rule



 

Canto 4

Je Anilo


 

Chapter 31: Nārada Instructs the Pracetās

(1) Maitreya said: '[The Pracetās] thereafter [after the marriage with Mārishā] arrived at a ripened vision. Remembering what the Lord in the Beyond had said [about the value of detachment] they soon handed the care for their wife over to their son [Daksha] and left home. (2) Heading in the western direction for the seashore where sage Jājali resided, they arrived, as his pupils being joined in the spirit of the Absolute, at the perfection of insight in the soul [residing within everyone]. (3) Mastering the sitting postures they all achieved the full control over their breath, mind, words and vision. Keeping their bodies straight with their minds freed from impurities they, pacified in being engaged in the transcendental spirit, then saw Nārada appear who [traditionally] is worshiped by both the enlightened and unenlightened souls. (4) When he appeared they all got up, offered their obeisances to welcome him and addressed him, after they with the necessary respect had offered him a comfortable seat. (5) The Pracetās said: 'Be welcome, oh sage among the enlightened souls! What a fortune to have your audience today; your arrival here is like the sun moving in the sky, oh great brahmin, it dispels all fear. (6) Being overly attached to family matters, we almost forgot, oh master, what was instructed by Lord S'iva and by the Lord in the Beyond [Vishnu]. (7) But seeing you now before our eyes, kindly shed light for us on the transcendental knowledge of the Absolute Truth, by which we can easily cross the formidable ocean of nescience.'

(8) A Vishnu to worshipM
aitreya said: 'Thus petitioned by the Pracetās, the kings received an answer from the great Nārada who, with his mind always being absorbed in thoughts about the Lord Praised in the Verses, was of the greatest wisdom. (9) Nārada said: 'The Supreme Personality is the Controller of that birth, that life, that fruitive labor, that mind and those words of the people, by which the Soul of All Worlds is served. (10) Whether one acts according to what is human, what the Vedas say or whether one lives as long as a demigod, what is the use of the three births in this world of being born from semen, by initiation and by the labor of sacrifice [of s'aukra-sāvitra-yājńikaih, without this service]? (11) What is the use of  Vedic education, austerities or eloquence, mental speculation, a sharp intellect, physical strength or sense control? (12) What would be the use of the practice of yoga, of analytic study, of accepting the renounced order, of reading the scriptures or of all the other auspicious activities, when there is never the [true] satisfaction of the Supreme Self of the Lord? (13) It suffers no doubt that the Supreme Self in fact is the goal of all auspicious activities and that the Lord is the beloved Supersoul who delivers the original identity [the self-realization] of all living beings. (14) The way one with watering the root of a tree satisfies the trunk, branches, and twigs and one likewise by offering food sustains the life of the [entire] sensory apparatus, so too each and everyone [the fellow human beings, the demigods] is honored when one is of worship for the Infallible One. (15) Just as the sun gradually will evaporate the water that rained down and all the moving and non-moving living beings will return to earth ['to dust'], it will unmistakably likewise happen to the emanated material nature [that finally will be withdrawn] in the Lord. (16) Just as one sees sunshine from the sun, the powers of the senses prove themselves during one's sleep and spiritual knowledge manifests itself after differences of opinion - in the confusion about material activities - are overcome, this creation we inhabit belongs to the transcendental Soul of the Universe from which it once appeared. (17) Just as there is the consecutive existence and non-existence of the clouds and the likewise changes of darkness and illumination in the sky, oh leaders of the earth, there is also the continuous change of the consecutive appearance and disappearance of the energies of passion, ignorance and goodness [the gunas] in the Supreme Absolute [of Brahman]. (18) All of you united in His quality, be therefore engaged in the devotional service of directly the Supreme Lord who is the actual cause [pradhāna] of Time, who is the original Person and the One Supreme Soul of the unlimited number of individual souls*, He who, by His spiritual power, is aloof from all emanations of the self.  (19) When one is of mercy for all living beings, when one some or another way abides by peace and when one has all of one's senses under control, then Janārdana, He who agitates all man, will soon be satisfied. (20) Called into the heart of His devotees who, with all their desires vanquished and a soul free from impurities, constantly grow in their devotion, the Imperishable One [Vishnu] in His receptivity for the truthful soul, will not retreat anymore than space [will retreat from the reality of matter and time]. (21) He never accepts what persons with an impure heart have to offer, while those who, with faith in the soul and with feelings for the Lord, are of sacrifice without striving for possessions, are dear to Him. Those [impure souls] who take pride in education, a good birth, riches and fruitive labor [often] are offensive towards the devotees who are free from material motives [beyond necessity]. (22) He, perfectly satisfied within, never worries about the goddess of fortune who follows Him, about the demigods aspiring her favor or about the rulers of man. For how can a grateful person forsake Him who always sides with the servants on His path?'

