Sources of Absolute Knowledge
49
practice  jñāna , the cultivation of knowledge; there were different opinions. But at that time Śukadeva Gosvāmī entered the forest, and although Śukadeva was only sixteen, he was so learned and reputed that all the old sages, including his father, Vyāsadeva, stood up to show him respect. He was so learned. So when he appeared, it was agreed, “Here is Śukadeva Gosvāmī. Let him decide what to do. We appoint him as our representative.”
Śukadeva Gosvāmī was thus authorized to speak, and he was asked, “What is my duty? I am very fortunate that you have come in this momentous hour. Kindly tell me what is my duty.”
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said, “All right, I shall explain to you the  Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam .” Then everyone present agreed.
As the  Bhāgavatam  was first spoken by Śukadeva Gosvāmī, it is therefore mentioned that as the parrot touches ripened fruit and it becomes even sweeter, so this  Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam , because it was touched first by Śukadeva Gosvāmī, has become still more tasteful.
The idea is that any Vedic literature, especially the  Bhāgavatam  or the  Gītā , should be learned as spoken by a realized soul. Especially this literature, which is called  Vaiṣṇava  literature, should not be heard from a person who is not a devotee. This point I have several times stressed. Those who are nondevotees, those who are mental speculationists, those who are fruitive workers, those who are meditators or mystic  yogīs , cannot explain the science of God. This is especially mentioned also by Sanātana Gosvāmī, another great saint: those who are not in devotional service, nongodly, those who have no faith in God—such persons should not be allowed to speak on the  Bhagavad-gītā  and  Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam , or any literature which is in relationship with the Supreme Lord. So it is not that anybody can speak the  Bhāgavatam  or the  Gītā  and we will have to hear it. No. Sanātana Gosvāmī especially prohibits us: