*SKANDHA I. CHAP. 5 & 6.*
"In the previous Kalpa, in my former birth, I was born of a certain
maid-servant of Vedic Rishis. Certain Yogis had collected at a place to
pass the rainy season and I was engaged as a boy to serve them. Seeing
me void of all fickleness as a boy and self-controlled, the Munis, who
looked on all with equal eyes, were kind to me, especially as I gave up
play, followed them, served them and talked little. With the permission
of the regenerated I at one time partook of the remnants of their meal
and the impurities of my mind were all removed. When thus my mind became
pure, my inclination grew towards their Dharma. By their favor I heard
them sing the beautiful stories of Krishna. Hearing those stories every
day with faith, I gained holy love for Krishna. Through that love my
mind became fixed in Him and I came to perceive my Sthula and Sukshma
bodies as only false reflections of the real Self or Brahma. The Bhakti
that grew up in me destroyed my Rajas and Tamas. Then when the kind
Rishis were about to leave the place, they imparted to me the most
occult knowledge which had been given to them by Bhagavan himself.
Through that knowledge I have known the Maya of Bhagavan. It is by that
knowledge that one reaches the plane of Bhagavan. As I cultivated this
occult knowledge, Bhagavan appeared Himself and gave me knowledge and
powers direct."
[Sridhara Svami, the commentator of Bhagavata Purana notes the following
points in the above story (1) Seva, _i.e._, service of and attendance on
Mahatmas, (2) their kripa or favor, (3) trust in their Dharma, (4)
hearing the stories of Bhagavan, (5) attachment to Bhagavan, (6)
knowledge of Self by the discrimination of the Sthula and the Sukshma
body, (7) firm Bhakti, (8) knowledge of the reality of Bhagavan, (9) at
the last the appearance of omniscience and other powers through the
favor of Bhagavan.]
What followed then, inquired Vyasa? Narada continued:
"Sometime after my teachers, the Bhikshus, had gone away, my mother died
of snake-bite. I deemed that an act of God and went towards the North.
After crossing several forests, rivers and mountains, I at last reached
a solitary forest and there sat under a pipal tree. As directed by my
teachers, I meditated on self in self through self. My mind had been
completely conquered by Bhakti. As I was devotedly meditating on the
lotus feet of Bhagavan with tear-drops in my eyes, Hari gradually
appeared in my heart. O Muni, the hairs of my body stood on end through
exuberance of holy love, I was completely lost in joy and knew not
either self or any other. The indescribable Ishvara spoke thus in solemn
words:
"O thou that dost not deserve to see me in this life, I am difficult to
be seen by imperfect Yogis, whose likes and dislikes have not been
completely burnt up. I have shown myself to thee that thy Kama may all
be centred in me. When I am the object of Kama, the Sadhu gives up all
other desires. By prolonged service of Mahatmas, thy mind is firmly
fixed in me. Therefore shalt thou give up this faulty body and acquire
my companionship. The mind fixed in me is never destroyed in creation or
in pralaya, nor does the memory fail.'"
"So saying Ishvara disappeared. In time, when I was drawn towards the
pure body with which I was favored by Bhagavan, the body of my five
Bhutas fell down on the extinction of my Prarabdha Karma. When the Kalpa
came to an end my new body was indrawn by the breath of Brahma who was
going to sleep. After one thousand Yuga Cycles, when Brahma awoke and
desired to create, I, Marichi, and other Rishis came out. Since then I
have invariably observed Brahmacharya and through the favor of Vishnu
have been travelling all over Triloki, both inside and outside, my
passage being wholly unobstructed. The Devas gave me this Vina which is
adorned with Svara-Brahma. By playing upon this Vina I send forth songs
of Hari all round. These songs are the only means of crossing the ocean
of recurring lives."
[This is the mystery of Narada as related in the Puranas. Narada is the
repository of occult knowledge from the previous Kalpa. The first and
foremost adept of this Kalpa, his mission is to spread occult knowledge,
by unceasingly playing on the seven musical notes. He is ever watchful
and always bides his time in all cyclic changes. He is the only Rishi of
whom the Vina is a constant accompaniment, as it is of the goddess
Sarasvati. His sphere of action is Triloki, and the dwellers of Bhur,
Bhuvar, and Svar alike respect him. He is the universal counsellor, even
of the highest Devas and of the highest Rishis. His constant mission is
the good of the Universe. One thing is said of him, that he sometimes
serves his purpose by setting one against another and amongst the
ignorant his name is a bye-word for quarrel. However that be, the
greatest good of the Universe in this Kalpa has been always done by him.
It is under his inspiration, that Valmiki and Vyasa wrote their most
occult works, and his benign influence is observed in all universal
changes for good. The Bhagavata recites his constant endeavours to do
good and we shall consider them in detail hereafter.]