Bhagavata Purana

कम्पन्ते सर्वपापानि सप्ताहश्रवणे स्थिते । अस्माकं प्रलयं सद्यः कथा चेयं करिष्यति

All sins tremble when the seven-day hearing is undertaken; this narration will bring about our immediate deliverance.

आर्द्रं शुष्कं लघु स्थूलं वाङ्‌मनः कर्मभिः कृतम् । श्रवणं विदहेत्पापं पावकं समिधो यथा

Whether moist or dry, light or heavy, done by speech, mind, or action, hearing burns away sin, just as fire consumes fuel.

अस्मिन् वै भारते वर्षे सूरिभिः देवसंसदि । अकथाश्राविणां पुंसां निष्फलं जन्म कीर्तितम्

In this land of Bharata, among the wise and in the assembly of gods, the birth of those who do not hear the narration is declared fruitless.

किं मोहतो रक्षितेन सुपुष्टेन बलीयसा । अध्रुवेण शरीरेण शुकशास्त्रकथां विना

What is the use of protecting a well-nourished, strong body, which is unstable, without hearing the teachings of Shuka?

अस्थिस्तम्भं स्नायुबद्धं मांसशोणितलेपितम् । चर्मावनद्धं दुर्गन्धं पात्रं मूत्रपुरीषयोः

A pillar of bones, bound by sinews, smeared with flesh and blood, covered by skin, foul-smelling, a vessel for urine and excrement.

जराशोकविपाकार्तं रोगमन्दिरमातुरम् । दूष्पूरं दुर्धरं दुष्टं सदोषं क्षणभंगुरम्

Afflicted by old age, sorrow, and the consequences of actions, a house of disease, suffering, hard to fill, hard to bear, corrupted, flawed, and perishable in a moment.

कृमिविड् भस्म संज्ञान्तं शरीरं इति वर्णितम् । अस्थिरेण स्थिरं कर्म कुतोऽयं साधयेत् न हि

The body is described as ending in worms, filth, and ashes; how can unstable actions performed with such a body ever accomplish anything lasting?

यत्प्रातः संस्कृतं चान्नं सायं तच्च विनश्यति । तदीयरससम्पुष्टे काये का नाम नित्यता

The food prepared in the morning perishes by evening; in a body nourished by such food, what permanence can there be?

सप्ताहश्रवणात् लोके प्राप्यते निकटे हरिः । अतो दोषनिवृत्त्यर्थं एतद् एव हि साधनम्

By hearing for seven days, Hari is attained in this world; therefore, for the removal of faults, this alone is the means.

बुद्‌बुदा इव तोयेषु मशका इव जन्तुषु । जायन्ते मरणायैव कथाश्रवणवर्जिताः

Like bubbles in water, like insects among creatures, those who lack the hearing of the narration are born only to die.

जडस्य शुष्कवंशस्य यत्र ग्रन्थिविभेदनम् । चित्रं किमु तदा चित्त ग्रन्थिभेदः कथाश्रवात्

Where the knot of a dry bamboo is split, that is wondrous; but how much more wondrous is the splitting of the knot in the heart by hearing the narration.

भिद्यते हृदयग्रन्थिः छिद्यन्ते सर्वसंशयाः । क्षीयन्ते चास्य कर्माणि सप्ताहश्रवणे कृते

The knot of the heart is broken, all doubts are cut, and his actions are exhausted when the seven-day hearing is performed.

संसारकर्दमालेप प्रक्षालनपटीयसि । कथातीर्थे स्थिते चित्ते मुक्तिरेव बुधैः स्मृता

When the mind is established at the sacred ford of narration, which is most capable of washing away the filth of worldly mire, then liberation alone is declared by the wise.

एवं ब्रुवति वै तस्मिन् विमानं आगमत् तदा । वैकुण्ठवासिभिर्युक्तं प्रस्फुरत् दीप्तिमण्डलम्

As he was thus speaking, at that moment a celestial chariot arrived, surrounded by residents of Vaikuṇṭha, radiating a brilliant aura.

सर्वेषां पश्यतां भेजे विमानं धुन्धुलीसुतः । विमाने वैष्णवान् वीक्श्य गोकर्णो वाक्यमब्रवीत्

While all were watching, the son of Dhundhulī ascended the chariot; seeing the Vaiṣṇavas in the chariot, Gokarṇa spoke these words.