(23) Maitreya said: 'Oh King [Vidura], the sage, the son of Brahmā, after thus informing the Pracetās about the topics concerning the Lord, then returned to his spiritual abode [Brahmaloka]. (24) 
From the mouth of Nārada having heard about the glorification of the Lord who removes the sins from the world, they then meditated on the feet of Hari and also attained His abode. (25) In response to what you asked me, oh Vidura, I described the glories of the Lord. This is all I had to tell you about the conversation between Nārada and the Pracetās.'

(26-27) S'
rī S'ukadeva said: 'Oh best of kings [Parīkchit], after this faithful description of the dynasty of the son of Svāyambhuva Manu, Uttānapāda, now also hear from me about the dynasty of Priyavrata [the other son of Svāyambhuva, see 3.12: 56, 4.1 and 4.8: 7]. He, as someone who from Nārada learned about the knowledge of the soul, after again and again having enjoyed [his righteous rule], divided the earth among his sons and achieved the transcendental position. (28) When all of this was described by Maitreya and Vidura thus heard about the transcendental message of the stories about the Invincible One, his ecstasy intensified so much that it brought tears to his eyes. Being overwhelmed with the Lord in his heart, he placed the feet of the sage on his head.

(29) Vidura said: 'By what you so mercifully have shown me today about how one can put an end to one's darkness, oh great yogi, they who are free from material motives, can attain the Lord.'

(30) S'
uka said: 'Thus having offered his obeisances, Vidura, who wished to see his family, asked permission to depart for the city of Hastināpura, whereupon he left, with his mind in peace. (31) Oh King, anyone who hears this story about kings who gave their life and soul to the Lord, will achieve the good fortune of a long life, wealth, material opulence and a good reputation, as also the ultimate goal of life.'


Thus the fourth Canto of the S'rīmad Bhāgavatam ends named: The Creation of the Fourth Order**, the Lord's Protection.

 

 

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Third revised edition, loaded January 19, 2018.
 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1

Maitreya said: '[The Pracetās] thereafter [after the marriage with Mārishā] arrived at a ripened vision. Remembering what the Lord in the Beyond had said [about the value of detachment] they soon handed the care for their wife over to their son [Daksha] and left home. 
Maitreya said: 'Remembering what the Lord in the Beyond had enunciated, arrived they following [the marriage with Mārishā], leaving their home to their wife and son, very soon at perfect wisdom. (Vedabase)

 

Text 2

Heading in the western direction for the seashore where sage Jājali resided, they arrived, as his pupils being joined in the spirit of the Absolute, at the perfection of insight in the soul [residing within everyone].

Heading in the western direction for the seashore where sage Jājali resided, found they perfection, determined in the cultivation of spiritual knowledge considering all living beings alike themselves.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 3

Mastering the sitting postures they all achieved the full control over their breath, mind, words and vision. Keeping their bodies straight with their minds freed from impurities they, pacified in being engaged in the transcendental spirit, then saw Nārada appear who [traditionally] is worshiped by both the enlightened and unenlightened souls.

