If one is able, it is recommended to craft a lion of gold weighing three palas, and there, upon this noble form, place the sacred book written in beautiful script. With reverence, one should honor the teacher by performing all proper offerings: beginning with the invitation, conducting all attendant rites, and presenting due gifts such as clothing, ornaments, fragrances, and other fitting items to the self-controlled, worthy recipient. When a wise person gives this to the teacher, the bonds of worldly existence are loosened, and by performing this prescribed rite, all sins are removed. This auspicious Purāṇa, the Śrīmad Bhāgavata, bestows results beyond measure—it is the sure means for attaining righteousness, desire, wealth, and liberation. There is no doubt about its power. The Kumāras declared, “Everything has been told to you; what more do you wish to hear? The Śrīmad Bhāgavata itself grants both enjoyment and liberation.” Sūta continued: After speaking thus, those great souls recited the Bhāgavata narrative. This tale destroys all sins, is meritorious, and bestows both worldly 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 heart’s 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: “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.” As Nārada spoke, the eminent Vaiṣṇava, Śuka, lord of yogis, arrived there, wandering freely. At that moment, the sixteen-year-old son of Vyāsa, the moon of the great ocean of knowledge, entered. Fulfilled in his own attainment at the end of the discourse, he began to recite the Bhāgavata with love, slowly and gently. The assembly, seeing his supreme brilliance, immediately rose and offered him the great seat. The sage among the gods honored him with affection, and, seated comfortably, Śuka spoke: “Listen to my pure words. The Bhāgavata is the ripened fruit of the wish-fulfilling tree of the Vedas, imbued with nectar flowing from my mouth. O connoisseurs and sensitive souls on earth, repeatedly drink the essence of the Bhāgavata. “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. Here, the true beneficial reality is revealed, 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. “The Śrīmad Bhāgavata, the crest-jewel of Purāṇas, is the treasure of the Vaiṣṇavas. In it, the supreme, spotless knowledge of the paramahaṃsas is sung. Here, actionless knowledge, together with wisdom, detachment, and devotion, is revealed. By hearing, reciting, and deeply contemplating it with devotion, a person is liberated. “In heaven, in Satya-loka, on Kailāsa, or in Vaikuṇṭha, this taste is not found. Therefore, O fortunate ones, always drink it—never let it go.” Sūta continued: As Bādarāyaṇa (Vyāsa) was thus speaking in the assembly, Hari appeared there, surrounded by Prahlāda, Bali, Uddhava, Arjuna, and others. The sage among the gods, Nārada, honored Hari and his companions. Seeing Hari, radiant and seated on the exalted seat, they began to sing his praises at the forefront. Then Śiva with Pārvatī, and Brahmā on his lotus seat, also arrived to witness the glorification. Prahlāda held cymbals, Uddhava played the bell with lively movement, Nārada took up the vīṇā, skilled in melody, and Arjuna became the leader of the tune. Indra played the mṛdaṅga, exclaiming, “Victory! Victory! How skillful you are, O Kumāras, in this praise!” At the front, Vyāsa’s son, Śuka, recited with flowing composition. There, in the midst, Hari, Śiva, and Brahmā danced together, shining like actors among radiant devotees. Witnessing this extraordinary glorification, Hari, though pleased, spoke: “Ask from me a boon, according to your heart’s devotion; I am pleased by your narration and praise at this very moment.” Hearing these words, they, deeply moved with love, joyfully addressed Hari: “In all the songs of the mountains and serpents, and by all devotees, may you be remembered with effort—this is our wish, which must be fulfilled.” Saying “So be it,” Acyuta disappeared. Then Nārada bowed at Hari’s feet, as did Śuka and the other ascetics. Rejoicing, their delusion dispelled, all departed, having drunk the nectar of the divine story. That devotion, protected along with his sons, was preserved by Śuka even in his own scripture. Thus, by serving the Bhāgavata, the mind of the Vaiṣṇavas is drawn to Hari. For those afflicted by poverty, suffering, and fever, crushed by the demon of illusion, cast into the ocean of worldly existence—the Bhāgavata resounds for their well-being. Śaunaka then asked: “When did Śuka speak to the king? When did Gokarṇa speak again? When did the sage among the gods speak to the Brāhmaṇas? Please dispel this doubt of mine.” Sūta replied: “Thirty years after Kṛṣṇa’s departure, when Kali had advanced, on the ninth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhādrapada, Śuka began the narration. At the end of Parīkṣit’s hearing, in Kali, after two hundred years had passed, on a pure and auspicious ninth day, Gokarṇa, born of a cow, recited the story. Then, when Kali had further advanced by thirty years, on the ninth day of the bright half of Kārtika, the sons of Brahmā recited it. Thus, O sinless one, I have described to you what you asked: the Bhāgavata story in Kali, which destroys the disease of worldly existence.” This narration, dear to Kṛṣṇa, destroys all sins, is the sole cause of liberation, and brings forth the play of devotion. Let the virtuous drink this tale with reverence—what need is there for pilgrimage or ritual service in this world? Even when seeing his own servant holding the noose, Yama is said to whisper in his ear: “Avoid those intoxicated by the stories of the Lord; I am the master of others’ anger, but not of the Vaiṣṇavas.” In this insubstantial world, where minds are troubled by the poison of sense-objects, drink, even for half a moment, the nectar-like verses of Śuka for your welfare. Why wander uselessly on the wrong path, listening to base stories, when Parīkṣit himself witnessed the narration that grants liberation upon hearing? The story spoken by Śuka, flowing with the stream of rasa, binds to the throat the one who recites it—and he becomes the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha. Thus, the most confidential truth, established by all doctrines, has been spoken to you at once. Having surveyed the multitude of scriptures, nothing in this world is as pure as the tale of Śuka—drink, for the sake of supreme joy, the essence of the twelve books. Whoever listens to this regularly with devotion, and whoever narrates it before pure Vaiṣṇavas—both, by properly performing this act, obtain its fruit; for them, nothing in this world is unattainable in reality. Then Śaunaka asked: “O Sūta, when Nārada had departed, what did the venerable Bādarāyaṇa, having understood his intent, do next?” Sūta replied: “On the western bank of the divine Sarasvatī river, there is an āśrama called Śamyāprāsa, renowned for fostering the gatherings of sages.