FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.5.1

नारद उवाच देवदेव नमस्तेऽस्तु भूतभावन पूर्वज । तद् विजानीहि यज्ज्ञानमात्मतत्त्वनिदर्शनम् ॥ १ ॥
nārada uvāca
[naarada uvaacha]
deva-deva namas te ’stu
[deva-deva namas te ’stu]
bhūta-bhāvana pūrvaja
[bhoota-bhaavana poorvaja]
tad vijānīhi yaj jñānam
[tad vijaaneehi yaj jnaanam]
ātma-tattva-nidarśanam
[aatma-tattva-nidarshanam]
nāradaḥ uvāca — Śrī Nārada said deva — of all demigods deva — the demigod namaḥ — obeisances te — unto you as astu — are bhūta-bhāvana — the generator of all living beings pūrva-ja — the firstborn tat vijānīhi — please explain that knowledge yat jñānam — which knowledge ātma-tattva — transcendental nidarśanam — specifically directs.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
nārada uvāca
nāradaḥ uvāca
Śrī Nārada said
deva-deva namas te ’stu
deva
of all demigods
deva
the demigod
namaḥ
obeisances
te
unto you as
astu
are
bhūta-bhāvana pūrvaja
bhūta-bhāvana
the generator of all living beings
pūrva-ja
the firstborn
tad vijānīhi yaj jñānam
tat vijānīhi
please explain that knowledge
yat jñānam
which knowledge
ātma-tattva-nidarśanam
ātma-tattva
transcendental
nidarśanam
specifically directs.
Śrī Nārada Muni asked Brahmājī: O chief amongst the demigods, O firstborn living entity, I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto you. Please tell me that transcendental knowledge which specifically directs one to the truth of the individual soul and the Supersoul.

The perfection of the paramparā system, or the path of disciplic succession, is further confirmed. In the previous chapter it has been established that Brahmājī, the firstborn living entity, received knowledge directly from the Supreme Lord, and the same knowledge was imparted to Nārada, the next disciple. Nārada asked to receive the knowledge, and Brahmājī imparted it upon being asked. Therefore, asking for transcendental knowledge from the right person and receiving it properly is the regulation of the disciplic succession. This process is recommended in the Bhagavad-gītā (4.2) . The inquisitive student must approach a qualified spiritual master to receive transcendental knowledge by surrender, submissive inquiries and service. Knowledge received by submissive inquiries and service is more effective than knowledge received in exchange for money. A spiritual master in the line of disciplic succession from Brahmā and Nārada has no demand for dollars and cents. A bona fide student has to satisfy him by sincere service to obtain knowledge of the relation and nature of the individual soul and the Supersoul.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Nārada said: O lord of lords! O creator of the living beings! O first born! You know that knowledge which reveals the truth about the ātmā and Paramātmā.
Commentary

In the Fifth Chapter Brahmā explains the creation of elements to Nārada and the universal form with the planets as his various limbs.

Bhūta-bhāvanaḥ means he who creates the bodies of the living entities. Pūrva-jāh means he is born before Marīci and others, from who appeared my brothers. You know in detail (vijānīhi) that knowledge which reveals the truth about ātmā and Paramātmā. The imperative here stands for the present tense. Or it can stand for the causative, “Please let me know.”

True spiritual knowledge flows through a living disciplic chain. Approach a qualified teacher with humility, honest questions, and willingness to serve — not as a customer paying for a product. Knowledge bought is shallow; knowledge received through sincere service transforms.
Reflection Questions
  • Where in my life am I trying to 'buy' wisdom rather than earn it through service and humility?
  • Who in my life embodies a teacher I could approach with the openness Nārada models here?
📝 My note

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