[Article Published in Dilip Aug-October 2025 Issue]
Introduction
The beginning of the Valmiki Ramayana is well-known for its opening dialogue where Maharshi Valmiki asks Devarshi Narada: “Who in this world now possesses all the noble qualities?” (कः नु अस्मिन् साम्प्रतं लोके गुणवान् – kaḥ nu asmin sāmprataṁ loke guṇavān?). Conversely, in the Mahabharata’s Shanti Parva when Yudhishthira poses a similar question to Bhishma:
प्रियः सर्वस्य लोकस्य सर्वसत्त्वाभिनन्दिता ।
गुणैः सर्वैरुपेतश्च कोन्वस्ति भुवि मानवः ॥
priyaḥ sarvasya lokasya sarva-sattvābhi-nanditā ।
guṇaiḥ sarvairupetaś ca konvasti bhuvi mānavāḥ ॥
“Who is that human being who is beloved of all the world, delights all beings, and is endowed with all good qualities?”
Bhishma responds by recounting a dialogue between Ugrasena and Bhagavan Shrikrishna about Narada. Ugrasena expresses a desire to know about the celebrated qualities of Narada. Popular portrayals, Narada may be depicted as one who causes friendly quarrels that result in divine lila, and some Puranic accounts speak of episodes where his pride in musical prowess is humbled. However this is far from the true picture. In the Mahabharata, Bhagavan Himself reveals his vishvarupadarshana to Narada. Further, in this remarkable passage, the glories of Narada are recounted by Vasudeva Himself casting him as an ideal bhakta for a devotee to worship.
ShriKrishna begins: “I shall recount the qualities of Narada in brief. Hear them,” and proceeds with this profound description:
न चारित्रनिमित्तोऽस्याहंकारो देहतापनः ।
अभिन्नश्रुतचारित्रस्तस्मात् सर्वत्र पूजितः ॥ ५ ॥
na cāritra-nimitto ‘syāhaṅkāro deha-tāpanaḥ ।
abhinna-śruta-cāritras tasmāt sarvatra pūjitaḥ ॥ 5 ॥
“His Vedic knowledge and conduct are unified and perfectly aligned. Yet he has no pride that torments the body due to this excellence. Therefore, Narada is worthy of worship everywhere.”
This verse contains the beautiful epithet abhinna-śruta-cāritraḥ – one whose scriptural learning (śruta) and character (cāritra) are indivisible (abhinna). This represents the highest ideal of spiritual accomplishment: the seamless unity of knowledge and conduct. It is when one practices what they preach one becomes an Acharya.
The Portrait of Perfect Equanimity
Krishna continues, describing how Narada embodies perfect emotional balance. In him there is no lack of affection for fellow living beings, no anger, no vacillation, and no fear. He is not a dīrghasūtrī (procrastinator) but is heroic in performing acts of dharma. Therefore, Narada is worthy of reverence everywhere.
उपास्यो नारदो बाढं वाचि नास्य व्यतिक्रमः ।
कामतो यदि वा लोभात् तस्मात् सर्वत्र पूजितः ॥ ७ ॥
upāsyo nārado bāḍhaṁ vāci nāsya vyatikramaḥ ।
kāmato yadi vā lobhāt tasmāt sarvatra pūjitaḥ ॥ 7 ॥
“Narada is truly fit for worship. He does not transgress in speech, whether from desire or greed, and hence is worthy of reverence everywhere.”
Krishna further extols him as a knower of spiritual truths, forbearing, capable, and master of his senses:
अध्यात्मविधितत्त्वज्ञः क्षान्तः शक्तो जितेन्द्रियः ।
ऋजुश्च सत्यवादी च तस्मात् सर्वत्र पूजितः ॥ ८ ॥
adhyātma-vidhi-tattvajñaḥ kṣāntaḥ śakto jitendriyaḥ।
ṛjuś ca satyavādī ca tasmāt sarvatra pūjitaḥ ॥ 8 ॥
“He is a knower of spiritual principles, forbearing, capable, and has conquered his senses. He is straightforward and truthful, therefore worthy of worship everywhere.”
तेजसा यशसा बुद्धया ज्ञानेन विनयेन च ।
जन्मना तपसा वृद्धस्तस्मात् सर्वत्र पूजितः ॥ ९ ॥
tejasā yaśasā buddhyā jñānena vinayena ca ।
janmanā tapasā vṛddhas tasmāt sarvatra pūjitaḥ ॥ 9 ॥
“Through his brilliance, fame, intellect, wisdom, and humility, elevated by birth and austerities, he is therefore worthy of worship everywhere.”
The Embodiment of Compassionate Wisdom
The following verses reveal how exemplary conduct creates inner peace and well-being. Krishna describes Narada as one of pure conduct who sleeps well, eats appropriate pure food, speaks good words, and is free from jealousy. Only a person devoid of envy, full of kindness and good conduct and health maintained through pure dietary niyamas can truly sleep in peace. Narada wishes for others’ welfare wholeheartedly and is never pleased at witnessing suffering.
वेदश्रुतिभिराख्यानैरर्थानभिजिगीषति ।
तितिक्षुरनवज्ञाता तस्मात् सर्वत्र पूजितः ॥ १२ ॥
veda-śrutibhir ākhyānair arthān abhijigīṣati।
titikṣur anavajñātā tasmāt sarvatra pūjitaḥ ॥ 12 ॥
“Through the Vedas, Upanishads, and narrative traditions, he expounds their meanings. He bears extremes with fortitude and disrespects no one, therefore is worthy of worship everywhere.”
