Shloka 4
Nārada’s Past Life, the Lord’s Brief Vision, and the Power of Kīrtana
प्राक्कल्पविषयामेतां स्मृतिं ते मुनिसत्तम । न ह्येष व्यवधात्काल एष सर्वनिराकृति: ॥ ४ ॥
prāk-kalpa-viṣayām etāṁ smṛtiṁ te muni-sattama na hy eṣa vyavadhāt kāla eṣa sarva-nirākṛtiḥ
ఓ మునిశ్రేష్ఠా! కాలము క్రమంగా సమస్తాన్ని లయపరచును; మరి బ్రహ్మదినానికి పూర్వమైన ఈ విషయము కాలబాధ లేకుండా నీ స్మృతిలో ఎలా నిలిచింది?
As spirit is not annihilated even after the annihilation of the material body, so also spiritual consciousness is not annihilated. Śrī Nārada developed this spiritual consciousness even when he had his material body in the previous kalpa. Consciousness of the material body means spiritual consciousness expressed through the medium of a material body. This consciousness is inferior, destructible and perverted. But superconsciousness of the supramind in the spiritual plane is as good as the spirit soul and is never annihilated.
FAQs
This verse states that kāla (time) is “sarva-nirākṛtiḥ,” the force that dissolves everything; therefore time cannot obstruct spiritual recollection of truths connected with previous cycles of creation.
Narada is preparing to narrate his own experience from a prior creation cycle to instruct Vyasa—showing that transcendental knowledge and devotion are not limited by historical time.
Remember that worldly situations change under time’s power, so prioritize timeless practices—hearing, chanting, and serving the Lord—rather than building identity on temporary circumstances.