Shloka 16
इति ह स्म सकलवेदलोकदेवब्राह्मणगवां परमगुरोर्भगवत ऋषभाख्यस्य विशुद्धाचरितमीरितं पुंसां समस्तदुश्चरिताभिहरणं परममहामङ्गलायनमिदमनुश्रद्धयोपचितयानुशृणोत्याश्रावयति वावहितो भगवति तस्मिन् वासुदेव एकान्ततो भक्तिरनयोरपि समनुवर्तते ॥ १६ ॥
iti ha sma sakala-veda-loka-deva-brāhmaṇa-gavāṁ parama-guror bhagavata ṛṣabhākhyasya viśuddhācaritam īritaṁ puṁsāṁ samasta-duścaritābhiharaṇaṁ parama-mahā-maṅgalāyanam idam anuśraddhayopacitayānuśṛṇoty āśrāvayati vāvahito bhagavati tasmin vāsudeva ekāntato bhaktir anayor api samanuvartate.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: Lord Ṛṣabhadeva is the supreme master of all Vedic knowledge, of human beings, demigods, cows, and brāhmaṇas. I have described His pure, transcendental deeds, which destroy the sinful acts of all living beings. This narration of His pastimes is a treasury of all auspiciousness. Whoever, following the ācārya succession, attentively hears or recites it with faith will surely attain unalloyed, exclusive devotion at the lotus feet of Lord Vāsudeva.
The teachings of Lord Ṛṣabhadeva are for the people of all yugas — Satya-yuga, Tretā-yuga, Dvāpara-yuga and especially Kali-yuga. These instructions are so powerful that even in this Age of Kali, one can attain perfection simply by explaining the instructions, following in the footsteps of the ācāryas or listening to the instructions with great attention. If one does so, one can attain the platform of pure devotional service to Lord Vāsudeva. The pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His devotees are recorded in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam so that those who recite these pastimes and listen to them will become purified. Nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā. As a matter of principle, devotees should read, speak and hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam persistently, twenty-four hours daily if possible. That is the recommendation of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ. One should either chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra or read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and thereby try to understand the characteristics and instructions of the Supreme Lord, who appeared as Lord Ṛṣabhadeva, Lord Kapila and Lord Kṛṣṇa. In this way one can become fully aware of the transcendental nature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā, one who knows the transcendental nature of the Lord’s birth and activities attains liberation from material bondage and returns to Godhead.
FAQs
This verse says that attentive, faithful hearing (and making others hear) of Lord Ṛṣabhadeva’s spotless life removes all sinful tendencies and leads to exclusive devotion to Vāsudeva.
He concludes that Ṛṣabhadeva’s pure conduct is a supreme auspicious refuge for humanity, because the narration itself purifies and awakens one-pointed bhakti to Vāsudeva.
Regularly hear or read Śrīmad Bhāgavatam with attention and faith, and also share it with others; the practice strengthens devotion and helps cleanse harmful habits and motivations.