गोकर्ण उवाच - अत्रैव बहवः सन्ति श्रोतारो मम निर्मलाः । आनीतानि विमानानि न तेषां युगपत्कुतः

Gokarṇa said: Here, indeed, are many pure listeners of mine; why have celestial chariots not come for all of them at the same time?

श्रवणं समभागेन सर्वेषामिह दृश्यते । फलभेदः कुतो जातः प्रब्रुवन्तु हरिप्रियाः

Hearing was equally performed by all here; why then has there arisen a difference in result? Let the devotees of Hari explain.

हरिदासा ऊचुः - श्रवणस्य विभेदेन फलभेदोऽत्र संस्थितः । श्रवणं तु कृतं सर्वैः न तथा मननं कृतम् । फलभेदोस्ततो जातो भजनादपि मानद

The servants of Hari said: The difference in result here is due to the difference in hearing; though all have heard, not all have reflected as much. Therefore, the difference in result arises even from worship, O respectful one.

सप्तरात्रं उपोषैव प्रेतेन श्रवणं कृतम् । मननादि तथा तेन स्थिरचित्ते कृतं भृशम्

The departed soul performed hearing while fasting for seven nights, and he also engaged in deep reflection and concentration of mind.

अदृढं च हतं ज्ञानं प्रमादेन हतं श्रुतम् । संदिग्धो हि हतो मंत्रो व्यग्रचित्तो हतो जपः

Knowledge that is not firm is destroyed, hearing is ruined by negligence, a mantra is lost if doubted, and recitation is spoiled by a distracted mind.

अवैष्णवो हतो देशो हतं श्राद्धं अपात्रकम् । हतं अश्रोत्रिये दानं अनाचारं हतं कुलम्

A place not devoted to Viṣṇu is ruined, a śrāddha performed for the unworthy is ruined, charity given to one unlearned in scripture is ruined, and a family is ruined by misconduct.

विश्वासो गुरुवाक्येषु स्वस्मिन् दीनत्वभावना । मनोदोषजयश्चैव कथायां निश्चला मतिः

Faith in the words of the guru, a sense of humility within oneself, conquering the faults of the mind, and unwavering attention in the narration—

एवं आदि कृतं चेत् स्यात् तदा वै श्रवणे फलम् । पुनः श्रवान्ते सर्वेषां वैकुण्ठे वसतिर्ध्रुवम्

If these and the like are accomplished, then indeed the fruit of hearing is attained; and at the end of the narration, residence in Vaikuṇṭha is certain for all.

गोकर्ण तव गोविन्दो गोलोकं दास्यति स्वयम् । एवमुक्त्वा ययुः सर्वे वैकुण्ठ हरिकीर्तनाः

O Gokarṇa, Govinda himself will grant you Goloka; having spoken thus, all the devotees of Hari departed to Vaikuṇṭha.

श्रवणो मासि गोकर्णः कथां ऊचे तथा पुनः । सप्तरात्रवतीं भूयः श्रवणं तैः कृतं पुनः

In the following month, Gokarṇa again recited the narration; once more, hearing was performed by them for seven nights.

कथासमाप्तौ यज्जातं श्रूयतां तच्च नारद

O Nārada, listen now to what happened at the conclusion of the narration.

विमानैः सह भक्तैश्च हरिराविर्बभूव ह । जयशब्दा नमःशब्दाः तत्रासन् बहवस्तदा

Hari himself appeared there with the devotees and celestial chariots; at that time, there were many cries of victory and salutations.

पाञ्चजन्य ध्वनिं चक्रे हर्षात् तत्र स्वयं हरिः । गोकर्णं तु समालिंग्य अकरोत् स्वसदृषं हरिः

Hari himself, out of joy, sounded the Pāñcajanya conch; embracing Gokarṇa, he made him like himself.

श्रोतॄन् अन्यान् घनश्यामान् पीतकौशेयवाससः । कीरीटिनः कुण्डलिनः तथा चक्रे हरिः क्षणात्

Hari instantly made the other listeners dark-hued like rain clouds, clothed in yellow silk, crowned and adorned with earrings.