Chapter 31: Nârada Instructs the Pracetâs

(1) Maitreya said: '[The Pracetas] thereafter [after the marriage with Mârishâ] arrived at a ripened vision. Remembering what the Lord in the Beyond had said [about the value of detachment] they soon handed the care for their wife over to their son and left home. (2) Heading in the western direction for the seashore where sage Jâjali resided they, as his pupils joined in the spirit of the Absolute, arrived at the perfection of insight in the soul [residing within everyone]. (3) Mastering the sitting postures they all achieved the full control over their breath, mind, words and vision. Keeping their bodies straight with their minds freed from impurities they, pacified in being engaged in the transcendental spirit, then saw Nârada appear who [traditionally] is worshiped by the enlightened as well as the unenlightened ones. (4) When he appeared they all got up, offered their obeisances to welcome him and addressed him, after they with the necessary respect had offered him a comfortable seat. (5) The Pracetâs said: 'Be welcome, oh sage of the enlightened ones! What a fortune to have today your audience; your arrival here is like the sun moving in the sky oh great brahmin, it dispels all fear. (6) Overly attached to family matters we almost forgot oh master, what was instructed by Lord S'iva and the Lord in the Beyond [Vishnu]. (7) But seeing you now before our eyes, kindly [re]awaken in us the transcendental knowledge of the Absolute Truth by which we can easily cross over the formidable ocean of nescience.'

(8) Maitreya said: 'Thus petitioned by the Pracetâs the kings received an answer from the great Nârada who with his mind always being absorbed in thoughts about the Lord Praised in the Verses was of the greatest wisdom. (9) Nârada said: 'The Supreme Personality is the Controller of that birth, that life, that fruitive labor, that mind and those words of the people by which the Soul of All Worlds is served. (10) Whether one acts according to what is human or what the Vedas say or whether one lives as long as a demigod, what's the use of the three births in this world of being born from semen, by initiation, or by the labor of sacrifice? (11) What's the use of  Vedic education, austerities or eloquence, mental speculation, a sharp intellect, physical strength or sense control? (12) Of what use would the practice of yoga be, analytic study, accepting the renounced order, reading the scriptures or all the other auspicious activities, when there is never the [true] satisfaction of the Supreme Self of the Lord? (13) It suffers no doubt that the Supreme Self is factually the goal of all auspicious activities and that the Lord is the Supersoul who delivers our original cherished identity [our self-realization]. (14) Just as one with watering the root of a tree satisfies the trunk, branches, and twigs and one likewise by offering food sustains the life of the [entire] sensory apparatus, so too each and everyone [the fellow human being, the demigods] is honored when one is of worship for the Infallible One. (15) Just as the sun gradually will evaporate the water that rained down and all the moving and non-moving living beings will return to earth ['to dust'], it unmistakably likewise will happen to the emanation of material nature [that in the end will be withdrawn] in the Lord. (16) The way sunshine belongs to the sun, the image offered by the senses in one's sleep belongs to the active forces of the sense objects and the spiritual knowledge that manifests is associated with vanquishing the different misconceptions, this creation we inhabit belongs to the transcendental Soul of the Universe from which it appeared. (17) Just as there is the consecutive existence and non-existence of the clouds and the likewise changes of darkness and illumination in the sky oh Kings, there is also the continuous change of the consecutive appearance and disappearance of the energies of passion, ignorance and goodness [the gunas] in the Supreme Absolute [of Brahman]. (18) All of you united in His quality be therefore engaged in the devotional service of directly the Supreme Lord who is the actual cause [pradhâna] of Time, the original Person and the One Supreme Soul of the unlimited number of individual souls*, He who by His spiritual power is aloof from all emanations of the self. (19) When one is of mercy for all living beings, some or another way abides by peace and has all one's senses under control, Janârdana, the torment of the atheists [a name of Lord Krishna] will soon be satisfied. (20) Called into the heart of His people who with all desires vanquished and a soul free from impurities constantly grow in their devotion, the Imperishable One [Vishnu] in His receptivity for the truthful ones will not retreat anymore than space [will retreat from the reality of matter and time]. (21) Never He accepts that what persons with an impure heart have to offer, while those who with faith in the soul and with feelings for Him are of sacrifice without striving for possessions are dear to Him. Anyone taking pride in education, a good birth, riches and fruitive labor is [factually] doing the devotees wrong who are without material interests [beyond the necessary]. (22) He never worries about the goddess of fortune who follows Him, nor about the rulers of man and the demigods who aspire her favor, for He exists for His own sake. How [then] can a grateful person give up on Him whose main interest it is to side with the servants on His path?'

(23) Maitreya said: 'Oh King [Vidura], the sage, the son of Brahmâ, after thus informing the Pracetâs about the topics concerning the Lord, then returned to his spiritual abode [Brahmaloka]. (24) After they from the mouth of Nârada had heard about the glorification of the Lord who destroys the sins of the world, they meditating the feet of Hari also attained His abode. (25) In response to what you asked me oh Vidura, I described the glories of the Lord. This is all I had to tell you about the conversation between Nârada and the Pracetâs.'

(26-27) S'rî S'ukadeva said: 'Oh best of kings [Parîkchit], after this faithful description of the dynasty of the son of Svâyambhuva Manu, Uttânapâda, now also hear from me about the dynasty of Priyavrata [the other son of Svâyambhuva, see 3.12: 56, 4.1 and 4.8: 7] who as someone who from Nârada learned about the knowledge of the soul, after again and again having enjoyed [his righteous rule] divided the earth among his sons and [on his turn] achieved the transcendental position. (28) When all of this was described by Maitreya and Vidura thus heard about the transcendental message of the stories about the Invincible One, his ecstasy intensified so much that it brought tears to his eyes. Overwhelmed with the Lord in his heart he placed the feet of the sage on his head.

(29) Vidura said: 'By that what you've shown me today so mercifully of the opposite side of darkness oh great yogi, someone free from material motives can reach the Lord.'

(30) S'uka said: 'Thus reverencing him Vidura who wished to see his family, asked permission to depart for the city of Hastinâpura, whereupon he with his mind in peace left that place. (31) Oh King, he who hears this story about kings who gave their life and soul to the Lord, will achieve the good fortune of a long life, wealth, material opulence and a good reputation as also the ultimate goal of life.'

Thus the fourth Canto of the S'rîmad Bhâgavatam ends named: The Creation of the Fourth Order**.