Bhagavata Purana

मासानां विप्र हेयानि तानि त्याज्यानि सर्वथा । सहायाश्चेतरे तत्र कर्तव्याः सोद्यमाश्च ये

The other months are to be avoided by the Brahmins; those should be left aside entirely. Other companions should be appointed there, and those who are diligent.

देशे देशे तथा सेयं वार्ता प्रेष्या प्रयत्‍नतः । भविष्यति कथा चात्र आगन्तव्यं कुटुम्बिभिः

In each region, this message should be sent out with effort; the narration will take place here, and householders should come.

दूरे हरिकथाः केचित् दूरे चाच्युतकीर्तनाः । स्त्रियः शूद्रादयो ये च तेषां बोधो यतो भवेत्

Some Hari stories and praises of Acyuta are far away; women, Shudras, and others—understand that their instruction should be ensured.

देशे देशे विरक्ता ये वैष्णवाः कीर्तनोत्सुकाः । तेष्वेव पत्रं प्रेष्यं च तल्लेखनं इतीरितम्

In each region, those detached Vaishnavas who are eager for kirtan—letters should be sent to them, and their writing is thus prescribed.

सतां समाजो भविता सप्तरात्रं सुदुर्लभः । अपूर्वरसरूपैव कथा चात्र भविष्यति

The gathering of the virtuous will occur for seven nights, which is very rare; and here, the narration will be of a unique and unprecedented flavor.

श्रीमद्‌भागवत पीयुष पानाय रसलम्पटाः । भवन्तश्च तथा शीघ्रं आयात प्रेमतत्पराः

Those who are eager to drink the nectar of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata, you all should quickly come, devoted to love.

नावकाशः कदाचित् चेत् दिनमात्रं तथापि तु । सर्वथाऽऽगमनं कार्यं क्षणोऽत्रैव सुदुर्लभः

If there is no space at any time, even for a single day, still, in every way, attendance should be ensured; even a moment here is very rare.

एवमाकारणं तेषां कर्तव्यं विनयेन च । आगन्तुकानां सर्वेषां वासस्थानानि कल्पयेत्

In this way, arrangements should be made for them, with humility; accommodations for all visitors should be provided.

तीर्थे वापि वने वापि गृहे वा श्रवणं मतम् । विशाला वसुधा यत्र कर्तव्यं तत्कथास्थलम्

Whether at a sacred place, in the forest, or at home, listening is esteemed; wherever the earth is spacious, that is a suitable place for narrating these stories.

शोधनं मार्जनं भूमेः लेपनं धातुमण्डनम् । गृहोपस्करमुद्ध्रुत्य गृहकोणे निवेशयेत्

Purification, cleansing of the ground, smearing, and decorating with minerals should be done; household items are to be removed and placed in a corner of the house.

अर्वाक् पंचाहतो यत्‍नात् आस्तीर्णानि प्रमेलयेत् । कर्तव्यो मण्डपः प्रोच्चैः कदलीखण्डमण्डितः

After five days, with effort, the previously spread coverings should be cleaned; a lofty pavilion should be constructed, adorned with banana trunks.

फलपुष्पदलैर्विष्वक् वितानेन विराजितः । चतुर्दिक्षु ध्वजारोपो बहुसम्पद्विराजितः

It should be splendidly decorated with fruits, flowers, and leaves, with a canopy; flags should be raised in all four directions, making it radiant with abundant wealth.

ऊर्ध्वं सप्तैव लोकाश्च कल्पनीयाः सविस्तरम् । तेषु विप्रा विरक्ताश्च स्थापनीयाः प्रबोध्य च

Above, the seven worlds should be depicted in detail; in those, renounced Brahmins should be seated and awakened.

पूर्वं तेषां आसनानि कर्तव्यानि यथोत्तरम् । वक्तुश्चापि तदा दिव्यं आसनं परिकल्पयेत्

First, their seats should be arranged in order; and for the speaker, a special divine seat should be prepared.

उदङ्‌मुखो भवेद्‌वक्ता श्रोता वै प्राङ्‌मुखस्तदा । प्राङ्‌मुखश्चेत् भवेद्‌वक्ता श्रोता च उदङ्‌मुखस्तदा

The speaker should face north, while the listener faces east; if the speaker faces east, then the listener should face north.

