Vāsudeva and Ugrasena Saṃvāda

This is the closing dialogue of the Mokshadharma section of the Mahābhārata, Śānti Parva, Chapter 230. King Ugrasena asks Bhagavān Kṛshṇa, also called Vāsudeva, about Nārada Maharshi, whom all the worlds praise and honour. Kṛshṇa answers with a full list of Nārada’s virtues: no ego, no fear, no anger, no fickleness and no laziness, speech that suits the mind of the listener, an equal mind toward all beings, and great learning.

The setting

Yudhishṭhira asked Bhīshma: “Is there any person in this world who is dear (priya) to all beings without exception, and who receives the respect and love of all? Does such a person exist?” Bhīshma answered by telling the dialogue of Ugrasena and Vāsudeva about Nārada.

Ugrasena’s question

Ugrasena was the king of the Kukuras and the father of Kaṃsa. He said to Vāsudeva: “All the worlds praise Nārada. The whole world is ready to honour him. From this I think he has great guṇa-sampad (wealth of good qualities). Tell me what makes him so.”

Vāsudeva’s answer

Vāsudeva answered one quality at a time. After each he said that because of it Nārada is honoured everywhere.

  • No ahaṃkāra (ego-pride). “The ahaṃkāra that is born of conduct, which burns the body and cuts a person off from true friendship, is completely absent in Nārada. In learning (pāṇḍitya) and in conduct (ācāra) there is no trace of pride, heavy or light.”
  • Free of four faults. Nārada has no dīnatā (smallness of mind), krodha (anger), cāpalya (fickleness) or bhaya (fear). He is not dīrgha-sūtrin, one who delays without acting. He is śūra (brave), meaning that he meets whatever comes with all his intelligence.
  • His word does not break. “Neither kāma (desire) nor lobha (greed) can make any vyatikrama (breaking of faith) in his word. What he says, he means. What he promises, he keeps.”
  • Knowledge of the self and forgiveness. “He knows the adhyātma-vidhis (rules of the inner life) and the tattva (truth) well. He has kshamā (forbearance). He is capable. He has mastered the indriyas (senses). He is ṛju (straight) in character. He speaks only satya (truth).”
  • Seven kinds of excellence. “In tejas (inner radiance), yaśas (good name), buddhi (intelligence), jñāna (knowledge), vinaya (humility), janma (birth) and tapas (austerity), in all seven Nārada is vṛddha (excellent and fully grown).”
  • Conduct, welcome, purity and no jealousy. “He has su-śīla (good character), su-vāsa (a good dwelling), su-bhojana (proper food), su-ādara (true respect), pavitratā (purity), suvākya (good speech) and no īrshyā (jealousy). Because of all this he is honoured with arcanā (worship offerings) everywhere.”
  • Always auspicious. “He always does only what is maṅgala (auspicious). There is not the slightest trace of wrong (pāpa) in him. He does not rejoice when others meet misfortune. Because of this he is worthy of honour everywhere.”
  • Speech that meets each mind. “He aims at the good ends that the best subjects of the Vedas make possible. He has titikshā (patient endurance). He does not look down on anyone. Because of this he receives pūjā everywhere.”
  • An equal mind. “He keeps samabhāva (an equal mind) toward all, so no one is especially dear to him or unpleasant to him. No one draws him or turns him away. He speaks in keeping with the mind of the one he talks to. Because of this he is always respected.”
  • Wide learning and no meanness. “He knows many śāstras. His words have ākarshaṇa (a pull that draws people). He is a paṇḍita (scholar). He has no trace of dainyatā (smallness), vañcana (deceit), anger, mātsarya (spite) or kārpaṇya (miserliness). Because of this he is honoured by all.”
  • No quarrel over wealth or desire. “No conflict has ever arisen between Nārada and anyone over artha (wealth), dhana (money) or kāma (desire).”

Sources

  • Mahābhārata, Śānti Parva, Mokshadharma Parva, Chapter 230