Two Important Kṛṣṇa-Kathā’s

Two Important Kṛṣṇa-Kathā’s by His Divine Grace A .C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Because people are very much interested in hearing social and historical presentations, Srila Vyasadeva has compiled many books such as the Purāṇas and Mahābhārata. These books are reading matter for the mass of people, and they were compiled with a view to reviving their God consciousness, now forgotten in the conditional life of material existence. The real purpose of such literatures is not so much to present topics of historical references, but to revive the people’s sense of God consciousness. For example, Mahābhārata is the history of the Battle of Kurukshetra, and common people read it because it is full of topics regarding the social, political and economic problems of human society. But factually the most important part of Mahābhārata is Bhagavad-gītā, which is automatically taught to readers along with the historical narrations of the Battle of Kurukshetra. Vidura explained to Maitreya his position of being fully satiated with the knowledge of mundane social and political topics and having no more interest in them. He was anxious to hear transcendental topics regarding Lord Sri Krishna. Because there were insufficient topics directly concerning Krishna in the Purāṇas, Mahābhārata, etc., he was not satisfied and wanted to know more about Krishna. Kṛṣṇa-kathā, or topics regarding Krishna, are transcendental, and there is no satiation in hearing such topics. Bhagavadgītā is important on account of its being kṛṣṇa-kathā, or speeches delivered by Lord Krishna. The story of the Battle of Kurukshetra may be interesting for the mass of people, but to a person like Vidura, who is highly advanced in devotional service, only kṛṣṇakathā and that which is dovetailed with kṛṣṇa-kathā is interesting. Vidura wanted to hear of everything from Maitreya, and so he inquired from him, but he desired that all the topics be in relationship with Krishna. As fire is never satisfied in its consumption of firewood, so a pure devotee of the Lord never hears enough about Krishna. Historical events and other narrations concerning social and political incidents all become transcendental as soon as they are in relationship with Krishna. That is the way to transform mundane things into spiritual identity. The whole world can be transformed into Vaikuntha if all worldly activities are dovetailed with kṛṣṇa-kathā. There are two important kṛṣṇa-kathās current in the world—Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. Bhagavad-gītā is kṛṣṇa-kathā because it is spoken by Krishna, whereas Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is kṛṣṇa-kathā because it narrates about Krishna. Lord Chaitanya advised all His disciples to preach kṛṣṇa-kathā all over the world without discrimination because the transcendental value of kṛṣṇa-kathā can purify one and all from material contamination.

— Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (Bhāgavata Purāṇa) » Canto 3: The Status Quo » Chapter 5: Vidura’s Talks with Maitreya » Verse: 10, Purport by His Divine Grace A .C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada