Shloka 3
Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa: Divine Friendship, Guru-bhakti, and the Lord’s Grace
सा वाग् यया तस्य गुणान् गृणीते करौ च तत्कर्मकरौ मनश्च । स्मरेद् वसन्तं स्थिरजङ्गमेषु शृणोति तत्पुण्यकथा: स कर्ण: ॥ ३ ॥
sā vāg yayā tasya guṇān gṛṇīte karau ca tat-karma-karau manaś ca smared vasantaṁ sthira-jaṅgameṣu śṛṇoti tat-puṇya-kathāḥ sa karṇaḥ
True speech is that which glorifies the Lord’s qualities; true hands are those that labor in His service; true mind is that which remembers Him dwelling in all moving and unmoving beings; and true ears are those that hear His purifying sacred narrations.
While continuing from the previous verse to glorify the sense of hearing dedicated to the Lord, King Parīkṣit mentions the other senses also, so that we gain a complete picture of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Here he declares that without any connection to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord, all the organs of the body become useless. A similar statement is made by Śaunaka Ṛṣi in the Second Canto, Third Chapter, verses 20 to 24.
FAQs
This verse defines purified senses: speech that glorifies Kṛṣṇa, hands that serve Him, a mind that remembers Him everywhere, and ears that hear His sacred pastimes.
While narrating Kṛṣṇa’s meeting with Sudāmā, Śukadeva teaches that real value of the body and senses is fulfilled when they are engaged in bhakti—glorification, service, remembrance, and hearing about the Lord.
Speak about uplifting spiritual topics, offer your work as service, practice daily remembrance of the Lord’s presence, and regularly hear or read Bhagavatam-kathā.