Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 4
Nārāyaṇa’s Impartiality, Absorption in Kṛṣṇa, and the Jaya–Vijaya Descent
Prelude to Prahlāda’s History
श्रीऋषिरुवाच साधु पृष्टं महाराज हरेश्चरितमद्भुतम् । यद् भागवतमाहात्म्यं भगवद्भक्तिवर्धनम् ॥ ४ ॥ गीयते परमं पुण्यमृषिभिर्नारदादिभि: । नत्वा कृष्णाय मुनये कथयिष्ये हरे: कथाम् ॥ ५ ॥
śrī-ṛṣir uvāca sādhu pṛṣṭaṁ mahārāja hareś caritam adbhutam yad bhāgavata-māhātmyaṁ bhagavad-bhakti-vardhanam
The great sage Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear King, you have put before me an excellent question. Discourses concerning the activities of the Lord, in which the glories of His devotees are also found, are extremely pleasing to devotees. Such wonderful topics always counteract the miseries of the materialistic way of life. Therefore great sages like Nārada always speak upon Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam because it gives one the facility to hear and chant about the wonderful activities of the Lord. Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Śrīla Vyāsadeva and then begin describing topics concerning the activities of Lord Hari.
In this verse Śukadeva Gosvāmī offers his respectful obeisances kṛṣṇāya munaye, which means to Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsa. One must first offer one’s respectful obeisances to one’s spiritual master. Śukadeva Gosvāmī’s spiritual master is his father, Vyāsadeva, and therefore he first offers his respectful obeisances to Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsa and then begins describing topics of Lord Hari.
FAQs
This verse states that the Bhāgavatam’s glory lies in increasing devotion to the Lord; hearing Hari’s wondrous pastimes nourishes bhakti.
Because Parīkṣit’s inquiry centers on Hari’s adbhuta-carita and the Bhāgavatam’s māhātmya—topics that directly awaken and expand pure devotion.
Prioritize regular śravaṇa (hearing) of Bhāgavatam and Hari-kathā, since devotion grows by consistently engaging the mind and heart in the Lord’s narrations.