The Glory of the Shrimad Bhagavata: Bhakti Restored

Verse 1 (padma.6.195.1)

सूत उवाच- अथ देवऋषिस्तत्र कुमाराननुमान्य च । उवाच प्रणतो वाक्यं ज्ञानयज्ञ कृतादरः

sūta uvāca- atha devaṛṣistatra kumārānanumānya ca uvāca praṇato vākyaṁ jñānayajña kṛtādaraḥ

Suta said: Then the divine sage, having obtained the leave of the Kumaras there, bowed and, filled with reverence for the Jnana-yajna, spoke these words.

Verse 2 (padma.6.195.2)

नारद उवाच- ज्ञानयज्ञं करिष्यामि शुकशास्त्र कथोज्वलम् । भक्ति ज्ञान विरागाणां स्थापनार्थे प्रयत्नतः

nārada uvāca- jñānayajñaṁ kariṣyāmi śukaśāstra kathojvalam bhakti jñāna virāgāṇāṁ sthāpanārthe prayatnataḥ

Narada said: I shall perform the Jnana-yajna, radiant with the story of Shuka's scripture, with great effort, for the sake of restoring Bhakti, Jnana, and Vairagya.

Verse 3 (padma.6.195.3)

यत्र कार्यो मया यज्ञः स्थानं तत्कथ्यतां द्विजाः । चत्वारो यज्ञवाहाश्च यूयमेव वृता मया

yatra kāryo mayā yajñaḥ sthānaṁ tatkathyatāṁ dvijāḥ catvāro yajñavāhāśca yūyameva vṛtā mayā

Tell me, O brahmins, the place where I should perform this sacrifice. I have chosen you yourselves as the four bearers of this sacrifice.

Verse 4 (padma.6.195.4)

कियद्भिर्दिवसैः श्राव्या श्रीमद्भागवती कथा । को विधिस्तत्र कर्तव्यो ज्ञानयज्ञविशारदाः

kiyadbhirdivasaiḥ śrāvyā śrīmadbhāgavatī kathā ko vidhistatra kartavyo jñānayajñaviśāradāḥ

Over how many days should the Shrimad Bhagavata story be recited? O you skilled in the Jnana-yajna, what procedure should be followed there?

Verse 5 (padma.6.195.5)

कुमारा ऊचुः। शृणु नारद वक्ष्यामस्तुभ्यं यत्र कथा नृणाम् । शृण्वतां पापराशिघ्नो भवेत्पुण्यविबर्द्विनी

kumārā ūcuḥ śṛṇu nārada vakṣyāmastubhyaṁ yatra kathā nṛṇām śṛṇvatāṁ pāparāśighno bhavetpuṇyavibardvinī

The Kumaras said: Listen, O Narada, we shall tell you where this story, for men who hear it, shall destroy the mass of sin and increase merit.

Verse 6 (padma.6.195.6)

गंगाद्वार समीपे तु कामदाख्यं पुरं महत्

gaṁgādvāra samīpe tu kāmadākhyaṁ puraṁ mahat

Near Gangadwar there is a great city named Kamada—

Verse 7 (padma.6.195.7)

स्वर्णद्याश्चोत्तरे पुण्ये तटमानंदनामकम् । नानाऋषिगणैर्जुष्टं देवसिद्धनिषेवितम्

svarṇadyāścottare puṇye taṭamānaṁdanāmakam nānāṛṣigaṇairjuṣṭaṁ devasiddhaniṣevitam

—on the north bank of the golden river there is a sacred bank named Ananda, frequented by many groups of sages and served by gods and adepts.

Verse 8 (padma.6.195.8)

नाना तरुलताकीर्णं स्वच्छकोमल वालुकम् । रम्यमेकांतदेशस्थं स्वर्णपंकज शोभितम्

nānā tarulatākīrṇaṁ svacchakomala vālukam ramyamekāṁtadeśasthaṁ svarṇapaṁkaja śobhitam

It is filled with various trees and creepers, its sand clean and soft, lovely and secluded, adorned with golden lotuses.

Verse 9 (padma.6.195.9)

यत्समीपस्थजीवानां क्षेत्रस्यैव प्रभावतः । मिथः संस्निग्धचित्तानां वैरं चेतसि न स्थितम्

yatsamīpasthajīvānāṁ kṣetrasyaiva prabhāvataḥ mithaḥ saṁsnigdhacittānāṁ vairaṁ cetasi na sthitam

By the very power of that place, the hearts of the beings living nearby become mutually affectionate, and no enmity remains in their minds.

Verse 10 (padma.6.195.10)

ज्ञानयज्ञस्त्वया तत्र कर्त्तव्यो हि प्रयत्नतः । अपूर्व रसदात्री च कथा तत्र भविष्यति

jñānayajñastvayā tatra karttavyo hi prayatnataḥ apūrva rasadātrī ca kathā tatra bhaviṣyati

There you should perform the Jnana-yajna with great effort; there the story shall become a giver of unprecedented essence.

Verse 11 (padma.6.195.11)

वृंदावनप्रतोलिस्थं जराजीर्ण कलेवरम् । सुतद्वयं पुरस्कृत्य भक्तिस्तत्रागमिष्यति

vṛṁdāvanapratolisthaṁ jarājīrṇa kalevaram sutadvayaṁ puraskṛtya bhaktistatrāgamiṣyati

In the lane of Vrindavana, leading her two decrepit, aged sons before her, Bhakti shall come there.

