Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O mighty Parīkṣit, I have related to you the narrations of all these great kings, who spread their fame throughout the world and then departed. My real purpose was to teach transcendental knowledge and renunciation. Stories of kings lend power and opulence to these narrations but do not in themselves constitute the ultimate aspect of knowledge.
Srimad Bhagavata Purana
श्रीमद्भागवतमहापुराणम्
मूल श्लोकः
कथा इमास्ते कथिता महीयसां विताय लोकेषु यशः परेयुषाम् । विज्ञानवैराग्यविवक्षया विभो वचो विभूतीर्न तु पारमार्थ्यम्
kathā imāste kathitā mahīyasāṃ vitāya lokeṣu yaśaḥ pareyuṣām | vijñānavairāgyavivakṣayā vibho vaco vibhūtīrna tu pāramārthyam
SB 12.3.14