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Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 198

Chapter 198

Unit 610 of 693Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 198Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 1981 source entries

Uttara-khaṇḍa · Chapter 198

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कुमारा ऊचुः- अथ ते संप्रवक्ष्यामः सप्ताहश्रवणे विधिम् । येन भागवतं सिद्ध्येत्पुंसां कृष्णार्पितात्मनाम् १। दैवज्ञं शास्त्रकुशलं समाहूय धनांशुकैः । समभ्यर्च्य मुहूर्तं तु प्राक्पृच्छेद्भक्तिमान्नरः २। स वदेद्यं मुहूर्तं तु तत्रारंभः प्रशस्यते । नभोनभस्येषोर्जाश्च सहः शुचिसमन्विताः ३। मासाः श्रेष्ठाः कथारंभे पूर्णा चापि तिथिः शुभा । भौमार्किवर्जिता वारा भानि ध्रुव मृदूनि च ४। शुभे योगे शुभे लग्ने प्रारंभः शस्यते सदा । नित्यायां च कथायां तु पुराणानां मुनीश्वर ५। द्वादशीं वर्जयेत्प्राज्ञः सूतसूतकसंभवात् । श्रीमद्भागवतस्यापि सप्ताहेनैव केऽपि च ६। न निषेधोस्ति देवर्षे प्राहुरेवं पुराविदः । श्रीभागवतसप्ताहो महायज्ञः स्मृतो बुधैः ७। अतो निमंत्रणं कार्यं वैष्णवानां समंततः । सतां समाजो भविता सप्ताहं वैष्णवोत्तमाः ८। आगंतव्यमतश्चात्र वैष्णवैः श्रवणार्थिभिः । समागतानां तेषां तु निवासं परिकल्पयेत् ९। तीर्थे वापि वने वापि ग्रामे वापि प्रयत्नतः । संशोधितायां भूम्यां तु मंडपं परिकल्पयेत् १०। कदलीस्तंभसंयुक्तं चतुर्दिक्षु ध्वजान्वितम् । उच्चमासनमप्युक्तं वक्तुस्तस्याग्रतो मुने ११। आपार्श्वद्वयमुक्तानि श्रोतॄणामासनानि च । उदङ्मुखो भवेद्वक्ता समाजेस्मिन्विदांवरः १२। वेदशास्त्रार्थतत्वज्ञो वैष्णवो ब्राह्मणोत्तमः । दृष्टांतकुशलो धीरो वक्ता कार्योऽतिनिस्पृहः १३। सर्वसंदेहहर्त्तापि कार्यो वक्ता न चैव हि । वक्तुः पार्श्वे सहायार्थं स्थाप्योऽन्य पंडितः सुधीः १४। श्रोतॄणां संशयच्छेत्ता ज्ञानांबोधविधायकः । कथाविघ्नविघातार्थं गणेशं प्राक्प्रपूजयेत् १५। ततो दुर्गां हरं विष्णुं ब्रह्माणं भास्करं द्विजान् । संपूज्य विधिवद्भक्त्या तर्पयेद्देवताः पितॄन् १६। मुख्यः श्रोता ततः पश्चात्पूजयेत्पुस्तके हरिम् । ततः प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य द्रव्यवस्त्रफलानि च १७। धृत्वांजलौ पुस्तकस्थं हरिं संप्रार्थयेन्मुने । त्वं भागवतलोकेस्मिन्स्वयं कृष्णो व्यवस्थितः १८। समाश्रितो मया नाथ मुक्त्यर्थं भवसागरे । मनोरथो मदीयोऽयं सर्वथा सफलस्त्वया १९। निर्विघ्नेन प्रकर्तव्यो दासोऽहं तव केशव । इत्युच्चार्य मुने द्रव्यं पुस्तकाग्रे समर्प्यतु २०। वक्तारं प्रार्थयेच्चापि नमस्कुर्वन्कृतांजलि । शुकरूपद्विजश्रेष्ठ सर्वशास्त्रविशारद २१। श्रीभागवतव्याख्यानादज्ञानं मे विनाशय । इति संप्रार्थ्य वक्तारं वरयेत्पंच वाडवान् २२। द्वादशाक्षरमंत्रस्य जपार्थं मुनिसत्तम । गीतवाद्यविधिज्ञांश्च संपूज्यार्थांशुकादिभिः २३। स्थापयेत्कीर्तनार्थं तु कथांते विधिवन्मुने । यस्तु जाया धनागार पुत्रचिंतां व्युदस्य च २४। शृणुयादेकचित्तस्तु स समग्रं फलं लभेत् । सूर्योदयं समारभ्य सार्द्धत्रिप्रहरांतकम् २५। पठित्वार्थः प्रकर्त्तव्यो वाक्यमध्यायमेव वा । मध्याह्ने घटिकायुग्मं विरमेदपि नारद २६। कथाऽवसाने कर्त्तव्यं कीर्तनं केशवस्य च । उपवासः प्रकर्त्तव्यः श्रोतृभिस्तत्फलेप्सुभिः २७। तदशक्तो हविष्यान्नं सकृत्स्वल्पं समाहरेत् । जलेनापि फलेनापि दुग्धेन च घृतेन वा २८। केवलेनैव कर्त्तव्यं निर्विघ्नं धारणं तनोः । सप्ताहव्रतिनां पुंसां नियमान्शृणु नारद २९। विष्णुदीक्षाविहीनानां नाधिकारोऽत्र कीर्तितः । ब्रह्मचर्यमधः सुप्तिः पत्रावल्यां च भोजनम् ३०। समाचरेन्नित्यमेव सप्ताहे मुनिसत्तम । द्विदलं मधु तैलं च परान्नं चेक्षुजं रसम् ३१। भावदुष्टं क्रियादुष्टं जह्यात्पर्युषितं व्रती । पलांडुलशुनं हिंगुं मूलकं गृंजनं तथा ३२। नालिकां चैव कूष्मांडं नरो नाद्यात्कथाव्रती । कामं क्रोधं मदं लोभं दंभं मात्सर्यमेव च ३३। मोहं द्वेषं तथा हिंसां नैव कुर्यात्कथाव्रती ३४। वेदवैष्णवविप्राणां गुरु गोव्रतिनां तथा । स्त्री राजमहतां चापि निंदां जह्यात्कथाव्रती ३५। सत्यं शौचं दयामौनमार्जवं विनयं तथा । मनः प्रसन्नतां चापि बुधः कुर्यात्कथाव्रती ३६। श्रीकामस्तनयार्थी च जयकामश्च मोक्षधीः । शृणुयाद्वै भागवतं निष्कामः श्रीहरिं लभेत् ३७। सप्तमे दिवसे कुर्याल्लंघनं तत्समाप्तिके । वक्तुश्च पूजा कर्त्तव्या गोभूस्वर्गं वरादिभिः ३८। प्रसाद तुलसीं मालां श्रोतृभ्यः प्रतिदापयेत् । उत्सवश्च तथा कार्यो गीतवाद्यविशारदैः ३९। गीतार्थं