Sravanam (Hearing)

Books are the Basis

Sarve sukhino bhavantu. This is Vedic civilization: “Let everyone be happy.”

bhäva-grähé janärdana

bhäva—spiritual intention; grähé—who is influenced; janärdana—Lord Kåñëa, the maintainer of all people.

The Lord accepts the essence of a devotee’s attitude.

“Books are the basis, preaching is the essence, utility is the principle, and purity is the force.”

SB 10.1.4

nivåtta-tarñair upagéyamänäd

bhavauñadhäc chrotra-mano-‘bhirämät

ka uttamaçloka-guëänuvädät

pumän virajyeta vinä paçughnät

nivåtta—released from; tarñaiù—lust or material activities; upagéyamänät—which is described or sung; bhava-auñadhät—which is the right medicine for the material disease; çrotra—the process of aural reception; manaù—the subject matter of thought for the mind; abhirämät—from the pleasing vibrations from such glorification; kaù—who; uttamaçloka—of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; guëa-anuvädät—from describing such activities; pumän—a person; virajyeta—can keep himself aloof; vinä—except; paçu-ghnät—either a butcher or one who is killing his own personal existence.

Glorification of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is performed in the paramparä system; that is, it is conveyed from spiritual master to disciple. Such glorification is relished by those no longer interested in the false, temporary glorification of this cosmic manifestation. Descriptions of the Lord are the right medicine for the conditioned soul undergoing repeated birth and death. Therefore, who will cease hearing such glorification of the Lord except a butcher or one who is killing his own self?

SB 1.5.11

tad-väg-visargo janatägha-viplavo

yasmin prati-çlokam abaddhavaty api

nämäny anantasya yaço ‘ìkitäni yat

çåëvanti gäyanti gåëanti sädhavaù

tat—that; väk—vocabulary; visargaù—creation; janatä—the people in general; agha—sins; viplavaù—revolutionary; yasmin—in which; prati-çlokam—each and every stanza; abaddhavati—irregularly composed; api—in spite of; nämäni—transcendental names, etc.; anantasya—of the unlimited Lord; yaçaù—glories; aìkitäni—depicted; yat—what; çåëvanti—do hear; gäyanti—do sing; gåëanti—do accept; sädhavaù—the purified men who are honest.

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On the other hand, that literature which is full of descriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, fame, forms, pastimes, etc., of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a different creation, full of transcendental words directed toward bringing about a revolution in the impious lives of this world’s misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literatures, even though imperfectly composed, are heard, sung and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest.

SB 11.5.32

kåñëa-varëaà tviñäkåñëaà

säìgopäìgästra-pärñadam

yajïaiù saìkértana-präyair

yajanti hi su-medhasaù

kåñëa-varëam—repeating the syllables kåñ-ëa; tviñä-with a luster; akåñëam—not black (golden); sa-aìga—along with associates; upa-aìga—servitors; astra—weapons; pärñadam—confidential companions; yajïaiù—by sacrifice; saìkértana-präyaiù—consisting chiefly of congregational chanting; yajanti—they worship; hi—certainly; su-medhasaù—intelligent persons.

In the age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Kåñëa. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Kåñëa Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.