156
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 5, Ch. 18]
All the information in this chapter can be fully realized by one who associates with devotees of the Lord. Therefore in the  śāstras  it is recommended that one associate with devotees. This is better than residing on the banks of the Ganges. In the hearts of pure devotees reside all good sentiments as well as all the superior qualities of the demigods. In the hearts of nondevotees, however, there cannot be any good qualities, for such people are simply enchanted by the external, illusory energy of the Lord. Following in the footsteps of devotees, one should know that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the only worshipable Deity. Everyone should accept this proposal and worship the Lord. As stated in  Bhagavad-gītā  (15.15),  vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ : the purpose of studying all Vedic literature is to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. If after studying all the Vedic literature, one does not awaken his dormant love for the Supreme Lord, it is to be understood that he has labored for nothing. He has simply wasted his time. Lacking attachment for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he remains attached to family life in this material world. Thus the lesson of this chapter is that one should get out of family life and completely take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord.
TEXT 1
श्रीशुक उवाच
तथा च भद्रश्रवा नाम धर्मसुतस्तत्कुलपतयः पुरुषा भद्राश्वर्षे साक्षाद्भगवतो वासुदेवस्य प्रियांतनुं धर्ममयीं हयशीर्षाभिधानां परमेण समाधिना संनिधाप्येदमभिगृणन्त उपधावन्ति ॥ १ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca
tathā ca bhadraśravā nāma dharma-sutas tat-kula-patayaḥ puruṣā bhadrāśva-varṣe sākṣād bhagavato vāsudevasya priyāṁ tanuṁ dharmamayīṁ hayaśīrṣābhidhānām parameṇa samādhinā sannidhāpyedam abhigṛṇanta upadhāvanti.
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca—Śukadeva Gosvāmī said;  tathā ca —similarly (just as Lord Śiva worships Saṅkarṣaṇa in Ilāvṛta-varṣa);  bhadra-śravā —Bhadraśravā;  nāma —known as;  dharma-sutaḥ —the son of Dhar-