Srimad Bhagavatam — Prathama Skandha, Shloka 7
Nārada’s Instruction to Vyāsa: The Defect of Bhakti-less Literature and the Mandate of Kṛṣṇa-kathā
त्वं पर्यटन्नर्क इव त्रिलोकी- मन्तश्चरो वायुरिवात्मसाक्षी । परावरे ब्रह्मणि धर्मतो व्रतै: स्नातस्य मे न्यूनमलं विचक्ष्व ॥ ७ ॥
tvaṁ paryaṭann arka iva tri-lokīm antaś-caro vāyur ivātma-sākṣī parāvare brahmaṇi dharmato vrataiḥ snātasya me nyūnam alaṁ vicakṣva
Ngài như mặt trời đi khắp ba cõi, như gió thấm vào nội tâm mọi loài, làm Chứng Nhân của tự ngã, Đấng Siêu Hồn bao trùm. Dẫu con đã tắm gội bằng giới luật và thệ nguyện, xin Ngài chỉ cho con điều thiếu sót hay cấu uế còn lại.
Transcendental realization, pious activities, worshiping the Deities, charity, mercifulness, nonviolence and studying the scriptures under strict disciplinary regulations are always helpful.
FAQs
Vyāsa admits he has followed dharma and vows and pursued Brahman-realization, yet still feels a lingering deficiency—implying that mere ritual or impersonal realization may not fully satisfy the heart without pure devotion.
After compiling the Vedas and related literature, Vyāsa remained inwardly unsettled. Seeing Nārada as the all-traveling, inner-knowing sage, he asks him to diagnose the root cause of his remaining impurity or lack.
It teaches honest self-audit: even with disciplined practice, if peace and devotion are missing, seek guidance from authentic teachers and orient one’s practice toward heartfelt bhakti, not only external observance.