शृणुयाच्चापि परेऽहनि विचक्षणः । प्रतिश्लोकं च जुहुयाद्गायत्र्या वा यथाविधि ४०। पायसं मधुसर्पिश्च तिलांस्तंडुलकान्यवान् । शर्करां च प्रियालं च द्राक्षां वाताम खर्जुरौ ४१। अंभोजानि च कर्पूरं चंदनागुरुणीपुरम् । लवंगं बिल्वपत्राणि सहस्रं च पृथक्पृथक् ४२। विघ्नस्य च विघातार्थं न्यूनाधिक्यनिवृत्तये । आत्मनः पूततार्थं च पठेन्नामसहस्रकम् ४३। द्वादशाष्टादशाथापि श्रद्धयाह्यधिकांस्तथा । पायसेनाशयेद्विप्रान्स्वर्णं धेनुश्च दक्षिणा ४४। व्रतसिद्ध्यर्थमप्यत्र प्रौष्ठपद्यामथापि वा । स्वर्णसिंहं विनिर्माय तस्य पृष्ठे निधाय च ४५। श्रीमद्भागवतं वक्त्रे लेखयित्वा समर्पयेत् । एवं कृते विधाने तु सर्वपापनिवारणम् ४६। भवेच्छ्रोतुः सुफलदं श्रीमद्भागवतं श्रुतम् । धर्मकामार्थमोक्षाणां साधनं भक्तिदायकम् ४७। न कार्यं विद्यते लोके यदनेन न सिध्यति । ततो भागवतं लोके पुराणेभ्योऽधिकं मतम् ४८। दोषाष्टादशनिर्मुक्तो वाचकः परिकीर्तितः । द्वात्रिंशदपराधैर्हि मुक्तो श्रोता मतो बुधैः ४९। श्रीमद्भागवतं नाम पुराणं कामदं नृणाम् । तथापि श्रवणं चास्य निष्कामस्यैव भक्तिदम् 6.198.५०। श्रीमद्भागवताभिधः सुरतरुस्तारांकुरः सज्जनिः स्कंधैर्द्वादशभिस्ततः प्रविलसद्भक्त्यालवालोदयः । द्वात्रिंशत्त्रिशतं च यस्य विलसच्छाखाः सहस्राण्यलं पर्णान्यष्टदशेष्टदोतिसुलभो वर्वर्ति सर्वोपरि ५१। इति ते कथितं सर्वं कृतं चापि तवेप्सितम् । ज्ञानवैराग्यभक्तीनां तारुण्यं लोकमोक्षदम् ५२। सूत उवाच- इत्युक्ता ते कुमारास्तु कृष्णांघ्रिसुधयाप्लुताः । विरेमुर्भगवद्भक्ता दीनोद्धरणतत्पराः ५३। तद्वाक्यं तु समाकर्ण्य नारदो भगवत्प्रियः । प्रेमगद्गदया वाचा तानुवाच कृतांजलिः ५४। नारद उवाच- धन्योस्म्यनुगृहीतोस्मि भवद्भिः करुणापरैः । यद्भागवतसप्ताहान्निकटे दर्शितो हरिः ५५। एवं ब्रुवति वै तस्मिन्नारदे वैष्णवोत्तमे । पर्यटंस्तं समायातस्तत्र योगेश्वरः शुकः ५६। द्विरष्टवर्षाकृतिरंबुजाक्षो व्यासात्मजो ज्ञानपयोधिचंद्रः। कथावसाने निजलाभतुष्टो हृदानिशं भागवतं पठंश्च ५७। दृष्ट्वा सदस्यास्तमथोरुतेजसंसद्यःसमुत्थाय वरासनं ददुः । स चोपविष्टः सुखमासने यदा तदाविरासीद्धरिरब्जलोचनः ५८। भवो भवान्या कमलासनः सुतैस्तत्रागतः कीर्तनदर्शनाय च । सुरेशमुख्यास्त्रिदशा विमानकैः समागतास्तैरभवद्वृतं नभः ५९। प्रह्लादस्तालधारीतरलगतितया ह्युद्धवः कांस्यधारी वीणाधारी सुरर्षिः स्वरकुशलतया रागकर्ताऽर्जुनोऽभूत् । इंद्रो मार्दंगिकोऽभूज्जयजय सुवचः प्रावदंस्ते कुमाराः सद्भावस्य प्रवक्ता निरतिशयगुणोव्यासपुत्रो बभूव ६०। ननर्त्त मध्ये त्रिकमेव तत्र ज्ञानादिकानां नवरूपयुक्तम् । अलौकिकं कीर्त्तनकं समीक्ष्य प्रसन्नचेता हरिरित्युवाच ६१। मत्तो वरं भागवता वृणीध्वं प्रीतात्कथाकीर्त्तनतो भृशं वः। श्रुत्वाथ तद्वाक्यमतिप्रसन्ना प्रेमार्द्रचित्ता हरिमूचिरे ते ६२। कुमारा ऊचुः- सप्ताहयज्ञेन वितायतेन सद्यः प्रसन्नो भविता मुरारे । कलौयुगे घोरतरे नराणां स्वल्पायुषां विघ्नशताकुलानाम् ६३। एवं वरं विश्वविधानपालनप्रणाशहेतोर्भवतोखिलात्मनः । वृणीमहेऽन्यो न मनोरथो विभो भवत्पदांभोजनिषेविणां हि नः ६४। एवमस्त्विति चैवोक्त्वा तत्रैवांतर्दधे हरिः । नारदः सुप्रसन्नात्मा कुमारानभ्यवादयत् ६५। ततस्ते सनकाद्याश्च भृग्वाद्याश्च शुकादयः । प्रययुः स्वाश्रमान्हृष्टाः पीत्वा तच्च कथामृतम् ६६। भक्तिः सुताभ्यां सहिता नारदेन प्रवर्तिता । भूमंडले समस्तेऽस्मिस्तदा प्रभृति शौनक ६७। शिव उवाच- आख्यानं महदाकर्ण्य प्रीतात्मा शौनकः प्रिये । पर्यपृच्छत्पुनः सूतं सर्वसंदेहभंजनम् ६८। शौनक उवाच-। शुकेनोक्तं कदा राज्ञे गोकर्णेन कदा पुनः । सुरर्षये कदा ब्राह्मैरेतदाख्याहि मानद ६९। सूत उवाच- श्रीकृष्णनिर्गमात्त्रिंशद्वर्षावधिगते कलौ । भाद्रशुक्लनवम्यां वै कथारंभं शुकोऽकरोत् ७०। परीक्षिच्छ्रवणांते तु गते वर्षशतद्वये । शुचिशुक्लनवम्यां तु गोकर्णोकथयत्कथाम् ७१। कलौ सहस्रमब्दानामधुना प्रगतं द्विज । परीक्षितो जन्मकालात्समाप्तिं नीयतां मखः ७२। ईश्वर उवाच- इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य शौनको मुनिसत्तमः । पूर्णं चकार तं यज्ञं सहस्रपरिवत्सरम् ७३। ब्राह्मं पाद्मं वैष्णवं च कौर्म्यं मात्स्यं च वामनम् । वाराहं ब्रह्मवैवर्त्तनारदीयं भविष्यकम् ७४। आग्नेयमर्द्धं वै सूताच्छुश्रुवुर्लोमहर्षणात् । एतानि तु पुराणानि द्वापरांते श्रुतानि हि ७५। शौनकाद्यैर्मुनिवरैर्यज्ञारंभात्पुरैव हि । यदा तु तीर्थयात्रायां वलदेवः समागतः ७६। नैमिषं मिश्रिकं नाम समाहूतो मुनीश्वरैः । तत्र सूतं समासीनं दृष्ट्वा त्वध्यासनोपरि ७७। चुक्षुभे भगवान्रामः