Bhagavata Purana

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.

भोजनं तु वरं मन्ये कथाश्रवणकारकम् । नोपवासो वरः प्रोक्तः कथाविघ्नकरो यदि

I consider eating to be preferable for those listening to the narrative; fasting is not recommended if it causes interruption to the narration.

सप्ताहव्रतिनां पुंसां नियमान् श्रुणु नारद । विष्णुदीक्षाविहीनानां नाधिकारः कथाश्रवे

Hear, O Nārada, the rules for those undertaking the seven-day vow; those without initiation into Viṣṇu have no eligibility to listen to the narrative.

ब्रह्मचर्यमधः सुप्तिः पत्रावल्यां च भोजनम् । कथासमाप्तौ भुक्तिं च कुर्यात् नित्यं कथाव्रती

Observing celibacy, sleeping on the ground, eating from leaves, and partaking of food only after the narrative is completed—these should be practiced daily by one observing the vow.

द्विदलं मधु तैलं च गरिष्ठान्नं तथैव च । भावदुष्टं पर्युषितं जह्यात् नित्यं कथाव्रती

One observing the vow should always avoid split pulses, honey, oil, heavy foods, and anything impure or stale.

कामं क्रोधं मदं मानं मत्सरं लोभमेव च । दम्भ मोहं तथा द्वेषं दूरयेच्च कथाव्रती

One observing the vow should keep far away desire, anger, intoxication, pride, envy, greed, hypocrisy, delusion, and hatred.

वेदवैष्णवविप्राणां गुरुगोव्रतिनां तथा । स्त्रीराजमहतां निन्दां वर्जयेत् यः कथाव्रती

One who observes the vow of reciting these stories should avoid speaking ill of Vedic scholars, Vaiṣṇavas, brāhmaṇas, teachers, cows, those observing vows, women, kings, and great souls.

रजस्वला अन्त्यज म्लेच्छ पतित व्रात्यकैस्तथा । द्विजद्विड् वेदबाह्यैश्च न वदेत् यः कथाव्रती

One who observes the vow of reciting these stories should not converse with women in their period, outcastes, foreigners, the fallen, those outside the Vedic fold, haters of twice-born, or those opposed to the Vedas.

सत्यं शौचं दयां मौनं आर्जवं विनयं तथा । उदारमानसं तद्वत् एवं कुर्यात् कथाव्रती

One who observes the vow of reciting these stories should practice truthfulness, purity, compassion, silence, simplicity, humility, and generosity of mind.

दरिद्रश्च क्षयी रोगी निर्भाग्यः पापकर्मवान् । अनपत्यो मोक्षकामः श्रुणुयाच्च कथामिमाम्

The poor, the wasting, the sick, the unfortunate, those engaged in sinful acts, the childless, and those desiring liberation should listen to this story.

अपुष्पा काकवन्ध्या च वन्ध्या या च मृतार्भका । स्रवत् गर्भा च या नारी तया श्राव्या प्रयत्‍नतः

A woman who does not conceive, whose children die, who is barren, who has lost her child, or who suffers miscarriage should carefully hear this story.