Shloka 24
Marutta Seeks a Priest: Bṛhaspati’s Refusal and Nārada’s Guidance to Saṃvarta
Chapter 6
त॑ पृष्ठतो5नुगच्छेथा यत्र गच्छेत् स वीर्यवान् । तनेकान्ते समासाद्य प्राउजलि: शरणं व्रजे:,तुम उस पुरीके प्रवेश-द्वारपर पहुँचकर वहाँ कहींसे एक मुर्दा लाकर रख देना। पृथ्वीनाथ! जो उस मुर्देको देखकर सहसा पीछेकी ओर लौट पड़े, उसे ही संवर्त समझना और वे शक्तिशाली मुनि जहाँ कहीं जायँ उनके पीछे-पीछे चले जाना। जब वे किसी एकान्त स्थानमें पहुचें, तब हाथ जोड़कर शरणापत्र हो जाना
taṁ pṛṣṭhato ’nugacchethā yatra gacchet sa vīryavān | tam ekānte samāsādya prāñjaliḥ śaraṇaṁ vrajeḥ ||
Nārada said: “Follow him from behind wherever that mighty one may go. When you come up to him in a secluded place, approach with folded hands and seek his protection.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches disciplined humility and proper approach: one should not confront a powerful or spiritually significant person rashly, but follow attentively, wait for an appropriate private moment, and then seek protection with reverence (prāñjaliḥ), aligning one’s conduct with dharma.
Nārada gives practical instructions to someone about how to deal with a mighty figure: keep to the rear and follow wherever he goes, and when an opportunity arises in a secluded place, approach respectfully with folded hands and request refuge/protection.