Srimad Bhagavatam — Prathama Skandha, Shloka 3
Nārada’s Past Life, the Lord’s Brief Vision, and the Power of Kīrtana
स्वायम्भुव कया वृत्त्या वर्तितं ते परं वय: । कथं चेदमुदस्राक्षी: काले प्राप्ते कलेवरम् ॥ ३ ॥
svāyambhuva kayā vṛttyā vartitaṁ te paraṁ vayaḥ kathaṁ cedam udasrākṣīḥ kāle prāpte kalevaram
噢，梵天之子（自生者）那罗陀！受灌顶之后，你以何种生活方式度日？又在时机成熟时，你如何舍弃旧身而得此身？
Śrī Nārada Muni in his previous life was just an ordinary maidservant’s son, so how he became so perfectly transformed into the spiritual body of eternal life, bliss and knowledge is certainly important. Śrī Vyāsadeva desired him to disclose the facts for everyone’s satisfaction.
FAQs
This verse shows Vyasa inquiring about Narada’s “vṛtti” (means of maintenance), highlighting that a devotee’s livelihood should support spiritual life and remain aligned with dharma and devotion.
Vyasa seeks to understand the saintly standard of leaving the body at the destined time—an aspect of spiritual perfection and detachment—so he can grasp Narada’s realized path and teachings.
Live simply and responsibly, keep your work supportive of spiritual goals, and cultivate remembrance of Bhagavan so that detachment and readiness at life’s end naturally develop.