They, mastering the sitting postures, all achieved the full control over their breath, mind, words and vision and, pacified in keeping their bodies straight with their minds, freed from impurities, engaged in the transcendental, they saw Nārada who always had been worshiped by as well the enlightened as the unenlightened. (Vedabase)

 

Text 4

When he appeared they all got up, offered their obeisances to welcome him and addressed him, after they with the necessary respect had offered him a comfortable seat.

On his appearance they all got up offering their obeisances in welcome, respecting him as was prescribed, and after having him seated comfortably addressed they him. (Vedabase)


Text 5

The Pracetās said: 'Be welcome, oh sage among the enlightened souls! What a fortune to have your audience today; your arrival here is like the sun moving in the sky, oh great brahmin, it dispels all fear.

The Pracetās said: 'Welcome, o sage of the enlightened! Today we have the great fortune of your audience; your arrival here is like the movement of the sun, o great brahmin, it dispels all fear. (Vedabase)

 

Text 6

Being overly attached to family matters, we almost forgot, oh master, what was instructed by Lord S'iva and by the Lord in the Beyond [Vishnu].

By our overly being attached to family matters we almost forgot, o master, what was instructed by the Supreme Lord S'iva and the One in the Beyond [Vishnu]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 7

But seeing you now before our eyes, kindly shed light for us on the transcendental knowledge of the Absolute Truth, by which we can easily cross the formidable ocean of nescience.'

Therefore, for the purpose of your vision, kindly awaken in us the transcendental knowledge of the Absolute Truth by which we can easily cross over the formidable ocean of nescience.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 8

Maitreya said: 'Thus petitioned by the Pracetās, the kings received an answer from the great Nārada who, with his mind always being absorbed in thoughts about the Lord Praised in the Verses, was of the greatest wisdom.

Maitreya said: 'Thus petitioned by the Pracetās were the kings answered by the great Nārada, who to the mind was the wisest in always being absorbed in thoughts about the Supreme Lord. (Vedabase)

 

Text 9

Nārada said: 'The Supreme Personality is the Controller of that birth, that life, that fruitive labor, that mind and those words of the people, by which the Soul of All Worlds is served.

Nārada said: 'Of that birth of man by which in one's fruitive labor, one's lifetime, one's mind and words, the Supersoul is served is the Lord for certain the Controller. (Vedabase)


Text 10

Whether one acts according to what is human, what the Vedas say or whether one lives as long as a demigod, what is the use of the three births in this world of being born from semen, by initiation and by the labor of sacrifice [of s'aukra-sāvitra-yājńikaih, without this service]?

What's the use of the three births in this world of being born from semen, by initiation, or by the labor of sacrifice; whether one acts according to what is human or what the Vedas say or whether one lives as long as a demigod? (Vedabase)

 

Text 11

What is the use of  Vedic education, austerities or eloquence, mental speculation, a sharp intellect, physical strength or sense control?

What is the use of austerities to the teachings, or the meaning of the words of consciousness one engages in by intelligence, or the expertise of physical strength or sense-control? (Vedabase)

 

Text 12

What would be the use of the practice of yoga, of analytic study, of accepting the renounced order, of reading the scriptures or of all the other auspicious activities, when there is never the [true] satisfaction of the Supreme Self of the Lord?

Of what use is the yoga-practice, the analytic study, the acceptance of the renounced order, reading the scriptures or all the other auspicious activities, when there is never the satisfaction of the soul that is the Lord? (Vedabase)

   

Text 13

It suffers no doubt that the Supreme Self in fact is the goal of all auspicious activities and that the Lord is the beloved Supersoul who delivers the original identity [the self-realization] of all living beings.

No doubt is the soul factually the sure destination of all auspicious activities and is the Lord the Supersoul giving us our original cherished identity. (Vedabase)

 

Text 14

The way one with watering the root of a tree satisfies the trunk, branches, and twigs and one likewise by offering food sustains the life of the [entire] sensory apparatus, so too each and everyone [the fellow human beings, the demigods] is honored when one is of worship for the Infallible One.

As by watering the root of a tree its trunk, branches, and twigs are satisfied and by the feeding of the life-air similarly the sensory is sustained, so too are all [the others, the demigods] honored by the worship of the Infallible One. (Vedabase)

  

Text 15

Just as the sun gradually will evaporate the water that rained down and all the moving and non-moving living beings will return to earth ['to dust'], it will unmistakably likewise happen to the emanated material nature [that finally will be withdrawn] in the Lord.

As for sure from the sun the water generated is again in time evaporated and all living, moving and nonmoving, entities return again to the earth, likewise is it unmistakably so with the emanated material nature unto the Lord. (Vedabase)


Text 16

Just as one sees sunshine from the sun, the powers of the senses prove themselves during one's sleep and spiritual knowledge manifests itself after differences of opinion - in the confusion about material activities - are overcome, this creation we inhabit belongs to the transcendental Soul of the Universe from which it once appeared.

The reality of the transcendental soul, is [unmistakably connected with] the Lord who is the universe, just like it is with the sunshine that at times manifests of the sun, like the senses are that became manifest to the forces of inert matter and like the spiritual knowledge is that appears upon the retreat of the differences of misunderstanding. (Vedabase)

 

Text 17

Just as there is the consecutive existence and non-existence of the clouds and the likewise changes of darkness and illumination in the sky, oh leaders of the earth, there is also the continuous change of the consecutive appearance and disappearance of the energies of passion, ignorance and goodness [the gunas] in the Supreme Absolute [of Brahman].

As there is the consecutive existence and absence of clouds, darkness and illumination in the sky, o Kings, so is there thus in the Supreme Absolute likewise the appearance of the energies of passion, ignorance and goodness. (Vedabase)
 
Text 18

All of you united in His quality, be therefore engaged in the devotional service of directly the Supreme Lord who is the actual cause [pradhāna] of Time, who is the original Person and the One Supreme Soul of the unlimited number of individual souls*, He who, by His spiritual power, is aloof from all emanations of the self.

Because the One Supreme Soul of the unlimited number of individual souls, as the material cause of time, is the Original Person himself, the transcendental controller *, who by His spiritual power is aloof from all emanations of the self, you should, accepting all as being one in quality, directly engage yourself in devotional service. (Vedabase)


Text 19

When one is of mercy for all living beings, when one some or another way abides by peace and when one has all of one's senses under control, then Janārdana, He who agitates all man, will soon be satisfied.

This or that way being contented with all the senses under control will, showing mercy to all in existence, also very soon Janārdana, the Lord of all beings [a name of Lord Krishna], be satisfied. (Vedabase)


Text 20

Called into the heart of His devotees who, with all their desires vanquished and a soul free from impurities, constantly grow in their devotion, the Imperishable One [Vishnu] in His receptivity for the truthful soul, will not retreat anymore than space [will retreat from the reality of matter and time].

With all desires vanquished spotless, the mind ever engaged and intensifying in feelings, is the Unchanging One, being called for by His devotees, to their want; His knowing will never fail or leave them as, to the devotee, He is just alike the sky. (Vedabase)


Text 21

He never accepts what persons with an impure heart have to offer, while those who, with faith in the soul and with feelings for the Lord, are of sacrifice without striving for possessions, are dear to Him. Those [impure souls] who take pride in education, a good birth, riches and fruitive labor [often] are offensive towards the devotees who are free from material motives [beyond necessity].

Never He accepts the union of persons who have a polluted heart, while those who do not depend on wealth but on the soul are dear to Him; all those who with false pride try to relate to God and therein try to be of education, wealth, nobility and fruitive labor, are factually being disgraceful to the devotees who are without possessions. (Vedabase)

Text 22

He, perfectly satisfied within, never worries about the goddess of fortune who follows Him, about the demigods aspiring her favor or about the rulers of man. For how can a grateful person forsake Him who always sides with the servants on His path?'

