Following the Mahajans [Part 14] - Narada Muni

Date: 2012-03-02 Author: Vishakha Lila dasi

Dear Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev.

This is in continuation of the previous offerings on the exalted glories of Srila Narada Muni. Narada Muni is the perfect spiritual master for he travels all over the universe for the sole purpose of performing the best welfare activity for the entire universe by teaching everyone how to become a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is an ocean of compassion and his wonderful qualities are described at many places in Srimad Bhagavatam. In this offering, let us meditate one such pastime from Srimad Bhagavatam to appreciate and also imbibe his divine qualities.

In the fourth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, the pastimes of Dhruva Maharaj is beautifully described and filled with wonderful instructions for all of us. Dhruva being insulted by his stepmother was highly enraged and under the instruction of his mother Suniti, left to the forest in search of the Supreme Lord. Narada Muni being trikala-jna(knower of past, present and future), understanding Dhruva's determination came to help him. It is explained in Caitanya Caritamrita, 'guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja', CC Madhya 19.151, by the grace of the spiritual master and Krishna, one can enter into devotional service. Because of Dhruva Maharaj's determination, Krishna, the Surpersoul, immediately sent His representative, Narada, to initiate him.

1. Perfect Spiritual Master: Narada Muni wanted to impress upon Dhruva Maharaj that he was only a child and that he should not have been affected by the words of insult and honor. He instructed Dhruva Maharaja to be satisfied in all circumstances. He was testing Dhruva to see how determined he is to prosecute devotional service. This is the process of accepting a disciple. In this regard, Srila Prabhupada says in the purport of SB 4.8.32,Generally, " people think that childhood is meant for enjoying life by engaging oneself in sports and play, youth is meant for enjoying the company of young girls, and when one becomes old, at the time of death, then he may try to execute devotional service or a mystic yoga process. But this conclusion is not for devotees who are actually serious. The great sage Narada is instructing Dhruva Maharaja just to test him. Actually, the direct order is that from any point of life one should begin rendering devotional service. But it is the duty of the spiritual master to test the disciple to see how seriously he desires to execute devotional service. Then he may be initiated."

Dhruva was determined in his pursuit of attaining a kingdom greater than Lord Brahma and humbly refused the instructions of Narada Muni. Rather he inquired from him about the process to worship the Supreme Lord as directed by his mother. Even though Narada Muni could have fulfilled his desire, he did not so rather instructed him to engage in devotional service to the Lord as explained in SB 4.8.40,

nārada uvāca jananyābhihitaḥ panthāḥ sa vai niḥśreyasasya te bhagavān vāsudevas taṁ bhaja taṁ pravaṇātmanā

The great sage Narada told Dhruva Maharaja: The instruction given by your mother, Suniti, to follow the path of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is just suitable for you. You should therefore completely absorb yourself in the devotional service of the Lord.

Srila Prabhupada explains in the purport, "Narada Muni is referred to here as bhagavan because he can bless any person just as the Supreme Personality of Godhead can. He was very pleased with Dhruva Maharaja, and he could have at once personally given whatever he wanted, but that is not the duty of the spiritual master. His duty is to engage the disciple in proper devotional service as prescribed in the shastras. Krishna was similarly present before Arjuna, and even though He could have given him all facilities for victory over the opposing party without a fight, He did not do so; instead He asked Arjuna to fight. In the same way, Narada Muni asked Dhruva Maharaja to undergo devotional discipline in order to achieve the desired result ." Narada Muni then explained the detailed process of worshiping the Supreme Lord and finally instructed Dhruva to stick to the process of transcendental loving service to the Lord as a means to achieve liberation.

2. Ocean of Compassion: Narada Muni was not only compassionate to Dhruva Maharaj but also to his father. Out of compassion, after instructing Dhruva, he went to his father to solace him and also broadcasted the glories of his son. Dhruva's father was anxious about his son's safety and well-being and Narada Muni assured him that anyone who engages in devotional service wherever he may be in the universe will be protected by the Lord.

3. Non-envious at heart: After Dhruva Maharaj got the darshan of the Supreme Lord, he returned to his palace and was reunited with his father and mother. He also later became the King and was constantly engaged in loving devotional service to the Lord and was endowed with all godly qualities. And at the end of his lifetime, he was carried to Vaikunthaloka along with his mother Suniti. Narada Muni, being the spiritual master was very happy to see the glories of Dhruva Maharaj. A spiritual master is always transcendentally proud of his disciples. Narada Muni was the perfect spiritual master and Dhruva, the perfect disciple. Narada Muni then went to the sacrificial arena of the Pracetas and happily chanted the glories of Dhruva. This shows the 'non-envious' nature of Srila Narada Muni. When a Vaishnava sees that another Vaishnava is a recipient of the Lord's mercy, he becomes very happy. Devotees are always non-envious. Narada Muni says in SB 4.12.43:

yaḥ kṣatra-bandhur bhuvi tasyādhirūḍham anv ārurukṣed api varṣa-pūgaiḥ ṣaṭ-pañca-varṣo yad ahobhir alpaiḥ prasādya vaikuṇṭham avāpa tat-padam

Dhruva Maharaja attained an exalted position at the age of only five or six years, after undergoing austerity for six months. Alas, a great ksatriya cannot achieve such a position even after undergoing austerities for many, many years.

Srila Prabhupada writes in the purport, "The great sage Narada Muni was very proud of having a devotee-disciple like Dhruva Maharaja He had many other disciples, but he was very pleased with Dhruva Maharaja because in one lifetime, by dint of his severe penances and austerities, he had achieved Vaikuntha, which was never achieved by any other king's son or rajarshi throughout the whole universe. The lesson from the life of Dhruva Maharaja is that if one likes, one can attain Vaikunthaloka in one life, without waiting for many other lives. My Guru Maharaja, Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Prabhupada, used to say that every one of his disciples could attain Vaikunthaloka in this life, without waiting for another life to execute devotional service. One simply has to become as serious and sincere as Dhruva Maharaja; then it is quite possible to attain Vaikunthaloka and go back home, back to Godhead, in one life."

Therefore with determination when one follows the instructions of the spiritual master sincerely, it is possible to reunite with Krishna after this very lifetime.

Krishna willing, we will continue meditating on the glorious qualities and teachings of Srila Narada Muni in the next offering.

Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev, Vishakha Lila dasi Seattle.