Shloka 3
The Sūtas Foretell the Glories and Future Deeds of King Pṛthu
अथाप्युदारश्रवस: पृथोर्हरे: कलावतारस्य कथामृतादृता: । यथोपदेशं मुनिभि: प्रचोदिता: श्लाघ्यानि कर्माणि वयं वितन्महि ॥ ३ ॥
athāpy udāra-śravasaḥ pṛthor hareḥ kalāvatārasya kathāmṛtādṛtāḥ yathopadeśaṁ munibhiḥ pracoditāḥ ślāghyāni karmāṇi vayaṁ vitanmahi
Yet even so, we relish the nectar of narrations about Mahārāja Pṛthu, the celebrated partial incarnation of Hari. Urged on by the instructions of authoritative sages, we shall attempt to unfold his praiseworthy deeds—though whatever we say will ever remain inadequate.
However expert one may be, he can never describe the glories of the Lord adequately. Nonetheless, those engaged in glorifying the activities of the Lord should try to do so as far as possible. Such an attempt will please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Caitanya has advised all His followers to go everywhere and preach the message of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Since this message is essentially Bhagavad-gītā, the preacher’s duty is to study Bhagavad-gītā as it is understood by disciplic succession and explained by great sages and learned devotees. One should speak to the general populace in accordance with one’s predecessors — sādhu, guru and śāstras. This simple process is the easiest method by which one can glorify the Lord. Devotional service, however, is the real method, for by devotional service one can satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead with just a few words. Without devotional service, volumes of books cannot satisfy the Lord. Even though preachers of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement may be unable to describe the glories of the Lord, they can nonetheless go everywhere and request people to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.
FAQs
This verse says that one becomes nourished and inspired by the nectar of divine narrations—here, the glories of Pṛthu, a partial expansion of Hari—leading to the desire to speak and spread praiseworthy deeds.
Śukadeva identifies Pṛthu as a partial manifestation of Lord Hari to emphasize that Pṛthu’s rule and actions are divinely empowered and therefore worthy of careful hearing and praise.
Seek guidance from authentic teachers and sacred texts, then use that direction to focus your speech and actions on what is spiritually beneficial—hearing and sharing elevating narratives rather than worldly distractions.