PURPORT

This is the way of the parampara system. Although Sanat-kumara, the well-known great saintly kumara, was in the perfect stage of life, still he heard the message of Srimad-Bhagavatam from Lord Saṅkarsana. Similarly, when he was questioned by Saṅkhyayana Rsi, he spoke to him the same message which he heard from Lord Saṅkarsana. In other words, unless one hears from the proper authority one cannot become a preacher. In devotional service, therefore, two items out of the nine, namely hearing and chanting, are most important. Without hearing nicely, one cannot preach the message of Vedic knowledge.