Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 1.7.8
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesHearing Bhāgavatam Begins Self-Realization
“The great sage Vyāsadeva, after compiling the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and revising it, taught it to his own son, Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī, who was already engaged in self-realization.”
What the purport teaches
- After compiling and revising Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Vyāsadeva taught it to his son, Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī, who was already liberated.
- Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the natural commentary on the Brahma-sūtras by the same author. Simply hearing its topics engages one in the path of self-realization.
- Although especially meant for those fully engaged in self-realization, it also reaches worldly hearts. Its purpose is to cure the materialistic disease and completely stop the pains of material existence.
Try this today
Spend five minutes reading this passage aloud and listening attentively.
Ask yourself
How might hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam help me turn from sense gratification toward self-realization?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.