FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.12.23

उत्सङ्गान्नारदो जज्ञे दक्षोऽङ्गुष्ठात्स्वयम्भुव: । प्राणाद्वसिष्ठ: सञ्जातो भृगुस्त्वचि करात्क्रतु: ॥ २३ ॥
utsaṅgān nārado jajñe
[utsangaan naarado jajne]
dakṣo ’ṅguṣṭhāt svayambhuvaḥ
[daksho ’ngushthaat svayambhuvah]
prāṇād vasiṣṭhaḥ sañjāto
[praanaad vasishthah sanjaato]
bhṛgus tvaci karāt kratuḥ
[bhrigus tvachi karaat kratuh]
Word-for-word
utsaṅgāt — by transcendental deliberation nāradaḥ — Mahāmuni Nārada jajñe — was generated dakṣaḥ — Dakṣa aṅguṣṭhāt — from the thumb svayambhuvaḥ — of Brahmā prāṇāt — from the life air, or breathing vasiṣṭhaḥ — Vasiṣṭha sañjātaḥ — was born bhṛguḥ — the sage Bhṛgu tvaci — from the touch karāt — from the hand kratuḥ — the sage Kratu.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
utsaṅgān nārado jajñe
utsaṅgāt
by transcendental deliberation
nāradaḥ
Mahāmuni Nārada
jajñe
was generated
dakṣo ’ṅguṣṭhāt svayambhuvaḥ
dakṣaḥ
Dakṣa
prāṇād vasiṣṭhaḥ sañjāto
aṅguṣṭhāt
from the thumb
svayambhuvaḥ
of Brahmā
prāṇāt
from the life air, or breathing
vasiṣṭhaḥ
Vasiṣṭha
sañjātaḥ
was born
bhṛgus tvaci karāt kratuḥ
bhṛguḥ
the sage Bhṛgu
tvaci
from the touch
karāt
from the hand
kratuḥ
the sage Kratu.
Nārada was born from the deliberation of Brahmā, which is the best part of the body. Vasiṣṭha was born from his breathing, Dakṣa from a thumb, Bhṛgu from his touch, and Kratu from his hand.
Purport

Nārada was born from the best deliberation of Brahmā because Nārada was able to deliver the Supreme Lord to anyone he liked. The Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot be realized by any amount of Vedic knowledge or by any number of penances. But a pure devotee of the Lord like Nārada can deliver the Supreme Lord by his good will. The very name Nārada suggests that he can deliver the Supreme Lord. Nāra means the “Supreme Lord,” and da means “one who can deliver.” That he can deliver the Supreme Lord does not mean that the Lord is like a commodity that can be delivered to any person. But Nārada can deliver to anyone the transcendental loving service of the Lord as a servitor, friend, parent or lover, as one may desire out of one’s own transcendental love for the Lord. In other words, it is Nārada only who can deliver the path of bhakti-yoga, the highest mystic means for attainment of the Supreme Lord.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Nārada was born from Brahmā’s lap. Dakṣa appeared from his thumb. Vasiṣṭha was born from his breathing. Bhṛgu appeared from his skin, and Kratu appeared from his hand. Utsaṅgāt means “from the lap, the place of affection.” Another meaning is from association with great devotees. It is said āpo nārā iti proktāḥ: nāra means waters, the offspring of the Lord. Thus, it is understood that Nara refers to the Supreme Lord. Nāra means “that which belongs to the Lord.” Nārada means “that which gives dāsya, sakhya and other relationships with the Lord.” In other word Nārada means bhakti-yoga, which produces such relationships.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Devotional service is named here as the central fact of spiritual life, not a hobby alongside it. The verse asks us to make the Lord the actual recipient of our daily activity rather than a polite afterthought. The verse anchors this in Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Reflection Questions
  • What part of your day still belongs entirely to your own enjoyment, and could even a corner of it be offered?
  • Where in your life are you still 'enjoying' the fruits of work you call devotional?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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