सदा सेव्या सदा सेव्या श्रीमद्भागवती कथा । यस्याः श्रवणमात्रेण हरिश्चित्तं समाश्रयेत्
The narration of the glorious Bhāgavata is always to be served, always to be served; by merely hearing it, Hari takes up residence in one's heart.
ग्रन्थोऽष्टादशसाहस्त्रो द्वादशस्कन्धसम्मितः । परीक्षित् शुकसंवादः श्रृणु भागवतं च तत्
This scripture consists of eighteen thousand verses, arranged in twelve books; it is the dialogue between Parīkṣit and Śuka—listen to this Bhāgavata.
तात संसारचक्रेऽस्मिन् भ्रमतेऽज्ञानतः पुमान् । यावत् कर्णगता नास्ति शुकशास्त्रकथा क्षणम्
Dear one, in this cycle of worldly existence, a person wanders in ignorance as long as even for a moment the teachings of Śuka's scripture have not entered his ears.
किं श्रुतैबहुभिः शास्त्रैः पुराणैश्च भ्रमावहैः । एकं भागवतं शास्त्रं मुक्तिदानेन गर्जति
What is the use of hearing many scriptures and Purāṇas that only cause confusion? The single scripture, the Bhāgavata, thunders forth as the giver of liberation.
कथा भागवतस्यापि नित्यं भवति यद्गृहे । तद्गृहं तीर्थरूपं हि वसतां पापनाशनम्
That house in which the narration of the Bhāgavata occurs daily is truly a place of pilgrimage, destroying the sins of its inhabitants.
अश्वमेधसहस्राणि वाजपेयशतानि च । शुकशास्त्रकथायाश्च कलां नार्हन्ति षोडशीम्
A thousand Aśvamedha sacrifices and a hundred Vājapeya sacrifices do not equal even a sixteenth part of the merit of the narration of Śuka's scripture.
तावत् पापानि देहेस्मिन् निवसन्ति तपोधनाः । यावत् न श्रूयते सम्यक् श्रीमद्भागवतं नरैः
O ascetics, sins remain in this body as long as the Bhāgavata is not properly heard by people.
न गंगा न गया काशी पुष्करं न प्रयागकम् । शुकशास्त्रकथायाश्च फलेन समतां नयेत्
Neither the Gaṅgā, nor Gayā, nor Kāśī, nor Puṣkara, nor Prayāga can equal the fruit of the narration of Śuka's scripture.
श्लोकार्धं श्लोकपादं वा नित्यं भागवतोद्भवम् । पठस्व स्वमुखेनैव यदीच्छसि परां गतिम्
Recite daily, with your own mouth, even half a verse or a quarter of a verse arising from the Bhāgavata, if you desire the highest goal.
वेदादिः वेदमाता च पौरुषं सूक्तमेव च । त्रयी भागवतं चैव द्वादशाक्षर एव च
The Vedas, the mother of the Vedas, the Puruṣa Sūkta, the threefold Veda, the Bhāgavata, and the twelve-syllable mantra—
द्वादशात्मा प्रयागश्च कालं संवत्सरात्मकः । ब्राह्मणाश्चाग्निहोत्रं च सुरभिर्द्वादशी तथा
The twelvefold self, Prayāga, time in the form of a year, the Brāhmaṇas, the Agnihotra, the cow of plenty, and the twelfth day—
तुलसी च वसन्तश्च पुरुषोत्तम एव च । एतेषां तत्त्वतः प्राज्ञैः न पृथ्ग्भाव इष्यते
Tulasī, the spring season, and the Supreme Person—wise people do not consider any essential difference among these.
यश्च भागवतं शास्त्रं वाचयेत् अर्थतोऽनिशम् । जन्मकोटिकृतं पापं नश्यते नात्र संशयः
Whoever recites the Bhāgavata scripture with understanding, day and night, destroys the sins accumulated over millions of births—of this there is no doubt.
श्लोकार्धं श्लोकपादं वा पठेत् भागवतं च यः । नित्यं पुण्यं अवाप्नोति राजसूयाश्वमेधयोः
Whoever recites even half a verse or a quarter of a verse of the Bhāgavata daily attains merit equal to that of the Rājasūya and Aśvamedha sacrifices.
उक्तं भागवतं नित्यं कृतं च हरिचिन्तनम् । तुलसीपोषणं चैव धेनूनां सेवनं समम्
The daily recitation of the Bhāgavata, constant contemplation of Hari, the nurturing of Tulasī, and the service of cows—these are equal.
अन्तकाले तु येनैव श्रूयते शुकशास्त्रवाक् । प्रीत्या तस्यैव वैकुण्ठं गोविन्दोऽपि प्रयच्छति
At the time of death, whoever hears the words of Śuka's scripture with devotion—Govinda grants that person Vaikuṇṭha.
