Narada’s Instructions on Srimad-Bhagavatam for Vyasadeva

The Sacred Appearance of Sri GuruThe Sacred Appearance of Sri Guru

Narada arrives as Narada arrives as Vyasadeva contemplates Vyasadeva contemplates the source of his the source of his despondency. Narada is despondency. Narada is comfortably seated and comfortably seated and apparently smiling apparently smiling because he knows well because he knows well the sage and the cause the sage and the cause of his despondency.of his despondency.

““Narada inquired: Are you satisfied by identifying Narada inquired: Are you satisfied by identifying with the body or the mind as objects of self-with the body or the mind as objects of self-realization?” SB 1.5.2realization?” SB 1.5.2““One cannot be cheerful by nature unless one is One cannot be cheerful by nature unless one is factually seated in self-realization, which is factually seated in self-realization, which is transcendental to the material body and mind.”transcendental to the material body and mind.”

Real Satisfaction is Beyond MatterReal Satisfaction is Beyond Matter

““In spite of achieving the In spite of achieving the power to control in all power to control in all directions and in spite of directions and in spite of enjoying all types of dear enjoying all types of dear sense gratification as much sense gratification as much as possible, Hiranyakasipu as possible, Hiranyakasipu was dissatisfied because was dissatisfied because instead of controlling his instead of controlling his senses he remained their senses he remained their servant.” SB 7.4.19servant.” SB 7.4.19

Secret to Transcendental EducationSecret to Transcendental Education

““Hiranyakasipu said: You rascal, most Hiranyakasipu said: You rascal, most fallen of our family, if you have not fallen of our family, if you have not received this education from your received this education from your teachers, where have you gotten it?” SB teachers, where have you gotten it?” SB 7.5.297.5.29Hiranyakasipu wanted to understand how Hiranyakasipu wanted to understand how Prahlad has received transcendental Prahlad has received transcendental knowledge.knowledge.Prahlada Mraj’s response shows the Prahlada Mraj’s response shows the importance of receiving the mercy.importance of receiving the mercy.

““Because of their uncontrolled senses, Because of their uncontrolled senses, persons too addicted to materialistic life persons too addicted to materialistic life make progress toward hellish conditions make progress toward hellish conditions and repeatedly chew that which has and repeatedly chew that which has already been chewed. Their inclinations already been chewed. Their inclinations toward Krishna are never aroused, either toward Krishna are never aroused, either by the instructions of others, by their own by the instructions of others, by their own efforts, or by a combination of both.” SB efforts, or by a combination of both.” SB 7.5.307.5.30

““Persons who are strongly entrapped by the Persons who are strongly entrapped by the consciousness of enjoying material life, and who consciousness of enjoying material life, and who have therefore accepted as their leader or guru a have therefore accepted as their leader or guru a similar blind man attached to external sense similar blind man attached to external sense objects, cannot understand that the goal of life is to objects, cannot understand that the goal of life is to return home, back to Godhead, and engage in the return home, back to Godhead, and engage in the service of Lord Vishnu. As blind men guided by service of Lord Vishnu. As blind men guided by another blind man miss the right path and fall into a another blind man miss the right path and fall into a ditch, materially attached men led by another ditch, materially attached men led by another materially attached man are bound by the ropes of materially attached man are bound by the ropes of fruitive labor, which are made of very strong cords, fruitive labor, which are made of very strong cords, and they continue again and again in materialistic and they continue again and again in materialistic life, suffering the threefold miseries.” SB 7.5.31life, suffering the threefold miseries.” SB 7.5.31

““Unless they smear upon their bodies the dust of Unless they smear upon their bodies the dust of the lotus feet of a Vaisnava completely freed the lotus feet of a Vaisnava completely freed from material contamination, persons very much from material contamination, persons very much inclined toward materialistic life cannot be inclined toward materialistic life cannot be attached to the lotus feet of the Lord, who is attached to the lotus feet of the Lord, who is glorified for His uncommon activities. Only by glorified for His uncommon activities. Only by becoming Krishna conscious and taking shelter becoming Krishna conscious and taking shelter at the lotus feet of the Lord in this way can one at the lotus feet of the Lord in this way can one be freed from material contamination.” 7.5.32be freed from material contamination.” 7.5.32

Guhyam Akhyati PrcchatiGuhyam Akhyati Prcchati““Sri Vyasadeva said: All you Sri Vyasadeva said: All you have said about me is perfectly have said about me is perfectly correct. Despite all this, I am not correct. Despite all this, I am not pacified. I therefore question pacified. I therefore question you about the root cause of my you about the root cause of my dissatisfaction, for you are a dissatisfaction, for you are a man of unlimited knowledge man of unlimited knowledge due to your being the offspring due to your being the offspring of one [Brahma] who is self-of one [Brahma] who is self-born [without mundane father born [without mundane father and mother].” SB 1.5.5and mother].” SB 1.5.5

““In the material world everyone is engrossed with the idea In the material world everyone is engrossed with the idea of identifying the body or the mind with the self.”of identifying the body or the mind with the self.”

