Potency of Nārada's Giving - Bestowing the Seed of Devotional Service
Śrīla Nārada Muni is the universal spiritual master whose giving is characterized by causeless mercy and authoritative spiritual potency. He travels throughout the universe to bestow the seed of devotional service, providing the fallen souls, as Śrīla Prabhupāda explains, with the shelter and instructions necessary to return home, back to Godhead.
Bestowing the Seed of Devotion
Nārada Muni’s mercy is so great that he approaches even those who are completely intoxicated by material opulence. By planting the seed of bhakti in the hearts of the sons of Kuvera, Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that he demonstrates how a pure devotee is always seeking the welfare of others, regardless of their current condition.
- Narada appeared in the garden to give the two sons of Kuvera the seed of devotional service, even though they were intoxicated.
- Narada appeared in the garden to give the two sons of Kuvera the seed of devotional service, even though they were intoxicated. Saintly persons know how to bestow mercy upon the fallen souls.
- Narada returned to his abode, known as Narayanasrama, and the two demigods turned into trees, known as twin arjuna trees. They were favored by the causeless mercy of Narada and given a chance to grow in Nanda’s courtyard and see Lord Krsna face to face.
- A pure devotee like Narada can give assurance to any sinful man because by the grace of the Lord such a devotee is empowered to deliver any sinful person if that person follows the principles set forth.
Providing Divine Shelter and Protection
As a transcendental personality, Nārada Muni provides shelter to those who have no other refuge, operating beyond the standard injunctions meant for mundane society. His protection of Prahlāda Mahārāja's mother and Kalakanyā illustrates, according to Śrīla Prabhupāda, that a Vaiṣṇava is the friend of all living entities and acts purely for their spiritual benefit.
- Although one is strictly prohibited from staying with a woman in a secluded place, Narada Muni gave shelter to Prahlada Maharaja's young mother, who rendered service to him with great devotion and faith.
- Narada Muni is a great saint and is transcendentally situated. Therefore, although he was a young man, he could give shelter to a young woman and accept her service.
- Being the most perfect Vaisnava, Sri Narada Muni is always willing to do good to others, even to one who curses him. Although Kalakanya, the daughter of Time, was refused by Narada Muni, she was given a shelter.
- In one stroke Narada Muni gave shelter to Kalakanya and counterattacked the ordinary karmis. If one accepts the instructions of Narada Muni, the ocean of fear (bhaya) can be very quickly removed by the grace of that great Vaisnava.
Authoritative Instructions and Mantras
The giving of Nārada Muni is highly scientific and authoritative, often manifesting as specific mantras and behavioral guidelines. By following the expert advice and chanting the mantras given by him, Śrīla Prabhupāda confirms that great personalities like Dhruva Mahārāja and Citraketu were able to transcend material distress and achieve face-to-face communion with Kṛṣṇa.
- Narada gave Citraketu the following mantra: O Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, who are addressed by the omkara (pranava), I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. O Lord Vasudeva, I meditate upon You.
- Fasting and drinking only water, Citraketu for one week continuously chanted with great care and attention the mantra given by Narada Muni.
- The sage Maitreya continued: The great personality Narada Muni, upon hearing the words of Dhruva Maharaja, became very compassionate toward him, and in order to show him his causeless mercy, he gave him the following expert advice.
- Both Narada Muni and Suniti, the mother of Dhruva Maharaja, advised Dhruva Maharaja to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Now, Narada Muni is especially giving him directions how this worship of the Supreme Person can very quickly fructify.
Transforming the Sinful and delivering Relief
Nārada Muni’s instructions possess the power to relieve living entities of the most grievous sinful reactions and mundane miseries. Through the simple gift of the Tulasī plant and the instruction to chant the mahā-mantra, Śrīla Prabhupāda wonderfully describes how he transformed a violent hunter into a peaceful devotee who would not even hurt an ant.
- A person can be relieved from his sinful activity if he surrenders to the lotus feet of a person who actually represents Narada Muni. Narada Muni gave instructions to the hunter after the hunter surrendered.
- Narada gave them (the hunter and his wife) 1 Tulasi plant, and they sat down near the Tulasi plant, and he advised that "Go on chanting Hare Krsna mantra." In the meantime, in the village it was advertised that - The hunter has become a Vaisnava. Let us go and see him.
- The hunter, after returning home, began to execute the instructions Narada had given him. In the meantime, news spread amongst all the villages that the hunter had become a devotee. Consequently the residents of the villages came to see the new Vaisnava.
- Sri Narada Muni plays on his instrument to glorify the transcendental activities of the Lord and to give relief to all miserable living entities of the universe.
Conclusion
The potency of Nārada Muni’s giving lies in its ability to permanently solve the problems of material existence. Whether he is giving a mantra, a Tulasī plant, or divine shelter, his objective is always to connect the soul with the Supreme Lord. His giving is authoritative, coming through the disciplic succession, and it is universally applicable, reaching kings and hunters alike. By accepting the gifts of instructions and shelter from such an empowered devotee, Śrīla Prabhupāda assures us that a living entity can transcend the ocean of material fear and attain the highest spiritual success.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Narada's Giving. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.