Shloka 15

Nārada’s Past Life, the Lord’s Brief Vision, and the Power of Kīrtana

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्निर्मनुजेऽरण्ये पिप्पलोपस्थ आश्रित: । आत्मनात्मानमात्मस्थं यथाश्रुतमचिन्तयम् ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

tasmin nirmanuje ’raṇye pippalopastha āśritaḥ ātmanātmānam ātmasthaṁ yathā-śrutam acintayam

Translation

ତାପରେ ସେଇ ନିର୍ଜନ ଅରଣ୍ୟରେ ପିପ୍ପଳ ଗଛର ଛାୟା ଆଶ୍ରୟ କରି, ମୁକ୍ତ ମହାତ୍ମାମାନଙ୍କଠାରୁ ଯେପରି ଶୁଣିଥିଲି, ସେପରି ମୋ ବୁଦ୍ଧିଦ୍ୱାରା ଅନ୍ତର୍ନିହିତ ପରମାତ୍ମାଙ୍କୁ ଧ୍ୟାନ କଲି।

Synonyms

• tasmin: in that
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun, Neuter/Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• nirmanuje: devoid of people
• nirmanuje: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirmanuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; araṇye इति विशेषणम्

• araṇye: in the forest
• araṇye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: araṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• pippala-upasthe: at the foot of a pippala tree
• pippala-upasthe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pippala (प्रातिपदिक) + upastha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुषः, ‘पिप्पलस्य उपस्थे’ (at the base of a pippala tree)

• āśritaḥ: having taken shelter (sitting)
• āśritaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā- (उपसर्ग) + √śri (श्रि) (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘having taken shelter/sat’

• ātmanā: by the self
• ātmanā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• ātmānam: the self
• ātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ātma-stham: situated within (the self)
• ātma-stham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक from √sthā/स्था)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुषः, ‘आत्मनि स्थितम्’ (situated within the self)

• yathā-śrutam: as I had heard
• yathā-śrutam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + śruta (कृदन्त, √śru/श्रु, क्त)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः; indeclinable adverbial phrase ‘as heard/according to what was heard’

• acintayam: I meditated/considered
• acintayam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √cint (चिन्त्) (लङ्)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular; ‘I contemplated’

Purport

One should not meditate according to one’s personal whims. One should know perfectly well from the authoritative sources of scriptures through the transparent medium of a bona fide spiritual master and by proper use of one’s trained intelligence for meditating upon the Supersoul dwelling within every living being. This consciousness is firmly developed by a devotee who has rendered loving service unto the Lord by carrying out the orders of the spiritual master. Śrī Nāradajī contacted bona fide spiritual masters, served them sincerely and got enlightenment rightly. Thus he began to meditate.

Characters & Entities

• Narada Muni

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about meditating on the Paramatma in the heart?

This verse describes Narada meditating on the Supreme Self within the heart, following the method he had heard from realized sages—showing that inner contemplation on the indwelling Lord is a direct bhakti practice.

Why did Narada Muni go to an uninhabited forest and sit under a pippala tree?

Narada sought solitude to practice the teachings he received from the sages; the quiet forest setting supported steady remembrance and meditation without distraction.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Set aside a quiet time and place daily, withdraw from distractions, and focus the mind on the Lord within the heart through prayerful remembrance and meditation guided by authentic teachings.