पर्वणीव महोदधिः । आषाढशुक्लद्वादश्यां पारणाहनि पार्वति ७८। पूर्वार्द्धयामवेलायां भावित्वात्कृष्णमायया । मुग्धो दर्भकरो रामः प्राहरल्लोमहर्षणम् ७९। ततो मुनिगणाः सर्वे हाहाकारपरायणाः । बभूवुर्नगजेत्यर्थं शोकदुःखाकुलांतराः ८०। ऊचुश्च रामं लोकेशं विनयेन क्षमापराः । ऋषय ऊचुः- रामराम महाबाहो भवता लोककारिणा ८१। अजानतेवाचरिता हिंसा ब्रह्मवधाधिका । व्यासशिष्यो ह्ययं साक्षात्पुराणर्षिर्महातपाः ८२। अस्मै ह्यध्यासनं दत्तमस्माभिर्यज्ञकर्मणि । अष्टादशपुराणानां वाचकाय कृतक्षणैः ८३। कथायां जगदीशस्य दीर्घमायुश्च मानद । तद्भवांल्लोकरक्षार्थं धर्मसेतुप्रवर्तकः ८४। आविर्भूतो जगन्नाथो निग्रहानुग्रहक्षमः । इत्युक्त्वा मुनयस्ते तु बलदेवाग्रतः प्रिये ८५। तूष्णीं बभूवुः सहसा स्मरंतो नियतेर्बलम् । ततः प्रोवाच भगवान्रामः शत्रुनिषूदनः ८६। विप्रान्संप्रीणयंस्तांस्तु लोकवेदपथानुगः । श्रीराम उवाच- विप्राः शृणुत भद्रं वः कोपं त्यक्त्वा सुदूरतः ८७। यदहं वेद्मि भवतामभीष्टं कार्यसिद्धिदम् । अस्य पुत्रो महाज्ञानी भविष्यति वरान्मम ८८। भवतामीप्सितं सर्वं शास्त्रं वै कथयिष्यति । यदर्थमहमाहूतस्तच्च कार्य्यं समुच्यताम् ८९। ईश्वर उवाच- इति श्रुत्वा वचस्ते तु रामस्य सुमहात्मनः । बल्वलस्य वधार्थाय प्रेरयामासुरीश्वरम् ९०। ततः स बल्वलं हत्वा प्रसाद्य मुनिपुंगवान् । प्रणिपत्याभ्यनुज्ञातस्तीर्थयात्रामुपागमत् ९१। तीर्थयात्रां गते रामे शौनकाद्या मुनीश्वराः । लौमहर्षणिमाहूय सत्कृत्य नगनंदिनि ९२। तत्पदे स्थापयामासुः शेषं संकीर्तनाय वै । आग्नेयोत्तरमाहात्म्यं श्रीमद्भागवतांतकम् ९३। पुराणसप्तकं सार्द्धं शुश्रुवुर्हृष्टमानसाः । दशसप्तपुराणानि कृत्वा सत्यवतीसुतः ९४। नाप्तवान्मनसस्तोषं भारतेनापि भामिनि । ज्ञात्वास्य हृदयं खिन्नं नारदो देवदर्शनः ९५। समाजगाम भगवान्व्यासस्याश्रममुत्तमम् । तं दृष्ट्वा वासवीसूनुः सत्कृत्यासनपूर्वकम् ९६। नारदं पूजयामास विधिदृष्टेनकर्मणा । अथ तं नारदः प्राह किं भवान्क्लिष्टमानसः ९७। ध्यायते तत्समाचक्ष्व सर्वं संदेहकारणम् । इति पृष्टः स मुनिना पराशर सुतोऽब्रवीत् ९८। ब्रह्मन्किं कारणं चेतो मोहे जाने न तत्त्वहम् । भवान्विज्ञानकुशलो ज्ञात्वा तत्प्रब्रवीतु मे ९९। एवं विज्ञापितस्तेन नारदोऽध्यात्मकोविदः । उवाच परमं तत्वं यदुक्तं विधिनात्मने 6.198.१००। नारद उवाच- शृणु पाराशरे मत्तः कारणं येन वै तव । असंपन्नं मनो भाति शास्त्रयोनेरपि प्रभोः १०१। त्वयावतीर्य लोकेस्मिन्वेदा व्यस्ता विभागशः । कृतानि च पुराणानि सेतिहासानि चानघ १०२। यत्र सर्वस्त्रयी धर्मो वर्णाश्रमनिवासिनाम् । निर्दिष्टो वीक्ष्य कालेन नृणामल्पायुषां कलौ १०३। यत्राधिकारः सर्वेषां दृश्यते श्रवणादिषु । स्त्री शूद्र द्विजबंधूनां साधूनां साधुसंगमः १०४। धर्मादयो यथाशश्वद्वर्णितास्तेषु वै त्वया । प्राधान्येन तथा नैव वर्णितो महिमा हरेः । सर्वधर्मक्रियाशून्ये कलौ दोषनिधौ मुने १०५। न गतिः पापकर्तॄणां विना कृष्णकथाऽमृतम् । एष एव गुणो ह्यस्मिन्घोरे कलियुगे नराः १०६। यत्कृष्णकीर्तनेनैव मुच्यंते कर्मबंधनात् । यज्ञो दानं तपः कर्म ज्ञानं ध्यानं कृतादिषु १०७। सिद्धिदं च तथा ब्रह्मन्नामकीर्त्तनकं कलौ । अतो वै कलिजातानामुद्धारार्थं नृणां भवान् १०८। श्रीमद्भागवतं नाम पुराणं वर्णयत्वलम् । येन प्रवर्तितेनांग भवतो मानसं ध्रुवम् १०९। तोषमेष्यति लोकाश्च प्राप्स्यंति कृतकृत्यताम् ११०। ईश्वर उवाच- एवमादिश्य स मुनिर्व्यासायामिततेजसे । ययौ यादृच्छिकः शश्वद्गायन्हरिगुणान्प्रिये १११। नारदे तु गते पश्चाद्व्यासः सर्वार्थदर्शनः । चकार संहितामेतां श्रीमद्भावतीं पराम् ११२। पैलादींश्चतुरो वेदानध्याप्य विधिपूर्वकम् । पुराणसंहिताः सर्वाः सूताय प्रत्यपादयत् ११३। श्रीमद्भागवतं नाम पुराणं ब्रह्मसंमितम् । शुकमध्यापयामास विरतं लोकवेदतः ११४। सा संहिता भागवती लोमहर्षणसूनुना । श्रुता कथयतो राज्ञे औत्तरेयाय वै शुकात् ११५। शौनकादिऋषिभ्यस्तु तेन प्रोक्ता यथार्थतः । वरीवर्त्ति पुराणानामुपरीयं नगात्मने ११६। अस्यां संलग्नचित्तानां नृणामन्यत्र नो रतिः । जायते मानसे कृष्णो नंदसूनुश्चकास्ति च ११७। यत्तु पृष्टं त्वया भद्रे लोकनिस्तारहेतवे । श्रीभागवतमाहात्म्यं मह्यं संकीर्त्तयेति ह ११८। तत्सर्वं च मया तुभ्यं निर्दिष्टं गणपांबिके । नानेतिहाससहितं भक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकम् ११९। यः शृणोति नरो भक्त्या माहात्म्यं पठतेऽपि च । अनुमोदनेन वा सोपि लभते परमां गतिम् १२०। द्विजोऽधीत्याप्नुयाद्वेदान्क्षत्रियस्तु लभेज्जयम् । धनं वैश्यस्तथाशूद्रः श्रुत्वैव लभते गतिम् १२१।

