FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.8.25

नारदस्तदुपाकर्ण्य ज्ञात्वा तस्य चिकीर्षितम् । स्पृष्ट्वा मूर्धन्यघघ्नेन पाणिना प्राह विस्मित: ॥ २५ ॥
nāradas tad upākarṇya
[naaradas tad upaakarnya]
jñātvā tasya cikīrṣitam
[jnaatvaa tasya chikeershitam]
spṛṣṭvā mūrdhany agha-ghnena
[sprishtvaa moordhany agha-ghnena]
pāṇinā prāha vismitaḥ
[paaninaa praaha vismitah]
nāradaḥ — the great sage Nārada tat — that upākarṇya — overhearing jñātvā — and knowing tasya — his (Dhruva Mahārāja’s) cikīrṣitam — activities spṛṣṭvā — by touching mūrdhani — on the head agha-ghnena — which can drive away all sinful activities pāṇinā — by the hand prāha — said vismitaḥ — being surprised.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
nāradas tad upākarṇya
nāradaḥ
the great sage Nārada
tat
that
upākarṇya
overhearing
jñātvā tasya cikīrṣitam
jñātvā
and knowing
tasya
his (Dhruva Mahārāja’s)
cikīrṣitam
activities
spṛṣṭvā mūrdhany agha-ghnena
spṛṣṭvā
by touching
mūrdhani
on the head
agha-ghnena
which can drive away all sinful activities
pāṇinā prāha vismitaḥ
pāṇinā
by the hand
prāha
said
vismitaḥ
being surprised.
The great sage Nārada overheard this news, and understanding all the activities of Dhruva Mahārāja, he was struck with wonder. He approached Dhruva, and touching the boy’s head with his all-virtuous hand, he spoke as follows.

When Dhruva Mahārāja was talking with his mother, Sunīti, of all the incidents that had taken place in the palace, Nārada was not present. Thus the question may be raised how Nārada overheard all these topics. The answer is that Nārada is trikāla-jña; he is so powerful that he can understand the past, future and present of everyone’s heart, just like the Supersoul, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, after understanding the strong determination of Dhruva Mahārāja, Nārada came to help him. It may be explained in this way: The Supreme Personality of Godhead is present in everyone’s heart, and as soon as He understands that a living entity is serious about entering devotional service, He sends His representative. In this way Nārada was sent to Dhruva Mahārāja. This is explained in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta. Guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja: by the grace of the spiritual master and Kṛṣṇa, one can enter into devotional service. Because of Dhruva Mahārāja’s determination, Kṛṣṇa, the Supersoul, immediately sent His representative, Nārada, to initiate him.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Nārada, hearing this, and thus understanding the activities of the boy, became astonished, and, touching the boy’s head with his hand which destroys all sins, then spoke to himself. Nārada first spoke to himself silently.
Nārada, knowing all by his power, comes to Dhruva and lays his hand on the boy's head. When a soul makes a real move, the right teacher mysteriously shows up — that's the way the field works.
Reflection Questions
  • Where did a teacher 'happen' to appear right after I made a serious turn — and have I honored the timing?
  • Whose 'all-virtuous hand' am I still waiting for, perhaps because I haven't yet made my real move?
📝 My note

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