Srimad Bhagavatam — Prathama Skandha, Shloka 23
Nārada’s Past Life, the Lord’s Brief Vision, and the Power of Kīrtana
सत्सेवयादीर्घयापि जाता मयि दृढा मति: । हित्वावद्यमिमं लोकं गन्ता मज्जनतामसि ॥ २३ ॥
sat-sevayādīrghayāpi jātā mayi dṛḍhā matiḥ hitvāvadyam imaṁ lokaṁ gantā maj-janatām asi
凭借对至上真理的侍奉，即使仅仅数日，也能在我之中生起坚定不移的智慧。于是他舍弃这可悲的物质世界，前往超然境界，成为我的同伴。
Serving the Absolute Truth means rendering service unto the Absolute Personality of Godhead under the direction of the bona fide spiritual master, who is a transparent medium between the Lord and the neophyte devotee. The neophyte devotee has no ability to approach the Absolute Personality of Godhead by the strength of his present imperfect material senses, and therefore under the direction of the spiritual master he is trained in transcendental service of the Lord. And by such training, even for some days, the neophyte devotee gets intelligence in such transcendental service, which leads him ultimately to get free from perpetual inhabitation in the material worlds and to be promoted to the transcendental world to become one of the liberated associates of the Lord in the kingdom of God.
FAQs
This verse states that long service to saintly devotees produces firm devotion to the Lord, strong enough to renounce the blameworthy material world and attain the Lord’s own association.
After Nārada described his childhood service to devotees and his growing bhakti, the Lord affirms that this saintly service has matured into unwavering devotion and assures him of the devotee’s ultimate destination—joining the Lord’s own devotees.
Seek regular association with genuine devotees, serve them in practical ways, and let that service shape your values—gradually weakening material attachments and strengthening steady devotion to God.