Shloka 25
देवर्षिर्मे प्रियतमो यदिमौ धनदात्मजौ । तत्तथा साधयिष्यामि यद् गीतं तन्महात्मना ॥ २५ ॥
devarṣir me priyatamo yad imau dhanadātmajau tat tathā sādhayiṣyāmi yad gītaṁ tan mahātmanā
Devarṣi Nārada is My most beloved devotee; therefore, for the deliverance of these two sons of Kuvera, I shall fulfill his desire and meet them face to face.
Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva actually had nothing to do with devotional service or seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face, for this is not an ordinary opportunity. It is not that because one is very rich or learned or was born in an aristocratic family one will be able to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face. This is impossible. But in this case, because Nārada Muni desired that Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva see Vāsudeva face to face, the Supreme Personality of Godhead wanted to fulfill the words of His very dear devotee Nārada Muni. If one seeks the favor of a devotee instead of directly asking favors from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one is very easily successful. Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has therefore recommended: vaiṣṇava ṭhākura tomāra kukkura bhuliyā jānaha more, kṛṣṇa se tomāra kṛṣṇa dite pāra. One should desire to become like a dog in strictly following a devotee. Kṛṣṇa is in the hand of a devotee. Adurlabham ātma-bhaktau . Thus without the favor of a devotee, one cannot directly approach Kṛṣṇa, what to speak of engaging in His service. Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura therefore sings, chāḍiyā vaiṣṇava-sevā nistāra pāyeche kebā: unless one becomes a servant of a pure devotee, one cannot be delivered from the material condition of life. In our Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava society, following in the footsteps of Rūpa Gosvāmī, our first business is to seek shelter of a bona fide spiritual master ( ādau gurv-āśrayaḥ ).
FAQs
This verse shows Krishna explicitly honoring Nārada as “most dear,” and affirming that He will fulfill the sage’s spoken words—highlighting the Lord’s special regard for His pure devotee.
Because Nārada’s words (his curse/blessing) were meant for the ultimate good of Kuvera’s sons; Krishna confirms He will execute that arrangement, turning punishment into liberation and devotion.
Take the guidance of genuine sādhus and scriptures seriously; even difficult consequences can become transformative when accepted as a path toward humility, purification, and devotion.