Srimad Bhagavatam — Prathama Skandha, Shloka 40
Nārada’s Instruction to Vyāsa: The Defect of Bhakti-less Literature and the Mandate of Kṛṣṇa-kathā
त्वमप्यदभ्रश्रुत विश्रुतं विभो: समाप्यते येन विदां बुभुत्सितम् । प्राख्याहि दु:खैर्मुहुरर्दितात्मनां सङ्क्लेशनिर्वाणमुशन्ति नान्यथा ॥ ४० ॥
tvam apy adabhra-śruta viśrutaṁ vibhoḥ samāpyate yena vidāṁ bubhutsitam prākhyāhi duḥkhair muhur arditātmanāṁ saṅkleśa-nirvāṇam uśanti nānyathā
Vậy xin ngài, bậc đa văn, hãy thuật lại những hành trạng của Đấng Toàn Năng mà ngài học từ Veda; điều ấy làm thỏa lòng khao khát của bậc học giả và xoa dịu khổ đau của quần chúng luôn bị thống khổ bủa vây—không có cách nào khác.
Śrī Nārada Muni from practical experience definitely asserts that the prime solution of all problems of material work is to broadcast very widely the transcendental glories of the Supreme Lord. There are four classes of good men, and there are four classes of bad men also. The four classes of good men acknowledge the authority of the almighty God, and therefore such good men (1) when they are in difficulty, (2) when they are in need of money, (3) when they are advanced in knowledge and (4) when they are inquisitive to know more and more about God, intuitively take shelter of the Lord. As such, Nāradajī advises Vyāsadeva to broadcast the transcendental knowledge of God in terms of the vast Vedic knowledge which he had already attained.
FAQs
This verse states that narrating and hearing the Bhāgavatam is regarded as the ‘nirvāṇa’ (extinguishing) of material affliction (saṅkleśa), especially for those repeatedly troubled by distress.
In this context, Sūta underscores Śukadeva’s unique qualification—fully establishing the Supreme Lord’s conclusion—and urges him to speak Bhāgavata-kathā as the true remedy for suffering humanity.
Make consistent śravaṇa (hearing) and kīrtana (recitation) of Bhāgavatam teachings a daily practice, using them to re-center the mind on Bhagavān when anxiety, grief, or repeated stress arises.