Shloka 32
Nārada’s Past Life, the Lord’s Brief Vision, and the Power of Kīrtana
देवदत्तामिमां वीणां स्वरब्रह्मविभूषिताम् । मूर्च्छयित्वा हरिकथां गायमानश्चराम्यहम् ॥ ३२ ॥
deva-dattām imāṁ vīṇāṁ svara-brahma-vibhūṣitām mūrcchayitvā hari-kathāṁ gāyamānaś carāmy aham
ഇങ്ങനെ ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണൻ ദത്തമായ, ദിവ്യ നാദ-ബ്രഹ്മംകൊണ്ട് വിഭൂഷിതമായ ഈ വീണയെ മുഴക്കിക്കൊണ്ട് ഞാൻ നിരന്തരം ഹരികഥ പാടിക്കൊണ്ട് സഞ്ചരിക്കുന്നു।
The musical stringed instrument called the vīṇā, which was handed to Nārada by Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, is described in the Liṅga Purāṇa, and this is confirmed by Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī. This transcendental instrument is identical with Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Nārada because all of them are of the same transcendental category. Sound vibrated by the instrument cannot be material, and therefore the glories and pastimes which are broadcast by the instrument of Nārada are also transcendental, without a tinge of material inebriety. The seven singing meters, namely ṣa ( ṣaḍja ), ṛ ( ṛṣabha ), gā ( gāndhāra ), ma ( madhyama ), pa ( pañcama ), dha ( dhaivata ) and ni ( niṣāda ), are also transcendental and specifically meant for transcendental songs. As a pure devotee of the Lord, Śrī Nāradadeva is always fulfilling his obligation to the Lord for His gift of the instrument, and thus he is always engaged in singing His transcendental glories and is therefore infallible in his exalted position. Following in the footsteps of Śrīla Nārada Muni, a self-realized soul in the material world should also properly use the sound meters, namely ṣa, ṛ, gā, ma, etc., in the service of the Lord by constantly singing the glories of the Lord, as confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā.
FAQs
This verse shows Narada’s life of devotion: he travels everywhere singing Hari-kathā, demonstrating that glorifying the Lord through sacred sound is a primary path of bhakti.
Narada explains to Vyasa that his instrument is a divine gift and a vehicle for transcendental sound, used to spread devotion by singing the Lord’s pastimes and teachings.
Regularly hear and sing authentic Hari-kathā (kirtan, bhajans, Bhagavatam recitation) to keep the mind connected to the divine, and share uplifting spiritual sound with others.