Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 11 · Chapter 2
श्रीशुक उवाच गोविन्दभुजगुप्तायां द्वारवत्यां कुरूद्वह । अवात्सीन्नारदोऽभीक्ष्णं कृष्णोपासनलालस: ॥ १ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca govinda-bhuja-guptāyāṁ dvāravatyāṁ kurūdvaha avātsīn nārado ’bhīkṣṇaṁ kṛṣṇopāsana-lālasaḥ
Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Eager to engage in the worship of Lord Kṛṣṇa, O best of the Kurus, Nārada Muni stayed for some time in Dvārakā, which was always protected by the arms of Govinda.
को नु राजन्निन्द्रियवान् मुकुन्दचरणाम्बुजम् । न भजेत् सर्वतोमृत्युरुपास्यममरोत्तमै: ॥ २ ॥
ko nu rājann indriyavān mukunda-caraṇāmbujam na bhajet sarvato-mṛtyur upāsyam amarottamaiḥ
My dear King, in the material world the conditioned souls are confronted by death at every step of life. Therefore, who among the conditioned souls would not render service to the lotus feet of Lord Mukunda, who is worshipable even for the greatest of liberated souls?
तमेकदा तु देवर्षिं वसुदेवो गृहागतम् । अर्चितं सुखमासीनमभिवाद्येदमब्रवीत् ॥ ३ ॥
tam ekadā tu devarṣiṁ vasudevo gṛhāgatam arcitaṁ sukham āsīnam abhivādyedam abravīt
One day the sage among the demigods, Nārada, came to the house of Vasudeva. After worshiping Nārada with suitable paraphernalia, seating him comfortably and respectfully bowing down to him, Vasudeva spoke as follows.
श्रीवसुदेव उवाच भगवन् भवतो यात्रा स्वस्तये सर्वदेहिनाम् । कृपणानां यथा पित्रोरुत्तमश्लोकवर्त्मनाम् ॥ ४ ॥
śrī-vasudeva uvāca bhagavan bhavato yātrā svastaye sarva-dehinām kṛpaṇānāṁ yathā pitror uttama-śloka-vartmanām
Śrī Vasudeva said: My lord, your visit, like that of a father to his children, is for the benefit of all living beings. You especially help the most wretched among them, as well as those who are advanced on the path toward the Supreme Lord, Uttamaśloka.
भूतानां देवचरितं दु:खाय च सुखाय च । सुखायैव हि साधूनां त्वादृशामच्युतात्मनाम् ॥ ५ ॥
bhūtānāṁ deva-caritaṁ duḥkhāya ca sukhāya ca sukhāyaiva hi sādhūnāṁ tvādṛśām acyutātmanām
The activities of demigods lead to both misery and happiness for living beings, but the activities of great saints like you, who have accepted the infallible Lord as their very soul, result only in the happiness of all beings.
भजन्ति ये यथा देवान् देवा अपि तथैव तान् । छायेव कर्मसचिवा: साधवो दीनवत्सला: ॥ ६ ॥
bhajanti ye yathā devān devā api tathaiva tān chāyeva karma-sacivāḥ sādhavo dīna-vatsalāḥ
Those who worship the demigods receive reciprocation from the demigods in a way just corresponding to the offering. The demigods are attendants of karma, like a person’s shadow, but sādhus are actually merciful to the fallen.
ब्रह्मंस्तथापि पृच्छामो धर्मान् भागवतांस्तव । यान् श्रुत्वा श्रद्धया मर्त्यो मुच्यते सर्वतोभयात् ॥ ७ ॥
brahmaṁs tathāpi pṛcchāmo dharmān bhāgavatāṁs tava yān śrutvā śraddhayā martyo mucyate sarvato bhayāt
O brāhmaṇa, although I am satisfied simply by seeing you, I still wish to inquire about those duties which give pleasure to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Any mortal who faithfully hears about them is freed from all kinds of fear.
अहं किल पुरानन्तं प्रजार्थो भुवि मुक्तिदम् । अपूजयं न मोक्षाय मोहितो देवमायया ॥ ८ ॥
ahaṁ kila purānantaṁ prajārtho bhuvi mukti-dam apūjayaṁ na mokṣāya mohito deva-māyayā
In a previous birth on this earth, I worshiped the Supreme Lord, Ananta, who alone can award liberation, but because I desired to have a child, I did not worship Him for liberation. Thus I was bewildered by the Lord’s illusory energy.
