Hear now from me the story of Him who was born in the Vrishni family. A Brahmana should hear the greatness of that God of gods, called Vishnu of immeasurable energy, from the lips of Brahmanas. A Kshatriya should hear it from persons of that order. One who is a Vaishya, should hear it from Vaishyas, and a high-souled Shudra should hear it from Sudras.
तदिदं ब्रह्म वार्ष्णेयमितिहासं शृणुष्व मे। ब्राह्मणो ब्राह्मणैः श्राव्यो राजन्यः क्षत्रियैस्तथा॥ वैश्यो वैश्यैस्तथा श्राव्यः शूद्रः शूरैर्महामनाः। माहात्म्यं देवदेवस्य विष्णोरमिततेजसः॥