The key to not disrespecting anyone lies in the blessed quality of equanimity (samatva) – seeing the same divine essence in every creature.
समत्वाच्च प्रियो नास्ति नाप्रियश्च कथञ्चन ।
मनोऽनुकूलवादी च तस्मात् सर्वत्र पूजितः ॥ १३॥
samatvāc ca priyo nāsti nāpriyaś ca kathancana।
mano’nukūla-vādī ca tasmāt sarvatra pūjitaḥ ॥ 13 ॥
“Due to his equipoise, there is none he considers as favorite and none that he dislikes. He speaks words pleasant to the mind, therefore is worthy of worship everywhere.”
The Scholar-Sage Without Attachment
Krishna continues describing Narada as a learned scholar (vidvan) of all śāstras, well-versed in wisdom, with an engaging way of exposition. He is learned but never greedy, free from the vices of wickedness, anger, and weakness:
बहुश्रुतश्चित्रकथः पण्डितोऽलालसोऽशठः ।
अदीनोऽक्रोधनोऽलुब्धस्तस्मात् सर्वत्र पूजितः ॥ १४ ॥
bahuśrutaś citra-kathaḥ paṇḍito’lālaso’śaṭhaḥ।
adīno’krodhano’lubdhas tasmāt sarvatra pūjitaḥ ॥ 14 ॥
“He is well-learned with captivating narratives, scholarly, energetic, and guileless. He is dignified, free from anger and greed, therefore worthy of worship everywhere.”
This description reveals that true knowledge and wisdom accompany the ability to expound effectively while remaining free from greed and vice. Having no interest in wealth or material desires, he gains respect everywhere as a firm devotee (dṛḍhabhakta) free from blame.
असक्तः सर्वभूतेषु सक्तात्मेव च लक्ष्यते ।
अदीर्घसंशयो वाग्मी तस्मात् सर्वत्र पूजितः ॥ १७ ॥
asaktaḥ sarva-bhūteṣu saktātmeva ca lakṣyate।
adīrgha-saṁśayo vāgmī tasmāt sarvatra pūjitaḥ ॥ 17 ॥
“Though unattached to all beings, he appears interested in everyone. He is free from prolonged doubt and eloquent, therefore worthy of worship everywhere.”
This perfectly embodies the Bhagavad Gita’s teaching about karma without attachment:
तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचार।
असक्तो ह्यचरन्कर्म परमाप्नोति पुरुषः ॥ ३.१९॥
tasmād asaktaḥ satatam kāryam karma samācara।
asakto hy acaran karma param āpnoti pūruṣaḥ ॥ 3.19 ॥
The epithet vāgmī (eloquent) recalls the opening verse of Valmiki Ramayana that describes Narada as “तपस्वाध्यायनिरतं वाग्विदां वरं नारदं” – devoted to austerity and study, foremost among speakers.
The Compassionate Observer
Narada’s mind never turns toward selfish desires, nor does he have the fault of self-praise. Free from jealousy toward others, he is endowed with gentle speech:
लोकस्य विविधं चित्तं प्रेक्षते चाप्यकुत्सयन् ।
संसर्गविद्याकुशलस्तस्मात् सर्वत्र पूजितः ॥ १९ ॥
lokasya vividhaṁ cittaṁ prekṣate cāpy akutsayan।
saṁsarga-vidyā-kuśalas tasmāt sarvatra pūjitaḥ ॥ 19 ॥
“He keenly observes the variety of mental activities and proclivities in the world, yet censures no one. He is skilled in the science of beneficial association, therefore worthy of worship everywhere.”
He is saṁsarga-vidyā-kuśala – masterful in promoting collective welfare (sāmūhika-hita). This dedication to universal well-being reminds us of how the Jagadgurus of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham conduct themselves: “vasantavat lokahitam charantī” – moving through the world like spring, bringing benefit to all.
The Eternal Seeker and Self-Realized Sage
Narada’s equanimity is such that he views no śāstra with hostility, though this doesn’t mean he lacks his own principles. He lives according to his siddhānta, maintains control over his senses, and never wastes time. He continually strives through yoga practice, never becoming complacent in his samādhi, remaining ever a seeker while working for others’ welfare.
He is trustworthy with others’ secrets, making people comfortable sharing what is dear to them. Krishna concludes his praise of his beloved devotee Narada: “Who would not love such a person endowed with all good qualities? Capable, resplendent, free from faults and diseases, one who knows the value of time, knower of the Self.”
The Ideal Devotee for all Devotees
This divine exposition presents the qualities of an ideal bhakta through the voice of Bhagavan himself. It is then no wonder Narada Muni is celebrated by later devotees like Tyagaraja, who in his kirtana “Śrī nārada nāda sarasī-ruha bhṛṅga śubhāṅga” describes him as “khedahara-tritāpārahita” (remover of sorrows and the three types of suffering) and seeks his protection.
Through Krishna’s testimony in the Mahabharata, we see Narada not merely as a celestial musician or divine messenger, but as the embodiment of abhinna-śruta-cāritra – one whose knowledge and character have become indivisibly one, representing the highest achievement of spiritual life.