Verse 12 (padma.6.195.12)

यत्र भागवती वार्ता भक्तिस्तत्र सहात्मजा । कृष्णकीर्तिसुधां पीत्वा तरुणी वा भविष्यति

yatra bhāgavatī vārtā bhaktistatra sahātmajā kṛṣṇakīrtisudhāṁ pītvā taruṇī vā bhaviṣyati

Wherever the Bhagavata's account takes place, Bhakti comes there with her sons; drinking the nectar of Krishna's fame, she shall again become young.

Verse 13 (padma.6.195.13)

सूत उवाच- एवमुक्त्वा कुमारास्ते नारदेन समंततः । गंगाद्वारे समाजग्मुर्ज्ञानयज्ञाय सत्वराः

sūta uvāca- evamuktvā kumārāste nāradena samaṁtataḥ gaṁgādvāre samājagmurjñānayajñāya satvarāḥ

Suta said: Having spoken thus, those Kumaras together with Narada quickly assembled at Gangadwar for the Jnana-yajna.

Verse 14 (padma.6.195.14)

यदा प्राप्तास्तटं ते तु गंगाया भार्गवर्षभ । तदा कोलाहलश्चासीद्भूर्लोकादिक सप्तसु

yadā prāptāstaṭaṁ te tu gaṁgāyā bhārgavarṣabha tadā kolāhalaścāsīdbhūrlokādika saptasu

O best of the Bhargavas, when they reached the bank of the Ganga, a great commotion arose across all the worlds, from earth up through the seven realms.

Verse 15 (padma.6.195.15)

श्रीमद्भागवतास्वादलंपटा साप्तलौकिकाः । धावं धावं समाजग्मुः प्राचीना वैष्णवाश्च ये

śrīmadbhāgavatāsvādalaṁpaṭā sāptalaukikāḥ dhāvaṁ dhāvaṁ samājagmuḥ prācīnā vaiṣṇavāśca ye

The ancient Vaishnavas of all seven worlds, eager for the taste of the Shrimad Bhagavata's essence, came running there.

Verse 16 (padma.6.195.16)

भृगुर्वसिष्ठश्च्यवनश्च गौतमो मेधातिथिर्देबलदेवरातौ । रामस्तथागाधिज शाकलौ च मृकंडपुत्रात्रिज पिप्पलादाः

bhṛgurvasiṣṭhaścyavanaśca gautamo medhātithirdebaladevarātau rāmastathāgādhija śākalau ca mṛkaṁḍaputrātrija pippalādāḥ

Bhrigu, Vasishtha, Chyavana, Gautama, Medhatithi, Devala, Devarata, Rama, Agadhi, Shakala, the son of Mrikandu, the son of Atri, and Pippalada—

Verse 17 (padma.6.195.17)

योगेश्वरौ व्यासपराशरौ च शुकादयो भागवतप्रधानाः । शिष्यैरुपेता बहुशास्त्रविज्ञाः कृष्णामृतास्वाद कृतौ प्रधानाः

yogeśvarau vyāsaparāśarau ca śukādayo bhāgavatapradhānāḥ śiṣyairupetā bahuśāstravijñāḥ kṛṣṇāmṛtāsvāda kṛtau pradhānāḥ

—the yoga-masters Vyasa and Parashara, and Shuka and other foremost Bhagavata sages, accompanied by their disciples, learned in many scriptures, foremost in tasting the nectar of Krishna—

Verse 18 (padma.6.195.18)

वेदांतानि च वेदाश्च मंत्रास्तंत्राणि संहिताः । दशसप्तपुराणानि षट्शास्त्राणि तथाययुः

vedāṁtāni ca vedāśca maṁtrāstaṁtrāṇi saṁhitāḥ daśasaptapurāṇāni ṣaṭśāstrāṇi tathāyayuḥ

—the Vedantas, the Vedas, the mantras, the tantras, the samhitas, the seventeen Puranas, and the six shastras also arrived there.

Verse 19 (padma.6.195.19)

गंगाद्याः सरितस्तत्र पुष्करादि सरांसि च । क्षेत्राणि च दिशः सर्वा दंडकादि वनानि च

gaṁgādyāḥ saritastatra puṣkarādi sarāṁsi ca kṣetrāṇi ca diśaḥ sarvā daṁḍakādi vanāni ca

The Ganga and other rivers, Pushkara and other lakes, all the sacred fields, all the directions, and the Dandaka and other forests also arrived there.

Verse 20 (padma.6.195.20)

हिमादयो नगास्तत्र देवगंधर्वकिन्नराः । द्वीपाः समुद्रा दिक्पालाः पातालस्थास्तथाययुः

himādayo nagāstatra devagaṁdharvakinnarāḥ dvīpāḥ samudrā dikpālāḥ pātālasthāstathāyayuḥ

The Himalayas and other mountains, the gods, gandharvas, kinnaras, islands, oceans, the guardians of the directions, and the dwellers of the netherworld also came.

