BHAKTIVEDANTA VIDYAPEETH

Key for TEST 1.5.Naradas instructions on Srimad Bhagavatam to

Vyasadev

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Question 1: Write break down of SB 1.5

Verse 1-9

Nrada Muni, fully understanding the situation, inquires from

Vysadeva about the root cause of his unhappiness, and hints about the
solution. rla Vysadeva requests his spiritual master, Nrada Muni,
to reveal to him the cause of his despondency. Nrada explains that
Vysadeva had written many Vedic literatures in which he had broadly
described dharma, artha, kma and moka but he had not described the
glories of the Supreme Personality, Vsudeva. In this way Vysadeva
had improperly used his valuable time.

Verses 10-19

Nrada compares those words which do not describe the glories of the
Lord as a place of pilgrimage for crows. Transcendental literature,
however, can bring about a revolution in the worlds misdirected
civilization. Because Vysa had encouraged the people, in the name of
religion, to enjoy Nrada condemns Vysa's compilation of different
Vedic literatures as abominable. What if one gives up prescribed
duties, (as recommended by Nrada) but does not achieve complete
success? Progress in devotional service is credited forever. However
a nondevotee, though fully engaged in occupational duties, does not
gain anything. Material happiness comes according to destiny, so dont
endeavor for it. Even if a devotee of Lord Ka falls down, he does
not undergo material existence like others.

Verses 20-40

Nrada gives himself as an example of how one can achieve

confidential service of the Lord simply by hearing from and serving
great Bhaktivedntas (23-31). Nrada Muni glorifies working in Krsna's
service while remembering Him (32-36). Nrada glorifies transcendental
sound, and requests Vysadeva to directly glorify the Lord's
activities for the benefit of suffering humanity.

Question 2: Describe transformation that happened in Narada munis

life. (SB 1.5.24-31)

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Answer: Although they were impartial by nature, those followers of the
Vednta blessed narada muni with their causeless mercy. As far as he
was concerned, he was self-controlled and had no attachment for
sports, even though he was a boy. In addition, he was not naughty, and
he did not speak more than required.

From this verse following four stages of Bhakti can be understood

1) Mercy of the devotees,

2) Service to devotees,
3) Faith,
4) Taking shelter of guru

In the last millennium he was born as the son of a certain maidservant

engaged in the service of brhmaas who were following the principles
of Vednta. When they were living together during the four months of
the rainy season, he was engaged in their personal service.

From this verse following five stages of Bhakti can be understood

5) Desire for worship ,

6) Bhakti,
7) Anartha-nivritti,
8) Nista
9) Ruci

In that association and by the mercy of those great Vedntists, he

could hear them describe the attractive activities of Lord Ka And
thus listening attentively, his taste for hearing of the Personality
of Godhead increased at every step.

Following two stages can be identified

10) Asakti
11) Rati
As soon as he got a taste for the Personality of Godhead, his
attention to hear of the Lord was unflinching. And as his taste
developed, he could realize that it was only in his ignorance that he
had accepted gross and subtle coverings, for both the Lord and he are
transcendental.

Thus during two seasons-the rainy season and autumn-he had the
opportunity to hear these great-souled sages constantly chant the
unadulterated glories of the Lord Hari. As the flow of he devotional
service began, the coverings of the modes of passion and ignorance
vanished.

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He was very much attached to those sages. He was gentle in behavior,
and all his sins were eradicated in their service. In his heart He had
strong faith in them. He had subjugated the senses, and He was
strictly following them with body and mind.

As they were leaving, those bhakti-vedntas, who are very kind to

poor-hearted souls, instructed him in that most confidential subject
which is instructed by the Personality of Godhead Himself.

12) Prema Bhakti

By that confidential knowledge, he could understand clearly the
influence of the energy of Lord r Ka, the creator, maintainer and
annihilator of everything. By knowing that, one can return to Him and
personally meet Him.

13) Seeing the Lord

14) Experiencing the Lords sweetness

Question 3: Write three benefits of Bhakti (Write verses 1.5.17-19 and

translations also)

Answer:

1) Devotional service is successful

2) Devotional service gives bliss and happiness that is not
found anywhere else
3) Devotional service gives detachment
SB 1.5.17

tyaktv sva-dharma carambuja harer

bhajann apakvo 'tha patet tato yadi

yatra kva vbhadram abhd amuya ki

ko vrtha pto 'bhajat sva-dharmata

TRANSLATION

One who has forsaken his material occupations to engage in the

devotional service of the Lord may sometimes fall down while in an
immature stage, yet there is no danger of his being unsuccessful. On
the other hand, a nondevotee, though fully engaged in occupational
duties, does not gain anything.

