A Sage’s Daily Recitation
Once, in a peaceful forest hermitage, there lived a saintly brāhmaṇa who was fully devoted to Lord Viṣṇu. Every day, after finishing his rituals and offering prayers, he would sit under a banyan tree and recite Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam aloud for the benefit of the sādhakas and animals nearby.
The brāhmaṇa was filled with compassion and would often say, “Anyone who hears these holy words, even once, will be purified and uplifted.” The animals of the forest—deer, birds, squirrels—gathered in silence, enchanted by the sacred sound.
An Unseen Listener
Among the listeners, hidden in a hole at the base of the banyan tree, was a venomous black snake. Each day, it slithered silently to the mouth of its hole to listen to the brāhmaṇa’s recitation.
Although it was a creature of fear and darkness, within its heart stirred a strange peace and joy as it absorbed the sound of the Lord’s pastimes, names, and glories. While it could not understand the words fully, the sound vibration touched its soul.
This continued for several months.
The Time of Death
One day, after the brāhmaṇa completed his recitation, a young disciple, noticing the snake’s presence, picked up a stick in fear and struck it, thinking he was protecting the sage. The snake, wounded, slithered back into its hole and died that very night.
The next morning, the brāhmaṇa, who had realized the presence of the snake but never spoken of it, said softly to his students:
“Alas, you have killed a soul who was sincerely listening to the Bhāgavatam. Though a snake by body, he had the heart of a seeker. But fear not—for just by hearing these sacred words, his soul has been purified.”
At that very moment, the disciples saw a luminous being appear in the sky, surrounded by Viṣṇudūtas, ascending to the higher planets.
Rebirth and Liberation
In his next life, the snake was born in a pious human family, and from childhood showed a natural taste for scripture and service to the Lord. He would often chant the name “Govinda” with great love, and as he grew older, he became a saintly soul known for his gentleness, nonviolence, and wisdom.
He often remembered, without knowing why, the sound of sweet verses echoing under the shade of a tree.
Lessons to Be Learned:
- Even animals can benefit spiritually just by hearing the glories of the Lord.
- The power of śravaṇam (hearing) is so strong that it purifies all living beings, regardless of form or background.
- Those who recite or spread the Bhāgavatam are doing a service that uplifts not only people, but all of creation.
- As stated in Padma Purāṇa and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam: “nityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayā / bhagavaty uttama-śloke / bhaktir bhavati naiṣṭhikī”
“By daily hearing the Bhāgavatam and rendering service to the pure devotee, firm devotion to the Supreme Lord arises.” (SB 1.2.18)
Origin of the Story: Padma Purāṇa – A narrative demonstrating the purifying power of hearing the scriptures, even for non-human creatures, and the merciful reach of nāma and kathā.
