Shloka 27
Bhadrā and Mitravindā: The Fruits of Namaskāra, Pradakṣiṇā, Hari-nāma, and Śravaṇa of Bhāgavata Kathā
यैर्न श्रुतं भागवतं पुराणं यैर्न श्रुतं ब्रह्मकाण्डं पुराणम् / तेषां जन्म व्यर्थमाहुर्ममहान्तस्तस्माच्छ्राव्या हरिवार्ता सदैव
yairna śrutaṃ bhāgavataṃ purāṇaṃ yairna śrutaṃ brahmakāṇḍaṃ purāṇam / teṣāṃ janma vyarthamāhurmamahāntastasmācchrāvyā harivārtā sadaiva
ಭಾಗವತ ಪುರಾಣವನ್ನು ಕೇಳದವರು ಮತ್ತು ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಕಾಂಡವೆಂಬ ಪುರಾಣವನ್ನೂ ಕೇಳದವರು—ಅವರ ಜನ್ಮ ವ್ಯರ್ಥವೆಂದು ಮಹಾತ್ಮರು ಹೇಳುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ಹರಿ-ವಾರ್ತೆಯನ್ನು ಸದಾ ಶ್ರವಣ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು।
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Not hearing Bhāgavata and Brahma-kāṇḍa Purāṇa is tantamount to wasting human birth; hence Hari-vārtā should always be heard.
Vedantic Theme: Human birth as rare opportunity (durlabha-mānuṣya) to turn toward Bhagavān; śravaṇa as the gateway to transformation and liberation.
Application: Create a sustained curriculum of Bhāgavata study and complementary Purāṇic sections (Brahma-kāṇḍa) with regular listening, reflection, and discussion in satsang.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: recurring refrain that Hari-kathā/Viṣṇu-nāma rescues and gives meaning to life (theme)
FAQs
This verse states that neglecting to hear the Bhāgavata and the Brahma-kāṇḍa Purāṇa makes human birth “wasted,” and therefore recommends regular listening to Hari-kathā as an essential spiritual discipline.
Rather than describing punishments or routes after death, it emphasizes the preventative spiritual path: cultivating devotion through hearing about Hari, which is presented as the meaningful purpose of human life.
Set a daily or weekly practice of listening to or reciting Purāṇic teachings—especially Hari-kathā (Bhāgavata narratives)—to orient life toward dharma, devotion, and inner purification.