Shloka 17
Divinity and Divine Service
Bhagavān and Bhakti as the Supreme Dharma
शृण्वतां स्वकथा: कृष्ण: पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तन: । हृद्यन्त:स्थो ह्यभद्राणि विधुनोति सुहृत्सताम् ॥ १७ ॥
śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ hṛdy antaḥ stho hy abhadrāṇi vidhunoti suhṛt satām
కృష్ణుని స్వకథలను వినువారికి—శ్రవణకీర్తనములచేతనే పుణ్యప్రదమైనవాటిని—హృదయంలో అంతర్యామిగా ఉన్న పరమాత్మ శ్రీకృష్ణుడు, సత్యభక్తుల సుహృదుడై, హృదయంలోని అశుభాలను తొలగిస్తాడు.
Messages of the Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, are nondifferent from Him. Whenever, therefore, offenseless hearing and glorification of God are undertaken, it is to be understood that Lord Kṛṣṇa is present there in the form of transcendental sound, which is as powerful as the Lord personally. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, in His Śikṣāṣṭaka, declares clearly that the holy name of the Lord has all the potencies of the Lord and that He has endowed His innumerable names with the same potency. There is no rigid fixture of time, and anyone can chant the holy name with attention and reverence at his convenience. The Lord is so kind to us that He can be present before us personally in the form of transcendental sound, but unfortunately we have no taste for hearing and glorifying the Lord’s name and activities. We have already discussed developing a taste for hearing and chanting the holy sound. It is done through the medium of service to the pure devotee of the Lord.
FAQs
This verse says that Kṛṣṇa’s own narrations are inherently purifying to hear and chant, and that by such śravaṇa-kīrtana He personally cleanses the listener’s heart of inauspicious impurities.
While instructing the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya on the path of bhakti, Sūta explains that devotion begins with hearing; as one hears Kṛṣṇa-kathā, the Lord within the heart acts as the devotee’s well-wisher and eradicates inner obstacles.
Make daily time to hear or read Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and chant Kṛṣṇa’s names; consistent śravaṇa-kīrtana gradually reduces negativity, distraction, and harmful habits by purifying the mind and heart.