Bhagavata Purana

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.

उद्धव उवाच - त्वं तु यास्यसि गोविन्द भक्तकार्यं विधाय च । मच्चित्ते महती चिन्ता तां श्रुत्वा सुखमावह

Uddhava said: You, O Govinda, will depart after fulfilling the work for your devotees; hearing my great concern in my heart, please bring comfort.

आगतोऽयं कलिर्घोरो भविष्यन्ति पुनः खलाः । तत्संगेनैव सन्तोऽपि गमिष्यन्ति उग्रतां यदा

Now the dreadful Kali age has arrived; wicked people will arise again, and even the virtuous, by association with them, will become fierce.

तदा भारवती भूमिः गोरूपेयं कमाश्रयेत् । अन्यो न दृश्यते त्राता त्वत्तः कमललोचन

Then the earth, heavy with burden, will take refuge in the form of a cow; O lotus-eyed one, no other protector is seen apart from you.

अतः सस्तु दयां कृत्वा भक्तवत्सल मा व्रज । भक्तार्थं सगुणो जातो निराकारोऽपि चिन्मयः

Therefore, O lover of devotees, show compassion and do not depart; for the sake of your devotees, you have assumed a form with qualities, though you are formless and conscious.

त्वद् वियोगेन ते भक्ताः कथं स्थास्यन्ति भूतले । निर्गुणोपासने कष्टं अतः किंचिद् विचारय

How will your devotees remain on earth in your absence? Worship of the formless is difficult; therefore, consider something.

इति उद्धववचः श्रुत्वा प्रभासेऽचिन्तयत् हरिः । भक्तावलम्बनार्थाय किं विधेयं मयेति च

Having heard Uddhava’s words, Hari pondered at Prabhāsa: ‘What should I do for the support of my devotees?’

स्वकीयं यद् भवेत् तेजः तच्च भागवतेऽदधात् । तिरोधाय प्रविष्टोऽयं श्रीमद् भागवतार्णवम्

He placed his own divine radiance into the Bhāgavata, concealing himself and entering into the sacred ocean of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam.

तेनेयं वाङ्‌मयी मूर्तिः प्रत्यक्षा वर्तते हरेः । सेवनात् श्रवणात् पाठात् दर्शनात् पापनाशिनी

Therefore, this form made of words, the Bhāgavata, stands manifest as Hari himself; by serving, hearing, reciting, or beholding it, sins are destroyed.

सप्ताहश्रवणं तेन सर्वेभ्योऽप्यधिकं कृतम् । साधनानि तिरस्कृत्य कलौ धर्मोऽयमीरितः

Thus, the hearing of the Bhāgavata over seven days has been declared superior to all other practices, setting aside other disciplines; this is the dharma proclaimed for the age of Kali.

दुःखदारिद्र्य दौर्भाग्य पापप्रक्षालनाय च । कामक्रोध जयार्थं हि कलौ धर्मोऽयमीरितः

This dharma has been proclaimed in Kali for the removal of suffering, poverty, misfortune, and sin, and indeed for the conquest of desire and anger.