हेमसिंहयुतं चैतत् वैष्णवाय ददाति च । कृष्णेन सह सायुज्यं स पुमान् लभते ध्रुवम्
Whoever gives this (Bhāgavata) adorned with a golden lion throne to a Vaiṣṇava surely attains union with Kṛṣṇa.
(वसंततिलका) आजन्ममात्रमपि येन शठेन किंचित् चित्तं विधाय शुकशास्त्रकथा न पीता । चाण्डालवत् च खरवत् बत तेन नीतं मिथ्या स्वजन्म जननी जनिदुःखभाजा
Even if someone, from birth, with a deceitful mind, never tasted the narration of Śuka's scripture, such a one lives like a caṇḍāla or a donkey; alas, his birth is in vain, and his mother suffers the pain of childbirth for nothing.
जीवच्छवो निगदितः स तु पापकर्मा येन श्रुतं शुककथावचनं न किंचित् । धिक् तं नरं पशुसमं भुवि भाररूपम् एवं वदन्ति दिवि देवसमाजमुख्याः
He who is called a living corpse, whose actions are sinful, and who has not heard even a little of Śuka’s narration, is condemned as a man equal to an animal, a burden upon the earth; thus speak the foremost among the assembly of gods in heaven.
(अनुष्टुप्) दुर्लभैव कथा लोके श्रीमद्भागवतोद्भवा । कोटिजन्मसमुत्थेन पुण्येनैव तु लभ्यते
The story arising from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is indeed rare in this world; it is attained only by virtue accumulated over millions of births.
तेन योगनिधे धीमन् श्रोतव्या सा प्रयत्नतः । दिनानां नियमो नास्ति सर्वदा श्रवणं मतम्
Therefore, O wise one, this treasure of yoga should be listened to with effort; there is no restriction of days—hearing it at all times is recommended.
सत्येन ब्रह्मचर्येण सर्वदा श्रवणं मतम् । अशक्यत्वात् कलौ बोध्यो विशेषोऽत्र शुकाज्ञया
Hearing it at all times is recommended, with truthfulness and celibacy; but in Kali, due to inability, a special instruction is to be understood here, as given by Śuka.
मनोवृत्तिजयश्चैव नियमाचरणं तथा । दीक्षां कर्तुं अशक्यत्वात् सप्ताहश्रवणं मतम्
Mastery over the mind’s movements and observance of discipline, as well as initiation, are difficult to accomplish; therefore, hearing it over seven days is recommended.
श्रद्धातः श्रवणे नित्यं माघे तावद्धि यत्फलम् । तत्फलं शुकदेवेन सप्ताहश्रवणे कृतम्
The result obtained by one who listens with faith daily, especially in the month of Māgha, is achieved by Śuka through seven-day hearing.
मनसश्च अजयात् रोगात् पुंसां चैवायुषः क्षयात् । कलेर्दोषबहुत्वाच्च सप्ताहश्रवणं मतम्
Because of the inability to conquer the mind, due to disease, and because of the decline of people’s lifespan, and the abundance of faults in Kali, seven-day hearing is recommended.
यत्फलं नास्ति तपसा न योगेन समाधिना । अनायासेन तत्सर्वं सप्ताहश्रवणे लभेत्
The result that cannot be obtained by austerity, yoga, or meditation, is easily attained in its entirety by hearing over seven days.
यज्ञात् गर्जति सप्ताहः सप्ताहो गर्जति व्रतात् । तपसो गर्जति प्रोच्चैः तीर्थान्नित्यं हि गर्जति
Seven-day hearing surpasses sacrifice, surpasses vows, surpasses austerity loudly, and always surpasses pilgrimage.
योगात् गर्जति सप्ताहो ध्यानात् ज्ञानाच्च गर्जति । किं ब्रूमो गर्जनं तस्य रे रे गर्जति गर्जति
Seven-day hearing surpasses yoga, surpasses meditation and knowledge; what more can be said of its greatness? Again and again, it surpasses all.
शौनक उवाच - (इंद्रवंशा) साश्चर्यमेतत्कथितं कथानकं ज्ञानादिधर्मान् विगणय्य साम्प्रतम् । निःश्रेयसे भागवतं पुराणं जातं कुतो योगविदादिसूचकम्
Śaunaka said: This narration is indeed wonderful, having set aside knowledge and other dharmas; how has the Bhāgavata Purāṇa, which leads to supreme good and indicates yoga and other paths, arisen?
सूत उवाच - (अनुष्टुप्) यदा कृष्णो धरां त्यक्त्वा स्वपदं गन्तुमुद्यतः । एकादशं परिश्रुत्यापि उद्धवो वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Sūta said: When Kṛṣṇa, having resolved to leave the earth and return to his own abode, listened to the eleven (principal devotees), Uddhava spoke to him.