"O thou that dost not deserve to see me in this life, I am difficult to be seen by imperfect Yogis, whose likes and dislikes have not been completely burnt up. I have shown myself to thee that thy Kâma may all be centred in me. When I am the object of Kâma, the Sâdhu gives up all other desires. By prolonged service of Mahâtmâs, thy mind is firmly fixed in me. Therefore shalt thou give up this faulty body and acquire my companionship. The mind fixed in me is never destroyed in creation or in pralaya, nor does the memory fail.’" "So saying Íshvara disappeared. In time, when I was drawn towards the pure body with which I was favored by Bhagavân, the body of my five Bhûtas fell down on the extinction of my Prârabdha Karma. When the Kalpa came to an end my new body was indrawn by the breath of Brahmâ who was going to sleep. After one thousand Yuga Cycles, when Brahmâ awoke and desired to create, I, Marichi, and other Rishis came out. Since then I have invariably observed Brahmâcharya and through the favor of Vishnu have been travelling all over Trilokî, both inside and outside, my passage being wholly unobstructed. The Devas gave me this Vinâ which is adorned with Svara-Brahmâ. By playing upon this Vinâ I send forth songs of Hari all round. These songs are the only means of crossing the ocean of recurring lives." [This is the mystery of Nârada as related in the Purânas. Nârada is the repository of occult knowledge from the previous Kalpa. The first and foremost adept of this Kalpa, his mission is to spread occult knowledge, by unceasingly playing on the seven musical notes. He is ever watchful and always bides his time in all cyclic changes. He is the only Rishi of whom the Vina is a constant accompaniment, as it is of the goddess Sarasvati. His sphere of action is Trilokî, and the dwellers of Bhûr, Bhuvar, and Svar alike respect him. He is the universal counsellor, even of the highest Devas and of the highest Rishis. His constant mission is the good of the Universe. One thing is said of him, that he sometimes serves his purpose by setting one against another and amongst the ignorant his name is a bye-word for quarrel. However that be, the greatest good of the Universe in this Kalpa has been always done by him. It is under his inspiration, that Valmiki and Vyâsa wrote their most occult works, and his benign influence is observed in all universal changes for good. The Bhâgavata recites his constant endeavours to do good and we shall consider them in detail hereafter.] VIRAT PURUSHA. *SK. I. CH. 18 & SK. II. CH. I.*