The Nature, Speaker, Listener and Method of the Bhagavata

Verse 1 (skanda.2.154.1)

।। श्रीऋषय ऊचुः ।। ।। साधु सूत चिरं जीव चिरमेवं प्रशाधि नः ।। श्रीभागवतमाहात्म्यमपूर्वं त्वन्सुखाच्छ्रुतम्

śrīṛṣaya ūcuḥ sādhu sūta ciraṁ jīva ciramevaṁ praśādhi naḥ śrībhāgavatamāhātmyamapūrvaṁ tvansukhācchrutam

The sages said: Well said, O Suta; may you live long, and may you continue thus to instruct us for long. This unprecedented greatness of the Shrimad Bhagavata has been happily heard from you.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.154.2)

तत्स्वरूपप्रमाणं च विधिं च श्रवणे वद ।। तद्वक्तुर्लक्षणं सूत श्रोतुश्चापि वदाधुना

tatsvarūpapramāṇaṁ ca vidhiṁ ca śravaṇe vada tadvakturlakṣaṇaṁ sūta śrotuścāpi vadādhunā

Now tell us its very nature and its measure, and the rule for its hearing; and tell us now too, O Suta, the characteristics of its narrator as well as of its listener.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.154.3)

।। श्रीसूत उवाच ।। ।। श्रीमद्भागवतस्याथ श्रीमद्भगवतः सदा ।। स्वरूपमेकमेवास्ति सच्चिदानन्दलक्षणम्

śrīsūta uvāca śrīmadbhāgavatasyātha śrīmadbhagavataḥ sadā svarūpamekamevāsti saccidānandalakṣaṇam

Suta said: Now, of the Shrimad Bhagavata and of the Blessed Lord himself, there is ever one and the same nature — marked by being, consciousness and bliss.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.154.4)

श्रीकृष्णासक्तभक्तानां तन्माधुर्य्यप्रकाशकम् ।। समुज्जृम्भति यद्वाक्यं विद्धि भागवतं हि तत्

śrīkṛṣṇāsaktabhaktānāṁ tanmādhuryyaprakāśakam samujjṛmbhati yadvākyaṁ viddhi bhāgavataṁ hi tat

Whatever speech springs forth revealing the sweetness of Krishna to devotees attached to him — know that, indeed, to be the Bhagavata.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.154.5)

ज्ञानविज्ञानभक्त्यङ्गचतुष्टयपरं वचः ।। मायामर्दन दक्षं च विद्धि भागवतं च तत्

jñānavijñānabhaktyaṅgacatuṣṭayaparaṁ vacaḥ māyāmardana dakṣaṁ ca viddhi bhāgavataṁ ca tat

Speech devoted to the fourfold limbs of knowledge, realized knowledge, devotion and dispassion, and skilled in the crushing of Maya — know that too to be the Bhagavata.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.154.6)

प्रमाणं तस्य को वेद ह्यनंतस्याक्षरात्मनः ।। ब्रह्मणे हरिणा तद्दिक्चतुःश्लोक्या प्रदर्शिता

pramāṇaṁ tasya ko veda hyanaṁtasyākṣarātmanaḥ brahmaṇe hariṇā taddikcatuḥślokyā pradarśitā

Who indeed knows the full measure of that imperishable-selved scripture, which is infinite? Hari showed a mere indication of it to Brahma through the four verses, the Chatuhshloki.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.154.7)

तदानंत्यावगाहेन स्वेप्सितावहनक्षमाः ।। त एव संति भो विप्रा ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवादयः

tadānaṁtyāvagāhena svepsitāvahanakṣamāḥ ta eva saṁti bho viprā brahmaviṣṇuśivādayaḥ

Capable of bringing about their own desired ends only by immersion in that infinitude — such, O brahmins, are Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and the others.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.154.8)

मितबुद्ध्यादिवृत्तीनां मनुष्याणां हिताय च ।। परीक्षिच्छुकसंवादो योऽसौ व्यासेन कीर्तितः

mitabuddhyādivṛttīnāṁ manuṣyāṇāṁ hitāya ca parīkṣicchukasaṁvādo yo'sau vyāsena kīrtitaḥ

For the benefit of ordinary people of limited intellect and disposition, that dialogue of Parikshit and Shuka was proclaimed by Vyasa.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.154.9)

ग्रन्थोऽष्टादशसाहस्रो योऽसौ भागवताभिधः ।। कलिग्राहगृहीतानां स एव परमाश्रयः

grantho'ṣṭādaśasāhasro yo'sau bhāgavatābhidhaḥ kaligrāhagṛhītānāṁ sa eva paramāśrayaḥ

That text of eighteen thousand verses, known as the Bhagavata, is indeed the supreme refuge for those seized in the jaws of the crocodile that is Kali.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.154.10)

श्रोतारो ऽथ निरूप्यन्ते श्रीमद्विष्णुकथाश्रयाः ।। प्रवरा अवराश्चेति श्रोतारो द्विविधा मताः

śrotāro 'tha nirūpyante śrīmadviṣṇukathāśrayāḥ pravarā avarāśceti śrotāro dvividhā matāḥ

Now the listeners who take refuge in the tales of the glorious Vishnu are described: listeners are held to be of two kinds — the excellent and the inferior.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.154.11)

प्रवराश्चातको हंसः शुको मीनादयस्तथा ।। अवरा वृकभूरुण्डवृषोष्ट्राद्याः प्रकीर्तिताः

pravarāścātako haṁsaḥ śuko mīnādayastathā avarā vṛkabhūruṇḍavṛṣoṣṭrādyāḥ prakīrtitāḥ

The excellent ones are likened to the chataka bird, the swan, the parrot and the fish; the inferior are declared to be like the wolf, the bhurunda bird, the bull, and the camel.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.154.12)

अखिलोपेक्षया यस्तु कृष्णशास्त्रश्रुतौ व्रती ।। स चातको यथाम्भोदमुक्ते पाथसि चातकः

akhilopekṣayā yastu kṛṣṇaśāstraśrutau vratī sa cātako yathāmbhodamukte pāthasi cātakaḥ

One who, disregarding everything else, is devoted solely to the hearing of the scripture of Krishna, is like the chataka bird — as the chataka drinks only the water released from the cloud.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.154.13)

हंसः स्यात्सारमादत्ते यः श्रोता विविधाच्छ्रुतात् ।। दुग्धेनैक्यं गतात्तोयाद्यथा हंसोऽमलं पयः

haṁsaḥ syātsāramādatte yaḥ śrotā vividhācchrutāt dugdhenaikyaṁ gatāttoyādyathā haṁso'malaṁ payaḥ

The listener who takes the essence from what has been variously heard is like the swan — as the swan draws out only the pure milk from water that has become mixed with it.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.154.14)

शुकः सुष्टु मितं वक्ति व्यासं श्रोतृंश्च हर्षयन् ।। सुपाठितः शुको यद्वच्छिक्षकं पार्श्वगानपि

śukaḥ suṣṭu mitaṁ vakti vyāsaṁ śrotṛṁśca harṣayan supāṭhitaḥ śuko yadvacchikṣakaṁ pārśvagānapi

The listener like the parrot speaks well and to the point, delighting Vyasa and the other listeners — just as a well-taught parrot delights even its trainer and those seated near it.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.154.15)

शब्दं नानिमिषो जातु करोत्यास्वादयन्रसम् ।। श्रोता स्निग्धो भवेन्मीनो मीनः क्षीरनिधौ यथा

śabdaṁ nānimiṣo jātu karotyāsvādayanrasam śrotā snigdho bhavenmīno mīnaḥ kṣīranidhau yathā

One who, tasting the flavour, never for a moment makes a sound, not even blinking — such an affectionate listener is like the fish, as a fish remains still in an ocean of milk.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.154.16)

यस्तुदन्रसिकाञ्च्छ्रोतॄन्विरौत्यज्ञो वृको हि सः ।। वेणुस्वनरसासक्तान्वृकोऽरण्ये मृगान्यथा

yastudanrasikāñcchrotṝnvirautyajño vṛko hi saḥ veṇusvanarasāsaktānvṛko'raṇye mṛgānyathā

One who, being ignorant, torments and howls at the appreciative listeners — he is verily like the wolf, as a wolf in the forest preys upon the deer enraptured by the sound of the flute.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.154.17)

