# The speaker and listener of Bhagavatam *The Srimad-Bhagavatam was spoken by Sukadeva Goswami to Maharaja Parikshit in a remarkable seven-day discourse. Their relationship exemplifies the perfect dynamic between guru and disciple, speaker and hearer. Understanding their unique circumstances illuminates the urgency and depth of the Bhagavatam's message.* ## The Unique Circumstances ### Parikshit's Curse King Parikshit, grandson of Arjuna and emperor of the world, was cursed to die in seven days by the son of a sage he had offended. Rather than trying to counteract the curse, he renounced everything and went to the bank of the Ganges to hear about Krishna: ![[sb/1/19/4]] ![[sb/1/19/15]] ### Sukadeva's Arrival Sukadeva Goswami, son of Vyasadeva, was a liberated soul from birth. Though he had no material attachments, he was attracted to the narrations of Krishna's pastimes. He arrived at the assembly and was chosen to speak: ![[sb/1/19/25]] ![[sb/1/19/31]] ## The Perfect Speaker ### Sukadeva's Qualifications Sukadeva was uniquely qualified — liberated yet devoted, learned yet humble: ![[sb/2/1/8]] ![[sb/1/7/11]] ### His Method of Speaking He spoke continuously for seven days without eating or sleeping, covering all topics related to Krishna: ![[sb/2/10/1]] ## The Perfect Listener ### Parikshit's Qualifications Parikshit was the ideal listener — attentive, submissive, and asking relevant questions: ![[sb/1/19/38]] ![[sb/2/8/24]] ### His Focused Questions Throughout the discourse, Parikshit asked questions that drew out the most essential teachings: ![[sb/2/1/1]] ![[sb/6/1/6]] ## Their Relationship Dynamic ``` ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ SUKADEVA PARIKSHIT │ │ (Speaker) (Listener) │ │ │ │ • Liberated soul • Cursed king │ │ • Son of Vyasa • Grandson of │ │ • Renounced at birth Arjuna │ │ • Attracted to Krishna • Seven days │ │ pastimes to live │ │ │ │ ───────────────────── │ │ BHAGAVATAM │ │ ───────────────────── │ │ │ │ Perfect transmission of knowledge: │ │ • Urgency (limited time) │ │ • Purity (no material motive) │ │ • Completeness (all topics) │ │ • Devotion (love for Krishna) │ │ │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ``` ## The Result Parikshit achieved perfection by hearing, while Sukadeva achieved perfection by speaking. Both were liberated through the Bhagavatam: ![[sb/12/13/18]] ![[sb/1/7/10]] ## Their Legacy This seven-day discourse became the model for all Bhagavata-saptaha (seven-day recitations). The example shows: - **For speakers** — Speak from realization, not merely scholarship - **For listeners** — Hear with faith and attention, asking relevant questions ## Related Articles - [[wiki/articles/Sukadeva Goswami the speaker|Sukadeva Goswami the speaker]] — The narrator's full biography - [[wiki/articles/King Parikshit the listener|King Parikshit the listener]] — The hearer's full biography - [[wiki/articles/Vidura the wise|Vidura the wise]] — Another great questioner - [[wiki/articles/The glories of Srimad-Bhagavatam|The glories of Srimad-Bhagavatam]] — What they discussed - [[wiki/articles/The importance of hearing|The importance of hearing]] — The process Parikshit perfected ## From the Index - [[index/entries/sukadeva-gosvami|Sukadeva Gosvami]] — The speaker - [[index/entries/pariksit-maharaja|Parikshit Maharaja]] — The listener - [[index/entries/srimad-bhagavatam|Srimad-Bhagavatam]] — The text they transmitted - [[index/entries/hearing|Hearing]] — The primary process