Account of Narada
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 Sthûla and Sûkshma bodies as only false reflections of the real Self or Brahmâ. 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 Bhagavân himself. Through that knowledge I have known the Mâyâ of Bhagavân. It is by that knowledge that one reaches the plane of Bhagavân. As I cultivated this occult knowledge, Bhagavân appeared Himself and gave me knowledge and powers direct.”
[Śridhara Svâmi, the commentator of Bhâgavata Purâna notes the following points in the above story (1) Sevâ, i.e., service of and attendance on Mahâtmâs, (2) their kripâ or favor, (3) trust in their Dharma, (4) hearing the stories of Bhagavân, (5) attachment to Bhagavân, (6) knowledge of Self by the discrimination of the Sthûla and the Sûkshma body, (7) firm Bhakti, (8) knowledge of the reality of Bhagavân, (9) at the last the appearance of omniscience and other powers through the favor of Bhagavân.]
What followed then, inquired Vyâsa? Nârada 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 Bhagavân 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 Íshvara 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 Kâma may all be centred in me. When I am the object of Kâma, the Sâdhu gives up all other desires. By prolonged service of Mahâtmâs, 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 Íshvara disappeared. In time, when I was drawn towards the pure body with which I was favored by Bhagavân, the body of my five Bhûtas fell down on the extinction of my Prârabdha Karma. When the Kalpa came to an end my new body was indrawn by the breath of Brahmâ who was going to sleep. After one thousand Yuga Cycles, when Brahmâ awoke and desired to create, I, Marichi, and other Rishis came out. Since then I have invariably observed Brahmâcharya and through the favor of Vishnu have been travelling all over Trilokî, both inside and outside, my passage being wholly unobstructed. The Devas gave me this Vinâ which is adorned with Svara-Brahmâ. By playing upon this Vinâ 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 Nârada as related in the Purânas. Nârada 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 Trilokî, and the dwellers of Bhûr, 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 Vyâsa wrote their most occult works, and his benign influence is observed in all universal changes for good. The Bhâgavata recites his constant endeavours to do good and we shall consider them in detail hereafter.]