Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 13
Nārada and Aṅgirā Instruct Citraketu: Impermanence, Ātma-Tattva, and Mantra-Upadeśa
कुमारो नारद ऋभुरङ्गिरा देवलोऽसित: । अपान्तरतमा व्यासो मार्कण्डेयोऽथ गौतम: ॥ १२ ॥ वसिष्ठो भगवान् राम: कपिलो बादरायणि: । दुर्वासा याज्ञवल्क्यश्च जातुकर्णस्तथारुणि: ॥ १३ ॥ रोमशश्च्यवनो दत्त आसुरि: सपतञ्जलि: । ऋषिर्वेदशिरा धौम्यो मुनि: पञ्चशिखस्तथा ॥ १४ ॥ हिरण्यनाभ: कौशल्य: श्रुतदेव ऋतध्वज: । एते परे च सिद्धेशाश्चरन्ति ज्ञानहेतव: ॥ १५ ॥
kumāro nārada ṛbhur aṅgirā devalo ’sitaḥ apāntaratamā vyāso mārkaṇḍeyo ’tha gautamaḥ
O great souls, I have heard that many perfected siddhas wander the earth to awaken knowledge in those covered by ignorance—Sanat-kumāra, Nārada, Ṛbhu, Aṅgirā, Devala, Asita, Apāntaratamā (Vyāsa), Mārkaṇḍeya, Gautama, Vasiṣṭha, Bhagavān Paraśurāma, Kapila, Śukadeva, Durvāsā, Yājñavalkya, Jātukarṇa, and Aruṇi; as well as Romaśa, Cyavana, Dattātreya, Āsuri, Patañjali, the sage Dhaumya famed as the head of the Vedas, the sage Pañcaśikha, Hiraṇyanābha, Kauśalya, Śrutadeva, and Ṛtadhvaja, and others besides. You two must surely be among them.
The word jñāna-hetavaḥ is very significant because great personalities like those listed in these verses wander on the surface of the globe not to mislead the populace, but to distribute real knowledge. Without this knowledge, human life is wasted. The human form of life is meant for realization of one’s relationship with Kṛṣṇa, or God. One who lacks this knowledge is categorized among the animals. The Lord Himself says in Bhagavad-gītā (7.15) :
FAQs
Śukadeva Gosvāmī lists renowned ṛṣis and siddhas to show that perfected saints roam the worlds to awaken spiritual knowledge in conditioned souls.
In the context of Citraketu’s narrative, the Bhāgavatam emphasizes that divine guidance often comes through saintly persons who appear to instruct, correct, and elevate one toward realization.
Seek genuine sadhu-saṅga, hear śāstra from authentic teachers, and cultivate humility—recognizing that true wisdom is transmitted through realized devotees and disciplined hearing.