Skandapurana 2.6.3

Śrī Sūta said:

Then Uddhava, having seen them intent on chanting the praises of Kṛṣṇa,

honored them, embraced them, and spoke to Parīkṣit: // 1

Uddhava said:

“You are fortunate, O King; you are ever filled with exclusive devotion to Kṛṣṇa,

since your mind is submerged in the festival of chanting the praises of Kṛṣṇa. // 2

Providentially, love has arisen [in you] toward Kṛṣṇa's wives and toward Vajra.

This is worthy of you, dear one, whose body and majesty were bestowed by Kṛṣṇa! // 3

Among all those dwelling in Dvārakā, these are fortunate without doubt,

for whose residence in Vraja the Lord commanded Pārtha. // 4

The moon of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s mind, endowed with the radiance of Rādhā’s face,

ever shines, adorning his forest of pastimes with its rays. // 5

The moon of Kṛṣṇa is ever full; its sixteen digits,

indivisible from the radiance of thousands of spiritual consciousnesses, have their essential nature here.” // 6

In this way, O king of kings, the thunderbolt destroys the fear of those who have taken refuge.

Its place is on the right foot of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

In this incarnation, Yogamāyā was intensely projected by Kṛṣṇa;

by her power, through forgetfulness of the self, these [beings] surely perish.

Without the manifestation of Kṛṣṇa, indeed, no one attains knowledge of one's own self;

and his manifestation is perpetually veiled from living beings by māyā.

When, at the end of the twenty-eighth Dvāpara age, Hari himself

removes his own māyā, then his manifestation occurs.

That time, however, has passed away; therefore hear this other [means]:

at other times, his manifestation arises from the Śrīmad Bhāgavata.

Where and whenever the scripture of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata

is recited and also heard by devotees of the Bhagavān, Śrī Kṛṣṇa is certainly there.

Where [there is] a verse or even half a verse of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata,

there too the Blessed Lord Kṛṣṇa shines forth together with the cowherd women.

Those by whom, having obtained human birth in the land of Bhārata, the Bhāgavata is not

heard, being subject to sin—self-destruction has indeed been committed by them.

By those who constantly revere the scripture of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata,

the lineage of father, mother, and wife is carried across [to safety].

The shining forth of knowledge for brahmins, victory over enemies for kings, wealth for the vaiśyas,

and health for śūdras arises from the Śrīmad Bhāgavata.

For women and for others, it fulfills all desires;

therefore, what fortunate person would not constantly devote oneself to the Bhāgavata?

One perfected through many births obtains the Śrīmad Bhāgavata;

the manifestation and uprising of devotion to the Blessed Lord then occurs therein.

The Śrīmad Bhāgavata, obtained in ancient times by the grace of Sāṅkhyāyana,

Bṛhaspati gave to me; through that I became dear to Kṛṣṇa.

And a narrative was related by him; understand it, O Viṣṇurāta,

in which the lineage of transmission of the revelation of the Bhāgavata is also known.

The venerable Bṛhaspati said:

When Kṛṣṇa, assuming the form of the Puruṣa of māyā, cast his glance,

Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and also Śiva, through the qualities of rajas, sattva, and tamas,

arose as the three beings. He then assigned them their charges:

to them in succession in creation, preservation, and dissolution.

Brahmā, however, born from the navel-lotus, petitioned him:

The venerable Brahmā said:

O primordial Puruṣa Nārāyaṇa, O Supreme Self, homage unto you!

I have been appointed by you in creation; [please grant] by your grace, O Lord, that the vile

quality of rajas may not obstruct my remembrance of you.

The venerable Bṛhaspati said:

Then, when in ancient times the Blessed Lord taught him the Śrīmad Bhāgavata,

he said: 'O Brahmā, attend to this for the attainment of your own perfection.'

Brahmā, supremely pleased by it, for the sake of reaching Kṛṣṇa ceaselessly,

conducted a seven-day cycle in order to break through the seven veils.

Having attained his desire by practicing the seven-day cycle of the Śrī Bhāgavata,

he, performing the seven-day cycle again and again, perpetually expands creation.

Viṣṇu also made a request of the Puruṣa for the sake of achieving his own purpose,

since he too was appointed by the Puruṣa in the protection of living beings.

The venerable Viṣṇu said:

O God, I shall protect living beings appropriately

through active life and renunciation, on account of the goals of ritual action and knowledge.

Whenever in the course of time there occurs a decline of dharma,

at each of those times I will establish dharma by means of incarnations.

To those who desire worldly enjoyment, I will surely give the fruit of sacrifices and the like;

to the dispassionate who desire liberation, likewise the fivefold liberation.

Those who do not even desire liberation—how am I to protect them?

And how do I protect myself and Śrī? Tell [me].

To him also the primordial Puruṣa taught the Śrī Bhāgavata

and said: 'Recite this for the attainment of all your purposes.'

Then Viṣṇu, his mind pleased, in the protection of the ultimate goal,

became capable together with Śrī, remembering the Bhāgavata month after month.

When Viṣṇu himself is the speaker and Lakṣmī is devoted to hearing,

then the recitation of the Bhāgavata takes place again and again within just a month. // 35

When Lakṣmī herself is the speaker and Viṣṇu is devoted to hearing,

then relishing its essence [lasts] two months and is exceedingly splendid. // 36

Viṣṇu is engaged in his cosmic office, [while] Lakṣmī has an untroubled mind;

therefore, her savoring of the Bhāgavata shines forth abundantly. // 37

Then, long ago, Rudra, appointed to cosmic destruction,

prayed to that divine Person to increase his own power: // 38

Śrī Rudra said:

"In constant, periodic, and elemental destruction,

my powers exist, O God of gods, my Lord! // 39

Yet in ultimate destruction, I have no power.

This is my great grief; therefore, I pray to you." // 40

Śrī Bṛhaspati said:

Nārāyaṇa gave the Śrīmadbhāgavata to him as well;

and through his devotion to it, he conquered the quality of darkness (tamas). // 41

The sacred Bhāgavata narrative was served by him for just one year;

through that, Sadāśiva attained the power of ultimate dissolution. // 42

Uddhava said:

"Having heard this narrative from the guru in the Śrībhāgavatar-māhātmya,

and having received the Bhāgavata, I bowed to him and rejoiced. // 43

Then, adopting the Vaiṣṇava way, for just one month

the savoring of the Śrīmadbhāgavata was thoroughly cultivated by me. // 44

By that alone I became the beloved friend of Kṛṣṇa.

Then I was dispatched by Kṛṣṇa to Vraja, to the company of his beloved women; // 45

to the gopīs tormented by separation, he who ever disports himself in person

sent the sacred Bhāgavata message through my mouth. // 46

Receiving it according to their understanding, they were freed from separation.

I did not grasp that secret, but the wonder was witnessed [by me]. // 47

When Brahmā and the others departed after praying to Kṛṣṇa to dwell in heaven,

Kṛṣṇa himself imparted that secret to me in the Śrīmadbhāgavata. // 48

Before the root of the Aśvattha tree, he made it firm within me.

Therefore, having gone to Badarī, I [still] abide here among the creepers of Vraja; // 49

hence I remain here at Nāradakuṇḍa forever of my own accord.

The manifestation of Kṛṣṇa for his devotees arises from the Śrīmadbhāgavata; // 50

therefore, for their sake as well, I shall thoroughly expound

the Śrīmadbhāgavata; in this, assistance must be provided by you."

Śrī Sūta said:

Having heard that, Viṣṇurāta bowed down and spoke to Uddhava: // 51

Śrī Parīkṣit said:

"O servant of Hari, you must perform the recitation of the Śrībhāgavata. // 52

I should be instructed as to what is to be done, and assistance will thus be rendered by me in this."

Śrī Sūta said:

Hearing these words, Uddhava spoke with a glad heart: // 53

Uddhava said:

"Now that the earth has been abandoned by Śrī Kṛṣṇa, mighty Kali

will cause great obstacles when a righteous task is undertaken. // 54

Therefore, go forth on a conquest of the world and subdue Kali.

I, for my part, adopting the Vaiṣṇava way for just a month, // 55

and propagating the savoring of the Śrīmadbhāgavata with your help,

shall cause them to reach the eternal realm of the Slayer of Madhu." // 56

Śrī Sūta said:

Hearing those words, the king, delighted yet distressed with worry,

then made his intention known to that Uddhava: // 57

Śrī Parīkṣit said:

"I will indeed subdue Kali, O revered one, abiding by your word;

[yet] how will attainment of the Śrībhāgavata be mine? // 58

I, who have taken refuge at your feet, must indeed be favored!"

Śrī Sūta said:

Hearing these words, Uddhava spoke to him again: // 59

Uddhava said:

O king, you should have no anxiety whatsoever in any way,

since the principal eligibility for the scripture of the Blessed Lord belongs to you alone.

Until this time, devoted to ritual actions,

men mostly do not know even the mention of the Bhāgavata scripture.

By your favor, many human beings in the courtyard of Bhārata,

upon attaining the Śrīmad Bhāgavata, will attain eternal happiness.

The blessed seer Śrī Śuka, who is the form of Nanda's son,

will recite the Śrīmad Bhāgavata to you, without doubt.

Through that, O king, you will attain the eternal abode of the Lord of Vraja.

From then on, the circulation of the Śrī Bhāgavata will exist upon the earth.

Therefore go, O best of kings, and carry out the subjugation of Kali.

Śrī Sūta said:

Addressed thus, the king circumambulated him and went forth to conquer the quarters.

Vajra, having appointed Pratibāhu as ruler of his own kingdom,

remained right there together with the mothers, with longing for the Bhāgavata.

Then in Vṛndāvana, near Govardhana, for a month,

the relishing of the Śrīmad Bhāgavata was initiated by Uddhava.

While it was being relished, the divine play of Hari, consisting of being, consciousness, and bliss,

shone forth, and everywhere was Kṛṣṇa alone.

And then everyone saw themselves existing within it.

And Vajra, seeing himself on the right lotus foot of Kṛṣṇa,

freed from the sorrow of separation from Kṛṣṇa, shone in that land.

And those mothers of his, seeing themselves in Kṛṣṇa,

the moon shining on the night of the rāsa-dance, in the form of the light of his digits, were astonished;

freed from the illness of separation from their dearest one, they went to their own abode.

And whoever else was there, they all entered the eternal divine play,

instantly vanishing from the sight of worldly people.

In the bowers of Govardhana, among the cows, and in Vṛndāvana and elsewhere,

they constantly rejoice with Kṛṣṇa and are seen by those devoted to divine love.

Śrī Sūta said:

Whoever hears or recites this attainment of the Blessed Lord,

for them indeed the attainment of the Blessed Lord and the destruction of sorrow takes place.

Thus ends the third chapter, entitled "The Glorification of the Śrī Bhāgavata," in the dialogue between Parīkṣit and Uddhava, in the second section, the Vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍa, of the venerable Skanda Mahāpurāṇa consisting of eighty-one thousand verses.