FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.13.48

य एवमेतां हरिमेधसो हरे: । कथां सुभद्रां कथनीयमायिन: । श‍ृण्वीत भक्त्या श्रवयेत वोशतीं जनार्दनोऽस्याशु हृदि प्रसीदति ॥ ४८ ॥
ya evam etāṁ hari-medhaso hareḥ
[ya evam etaam hari-medhaso hareh]
kathāṁ subhadrāṁ kathanīya-māyinaḥ
[kathaam subhadraam kathaneeya-maayinah]
śṛṇvīta bhaktyā śravayeta vośatīṁ
[shrinveeta bhaktyaa shravayeta voshateem]
janārdano ’syāśu hṛdi prasīdati
[janaardano ’syaashu hridi praseedati]
yaḥ — one who evam — thus etām — this hari-medhasaḥ — who destroys the material existence of the devotee hareḥ — of the Personality of Godhead kathām — narration su-bhadrām — auspicious kathanīya — worthy to narrate māyinaḥ — of the merciful by His internal potency śṛṇvīta — hears bhaktyā — in devotion śravayeta — also allows others to hear vā — either uśatīm — very pleasing janārdanaḥ — the Lord asya — his āśu — very soon hṛdi — within the heart prasīdati — becomes very pleased.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
ya evam etāṁ hari-medhaso hareḥ
yaḥ
one who
evam
thus
etām
this
hari-medhasaḥ
who destroys the material existence of the devotee
hareḥ
of the Personality of Godhead
kathāṁ subhadrāṁ kathanīya-māyinaḥ
kathām
narration
su-bhadrām
auspicious
kathanīya
worthy to narrate
māyinaḥ
of the merciful by His internal potency
śṛṇvīta bhaktyā śravayeta vośatīṁ
śṛṇvīta
hears
bhaktyā
in devotion
śravayeta
also allows others to hear
vā
either
uśatīm
very pleasing
janārdano ’syāśu hṛdi prasīdati
janārdanaḥ
the Lord
asya
his
āśu
very soon
hṛdi
within the heart
prasīdati
becomes very pleased.
If one hears and describes in a devotional service attitude this auspicious narration of Lord Boar, which is worthy of description, the Lord, who is within the heart of everyone, is very pleased.

In His various incarnations, the Lord appears, acts and leaves behind Him a narrative history which is as transcendental as He Himself. Every one of us is fond of hearing some wonderful narration, but most stories are neither auspicious nor worth hearing because they are of the inferior quality of material nature. Every living entity is of superior quality, spirit soul, and nothing material can be auspicious for him. Intelligent persons should therefore hear personally and cause others to hear the descriptive narrations of the Lord’s activities, for that will destroy the pangs of material existence. Out of His causeless mercy only, the Lord comes to this earth and leaves behind His merciful activities so that the devotees may derive transcendental benefit.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The Lord, whose intelligence destroys the material suffering of the devotee and who possesses praiseworthy mercy, is easily pleased in his mind with that person who hears and lets others hear this auspicious, pleasing story of the Lord. Hari-medhasaḥ means “of the Lord whose intelligence (medhas) destroys (hari) the material life of the devotee.” Kathanīya-māyinaḥ means “of the Lord who has mercy (māyā) which should be praised” or it can mean “of the Lord who has svarupa-śakti which should be praised.” He should similarly make others hear (śravayeta). Uśatīm means pleasurable.
The verse places hearing kṛṣṇa-kathā at the centre of spiritual practice. It is not preparation for some later realization — it is itself the work that does the rewiring. The verse anchors this in material existence.
Reflection Questions
  • What podcast or playlist would you have to give up to make room for daily kṛṣṇa-kathā?
  • What would change if you treated 30 minutes of kṛṣṇa-kathā as non-negotiable as a meal?
📝 My note

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