42 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 10, Ch. 7

krsna-bahirmukha haiya bhoga-vafcha kare
nikata-stha maya tare japatiya dhare

Our material existence is mayd, or illusion, in which we desire different
varieties of material enjoyment and therefore change to different
varieties of bodies (bhramayan sarva-bhitani yantraéridhani mayaya).
Asann api klesada asa dehah: as long as we have these temporary bodies,
they give us many varieties of tribulation —adhydatmika, adhibhautika
and dGdhidaivika. This is the root cause of all suffering, but this root
cause of suffering can be removed by revival of our Krsna consciousness.
All the Vedic literatures presented by Vydsadeva and other great sages
are therefore intended to revive our Krsna consciousness, which
begins to revive with sravana-kirtanam. Srnvatarh sva-kathah krsnah
(Bhag. 1.2.17). Srimad-Bhagavatam and other Vedic literatures exist
simply to give us a chance to hear about Krsna. Krsna has different
avataras, or incarnations, all of which are wonderful and which arouse
one’s inquisitiveness, but generally such avatdras as Matsya, Karma and
Varaha are not as attractive as Krsna. First of all, however, we have no
attraction for hearing about Krsna, and this is the root cause of our
suffering.

But Pariksit Maharaja specifically mentions that the wonderful ac-
tivities of baby Krsna, which amazed mother Yasoda and the other in-
habitants of Vraja, are especially attractive. From the very beginning of
His childhood, Krsna killed Pitand, Trnavarta and Sakatasura and
showed the entire universe within His mouth. Thus the pastimes of
Krsna, one after another, kept mother Yasoda and all the inhabitants of
Vraja in great astonishment. The process to revive one’s Krsna con-
sciousness is ddau sraddhd tatah sddhu-sangah (Bhakti-rasamrta-
sindhu 1.4.15). The pastimes of Krsna can be properly received from
devotees. If one has developed a little bit of Krsna consciousness by hear-
ing from Vaisnavas about the activities of Krsna, one becomes attached to
Vaisnavas who are interested only in Krsna consciousness. Therefore
Pariksit Maharaja recommends that one hear about Krsna’s childhood ac-
tivities, which are more attractive than the activities of other incarna-
tions, such as Matsya, Karma and Varaha. Wanting to hear more and
more from Sukadeva Gosvami, Maharaja Pariksit requested him to con-
