you may live in this world and get proper enjoyment which will not contaminate you and as a result you will get the Supreme Lord. Service attitude is the proper way to relate with this material nature, it can give you joy, and everything you require.
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