Verse 21 (padma.6.195.21)

दीक्षायां नारदेनाथ दत्तमासनमुत्तमम् । कुमारा वंदिता सर्वे निषेदुः कृष्णतत्पराः

dīkṣāyāṁ nāradenātha dattamāsanamuttamam kumārā vaṁditā sarve niṣeduḥ kṛṣṇatatparāḥ

At the initiation, an excellent seat was given by Narada; all the Kumaras, thus honored, sat down, absorbed in Krishna.

Verse 22 (padma.6.195.22)

वैष्णवाः सुविरक्ताश्च न्यासिनो ब्रह्मचारिणः । मुख्या ह्यग्रेस्थिता स्तेषां पुरतो नारदः स्थितः

vaiṣṇavāḥ suviraktāśca nyāsino brahmacāriṇaḥ mukhyā hyagresthitā steṣāṁ purato nāradaḥ sthitaḥ

The most dispassionate Vaishnavas, renunciates, and celibate students sat in the foremost places; before them, foremost of all, sat Narada.

Verse 23 (padma.6.195.23)

वामभागेमुनिगणादक्षिणेचदिवौकसः । वेदोपनिषदोऽन्यत्रतीर्थानिचभृगूद्वह

vāmabhāgemunigaṇādakṣiṇecadivaukasaḥ vedopaniṣado'nyatratīrthānicabhṛgūdvaha

O descendant of Bhrigu, on the left sat the assembly of sages and on the right the gods; the Vedas, Upanishads, and tirthas took their places elsewhere.

Verse 24 (padma.6.195.24)

जयशब्दोनमः शब्दःशंखशब्दस्तथैवच । बभूवाकाशसंस्पर्शीघोषयन्विदिशोदश

jayaśabdonamaḥ śabdaḥśaṁkhaśabdastathaivaca babhūvākāśasaṁsparśīghoṣayanvidiśodaśa

Cries of ‘Jaya’ and ‘Namah,’ together with the sound of conch-shells, arose, touching the very sky, resounding through all ten directions.

Verse 25 (padma.6.195.25)

विमानानिसमारुह्यप्रहृष्टानाकवासिनः । कल्पवृक्षप्रसूनैश्चतांसभांसमवाकिरन्

vimānānisamāruhyaprahṛṣṭānākavāsinaḥ kalpavṛkṣaprasūnaiścatāṁsabhāṁsamavākiran

The dwellers of heaven, filled with joy, mounted their celestial chariots and showered the assembly with the flowers of the wish-fulfilling tree.

Verse 26 (padma.6.195.26)

सूतउवाच- एवंतेषुनिविष्टेषुभृग्वादिषुयथार्हतः । श्रीभागवतमाहात्म्यमूचिरेनारदायते

sūtauvāca- evaṁteṣuniviṣṭeṣubhṛgvādiṣuyathārhataḥ śrībhāgavatamāhātmyamūcirenāradāyate

Suta said: Thus, when Bhrigu and the others had taken their fitting places, they began to declare to Narada the glory of the Shri Bhagavata.

Verse 27 (padma.6.195.27)

कुमारा ऊचुः। शृणु नारद वक्ष्यामो महिमानं महाद्भुतम् । श्रीमद्भागवताख्यस्य शास्त्रस्य विधिपूर्वकम्

kumārā ūcuḥ śṛṇu nārada vakṣyāmo mahimānaṁ mahādbhutam śrīmadbhāgavatākhyasya śāstrasya vidhipūrvakam

The Kumaras said: Listen, O Narada, we shall tell you, in due order, the greatly wondrous glory of the scripture named Shrimad Bhagavata.

Verse 28 (padma.6.195.28)

सदा नरैः सुकृतिभिः सेव्या भागवती कथा । यस्याः श्रवणमात्रेण कृतार्थत्वं प्रयांति ते

sadā naraiḥ sukṛtibhiḥ sevyā bhāgavatī kathā yasyāḥ śravaṇamātreṇa kṛtārthatvaṁ prayāṁti te

The Bhagavata story is ever to be served by meritorious men; merely by hearing it, they become fulfilled.

Verse 29 (padma.6.195.29)

ग्रंथो ऽष्टादशसाहस्रो द्वादशस्कंध संयुतः । परीक्षिच्छुकसंवादः श्रीमद्भागवताभिधः

graṁtho 'ṣṭādaśasāhasro dvādaśaskaṁdha saṁyutaḥ parīkṣicchukasaṁvādaḥ śrīmadbhāgavatābhidhaḥ

This is a work of eighteen thousand verses, comprising twelve books, the dialogue of Parikshit and Shuka, named Shrimad Bhagavata.

Verse 30 (padma.6.195.30)

तावत्संसारचक्रेस्मिन्भ्रमत्यज्ञानमोहितः । यावत्कर्णगतंनोस्याच्छुकशास्त्रं जनस्य च

tāvatsaṁsāracakresminbhramatyajñānamohitaḥ yāvatkarṇagataṁnosyācchukaśāstraṁ janasya ca

As long as this Shuka-scripture has not reached a person's ears, he wanders, deluded by ignorance, in this wheel of worldly existence.

Verse 31 (padma.6.195.31)

किं श्रुतैर्बहुभिः शास्त्रैः पुराणैः संहितागमैः । यदि भागवतं पुंभिर्न श्रुतं भक्तिभावनैः

kiṁ śrutairbahubhiḥ śāstraiḥ purāṇaiḥ saṁhitāgamaiḥ yadi bhāgavataṁ puṁbhirna śrutaṁ bhaktibhāvanaiḥ

What use is there in hearing many other scriptures, Puranas, samhitas, and agamas, if men filled with devotion have not heard the Bhagavata?