यथा विचित्रव्यसनाद् भवद्भिर्विश्वतोभयात् । मुच्येम ह्यञ्जसैवाद्धा तथा न: शाधि सुव्रत ॥ ९ ॥
yathā vicitra-vyasanād bhavadbhir viśvato-bhayāt mucyema hy añjasaivāddhā tathā naḥ śādhi su-vrata
My dear lord, you are always true to your vow. Please instruct me clearly, so that by your mercy I may easily free myself from material existence, which is full of many dangers and keeps us constantly bound in fear.
श्रीशुक उवाच राजन्नेवं कृतप्रश्नो वसुदेवेन धीमता । प्रीतस्तमाह देवर्षिर्हरे: संस्मारितो गुणै: ॥ १० ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca rājann evaṁ kṛta-praśno vasudevena dhīmatā prītas tam āha devarṣir hareḥ saṁsmārito guṇaiḥ
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King, Devarṣi Nārada was pleased by the questions of the highly intelligent Vasudeva. Because they suggested the transcendental qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they reminded Nārada of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Thus Nārada replied to Vasudeva as follows.
श्रीनारद उवाच सम्यगेतद् व्यवसितं भवता सात्वतर्षभ । यत् पृच्छसे भागवतान् धर्मांस्त्वं विश्वभावनान् ॥ ११ ॥
śrī-nārada uvāca samyag etad vyavasitaṁ bhavatā sātvatarṣabha yat pṛcchase bhāgavatān dharmāṁs tvaṁ viśva-bhāvanān
Śrī Nārada said: O best of the Sātvatas, you have quite correctly asked about the eternal duty of the living entity toward the Supreme Lord. Such devotional service to the Lord is so potent that its performance can purify the entire universe.
श्रुतोऽनुपठितो ध्यात आदृतो वानुमोदित: । सद्य: पुनाति सद्धर्मो देव विश्वद्रुहोऽपि हि ॥ १२ ॥
śruto ’nupaṭhito dhyāta ādṛto vānumoditaḥ sadyaḥ punāti sad-dharmo deva-viśva-druho ’pi hi
Pure devotional service rendered to the Supreme Lord is spiritually so potent that simply by hearing about such transcendental service, by chanting its glories in response, by meditating on it, by respectfully and faithfully accepting it, or by praising the devotional service of others, even persons who hate the demigods and all other living beings can be immediately purified.
त्वया परमकल्याण: पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तन: । स्मारितो भगवानद्य देवो नारायणो मम ॥ १३ ॥
tvayā parama-kalyāṇaḥ puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ smārito bhagavān adya devo nārāyaṇo mama
Today you have made me remember my Lord, the supremely blissful Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa. The Supreme Lord is so auspicious that whoever hears and chants about Him becomes completely pious.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । आर्षभाणां च संवादं विदेहस्य महात्मन: ॥ १४ ॥
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṁ purātanam ārṣabhāṇāṁ ca saṁvādaṁ videhasya mahātmanaḥ
To explain the devotional service of the Lord, sages have related the ancient history of the conversation between the great soul King Videha and the sons of Ṛṣabha.
प्रियव्रतो नाम सुतो मनो: स्वायम्भुवस्य य: । तस्याग्नीध्रस्ततो नाभिऋर्षभस्तत्सुत: स्मृत: ॥ १५ ॥
priyavrato nāma suto manoḥ svāyambhuvasya yaḥ tasyāgnīdhras tato nābhir ṛṣabhas tat-sutaḥ smṛtaḥ
Svāyambhuva Manu had a son named Mahārāja Priyavrata, and among Priyavrata’s sons was Āgnīdhra. From Āgnīdhra was born Nābhi, whose son was known as Ṛṣabhadeva.
तमाहुर्वासुदेवांशं मोक्षधर्मविवक्षया । अवतीर्णं सुतशतं तस्यासीद् ब्रह्मपारगम् ॥ १६ ॥
tam āhur vāsudevāṁśaṁ mokṣa-dharma-vivakṣayā avatīrṇaṁ suta-śataṁ tasyāsīd brahma-pāragam
Śrī Ṛṣabhadeva is accepted as an expansion of the Supreme Lord, Vāsudeva. He incarnated in this world to propagate those religious principles that lead living entities to ultimate liberation. He had one hundred sons, all perfect in Vedic knowledge.
तेषां वै भरतो ज्येष्ठो नारायणपरायण: । विख्यातं वर्षमेतद् यन्नाम्ना भारतमद्भुतम् ॥ १७ ॥
teṣāṁ vai bharato jyeṣṭho nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇaḥ vikhyātaṁ varṣam etad yan- nāmnā bhāratam adbhutam
Of the one hundred sons of Lord Ṛṣabhadeva, the eldest, Bharata, was completely devoted to Lord Nārāyaṇa. It is because of Bharata’s fame that this planet is now celebrated as the great Bhārata-varṣa.
