Verse Text
tatra ādyo—
tatrānvahaṁ kṛṣṇa-kathāḥ pragāyatām
anugraheṇāśṛṇavaṁ manoharāḥ |
tāḥ śraddhayā me ’nupadaṁ viśṛṇvataḥ
priya-śravasy aṅga mamābhavad ratiḥ ||9||
Translation
Bhāva arising from vaidhi-sādhana is illustrated: O Vyāsadeva, in that association, and by the mercy of those great Vedāntists, I could hear them describe the activities of Lord Kṛṣṇa. These became very attractive (ruci). Thus, listening attentively (āsakti), [Note: This meaning is from Viśvanātha’s Bhāgavatam commentary.] rati for the Personality of Godhead appeared. SB 1.5.26
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
“There, every day, by the mercy of the sages, who were reciting topics about Kṛṣṇa, hearing those topics, I developed rati for Kṛṣṇa, who has pleasing fame.” Mercy (anugraha) mentioned in this verse means that the devotees gave their permission to Nārada to hear, following the scriptural procedure. “You should also listen to these talks about Kṛṣṇa.” This indicates vaidhi-bhakti. The word manoharā means, “Causing the appearance of ruci.” Though one should mention that faith, as the starting point of all stages, is the cause of rati, the description is given in this way to show the quick appearance of rati from absorption in the stages arising after anartha-nivṛtti.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
The mercy, or anugraha, mentioned in this verse means that the devotees gave their permission to Nārada to hear. This is the scriptural procedure. “You should also listen to these talks about Kṛṣṇa.” Manoharāḥ (attractive) indicates, “Causing the appearance of ruci.” Śraddhā, or faith, is not mentioned in the verse, since it is always a necessary element.
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
An example of rising to the stage of ecstatic love by executing the regulative principles of devotional service is given in the life story of Nārada, which is described to Vyāsadeva in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Nārada tells there of his previous life and how he developed to the stage of ecstatic love. He was engaged in the service of great devotees and used to hear their talks and songs. Because he had the opportunity to hear these pastimes and songs of Kṛṣṇa from the mouths of pure devotees, he became very attracted within his heart. Because he had become so eager to hear these topics, he gradually developed within himself an ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.