Shloka 16
विचक्षणोऽस्यार्हति वेदितुं विभो- रनन्तपारस्य निवृत्तित: सुखम् । प्रवर्तमानस्य गुणैरनात्मन- स्ततो भवान्दर्शय चेष्टितं विभो: ॥ १६ ॥
vicakṣaṇo ’syārhati vedituṁ vibhor ananta-pārasya nivṛttitaḥ sukham pravartamānasya guṇair anātmanas tato bhavān darśaya ceṣṭitaṁ vibhoḥ
The Supreme Lord is unlimited and without end; only one truly discerning, withdrawn from the pursuit of material happiness, is fit to grasp these spiritual values. Therefore, for those driven by the guṇas and attached to the non-self, show the path of transcendental realization by describing the Lord’s divine līlā.
Theological science is a difficult subject, especially when it deals with the transcendental nature of God. It is not a subject matter to be understood by persons who are too much attached to material activities. Only the very expert, who have almost retired from materialistic activities by culture of spiritual knowledge, can be admitted to the study of this great science. In the Bhagavad-gītā it is clearly stated that out of many hundreds and thousands of men only one person deserves to enter into transcendental realization. And out of many thousands of such transcendentally realized persons, only a few can understand the theological science specifically dealing with God as a person. Śrī Vyāsadeva is therefore advised by Nārada to describe the science of God directly by relating His transcendental activities. Vyāsadeva is himself a personality expert in this science, and he is unattached to material enjoyment. Therefore he is the right person to describe it, and Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the son of Vyāsadeva, is the right person to receive it.
FAQs
This verse says real happiness comes from withdrawing from material engagement and realizing the limitless Supreme; such inner joy is grasped by the discerning.
Nārada is guiding Vyāsa on how to present spiritual truth: since most people are driven by the guṇas and lack self-mastery, the Lord’s pastimes should be revealed so they can be purified through devotional hearing.
If the mind is pulled by habits and distractions, begin with regular hearing/reading of the Lord’s pastimes and teachings; it gradually brings detachment, clarity, and steadier self-control.