Verse 32 (padma.6.195.32)

कथा भागवतस्यापि नित्यं भवति यद्गृहे । तद्गृहं तीर्थरूपं हि नृणां पापविनाशनम्

kathā bhāgavatasyāpi nityaṁ bhavati yadgṛhe tadgṛhaṁ tīrtharūpaṁ hi nṛṇāṁ pāpavināśanam

The house in which the Bhagavata's story regularly takes place is itself a tirtha, and destroys the sins of men.

Verse 33 (padma.6.195.33)

अश्वमेधसहस्राणि राजसूयशतानि च । भागवत्याः कथायाश्च कलां नार्हंति षोडशीम्

aśvamedhasahasrāṇi rājasūyaśatāni ca bhāgavatyāḥ kathāyāśca kalāṁ nārhaṁti ṣoḍaśīm

Thousands of Ashvamedha sacrifices and hundreds of Rajasuya sacrifices do not equal a sixteenth part of the merit of the Bhagavata story.

Verse 34 (padma.6.195.34)

तावत्पापानि तिष्ठंति देहेऽस्मिन्मुनिपुंगव । यावन्न श्रूयते सम्यक्श्रीमद्भागवतं नरैः

tāvatpāpāni tiṣṭhaṁti dehe'sminmunipuṁgava yāvanna śrūyate samyakśrīmadbhāgavataṁ naraiḥ

O best of sages, as long as men have not properly heard the Shrimad Bhagavata, sins remain lodged in this body.

Verse 35 (padma.6.195.35)

न गंगा न गया काशी प्रतिष्ठानं न पुष्करः । कथाया भागवत्याश्च समा पुण्यफलेन च

na gaṁgā na gayā kāśī pratiṣṭhānaṁ na puṣkaraḥ kathāyā bhāgavatyāśca samā puṇyaphalena ca

Neither Ganga, nor Gaya, nor Kashi, nor Pratishthana, nor Pushkara equal the Bhagavata story in the fruit of merit.

Verse 36 (padma.6.195.36)

श्लोकार्द्धं श्लोकपादं वा नित्यं भागवतोद्भवम् । पठस्व स्वमुखेनापि यदीच्छसि भवक्षयम्

ślokārddhaṁ ślokapādaṁ vā nityaṁ bhāgavatodbhavam paṭhasva svamukhenāpi yadīcchasi bhavakṣayam

If you desire the destruction of worldly bondage, recite daily with your own mouth even half a verse or a single line arising from the Bhagavata.

Verse 37 (padma.6.195.37)

वेदादिर्वेदमाता च पौरुषंसूक्तमेव च । त्रयी भागवतं चैव द्वादशाष्टाक्षरौ मनू

vedādirvedamātā ca pauruṣaṁsūktameva ca trayī bhāgavataṁ caiva dvādaśāṣṭākṣarau manū

The origin of the Vedas, the mother of the Vedas, the Purusha-sukta, the triad of Vedas, the Bhagavata, the twelve- and eight-syllable mantras—

Verse 38 (padma.6.195.38)

द्वादशात्मा प्रयागश्च कालः संवत्सरात्मकः । ब्राह्मणश्चाग्निहोत्रं च सुरभिर्द्वादशी तिथिः

dvādaśātmā prayāgaśca kālaḥ saṁvatsarātmakaḥ brāhmaṇaścāgnihotraṁ ca surabhirdvādaśī tithiḥ

—the twelve-fold self, Prayaga, time in the form of the year, the brahmin, the Agnihotra, the wish-cow, the twelfth lunar day—

Verse 39 (padma.6.195.39)

तुलसी च वसंतर्तुः पुरुषोत्तम एव च । एतेषां वस्तुतो नास्ति पृथग्भावो मुनीश्वर

tulasī ca vasaṁtartuḥ puruṣottama eva ca eteṣāṁ vastuto nāsti pṛthagbhāvo munīśvara

—Tulasi, the spring season, and Purushottama himself — O lord of sages, among all these there is, in truth, no separation.

Verse 40 (padma.6.195.40)

यश्च भागवतं शास्त्रं व्याकुर्यादन्वहं द्विज । जन्मकोटिकृतं पापं तस्य नश्यति नारद

yaśca bhāgavataṁ śāstraṁ vyākuryādanvahaṁ dvija janmakoṭikṛtaṁ pāpaṁ tasya naśyati nārada

O brahmin Narada, whoever expounds the Bhagavata shastra day after day — his sins accumulated over millions of births are destroyed.

Verse 41 (padma.6.195.41)

श्रुतं च पठितं ध्यातं श्रीमद्भागवतं नृभिः । ददाति मुक्तिं भक्तिं वा तुलस्यग्न्योश्च सेवनम्

śrutaṁ ca paṭhitaṁ dhyātaṁ śrīmadbhāgavataṁ nṛbhiḥ dadāti muktiṁ bhaktiṁ vā tulasyagnyośca sevanam

The Shrimad Bhagavata, heard, recited, or meditated upon by men, grants either liberation or devotion, and yields the same fruit as the service of Tulasi and Agni.

