Shloka 19
Bhāgavatam Mahimā — The Glory, Measure, Transmission, and Gift of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
कस्मै येन विभासितोऽयमतुलो ज्ञानप्रदीप: पुरा तद्रूपेण च नारदाय मुनये कृष्णाय तद्रूपिणा । योगीन्द्राय तदात्मनाथ भगवद्राताय कारुण्यत- स्तच्छुद्धं विमलं विशोकममृतं सत्यं परं धीमहि ॥ १९ ॥
kasmai yena vibhāsito ’yam atulo jñāna-pradīpaḥ purā tad-rūpeṇa ca nāradāya munaye kṛṣṇāya tad-rūpiṇā yogīndrāya tad-ātmanātha bhagavad-rātāya kāruṇyatas tac chuddhaṁ vimalaṁ viśokam amṛtaṁ satyaṁ paraṁ dhīmahi
ആദിയിൽ സ്വയം ബ്രഹ്മാവിന് ഈ അതുല്യ ജ്ഞാനപ്രദീപം പ്രകാശിപ്പിച്ചവനും, അതേ സ്വരൂപത്തിൽ നാരദ മുനിക്കു, കൃഷ്ണദ്വൈപായന വ്യാസനു, യോഗീന്ദ്ര ശുകദേവനു, പിന്നെ കരുണയാൽ ഭഗവദ്രാത (പരീക്ഷിത്) രാജാവിനു പ്രസംഗിക്കപ്പെട്ടവനും ആയ—ആ ശുദ്ധവും വിമലവും ശോകരഹിതവും അമൃതസ്വരൂപവുമായ പരമസത്യത്തെ ഞാൻ ധ്യാനിക്കുന്നു.
The first verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam states, satyaṁ paraṁ dhīmahi — “I meditate upon the Supreme Truth” — and now at the conclusion of this magnificent transcendental literature, the same auspicious sounds are vibrated. The words tad-rūpeṇa, tad-rūpiṇā and tad-ātmanā in this verse clearly indicate that Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself originally spoke Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam to Brahmā and then continued to speak this literature through the agency of Nārada Muni, Dvaipāyana Vyāsa, Śukadeva Gosvāmī and other great sages. In other words, whenever saintly devotees vibrate Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, it is to be understood that Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself is speaking the Absolute Truth through the agency of His pure representatives. Anyone who submissively hears this literature from the Lord’s bona fide devotees transcends his conditioned state and becomes qualified to meditate upon the Absolute Truth and serve Him.
FAQs
This verse calls the Bhāgavatam an incomparable jñāna-pradīpa (lamp of spiritual knowledge) revealed by the Supreme Truth through the disciplic succession.
They represent the Bhāgavatam’s transmission: the revelation to Nārada, composition and manifestation through Vyāsa, realization and recitation by Śukadeva, and devoted hearing by King Parīkṣit.
Treat Bhāgavatam study as guided illumination—hear regularly in a faithful lineage, reflect on the Supreme Truth’s qualities (pure, sorrowless, immortal), and let that knowledge shape daily choices and devotion.