““As such, all knowledge disseminated in the material world As such, all knowledge disseminated in the material world is related either with the body or with the mind, and that is is related either with the body or with the mind, and that is

the root cause of all despondencies.”the root cause of all despondencies.”

This is not always detected, even though one may be the This is not always detected, even though one may be the greatest erudite scholar in materialistic knowledge. It is greatest erudite scholar in materialistic knowledge. It is

good, therefore, to approach a personality like Närada to good, therefore, to approach a personality like Närada to solve the root cause of all despondencies.solve the root cause of all despondencies.

Guhyam Akhyati PrcchatiGuhyam Akhyati Prcchati

““Like the sun, Your Goodness can Like the sun, Your Goodness can travel everywhere in the three travel everywhere in the three worlds, and like the air you can worlds, and like the air you can penetrate the internal region of penetrate the internal region of everyone. As such, you are as everyone. As such, you are as good as the all-pervasive good as the all-pervasive Supersoul. Please, therefore, find Supersoul. Please, therefore, find out the deficiency in me, despite out the deficiency in me, despite my being absorbed in my being absorbed in transcendence under disciplinary transcendence under disciplinary regulations and vows.” SB 1.5.7regulations and vows.” SB 1.5.7

““A person who is cent-percent engaged in the service of the Lord A person who is cent-percent engaged in the service of the Lord is the emblem of all knowledge. Such a devotee of the Lord in full is the emblem of all knowledge. Such a devotee of the Lord in full perfection of devotional service is also perfect by the qualification perfection of devotional service is also perfect by the qualification

of the Personality of Godhead.” SB 1.5.6 prptof the Personality of Godhead.” SB 1.5.6 prpt

"'O my Lord, there is no limit to the unwanted "'O my Lord, there is no limit to the unwanted orders of lusty desires. Although I have rendered orders of lusty desires. Although I have rendered these desires so much service, they have not these desires so much service, they have not shown any mercy to me. I have not been shown any mercy to me. I have not been ashamed to serve them, nor have I even desired ashamed to serve them, nor have I even desired to give them up. O my Lord, O head of the Yadu to give them up. O my Lord, O head of the Yadu dynasty, recently, however, my intelligence has dynasty, recently, however, my intelligence has been awakened, and now I am giving them up. been awakened, and now I am giving them up. Due to transcendental intelligence, I now refuse Due to transcendental intelligence, I now refuse to obey the unwanted orders of these desires, to obey the unwanted orders of these desires, and I now come to You to surrender myself at and I now come to You to surrender myself at Your fearless lotus feet. Kindly engage me in Your fearless lotus feet. Kindly engage me in Your personal service and save me.”Your personal service and save me.”

““O my Lord! Transcendental poets and O my Lord! Transcendental poets and experts in spiritual science could not fully experts in spiritual science could not fully express their indebtedness to You, even if express their indebtedness to You, even if they were endowed with the prolonged they were endowed with the prolonged lifetime of Brahmā, for You appear in two lifetime of Brahmā, for You appear in two features — externally as the ācārya and features — externally as the ācārya and internally as the Supersoul — to deliver internally as the Supersoul — to deliver the embodied living being by directing him the embodied living being by directing him how to come to You.” how to come to You.”

““O King O King RahūganaRahūgana, without taking upon one's , without taking upon one's head the dust from the lotus feet of a pure head the dust from the lotus feet of a pure devotee [a devotee [a mahājanamahājana or or mahātmāmahātmā], one cannot ], one cannot attain devotional service. Devotional service is attain devotional service. Devotional service is not possible to attain simply by undergoing not possible to attain simply by undergoing severe austerities and penances, by gorgeously severe austerities and penances, by gorgeously worshiping the Deity, or by strictly following the worshiping the Deity, or by strictly following the rules and regulations of the rules and regulations of the sannyāsasannyāsa or or grhasthagrhastha order; nor is it attained by studying the order; nor is it attained by studying the Vedas, submerging oneself in water, or exposing Vedas, submerging oneself in water, or exposing oneself to fire or scorching sunlight.”oneself to fire or scorching sunlight.”

““The value of a moment's association with The value of a moment's association with a devotee of the Lord cannot be compared a devotee of the Lord cannot be compared even to the attainment of the heavenly even to the attainment of the heavenly planets or liberation from matter, and what planets or liberation from matter, and what to speak of worldly benedictions in the to speak of worldly benedictions in the form of material prosperity, which is for form of material prosperity, which is for those who are meant for death.”those who are meant for death.”