Though the Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta is carefully structured in its organization, it is dramatic and imaginative in its overt form. Though based on the Śrīmad Bhāgavata Purāṇa, of which it aspires to express the essence, or nectar (amṛta), it is not in the form of a commentary as such. It is itself a Purāṇa- like tale which, though composed by Sanatana, is told as if an ancient discourse by King Parīkṣit to his mother, Uttarā. Like a Purāṇa, it presents exemplary personages, memorable incidents, and striking imagery. All of this serves to nourish the reflection and meditation, i.e., the smarana (lit. remembering), of devout readers or hearers. The content of the text is words, but these are picture words rather than book words. (Introducton)
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Yes, the young gopis of Vrndavana are unquestionably Krsna’s best devotees, but for neophytes, still addicted to material lust, merely establishing the gopis as a distant ideal is of little practical use, and may even be dangerous. By understanding that to emulate the gopis’ perfect devotion is extremely difficult, honest persons might feel frustrated, and the dishonest will imitate anyway and degrade themselves. Therefore Narada in his encounters with various devotees carefully traces out the real foundations and natural progress of pure devotion, in a way that readers can follow according to their own spiritual disposition. ( Preface)
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