Bhagavata Purana

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.

शुकरूप प्रबोधज्ञ सर्वशास्त्रविशारद । एतत्कथाप्रकाशेन मदज्ञानं विनाशय

O boar-formed, awakened one, expert in all scriptures, by the revelation of this narrative, destroy my ignorance.

तदग्रे नियमः पश्चात् कर्तव्यः श्रेयसे मुदा । सप्तरात्रं यथाशक्त्या धारणीयः स एव हि

After this, a vow should be undertaken joyfully for one's own welfare, and it must be observed for seven nights, according to one's capacity.

वरणं पंचविप्राणां कथाभङ्‌गनिवृत्तये । कर्तव्यं तैः हरेर्जाप्यं द्वादशाक्षरविद्यया

A selection of five Brahmins should be made to prevent interruption of the narration, and they should recite the twelve-syllable mantra of Hari.

ब्राह्मणान् वैष्णवान् चान्यान् तथा कीर्तनकारिणः । नत्वा संपूज्य दत्ताज्ञः स्वयं आसनमाविशेत्

Having bowed to and honored Brahmins, Vaiṣṇavas, and others who perform kīrtana, and having given them instructions, one should then take one's own seat.

लोकवित्तधनागार पुत्रचिन्तां व्युदस्य च । कथाचित्तः शुद्धमतिः स लभेत्फलमुत्तमम्

Casting aside concerns for wealth, possessions, home, and children, with the mind absorbed in the narrative and pure in intent, one attains the highest result.

आसूर्योदयमारभ्य सार्धत्रिप्रहरान्तकम् । वाचनीया कथा सम्यक् धीरकण्ठं सुधीमता

Beginning at sunrise and continuing for three and a half watches of the day, the narration should be recited properly, with a steady voice by a wise person.

कथाविरामः कर्तव्यो मध्याह्ने घटिकाद्वयं । तत्कथामनु कार्यं वै कीर्तनं वैष्णवैस्तदा

A pause in the narration should be made at midday for two ghaṭikās, and after the narrative, kīrtana should be performed by the Vaiṣṇavas at that time.

मलमूत्रजयार्थं हि लघ्वाहारः सुखावहः । हविष्यान्नेन कर्तव्यो हि, एकवारं कथार्थिना

For mastery over bodily functions, a light meal that brings comfort should be taken; the seeker of the narrative should eat havis food only once.

उपोष्य सप्तरात्रं वै शक्तिश्चेत् श्रुणुयात् तदा । घृतपानं पयःपानं कृत्वा वै श्रृणुयात् सुखम्

If able, one should fast for seven nights and then listen; or, after drinking ghee or milk, one may listen comfortably.

फलाहारेण वा भाव्यं एकभुक्तेन वा पुनः । सुखसाध्यं भवेद् यत्तु कर्तव्यं श्रवणाय तत्

Alternatively, one may subsist on fruit or eat only once; whatever is easily accomplished should be done for the purpose of listening.