Shloka 34
The Slaying of Hiraṇyākṣa and the Triumph of Varāha
अन्येषां पुण्यश्लोकानामुद्दामयशसां सताम् । उपश्रुत्य भवेन्मोद: श्रीवत्साङ्कस्य किं पुन: ॥ ३४ ॥
anyeṣāṁ puṇya-ślokānām uddāma-yaśasāṁ satām upaśrutya bhaven modaḥ śrīvatsāṅkasya kiṁ punaḥ
Even hearing of the deeds of saintly devotees, whose fame is deathless, brings transcendental joy; how much more, then, to hear the lilas of the Lord whose chest bears the mark of Śrīvatsa!
Bhāgavatam literally means the pastimes of the Lord and the Lord’s devotees. For example, there are pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa and narrations of devotees like Prahlāda, Dhruva and Mahārāja Ambarīṣa. Both pastimes pertain to the Supreme Personality of Godhead because the devotees’ pastimes are in relation with Him. The Mahābhārata, for example, the history of the Pāṇḍavas and their activities, is sacred because the Pāṇḍavas had a direct relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
FAQs
This verse states that even hearing the fame of saintly persons brings joy; therefore, hearing the Lord’s glories brings far greater bliss and purification—highlighting śravaṇam as a primary limb of bhakti.
Śrīvatsāṅka means “He who bears the Śrīvatsa mark on His chest,” a name of Lord Viṣṇu (here, the Supreme Lord appearing as Varāha), emphasizing His divine identity and auspiciousness.
Make time to hear authentic Hari-kathā—Bhagavatam readings, kīrtana, or discourses—because joyful inspiration naturally arises from hearing saintly lives, and it deepens even more by hearing the Lord’s names, forms, and pastimes.