"O thou great Muni,âgavataPurâ as thou hast treated of Dharma and of other things, so thou hast not recited the glory of Vâsudeva". -- I. 5. 9.
"This universe is also an aspect of Bhagavân, for its creation, preservation and end proceed from Him. Thou knowest all this thyself. But thou hast shown to others only a portion of this truth." -- I. 5. 20.
"Salutations to Thee, Bhagavân, let me meditate on Vâsudeva. Salutations to Pradyumna, Aniruddha and to Sankarshana. He who, by naming these _mûrtis_ in the _mûrtiless_, whose only _mûrti_ is mantra, makes offerings to Yajna Purusha, is the complete seer." -- I. 5. 37-38. A mystery lies veiled in this Sloka.
But who is this Nârada? Why should we accept his authority? Nârada was therefore careful to give his own account, elaborated by the enquiries of Vyâsa. All students of occultism will do well to read carefully this account which forms a fitting preliminary to the Bhâgavata.
"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."