Shloka 14
Parīkṣit’s Questions and the Prelude to Kṛṣṇa’s Advent
Earth’s Burden, Viṣṇu’s Order, and Kaṁsa’s Fear
सूत उवाच एवं निशम्य भृगुनन्दन साधुवादंवैयासकि: स भगवानथ विष्णुरातम् । प्रत्यर्च्य कृष्णचरितं कलिकल्मषघ्नंव्याहर्तुमारभत भागवतप्रधान: ॥ १४ ॥
sūta uvāca evaṁ niśamya bhṛgu-nandana sādhu-vādaṁ vaiyāsakiḥ sa bhagavān atha viṣṇu-rātam pratyarcya kṛṣṇa-caritaṁ kali-kalmaṣa-ghnaṁ vyāhartum ārabhata bhāgavata-pradhānaḥ
Sūta Gosvāmī said: O son of Bhṛgu, having heard the pious questions of Mahārāja Parīkṣit, Śukadeva Gosvāmī—the son of Vyāsa and foremost among the bhāgavatas—honored the King with great respect, and then began to speak the Kṛṣṇa-carita, which destroys the taints of Kali-yuga.
In this verse the words kṛṣṇa-caritaṁ kali-kalmaṣa-ghnam indicate that the activities of Lord Kṛṣṇa are certainly the greatest panacea for all miseries, especially in this Age of Kali. It is said that in Kali-yuga people have only short lives, and they have no culture of spiritual consciousness. If anyone is at all interested in spiritual culture, he is misled by many bogus svāmīs and yogīs who do not refer to kṛṣṇa-kathā. Therefore most people are unfortunate and disturbed by many calamities. Śrīla Vyāsadeva prepared Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam at the request of Nārada Muni in order to give relief to the suffering people of this age ( kali-kalmaṣa-ghnam ). The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is seriously engaged in enlightening people through the pleasing topics of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. All over the world, the message of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Bhagavad-gītā is being accepted in all spheres of life, especially in advanced, educated circles.
FAQs
This verse states that narrations of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s deeds (kṛṣṇa-caritam) are kali-kalmaṣa-ghna—capable of destroying the contaminations and sins characteristic of Kali-yuga.
After hearing Parīkṣit’s saintly glorification and duly honoring him, Śukadeva—foremost among Bhāgavata speakers—began the narration of Kṛṣṇa’s life and pastimes for Parīkṣit’s spiritual benefit.
By regularly hearing or reading Śrīmad Bhāgavatam—especially Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes—one can counteract the negative influences of Kali-yuga and cultivate steady devotion and inner purity.