Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 1.6.37

sūta uvāca

evaḿ sambhāṣya bhagavān

nārado vāsavī-sutam

āmantrya vīṇāḿ raṇayan

yayau yādṛcchiko muniḥ

SYNONYMS

sūtaḥ — Sūta Gosvāmī; uvāca — said; evam — thus; sambhāṣya — addressing; bhagavān — transcendentally powerful; nāradaḥ — Nārada Muni; vāsavī — named Vāsavī (Satyavatī); sutam — son; āmantrya — inviting; vīṇām — instrument; raṇayan — vibrating; yayau — went; yādṛcchikaḥ — wherever willing; muniḥ — the sage.

TRANSLATION

Sūta Gosvāmī said: Thus addressing Vyāsadeva, Śrīla Nārada Muni took leave of him, and vibrating on his vīṇā instrument, he left to wander at his free will.

PURPORT

Every living being is anxious for full freedom because that is his transcendental nature. And this freedom is obtained only through the transcendental service of the Lord. Illusioned by the external energy, everyone thinks that he is free, but actually he is bound up by the laws of nature. A conditioned soul cannot freely move from one place to another even on this earth, and what to speak of one planet to another. But a full-fledged free soul like Nārada, always engaged in chanting the Lord's glory, is free to move not only on earth but also in any part of the universe, as well as in any part of the spiritual sky. We can just imagine the extent and unlimitedness of his freedom, which is as good as that of the Supreme Lord. There is no reason or obligation for his traveling, and no one can stop him from his free movement. Similarly, the transcendental system of devotional service is also free. It may or may not develop in a particular person even after he undergoes all the detailed formulas. Similarly, the association of the devotee is also free. One may be fortunate to have it, or one may not have it even after thousands of endeavors. Therefore, in all spheres of devotional service, freedom is the main pivot. Without freedom there is no execution of devotional service. The freedom surrendered to the Lord does not mean that the devotee becomes dependent in every respect. To surrender unto the Lord through the transparent medium of the spiritual master is to attain complete freedom of life.