स भुक्तभोगां त्यक्त्वेमां निर्गतस्तपसा हरिम् । उपासीनस्तत्पदवीं लेभे वै जन्मभिस्त्रिभि: ॥ १८ ॥
sa bhukta-bhogāṁ tyaktvemāṁ nirgatas tapasā harim upāsīnas tat-padavīṁ lebhe vai janmabhis tribhiḥ
King Bharata rejected this material world, considering all types of material pleasure temporary and useless. Leaving his beautiful young wife and family, he worshiped Lord Hari by severe austerities and attained the abode of the Lord after three lifetimes.
तेषां नव नवद्वीपपतयोऽस्य समन्तत: । कर्मतन्त्रप्रणेतार एकाशीतिर्द्विजातय: ॥ १९ ॥
teṣāṁ nava nava-dvīpa- patayo ’sya samantataḥ karma-tantra-praṇetāra ekāśītir dvijātayaḥ
Nine of the remaining sons of Ṛṣabhadeva became the rulers of the nine islands of Bhārata-varṣa, and they exercised complete sovereignty over this planet. Eighty-one sons became twice-born brāhmaṇas and helped initiate the Vedic path of fruitive sacrifices [karma-kāṇḍa].
नवाभवन् महाभागा मुनयो ह्यर्थशंसिन: । श्रमणा वातरसना आत्मविद्याविशारदा: ॥ २० ॥ कविर्हविरन्तरीक्ष: प्रबुद्ध: पिप्पलायन: । आविर्होत्रोऽथ द्रुमिलश्चमस: करभाजन: ॥ २१ ॥
navābhavan mahā-bhāgā munayo hy artha-śaṁsinaḥ śramaṇā vāta-rasanā ātma-vidyā-viśāradāḥ kavir havir antarīkṣaḥ prabuddhaḥ pippalāyanaḥ āvirhotro ’tha drumilaś camasaḥ karabhājanaḥ
The nine remaining sons of Ṛṣabha were greatly fortunate sages who worked vigorously to spread knowledge of the Absolute Truth. They wandered about naked and were very well versed in spiritual science. Their names were Kavi, Havir, Antarīkṣa, Prabuddha, Pippalāyana, Āvirhotra, Drumila, Camasa and Karabhājana.
त एते भगवद्रूपं विश्वं सदसदात्मकम् । आत्मनोऽव्यतिरेकेण पश्यन्तो व्यचरन् महीम् ॥ २२ ॥
ta ete bhagavad-rūpaṁ viśvaṁ sad-asad-ātmakam ātmano ’vyatirekeṇa paśyanto vyacaran mahīm
These sages wandered the earth seeing the entire universe, with all its gross and subtle objects, as a manifestation of the Supreme Lord and as nondifferent from the self.
अव्याहतेष्टगतय: सुरसिद्धसाध्य- गन्धर्वयक्षनरकिन्नरनागलोकान् । मुक्ताश्चरन्ति मुनिचारणभूतनाथ- विद्याधरद्विजगवां भुवनानि कामम् ॥ २३ ॥
avyāhateṣṭa-gatayaḥ sura-siddha-sādhya- gandharva-yakṣa-nara-kinnara-nāga-lokān muktāś caranti muni-cāraṇa-bhūtanātha- vidyādhara-dvija-gavāṁ bhuvanāni kāmam
The nine Yogendras are liberated souls who travel freely to the planets of the demigods, the perfected mystics, the Sādhyas, the heavenly musicians, the Yakṣas, the human beings, and the minor demigods such as the Kinnaras and the serpents. No mundane force can check their free movement, and exactly as they wish they can travel as well to the worlds of the sages, the angels, the ghostly followers of Lord Śiva, the Vidyādharas, the brāhmaṇas and the cows.
त एकदा निमे: सत्रमुपजग्मुर्यदृच्छया । वितायमानमृषिभिरजनाभे महात्मन: ॥ २४ ॥
ta ekadā nimeḥ satram upajagmur yadṛcchayā vitāyamānam ṛṣibhir ajanābhe mahātmanaḥ
Once in Ajanābha [the former name of the earth], they came upon the sacrificial performance of the great soul Mahārāja Nimi, which was being carried out under the direction of elevated sages.
