Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.8.7
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesHear Faithfully Before Sharing
“Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa thus spoke the purport of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam to the great sage Sanat-kumāra, who had already taken the vow of renunciation. Sanat-kumāra also, in his turn, when inquired of by Sāṅkhyāyana Muni, explained Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as he had heard it from Saṅkarṣaṇa.”
What the purport teaches
- Although Sanat-kumāra was already in the perfect stage of life, he heard Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa.
- When Sāṅkhyāyana inquired, Sanat-kumāra repeated the same message he had heard. This is the paramparā system.
- One must hear from proper authority before becoming a preacher. Hearing and chanting are especially important in devotional service.
Try this today
Listen carefully to a short Bhāgavatam teaching from proper authority, then summarize it without adding your own ideas.
Ask yourself
How carefully do you hear before trying to explain spiritual teachings?
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.