Narada Muni - Father of Devotional Service Part 6

Date: 2014-07-04 Author: Manohar Suvarna

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev!

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled, "Narada Muni - The Father of Devotional Service". In the previous offering, we had seen Narada Muni's transcendental instruction to young boy Dhruva who was determined to see Supreme Lord for fulfillment of his objective. Today, we will see further instruction of Devarshi Narada Muni to Dhruva Maharaj.

6. Surrender to the Lord at all times: Before giving spiritual enlightenment, spiritual master always tests as to how serious or sincere is the disciple. Since science of self-realisation is a priceless jewel, when the recipient understands the value of it, then Guru feels very pleased to share that with his disciple. So likewise Narada Muni in an attempt to test how serious was Dhruva Maharaj to see Krishna, told him that it is very difficult to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So it would be better for him to go back home. Krishna willing, if Dhruva gets a chance once he grows old, then he could pursue this path. But Dhruva responded that although Narada's instructions were good, since he was a kshatriya, he could not forget the dishonour done by his step-mother and hence could not wait. He also wanted to learn from Narada Muni, honest path by which he can see Krishna and thereby get a position more exalted than his father and grandfather.

Pleased by the honest behaviour of Dhruva Maharaj, Narada Muni advised him to do devotional service to Supreme Lord, to achieve his goal. Narada Muni gave all the necessary instruction for eating, cleanliness, austerity, yoga, breathing exercise and control of life air, mind. Most importantly he told him that he should completely free himself from all material contamination, and with great patience begin to meditate on the Supreme Personality of Godhead. a. While undergoing austerities, if we don't get the desired goal after sometime, then we tend to lose faith. So as a responsible and a caring spiritual master Narada Muni is instructing how patience is required for devotional service.

In Srimad Bhagavatam verses 4.8.45 and 46 Narada Muni beautifully glorifies the form of the Lord as follows.

prasādābhimukhaṁ śaśvat prasanna-vadanekṣaṇam sunāsaṁ subhruvaṁ cāru-kapolaṁ sura-sundaram taruṇaṁ ramaṇīyāṅgam aruṇoṣṭhekṣaṇādharam praṇatāśrayaṇaṁ nṛmṇaṁ śaraṇyaṁ karuṇārṇavam

The Lord's face is perpetually very beautiful and pleasing in attitude. To the devotees who see Him, He appears never to be displeased, and He is always prepared to award benedictions to them. His eyes, His nicely decorated eyebrows. The Lord's form is always youthful. Every limb and every part of His body is properly formed, free from defect. His eyes and lips are pinkish like the rising sun. He is always prepared to give shelter to the surrendered soul, and anyone so fortunate as to look upon Him feels all satisfaction. The Lord is always worthy to be the master of the surrendered soul, for He is the ocean of mercy.

By glorifying the beautiful form of Lord Krishna, Narada Muni is teaching us how we need: b) to see carefully Lord's beautiful and pleasing face, for serenity of our mind; c) remember how fortunate we are to have Lord's darshan; d) to surrender to Lord at all times.

Usually our rebellious mind does not want to surrender to anyone. But when we are reminded about the greatness, beauty of the infallible Lord, that too through the mouth of a pure devotee, then we will be able to surrender voluntarily. Srila Prabhupada's purport in his inspiring purport says, "As such, in the material world no one is worthy to accept anyone's surrender, nor does anyone fully surrender to anyone else unless obliged to do so. But here the surrendering process is voluntary, and the Lord is worthy to accept the surrender. This surrender by the living entity occurs automatically as soon as he sees the beautiful youthful nature of the Lord".

Krishna willing, we will learn more about Narada Muni's instructions in the next offering.

Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Manohar Suvarna Abu Dhabi.