Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 12
Pṛthu Mahārāja’s Renunciation, Austerities, Departure, and the Glory of Hearing His History
छिन्नान्यधीरधिगतात्मगतिर्निरीह- स्तत्तत्यजेऽच्छिनदिदं वयुनेन येन । तावन्न योगगतिभिर्यतिरप्रमत्तो यावद्गदाग्रजकथासु रतिं न कुर्यात् ॥ १२ ॥
chinnānya-dhīr adhigatātma-gatir nirīhas tat tatyaje ’cchinad idaṁ vayunena yena tāvan na yoga-gatibhir yatir apramatto yāvad gadāgraja-kathāsu ratiṁ na kuryāt
Nang tuluyang maputol ang pagkapit sa pag-aakalang ang buhay ay katawan, napagtanto ni Mahārāja Pṛthu si Śrī Kṛṣṇa bilang Paramātmā na nananahan sa puso ng lahat. Dahil tumanggap siya ng mga tagubilin mula sa Kanya sa loob, iniwan niya ang iba pang pagsasanay ng yoga at jñāna; maging ang mga “siddhi” nito ay hindi na niya hinangad. Nabatid niyang ang bhakti kay Kṛṣṇa ang sukdulang layunin ng buhay, at hangga’t hindi naaakit ang mga yogī at jñānī sa kṛṣṇa-kathā, hindi mawawala ang kanilang ilusyon tungkol sa pag-iral.
As long as one is too much absorbed in the bodily conception of life, he becomes interested in many different processes of self-realization, such as the mystic yoga system or the system utilizing the speculative empiric methods. However, when one understands that the ultimate goal of life is to approach Kṛṣṇa, he realizes Kṛṣṇa within everyone’s heart and therefore helps everyone who is interested in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Actually the perfection of life depends on one’s inclination to hear about Kṛṣṇa. It is therefore mentioned in this verse, yāvad gadāgraja-kathāsu ratiṁ na kuryāt: unless one becomes interested in Kṛṣṇa, in His pastimes and activities, there is no question of liberation by means of yoga practice or speculative knowledge.
FAQs
This verse teaches that even advanced yogic realization is incomplete until one develops genuine loving attraction (rati) for hearing and speaking the Lord’s narrations (Krishna-kathā).
Gadāgraja means “the elder brother of Gada” and refers to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, indicating that attachment to Kṛṣṇa’s topics is the true perfection.
Alongside self-discipline and meditation, regularly hear/read Bhagavatam and discuss Kṛṣṇa’s teachings—because steady spiritual progress culminates in taste and love for divine narratives, not merely technique.