FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.15.73

तावद्दास्यामहं जज्ञे तत्रापि ब्रह्मवादिनाम् । शुश्रूषयानुषङ्गेण प्राप्तोऽहं ब्रह्मपुत्रताम् ॥ ७३ ॥
tāvad dāsyām ahaṁ jajñe
[taavad daasyaam aham jajne]
tatrāpi brahma-vādinām
[tatraapi brahma-vaadinaam]
śuśrūṣayānuṣaṅgeṇa
[shushrooshayaanushangena]
prāpto ’haṁ brahma-putratām
[praapto ’ham brahma-putrataam]
tāvat — since being cursed dāsyām — in the womb of a maidservant aham — I jajñe — took birth tatrāpi — although (being a śūdra) brahma-vādinām — unto persons well conversant with the Vedic knowledge śuśrūṣayā — by rendering service anuṣaṅgeṇa — simultaneously prāptaḥ — obtained aham — I brahma-putratām — a birth as the son of Lord Brahmā (in this life).
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tāvad dāsyām ahaṁ jajñe
tāvat
since being cursed
dāsyām
in the womb of a maidservant
aham
I
jajñe
took birth
tatrāpi brahma-vādinām
tatrāpi
although (being a śūdra)
brahma-vādinām
unto persons well conversant with the Vedic knowledge
śuśrūṣayānuṣaṅgeṇa
śuśrūṣayā
by rendering service
anuṣaṅgeṇa
simultaneously
prāpto ’haṁ brahma-putratām
prāptaḥ
obtained
aham
I
brahma-putratām
a birth as the son of Lord Brahmā (in this life).
Although I took birth as a śūdra from the womb of a maidservant, I engaged in the service of Vaiṣṇavas who were well-versed in Vedic knowledge. Consequently, in this life I got the opportunity to take birth as the son of Lord Brahmā.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.32) :

māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye ’pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ striyo vaiśyās tathā śūdrās te ’pi yānti parāṁ gatim

“O son of Pṛthā, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth — women, vaiśyas [merchants], as well as śūdras [workers] — can approach the supreme destination.” It doesn’t matter whether a person is born as a śūdra, a woman or a vaiśya; if he associates with devotees repeatedly or always ( sādhu-saṅgena ), he can be elevated to the highest perfection. Nārada Muni is explaining this in relation to his own life. The saṅkīrtana movement is important, for regardless of whether one is a śūdra, vaiśya, mleccha, yavana or whatever, if one associates with a pure devotee, follows his instructions and serves the pure devotee, his life is successful. This is bhakti. Ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānuśīlanam. Bhakti consists of serving Kṛṣṇa and His devotees very favorably. Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam. If one has no desire other than to serve Kṛṣṇa and His devotee, then his life is successful. This is explained by Nārada Muni through this practical example from his own life.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
I took birth as a śūdra from the womb of a maidservant. By engaging repeatedly in service to Vaiṣṇavas who were well-versed in Vedic knowledge, I became the son of Lord Brahmā. Though born as a śūdra (tatrāpi), by association with devotees I became the son of Brahmā (at the beginning of this Brahmā’s life). Or tatrāpi can mean “in spite of the curse.” This story shows that bhakti originated in a previous life. Anusaṅgena means by repeated (anu) association, or by favorable association.
Born as a śūdra from a maidservant, Nārada served Vaiṣṇavas expert in Vedic knowledge, and in this life became the son of Brahmā. Service of devotees rewrites destiny. Birth does not determine you; service does.
Reflection Questions
  • What service to devotees is currently shaping your future birth and disposition?
  • Whose service might lift you from the position you think defines you?
📝 My note

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