kumārā ūcuḥ- atha te saṃpravakṣyāmaḥ saptāhaśravaṇe vidhim | yena bhāgavataṃ siddhyetpuṃsāṃ kṛṣṇārpitātmanām 1| daivajñaṃ śāstrakuśalaṃ samāhūya dhanāṃśukaiḥ | samabhyarcya muhūrtaṃ tu prākpṛcchedbhaktimānnaraḥ 2| sa vadedyaṃ muhūrtaṃ tu tatrāraṃbhaḥ praśasyate | nabhonabhasyeṣorjāśca sahaḥ śucisamanvitāḥ 3| māsāḥ śreṣṭhāḥ kathāraṃbhe pūrṇā cāpi tithiḥ śubhā | bhaumārkivarjitā vārā bhāni dhruva mṛdūni ca 4| śubhe yoge śubhe lagne prāraṃbhaḥ śasyate sadā | nityāyāṃ ca kathāyāṃ tu purāṇānāṃ munīśvara 5| dvādaśīṃ varjayetprājñaḥ sūtasūtakasaṃbhavāt | śrīmadbhāgavatasyāpi saptāhenaiva ke'pi ca 6| na niṣedhosti devarṣe prāhurevaṃ purāvidaḥ | śrībhāgavatasaptāho mahāyajñaḥ smṛto budhaiḥ 7| ato nimaṃtraṇaṃ kāryaṃ vaiṣṇavānāṃ samaṃtataḥ | satāṃ samājo bhavitā saptāhaṃ vaiṣṇavottamāḥ 8| āgaṃtavyamataścātra vaiṣṇavaiḥ śravaṇārthibhiḥ | samāgatānāṃ teṣāṃ tu nivāsaṃ parikalpayet 9| tīrthe vāpi vane vāpi grāme vāpi prayatnataḥ | saṃśodhitāyāṃ bhūmyāṃ tu maṃḍapaṃ parikalpayet 10| kadalīstaṃbhasaṃyuktaṃ caturdikṣu dhvajānvitam | uccamāsanamapyuktaṃ vaktustasyāgrato mune 11| āpārśvadvayamuktāni śrotṝṇāmāsanāni ca | udaṅmukho bhavedvaktā samājesminvidāṃvaraḥ 12| vedaśāstrārthatatvajño vaiṣṇavo brāhmaṇottamaḥ | dṛṣṭāṃtakuśalo dhīro vaktā kāryo'tinispṛhaḥ 13| sarvasaṃdehaharttāpi kāryo vaktā na caiva hi | vaktuḥ pārśve sahāyārthaṃ sthāpyo'nya paṃḍitaḥ sudhīḥ 14| śrotṝṇāṃ saṃśayacchettā jñānāṃbodhavidhāyakaḥ | kathāvighnavighātārthaṃ gaṇeśaṃ prākprapūjayet 15| tato durgāṃ haraṃ viṣṇuṃ brahmāṇaṃ bhāskaraṃ dvijān | saṃpūjya vidhivadbhaktyā tarpayeddevatāḥ pitṝn 16| mukhyaḥ śrotā tataḥ paścātpūjayetpustake harim | tataḥ pradakṣiṇīkṛtya dravyavastraphalāni ca 17| dhṛtvāṃjalau pustakasthaṃ hariṃ saṃprārthayenmune | tvaṃ bhāgavatalokesminsvayaṃ kṛṣṇo vyavasthitaḥ 18| samāśrito mayā nātha muktyarthaṃ bhavasāgare | manoratho madīyo'yaṃ sarvathā saphalastvayā 19| nirvighnena prakartavyo dāso'haṃ tava keśava | ityuccārya mune dravyaṃ pustakāgre samarpyatu 20| vaktāraṃ prārthayeccāpi namaskurvankṛtāṃjali | śukarūpadvijaśreṣṭha sarvaśāstraviśārada 21| śrībhāgavatavyākhyānādajñānaṃ me vināśaya | iti saṃprārthya vaktāraṃ varayetpaṃca vāḍavān 22| dvādaśākṣaramaṃtrasya japārthaṃ munisattama | gītavādyavidhijñāṃśca saṃpūjyārthāṃśukādibhiḥ 23| sthāpayetkīrtanārthaṃ tu kathāṃte vidhivanmune | yastu jāyā dhanāgāra putraciṃtāṃ vyudasya ca 24| śṛṇuyādekacittastu sa samagraṃ phalaṃ labhet | sūryodayaṃ samārabhya sārddhatripraharāṃtakam 25| paṭhitvārthaḥ prakarttavyo vākyamadhyāyameva vā | madhyāhne ghaṭikāyugmaṃ viramedapi nārada 26| kathā'vasāne karttavyaṃ kīrtanaṃ keśavasya ca | upavāsaḥ prakarttavyaḥ śrotṛbhistatphalepsubhiḥ 27| tadaśakto haviṣyānnaṃ sakṛtsvalpaṃ samāharet | jalenāpi phalenāpi dugdhena ca ghṛtena vā 28| kevalenaiva karttavyaṃ nirvighnaṃ dhāraṇaṃ tanoḥ | saptāhavratināṃ puṃsāṃ niyamānśṛṇu nārada 29| viṣṇudīkṣāvihīnānāṃ nādhikāro'tra kīrtitaḥ | brahmacaryamadhaḥ suptiḥ patrāvalyāṃ ca bhojanam 30| samācarennityameva saptāhe munisattama | dvidalaṃ madhu tailaṃ ca parānnaṃ cekṣujaṃ rasam 31| bhāvaduṣṭaṃ kriyāduṣṭaṃ jahyātparyuṣitaṃ vratī | palāṃḍulaśunaṃ hiṃguṃ mūlakaṃ gṛṃjanaṃ tathā 32| nālikāṃ caiva kūṣmāṃḍaṃ naro nādyātkathāvratī | kāmaṃ krodhaṃ madaṃ lobhaṃ daṃbhaṃ mātsaryameva ca 33| mohaṃ dveṣaṃ tathā hiṃsāṃ naiva kuryātkathāvratī 34| vedavaiṣṇavaviprāṇāṃ guru govratināṃ tathā | strī rājamahatāṃ cāpi niṃdāṃ jahyātkathāvratī 35| satyaṃ śaucaṃ dayāmaunamārjavaṃ vinayaṃ tathā | manaḥ prasannatāṃ cāpi budhaḥ kuryātkathāvratī 36| śrīkāmastanayārthī ca jayakāmaśca mokṣadhīḥ | śṛṇuyādvai bhāgavataṃ niṣkāmaḥ śrīhariṃ labhet 37| saptame divase kuryāllaṃghanaṃ tatsamāptike | vaktuśca pūjā karttavyā gobhūsvargaṃ varādibhiḥ 38| prasāda tulasīṃ mālāṃ śrotṛbhyaḥ pratidāpayet | utsavaśca tathā kāryo gītavādyaviśāradaiḥ 39| gītārthaṃ śṛṇuyāccāpi pare'hani vicakṣaṇaḥ | pratiślokaṃ ca juhuyādgāyatryā vā yathāvidhi 40| pāyasaṃ madhusarpiśca tilāṃstaṃḍulakānyavān | śarkarāṃ ca priyālaṃ ca drākṣāṃ vātāma kharjurau 41| aṃbhojāni ca karpūraṃ caṃdanāguruṇīpuram | lavaṃgaṃ bilvapatrāṇi sahasraṃ ca pṛthakpṛthak 42| vighnasya ca vighātārthaṃ nyūnādhikyanivṛttaye | ātmanaḥ pūtatārthaṃ ca paṭhennāmasahasrakam 43| dvādaśāṣṭādaśāthāpi śraddhayāhyadhikāṃstathā | pāyasenāśayedviprānsvarṇaṃ dhenuśca dakṣiṇā 44| vratasiddhyarthamapyatra prauṣṭhapadyāmathāpi vā | svarṇasiṃhaṃ vinirmāya tasya pṛṣṭhe nidhāya ca 45| śrīmadbhāgavataṃ vaktre lekhayitvā samarpayet | evaṃ kṛte vidhāne tu sarvapāpanivāraṇam 46| bhavecchrotuḥ suphaladaṃ śrīmadbhāgavataṃ śrutam | dharmakāmārthamokṣāṇāṃ sādhanaṃ bhaktidāyakam 47| na kāryaṃ vidyate loke yadanena na sidhyati | tato bhāgavataṃ loke purāṇebhyo'dhikaṃ matam 48| doṣāṣṭādaśanirmukto vācakaḥ parikīrtitaḥ | dvātriṃśadaparādhairhi mukto śrotā mato budhaiḥ 49| śrīmadbhāgavataṃ nāma purāṇaṃ kāmadaṃ nṛṇām | tathāpi śravaṇaṃ cāsya niṣkāmasyaiva bhaktidam 6.198.50| śrīmadbhāgavatābhidhaḥ suratarustārāṃkuraḥ sajjaniḥ skaṃdhairdvādaśabhistataḥ pravilasadbhaktyālavālodayaḥ | dvātriṃśattriśataṃ ca yasya vilasacchākhāḥ sahasrāṇyalaṃ parṇānyaṣṭadaśeṣṭadotisulabho varvarti sarvopari 51| iti te kathitaṃ sarvaṃ kṛtaṃ cāpi tavepsitam | jñānavairāgyabhaktīnāṃ tāruṇyaṃ lokamokṣadam 52| sūta uvāca- ityuktā te kumārāstu kṛṣṇāṃghrisudhayāplutāḥ | viremurbhagavadbhaktā dīnoddharaṇatatparāḥ 53| tadvākyaṃ tu samākarṇya nārado bhagavatpriyaḥ | premagadgadayā vācā tānuvāca kṛtāṃjaliḥ 54| nārada uvāca- dhanyosmyanugṛhītosmi bhavadbhiḥ karuṇāparaiḥ | yadbhāgavatasaptāhānnikaṭe darśito hariḥ 55| evaṃ bruvati vai tasminnārade vaiṣṇavottame | paryaṭaṃstaṃ samāyātastatra yogeśvaraḥ śukaḥ 56| dviraṣṭavarṣākṛtiraṃbujākṣo vyāsātmajo jñānapayodhicaṃdraḥ| kathāvasāne nijalābhatuṣṭo hṛdāniśaṃ bhāgavataṃ paṭhaṃśca 57| dṛṣṭvā sadasyāstamathorutejasaṃsadyaḥsamutthāya varāsanaṃ daduḥ | sa copaviṣṭaḥ sukhamāsane yadā tadāvirāsīddharirabjalocanaḥ 58| bhavo bhavānyā kamalāsanaḥ sutaistatrāgataḥ kīrtanadarśanāya ca | sureśamukhyāstridaśā vimānakaiḥ samāgatāstairabhavadvṛtaṃ nabhaḥ 59| prahlādastāladhārītaralagatitayā hyuddhavaḥ kāṃsyadhārī vīṇādhārī surarṣiḥ svarakuśalatayā rāgakartā'rjuno'bhūt | iṃdro mārdaṃgiko'bhūjjayajaya suvacaḥ prāvadaṃste