Verse 42 (padma.6.195.42)

अंतकाले तु संप्राप्ते भयं त्यक्त्वा सुदूरतः । श्रीमद्भागवतं भक्त्या शृणुयाद्यः स मुक्तिभाक्

aṁtakāle tu saṁprāpte bhayaṁ tyaktvā sudūrataḥ śrīmadbhāgavataṁ bhaktyā śṛṇuyādyaḥ sa muktibhāk

Even when the final hour draws near, whoever, casting fear far away, hears the Shrimad Bhagavata with devotion, becomes a partaker of liberation.

Verse 43 (padma.6.195.43)

प्रौष्ठपद्यां च राकायां हेमसिंह समन्वितम् । अलंकृत्य द्विजाग्र्याय श्रीमद्भागवतं ददेत्

prauṣṭhapadyāṁ ca rākāyāṁ hemasiṁha samanvitam alaṁkṛtya dvijāgryāya śrīmadbhāgavataṁ dadet

On the full moon of Bhadrapada, having adorned it with a golden throne, one should give the Shrimad Bhagavata as a gift to a foremost brahmin.

Verse 44 (padma.6.195.44)

भक्तियुक्तो विमानश्च मिताशी च जितेंद्रियः । श्रुत्वादितः स कृष्णस्य सायुज्यं लोकमाप्नुयात्

bhaktiyukto vimānaśca mitāśī ca jiteṁdriyaḥ śrutvāditaḥ sa kṛṣṇasya sāyujyaṁ lokamāpnuyāt

Devoted, restrained, moderate in food, and self-controlled, hearing it from the very beginning, a man attains union with Krishna's own realm.

Verse 45 (padma.6.195.45)

आजन्ममात्रमपि येन शठेन चित्तं सम्यङ्नियम्य भुवि कृष्णकथा न पीता । चांडालवच्च पशुवद्बत तेन नीतं मिथ्या स्वजन्म जननी भृशमर्दिता च

ājanmamātramapi yena śaṭhena cittaṁ samyaṅniyamya bhuvi kṛṣṇakathā na pītā cāṁḍālavacca paśuvadbata tena nītaṁ mithyā svajanma jananī bhṛśamarditā ca

That fool who, even throughout his life, restraining his mind properly, has never drunk the story of Krishna on this earth — alas, his birth has been rendered as false as a dog-cooker's or an animal's, and his mother sorely afflicted.

Verse 46 (padma.6.195.46)

यैर्न श्रुतं भागवतं पुराणमाराधितो नो पुरुषः पुराणः । मुखे हुतं नैव धरामराणां तेषां वृथा जन्म गतं नराणाम्

yairna śrutaṁ bhāgavataṁ purāṇamārādhito no puruṣaḥ purāṇaḥ mukhe hutaṁ naiva dharāmarāṇāṁ teṣāṁ vṛthā janma gataṁ narāṇām

Those who have not heard the Bhagavata Purana, who have not worshipped the eternal Purusha, who have not offered oblation into the mouths of brahmins and of Agni — the human birth of such men has passed in vain.

Verse 47 (padma.6.195.47)

चित्तं न यस्य तु नरस्य हरेः कथायां संप्रीयते दुरितदुष्टमसत्प्रसंगात् । धिक्तं नरं पशुसमं भुविभारभूतमेवं वदंति मुनयः किल पूर्वसिद्धाः

cittaṁ na yasya tu narasya hareḥ kathāyāṁ saṁprīyate duritaduṣṭamasatprasaṁgāt dhiktaṁ naraṁ paśusamaṁ bhuvibhārabhūtamevaṁ vadaṁti munayaḥ kila pūrvasiddhāḥ

That man whose mind, sullied by sin through evil association, finds no delight in the story of Hari — shame on that man, a mere animal, a burden upon the earth — so say the ancient perfected sages.

Verse 48 (padma.6.195.48)

दुर्ल्लभैव कथा लोके श्रीमद्भागवतोद्भवा । कोटिजन्मसमुत्थेन पुण्येनैव तु लभ्यते

durllabhaiva kathā loke śrīmadbhāgavatodbhavā koṭijanmasamutthena puṇyenaiva tu labhyate

This story born of the Bhagavata is exceedingly rare in the world; it is obtained only through merit accumulated across millions of births.

Verse 49 (padma.6.195.49)

तेन योगनिधे साधो श्रोतव्या सात्वती कथा । प्रत्यहं नियमो नास्ति दिनानां वस्तुतो द्विज

tena yoganidhe sādho śrotavyā sātvatī kathā pratyahaṁ niyamo nāsti dinānāṁ vastuto dvija

Therefore, O saintly treasure of yoga, this Sattvata story should be heard; there is, in truth, no fixed rule of days for it, O brahmin.

Verse 50 (padma.6.195.50)

सत्येन ब्रह्मचर्येण यतोऽस्य श्रवणं मतम् । ततः कलौ विशेषो हि विधिः सप्तदिनात्मकः

satyena brahmacaryeṇa yato'sya śravaṇaṁ matam tataḥ kalau viśeṣo hi vidhiḥ saptadinātmakaḥ

Its hearing is prescribed together with truth and celibacy; therefore, in the Kali age, a special seven-day method has been declared.

Verse 51 (padma.6.195.51)

मनसश्चाजयाद्रोगात्पुंसां चैवायुषः क्षयात् । कलेर्दोषबहुत्वाच्च सप्ताहश्रवणंमतम्

manasaścājayādrogātpuṁsāṁ caivāyuṣaḥ kṣayāt kalerdoṣabahutvācca saptāhaśravaṇaṁmatam

Because of failure to conquer the mind, because of disease, because of the decline of men's lifespan, and because of the abundance of Kali's faults, the seven-day hearing is deemed suitable.

Verse 52 (padma.6.195.52)

मनसो निग्रहश्चैव नियमाचरणं तथा । कर्तुं सप्तदिनं शक्यं ततो नियमकल्पना

manaso nigrahaścaiva niyamācaraṇaṁ tathā kartuṁ saptadinaṁ śakyaṁ tato niyamakalpanā

Restraint of mind and the observance of vows can be accomplished within seven days; therefore this rule of seven days was devised.

Verse 53 (padma.6.195.53)

श्रद्धया श्रवणे नित्यमाद्यंतावधि यत्फलम् । तत्फलं शुकदेवेन सप्ताहश्रवणे कृतम्

śraddhayā śravaṇe nityamādyaṁtāvadhi yatphalam tatphalaṁ śukadevena saptāhaśravaṇe kṛtam

Whatever fruit comes from daily hearing with faith from beginning to end, that same fruit was set by Shukadeva within the seven-day hearing.

Verse 54 (padma.6.195.54)

यत्फलं नास्ति तपसा न योगेन समाधिना । अनायासेन तत्सर्वं सप्ताह श्रवणाल्लभेत्

yatphalaṁ nāsti tapasā na yogena samādhinā anāyāsena tatsarvaṁ saptāha śravaṇāllabhet

The fruit not obtained by austerity, nor by yoga, nor by meditative absorption — all of that is obtained effortlessly through the seven-day hearing.

Verse 55 (padma.6.195.55)

यज्ञाद्व्रताच्च तपसो ध्यानाज्ज्ञानाच्च तीर्थतः । श्रीभागवतसप्ताह नियमो ह्युत्तमो मतः

yajñādvratācca tapaso dhyānājjñānācca tīrthataḥ śrībhāgavatasaptāha niyamo hyuttamo mataḥ

The discipline of the Shri Bhagavata Saptaha is deemed superior even to sacrifice, vow, austerity, meditation, knowledge, and pilgrimage.

Verse 56 (padma.6.195.56)

यदा कृष्णो भुवं त्यक्त्वा स्वपदं गंतुमुद्यतः । तदाज्ञायोद्धवो धीमान्गोविंदं वाक्यमब्रवीत्

yadā kṛṣṇo bhuvaṁ tyaktvā svapadaṁ gaṁtumudyataḥ tadājñāyoddhavo dhīmāngoviṁdaṁ vākyamabravīt

When Krishna, about to leave the earth and go to his own abode, was preparing to depart, wise Uddhava, learning of this, spoke these words to Govinda.

Verse 57 (padma.6.195.57)

उद्धव उवाच- भगवन्भवता सर्वं देवकार्यं प्रसाधितम् । अधुना गंतुमिच्छुस्त्वं स्वंपदं तमसः परम्

uddhava uvāca- bhagavanbhavatā sarvaṁ devakāryaṁ prasādhitam adhunā gaṁtumicchustvaṁ svaṁpadaṁ tamasaḥ param

Uddhava said: O Lord, you have accomplished all the work of the gods. Now you wish to go to your own abode, beyond darkness.

Verse 58 (padma.6.195.58)

अतश्चिंता ममोत्पन्ना त्वद्वियोग भिया विभो । तामपाकुरु देवेश त्वामहं शरणं गतः

ataściṁtā mamotpannā tvadviyoga bhiyā vibho tāmapākuru deveśa tvāmahaṁ śaraṇaṁ gataḥ

Therefore, O Lord, worry has arisen in me from fear of separation from you. O god of gods, remove it — I have taken refuge in you.

Verse 59 (padma.6.195.59)

आगतोऽयं कलिर्घोरोऽत्र सर्वेऽपि जनाः खलाः । भविष्यंति ततो नाथ किं विधेयं तदादिश

āgato'yaṁ kalirghoro'tra sarve'pi janāḥ khalāḥ bhaviṣyaṁti tato nātha kiṁ vidheyaṁ tadādiśa

This terrible Kali has arrived; here all people will become wicked. O Lord, tell me what should then be done.

Verse 60 (padma.6.195.60)

इयं भारवती भूमिः शरणं किं प्रयास्यति । त्वदन्यो दृश्यते नात्र त्राता स्याद् यदुनंदन

iyaṁ bhāravatī bhūmiḥ śaraṇaṁ kiṁ prayāsyati tvadanyo dṛśyate nātra trātā syād yadunaṁdana

Where will this earth, burdened with sorrow, find refuge? O joy of the Yadus, no protector other than you is seen here.

Verse 61 (padma.6.195.61)

अतोऽस्मासु दयां कृत्वा तिष्ठात्रैव दयानिधे । साधूनां रक्षणायैव त्वमाविरभवः प्रभो

ato'smāsu dayāṁ kṛtvā tiṣṭhātraiva dayānidhe sādhūnāṁ rakṣaṇāyaiva tvamāvirabhavaḥ prabho

Therefore, O ocean of compassion, having compassion on us, stay here itself; O Lord, you incarnated only for the protection of the saints.

