Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 9
The First Step in God Realization: The Glory of Hearing and the Virāṭ-Rūpa Meditation
परिनिष्ठितोऽपि नैर्गुण्य उत्तमश्लोकलीलया । गृहीतचेता राजर्षे आख्यानं यदधीतवान् ॥ ९ ॥
pariniṣṭhito ’pi nairguṇya uttama-śloka-līlayā gṛhīta-cetā rājarṣe ākhyānaṁ yad adhītavān
Ô roi saint, bien que j’eusse été parfaitement établi dans la transcendance nirguṇa, mon cœur fut saisi par le récit des līlā du Seigneur, l’Uttamaśloka; c’est ce récit que j’ai étudié.
The Absolute Truth is realized at the first instance as the impersonal Brahman by philosophical speculation and later as the Supersoul by further progress of transcendental knowledge. But if, by the grace of the Lord, an impersonalist is enlightened by the superior statements of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, he is also converted into a transcendental devotee of the Personality of Godhead. With a poor fund of knowledge, we cannot adjust to the idea of the personality of the Absolute Truth, and therefore the personal activities of the Lord are deplored by the less intelligent impersonalists; but reasons and arguments, together with the transcendental process of approaching the Absolute Truth, help even the staunch impersonalist to become attracted by the personal activities of the Lord. A person like Śukadeva Gosvāmī cannot be attracted by any mundane activity, but when such a devotee is convinced by a superior method, he is certainly attracted by the transcendental activities of the Lord. The Lord is transcendental, as are His activities. He is neither inactive nor impersonal.
FAQs
This verse says that even one firmly situated beyond the material modes can have the heart captured by the Lord’s līlā, showing bhakti’s transcendental sweetness.
Because Shukadeva’s mind was drawn to Uttamaśloka’s pastimes, he learned and relished this narration and thus could impart it to the king-sage Parikshit for spiritual perfection.
Even if one is focused on philosophy or detachment, regularly hearing and reflecting on Krishna-kathā can awaken devotion and steady the mind in higher taste.