Shloka 44
Nārada Explains the Allegory of King Purañjana
Deha–Indriya–Manaḥ Mapping and the Remedy of Bhakti
प्रजापतिपति: साक्षाद्भगवान् गिरिशो मनु: । दक्षादय: प्रजाध्यक्षा नैष्ठिका: सनकादय: ॥ ४२ ॥ मरीचिरत्र्यङ्गिरसौ पुलस्त्य: पुलह: क्रतु: । भृगुर्वसिष्ठ इत्येते मदन्ता ब्रह्मवादिन: ॥ ४३ ॥ अद्यापि वाचस्पतयस्तपोविद्यासमाधिभि: । पश्यन्तोऽपि न पश्यन्ति पश्यन्तं परमेश्वरम् ॥ ४४ ॥
prajāpati-patiḥ sākṣād bhagavān giriśo manuḥ dakṣādayaḥ prajādhyakṣā naiṣṭhikāḥ sanakādayaḥ
Lord Brahmā, the master of the Prajāpatis; Lord Śiva, Girīśa; Manu, Dakṣa and the rulers of mankind; the steadfast brahmacārīs headed by Sanaka and Sanātana; the great sages Marīci, Atri, Aṅgirā, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Bhṛgu and Vasiṣṭha; and I myself (Nārada)—all are stalwart brāhmaṇas, authorized to speak on the Veda. Yet, though empowered by austerity, learning and samādhi, and though we behold the Supreme Lord, we still do not know Him perfectly.
According to the foolish Darwinian theory of the anthropologists, it is said that forty thousand years ago Homo sapiens had not appeared on this planet because the process of evolution had not reached that point. However, the Vedic histories — the Purāṇas and Mahābhārata — relate human histories that extend millions and millions of years into the past. In the beginning of creation there was a very intelligent personality, Lord Brahmā, and from him emanated all the Manus, and the brahmacārīs like Sanaka and Sanātana, as well as Lord Śiva, the great sages and Nārada. All these personalities underwent great austerities and penances and thus became authorities in Vedic knowledge. Perfect knowledge for human beings, as well as all living entities, is contained in the Vedas. All the above-mentioned great personalities are not only powerful — being cognizant of past, present and future — but are also devotees. Still, in spite of their great education in knowledge, and despite their meeting the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, they cannot actually understand the perfection of the living entity’s relationship with Lord Viṣṇu. This means that these personalities are still limited as far as their knowledge of the unlimited is concerned. The conclusion is that simply by advancing one’s knowledge, one cannot be accepted as an expert in understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Supreme Personality of Godhead can be understood not by advanced knowledge but by pure devotional service, as confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (18.55) . Bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ: unless one takes to pure, transcendental devotional service, he cannot understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead in truth. Everyone has some imperfect ideas about the Lord. So-called scientists and philosophical speculators are unable to understand the Supreme Lord by virtue of their knowledge. Knowledge is not perfect unless one comes to the platform of devotional service. This is confirmed by the Vedic version:
FAQs
This verse says that even masters of learning, austerity, and samādhi may fail to truly perceive the Supreme Lord, because He is revealed not merely by qualifications but by genuine spiritual vision centered on Him.
Nārada is redirecting the king from pride in karmic rituals and external accomplishments toward direct God-realization—showing that even great knowledge and meditation can miss the Lord without proper devotional orientation.
Do not rely only on intellect, achievements, or “spiritual techniques”; cultivate humility, sincere prayer, and devotion to the all-seeing Lord, and measure progress by inner transformation and remembrance of God.