Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 12.3.14
कथा इमास्ते कथिता महीयसां
विताय लोकेषु यश: परेयुषाम् ।
विज्ञानवैराग्यविवक्षया विभो
वचोविभूतीर्न तु पारमार्थ्यम् ॥ १४ ॥
kathā imās te kathitā mahīyasāṁ
[kathaa imaas te kathitaa maheeyasaam]
vitāya lokeṣu yaśaḥ pareyuṣām
[vitaaya lokeshu yashah pareyushaam]
vijñāna-vairāgya-vivakṣayā vibho
[vijnaana-vairaagya-vivakshayaa vibho]
vaco-vibhūtīr na tu pāramārthyam
[vacho-vibhooteer na tu paaramaarthyam]
Word-for-word
kathāḥ
—
the narrations
imāḥ
—
these
te
—
unto you
kathitāḥ
—
have been spoken
mahīyasām
—
of great kings
vitāya
—
spreading
lokeṣu
—
throughout all the worlds
yaśaḥ
—
their fame
pareyuṣām
—
who have departed
vijñāna
—
transcendental knowledge
vairāgya
—
and renunciation
vivakṣayā
—
with the desire for teaching
vibho
—
O mighty Parīkṣit
vacaḥ
—
of words
vibhūtīḥ
—
the decoration
na
—
not
tu
—
but
pārama-arthyam
—
of the most essential purport.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
kathā imās te kathitā mahīyasāṁ
kathāḥ
the narrations
imāḥ
these
te
unto you
kathitāḥ
have been spoken
mahīyasām
of great kings
vitāya lokeṣu yaśaḥ pareyuṣām
vitāya
spreading
lokeṣu
throughout all the worlds
yaśaḥ
their fame
pareyuṣām
who have departed
vijñāna-vairāgya-vivakṣayā vibho
vijñāna
transcendental knowledge
vairāgya
and renunciation
vivakṣayā
with the desire for teaching
vibho
O mighty Parīkṣit
vaco-vibhūtīr na tu pāramārthyam
vacaḥ
of words
vibhūtīḥ
the decoration
na
not
tu
but
pārama-arthyam
of the most essential purport.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O mighty Parīkṣit, I have related to you the narrations of all these great kings, who spread their fame throughout the world and then departed. My real purpose was to teach transcendental knowledge and renunciation. Stories of kings lend power and opulence to these narrations but do not in themselves constitute the ultimate aspect of knowledge.
Purport
Since all the narrations of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam bring the reader to the perfection of transcendental knowledge, they all give supreme spiritual lessons though apparently dealing with kings or other mundane subject matter. In relation with Kṛṣṇa, all ordinary topics become transcendental narrations, with the power to bring the reader to the perfection of life.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
O mighty Parīkṣit! I have related to you the narrations of all these great devotees who attained the Lord, who spread their fame throughout the world, with a desire to speak about their renunciation and their realization of the Lord. I have not spoken to show the power of words, but to give you the highest spiritual knowledge.
The purpose of telling about the dynasties of kings is here explained. What was the purpose of telling about great devotees like Priyavrata who attained (īyusām) the Lord (para)? The listener should learn about the activities of these devotees, since I had a desire to speak about their realization of the Lord and their renunciation. O great one (vibho)! You will also be like them. I have spoken, not to show the power of words, but for you to gain the highest spiritual knowledge.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Śukadeva confesses his real aim was never history but transcendental knowledge and renunciation. Royal stories were the sweetener so the medicine of detachment could enter. We can read the Bhāgavatam the same way — for the medicine, not the sugar.
Reflection Questions
- Have I been reading sacred stories for entertainment more than for transformation?
- What inner shift would honor their real purpose?
My note
Source: vedabase.io