SB 1.5.18

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 tasyaiva heto prayateta kovido

na labhyate yad bhramatm upary adha

tal labhyate dukhavad anyata sukha

klena sarvatra gabhra-rahas

TRANSLATION

Persons who are actually intelligent and philosophically inclined

should endeavor only for that purposeful end which is not obtainable
even by wandering from the topmost planet [Brahmaloka] down to the
lowest planet [Ptla]. As far as happiness derived from sense
enjoyment is concerned, it can be obtained automatically in course of
time, just as in course of time we obtain miseries even though we do
not desire them.

SB 1.5.19

na vai jano jtu kathacanvrajen

mukunda-sevy anyavad aga sastim

smaran mukundghry-upaghana punar

vihtum icchen na rasa-graho jana

TRANSLATION

My dear Vysa, even though a devotee of Lord Ka sometimes falls

down somehow or other, he certainly does not undergo material
existence like others [fruitive workers, etc.] because a person who
has once relished the taste of the lotus feet of the Lord can do
nothing but remember that ecstasy again and again.

Question 4: Write three steps in achieving satisfaction quoting verse

1.5.5

Answer:

vysa uvca

asty eva me sarvam ida tvayokta

tathpi ntm parituyate me

tan-mlam avyaktam agdha-bodha

pcchmahe tvtma-bhavtma-bhtam

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TRANSLATION

r Vysadeva said: All you have said about me is perfectly correct.

Despite all this, I am not pacified. I therefore question you about
the root cause of my dissatisfaction, for you are a man of unlimited
knowledge due to your being the offspring of one [Brahm] who is self-
born [without mundane father and mother].

Three steps for achieving satisfaction are

1) Admitting that one is dissatisfied.

2) Admitting that one could not analyze reason for his
dissatisfaction
3) Taking sincere suggestions from one who is satisfied.

Question 5: Write the two defects Narada muni diagnosed in Vyas dev.
Quote sloka 1.5.8-9.

Answer:

r-nrada uvca

bhavatnudita-prya

yao bhagavato 'malam

yenaivsau na tuyeta

manye tad darana khilam

TRANSLATION

r Nrada said: You have not actually broadcast the sublime and
spotless glories of the Personality of Godhead. That philosophy which
does not satisfy the transcendental senses of the Lord is considered
worthless.

yath dharmdaya crth

muni-varynukrtit

na tath vsudevasya

mahim hy anuvarita

TRANSLATION

Although, great sage, you have very broadly described the four
principles beginning with religious performances, you have not
described the glories of the Supreme Personality, Vsudeva.

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Two defects Narada muni diagnosed are

1) Vyasa dev had not repeatedly glorified the Supreme

Personality of Godhead.
He has not glorified
a) Supremacy of Lords form over other forms.
b) Supreme sweetness of Lords pastimes.
c) Bhakti.
2) He has given more importance to dharma artha, kama and
moksha and not given importance to panchama purushardha. He
depicted devotion to Lord as way to moksha but not as goal
by itself.
a) Misunderstanding priorities: He misunderstood that four
purushardhas are priority over bhakti
b) Mistaking positions: Bhakti as means to moksha rather
than goal by itself.
c) Misjudging people: Thought that people can understand
bhakti as goal even if it is not sufficiently repeated.
Solution is REPEATEDLY GLORIFYING.

Repeated glorification has following two benefits

1) Revelation of sastras (Avritti Asakrt upadesat)

2) It gives satisfaction (Ananda mayo bhyasat)

Question 6 : List down three steps in speaking Hari katha. (SB 1.5.13)

Answer:

1) Revelation (preliminary qualification of speaker)

Purity (amogha drk)
Devotion (Suchi srava)

2) Recollection
a. Glories of Hari Katha
Self revealing
Infinite
Most confidential
Impossible to speak or reveal by any other means

b. Further qualification of speaker

Attached to mind (satya rato)
Determined intelligence (Drdha vratah)

3) Recitation

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Question 7: Write three qualifications of Vyasdev based on verse
1.5.3-4. Write verse 1.5.4 also.
Answer:
jijsitam adhta ca
brahma yat tat santanam
tathpi ocasy tmnam
akthrtha iva prabho

TRANSLATION
You have fully delineated the subject of impersonal Brahman as
well as the knowledge derived therefrom. Why should you be
despondent in spite of all this, thinking that you are undone,
my dear prabhu?

1) He is son of parasara muni and thus he should not have

identified himself with body or mind ( Parasarya)
2) He had vast knowledge (Jijnasitum susampannam)
3) Has understood and realized impersonal Brahman (Brahma yat
tat sanatanam)

Question 8: Write five qualifications of Narada Muni based on 1.5.6-7

Answer:

1) He is son of Brahmaji (Atma bhava atma bhutam)

2) He is unlimitedly knowledgeable (Agadhabodham)
3) He has worshipped supreme personality of GodHead (Upasito
yat purana purusam)
4) He Himself is incarnation of Lord (Paravareso)
5) He knows heart of living entities (Atma sakshi)

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