भूरुण्डः शिक्षयेदन्याञ्च्छ्रुत्वा न स्वयमाचरेत् ।। यथा हिमवतः शृंगे भूरुण्डाख्यो विहंगमः

bhūruṇḍaḥ śikṣayedanyāñcchrutvā na svayamācaret yathā himavataḥ śṛṁge bhūruṇḍākhyo vihaṁgamaḥ

One who teaches others but, having heard, does not himself practise it, is like the bhurunda — as the bird named bhurunda, on the peak of the Himalaya, feeds another mouth of its own body but not itself.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.154.18)

सर्वं श्रुतमुपादत्ते सारासारान्धधीर्वृषः ।। स्वादु द्राक्षां खलिं चापि निर्विशेषं यथा वृषः

sarvaṁ śrutamupādatte sārāsārāndhadhīrvṛṣaḥ svādu drākṣāṁ khaliṁ cāpi nirviśeṣaṁ yathā vṛṣaḥ

One whose mind is blind to the distinction between essence and non-essence, and who takes in everything heard without discrimination, is like the bull — as a bull eats sweet grapes and oil-cake alike, making no distinction.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.154.19)

स उष्ट्रो मधुरं मुञ्चन्विपरीते रमेत यः ।। यथा निम्बं चरत्युष्ट्रो हित्वाऽऽम्रमपि तद्युतम्

sa uṣṭro madhuraṁ muñcanviparīte rameta yaḥ yathā nimbaṁ caratyuṣṭro hitvā''mramapi tadyutam

He who, abandoning the sweet, delights in the contrary, is that camel — as the camel, forsaking even the mango-tree, though right beside it, grazes on the neem.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.154.20)

अन्येऽपि बहवो भेदा द्वयोर्भृंगखरादयः ।। विज्ञेयास्तत्तदाचारैस्तत्तत्प्रकृतिसंभवैः

anye'pi bahavo bhedā dvayorbhṛṁgakharādayaḥ vijñeyāstattadācāraistattatprakṛtisaṁbhavaiḥ

Of these two kinds, there are many other subdivisions as well — the bee, the donkey, and so on — to be understood through their respective behaviours, arising from their respective natures.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.154.21)

यः स्थित्वाऽभिमुखं प्रणम्य विधिवत्त्यक्तान्यवादो हरेर्लीलाः श्रोतुमभीप्सतेऽतिनिपुणो नम्रो ऽथ क्लृप्ताञ्जलिः ।। शिष्यो विश्वसितोऽनुचिन्तनपरः प्रश्नेऽनुरक्तः शुचिर्नित्यं कृष्णजनप्रियो निगदितः श्रोता स वै वक्तृभिः

yaḥ sthitvā'bhimukhaṁ praṇamya vidhivattyaktānyavādo harerlīlāḥ śrotumabhīpsate'tinipuṇo namro 'tha klṛptāñjaliḥ śiṣyo viśvasito'nucintanaparaḥ praśne'nuraktaḥ śucirnityaṁ kṛṣṇajanapriyo nigaditaḥ śrotā sa vai vaktṛbhiḥ

One who sits facing the speaker, bows down duly, abandons all other talk, and, most attentive, humble, with folded hands, longs only to hear the sports of Hari; who is a trusting disciple, given to reflection, fond of questioning, pure, and ever dear to the devotees of Krishna — such a one, indeed, is declared by teachers to be the true listener.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.154.22)

भगवन्मतिरनपेक्षः सुहृदो दीनेषु सानुकम्पो यः ।। बहुधाबोधनचतुरो वक्ता संमानितो मुनिभिः

bhagavanmatiranapekṣaḥ suhṛdo dīneṣu sānukampo yaḥ bahudhābodhanacaturo vaktā saṁmānito munibhiḥ

One whose mind is fixed on the Lord, who has no other expectation, is a well-wisher to all, compassionate toward the lowly, and skilled in explaining the truth in many ways — such a speaker is held in honour by the sages.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.154.23)

अथ भारतभूस्थाने श्रीभागवतसेवने ।। विधिं शृणुत भो विप्रा येन स्यात्सुखसंततिः

atha bhāratabhūsthāne śrībhāgavatasevane vidhiṁ śṛṇuta bho viprā yena syātsukhasaṁtatiḥ

Now hear, O brahmins, the rule for the service of the Shrimad Bhagavata in the land of Bharata, by which an unbroken flow of happiness may come about.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.154.24)

