Shloka 26
Chapter 90
श्रुत-मात्रोऽपि यः स्त्रीणां प्रसह्याकर्षते मनः । उरु-गायोरु-गीतो वा पश्यन्तीनां च किं पुनः ॥
śruta-mātro 'pi yaḥ strīṇāṃ prasahyākarṣate manaḥ / uru-gāyoru-gīto vā paśyantīnāṃ ca kiṃ punaḥ //
കേവലം കേട്ടാൽ പോലും സ്ത്രീകളുടെ മനസ്സിനെ ബലമായി ആകർഷിക്കുന്നവൻ—മഹാകീർത്തിയുള്ളവൻ, മഹാനായ ഗായകർ പാടിപ്പുകഴ്ത്തുന്നവൻ—അവനെ നേരിൽ കാണുന്നവരുടെ കാര്യത്തിൽ പിന്നെ എന്ത് പറയണം?
Here Śukadeva highlights the extraordinary, transcendental attractiveness of Kṛṣṇa. His beauty and charm are not ordinary sensual allure; they are the soul’s natural response to the Supreme Person. The verse contrasts two levels of contact: hearing about Kṛṣṇa and directly seeing Him. If śravaṇa (hearing) alone can captivate the mind, then darśana (direct vision) must be even more overwhelming. This supports a central Bhagavata principle: hearing and chanting about Kṛṣṇa are powerful spiritual practices because Kṛṣṇa is present in His names, qualities, and narratives. The phrase “uru-gāya” indicates that Kṛṣṇa is praised by great sages, poets, and devotees, meaning His fame is not manufactured but eternally celebrated. The deeper implication is that the mind naturally seeks rasa (taste/relationship), and Kṛṣṇa is the complete reservoir of rasa; therefore, attraction to Him—whether through hearing or seeing—is a sign of the soul awakening to its original love.
FAQs
This verse teaches that even hearing about Kṛṣṇa can irresistibly attract the mind, showing why śravaṇa is a primary bhakti practice.
No. The Bhagavatam presents Kṛṣṇa’s beauty as transcendental—His form and qualities awaken the soul’s innate love, beyond ordinary material desire.
Regularly hear and recite Kṛṣṇa-kathā, chant His names, and contemplate His qualities; sustained śravaṇa gradually makes the heart receptive to deeper devotion.