FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.6.38

अहो देवर्षिर्धन्योऽयं यत्कीर्तिं शार्ङ्गधन्वन: । गायन्माद्यन्निदं तन्‍त्र्या रमयत्यातुरं जगत् ॥ ३८ ॥
aho devarṣir dhanyo ’yaṁ
[aho devarshir dhanyo ’yam]
yat-kīrtiṁ śārṅgadhanvanaḥ
[yat-keertim shaarngadhanvanah]
gāyan mādyann idaṁ tantryā
[gaayan maadyann idam tantryaa]
ramayaty āturaṁ jagat
[ramayaty aaturam jagat]
aho — all glory to devarṣiḥ — the sage of the gods dhanyaḥ — all success ayam yat — one who kīrtim — glories śārṅga-dhanvanaḥ — of the Personality of Godhead gāyan — singing mādyan — taking pleasure in idam — this tantryā — by means of the instrument ramayati — enlivens āturam — distressed jagat — world.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
aho devarṣir dhanyo ’yaṁ
aho
all glory to
devarṣiḥ
the sage of the gods
dhanyaḥ
all success
yat-kīrtiṁ śārṅgadhanvanaḥ
gāyan mādyann idaṁ tantryā
ayam yat
one who
kīrtim
glories
śārṅga-dhanvanaḥ
of the Personality of Godhead
ramayaty āturaṁ jagat
gāyan
singing
mādyan
taking pleasure in
idam
this
tantryā
by means of the instrument
ramayati
enlivens
āturam
distressed
jagat
world.
All glory and success to Śrīla Nārada Muni because he glorifies the activities of the Personality of Godhead, and so doing he himself takes pleasure and also enlivens all the distressed souls of the universe.

Śrī Nārada Muni plays on his instrument to glorify the transcendental activities of the Lord and to give relief to all miserable living entities of the universe. No one is happy here within the universe, and what is felt as happiness is māyā’s illusion. The illusory energy of the Lord is so strong that even the hog who lives on filthy stool feels happy. No one can be truly happy within the material world. Śrīla Nārada Muni, in order to enlighten the miserable inhabitants, wanders everywhere. His mission is to get them back home, back to Godhead. That is the mission of all genuine devotees of the Lord following the footsteps of that great sage.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the First Canto, Sixth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Conversation Between Nārada and Vyāsa.”

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Oh! Nārada is most fortunate because, singing and rejoicing in the glories of Kṛṣṇa with his vīṇa, he gives bliss to the suffering world.
Commentary

This verse reveals astonishment. Tantryā means “with the vīṇa.”

Chapter Seven Punishment of Aśvatthāmā

Glory to Nārada — he glorifies the Lord, takes pleasure himself, and revives all distressed souls. True service multiplies joy: the singer is enlivened, and so are the listeners. Real happiness here is found only on this path.
Reflection Questions
  • Whose distressed heart could I enliven today by sharing something of the Lord's glory?
  • Where am I chasing happiness in ways that don't enliven others?
📝 My note

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