kumārāḥ sadbhāvasya pravaktā niratiśayaguṇovyāsaputro babhūva 60| nanartta madhye trikameva tatra jñānādikānāṃ navarūpayuktam | alaukikaṃ kīrttanakaṃ samīkṣya prasannacetā harirityuvāca 61| matto varaṃ bhāgavatā vṛṇīdhvaṃ prītātkathākīrttanato bhṛśaṃ vaḥ| śrutvātha tadvākyamatiprasannā premārdracittā harimūcire te 62| kumārā ūcuḥ- saptāhayajñena vitāyatena sadyaḥ prasanno bhavitā murāre | kalauyuge ghoratare narāṇāṃ svalpāyuṣāṃ vighnaśatākulānām 63| evaṃ varaṃ viśvavidhānapālanapraṇāśahetorbhavatokhilātmanaḥ | vṛṇīmahe'nyo na manoratho vibho bhavatpadāṃbhojaniṣeviṇāṃ hi naḥ 64| evamastviti caivoktvā tatraivāṃtardadhe hariḥ | nāradaḥ suprasannātmā kumārānabhyavādayat 65| tataste sanakādyāśca bhṛgvādyāśca śukādayaḥ | prayayuḥ svāśramānhṛṣṭāḥ pītvā tacca kathāmṛtam 66| bhaktiḥ sutābhyāṃ sahitā nāradena pravartitā | bhūmaṃḍale samaste'smistadā prabhṛti śaunaka 67| śiva uvāca- ākhyānaṃ mahadākarṇya prītātmā śaunakaḥ priye | paryapṛcchatpunaḥ sūtaṃ sarvasaṃdehabhaṃjanam 68| śaunaka uvāca-| śukenoktaṃ kadā rājñe gokarṇena kadā punaḥ | surarṣaye kadā brāhmairetadākhyāhi mānada 69| sūta uvāca- śrīkṛṣṇanirgamāttriṃśadvarṣāvadhigate kalau | bhādraśuklanavamyāṃ vai kathāraṃbhaṃ śuko'karot 70| parīkṣicchravaṇāṃte tu gate varṣaśatadvaye | śuciśuklanavamyāṃ tu gokarṇokathayatkathām 71| kalau sahasramabdānāmadhunā pragataṃ dvija | parīkṣito janmakālātsamāptiṃ nīyatāṃ makhaḥ 72| īśvara uvāca- iti śrutvā vacastasya śaunako munisattamaḥ | pūrṇaṃ cakāra taṃ yajñaṃ sahasraparivatsaram 73| brāhmaṃ pādmaṃ vaiṣṇavaṃ ca kaurmyaṃ mātsyaṃ ca vāmanam | vārāhaṃ brahmavaivarttanāradīyaṃ bhaviṣyakam 74| āgneyamarddhaṃ vai sūtācchuśruvurlomaharṣaṇāt | etāni tu purāṇāni dvāparāṃte śrutāni hi 75| śaunakādyairmunivarairyajñāraṃbhātpuraiva hi | yadā tu tīrthayātrāyāṃ valadevaḥ samāgataḥ 76| naimiṣaṃ miśrikaṃ nāma samāhūto munīśvaraiḥ | tatra sūtaṃ samāsīnaṃ dṛṣṭvā tvadhyāsanopari 77| cukṣubhe bhagavānrāmaḥ parvaṇīva mahodadhiḥ | āṣāḍhaśukladvādaśyāṃ pāraṇāhani pārvati 78| pūrvārddhayāmavelāyāṃ bhāvitvātkṛṣṇamāyayā | mugdho darbhakaro rāmaḥ prāharallomaharṣaṇam 79| tato munigaṇāḥ sarve hāhākāraparāyaṇāḥ | babhūvurnagajetyarthaṃ śokaduḥkhākulāṃtarāḥ 80| ūcuśca rāmaṃ lokeśaṃ vinayena kṣamāparāḥ | ṛṣaya ūcuḥ- rāmarāma mahābāho bhavatā lokakāriṇā 81| ajānatevācaritā hiṃsā brahmavadhādhikā | vyāsaśiṣyo hyayaṃ sākṣātpurāṇarṣirmahātapāḥ 82| asmai hyadhyāsanaṃ dattamasmābhiryajñakarmaṇi | aṣṭādaśapurāṇānāṃ vācakāya kṛtakṣaṇaiḥ 83| kathāyāṃ jagadīśasya dīrghamāyuśca mānada | tadbhavāṃllokarakṣārthaṃ dharmasetupravartakaḥ 84| āvirbhūto jagannātho nigrahānugrahakṣamaḥ | ityuktvā munayaste tu baladevāgrataḥ priye 85| tūṣṇīṃ babhūvuḥ sahasā smaraṃto niyaterbalam | tataḥ provāca bhagavānrāmaḥ śatruniṣūdanaḥ 86| viprānsaṃprīṇayaṃstāṃstu lokavedapathānugaḥ | śrīrāma uvāca- viprāḥ śṛṇuta bhadraṃ vaḥ kopaṃ tyaktvā sudūrataḥ 87| yadahaṃ vedmi bhavatāmabhīṣṭaṃ kāryasiddhidam | asya putro mahājñānī bhaviṣyati varānmama 88| bhavatāmīpsitaṃ sarvaṃ śāstraṃ vai kathayiṣyati | yadarthamahamāhūtastacca kāryyaṃ samucyatām 89| īśvara uvāca- iti śrutvā vacaste tu rāmasya sumahātmanaḥ | balvalasya vadhārthāya prerayāmāsurīśvaram 90| tataḥ sa balvalaṃ hatvā prasādya munipuṃgavān | praṇipatyābhyanujñātastīrthayātrāmupāgamat 91| tīrthayātrāṃ gate rāme śaunakādyā munīśvarāḥ | laumaharṣaṇimāhūya satkṛtya naganaṃdini 92| tatpade sthāpayāmāsuḥ śeṣaṃ saṃkīrtanāya vai | āgneyottaramāhātmyaṃ śrīmadbhāgavatāṃtakam 93| purāṇasaptakaṃ sārddhaṃ śuśruvurhṛṣṭamānasāḥ | daśasaptapurāṇāni kṛtvā satyavatīsutaḥ 94| nāptavānmanasastoṣaṃ bhāratenāpi bhāmini | jñātvāsya hṛdayaṃ khinnaṃ nārado devadarśanaḥ 95| samājagāma bhagavānvyāsasyāśramamuttamam | taṃ dṛṣṭvā vāsavīsūnuḥ satkṛtyāsanapūrvakam 96| nāradaṃ pūjayāmāsa vidhidṛṣṭenakarmaṇā | atha taṃ nāradaḥ prāha kiṃ bhavānkliṣṭamānasaḥ 97| dhyāyate tatsamācakṣva sarvaṃ saṃdehakāraṇam | iti pṛṣṭaḥ sa muninā parāśara suto'bravīt 98| brahmankiṃ kāraṇaṃ ceto mohe jāne na tattvaham | bhavānvijñānakuśalo jñātvā tatprabravītu me 99| evaṃ vijñāpitastena nārado'dhyātmakovidaḥ | uvāca paramaṃ tatvaṃ yaduktaṃ vidhinātmane 6.198.100| nārada uvāca- śṛṇu pārāśare mattaḥ kāraṇaṃ yena vai tava | asaṃpannaṃ mano bhāti śāstrayonerapi prabhoḥ 101| tvayāvatīrya lokesminvedā vyastā vibhāgaśaḥ | kṛtāni ca purāṇāni setihāsāni cānagha 102| yatra sarvastrayī dharmo varṇāśramanivāsinām | nirdiṣṭo vīkṣya kālena nṛṇāmalpāyuṣāṃ kalau 103| yatrādhikāraḥ sarveṣāṃ dṛśyate śravaṇādiṣu | strī śūdra dvijabaṃdhūnāṃ sādhūnāṃ sādhusaṃgamaḥ 104| dharmādayo yathāśaśvadvarṇitāsteṣu vai tvayā | prādhānyena tathā naiva varṇito mahimā hareḥ | sarvadharmakriyāśūnye kalau doṣanidhau mune 105| na gatiḥ pāpakartṝṇāṃ vinā kṛṣṇakathā'mṛtam | eṣa eva guṇo hyasminghore kaliyuge narāḥ 106| yatkṛṣṇakīrtanenaiva mucyaṃte karmabaṃdhanāt | yajño dānaṃ tapaḥ karma jñānaṃ dhyānaṃ kṛtādiṣu 107| siddhidaṃ ca tathā brahmannāmakīrttanakaṃ kalau | ato vai kalijātānāmuddhārārthaṃ nṛṇāṃ bhavān 108| śrīmadbhāgavataṃ nāma purāṇaṃ varṇayatvalam | yena pravartitenāṃga bhavato mānasaṃ dhruvam 109| toṣameṣyati lokāśca prāpsyaṃti kṛtakṛtyatām 110| īśvara uvāca- evamādiśya sa munirvyāsāyāmitatejase | yayau yādṛcchikaḥ śaśvadgāyanhariguṇānpriye 111| nārade tu gate paścādvyāsaḥ sarvārthadarśanaḥ | cakāra saṃhitāmetāṃ śrīmadbhāvatīṃ parām 112| pailādīṃścaturo vedānadhyāpya vidhipūrvakam | purāṇasaṃhitāḥ sarvāḥ sūtāya pratyapādayat 113| śrīmadbhāgavataṃ nāma purāṇaṃ brahmasaṃmitam | śukamadhyāpayāmāsa virataṃ lokavedataḥ 114| sā saṃhitā bhāgavatī lomaharṣaṇasūnunā | śrutā kathayato rājñe auttareyāya vai śukāt 115| śaunakādiṛṣibhyastu tena proktā yathārthataḥ | varīvartti purāṇānāmuparīyaṃ nagātmane 116| asyāṃ saṃlagnacittānāṃ nṛṇāmanyatra no ratiḥ | jāyate mānase kṛṣṇo naṃdasūnuścakāsti ca 117| yattu pṛṣṭaṃ tvayā bhadre lokanistārahetave | śrībhāgavatamāhātmyaṃ mahyaṃ saṃkīrttayeti ha 118| tatsarvaṃ ca mayā tubhyaṃ nirdiṣṭaṃ gaṇapāṃbike | nānetihāsasahitaṃ bhaktimuktipradāyakam 119| yaḥ śṛṇoti naro bhaktyā māhātmyaṃ paṭhate'pi ca | anumodanena vā sopi labhate paramāṃ gatim 120| dvijo'dhītyāpnuyādvedānkṣatriyastu labhejjayam | dhanaṃ vaiśyastathāśūdraḥ śrutvaiva labhate gatim 121|