राजसं सात्त्विकं चापि तामसं निर्गुणं तथा ।। चतुर्विधं तु विज्ञेयं श्रीभागवत सेवनम्

rājasaṁ sāttvikaṁ cāpi tāmasaṁ nirguṇaṁ tathā caturvidhaṁ tu vijñeyaṁ śrībhāgavata sevanam

The service of the Shrimad Bhagavata is to be known as fourfold: rajasic, sattvic, tamasic, and beyond the gunas, nirguna.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.154.25)

सप्ताहं यज्ञवद्यत्तु सश्रमं सत्वरं मुदा ।। सेवितं राजसं तत्तु बहुपूजादिशोभनम्

saptāhaṁ yajñavadyattu saśramaṁ satvaraṁ mudā sevitaṁ rājasaṁ tattu bahupūjādiśobhanam

That which is performed over seven days like a sacrifice, with exertion, in haste, though joyfully, and adorned with much worship and the like — that service is rajasic.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.154.26)

मासेन ऋतुना वापि श्रवणं स्वादसंयुतम् ।। सात्त्विकं यदनायासं समस्तानन्दवर्द्धनम्

māsena ṛtunā vāpi śravaṇaṁ svādasaṁyutam sāttvikaṁ yadanāyāsaṁ samastānandavarddhanam

Hearing spread over a month, or over a season, accompanied by relish, effortless, and increasing bliss in every way — that is sattvic.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.154.27)

तामसं यत्तु वर्षेण सालसं श्रद्धयाऽयुतम् ।। विस्मृतिस्मृतिसंयुक्तं सेवनं तच्च सौख्यदम्

tāmasaṁ yattu varṣeṇa sālasaṁ śraddhayā'yutam vismṛtismṛtisaṁyuktaṁ sevanaṁ tacca saukhyadam

That service which extends over a year, is done lazily, without faith, marked by repeated forgetting and remembering — that too, though tamasic, still grants some happiness.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.154.28)

वर्षमासदिनानां तु विमुच्य नियमाग्रहम् ।। सर्वदा प्रेमभक्त्यैव सेवनं निर्गुणं मतम्

varṣamāsadinānāṁ tu vimucya niyamāgraham sarvadā premabhaktyaiva sevanaṁ nirguṇaṁ matam

That service which, abandoning the fixed rule of years, months, or days, is performed always through loving devotion alone — that is held to be nirguna, beyond the gunas.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.154.29)

पारीक्षितेऽपि संवादे निर्गुणं तत्प्रकीर्तितम् ।। तत्र सप्तदिनाख्यानं तदायुर्दिनसंख्यया

pārīkṣite'pi saṁvāde nirguṇaṁ tatprakīrtitam tatra saptadinākhyānaṁ tadāyurdinasaṁkhyayā

Even in the dialogue with Parikshit, that hearing has been proclaimed as nirguna; there the seven-day recitation corresponds to the number of days of his remaining life.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.154.30)

अन्यत्र त्रिगुणं चापि निर्गुणं च यथेच्छया ।। यथा कथंचित्कर्तव्यं सेवनं भगवच्छ्रुतेः

anyatra triguṇaṁ cāpi nirguṇaṁ ca yathecchayā yathā kathaṁcitkartavyaṁ sevanaṁ bhagavacchruteḥ

Elsewhere, whether of the three gunas or beyond them, according to one's own wish, in whatever way possible, the service of hearing the Lord's word is to be undertaken.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.154.31)

ये श्रीकृष्णविहारैकभजनास्वादलोलुपाः ।। मुक्तावपि निराकांक्षास्तेषां भागवतं धनम्

ye śrīkṛṣṇavihāraikabhajanāsvādalolupāḥ muktāvapi nirākāṁkṣāsteṣāṁ bhāgavataṁ dhanam

Those who are eager solely for the taste of devotion to the sport of Sri Krishna, who have no desire even for liberation — for them, the Bhagavata itself is their true wealth.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.154.32)

येऽपि संसारसंतापनिर्विण्णा मोक्षकांक्षिणः ।। तेषां भवौषधं चैतत्कलौ सेव्यं प्रयत्नतः

ye'pi saṁsārasaṁtāpanirviṇṇā mokṣakāṁkṣiṇaḥ teṣāṁ bhavauṣadhaṁ caitatkalau sevyaṁ prayatnataḥ

