Shloka 16
Parīkṣit’s Questions and the Prelude to Kṛṣṇa’s Advent
Earth’s Burden, Viṣṇu’s Order, and Kaṁsa’s Fear
वासुदेवकथाप्रश्न: पुरुषांस्त्रीन् पुनाति हि । वक्तारं प्रच्छकं श्रोतृंस्तत्पादसलिलं यथा ॥ १६ ॥
vāsudeva-kathā-praśnaḥ puruṣāṁs trīn punāti hi vaktāraṁ pracchakaṁ śrotṝṁs tat-pāda-salilaṁ yathā
A question about Vāsudeva-kathā surely purifies three: the speaker, the inquirer, and the listeners—just as the sacred water from the Lord’s feet purifies.
It is said, tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam ( Bhāg. 11.3.21 ). Those interested in understanding transcendental subject matters as the goal of life must approach the bona fide spiritual master. Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta. One must surrender to such a guru, who can give right information about Kṛṣṇa. Herein, Mahārāja Parīkṣit has surrendered to the right personality, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, for enlightenment in vāsudeva-kathā. Vāsudeva is the original Personality of Godhead, who has unlimited spiritual activities. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is a record of such activities, and Bhagavad-gītā is the record of Vāsudeva speaking personally. Therefore, since the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is full of vāsudeva-kathā, anyone who hears, anyone who joins the movement and anyone who preaches will be purified.
FAQs
This verse states that inquiry into Vāsudeva’s narrations purifies everyone involved—the speaker, the questioner, and the listeners—like sanctifying water from the Lord’s feet.
At the start of Krishna’s Tenth Canto narrations, Śukadeva highlights that sincere questioning and hearing Hari-kathā is itself a powerful purifier for all participants in the discourse.
Regularly hear, speak, and discuss Krishna’s pastimes and teachings in a sincere, inquiry-based way—through study groups, lectures, or daily reading—so the process of śravaṇa and kathā steadily purifies the mind and habits.