FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 12.13.18

श्रीमद्भ‍ागवतं पुराणममलं यद्वैष्णवानां प्रियं यस्मिन् पारमहंस्यमेकममलं ज्ञानं परं गीयते । तत्र ज्ञानविरागभक्तिसहितं नैष्कर्म्यमाविष्कृतं तच्छृण्वन् सुपठन् विचारणपरो भक्त्या विमुच्येन्नर: ॥ १८ ॥
śrīmad-bhāgavataṁ purāṇam amalaṁ yad vaiṣṇavānāṁ priyaṁ
[shreemad-bhaagavatam puraanam amalam yad vaishnavaanaam priyam]
yasmin pāramahaṁsyam ekam amalaṁ jñānaṁ paraṁ gīyate
[yasmin paaramahamsyam ekam amalam jnaanam param geeyate]
tatra jñāna-virāga-bhakti-sahitaṁ naiṣkarmyam āviskṛtaṁ
[tatra jnaana-viraaga-bhakti-sahitam naishkarmyam aaviskritam]
tac chṛṇvan su-paṭhan vicāraṇa-paro bhaktyā vimucyen naraḥ
[tach chrinvan su-pathan vichaarana-paro bhaktyaa vimuchyen narah]
śrīmat-bhāgavatam — Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam purāṇam — the Purāṇa amalam — perfectly pure yat — which vaiṣṇavānām — to the Vaiṣṇavas priyam — most dear yasmin — in which pāramahaṁsyam — attainable by the topmost devotees ekam — exclusive amalam — perfectly pure jñānam — knowledge param — supreme gīyate — is sung tatra — there jñāna-virāga-bhakti-sahitam — together with knowledge, renunciation and devotion naiṣkarmyam — freedom from all material work āviṣkṛtam — is revealed tat — that śṛṇvan — hearing su-paṭhan — properly chanting vicāraṇa-paraḥ — who is serious about understanding bhaktyā — with devotion vimucyet — becomes totally liberated naraḥ — a person.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śrīmad-bhāgavataṁ purāṇam amalaṁ yad vaiṣṇavānāṁ priyaṁ
śrīmat-bhāgavatam
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
purāṇam
the Purāṇa
amalam
perfectly pure
yat
which
vaiṣṇavānām
to the Vaiṣṇavas
priyam
most dear
yasmin pāramahaṁsyam ekam amalaṁ jñānaṁ paraṁ gīyate
yasmin
in which
pāramahaṁsyam
attainable by the topmost devotees
ekam
exclusive
amalam
perfectly pure
jñānam
knowledge
param
supreme
gīyate
is sung
tatra jñāna-virāga-bhakti-sahitaṁ naiṣkarmyam āviskṛtaṁ
tatra
there
jñāna-virāga-bhakti-sahitam
together with knowledge, renunciation and devotion
naiṣkarmyam
freedom from all material work
āviṣkṛtam
is revealed
tac chṛṇvan su-paṭhan vicāraṇa-paro bhaktyā vimucyen naraḥ
tat
that
śṛṇvan
hearing
su-paṭhan
properly chanting
vicāraṇa-paraḥ
who is serious about understanding
bhaktyā
with devotion
vimucyet
becomes totally liberated
naraḥ
a person.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the spotless Purāṇa. It is most dear to the Vaiṣṇavas because it describes the pure and supreme knowledge of the paramahaṁsas. This Bhāgavatam reveals the means for becoming free from all material work, together with the processes of transcendental knowledge, renunciation and devotion. Anyone who seriously tries to understand Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, who properly hears and chants it with devotion, becomes completely liberated.

Because Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is completely free of contamination by the modes of nature, it is endowed with extraordinary spiritual beauty and is therefore dear to the pure devotees of the Lord. The word pāramahaṁsyam indicates that even completely liberated souls are eager to hear and narrate Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Those who are trying to be liberated should faithfully serve this literature by hearing and reciting it with faith and devotion.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
This glorious Bhāgavatam is the spotless Purāṇa, and therefore dear to the Vaiṣṇavas. It as well describes pure jñāna beneficial even for paramahaṁsas. This Bhāgavatam rejects the process of karma and is endowed with the processes of jñāna, vairāgya and bhakti. Anyone who contemplates Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and who properly hears and chants it with devotion becomes completely liberated. This verse explains Bhāgavatam’s supreme position. This Purāṇa alone is endowed with all glory (śrīmat), since it does not have contamination arising from the three guṇas (amalam). Because of this it is dear to the devotees. This shows the excellence of its bhakti. Even those who are greedy to attain jñāna arising from bhakti, those who have attained jñāna and those who are ātmārāmas should take shelter of this work. Pāramahaṁsyam means “beneficial for paramahaṁsas. In this Bhāgavatam, knowledge beneficial for paramahaṁsas, the best (param) knowledge, since it arises from bhakti, is explained. Those who are practicing jñāna should hear this work. It is completely without karma (naiṣkarmyam).
Bhagavatam is the spotless Purana, most dear to Vaishnavas, describing the pure knowledge of paramahaṁsas. It is shaped for those who seek the highest, not for the curious tourist.
Reflection Questions
  • Am I currently reading as tourist or as seeker?
  • What attitude shift would re-aim me?
📝 My note

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