Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 37
The Lord in the Heart and the Discipline of Yoga-Bhakti
पिबन्ति ये भगवत आत्मन: सतां कथामृतं श्रवणपुटेषु सम्भृतम् । पुनन्ति ते विषयविदूषिताशयं व्रजन्ति तच्चरणसरोरुहान्तिकम् ॥ ३७ ॥
pibanti ye bhagavata ātmanaḥ satāṁ kathāmṛtaṁ śravaṇa-puṭeṣu sambhṛtam punanti te viṣaya-vidūṣitāśayaṁ vrajanti tac-caraṇa-saroruhāntikam
Ceux qui boivent par l’oreille le nectar des récits du Bhagavān, bien-aimé des dévots, purifient l’intention du cœur souillée par la jouissance matérielle et parviennent ainsi auprès de Ses pieds de lotus, au séjour suprême.
The sufferings of human society are due to a polluted aim of life, namely lording it over the material resources. The more human society engages in the exploitation of undeveloped material resources for sense gratification, the more it will be entrapped by the illusory, material energy of the Lord, and thus the distress of the world will be intensified instead of diminished. The human necessities of life are fully supplied by the Lord in the shape of food grains, milk, fruit, wood, stone, sugar, silk, jewels, cotton, salt, water, vegetables, etc., in sufficient quantity to feed and care for the human race of the world as well as the living beings on each and every planet within the universe. The supply source is complete, and only a little energy by the human being is required to get his necessities into the proper channel. There is no need of machines and tools or huge steel plants for artificially creating comforts of life. Life is never made comfortable by artificial needs, but by plain living and high thinking. The highest perfectional thinking for human society is suggested here by Śukadeva Gosvāmī, namely, sufficiently hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. For men in this Age of Kali, when they have lost the perfect vision of life, this Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the torchlight by which to see the real path. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī Prabhupāda has commented on the kathāmṛtam mentioned in this verse and has indicated Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam to be the nectarean message of the Personality of Godhead. By sufficient hearing of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the polluted aim of life, namely lording it over matter, will subside, and the people in general in all parts of the world will be able to live a peaceful life of knowledge and bliss.
FAQs
This verse says that drinking the nectar of the Lord’s narrations through the ears purifies a heart polluted by sense-enjoyment and brings one to the shelter of His lotus feet.
In Canto 2, Śukadeva instructs Parīkṣit on the most effective spiritual practice for the final stage of life—absorbing the mind in the Lord by hearing His sacred narrations, which cleanse inner contamination and awaken devotion.
Set a daily habit of attentive listening—Bhagavatam recitation, lectures, or kīrtana—and reduce inputs that intensify sense cravings; consistent śravaṇam gradually purifies desires and strengthens God-centered living.