The goddess of fortune after Him and those aspiring her favor, as well as the rulers of man and the demigods, He never worries about because He exists for His own sake; how [then] can a grateful person give up on Him, whose main interest sides with the servants on His path?' (Vedabase)

  

Text 23

Maitreya said: 'Oh King [Vidura], the sage, the son of Brahmā, after thus informing the Pracetās about the topics concerning the Lord, then returned to his spiritual abode [Brahmaloka].

Maitreya said: 'O King, the great sage, the son of Brahmā, thus instructing the Pracetās on the topics of relating to the Lord, then returned to the abode of the Absolute [Brahmaloka]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 24

From the mouth of Nārada having heard about the glorification of the Lord who removes the sins from the world, they then meditated on the feet of Hari and also attained His abode.

From the mouth of Nārada having heard about the glorification of the Lord who destroys the sins of the world, advanced also they, meditating on His feet, towards their ultimate destination. (Vedabase)


Text 25

In response to what you asked me, oh Vidura, I described the glories of the Lord. This is all I had to tell you about the conversation between Nārada and the Pracetās.'

O Vidura, this is, about the conversation of Nārada and the Pracetās, in response to what you asked me, all I had to tell you, describing the glories of the Lord'. (Vedabase)

 

Text 26-27

S'rī S'ukadeva said: 'Oh best of kings [Parīkchit], after this faithful description of the dynasty of the son of Svāyambhuva Manu, Uttānapāda, now also hear from me about the dynasty of Priyavrata [the other son of Svāyambhuva, see 3.12: 56, 4.1 and 4.8: 7]. He, as someone who from Nārada learned about the knowledge of the soul, after again and again having enjoyed [his righteous rule], divided the earth among his sons and achieved the transcendental position.

S'rī S'ukadeva said: 'O best of kings [Parīkchit], after the loyal description of this dynasty of the son of Svāyambhuva Manu, Uttānapāda, now also try to understand the dynasty of Priyavrata [the other son of Svāyambhuva, see 3.12: 56, 4.1 and 4.8: 7]. (Vedabase)
As one who learned about the knowledge of the soul from Nārada, did he, after enjoying again [a righteous rule], achieve the transcendental position, having divided the earth among his sons. (Vedabase)

 

Text 28

When all of this was described by Maitreya and Vidura thus heard about the transcendental message of the stories about the Invincible One, his ecstasy intensified so much that it brought tears to his eyes. Being overwhelmed with the Lord in his heart, he placed the feet of the sage on his head.

All this then described by Maitreya strengthened with Vidura, hearing about the ways with the Invincible One, his ecstasy, bringing tears to his eyes; overwhelmed with the Lord in his heart he brought down his head and captured the feet of the sage. (Vedabase)


Text 29

Vidura said: 'By what you so mercifully have shown me today about how one can put an end to one's darkness, oh great yogi, they who are free from material motives, can attain the Lord.'

Vidura said: 'By that what you today so mercifully have shown me of the opposite side of darkness, o great master of yoga, are the ones free from the material motive, able to approach the Lord.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 30

S'uka said: 'Thus having offered his obeisances, Vidura, who wished to see his family, asked permission to depart for the city of Hastināpura, whereupon he left, with his mind in peace.

S'uka said: 'Thus reverencing him took Vidura, wishing to see his own family, permission to depart for the city of Hastināpura, leaving that place with a mind in peace. (Vedabase)

 

Text 31

Oh King, anyone who hears this story about kings who gave their life and soul to the Lord, will achieve the good fortune of a long life, wealth, material opulence and a good reputation, as also the ultimate goal of life.'

O King, he who hears this story about kings who gave their life and soul to the Lord, will achieve the good fortune of a long life, wealth, material opulence and reputation and the ultimate goal of life. (Vedabase) 

 

*: Time, the ingredient and the Creator combined, are called tritayātmaka, the three causes by which everything in this material world is created.

**: There are four orders of creation: heaven, earth, the living beings and their societal order.

 

  

 

 

 

 

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The text and audio are offered under the conditions of the
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The painting shows Nārada preaching before the Pracetās. Source.
Production:
Filognostic Association of The Order of Time


  

 

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