"In the previous Kalpa, in my former birth, I was born of a certain maid-servant of Vedic Rishis. Certain Yogis had collected at a place to pass the rainy season and I was engaged as a boy to serve them. Seeing me void of all fickleness as a boy and self-controlled, the Munis, who looked on all with equal eyes, were kind to me, especially as I gave up play, followed them, served them and talked little. With the permission of the regenerated I at one time partook of the remnants of their meal and the impurities of my mind were all removed. When thus my mind became pure, my inclination grew towards their Dharma. By their favor I heard them sing the beautiful stories of Krishna. Hearing those stories every day with faith, I gained holy love for Krishna. Through that love my mind became fixed in Him and I came to perceive my Sthûla and Sûkshma bodies as only false reflections of the real Self or Brahmâ. The Bhakti that grew up in me destroyed my Rajas and Tamas. Then when the kind Rishis were about to leave the place, they imparted to me the most occult knowledge which had been given to them by Bhagavân himself. Through that knowledge I have known the Mâyâ of Bhagavân. It is by that knowledge that one reaches the plane of Bhagavân. As I cultivated this occult knowledge, Bhagavân appeared Himself and gave me knowledge and powers direct." [Śridhara Svâmi, the commentator of Bhâgavata Purâna notes the following points in the above story (1) Sevâ, _i.e._, service of and attendance on Mahâtmâs, (2) their kripâ or favor, (3) trust in their Dharma, (4) hearing the stories of Bhagavân, (5) attachment to Bhagavân, (6) knowledge of Self by the discrimination of the Sthûla and the Sûkshma body, (7) firm Bhakti, (8) knowledge of the reality of Bhagavân, (9) at the last the appearance of omniscience and other powers through the favor of Bhagavân.] What followed then, inquired Vyâsa? Nârada continued: "Sometime after my teachers, the Bhikshus, had gone away, my mother died of snake-bite. I deemed that an act of God and went towards the North. After crossing several forests, rivers and mountains, I at last reached a solitary forest and there sat under a pipal tree. As directed by my teachers, I meditated on self in self through self. My mind had been completely conquered by Bhakti. As I was devotedly meditating on the lotus feet of Bhagavân with tear-drops in my eyes, Hari gradually appeared in my heart. O Muni, the hairs of my body stood on end through exuberance of holy love, I was completely lost in joy and knew not either self or any other. The indescribable Íshvara spoke thus in solemn words: