Shloka 11
Nārada’s Past Life, the Lord’s Brief Vision, and the Power of Kīrtana
स्फीताञ्जनपदांस्तत्र पुरग्रामव्रजाकरान् । खेटखर्वटवाटीश्च वनान्युपवनानि च ॥ ११ ॥
sphītāñ janapadāṁs tatra pura-grāma-vrajākarān kheṭa-kharvaṭa-vāṭīś ca vanāny upavanāni ca
หลังออกเดินทาง ข้าพเจ้าผ่านแว่นแคว้นอันรุ่งเรืองมากมาย ทั้งมหานคร เมืองและหมู่บ้าน คอกสัตว์และฟาร์ม เหมืองแร่ ไร่นา หุบเขา สวนดอกไม้ สวนเพาะชำ และป่าธรรมชาติ
Man’s activities in agriculture, mining, farming, industries, gardening, etc., were all on the same scale as they are now, even previous to the present creation, and the same activities will remain as they are, even in the next creation. After many hundreds of millions of years, one creation is started by the law of nature, and the history of the universe repeats itself practically in the same way. The mundane wranglers waste time with archaeological excavations without searching into the vital necessities of life. After getting an impetus in spiritual life, Śrī Nārada Muni, even though a mere child, did not waste time for a single moment with economic development, although he passed towns and villages, mines and industries. He continually went on to progressive spiritual emancipation. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the repetition of history which happened some hundreds of millions of years ago. As it is said herein, only the most important factors of history are picked up to be recorded in this transcendental literature.
FAQs
It describes Narada seeing a wide range of human habitations—prosperous provinces, cities, villages, cowherd settlements, mines, market-towns, hamlets—along with forests and groves, showing the breadth of the world he traveled through.
Śukadeva recounts Narada’s early life and wandering; this verse situates his travels across varied landscapes, setting the stage for his growing detachment and deeper absorption in devotion.
Even amid prosperity and diverse environments, one can remain a thoughtful observer—moving through the world without becoming bound to it, and keeping spiritual purpose central.