As the sacred narrative unfolds, guidance is given for those who wish to listen to the Bhāgavata with devotion. One may choose to subsist on fruits or eat only once a day; whatever is easily accomplished should be done, so that listening to the story is not hindered. Eating is considered preferable during the narration, for fasting that interrupts the flow of the story is not recommended. O Nārada, hear now the rules for those undertaking the seven-day vow of listening. Only those who have been initiated into Viṣṇu are eligible to hear this sacred narrative. The vow involves observing celibacy, sleeping on the ground, eating from leaves, and partaking of food only after the day’s narration is complete. These practices should be followed daily. One observing this vow must avoid split pulses, honey, oil, heavy foods, and anything impure or stale. Desire, anger, intoxication, pride, envy, greed, hypocrisy, delusion, and hatred must be kept far away. Those reciting the stories should never speak ill of Vedic scholars, Vaiṣṇavas, brāhmaṇas, teachers, cows, those observing vows, women, kings, or great souls. Further, they should not converse with women during their period, outcastes, foreigners, the fallen, those outside the Vedic fold, haters of the twice-born, or those opposed to the Vedas. Instead, they should cultivate truthfulness, purity, compassion, silence, simplicity, humility, and generosity of mind. The story should be heard by the poor, the sick, the unfortunate, those engaged in sinful acts, the childless, and those desiring liberation. Women who do not conceive, whose children die, who are barren, who have lost a child, or who have suffered miscarriage should especially listen with care. When these persons hear the story according to the prescribed method, inexhaustible merit is gained; this divine and most excellent story bestows the fruit of millions of sacrifices. After performing the vow, its conclusion should be completed, just as those desiring results perform the Janmāṣṭamī vow. For those who are destitute but devoted, there is generally no insistence on the concluding rite, for their purification comes simply from hearing, being desireless Vaiṣṇavas. When the sacrifice of narrating the story is completed, the book and the speaker should be worshipped with great devotion by the listeners. Sacred basil garlands are to be given to the listeners, and melodious kīrtana with mṛdaṅga and cymbals should be performed. Shouts of victory, words of reverence, and the sound of conch shells should fill the air, and wealth and food should be given to brāhmaṇas and beggars. If the listener is detached, singing and instrumental music should be performed the next day; if a householder, then a fire sacrifice should be done for the purification of actions. For each verse, offerings of sweet rice, honey, ghee, and sesame mixed with other ingredients should be made, especially for the Tenth Canto. Alternatively, the fire offering may be performed with the Gāyatrī mantra, with full concentration, as the Purāṇa is of the same essence as the Supreme. If unable to perform the fire offering, a wise person should give the materials for it to others, so that the desired result is attained and obstacles or deficiencies are removed. To pacify faults, the thousand names of the Lord should be recited, for by this, everything becomes fruitful—there is nothing greater than this. Afterward, twelve brāhmaṇas should be fed with sweet rice and honey, and gold and a cow should be given to complete the vow. If able, one should fashion a lion of gold weighing three palas, and place the book, written in beautiful script, upon it. The teacher should be honored with proper offerings, beginning with invitation and including all attendant rites, gifts, clothing, ornaments, fragrances, and the like, to the one who is self-controlled and worthy of worship. If a wise person gives this to the teacher, he becomes freed from worldly bonds; thus, by performing the prescribed rite, all sins are removed. This auspicious Purāṇa, the Śrīmad Bhāgavata, bestows results; it is certainly the means for attaining righteousness, desire, wealth, and liberation—there is no doubt. The Kumāras said, “Thus, everything has been told to you; what more do you wish to hear? The Śrīmad Bhāgavata itself grants both enjoyment and liberation.” Sūta then recounted: Having spoken thus, those great souls recited the Bhāgavata narrative, which destroys all sins, is meritorious, and bestows both enjoyment and liberation. For seven days, all beings with controlled minds listened as prescribed, and then they praised the Supreme Person, the best among the gods. At the conclusion, the strength of knowledge, detachment, and devotion became supreme; a youthful vigor arose, enchanting all beings. Nārada, having achieved his purpose and fulfilled his own desire, was overwhelmed with supreme bliss, his whole body thrilled. Having attentively heard the narrative, Nārada, beloved of the Lord, with hands joined and voice choked with love, addressed the assembly. He said, “I am blessed, I am favored by you, who are full of boundless compassion; today I have attained the Lord, Hari, the remover of all sins. Among all religious practices, I consider hearing to be the best, O ascetics, for by hearing alone, one attains Kṛṣṇa, who dwells in Vaikuṇṭha.” Sūta continued: While the eminent Vaiṣṇava Nārada was speaking thus, Śuka, the lord of yogis, arrived there, wandering about. At that time, the sixteen-year-old son of Vyāsa, the moon of the great ocean of knowledge, arrived. At the end of the discourse, fulfilled in his own attainment, he began to recite the Bhāgavata with love, slowly and gently. Seeing him, the assembly, perceiving his supreme brilliance, immediately rose and offered him the great seat. The sage among the gods honored him with affection, and, seated comfortably, he spoke: “Listen to my pure words.” Śrī Śuka said, “The Bhāgavata is the ripened fruit of the wish-fulfilling tree of the Vedas, imbued with nectar flowing from the mouth of Śuka. O connoisseurs and sensitive souls on earth, repeatedly drink the essence of the Bhāgavata. Here, in the Śrīmad Bhāgavata composed by the great sage, all deceitful religion is cast aside; it is meant for the pure-hearted, free from envy. The true, beneficial reality is revealed here, uprooting the threefold miseries. What need is there for other scriptures? Here, the Lord is immediately bound in the hearts of the sincere, eager to listen.