Text 70]
Instructions for Civilized Human Beings
281
TRANSLATION
Long, long ago, in another mahā-kalpa [millennium of Brahmā], I existed as the Gandharva known as Upabarhaṇa. I was very respected by the other Gandharvas.
PURPORT
Śrīla Nārada Muni is giving a practical example from his past life. Formerly, during the previous lifetime of Lord Brahmā, Nārada Muni was one of the denizens of Gandharvaloka, but unfortunately, as will be explained, he fell from his exalted position in Gandharvaloka, where the inhabitants are extremely beautiful and expert in singing, to become a  śūdra . Nonetheless, because of his association with devotees, he became more fortunate than he was in Gandharvaloka. Even though cursed by the  prajāpatis  to become a  śūdra , in his next life he became the son of Lord Brahmā.
The word  mahā-kalpe  is described by Śrīla Madhvācārya as  atīta-brahma-kalpe . Brahmā dies at the end of a life of many millions of years. The day of Brahmā is described in  Bhagavad-gītā  (8.17):
sahasra-yuga-paryantam ahar yad brahmaṇo viduḥ rātriṁ yuga-sahasrāntāṁ te 'ho-rātra-vido janāḥ
“By human calculation, a thousand ages taken together is the duration of Brahmā’s one day. And such also is the duration of his night.” Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa can remember incidents from millions of years ago. Similarly, His pure devotee like Nārada Muni can also remember incidents from a past life millions and millions of years ago.
TEXT 70
रूपपेशलमाधुर्यसौगन्ध्यप्रियदर्शनः
स्रीणां प्रियतमो नित्यं मत्तः स्वपुरलम्परः ॥७०॥
rūpa-peśala-mādhurya- saugandhya-priya-darśanaḥ