Shukadeva Goswami was the son of Vyasadeva and he studied the Bhagavatam from his father. It is described that Shukadeva Goswami was fully liberated from birth.
When Parikshit was cursed to die he went the bank of the Ganges, where saints, sages and scholars had gathered, to inquire about how he should spend his last days. Shukadeva Goswami arrived there and that great assembly deferred to him. He clearly stood out as the most spiritually advanced among this spiritually sophisticated group. Parikshit’s situation was grave: he only had seven days and he wanted to achieve the topmost spiritual position.
Thus with the encouragement of everyone present, Parikshit became Shukadeva Goswami’s disciple and listened with heart and soul as his master repeated Srimad-Bhagavatam,, the most important knowledge for everyone.
Srimad-Bhagavatam kicks out all materialistic knowledge, philosophy, confused theology, and material pursuits for happiness. It aims solely toward Krishna and reawakening our eternal relationship with Him. Thus it is subject matter for the most advanced, serious souls.
The Bhagavatam is pure nectar, yet it becomes more sweet by been spoken by Shukadeva Goswami. In Sanskrit shuka means parrot. When a ripened fruit is cut by the beaks of parrots such birds, its flavor is enhanced. The Vedic fruit which is mature and ripe in knowledge is made more sweet by being spoken by Shuka, whose personal realization of the subjects brought them to life and touched Parikshit’s heart.
Thus the hearer (Parikshit Maharaja) and speaker (Shukadeva Goswami) were blessed by Krishna. This is the simple, sublime way of spiritual perfection of bhakti and the Bhagavata school.
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