Shloka 31
Pṛthu Mahārāja’s Renunciation, Austerities, Departure, and the Glory of Hearing His History
य इदं सुमहत्पुण्यं श्रद्धयावहित: पठेत् । श्रावयेच्छृणुयाद्वापि स पृथो: पदवीमियात् ॥ ३१ ॥
ya idaṁ sumahat puṇyaṁ śraddhayāvahitaḥ paṭhet śrāvayec chṛṇuyād vāpi sa pṛthoḥ padavīm iyāt
य इदं सुमहत्पुण्यं पृथोश्चरितं श्रद्धयावहितः पठेत् शृणुयाद्वा श्रावयेद्वापि, स पृथोः पदवीं—तद्लोकं—निश्चयेन प्राप्नुयात्।
In the execution of devotional service, śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ is especially stressed. This means that bhakti, or devotional service, begins by hearing and chanting about Viṣṇu. When we speak of Viṣṇu, we also refer to that which relates to Viṣṇu. In the Śiva Purāṇa, Lord Śiva recommends Viṣṇu worship to be the topmost worship, and that better than Viṣṇu worship is worship of the Vaiṣṇava or anything that is related to Viṣṇu. The fact is explained herein that hearing and chanting about a Vaiṣṇava is as good as hearing and chanting about Viṣṇu, for Maitreya has explained that anyone who hears about Pṛthu Mahārāja with attention also attains the planet which Mahārāja Pṛthu attained. There is no duality between Viṣṇu and the Vaiṣṇava, and this is called advaya-jñāna. A Vaiṣṇava is as important as Viṣṇu, and therefore Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura wrote in his Gurv-aṣṭaka:
FAQs
It states that faithful, attentive recitation, arranging recitation, or even simply hearing this sacred narration grants the listener the same exalted destination attained by King Pṛthu.
As the narration of Pṛthu Mahārāja concludes, Śukadeva highlights the spiritual potency of śravaṇa and pāṭha—encouraging Parīkṣit (and all listeners) to approach the Bhāgavatam with faith and attention.
Set aside regular time to hear or read the Bhāgavatam with focus, and also support sharing it—by reading aloud to family, joining study groups, or facilitating talks—since hearing and reciting are presented as direct spiritual practices.