1 · Learn1 of 6 · 8 min
The essence in a few minutes, then begin. Everything else is folded below for when you want more.
In one line
Hear the Bhāgavatam attentively, with faith, a little every day. That hearing itself brings Kṛṣṇa into the heart.
“This beautiful Bhāgavatam, compiled by the great sage Vyāsadeva [in his maturity], is sufficient in itself for God realization. What is the need of any other scripture? As soon as one attentively and submissively hears the message of Bhāgavatam, by this culture of knowledge the Supreme Lord is established within his heart.”
1 · The essence
When Kṛṣṇa had left this world, Arjuna found relief by remembering the instructions the Lord had given him.
“Now I am attracted to those instructions imparted to me by the Personality of Godhead [Govinda] because they are impregnated with instructions for relieving the burning heart in all circumstances of time and space.”
Not a lot at once: a fixed time each day, taken to heart.
“Persons who hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam regularly and are always taking the matter very seriously will have the Personality of Godhead Śrī Kṛṣṇa manifested in their hearts within a short time.”
The Gītā gives them in brief; the Bhāgavatam opens them up.
“All these subject matters are concisely discussed in the Bhagavad-gītā, and later the subject matters are elaborated in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam for further enlightenment.”
2 · One verse in six steps
Every verse page on this site follows this order. One verse studied well is better than many read quickly.
Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
Note the main points in your own notebook.
3 · Start now
Begin with one verse today, at a time you can keep tomorrow.
Go deeper
Each of these opens to more of the Bhāgavatam's own words. You do not need them to start.
Kṛṣṇa is not seen with these eyes now, but He is heard. The verses are not different from Him.
“The Personality of Godhead produced the four Vedas by His breathing, and He is seen and realized through the transcendental sound of the Vedas. Similarly, the Bhagavad-gītā is the sound representation of the Lord, and there is no difference in identity. The conclusion is that the Lord can be seen and heard by persistent chanting of the transcendental sound.”
When Kṛṣṇa had left this world, Arjuna found relief by remembering the instructions the Lord had given him.
“Now I am attracted to those instructions imparted to me by the Personality of Godhead [Govinda] because they are impregnated with instructions for relieving the burning heart in all circumstances of time and space.”
Where these topics are heard together, the mind settles.
“Whenever pure topics of the transcendental world are discussed, the members of the audience forget all kinds of material hankerings, at least for the time being. Not only that, but they are no longer envious of one another, nor do they suffer from anxiety or fear.”
The Bhāgavatam's own opening says what it gives to one who hears it.
“This beautiful Bhāgavatam, compiled by the great sage Vyāsadeva [in his maturity], is sufficient in itself for God realization. What is the need of any other scripture? As soon as one attentively and submissively hears the message of Bhāgavatam, by this culture of knowledge the Supreme Lord is established within his heart.”
śṛṇvan
hearing
Read as if you are hearing, not skimming. Read aloud, or listen to a class.
su-paṭhan
properly chanting
Say the Sanskrit verse slowly and carefully before anything else.
vicāraṇa-paraḥ
serious about understanding
Stay with a verse until you can say what it means.
śraddhayā
in earnestness
Come to it wanting to hear, not to finish.
nityam
regularly, always
Keep a fixed time each day, even if it is one verse.
sva-ceṣṭitam
seriously by one's own endeavor
Work the meaning out yourself before the translation hands it to you.
śuśrūṣubhiḥ
attentively and submissively hearing
Accept what you hear with faith. Where a doubt remains, go back to the purport.
“Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the spotless Purāṇa. It is most dear to the Vaiṣṇavas because it describes the pure and supreme knowledge of the paramahaṁsas. This Bhāgavatam reveals the means for becoming free from all material work, together with the processes of transcendental knowledge, renunciation and devotion. Anyone who seriously tries to understand Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, who properly hears and chants it with devotion, becomes completely liberated.”
“Persons who hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam regularly and are always taking the matter very seriously will have the Personality of Godhead Śrī Kṛṣṇa manifested in their hearts within a short time.”
When should I read?
Set a fixed, regular time and arrange the rest of the day around it, rather than fitting the Bhāgavatam into whatever time is left. Regular hearing (nityam) is what the verse asks for.
Am I qualified to read it?
No wealth or education is required. What is required is your own sincere effort.
“By the mercy of the Lord even a layman can compose prayers of the highest spiritual perfection. Such spiritual perfection is not limited by material qualifications but is developed by dint of one’s sincere endeavor to render transcendental service. Voluntary endeavor is the only qualification for spiritual perfection.”
My English or my Sanskrit isn't good. Should I leave it to others?
Hearing is itself the method. The seriously inquisitive student realizes the truth through what he has heard.
“Devotional service, which is based on the foreground of full knowledge combined with detachment from material association and which is fixed by the aural reception of the Vedānta-śruti, is the only perfect method by which the seriously inquisitive student can realize the Absolute Truth.”
How long will it take to finish?
It does not finish. The Bhāgavatam is to be relished again and again, and each hearing increases devotion rather than using it up.
“O expert and thoughtful men, relish Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the mature fruit of the desire tree of Vedic literatures. It emanated from the lips of Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī. Therefore this fruit has become even more tasteful, although its nectarean juice was already relishable for all, including liberated souls.”
Can I study on my own?
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purports as if he is speaking to you, and also hear the Bhāgavatam with devotees. Both your own daily reading and hearing together are needed.
“By regular attendance in classes on the Bhāgavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact.”
I don't have much time.
Begin with one verse a day at the same time each day. A single verse studied in the six steps is worth more than many pages skimmed.