Shloka 40
Nārada Explains the Allegory of King Purañjana
Deha–Indriya–Manaḥ Mapping and the Remedy of Bhakti
यत्र भागवता राजन् साधवो विशदाशया: । भगवद्गुणानुकथनश्रवणव्यग्रचेतस: ॥ ३९ ॥ तस्मिन्महन्मुखरिता मधुभिच्चरित्र- पीयूषशेषसरित: परित: स्रवन्ति । ता ये पिबन्त्यवितृषो नृप गाढकर्णै- स्तान्न स्पृशन्त्यशनतृड्भयशोकमोहा: ॥ ४० ॥
yatra bhāgavatā rājan sādhavo viśadāśayāḥ bhagavad-guṇānukathana- śravaṇa-vyagra-cetasaḥ
There, from the mouths of great devotees, rivers of nectar—the honey-sweet pastimes of the Prabhu—flow on every side like waves of a river. O King, those who drink them with deep, attentive ears, never satiated, are untouched by hunger and thirst, fear, lamentation, or illusion.
The cultivation of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is possible where great devotees live together and constantly engage in hearing and chanting the glories of the Lord. In a holy place like Vṛndāvana, there are many devotees constantly engaged in chanting and hearing the glories of the Lord. If one gets the chance to hear from pure devotees in such a place, allowing the constant flow of the river of nectar to come from the mouths of pure devotees, then the cultivation of Kṛṣṇa consciousness becomes very easy. When one is engaged in constantly hearing the glories of the Lord, he certainly rises above the bodily conception. When one is in the bodily conception, he feels the pangs of hunger and thirst, fear, lamentation and illusion. But when one is engaged in hearing and chanting the glories of the Lord, he transcends the bodily conception.
FAQs
This verse says that attentive hearing of the Lord’s qualities and pastimes from great devotees acts like nectar and frees one from hunger, thirst, fear, grief, and delusion.
Parīkṣit is preparing for death by hearing Bhāgavatam; Śukadeva emphasizes that drinking Krishna-kathā from saintly devotees is the direct remedy for material anxieties and suffering.
Regularly hear and discuss Srimad Bhagavatam with sincere devotees, listen with focused attention, and replace anxiety-driven media intake with Krishna-kathā to reduce fear, confusion, and emotional distress.