Qualifications of the Speaker

Verse 1.4.2: Here, the qualifications of the speaker is given. Saunaka rishi is a great Goswami and Suta Goswami is also a great Goswami. You have the listen Srimad Bhagavatam only from Vaishnava's.

In India, many places, we have Bhagvatam sapthaha, thinking that Maharaj Parikshit also heard Srimad Bhagavatam in 7 days and he attained liberation. But this is not the way that we can imitate. Devananda Pandit (DP) was a Bhagavtam recitor. Srivas Thakur (ST) was totally excited hearing Srimad Bhagavatam from him and was ecstatic. Not understanding this transcendental behavior, DP's disciples threw ST out. Although CM was not born still, but He was totally angry with DP. He did not give him any mercy. Later DP did some nice service to Vakreshwar Pandit, and only then he got the mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

So Srimad Bhagavatam should not at all be heard from the professional reciters. Here Srila Prabhupada is also telling how some reciters directly jump to the 10th canto to misexplain the confidential part of the Lord's pastimes. Srila Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati Thakur, was speaking about the Srimad Bhagavatam, but that time he did not touch the 10th Canto at all, since he knew.

By serving the devotees, chanting very nicely, serving the devotee bhagavat, we can make a lot of spiritual progress.