Chapter 4 - The Recitation of Bhāgavata

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The glorious sages said:

1-2. Well done! O Sūta, live long! Guide us like this for a long time. The unprecedented greatness of Śrībhāgavata has been heard directly from your mouth.

Tell us its form, its extent and the mode of listening to it. O Sūta, tell us the qualification of its expounder as well as of the listener now.

Śrī Sūta said:

3. Identical is the form of Śrīmadbhāgavata as well as of the glorious Lord. It is characterized by existence, knowledge and bliss.

4. Know that Bhāgavata is that statement which spreads out and expands, manifesting to the devotees of Śrīkṛṣṇa the sweetness of (the devotion to or the life of) Śrīkṛṣṇa.

5. Know that statement to be Bhāgavata which treats of the four (topics), viz. (scriptural) knowledge, experience or realization thereof, devotion (characterised by Love of God) and its auxiliaries (viz. Śravaṇa-hearing, Kīrtana-glorification of God etc.) and is capable of suppressing Māyā.

6. Who can know the extent of Bhāgavata, the form of which is characterised by infinity and imperishability? Its direction was shown to God Brahmā in four verses by Viṣṇu.

7. O Brāhmaṇa, only those, i.e. Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva etc. are

capable of realizing their desires by plunging deeply into his infinite nature (and not people like us).

8-9. In the case of human beings of limited intellectual and other capacities, the dialogue between Śuka and Parīkṣit, as described by Vyāsa, is conducive to their welfare. It is a sacred text of eighteen thousand verses as composed by Vyāsa. It alone is the greatest support to those who are caught by the crocodile in the form of Kali.

10. The listeners of the holy anecdotes of Viṣṇu are now ascertained. The listeners are considered to be of two types: the Pravaras (the superior ones) and the Avaras (the inferior ones).^[1]

11. The Pravaras are Cātakas (ruddy geese), swans, parrots, fish etc. Wolves, Bhūruṇḍa birds, bulls, camels etc. are said to be Avaras.

12. If a person discards all other sacred works and takes to the vow of listening to Kṛṣṇa Śāstra (scriptural texts belonging to Kṛṣṇa), he is Cātaka (like the ruddy goose) which is solely dependent on the water released by clouds.

13. The Haṃsa (Swan) variety of listener is he who takes the essence from the different kinds of (scriptures) heard by him, just like a swan which takes up pure milk from a mixture of water and milk.

14. A well-trained parrot delights the trainer as well as the bystanders. In the same manner, the Śuka type of listener speaks very well and in limited words also and delights the expounder (of Bhāgavata etc.) as well as other listeners.

15. The listener of the Mīna (fish) type never makes any sound. He is winkless and he appreciates the excellence of the exposition. He is affectionate also. He is like the glossy fish in the ocean of milk.

16. The listener who shouts and inflicts pain on Rasikas (those who have good taste and who appreciate excellence or beauty in literature etc.) and other listeners and who is also very ignorant is the Vṛka type. He is like the wolf which inflicts pain on deer in the forest eagerly listening to the sound of the flute.

17. The bird named Bhūruṇḍa is found on the peeks of the Himālaya mountain. The listener of the Bhūruṇḍa type may teach others but he himself does not act according to (the advices) heard by him.

18. The listener of the Vṛṣa (Bull) type is intellectually blind to both the essential and the inessential. He takes in everything heard by him just like the bull which indiscriminately swallows the tasty grapes as well as the oil cake.

19. The Uṣṭra (Camel) type of listener leaves off the sweet things and takes delight in the opposite ones like the Camel which grazes the (bitter) margosa fruit setting aside the (sweet) mango mixed with it.

20. There are many other sub-divisions of the two types, viz. Bhṛṅgas (Bees), Kharas (Mules) etc. They should be known from their respective behaviours originating from their inborn nature.

21. He who has the following characteristics is spoken as a genuine listener by the expounders^[2]: He duly bows down and sits face to face. He forsakes discussion about other things. He desires to listen (more and more) about the graceful sports of Hari. He is very clever (in understanding things). He is humble. He keeps his palms joined in reverence. He is (like) a trustworthy disciple. He is interested in reflecting upon the problem and the question under discussion. He is clean (in body and mind). He is always a favourite of Kṛṣṇa’s men.

22. The expounder of (Bhāgavata) with the following characteristics is honoured by sages^[3]: His mind dwells in the Lord. He does not expect (any special reward etc.). He is good at heart. He takes pity on the poor people. He is very clever in making others understand things in diverse ways.

23. Then, O Brāhmaṇas, listen to the procedure of and the injunctions regarding the rite of serving (i.e. listening to) Śrībhāgavata in any place in the land of Bhārata. Thereby there shall be continuous happiness.

24. It should be known that resorting (listening) to Bhāgavata is of four types,^[4] viz. Rājasa, Sāttvika, Tāmasa and Nirguṇa (devoid of Guṇas).

25. The Rājasa type of listening to Bhāgavata is of seven days duration. It is celebrated like a Yajña. Elaborate and strenuous preparations are made. There is haste (to conclude the function). There is gaiety of course. It is splendid with much adoration and worships.

26. The Sāttvika type of listening to it is of a month’s or a Ṛtu’s (season of two months) duration. It is unblended (i.e. it is not connected with any elaborate festival etc.). It does not involve much strain. It increases the delight of everyone.

27. The Tāmasa type is a protracted one taking a year for completion. It is slack and slothful without much of religious faith and ardour. The listeners may forget (much) and remember (only a little). Even this type of listening yields happiness.

28. Eschewing all tenacious insistence on the observance of limiting the duration (of listening to Bhāgavata) to stipulated number of days, months or years, if the devotee continues to listen forever with loving devotion, it is considered to be Nirguṇa.

29. In regard to the dialogue of Parīkṣit (and Śuka) the Sevana (serving i.e. listening to) is glorified as Nirguṇa. The fact that there is a mention of seven days’ duration therein is due to the number of (remaining) days of king’s life.

30. Elsewhere the listening shall be of any of the three Guṇas or Nirguṇa according to one’s own will. (The main point is that) Somehow one should listen to the holy text of the Lord.

31. Bhāgavata is an asset (wealth) unto those people who eagerly relish the worship and glorification of Śrīkṛṣṇa’s divine sports and who do not desire even salvation.

32. This is an antidote against all the ills of worldly existence unto those persons who wish for salvation and who are disgusted with the distress of mundane existence. -This should be resorted to in Kali with all care and efforts.

33-341 There are many persons who take delight in sensuous pleasures. They desire worldly happiness. By means of the path of Karma, it is not possible for them now, in Kali, to realize their desires. It is very difficult for them to achieve their ends due to their lack of ability, wealth and the specialized knowledge thereof. So the holy story of Śrīmadbhāgavata should be resorted to by them also.

35. The holy tale of the Lord shall yield wealth, sons, wives, vehicles etc., fame, abodes and a kingdom free from enemies.

36. After enjoying all mentally desired excellent worldly pleasures here in this world, they attain the region of Śrī Hari through the contact of Śrībhāgavata.

37. By means of physical body and wealth one should render service to the place where the exposition of the story of Bhāgavata takes place, and to the persons who are eager to listen to it.

38-40. One shall thus have the benefit of resorting to Śrībhāgavata by their kindness.

Everything other than Śrīkṛṣṇa is termed Dhana (wealth). The listener as well as the expounder is considered to be of two types, viz. Kṛṣṇārthī (one who seeks Kṛṣṇa) and Dhanārthī (one who seeks wealth i.e. everything other than Kṛṣṇa). If the expounder and the listener are of the same type the happiness there increases. If both of them belong to different categories there shall be Rasābhāsa (failure of enjoyment).

In that case there shall be deprivation of the benefit. But the achievement of the benefit of Kṛṣṇārthīs shall definitely take place though it may be delayed.

41. The achievement of the results by Dhanārthīs is on account of the completion of procedure. Ardent love alone is the excellent method in the case of a Kṛṣṇārthī^[5] though he may be devoid of good qualities.

42-43. If a devotee has any desire, he has to follow the following procedure till the end. He should take his bath and perform the daily round of duties after sipping the Pādodaka (water with which the feet are washed) of Hari. He should then worship the text (the book Śrīmadbhāgavata) and the preceptor with all the requisite offerings and services. Only then should he expound or listen to Śrīmadbhāgavata joyously.

44. He should take in Haviṣya or milk as his food. He should take it silently. He should sleep on the floor. He should observe the vow of celibacy and avoid anger, greed etc.

45. Everyday at the end of the discourse there should be Kīrtana i.e. glorification of the Lord. On the conclusion he should keep awake at night. He should feed Brāhmaṇas and make them delighted by means of monetary gifts.

46-47. After giving clothes, ornaments etc. to the preceptor he should give him a cow too. If these injunctions are carried out, he shall obtain the desired benefit, wives, abodes, sons, kingdom, wealth etc., whatever is desired. But having such desires is not good in the case (of a Bhāgavata). It (i.e. to entertain desires) is a ridiculous and vexatious thing.

48. The holy text Śrīmadbhāgavata expounded by sage Śuka is conducive to the attainment of Kṛṣṇa. It yields the benefit of permanent love and bliss in the Kali Age.

:: End of Bhāgavata-Māhātmya ::

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

VV 10 -20 give an interesting classification of the listeners. Birds and animals symbolize certain characteristics.

[2]:

Qualifications of the listeners to BhP.

[3]:

Characteristics of the expounder of BhP.

[4]:

VV 24-28 describe four types of listening to BhP.

[5]:

VV 41-47 describe procedure for Kṛṣṇārthin types of listeners.