Shloka 12
The Appearance of Śrī Nārada and Vyāsa’s Dissatisfaction
Veda-vibhāga and the Need for Bhakti
शिवाय लोकस्य भवाय भूतये य उत्तमश्लोकपरायणा जना: । जीवन्ति नात्मार्थमसौ पराश्रयं मुमोच निर्विद्य कुत: कलेवरम् ॥ १२ ॥
śivāya lokasya bhavāya bhūtaye ya uttama-śloka-parāyaṇā janāḥ jīvanti nātmārtham asau parāśrayaṁ mumoca nirvidya kutaḥ kalevaram
Die dem Uttamaśloka, der Höchsten Persönlichkeit, ergebenen Menschen leben für das Wohl, den Fortschritt und das Glück anderer, nicht aus Eigennutz. Wie konnte also der Kaiser (Parīkṣit), frei von weltlicher Anhaftung, seinen sterblichen Leib verlassen, der doch vielen als Zuflucht diente?
Parīkṣit Mahārāja was an ideal king and householder because he was a devotee of the Personality of Godhead. A devotee of the Lord automatically has all good qualifications. And the Emperor was a typical example of this. Personally he had no attachment for all the worldly opulences in his possession. But since he was king for the all-around welfare of his citizens, he was always busy in the welfare work of the public, not only for this life, but also for the next. He would not allow slaughterhouses or killing of cows. He was not a foolish and partial administrator who would arrange for the protection of one living being and allow another to be killed. Because he was a devotee of the Lord, he knew perfectly well how to conduct his administration for everyone’s happiness — men, animals, plants and all living creatures. He was not selfishly interested. Selfishness is either self-centered or self-extended. He was neither. His interest was to please the Supreme Truth, the Personality of Godhead. The king is the representative of the Supreme Lord, and therefore the king’s interest must be identical with that of the Supreme Lord. The Supreme Lord wants all living beings to be obedient to Him and thereby become happy. Therefore the king’s interest is to guide all subjects back to the kingdom of God. Hence the activities of the citizens should be so coordinated that they can at the end go back home, back to Godhead. Under the administration of a representative king, the kingdom is full of opulence. At that time, human beings need not eat animals. There are ample food grains, milk, fruit and vegetables so that the human beings as well as the animals can eat sumptuously and to their heart’s content. If all living beings are satisfied with food and shelter and obey the prescribed rules, there cannot be any disturbance between one living being and another. Emperor Parīkṣit was a worthy king, and therefore all were happy during his reign.
FAQs
A true devotee is fully dedicated to Uttamaśloka (the Supreme Lord), lives without selfish motive, and acts for the auspicious welfare and upliftment of all beings.
In the context of describing Nārada’s character, Sūta highlights that great devotees are not self-centered; their devotion naturally expresses itself as compassion, guidance, and welfare for others.
Practice devotion with a service attitude: reduce self-centered goals, use your abilities to help others spiritually and materially, and cultivate detachment from excessive bodily and ego-based identification.