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:
taṁ pṛṣṭhato ’nugacchethā yatra gacchet sa vīryavān | tam ekānte samāsādya prāñjaliḥ śaraṇaṁ vrajeḥ ||
Nārada berkata: “Ikutilah dia dari belakang ke mana sahaja orang yang gagah itu pergi. Apabila engkau menemuinya di tempat yang sunyi, hampirilah dengan tangan dirapatkan dan mohon perlindungan.”
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.