And those too who, wearied by the torment of samsara, desire liberation — for them this is the very medicine for worldly existence, to be served with effort in this age of Kali.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.154.33)

ये चापि विषयारामाः सांसारिकसुखस्पृहाः ।। तेषां तु कर्ममार्गेण या सिद्धिः साऽधुना कलौ

ye cāpi viṣayārāmāḥ sāṁsārikasukhaspṛhāḥ teṣāṁ tu karmamārgeṇa yā siddhiḥ sā'dhunā kalau

And those, too, who delight in sense-objects and desire worldly happiness — for them, the accomplishment that would otherwise come through the path of ritual action, now in this age of Kali —

Verse 34 (skanda.2.154.34)

सामर्थ्यधनविज्ञानाभावादत्यन्तदुर्ल्लभा ।। तस्मात्तैरपि संसेव्या श्रीमद्भागवती कथा

sāmarthyadhanavijñānābhāvādatyantadurllabhā tasmāttairapi saṁsevyā śrīmadbhāgavatī kathā

— has become exceedingly hard to attain, for want of capacity, wealth and true knowledge. Therefore, by them too, the sacred Bhagavata narrative is to be devotedly served.

Verse 35 (skanda.2.154.35)

धनं पुत्रांस्तथा दारान्वाहनादि यशो गृहान् ।। असापत्न्यं च राज्यं च दद्याद्भागवती कथा

dhanaṁ putrāṁstathā dārānvāhanādi yaśo gṛhān asāpatnyaṁ ca rājyaṁ ca dadyādbhāgavatī kathā

Wealth, sons, a wife, vehicles and the like, fame, houses, freedom from rivalry, and a kingdom — the Bhagavata narrative bestows all these.

Verse 36 (skanda.2.154.36)

इह लोके वरान्भुक्त्वा भोगान्वै मनसेप्सितान् ।। श्रीभागवतसंगेन यात्यन्ते श्रीहरेः पदम्

iha loke varānbhuktvā bhogānvai manasepsitān śrībhāgavatasaṁgena yātyante śrīhareḥ padam

Having enjoyed, in this world, the finest of enjoyments desired in the mind, through association with the Shrimad Bhagavata one goes, at the end, to the abode of Sri Hari.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.154.37)

यत्र भागवती वार्ता ये च तच्छ्रवणे रताः ।। तेषां संसेवनं कुर्याद्देहेन च धनेन च

yatra bhāgavatī vārtā ye ca tacchravaṇe ratāḥ teṣāṁ saṁsevanaṁ kuryāddehena ca dhanena ca

Wherever the Bhagavata discourse takes place, and whoever are devoted to hearing it — one should serve them, with body and with wealth.

Verse 38 (skanda.2.154.38)

तदनुग्रहतोऽस्यापि श्रीभागवतसेवनम् ।। श्रीकृष्णव्यतिरिक्तं यत्तत्सर्वं धनसंज्ञितम्

tadanugrahato'syāpi śrībhāgavatasevanam śrīkṛṣṇavyatiriktaṁ yattatsarvaṁ dhanasaṁjñitam

By their grace, the service of the Shrimad Bhagavata belongs to him too who so serves. Whatever is other than Sri Krishna — all of that is termed mere "wealth."

Verse 39 (skanda.2.154.39)

कृष्णार्थीति धनार्थीति श्रोता वक्ता द्विधा मतः ।। यथा वक्ता तथा श्रोता तत्र सौख्यं विवर्द्धते

kṛṣṇārthīti dhanārthīti śrotā vaktā dvidhā mataḥ yathā vaktā tathā śrotā tatra saukhyaṁ vivarddhate

The speaker and the listener are each held to be of two kinds — one seeking Krishna, the other seeking wealth; as is the speaker, so is the listener, and thereby happiness increases.

