Bhagavata Purana

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.

तद्‌ग्रामे ये स्थिता जीवा आश्वचाण्डालजातयः । विमाने स्थापितास्तेऽपि गोकर्णकृपया तदा

Even those living in that village, born among horse-keepers and outcastes, were placed in celestial chariots at that time by the grace of Gokarṇa.

प्रेषिता हरिलोके ते यत्र गच्छन्ति योगिनः । गोकर्णेन स गोपालो गोलोकं गोपवल्लभम् । कथाश्रवणतः प्रीतो निर्ययौ भक्तवत्सलः

Those sent to the realm of Hari, where yogis go, that cowherd, along with Gokarna, reached Goloka, beloved of the cowherds; pleased by hearing the stories, the Lord, who cherishes devotees, departed.

अयोध्यावासिनं पूर्वं यथा रामेण संगताः । तथा कृष्णेन ते नीता गोलोकं योगिदुर्लभम्

Just as the residents of Ayodhya were united with Rama in the past, so too were they led by Krishna to Goloka, which is difficult for yogis to attain.

यत्र सूर्यस्य सोमस्य सिद्धानां न गतिः कदा । तं लोकं हि गतास्ते तु श्रीमद्‌भागवतश्रवात्

To that world, where neither the sun, nor the moon, nor the perfected beings ever reach, they indeed went, by hearing the glorious Bhagavata.

(इंद्रवंशा) ब्रूमोऽत्र ते किं फलवृन्दमुज्ज्वलं सप्ताहयज्ञेन कथासु संचितम् । कर्णेन गोकर्णकथाक्षरो यैः पीतश्च ते गर्भगता न भूयः

We declare here: what radiant fruit is gathered by seven-day sacrifices in stories? For those who have drunk the syllables of Gokarna's tale with their ears, even those in the womb are not born again.

वाताम्बुपर्णाशन देहशोषणैः तपोभिः उग्रैः चिरकालसंचितैः । योगैश्च संयान्ति न तां गतिं वै सप्ताहगाथाश्रवणेन यान्ति याम्

By consuming wind, water, and leaves, by austerities that dry the body, by fierce penances accumulated over a long time, and by yogic practices, one does not attain that state which is reached by hearing the seven-day narration.

(अनुष्टुप्) इतिहासं इमं पुण्यं शाण्डिल्योऽपि मुनीश्वरः । पठते चित्रकूटस्थो ब्रह्मानन्दपरिप्लुतः

Even the sage Shandilya, lord among sages, residing in Citrakuta, recites this sacred history, immersed in the bliss of Brahman.

(इंद्रवज्रा) आख्यानमेतत् परमं पवित्रं श्रुतं सकृद्वै विदहेदघौघम् । श्राद्धे प्रयुक्तं पितृतृप्तिमावहेत् नित्यं सुपाठाद अपुनर्भवं च

This narration is supremely pure; hearing it even once destroys the mass of sins. When used in a śrāddha, it brings satisfaction to the ancestors; by daily recitation, one attains liberation and does not return.

श्रीमद्‌भागवतमाहात्म्यम् - षष्ठोऽध्यायः श्रीमद्‌भागवत सप्ताहपारायणविधिः कुमारा ऊचुः - (अनुष्टुप्) अथ ते संप्रवक्ष्यामः सप्ताहश्रवणे विधिम् । सहायैर्वसुभिश्चैव प्रायः साध्यो विधिः स्मृतः

The Glory of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata – Chapter Six: The Procedure for Seven-Day Recitation of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata. The Kumāras said: Now we shall explain the procedure for seven-day hearing; it is remembered that the rite is generally accomplished with companions and wealth.

दैवज्ञं तु समाहूय मुहूर्तं पृच्छ्य यत्‍नतः । विवाहे यादृशं वित्तं तादृशं परिकल्पयेत्

One should summon an astrologer, carefully inquire about the auspicious time, and arrange the resources as one would for a wedding.