FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.22.25

हरेर्मुहुस्तत्परकर्णपूर गुणाभिधानेन विजृम्भमाणया । भक्त्या ह्यसङ्ग: सदसत्यनात्मनि स्यान्निर्गुणे ब्रह्मणि चाञ्जसा रति: ॥ २५ ॥
harer muhus tatpara-karṇa-pūra-
[harer muhus tatpara-karna-poora-]
guṇābhidhānena vijṛmbhamāṇayā
[gunaabhidhaanena vijrimbhamaanayaa]
bhaktyā hy asaṅgaḥ sad-asaty anātmani
[bhaktyaa hy asangah sad-asaty anaatmani]
syān nirguṇe brahmaṇi cāñjasā ratiḥ
[syaan nirgune brahmani chaanjasaa ratih]
hareḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead muhuḥ — constantly tat-para — in relation with the Supreme Personality of Godhead karṇa-pūra — decoration of the ear guṇa-abhidhānena — discussing transcendental qualities vijṛmbhamāṇayā — by increasing Kṛṣṇa consciousness bhaktyā — by devotion hi — certainly asaṅgaḥ — uncontaminated sat-asati — the material world anātmani — opposed to spiritual understanding syāt — should be nirguṇe — in transcendence brahmaṇi — in the Supreme Lord ca — and añjasā — easily ratiḥ — attraction.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
harer muhus tatpara-karṇa-pūra-
hareḥ
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
muhuḥ
constantly
tat-para
in relation with the Supreme Personality of Godhead
karṇa-pūra
decoration of the ear
guṇābhidhānena vijṛmbhamāṇayā
guṇa-abhidhānena
discussing transcendental qualities
vijṛmbhamāṇayā
by increasing Kṛṣṇa consciousness
bhaktyā hy asaṅgaḥ sad-asaty anātmani
bhaktyā
by devotion
hi
certainly
asaṅgaḥ
uncontaminated
sat-asati
the material world
anātmani
opposed to spiritual understanding
syān nirguṇe brahmaṇi cāñjasā ratiḥ
syāt
should be
nirguṇe
in transcendence
brahmaṇi
in the Supreme Lord
ca
and
añjasā
easily
ratiḥ
attraction.
The devotee should gradually increase the culture of devotional service by constant hearing of the transcendental qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. These pastimes are like ornamental decorations on the ears of devotees. By rendering devotional service and transcending the material qualities, one can easily be fixed in transcendence in the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

This verse is especially mentioned to substantiate the devotional process of hearing the subject matter. A devotee does not like to hear anything other than subjects dealing with spiritual activities, or the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We can increase our propensity for devotional service by hearing Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from realized souls. The more we hear from realized souls, the more we make advancement in our devotional life. The more we advance in devotional life, the more we become detached from the material world. The more we become detached from the material world, as advised by Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the more we increase in attachment for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, a devotee who actually wants to make progress in devotional service and go back home, back to Godhead, must lose interest in sense enjoyment and associating with persons who are after money and sense gratification. This is the advice of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu:

niṣkiñcanasya bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya pāraṁ paraṁ jigamiṣor bhava-sāgarasya sandarśanaṁ viṣayiṇām atha yoṣitāṁ ca hā hanta hanta viṣa-bhakṣaṇato ’py asādhu

(Cc. Madhya 11.8)

The word brahmaṇi used in this verse is commented upon by the impersonalists or professional reciters of Bhāgavatam, who are mainly advocates of the caste system by demoniac birthright. They say that brahmaṇi means the impersonal Brahman. But they cannot conclude this with reference to the context of the words bhaktyā and guṇābhidhānena. According to the impersonalists, there are no transcendental qualities in the impersonal Brahman; therefore we should understand that brahmaṇi means “in the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as admitted by Arjuna in Bhagavad-gītā; therefore wherever the word brahma is used, it must refer to Kṛṣṇa, not to the impersonal Brahman effulgence. Brahmeti paramātmeti bhagavān iti śabdyate ( Bhāg. 1.2.11 ). Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān can all be taken in total as Brahman, but when there is reference to the word bhakti or remembrance of the transcendental qualities, this indicates the Supreme Personality of Godhead, not the impersonal Brahman.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Attachment to the Lord who has no material qualities and detachment from the good and bad of the material world quickly appear by constantly discussing with increasing bhakti the Lord’s qualities which are pleasing to the devotee’s ear. Discussing about the Lord has already been mentioned, but because it is essential to bhakti, it is again mentioned. Tatpara means devotees. Karṇapūra means the ornament of the ear. Detachment (asaṅgaḥ) from the auspicious and inauspicious aspects of the world (sad-asat), which are not spiritual (anātmani) and attachment to the Lord arise by these methods.
Related verses
Constantly hear of His transcendental qualities — like ornaments on devotees' ears — and by service transcend material modes. Hearing isn't a passive intake; it's an active decoration of the listener.
Reflection Questions
  • Where in my life is my hearing producing visible ornament?
  • What would more conscious hearing this week add to my interior decoration?
📝 My note

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