Verse 40 (skanda.2.154.40)

उभयोर्वैपरीत्ये तु रसाभासे फलच्युतिः ।। किन्तु कृष्णार्थिनां सिद्धिर्विलम्बेनापि जायते

ubhayorvaiparītye tu rasābhāse phalacyutiḥ kintu kṛṣṇārthināṁ siddhirvilambenāpi jāyate

But when the two are mismatched, there arises a mere semblance of rasa, and the fruit is lost; however, for those who seek Krishna, accomplishment comes about even if delayed.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.154.41)

धनार्थिनस्तु संसिद्धिर्विधिसंपूर्णतावशात् ।। कृष्णार्थिनोऽगुणस्यापि प्रेमैव विधिरुत्तमः

dhanārthinastu saṁsiddhirvidhisaṁpūrṇatāvaśāt kṛṣṇārthino'guṇasyāpi premaiva vidhiruttamaḥ

For the wealth-seeker, accomplishment depends upon the complete performance of the ritual rule; but for the Krishna-seeker, even one without other merit, love alone is the highest rule.

Verse 42 (skanda.2.154.42)

आसमाप्ति सकामेन कर्तव्यो हि विधिः स्वयम् ।। स्नातो नित्य क्रियां कृत्वा प्राश्य पादोदकं हरेः

āsamāpti sakāmena kartavyo hi vidhiḥ svayam snāto nitya kriyāṁ kṛtvā prāśya pādodakaṁ hareḥ

By the one who has worldly desires, the ritual rule must indeed be observed fully oneself, until completion: having bathed, performed the daily rites, and partaken of the water that has washed Hari's feet —

Verse 43 (skanda.2.154.43)

पुस्तकं च गुरुं चैव पूजयित्वोपचारतः ।। ब्रूयाद्वा शृणुयाद्वापि श्रीमद्भागवतं मुदा

pustakaṁ ca guruṁ caiva pūjayitvopacārataḥ brūyādvā śṛṇuyādvāpi śrīmadbhāgavataṁ mudā

— and, having worshipped both the book and the guru with due offerings, one should either recite or listen to the Shrimad Bhagavata with joy.

Verse 44 (skanda.2.154.44)

पयसा वा हविष्येण मौनं भोजनमाचरेत् ।। ब्रह्मचर्य्यमधःसुप्तिं क्रोधलोभादिवर्ज्जनम्

payasā vā haviṣyeṇa maunaṁ bhojanamācaret brahmacaryyamadhaḥsuptiṁ krodhalobhādivarjjanam

One should eat in silence, on milk or on sanctified food; observing celibacy, sleeping on the ground, and avoiding anger, greed and the like.

Verse 45 (skanda.2.154.45)

कथान्ते कीर्तनं नित्यं समाप्तौ जागरं चरेत् ।। ब्राह्मणान्भोजयित्वा तु दक्षिणाभिः प्रतोषयेत्

kathānte kīrtanaṁ nityaṁ samāptau jāgaraṁ caret brāhmaṇānbhojayitvā tu dakṣiṇābhiḥ pratoṣayet

At the end of each day's narration, one should perform kirtan daily; at the final completion, one should keep a night-vigil; and having fed brahmins, one should gratify them with gifts of dakshina.

Verse 46 (skanda.2.154.46)

गुरवे वस्त्रभूषादि दत्त्वा गां च समर्पयेत् ।। एवं कृते विधाने तु लभते वाञ्छितं फलम्

gurave vastrabhūṣādi dattvā gāṁ ca samarpayet evaṁ kṛte vidhāne tu labhate vāñchitaṁ phalam

Having given the guru garments, ornaments and the like, one should also present a cow to him. When this rule is thus followed, one obtains the desired fruit.

Verse 47 (skanda.2.154.47)

दारागारसुतान्राज्यं धनादि च यदीप्सितम् ।। परन्तु शोभते नात्र सकामत्वं विडम्बनम्

dārāgārasutānrājyaṁ dhanādi ca yadīpsitam parantu śobhate nātra sakāmatvaṁ viḍambanam

Wife, home, sons, kingdom, wealth and whatever else is desired may thus be attained; but here, being motivated by desire does not truly befit one — it is a mere pretence.

Verse 48 (skanda.2.154.48)

कृष्णप्राप्तिकरं शश्वत्प्रेमानन्दफलप्रदम् ।। श्रीमद्भागवतं शास्त्रं कलौ कीरेण भाषितम्

kṛṣṇaprāptikaraṁ śaśvatpremānandaphalapradam śrīmadbhāgavataṁ śāstraṁ kalau kīreṇa bhāṣitam

The scripture Shrimad Bhagavata, which brings about the attainment of Krishna and grants the eternal fruit of the bliss of love, was spoken in this age of Kali by the "parrot" (Shuka).