FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.18.10

या या: कथा भगवत: कथनीयोरुकर्मण: । गुणकर्माश्रया: पुम्भि: संसेव्यास्ता बुभूषुभि: ॥ १० ॥
yā yāḥ kathā bhagavataḥ
[yaa yaah kathaa bhagavatah]
kathanīyoru-karmaṇaḥ
[kathaneeyoru-karmanah]
guṇa-karmāśrayāḥ pumbhiḥ
[guna-karmaashrayaah pumbhih]
saṁsevyās tā bubhūṣubhiḥ
[samsevyaas taa bubhooshubhih]
Word-for-word
yāḥ — whatever yāḥ — and whatsoever kathāḥ — topics bhagavataḥ — about the Personality of Godhead kathanīya — were to be spoken by me uru-karmaṇaḥ — of Him who acts wonderfully guṇa — transcendental qualities karma — uncommon deeds āśrayāḥ — involving pumbhiḥ — by persons saṁsevyāḥ — ought to be heard tāḥ — all of them bubhūṣubhiḥ — by those who want their own welfare.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yā yāḥ kathā bhagavataḥ
yāḥ
whatever
yāḥ
and whatsoever
kathāḥ
topics
bhagavataḥ
about the Personality of Godhead
kathanīyoru-karmaṇaḥ
kathanīya
were to be spoken by me
uru-karmaṇaḥ
of Him who acts wonderfully
guṇa-karmāśrayāḥ pumbhiḥ
guṇa
transcendental qualities
karma
uncommon deeds
āśrayāḥ
involving
pumbhiḥ
by persons
saṁsevyās tā bubhūṣubhiḥ
saṁsevyāḥ
ought to be heard
tāḥ
all of them
bubhūṣubhiḥ
by those who want their own welfare.
Those who are desirous of achieving complete perfection in life must submissively hear all topics that are connected with the transcendental activities and qualities of the Personality of Godhead, who acts wonderfully.
Purport

The systematic hearing of the transcendental activities, qualities and names of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa pushes one towards eternal life. Systematic hearing means knowing Him gradually in truth and fact, and this knowing Him in truth and fact means attaining eternal life, as stated in the Bhagavad-gītā. Such transcendental, glorified activities of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa are the prescribed remedy for counteracting the process of birth, death, old age and disease, which are considered to be material awards for the conditioned living being. The culmination of such a perfectional stage of life is the goal of human life and the attainment of transcendental bliss.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Those who desire their own benefit should hear those topics concerning the qualities and activities of the Lord who performed the greatest actions.
Commentary

Bubhūṣubhiḥ means “by those who desire their own good.” To do anything other than this is to waste one’s life.

Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Those desirous of complete perfection must submissively hear all topics connected with the Lord's transcendental activities. Submissive hearing — not critical or selective — is the entry to perfection.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I being too critical or selective in my listening?
  • What would 'submissive hearing' look like in my regular intake?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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