Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 13
Ātmā’s Unborn Nature and Fearlessness at Death
Parīkṣit’s Final Instruction
एतत्ते कथितं तात यदात्मा पृष्टवान् नृप । हरेर्विश्वात्मनश्चेष्टां किं भूय: श्रोतुमिच्छसि ॥ १३ ॥
etat te kathitaṁ tāta yad ātmā pṛṣṭavān nṛpa harer viśvātmanaś ceṣṭāṁ kiṁ bhūyaḥ śrotum icchasi
Hỡi con yêu, hỡi bậc quân vương! Những điều ngươi đã hỏi từ tận đáy lòng—các lila của Chúa Hari, Linh Hồn Tối Thượng của vũ trụ—ta đã thuật lại rồi. Nay ngươi còn muốn nghe thêm điều gì?
In his commentary on this text, Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī has elaborately demonstrated, by citing many Bhāgavatam verses, the exalted devotional position of King Parīkṣit, who was fully determined to fix his mind upon Lord Kṛṣṇa and go back home, back to Godhead.
FAQs
This verse highlights that the core subject is Hari’s divine activities, and the listener’s progress is guided by continued inquiry—hearing about the Lord is presented as the central, nourishing practice.
Śukadeva concludes that he has answered Parīkṣit’s specific question about the Lord’s universal role and deeds, then invites the king to ask further—maintaining the disciple’s momentum in devotional inquiry.
Keep your spiritual learning focused on the Lord’s qualities and pastimes, and cultivate a habit of asking sincere questions and listening regularly—through daily reading, satsanga, or Bhagavatam discourse.