Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 2 Chapter 3:15-25

Book 2: Chapter 3

Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 2: Chapter 3: Verses 15-25 Worship of different deities for the gratification of various desires and the superiority of Devotion to the Lord That great car-warrior, king Pariksit (a descendant of Pandu) was a great devotee of the Lord. Playing with toys loved by children, he made the worship of Sri Krsna as one of his sports. The holy Suka (the son of Vyasa) is also exclusively devoted to Lord Vasudeva (Sri Krsna); and it is but natural that where holy men meet there are sublime talks saturated with the virtues of the Lord, whose praises are sung by exalted souls well-versed in the Vedas. The rising and setting sun steals away (in vain) the life of all human beings except that of the man who spends even a single moment in talks about the Lord of excellent fame. Do not trees live ? Do not bellows also breathe ? And do not the other domestic animals (other than the human beast) take their food and copulate ? The human beast who has never heard the story of Sri Krsna (the elder brother of Gada) has been declared to be as good as a dog, a swine, a camel and a donkey. The ears of a man who does not hear (the stories of) the exploits of the Lord (whose doings are marvellous) are mere holes (that serve no useful purpose); and his tongue is as bad as that of a frog if it does not recount the stories of Lord Visnu (who is extolled in numerous ways). A head which, though decked with a silk turban or a crown, never bows to Lord Mukunda (the Bestower of Liberation), is only a burden. Even so the hands which, though adorned with wristlets of gold, never offer worship to Sri Hari are as good as those of a dead man. And those human eyes that do not gaze on the images of Lord Visnu are as useless as the eyes on the tail of a peacock. Similarly, the human feet which do not visit places sacred to Sri Hari are as good as the roots of frees. A mortal who has never bathed himself in the dust from the feet of the Lord's devotees is really dead, though living; even so the man who has never known the fragrance of the sacred Tulasi (basil) leaves offered at the feet of Lord Visnu is like a breathing corpse. A heart which does not melt when Sri Hari's names are being uttered (either by oneself or by others) is hard like stone. And when the heart melts, tears rush to one's eyes and the hair stand erect. Dear Suta, what you say is most agreeable to the mind. Now tell us what Sri Suka (the son of Vyasa), the foremost of devotees and perfect in the knowledge of the Spirit, told king Pariksit in reply to his excellent question. Thus ends the third discourse in Book Two of the great and glorious Bhagavata-Purana, otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Samhita.