तान् दृष्ट्वा सूर्यसङ्काशान् महाभागवतान् नृप । यजमानोऽग्नयो विप्रा: सर्व एवोपतस्थिरे ॥ २५ ॥
tān dṛṣṭvā sūrya-saṅkāśān mahā-bhāgavatān nṛpa yajamāno ’gnayo viprāḥ sarva evopatasthire
My dear King, seeing those pure devotees of the Lord, who rival the sun in brilliance, everyone present — the performer of the sacrifice, the brāhmaṇas and even the sacrificial fires — stood in respect.
विदेहस्तानभिप्रेत्य नारायणपरायणान् । प्रीत: सम्पूजयां चक्रे आसनस्थान् यथार्हत: ॥ २६ ॥
videhas tān abhipretya nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇān prītaḥ sampūjayāṁ cakre āsana-sthān yathārhataḥ
King Videha [Nimi] understood that the nine sages were exalted devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, overjoyed at their auspicious arrival, he offered them suitable sitting places and worshiped them in a proper way, just as one would worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
तान् रोचमानान् स्वरुचा ब्रह्मपुत्रोपमान् नव । पप्रच्छ परमप्रीत: प्रश्रयावनतो नृप: ॥ २७ ॥
tān rocamānān sva-rucā brahma-putropamān nava papraccha parama-prītaḥ praśrayāvanato nṛpaḥ
Overwhelmed by transcendental joy, the King humbly bowed his head and then proceeded to question the nine sages. These nine great souls glowed with their own effulgence and thus appeared equal to the four Kumāras, the sons of Lord Brahmā.
श्रीविदेह उवाच मन्ये भगवत: साक्षात् पार्षदान् वो मधुद्विष: । विष्णोर्भूतानि लोकानां पावनाय चरन्ति हि ॥ २८ ॥
śrī-videha uvāca manye bhagavataḥ sākṣāt pārṣadān vo madhu-dvisaḥ viṣṇor bhūtāni lokānāṁ pāvanāya caranti hi
King Videha said: I think that you must be direct associates of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is famous as the enemy of the demon Madhu. Indeed, the pure devotees of Lord Viṣṇu wander throughout the universe not for their personal, selfish interest, but to purify all the conditioned souls.
दुर्लभो मानुषो देहो देहिनां क्षणभङ्गुर: । तत्रापि दुर्लभं मन्ये वैकुण्ठप्रियदर्शनम् ॥ २९ ॥
durlabho mānuṣo deho dehināṁ kṣaṇa-bhaṅguraḥ tatrāpi durlabhaṁ manye vaikuṇṭha-priya-darśanam
For the conditioned souls, the human body is most difficult to achieve, and it can be lost at any moment. But I think that even those who have achieved human life rarely gain the association of pure devotees, who are dear to the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha.
अत आत्यन्तिकं क्षेमं पृच्छामो भवतोऽनघा: । संसारेऽस्मिन् क्षणार्धोऽपि सत्सङ्ग: शेवधिर्नृणाम् ॥ ३० ॥
ata ātyantikaṁ kṣemaṁ pṛcchāmo bhavato ’naghāḥ saṁsāre ’smin kṣaṇārdho ’pi sat-saṅgaḥ śevadhir nṛṇām
Therefore, O completely sinless ones, I ask you to kindly tell me what the supreme good is. After all, even half a moment’s association with pure devotees within this world of birth and death is a priceless treasure for any man.
धर्मान् भागवतान् ब्रूत यदि न: श्रुतये क्षमम् । यै: प्रसन्न: प्रपन्नाय दास्यत्यात्मानमप्यज: ॥ ३१ ॥
dharmān bhāgavatān brūta yadi naḥ śrutaye kṣamam yaiḥ prasannaḥ prapannāya dāsyaty ātmānam apy ajaḥ
Please speak about how one engages in the devotional service of the Supreme Lord, if you consider me capable of properly hearing these topics. When a living entity offers loving service to the Supreme Lord, the Lord is immediately satisfied, and in return He will give even His own self to the surrendered soul.
श्रीनारद उवाच एवं ते निमिना पृष्टा वसुदेव महत्तमा: । प्रतिपूज्याब्रुवन् प्रीत्या ससदस्यर्त्विजं नृपम् ॥ ३२ ॥
śrī-nārada uvāca evaṁ te niminā pṛṣṭā vasudeva mahattamāḥ pratipūjyābruvan prītyā sa-sadasyartvijaṁ nṛpam
Śrī Nārada said: O Vasudeva, when Mahārāja Nimi had thus inquired from the nine Yogendras about devotional service to the Lord, those best of saintly persons sincerely thanked the King for his questions and spoke to him with affection in the presence of the members of the sacrificial assembly and the brāhmaṇa priests.
