260 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 1, Ch. 5

as a human being so that human beings attracted towards Him become
able to go back to Godhead. Men are naturally apt to hear histories and
narrations of various personalities performing mundane activities without
knowing that by such association one simply wastes valuable time and also
becomes addicted to the three qualities of mundane nature. Instead of
wasting time one can get spiritual success by turning his attention to the
transcendental pastimes of the Lord. By hearing the narration of the
pastimes of the Lord, one contacts directly the Personality of Godhead,
and, as explained before, by hearing about the Personality of Godhead,
from within, all accumulated sins of the mundane creature are cleared.
Thus being cleared of all sins, the hearer gradually becomes liberated
from mundane association and becomes attracted to the features of the
Lord. Narada Muni has just explained this by his personal experience. The
whole idea is that simply by hearing about the Lord’s pastimes one can
become one of the associates of the Lord. Narada Muni has eternal life,
unlimited knowledge and unfathomed bliss, and he can travel all over the
material and spiritual worlds without restriction. One can attain to the
highest perfection of life simply by attentive hearing of the transcen-
dental pastimes of the Lord from the right sources, as Sri Narada heard
them from the pure devotees (bhakti-vedantas) in his previous life. This
process of hearing in the association of the devotees. is especially recom-
mended in this age of quarrel (Kali).

TEXT 27

afeieet 89 - wereaAa
fromeeateat | ate |

TACHA ACTA
qa ate seit aferd I Ill

tasmims tada labdha-rucer mahamate
priyasravasy askhalita matir mama

yayaham etat sad-asat sva-mayaya
pasye mayi brahmani kalpitarn pare

tasmin—it being so; tadad—at that time; labdha—achieved; ruceh—taste;
mahamate—great sage; priyasravasi—upon the Lord; askhalita matih—un-
interrupted attention; mama—mine; yaya—by which; aham—]; etat—all
