Bhagavata Purana

भक्तिज्ञानविरागाणां सुखं उत्पद्यते कथम् । स्थापनं सर्ववर्णेषु प्रेमपूर्वं प्रयत्‍नतः

How does happiness arise for those endowed with devotion, knowledge, and detachment? How can it be established among all classes, with love and effort?

कुमारा ऊचुः - मा चिन्तां कुरु देवर्षे हर्षं चित्ते समावह । उपायः सुखसाध्योऽत्र वर्तते पूर्व एव हि

The Kumaras said: Do not be anxious, O divine sage; bring joy into your heart. The means, easily accomplished, already exists here.

अहो नारद धन्योऽसि विरक्तानां शिरोमणिः । सदा श्रीकृष्णदासानां अग्रणीः योगभास्करः

Ah, Narada, you are blessed, the crest-jewel among the detached, always the foremost among the servants of Sri Krishna, the sun among yogis.

त्वयि चित्रं न मन्तव्यं भक्त्यर्थं अनुवर्तिनि । घटते कृष्णदासस्य भक्तेः संस्थापना सदा

It is not surprising in you, who always follow the path of devotion, that the establishment of devotion is ever accomplished for Krishna's servant.

ऋषिर्बहवो लोके पन्थानः प्रकटीकृताः । श्रमसाध्याश्च ते सर्वे प्रायः स्वर्गफलप्रदाः

Many sages in the world have revealed various paths, all difficult and achieved by effort, and for the most part, they yield the fruit of heaven.

वैकुण्ठसाधकं पन्थाः स तु गोप्यो हि वर्तते । तस्योपदेष्टा पुरुषः प्रायो भाग्येन लभ्यते

But the path that leads to Vaikuntha is indeed kept secret; its teacher is rarely found, attained mostly by good fortune.

सत्कर्म तव निर्दिष्टं व्योमवाचा तु यत्पुरा । तदुच्यते श्रृणुष्वाद्य स्थिरचित्तः प्रसन्नधीः

The noble act formerly prescribed to you by the voice in the sky—now it will be explained; listen today with steady mind and clear intellect.

द्रव्ययज्ञास्तपोयज्ञा योगयज्ञास्तथापरे । स्वाध्यायज्ञानयज्ञाश्च ते तु कर्मविसूचकाः

Some perform sacrifices with offerings, some with austerity, others with yoga, and some with study and knowledge; these are all known as actions.

सत्कर्मसूचको नूनं ज्ञानयज्ञः स्मृतो बुधैः । श्रीमद्‌भागवतालापः स तु गीतः शुकादिभिः

Among these, the sacrifice of knowledge is certainly regarded by the wise as the mark of noble action; the discourse on the Srimad Bhagavata is sung by Suka and others.

भक्तिज्ञानविरागाणां तद्‌घोषेण बलं महत् । व्रजिष्यति द्वयोः कष्टं सुखं भक्तेर्भविष्यति

By the proclamation of that, great strength arises for devotion, knowledge, and detachment; the suffering of both will depart, and happiness will come to the devotee.

प्रलयं हि गमिष्यन्ति श्रीमद्‌भागवतध्वनेः । कलेर्दोषा इमे सर्व सिंहशब्दाद् वृका इव

Indeed, at the sound of the Srimad Bhagavata's path, all these faults of Kali will perish, like wolves at the roar of a lion.

ज्ञानवैराग्यसंयुक्ता भक्तिः प्रेमरसावहा । प्रतिगेहं प्रतिजनं ततः क्रीडां करिष्यति

Devotion, joined with knowledge and detachment, bringing the flavor of love, will play from house to house, from person to person.

नारद उवाच - वेदवेदान्तघोषैश्च गीतापाठैः प्रबोधितम् । भक्तिज्ञानविरागाणां नोदतिष्ठत् त्रिकं यदा

Narada said: When, despite the proclamations of the Vedas and Vedanta, and the recitation of the Gita, the triad of devotion, knowledge, and detachment does not arise—

श्रीमद्‌भागवत आलापात् तत्कथं बोधमेष्यति । तत्कथासु तु वेदार्थः श्लोके श्लोके पदे पदे

From the recitation of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata, understanding of that subject will arise; in its narrations, the meaning of the Vedas is present in every verse, in every word.

छिन्दन्तु संशयं ह्येनं भवन्तोऽमोघदर्शनाः । विलम्बो नात्र कर्तव्यः शरणागतवत्सलाः

O you whose vision is unfailing, please cut away this doubt; there should be no delay here, for you are compassionate to those who have taken refuge.

कुमारा ऊचुः - वेदोपनिषदां सारात् जाता भागवती कथा । अत्युत्तमा ततो भाति पृथग्भूता फलाकृतिः

The Kumāras said: From the essence of the Vedas and Upaniṣads, the Bhāgavata narrative has arisen; therefore, being distinct, it shines as supremely excellent, taking the form of its own unique fruit.

आमूलाग्रं रसस्तिष्ठन् नास्ते न स्वाद्यते यथा । सभूयः संपृथग्भूतः फले विश्वमनोहरः

Just as the taste present from root to tip does not exist or is not enjoyed until it is separated out, so too, when fully distinct, the fruit is universally delightful.

यथा दुग्धे स्थितं सर्पिः न स्वादायोपकल्पते । पृथग्भूतं हि तद्‌गव्यं देवानां रसवर्धनम्

Just as ghee exists within milk but is not tasted until extracted, and when separated, that product of the cow increases the pleasure of the gods,

इक्षूणामपि मध्यान्तं शर्करा व्याप्य तिष्ठति । पृथग्भूता च सा मिष्टा तथा भागवती कथा

Even among sugarcanes, sugar pervades from the middle to the end; but when separated, it is sweet—so too is the Bhāgavata narrative.

इदं भागवतं नाम पुराणं ब्रह्मसम्मितम् । भक्तिज्ञानविरागाणां स्थापनाय प्रकाशितम्

This Purāṇa called Bhāgavata, esteemed by the wise, was revealed to establish devotion, knowledge, and detachment.

वेदान्तवेदसुस्नाते गीताया अपि कर्तरि । परितापवति व्यासे मुह्यत्यज्ञानसागरे

Even one who has bathed in the Vedas and Vedānta, who is the author of the Gītā, when afflicted with sorrow, Vyāsa himself became bewildered in the ocean of ignorance.

तदा त्वया पुरा प्रोक्तं चतुःश्लोकसमन्वितम् । तदीयश्रवणात् सद्यो निर्बाधो बादरायणः

Then, by you, it was formerly spoken in four verses; by hearing those, Bādarāyaṇa was immediately freed from distress.

तत्र ते विस्मयः केन यतः प्रश्नकरो भवान् । श्रीमद्‌भागवतं श्राव्य शोकदुःखविनाशनम्

Therefore, what is the cause of your wonder, that you ask this question? The Śrīmad Bhāgavata is to be heard, for it destroys grief and sorrow.

नारद उवाच - (वसंतितिलका) यद्दर्शनं च विनिहन्त्यशुभानि सद्यः श्रेयस्तनोति भवदुःखदवार्दितानाम् । निःशेषशेषमुखगीतकथैकपानाः प्रेमप्रकाशकृतये शरणं गतोऽस्मि

Nārada said: That vision which at once destroys inauspiciousness and bestows supreme good upon those afflicted by the pain of existence—absorbed solely in the nectar of stories sung by the pure, for the sake of manifesting love—I have taken refuge in it.

भाग्योदयेन बहुजन्मसमर्जितेन सत्संगमं च लभते पुरुषो यदा वै । अज्ञानहेतुकृतमोहमदान्धकार नाशं विधाय हि तदोदयते विवेकः

When, by the rise of fortune accumulated over many births, a person attains the company of the virtuous, then discrimination arises, dispelling the darkness of delusion and pride caused by ignorance.

श्रीमद्‌भागवतमाहात्म्यम् - तृतीयोऽध्यायः सनकादिमुखात् श्रीमद्‌भागवतश्रवणेन भक्त्तेस्तुष्टीर्ज्ञानवैराग्ययोः पुष्टिश्च - नारद उवाच - (अनुष्टुप्) ज्ञानयज्ञं करिष्यामि शुकशास्त्रकथोज्ज्वलम् । भक्तिर्ज्ञानविरागाणां स्थापनार्थं प्रयत्‍नतः

The greatness of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata—Chapter Three. By hearing the Śrīmad Bhāgavata from the mouths of Sanaka and others, the devotee is satisfied, and knowledge and detachment are nourished.

कुत्र कार्यो मया यज्ञः स्थलं तद्‌वाच्यतामिह । महिमा शुकशास्त्रस्य वक्तव्यो वेदपारगैः

Nārada said: I will perform a sacrifice of knowledge, resplendent with the teachings of Śuka, earnestly for the establishment of devotion, knowledge, and detachment.

कियद्‌भिः दिवसैः श्राव्या श्रीमद्‌भागवती कथा । को विधिः तत्र कर्तव्यो ममेदं ब्रुवतामितः

Where should I perform this sacrifice? Please tell me the place here. The greatness of Śuka's scripture should be spoken by those who have mastered the Vedas.

कुमारा ऊचुः - श्रृणु नारद वक्ष्यामो विनम्राय विवेकिने । गंगाद्वारसमीपे तु तटं आनन्दनामकम्

In how many days should the narration of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata be heard? What procedure should be followed there? Please tell me this.