अथवा पूर्वदिग्ज्ञेया पूज्यपूजकमध्यतः । श्रोतॄणां आगमे प्रोक्ता देशकालादिकोविदैः

Alternatively, the east direction is to be known as the place between the worshipped and the worshipper; for the listeners’ arrival, this is prescribed by those skilled in place and time.

विरक्तो वैष्णवो विप्रो वेदशास्त्रविशुद्धिकृत् । दृष्टान्तकुशलो धीरो वक्ता कार्योऽति निःस्पृह

The speaker should be a detached, Vaishnava Brahmin, purified by Vedic scriptures, skilled in examples, steadfast, and utterly free from desire.

अनेकधर्मनिभ्रान्ताः स्त्रैणाः पाखण्डवादिनः । शुकशास्त्रकथोच्चारे त्याज्यास्ते यदि पण्डिताः

Those who are confused by many doctrines, attached to women, or proponents of heretical views, should be avoided in the recitation of Shuka’s scripture, even if they are learned.

वक्तुः पार्श्वे सहायार्थं अन्यः स्थाप्यस्तथाविधः । पण्डितः संशयच्छेत्ता लोकबोधनतत्परः

Beside the speaker, for assistance, another such scholar should be placed; one who resolves doubts and is devoted to enlightening the people.

वक्त्रा क्षौरं प्रकर्तव्यं दिनाद् अर्वाक् व्रताप्तये । अरुणोदयेऽसौ निर्वर्त्य शौचं स्नानं समाचरेत्

The speaker should shave before the day begins, for the sake of the vow; at sunrise, having completed this, he should perform purification and bathing.

नित्यं संक्षेपतः कृत्वा संध्याद्यं स्वं प्रयत्‍नतः । कथाविघ्नविघाताय गणनाथं प्रपूजयेत्

Daily, after briefly performing his own sandhya and other rites with care, he should worship the lord of obstacles to remove hindrances to the narration.

पितॄन् संतर्प्य शुद्ध्यर्थं प्रायश्चित्तं समाचरेत् । मण्डलं च प्रकर्तव्यं तत्र स्थाप्यो हरिस्तथा

Having satisfied the ancestors for purification, he should perform atonement; a mandala should be made, and Hari should be established there.

कृष्णमुद्दिश्य मंत्रेण चरेत् पूजाविधिं क्रमात् । प्रदक्षिण नमस्कारान् पूजान्ते स्तुतिमाचरेत्

With a mantra dedicated to Krishna, he should perform the ritual of worship in order; after circumambulation and prostration, he should recite praise at the end of the worship.

संसारसागरे मग्नं दीनं मां करुणानिधे । कर्ममोहगृहीताङ्‌गं मामुद्धर भवार्णवात्

O ocean of compassion, lift me, who am submerged in the sea of worldly existence, wretched and bound by the delusion of karma, from the ocean of becoming.

श्रीमद्‌भागवतस्यापि ततः पूजा प्रयत्‍नतः । कर्तव्या विधिना प्रीत्या धूपदीपसमन्विता

Then, the worship of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam should be performed with care, according to the prescribed method, with affection, accompanied by incense and lamps.

ततस्तु श्रीफलं धृत्वा नमस्कारं समाचरेत् । स्तुतिः प्रसन्नचित्तेन कर्तव्या केवलं तदा

After that, holding a coconut, one should offer salutations; at that time, praise should be recited with a cheerful mind.

श्रीमद्‌भागवताख्योऽयं प्रत्यक्षः कृष्ण एव हि । स्वीकृतोऽसि मया नाथ मुक्त्यर्थं भवसागरे

This scripture known as the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam is indeed Krishna Himself, manifest before us. O Lord, I have accepted You for the purpose of liberation from the ocean of worldly existence.

मनोरथो मदीयोऽयं सफलः सर्वथा त्वया । निर्विघ्नेनैव कर्तव्य दासोऽहं तव केशव

My cherished desire has been fulfilled entirely by You. Without any obstacles, it must be carried out; I am Your servant, O Keśava.

एवं दीनवचः प्रोच्य वक्तारं चाथ पूजयेत् । सम्भूष्य वस्त्रभूषाभिः पूजान्ते तं च संस्तवेत्

Having spoken thus in a humble voice, one should then honor the speaker, adorning him with garments and ornaments, and after the worship, praise him.