देवदेव नमस्तेऽस्तु भूतभावन पूर्वज ।
तद्विजानीहि यज्ज्ञानमात्मतत्त्वनिदर्शनम् ॥१॥
nÄrada uvÄca
deva-deva namas te 'stu
bhÅ«ta-bhÄvana pÅ«rvaja
tad vijÄnÄ«hi yaj jñÄnam
Ätma-tattva-nidarÅ›anam
nÄradaḥ uvÄca - ÅšrÄ« NÄrada said; deva - of all demigods; deva - the demigod; namaḥ - obeisances; te - unto you as; astu - are; bhÅ«ta-bhÄvana - the generator of all living beings; pÅ«rva-ja - the firstborn; tat vijÄnÄ«hi - please explain that knowledge; yat jñÄnam - which knowledge; Ätma-tattva - transcendental; nidarÅ›anam - specifically directs.
ÅšrÄ« NÄrada Muni asked BrahmÄjÄ«: 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 paramparÄ system, or the path of disciplic succession, is further confirmed. In the previous chapter it has been established that BrahmÄjÄ«, the firstborn living entity, received knowledge directly from the Supreme Lord, and the same knowledge was imparted to NÄrada, the next disciple. NÄrada asked to receive the knowledge, and BrahmÄjÄ« 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-gÄ«tÄ (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 BrahmÄ and NÄrada 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.