Verse 62 (padma.6.195.62)

निर्गुणोऽपि निराकारः सच्चिदानंदविग्रहः । त्वद्वियोगेन ते भक्ताः कथं स्थास्यंति भूतले

nirguṇo'pi nirākāraḥ saccidānaṁdavigrahaḥ tvadviyogena te bhaktāḥ kathaṁ sthāsyaṁti bhūtale

Though attributeless, formless, of the very nature of being-consciousness-bliss, how will your devotees remain on this earth separated from you?

Verse 63 (padma.6.195.63)

निर्गुणोपासने कष्टमतोऽस्मद्धितमाचर । सूत उवाच-। इत्युद्धववचः श्रुत्वा चिंतयित्वा क्षणं हरिः

nirguṇopāsane kaṣṭamato'smaddhitamācara sūta uvāca- ityuddhavavacaḥ śrutvā ciṁtayitvā kṣaṇaṁ hariḥ

Worship of the attributeless is difficult; therefore do what is beneficial for us. Suta said: Hearing these words of Uddhava, and pondering for a moment, Hari—

Verse 64 (padma.6.195.64)

ददौ भागवतं तस्मै कृपया परया युतः । निजं तेजः समाधाय श्रीमद्भागवते द्विज

dadau bhāgavataṁ tasmai kṛpayā parayā yutaḥ nijaṁ tejaḥ samādhāya śrīmadbhāgavate dvija

—filled with the highest compassion, gave him the Bhagavata; investing his own splendor within the Shrimad Bhagavata, O brahmin—

Verse 65 (padma.6.195.65)

दत्वोद्धवाय भगवान्स्वकीयं पदमाविशत् । तेनेयं वाङ्मयी मूर्तिर्वर्त्तते श्रीहरेरिह

datvoddhavāya bhagavānsvakīyaṁ padamāviśat teneyaṁ vāṅmayī mūrtirvarttate śrīhareriha

—having given it to Uddhava, the Lord entered his own abode. Therefore this verbal embodiment of Shri Hari itself exists here.

Verse 66 (padma.6.195.66)

सेवनात्सततं चास्याः पापं नश्येन्नृणां क्षणात् । सप्ताहश्रवणं तेन कथितं सर्वतोऽधिकम्

sevanātsatataṁ cāsyāḥ pāpaṁ naśyennṛṇāṁ kṣaṇāt saptāhaśravaṇaṁ tena kathitaṁ sarvato'dhikam

By its constant service, the sins of men are destroyed in an instant; therefore the seven-day hearing has been declared superior to everything else.

Verse 67 (padma.6.195.67)

श्रोता वक्ता पृच्छकश्च यांति तन्मयतां द्विज । दुःखदारिद्र्य दौर्भाग्य पाप प्रक्षालनाय च

śrotā vaktā pṛcchakaśca yāṁti tanmayatāṁ dvija duḥkhadāridrya daurbhāgya pāpa prakṣālanāya ca

O brahmin, the hearer, the speaker, and the questioner all attain oneness with that supreme reality.

Verse 68 (padma.6.195.68)

कामक्रोध जयार्थं च कलौ भागवतं क्षमम् । अन्यथा वैष्णवी माया देवानामपि दुर्जया । कथं निवर्तते पुंसां श्रीमद्भागवतं विना

kāmakrodha jayārthaṁ ca kalau bhāgavataṁ kṣamam anyathā vaiṣṇavī māyā devānāmapi durjayā kathaṁ nivartate puṁsāṁ śrīmadbhāgavataṁ vinā

For washing away sorrow, poverty, misfortune, and sin, and for conquering desire and anger, the Bhagavata alone is capable in the Kali age—

Verse 69 (padma.6.195.69)

सूत उवाच- इत्येवमुक्त्वा माहात्म्यं श्रीमद्भागवतस्य ते । कथां भागवतीं दिव्यां प्रवक्तुमुपचक्रमुः

sūta uvāca- ityevamuktvā māhātmyaṁ śrīmadbhāgavatasya te kathāṁ bhāgavatīṁ divyāṁ pravaktumupacakramuḥ

—otherwise, how can the Vaishnavi Maya, hard to conquer even for the gods, be overcome by men without the Shrimad Bhagavata?

Verse 70 (padma.6.195.70)

वेदोपनिषदां सारे श्रीमद्भागवते द्विजैः । आरभ्यमाणे तत्रैव भक्तिराविरभूत्क्षणात्

vedopaniṣadāṁ sāre śrīmadbhāgavate dvijaiḥ ārabhyamāṇe tatraiva bhaktirāvirabhūtkṣaṇāt

Suta said: Having thus spoken the glory of the Shrimad Bhagavata, they began to narrate the divine Bhagavata story.

Verse 71 (padma.6.195.71)

प्रेमान्विता चारुतनुर्मुदान्वितौ सुतौ गृहीत्वा तरुणौ स्वदोर्भ्याम् । श्रीकृष्ण गोविंद हरे मुरारे नाथेति नामानि मुहुर्वदंती

premānvitā cārutanurmudānvitau sutau gṛhītvā taruṇau svadorbhyām śrīkṛṣṇa goviṁda hare murāre nātheti nāmāni muhurvadaṁtī

As the Shrimad Bhagavata, the very essence of the Vedas and Upanishads, was begun by those brahmins, Bhakti appeared instantly, right there.

