Shloka 40
Vidura’s Return; Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Departure; Nārada’s Instruction on Kāla and Detachment
कर्णधार इवापारे भगवान् पारदर्शक: । अथाबभाषे भगवान् नारदो मुनिसत्तम: ॥ ४० ॥
karṇadhāra ivāpāre bhagavān pāra-darśakaḥ athābabhāṣe bhagavān nārado muni-sattamaḥ
You are like the captain of a ship upon the vast ocean, able to guide us to our destination. Thus addressed, the godly Devarṣi Nārada, greatest among the sage‑devotees, began to speak.
There are different types of philosophers, and the greatest of all of them are those who have seen the Personality of Godhead and have surrendered themselves in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. Among all such pure devotees of the Lord, Devarṣi Nārada is the chief, and therefore he has been described herein as the greatest of all philosopher devotees. Unless one has become a sufficiently learned philosopher by hearing the Vedānta philosophy from a bona fide spiritual master, one cannot be a learned philosopher devotee. One must be very faithful, learned and renounced, otherwise one cannot be a pure devotee. A pure devotee of the Lord can give us direction towards the other end of nescience. Devarṣi Nārada used to visit the palace of Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira because the Pāṇḍavas were all pure devotees of the Lord, and the Devarṣi was always ready to give them good counsel whenever needed.
FAQs
This verse compares the divine sage to a helmsman who shows the far shore, teaching that saintly guidance leads one beyond saṁsāra toward liberation and devotion.
Because he is spiritually realized and can reveal the ‘other shore’—the ultimate destination beyond worldly entanglement—through his instructions.
Seek authentic sādhus and scriptural guidance, and accept disciplined counsel that helps you cross anxiety and attachment rather than reinforcing them.