English translation

Kumāras said :

1-7. Now we shall tell you the manner of listening to the ( Bhāgavata recitation during a) week, by which Bhāgavata would accomplish success for those men who have dedicated their minds to Kṛṣṇa . A devout man, after having called an astrologer, and after having honoured him with wealth and garments, should first ask him about the auspicious time. The commencement (of narrating the Bhāgavata) should be made at the auspicious time which he would tell. The months of Śrāvaṇa , Bhādrapada , Āśvina , Kārtika , Mārgaśīrṣa , Jyeṣṭha (and Āṣāḍha ) are best for the commencement of the narration; so also the Pūrṇā - tithi (i.e. 5th, 10th, 15th lunar days) is auspicious. Tuesdays and Saturdays shall be excluded and the constellations Dhruva and weak ones. The commencement is always recommended on an auspicious conjunction (of planets) and an auspicious lagna (i.e. the moment of the Sun’s entrance into a Zodiacal sign). O best sage, when stories from the Purāṇas are (to be read) daily, a wise man should avoid Dvādaśī (the twelfth day) due to the impurity caused to Sūta . For the (reading of) Śrīmad Bhāgavata for a week there is no prohibition. Thus said those who know the past, O divine sage. The wise ones have said that (the reading of) Bhāgavata for a week is a great sacrifice.