Verse 72 (padma.6.195.72)

तामागतां भागवतार्थभूषां सुचारुवेषां ददृशुः सदस्याः । व्यतर्कयंश्चापि कथं कुतासौ कास्तीति सर्वेऽपि सुविस्मिताक्षाः

tāmāgatāṁ bhāgavatārthabhūṣāṁ sucāruveṣāṁ dadṛśuḥ sadasyāḥ vyatarkayaṁścāpi kathaṁ kutāsau kāstīti sarve'pi suvismitākṣāḥ

Filled with love, of beautiful form, holding her two joyful, now-youthful sons with her own hands, repeatedly uttering the names ‘Shri Krishna, Govinda, Hare, Murari, Natha’—

Verse 73 (padma.6.195.73)

ततः कुमारा जगदुः कृतार्था कथार्थतो निष्पतिताधुनेयम् । एवं गिरः सा ससुता निशम्य जगाद नम्राब्जभुवः कुमारात्

tataḥ kumārā jagaduḥ kṛtārthā kathārthato niṣpatitādhuneyam evaṁ giraḥ sā sasutā niśamya jagāda namrābjabhuvaḥ kumārāt

—the assembly beheld her arriving, adorned with the very ornament of the Bhagavata's meaning, beautifully dressed; and all, their eyes filled with astonishment, wondered how and whence she had come, and who she was.

Verse 74 (padma.6.195.74)

भक्तिरुवाच-। भवद्भिरद्यैव कृतास्मि पुष्टा कलौ प्रणष्टापि कथारसेन । तिष्ठामि कुत्राहमभीष्टमाभ्यां सहास्पदं मह्यमुपादशध्वम्

bhaktiruvāca- bhavadbhiradyaiva kṛtāsmi puṣṭā kalau praṇaṣṭāpi kathārasena tiṣṭhāmi kutrāhamabhīṣṭamābhyāṁ sahāspadaṁ mahyamupādaśadhvam

Then the Kumaras declared: fulfilled through the very essence of the story, she has now sprung forth, renewed. Hearing these words, she, with her sons, bowed to the lotus-born Kumaras and spoke.

Verse 75 (padma.6.195.75)

सूत उवाच- तद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्य विधेः कुमारा विचार्य सम्यक्प्रणिधाय चित्ते । उचुश्च भक्तिं भवरोगहर्त्रीं प्रेमैकदात्रीं हरिभक्तिभाजाम्

sūta uvāca- tadvākyamākarṇya vidheḥ kumārā vicārya samyakpraṇidhāya citte ucuśca bhaktiṁ bhavarogahartrīṁ premaikadātrīṁ haribhaktibhājām

Bhakti said: By you I have today been made nourished, though destroyed in Kali, through the very essence of the story. Where shall I stay with these two? Grant me whatever abode you deem best for me.

Verse 76 (padma.6.195.76)

कुमारा ऊचुः । भक्तेषु गोविंद परायणेषु साधुष्वथो दीनदया परेषु । मनो नियम्योत्पथसंप्रवृत्तं कृत्वैकतानं हरिपादपद्मे

kumārā ūcuḥ bhakteṣu goviṁda parāyaṇeṣu sādhuṣvatho dīnadayā pareṣu mano niyamyotpathasaṁpravṛttaṁ kṛtvaikatānaṁ haripādapadme

Suta said: Hearing these words, ordained by fate, the Kumaras, having reflected well and fixed it in their minds, spoke to Bhakti, the destroyer of the disease of worldly existence, the sole giver of love to those devoted to Hari.

Verse 77 (padma.6.195.77)

ततो हि दोषाः कलिजा इमे त्वां द्रष्टुं न शक्ताः प्रभवोपि लोके । कलौ त्वमेकैव जगद्धिताय भविष्यसे नारद संप्रणीता

tato hi doṣāḥ kalijā ime tvāṁ draṣṭuṁ na śaktāḥ prabhavopi loke kalau tvamekaiva jagaddhitāya bhaviṣyase nārada saṁpraṇītā

The Kumaras said: Restraining the mind that had strayed onto wrong paths, and fixing it single-mindedly on the lotus-feet of Hari, dwell among the devotees devoted to Govinda, among the saintly, and among those given to compassion for the wretched.

Verse 78 (padma.6.195.78)

सकलभुवनमध्ये निर्धनाश्चातिधन्या निवसति हृदि येषां श्रीहरेर्भक्तिरेका । हरिरपि निजलोकं सत्वरं संविहाय प्रविशति हृदि येषां प्रेमसूत्रापिनद्धः

sakalabhuvanamadhye nirdhanāścātidhanyā nivasati hṛdi yeṣāṁ śrīharerbhaktirekā harirapi nijalokaṁ satvaraṁ saṁvihāya praviśati hṛdi yeṣāṁ premasūtrāpinaddhaḥ

Then these Kali-born faults, however powerful in the world, shall be unable even to see you. O Bhakti, established by Narada, in the Kali age you alone shall exist for the welfare of the world. In the midst of all the worlds, those who are poor yet hold in their hearts the sole devotion to Shri Hari are indeed the most blessed; Hari himself, swiftly abandoning his own abode, bound by the thread of love, enters into their hearts.