Text 13]
Talks Between Nārada and King Prācīnabarhi
1385
TRANSLATION
The city called Āpaṇa represents engagement of the tongue in speech, and Bahūdana is the variety of foodstuffs. The right ear is called the gate of Pitṛhū, and the left ear is called the gate of Devahū.
TEXT 13
प्रवृत्तं च निवृत्तं च शास्त्रं पञ्चात्संज्ञितम् । पितृयानं देवयानं श्रोत्राच्छ्रुतधराद्वजेत् ॥१३॥
pravṛttam ca nivṛttam ca śāstram pañcāla-saṁjñitam pitṛ-yānam deva-yānam śrotrāc chruta-dharād vrajet
pravṛttam —the process of sense enjoyment;  ca —also;  nivṛttam —the process of detachment;  ca —also;  śāstram —scripture;  pañcāla —Pañcāla;  saṁjñitam —is described as;  pitṛ-yānam —going to Pitṛloka;  deva-yānam —going to Devaloka;  śrotrāt —by hearing;  śruta-dharāt —by the companion named Śrutadhara;  vrajet —one can be elevated.
TRANSLATION
Nārada Muni continued: The city spoken of as Dakṣiṇa-pañcāla represents the scriptures meant for directing pravṛtti, the process of sense enjoyment in fruitive activities. The other city, named Uttara-pañcāla, represents the scriptures meant for decreasing fruitive activities and increasing knowledge. The living entity receives different kinds of knowledge by means of two ears, and some living entities are promoted to Pitṛloka and some to Devaloka. All this is made possible by the two ears.
PURPORT
The  Vedas  are known as  śruti , and the knowledge received from them through aural reception is called  śrutadhara . As stated in  Bhagavad-gītā , one can be promoted to the planets of the demigods or to the planets of the  pitās  (forefathers), or even to the Vaikuṇṭha planets, simply through the process of hearing. These things have already been explained in previous chapters.