Shloka 2
Questions by the Sages of Naimiṣāraṇya (Śaunaka’s Inquiries and the Bhāgavata Thesis)
धर्म: प्रोज्झितकैतवोऽत्र परमो निर्मत्सराणां सतां वेद्यं वास्तवमत्र वस्तु शिवदं तापत्रयोन्मूलनम् । श्रीमद्भागवते महामुनिकृते किं वा परैरीश्वर: सद्यो हृद्यवरुध्यतेऽत्र कृतिभि: शुश्रूषुभिस्तत्क्षणात् ॥ २ ॥
dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo ’tra paramo nirmatsarāṇāṁ satāṁ vedyaṁ vāstavam atra vastu śivadaṁ tāpa-trayonmūlanam śrīmad-bhāgavate mahā-muni-kṛte kiṁ vā parair īśvaraḥ sadyo hṛdy avarudhyate ’tra kṛtibhiḥ śuśrūṣubhis tat-kṣaṇāt
«Шримад-Бхагаватам» полностью отвергает всякую религиозность, продиктованную материальными мотивами, и возвещает высшую истину, постижимую чистыми, не завистливыми преданными. Эта подлинная реальность благотворна и вырывает с корнем три вида страданий. Составленный великим мудрецом Вьясой, этот Бхагаватам самодостаточен для богопознания; к чему иные писания? Стоит смиренно слушать — и Верховный Господь тотчас утверждается в сердце.
Religion includes four primary subjects, namely pious activities, economic development, satisfaction of the senses, and finally liberation from material bondage. Irreligious life is a barbarous condition. Indeed, human life begins when religion begins. Eating, sleeping, fearing, and mating are the four principles of animal life. These are common both to animals and to human beings. But religion is the extra function of the human being. Without religion, human life is no better than animal life. Therefore, in human societies there is some form of religion which aims at self-realization and which makes reference to man’s eternal relationship with God.
FAQs
This verse states that the Bhāgavatam completely rejects kaitava—deceptive, self-serving religion—and teaches only the supreme, pure dharma meant for the non-envious saintly.
Because the Bhāgavatam reveals the highest truth and immediately brings the Supreme Lord into the heart of sincere hearers, making other texts secondary for one seeking pure devotion.
Adopt śravaṇa—regular, attentive hearing of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with a service attitude—since this verse says such sincere hearing brings divine realization that removes suffering at its root.