Parīkṣit’s Questions and the Prelude to Kṛṣṇa’s Advent
Earth’s Burden, Viṣṇu’s Order, and Kaṁsa’s Fear
एतदन्यच्च सर्वं मे मुने कृष्णविचेष्टितम् । वक्तुमर्हसि सर्वज्ञ श्रद्दधानाय विस्तृतम् ॥ १२ ॥
etad anyac ca sarvaṁ me mune kṛṣṇa-viceṣṭitam vaktum arhasi sarvajña śraddadhānāya vistṛtam
Ô grand muni, toi qui sais tout de Kṛṣṇa, daigne décrire en détail toutes Ses activités, celles que j’ai demandées et celles que je n’ai pas demandées. Je suis plein de foi et brûle du désir de les entendre.
This verse shows that a faithful listener should hear Kṛṣṇa’s līlās in detail from a realized, all-knowing sage—hearing is treated as a primary path of bhakti (śravaṇam).
Because Parīkṣit, facing imminent death, sought complete spiritual fulfillment through devoted hearing; he recognized Śukadeva as qualified (sarva-jña) to narrate Kṛṣṇa’s divine activities expansively.
Approach authentic scripture with receptive faith, choose trustworthy teachers, and commit to consistent listening/reading of Krishna-katha to deepen devotion and clarity.