As they were leaving those bhakti-vedāntas instructed Nārada in that most confidential subject which is instructed by the Lord Himself. A pure Vedāntist, or a bhakti-vedānta, instructs according to the instructions of the Lord Himself. The Lord is transcendental to the material creation. Before creation, He exists in His eternal abode, and by His will, this manifested creation exists. And after annihilation, the Lord continues to remain in His abode. This teaching refers to the catuḥ-ślokī, which is far above impersonal knowledge.
As they were leaving those bhakti-vedāntas instructed Nārada in that most confidential subject which is instructed by the Lord Himself. A pure Vedāntist, or a bhakti-vedānta, instructs according to the instructions of the Lord Himself. The Lord is transcendental to the material creation. Before creation, He exists in His eternal abode, and by His will, this manifested creation exists. And after annihilation, the Lord continues to remain in His abode. This teaching refers to the catuḥ-ślokī, which is far above impersonal knowledge. This transcendental nature of the Lord can be understood only by His pure devotees as evidenced in His teachings to Arjuna.
The jñāna guhyatamaṁ indicates knowledge of devotional service. Jñānam means ordinary knowledge and this develops up to the knowledge of impersonal Brahman. Above this is knowledge of Paramātmā, which is more confidential. But when such knowledge is turned to pure devotional service, it becomes the most confidential knowledge. Jñāna-śāstra has a prevalence of monistic jñāna. Confidential scripture consists of a predominance of jñāna mixed with some bhakti. More confidential scripture is that which has predominantly bhakti with some jñāna. Most confidential scripture is pure bhakti which was imparted by the Lord to Brahmā (at the beginning of creation – second canto), Arjuna (in Bhagavad gītā), Uddhava (eleventh canto) etc.
By such knowledge, one can understand how the different energies of the Lord are working, and return to His abode. By the knowledge of Bhāgavatam, Nārada understood the influence of the Lord’s cit-śakti, the kṛpā-śakti, the acit-śakti of the three guṇas, and the influence of the knowledge of the Lord’s powers and sweetness. One part of the Lord’s energy is manifesting the material world; the other part manifests the spiritual world. And the via medium energy is manifesting the living entities who are serving either the material or spiritual energies. The Lord explains in Bhagavad gītā that the suffering souls return to Him by giving up all engagements in the material world. This is the most confidential part of knowledge, and can be understood only by pure devotees. Only such devotees enter the kingdom of God to see and serve Him personally.