8-16. Therefore, invitation should be extended to devotees of Viṣṇu all round: ‘There will be a gathering during the week, O best devotees of Viṣṇu. Devotees of Viṣṇu desiring to listen (to the Bhāgavata) should come for it.’ For those who come he should carefully make arrangement for their lodging at a holy place, in a grove, or in the village. He should erect a pavilion on the land that is purified. The pavilion should have four pillars with plantain trees, and should have banners in the four directions. A raised seat at its front is recommended for the speaker (i.e. the reader), O sage. The seats of the listeners are to be arranged on both the sides of him. The speaker, the most learned one, should face the north in the gathering. A speaker who knows the meaning and essential nature of the Vedas and holy texts, who is an excellent brāhmaṇa and a devotee of Viṣṇu, who is proficient in (telling) illustrative stories, who is patient, eloquent, free from desire, should be appointed. One removing all doubts should not be appointed. By the side of the speaker there should be another learned wise man. He should remove the doubts of the listeners and should enlighten the ignorant. To avoid any obstacle in (the narration of) the story, he should first worship Gaṇeśa . Then having, in the proper manner, worshipped Durgā , Śiva , Viṣṇu, Brahmā , the Sun and the brāhmaṇas , he should devoutly gratify the deities and the dead ancestors.

17-29. Then the chief listener should worship Viṣṇu represented in the book. Then having gone round, and having held in the hollow of his hands money, garments and fruits he should, O sage, request Viṣṇu (represented) in the book: “O divine one, you, Kṛṣṇa, have established yourself in this world. O lord, I have resorted to you for freedom from the ocean of the mundane existence. You should by all means make my desire fulfilled without any obstacle. O Keśava , I am your servant.” Speaking like this and putting the money before the book, he should also, with his palms folded, salute and request the speaker (i.e. the reader): “O you best brāhmaṇa, of the form of Śuka , O you proficient in all holy texts, remove my ignorance by means of explaining the Bhagavata .” Having thus requested the speaker, he should select five brāhmaṇas for the recitation of the twelve-syllabled formula, O best sage. Having honoured those knowing the rules about singing and instrumental music with money, garments etc., he should at the end of the narration of the story appoint them for the recital (i.e. singing) of the glory of the lord. He who, having given up the anxiety about his wife, wealth, house, sons, listens with a concentrated mind, would obtain the entire fruit. For three watches and a half, beginning from sunrise, it—a sentence or a chapter, should be read and its meaning explained. O Nārada , he should take rest even for a ghaṭikā at mid-day. At the end of the (narration) of the story, the glory of Viṣṇu should be sung. A fast should be observed by the listeners desiring its fruit. A man incapable of doing it, should eat the food fit to be eaten during fast or should a little once (only). The body should be sustained without difficulty with water, or fruit, or milk or ghee only. O Nārada, listen to the rules to be observed by those who take the vow for seven days.

30-44. Those who are not initiated into (worship of) Viṣṇu, are said to have no right for this vow. O best sage, during the week one should observe celibacy, should sleep on the bare ground, and eat from a plate made of leaves everyday. He who is observing the vow, should avoid pulses, honey, oil, others’ food, sugarcane juice, food polluted by thought, polluted by act, and stale food, so also onion, garlic, asafoetida, radish and gṛñjana (a kind of garlic). So also a man observing the vow of (reading or listening to the Bhāgavata) story should not eat lotus-stalks and pumpkin gourd. He should not indulge in sexual pleasure, anger, pride, greed, hypocrisy, and jeolousy, so also infatuation, hatred and harm. He who is observing the vow of (reading or listening to the Bhāgavata) story, should avoid censuring Vedas, Viṣṇu’s devotees, brāhmaṇas, preceptors, those observing the vow of (serving) a cow, so also women, kings and great men. The wise one who is observing the vow of (reading or listening to the Bhāgavata) should practise truthfulness, purity, kindness, silence, straightforwardness, politeness, and graciousness of mind. A man desiring wealth, desiring a son, desiring victory, or thinking of salvation, should listen to the Bhāgavata. He, having no desire, would obtain Śrī Hari . For its completion, he should fast on the seventh day. He should honour the reader with a cow, land, gold, garments etc. He should cause to give remnants of the food offered to the deity, garlands of Tulasī (leaves) to the listeners. So also with the (help of) those skilled in singing and playing upon musical instruments a festival should be celebrated. The wise one should also listen to the meaning of the Gītā on the next day. Or after every verse with the Gāyatrī hymn, he should make offerings (to Viṣṇu) according to the rules. He should also offer sweetened milk, honey, ghee, sesamum-seeds, rice, barley grains, sugar, priyāla, grapes, dates, lotuses, camphor, sandal, agaru (a kind of sandal), cloves, a thousand leaves of bilva separately. He should recite the (hymn called) Viṣṇu- sahasra - nāma for removing obstacles, removing deficiencies and excesses, and for purifying himself. He should devoutly offer sweetened milk to twelve, eighteen or more brahmaṇas , and (should give them) gold or a cow as a present.

45-52. On this day or the day of Pūrvā Bhādrapadā or Uttarā Bhādrapadā (constellations) he should fashion (the) golden (image of a) lion, should place the Bhāgavata (text) on its back, and writing on it (his name etc.) should give it to the reader. When this is done according to the rule, the Bhāgavata that is listened to would remove all the sins of the listener and would give him good fruit, be the means of religious merit, of the fulfilment of the desire for sensual enjoyments, acquisition of worldly objects and salvation, and would give (i.e. produces) devotion. There is no object in the world that is not secured by this. Therefore, in the world, the Bhāgavata is regarded as superior to (other) Purāṇas. The reader is said to be free from eighteen blemishes, and the listener is supposed to be free from thirty-two faults by the wise. The Purāṇa named Śrī Bhāgavata gives men their desired objects. Yet listening to it produces devotion only in a person free from desires. The divine tree called Śrīmad Bhāgavata has starlike shoots; has a good origin; it shines with twelve large boughs (i.e. sections); it grows in the basin of devotion; it has three hundred and thirty-two bright branches (i.e. chapters); it has eighteen thousand leaves (i.e. verses); it gives desired objects; it is easily accessible; and it stands above all. Thus I have told you everything and have done what was desired by you. The youth of Jñāna , Vairāgya and Bhakti gives salvation to people.

Sūta said :

53-54. Having spoken like this, the Kumaras , inundated with the nectar (flowing) from Kṛṣṇa’s feet, devotees of the lord, and intent on emancipating the helpless, ceased (speaking). Hearing their words, Nārada, dear to the lord, and with his palms joined, said to them in a voice faltering due to love:

Nārada said :

55-62. I am blessed; I am favoured by you highly devoted to compassion, since at the end of the Bhāgavata-saptāha (i.e. reciting or listening to the Bhāgavata for a week), you have presented Viṣṇu near me.

While Nārada, the best devotee of Viṣṇu, was speaking like this, Śuka, the chief among the meditating saints, (while) roaming, came there. His form was that of a youth of sixteen years; he was lotus-eyed; he was Vyāsa ’s son; he was the moon to the ocean of knowledge; he was content at heart with whatever (given) at the end of (the narration of) the story, and constantly recited Bhagavata. The members of the assembly, seeing him of a great lustre, got up and gave him an excellent seat. When he comfortably sat on the seat, lotus-eyed Viṣṇu appeared (there). Śiva with Pārvatī and Brahmā with his sons came there to glorify and see him. Gods among whom Indra was the chief, came there in aeroplanes. The sky was covered by them. Prahlāda did the beating of time with a quick speed; Uddhava took the cymbals; the divine sage (Nārada) took the lute; Arjuna , through his skill in tunes, formed the musical modes. Indra played upon the tabor; the Kumāras uttered the loud shouts of victory. Vyāsa’s son, of unsurpassed virtues, was a (versatile) speaker and of good sentiments. The triad of Jñāna etc. having new forms, just danced in the middle. Seeing the extraordinary glorification Viṣṇu, with his mind pleased, spoke as follows: “O devotees of Viṣṇu, ask for a boon from me who am very much pleased with the narration of the story.” Hearing those words, they who were pleased, and with their heart flowing with love, said:

Kumāras said :

63-67. O Murāri (i.e. O Viṣṇu), you will be instantly pleased with the worship (in the form of reading or listening to the Bhāgavata) continued for a week in the very fierce Kali age by men having a short life and overcome by hundreds of obstacles. From you, the soul of everything and the creator, sustainer and destroyer of the universe, we, resorting to your lotus-like feet, ask for this boon and not any other (boon).

Saying, “Let it be so”, Viṣṇu vanished there only. Nārada with his mind pleased, saluted Kumāras. Then those Sanaka and others, Bhṛgu and others and Śuka and others, delighted by drinking the nectar of the story went to their own hermitages. O Śaunaka , since then, Nārada propagated Bhakti along with her two sons over the entire earth.

Śiva said :

68. O dear one, having heard the great story, Śaunaka whose heart was pleased, again asked Sūta who removed all doubts:

Śaunaka said :

69. O you respecting (others), tell me when Śuka told it to the king, when Gokarṇa told it, and Brahmā’s sons to the divine sage (Nārada).

Sūta said :

70-72. Śuka commenced (the narration of) the story on the ninth of the bright fortnight of Bhādrapada when the period of three hundred years of Kali after the departure of Śrīkṛṣṇa had passed. Gokarṇa told the story on the 9th day of the bright half of Jyeṣṭha (or Āṣāḍha), after two hundred years had passed from the time Parīkṣit had heard it. O brāhmaṇa, now a thousand years of the Kali age have passed from the time of Parīkṣit. (So) conclude the sacrifice.

The lord said :

73-81a. Hearing these words of him, the best sage Śaunaka completed the sacrifice that continued for a thousand years. These Purāṇas: Brāhma , Pādma , Vaiṣṇava , Kaurma , Matsya , Vāmana , Varāha , Brahmavaivarta, Nāradīya , Bhaviṣyaka, and half of Āgneya were formerly heard by excellent sages like Śaunaka from Sūta Lomaharṣaṇa up to the end of the Dvāpara age. When Baladeva came on a pilgrimage to (the forest) called Naimiṣa Miśrikā, he was called by the best sages. There seeing Sūta seated on an excellent seat, revered ( Bala -) Rāma was agitated like the great ocean on a parvan day. O Pārvatī, on the Dvādaśī day of the bright half of Āṣāḍha, at the time of its earlier half, he, Rāma, being stupefied due to what was decided by Kṛṣṇa’s Māyā , having darbhas in his hand, struck Lomaharṣaṇa. Then all the hosts of the sages did loud wailing, and their hearts were overcome by sorrow and grief, O daughter of the ( Himālaya ) Mountain. Then they, full of forgiveness, said humbly to Rāma, the lord of the world:

The sages said :

81b-87a. O Rāma, Rāma, O you of great arms, you, the author of the world, have ignorantly committed harm greater than that due to the murder of a brāhmaṇa. This is actually Vyāsa’s disciple, an ancient sage, having a great penance (to his credit). We who had invited him, the narrator of the eighteen Purāṇas, gave him an excellent seat at this sacrificial rite. On (hearing) the story of the lord of the world one obtains long 1ife, O you who honour (others). Therefore, you who promoted the bridge of piety, who are capable of curbing and favouring, who are the lord of the world, have manifested yourself for the protection of the world.

Speaking like this to Baladeva, O dear one, the sages, remembering the force of destiny, suddenly became silent. Then revered Rāma, killer of his enemies, following the path of the world and the Vedas, pleasing those brāhmaṇas, said:

Śrī Rāma said :

87b-89. O brāhmaṇas, may well-being come to you; listen after casting far away your anger. I know what you like and what gives success to your undertaking. Due to my blessing his son will be very wise. He will narrate to you the holy text desired by you. Tell me the work for which you have invited me.

The lord said :

90-100. Hearing these words of the very noble Rāma, they prompted the lord to murder Balvala . Then, having killed Balvala and pleased the pre-eminent sages and saluting them, he went on a pilgrimage after being permitted by them. O daughter of the (Himālaya) Mountain, when Rāma left for the pilgrimage, the chief sages like Śaunaka called Laumaharṣaṇi , and after honouring him placed him in his position for the narration of the remaining (part). With their minds delighted, they listened to seven Purāṇas and a half (beginning with) the greatness of the later part of Āgneya up to Bhāgavata. O you beautiful lady, Satyavatī ’s son (Vyāsa) was not mentally pleased after having composed seventeen Purāṇas and Bhārata also. Knowing that his heart was sad, revered Nārada, looking like a god, came to the excellent hermitage of Vyāsa. Seeing him, the son of Vāsavī (i.e. Vyāsa) hospitably received Nārada, offered him a seat, and honoured him with a rite according to the rules. Then Nārada said to him: “Tell me fully the cause of your doubt. What do you, with an afflicted mind, think of?” Thus asked by the sage, (Vyāsa) the son of Parāśara , said: “I really do not know the cause of the disturbance of my mind. You are proficient in knowledge. Understand it (i.e. the cause) and tell it to me.” Thus requested by him, Nārada, proficient in the knowledge of the Supreme Spirit, told him the highest truth obtained by him from Brahma .

Nārada said :

101-110. O son of Parāśara, hear from me the cause due to which the mind of you, the master and the origin of holy texts, has become miserable. O innocent one, having descended on the earth, you have divided the Vedas into parts. You have also composed the Purāṇas along with the Itihāsa , in which, having observed in course of time the practices of the castes and of those living in the four stages of life, you have told them from the three Vedas. All women, śūdras , the twice-born fraternity, those prone to the company of the good, are entitled to listening to it. Religious practices, as are lasting, have been described in them by you. But you have not at all prominently described therein the greatness of Viṣṇu. O sage, in the Kali age, void of all religious practices and rites, and the reservoir of all blemishes, the sinners have no other course than the nectar of Kṛṣṇa’s story. This alone is the merit in this terrible Kali age that men are freed from the bondage of their acts by means of narrating the glory of Kṛṣṇa only. Sacrifices, gifts, penance, rites, knowledge, meditation gave success in (ages) like Kṛta . In the same way, O brāhmaṇa, the narration of (Viṣṇu’s) name (leads to success) in Kali. Therefore, for the emancipation of men born in the Kali age, you should relate Śrīmad Bhāgavata, by composing which, O dear one, your mind will be pleased and people will be blessed.

The lord said :

111-121. Having thus ordered Vyāsa of unlimited lustre, he, O dear one, constantly singing the virtues of Viṣṇu, went as he desired. After Nārada had gone, Vyāsa who saw everything, composed this great text, viz. Śrīmad Bhāgavata. Having taught the four Vedas to Paila and others according to the rule, he gave all the Purāṇa-texts to Sūta. That text of the Bhāgavata was heard by the son of Lomaharṣana, when it was being told to the king Parīkṣit by Śuka. O daughter of the (Himālaya) Mountain, he properly told it to sages like Śaunaka. It is above all Purāṇas and best among them. Men whose heart is attached to it find interest in nothing else. In their minds, Kṛṣṇa, son of Nanda , shines. O you mother of the chief of (my), attendants, I have told you the entire greatness of Śrī Bhāgavata, which you had asked me to narrate for crossing over the (mundane) world. A man who devoutly listens to or he too who reads with approval the greatness (of Śrī Bhāgavata) along with many historical accounts leading to devotion and salvation, obtains the highest position. Having studied it, a brāhmaṇa would obtain (the knowledge of) the Vedas, akṣatriya would get victory, a vaiśya (would obtain) wealth, and a śūdra gets the best position by just listening to it.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 24846, revision 333683 (2022-03-15T05:19:01Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365782.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.