Shloka 29
Nārada’s Past Life, the Lord’s Brief Vision, and the Power of Kīrtana
कल्पान्त इदमादाय शयानेऽम्भस्युदन्वत: । शिशयिषोरनुप्राणं विविशेऽन्तरहं विभो: ॥ २९ ॥
kalpānta idam ādāya śayāne ’mbhasy udanvataḥ śiśayiṣor anuprāṇaṁ viviśe ’ntar ahaṁ vibhoḥ
Pada akhir kalpa, ketika Tuhan Nārāyaṇa berbaring di dalam air pralaya, Brahmā yang hendak mencipta semula masuk ke dalam-Nya bersama segala unsur penciptaan; dan aku juga masuk mengikuti hembusan nafas-Nya.
Nārada is known as the son of Brahmā, as Lord Kṛṣṇa is known as the son of Vasudeva. The Personality of Godhead and His liberated devotees like Nārada appear in the material world by the same process. As it is said in the Bhagavad-gītā, the birth and activities of the Lord are all transcendental. Therefore, according to authorized opinion, the birth of Nārada as the son of Brahmā is also a transcendental pastime. His appearance and disappearance are practically on the same level as that of the Lord. The Lord and His devotees are therefore simultaneously one and different as spiritual entities. They belong to the same category of transcendence.
FAQs
This verse describes kalpānta, when the Lord withdraws the universe and lies upon the ocean of dissolution, entering yogic sleep while remaining the supreme controller.
Nārada is describing intimate divine proximity by the Lord’s grace—being sustained in the Lord’s presence even at dissolution, as an attendant spiritual potency rather than an independent entity.
By remembering that the Lord remains present and in control even when everything withdraws; steady bhakti helps one feel protected through change, loss, and uncertainty.