All you who long to taste the nectar of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata, gather here swiftly, hearts full of devotion and love. Even if there is no room, not even for a single day, still, by every means, you must make sure to attend; for even a fleeting moment spent here is a rare blessing indeed. With humility, arrangements should be made for all who come, ensuring that each visitor is accommodated. Whether the setting is a sacred place, a forest, or a home, the act of listening to the Bhāgavata is held in the highest esteem. Wherever the earth offers a spacious spot, that place becomes worthy for the narration of these divine stories. Before the recitation begins, the ground must be purified and cleansed, then smeared and decorated with auspicious minerals. Household items should be set aside, gathered into a corner to make space. After five days, with care and effort, the coverings previously spread should be washed and refreshed. A lofty pavilion is then to be built, adorned with the graceful trunks of banana trees. The pavilion should be splendidly decorated with fruits, flowers, and leaves, a canopy overhead, and flags raised in all four directions, making the place radiant with abundance and beauty. Above, detailed depictions of the seven worlds should be displayed, and within these, renounced Brahmins are to be seated, their minds awakened to the sacred purpose. Seats should first be arranged for these revered Brahmins, and a special, divine seat should be prepared for the speaker of the Bhāgavata. The speaker should face north, while the listeners face east; or, if the speaker faces east, the listeners should face north. Alternatively, the space between the worshipped and the worshipper is to be in the east, as prescribed by those wise in matters of time and place, to welcome the arrival of the listeners. The speaker must be a detached, Vaishnava Brahmin, purified by Vedic study, skilled in illustration and example, steadfast, and entirely free from worldly desires. Those who are confused by conflicting doctrines, attached to sensual pleasures, or who hold heretical views—even if learned—should not be chosen for the recitation of Śuka’s scripture. Beside the speaker, another learned scholar should be seated to assist—one who can resolve doubts and is devoted to enlightening the people. The speaker should shave before dawn in observance of the vow, and at sunrise, after this, perform purification and bathing. Each day, after briefly and carefully performing his own sandhyā and other daily rites, the speaker should worship the Lord of obstacles, seeking the removal of any hindrance to the narration. Having satisfied the ancestors and performed acts of purification and atonement, a sacred mandala should be made, and Hari established at its center. With a mantra dedicated to Krishna, the ritual of worship should be performed in proper order; after circumambulating and offering prostrations, praise should be recited to conclude the worship. In prayer, one should call out: “O ocean of compassion, lift me from the sea of worldly existence, for I am wretched and bound by the delusion of karma—save me from this ocean of becoming.” Next, the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam itself should be worshipped with great care, according to the prescribed method, with loving devotion, incense, and lamps. Afterwards, holding a coconut, offer salutations, and with a cheerful heart, recite words of praise: “This scripture, Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, is truly Krishna Himself, manifest before us. O Lord, I have accepted You as the means to cross the ocean of worldly existence. By Your grace, my cherished desire is fulfilled. Let this narration proceed without obstacle; I am Your servant, O Keśava.” Having spoken thus with humility, one should then honor the speaker, adorning him with garments and ornaments, and praise him after the worship: “O boar-formed, awakened one, expert in all scriptures, by revealing this sacred narrative, destroy my ignorance.” After these rituals, one should joyfully undertake a vow for one’s own welfare, to be observed for seven nights according to one’s capacity. Five Brahmins should be selected to ensure the narration is not interrupted, and they should recite the twelve-syllable mantra of Hari. With reverence, one should bow to and honor Brahmins, Vaiṣṇavas, and all who perform kīrtana, giving them instructions before taking one’s own seat. Setting aside all concerns for wealth, possessions, home, and children, with a mind absorbed in the sacred story and pure in intent, one attains the highest fruit. The narration should begin at sunrise and continue for three and a half watches of the day, recited steadily and properly by a wise person. At midday, the narration should pause for two ghaṭikās, during which time Vaiṣṇavas should perform kīrtana. To maintain mastery over bodily functions, a light and comforting meal should be taken; the seeker of the narrative should eat havis food only once. If able, one may fast for seven nights and listen, or, for comfort, drink only ghee or milk. Alternatively, one may subsist on fruit or eat only once a day—whatever is manageable should be done for the sake of attentive listening. However, eating is considered preferable for those listening to the narrative; fasting is not recommended if it would disrupt the narration. O Nārada, listen to the rules for those undertaking the seven-day vow: those not initiated into Viṣṇu are not eligible to listen to the sacred narrative. During this vow, one should observe celibacy, sleep on the ground, eat from leaves, and take food only after the day’s narration is completed. Each day, avoid split pulses, honey, oil, heavy foods, and anything impure or stale. The observer of the vow should keep far from desire, anger, intoxication, pride, envy, greed, hypocrisy, delusion, and hatred. Furthermore, one who undertakes the recitation of these sacred stories must refrain from speaking ill of Vedic scholars, Vaiṣṇavas, brāhmaṇas, teachers, cows, ascetics, women, kings, and great souls. Thus, by following these sacred instructions with devotion and discipline, the recitation of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata becomes a path to the highest good, sanctifying all who gather to hear its divine stories.