For seven rare and precious nights, a gathering of the virtuous is to take place—a meeting unlike any other, where the narration will carry a unique and unprecedented flavor. To all those who thirst for the nectar of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata, it is urged: come swiftly, hearts devoted to love and eager to listen. Even if there is no space, not even for a single day, still, in every possible way, attendance must be ensured; for even a single moment in such a gathering is exceedingly rare. Thus, arrangements should be made for all, with humility and care, providing accommodations for every visitor. Whether at a sacred place, in the quiet of a forest, or within one’s own home, the act of listening is esteemed. Wherever the earth is broad and spacious, that place becomes suitable for narrating these stories. The ground should be purified and cleansed, smeared and decorated with minerals. Household items are to be moved aside, placed in a corner, so the space is clear. After five days, with diligent effort, the coverings previously spread should be cleaned. A lofty pavilion is to be constructed, adorned with banana trunks. This pavilion should be splendidly decorated with fruits, flowers, leaves, and a canopy; flags are to be raised in all four directions, making the space radiant with abundance. Above, depictions of the seven worlds should be made in detail, and within these, renounced Brahmins are to be seated and awakened. Their seats must be arranged in order, and for the speaker, a special, divine seat should be prepared. The speaker should face north, while the listener faces east; or, if the speaker faces east, the listener should face north. Alternatively, the east is known as the place between the worshipped and the worshipper, and this direction is prescribed by those skilled in place and time for the arrival of listeners. The speaker should be a detached, Vaishnava Brahmin—purified by the Vedic scriptures, skilled in illustrating examples, steadfast, and utterly free from desire. Those confused by many doctrines, attached to women, or proponents of heretical views must be avoided in the recitation of Shuka’s scripture, even if learned. Beside the speaker, another such scholar should be placed, one who resolves doubts and is devoted to enlightening the people. On the day of the narration, the speaker should shave before dawn, as a mark of the vow. At sunrise, having completed this, he must perform purification and bathing. Each day, after briefly performing his own sandhya and other rites with care, he should worship the lord of obstacles to remove any hindrance to the narration. Having satisfied the ancestors for purification, he should perform atonement; a mandala should be made, and Hari established there. With a mantra dedicated to Krishna, the ritual of worship should be performed in order. After circumambulation and prostration, praise should be recited at the end of worship: “O ocean of compassion, lift me, who am submerged in the sea of worldly existence, wretched and bound by the delusion of karma, from the ocean of becoming.” Then, the worship of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam itself should be performed with care, according to the prescribed method, with affection, accompanied by incense and lamps. Afterward, holding a coconut, salutations are offered, and praise is recited with a cheerful mind: “This scripture known as the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is indeed Krishna Himself, manifest before us. O Lord, I have accepted You for the purpose of liberation from the ocean of worldly existence. My cherished desire has been fulfilled entirely by You. Without obstacles, it must be carried out; I am Your servant, O Keśava.” Having spoken thus, humbly, the speaker should then be honored—adorned with garments and ornaments, and after the worship, praised: “O boar-formed, awakened one, expert in all scriptures, by the revelation of this narrative, destroy my ignorance.” After this, a vow should be undertaken joyfully for one’s own welfare, to be observed for seven nights, according to one’s capacity. Five Brahmins should be selected to prevent interruption of the narration, and they should recite the twelve-syllable mantra of Hari. Having bowed to and honored Brahmins, Vaiṣṇavas, and others who perform kīrtana, and given them instructions, one should then take one’s own seat. Casting aside concerns for wealth, possessions, home, and children, with the mind absorbed in the narrative and pure in intent, one attains the highest result. The narration should begin at sunrise and continue for three and a half watches of the day, recited properly and steadily by a wise person. At midday, a pause is made for two ghaṭikās, during which kīrtana is performed by the Vaiṣṇavas. For mastery over bodily functions, a light meal that brings comfort should be taken; the seeker of the narrative should eat havis food only once. If able, one may fast for seven nights and then listen; or, after drinking ghee or milk, one may listen comfortably. Alternatively, subsisting on fruit or eating only once is permitted; whatever is easily accomplished should be done for the purpose of listening. Eating is considered preferable for those listening to the narrative; fasting is not recommended if it causes interruption to the narration. Hear, O Nārada, the rules for those undertaking the seven-day vow: those without initiation into Viṣṇu have no eligibility to listen to the narrative. Observing celibacy, sleeping on the ground, eating from leaves, and partaking of food only after the narrative is completed—these should be practiced daily by one observing the vow. One should always avoid split pulses, honey, oil, heavy foods, and anything impure or stale. One observing the vow should keep far away desire, anger, intoxication, pride, envy, greed, hypocrisy, delusion, and hatred. In this way, with reverence, devotion, and purity, the sacred narration of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam unfolds, bestowing its nectar upon those assembled.