श्रीकविरुवाच मन्येऽकुतश्चिद्भयमच्युतस्य पादाम्बुजोपासनमत्र नित्यम् । उद्विग्नबुद्धेरसदात्मभावाद् विश्वात्मना यत्र निवर्तते भी: ॥ ३३ ॥
śrī-kavir uvāca manye ’kutaścid-bhayam acyutasya pādāmbujopāsanam atra nityam udvigna-buddher asad-ātma-bhāvād viśvātmanā yatra nivartate bhīḥ
Śrī Kavi said: I consider that one whose intelligence is constantly disturbed by his falsely identifying himself with the temporary material world can achieve real freedom from fear only by worshiping the lotus feet of the infallible Supreme Lord. In such devotional service, all fear ceases entirely.
ये वै भगवता प्रोक्ता उपाया ह्यात्मलब्धये । अञ्ज: पुंसामविदुषां विद्धि भागवतान् हि तान् ॥ ३४ ॥
ye vai bhagavatā proktā upāyā hy ātma-labdhaye añjaḥ puṁsām aviduṣāṁ viddhi bhāgavatān hi tān
Even ignorant living entities can very easily come to know the Supreme Lord if they adopt those means prescribed by the Supreme Lord Himself. The process recommended by the Lord is to be known as bhāgavata-dharma, or devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
यानास्थाय नरो राजन् न प्रमाद्येत कर्हिचित् । धावन् निमील्य वा नेत्रे न स्खलेन्न पतेदिह ॥ ३५ ॥
yān āsthāya naro rājan na pramādyeta karhicit dhāvan nimīlya vā netre na skhalen na pated iha
O King, one who accepts this process of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead will never blunder on his path in this world. Even while running with eyes closed, he will never trip or fall.
कायेन वाचा मनसेन्द्रियैर्वा बुद्ध्यात्मना वानुसृतस्वभावात् । करोति यद् यत् सकलं परस्मै नारायणायेति समर्पयेत्तत् ॥ ३६ ॥
kāyena vācā manasendriyair vā buddhyātmanā vānusṛta-svabhāvāt karoti yad yat sakalaṁ parasmai nārāyaṇāyeti samarpayet tat
In accordance with the particular nature one has acquired in conditioned life, whatever one does with body, words, mind, senses, intelligence or purified consciousness one should offer to the Supreme, thinking, “This is for the pleasure of Lord Nārāyaṇa.”
भयं द्वितीयाभिनिवेशत: स्या- दीशादपेतस्य विपर्ययोऽस्मृति: । तन्माययातो बुध आभजेत्तं भक्त्यैकयेशं गुरुदेवतात्मा ॥ ३७ ॥
bhayaṁ dvitīyābhiniveśataḥ syād īśād apetasya viparyayo ’smṛtiḥ tan-māyayāto budha ābhajet taṁ bhaktyaikayeśaṁ guru-devatātmā
Fear arises when a living entity misidentifies himself as the material body because of absorption in the external, illusory energy of the Lord. When the living entity thus turns away from the Supreme Lord, he also forgets his own constitutional position as a servant of the Lord. This bewildering, fearful condition is effected by the potency for illusion, called māyā. Therefore, an intelligent person should engage unflinchingly in the unalloyed devotional service of the Lord, under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, whom he should accept as his worshipable deity and as his very life and soul.
अविद्यमानोऽप्यवभाति हि द्वयो ध्यातुर्धिया स्वप्नमनोरथौ यथा । तत् कर्मसङ्कल्पविकल्पकं मनो बुधो निरुन्ध्यादभयं तत: स्यात् ॥ ३८ ॥
avidyamāno ’py avabhāti hi dvayo dhyātur dhiyā svapna-manorathau yathā tat karma-saṅkalpa-vikalpakaṁ mano budho nirundhyād abhayaṁ tataḥ syāt
Although the duality of the material world does not ultimately exist, the conditioned soul experiences it as real under the influence of his own conditioned intelligence. This imaginary experience of a world separate from Kṛṣṇa can be compared to the acts of dreaming and desiring. When the conditioned soul dreams at night of something desirable or horrible, or when he daydreams of what he would like to have or avoid, he creates a reality that has no existence beyond his own imagination. The tendency of the mind is to accept and reject various activities based on sense gratification. Therefore an intelligent person should control the mind, restricting it from the illusion of seeing things separate from Kṛṣṇa, and when the mind is thus controlled he will experience actual fearlessness.
शृण्वन् सुभद्राणि रथाङ्गपाणे- र्जन्मानि कर्माणि च यानि लोके । गीतानि नामानि तदर्थकानि गायन् विलज्जो विचरेदसङ्ग: ॥ ३९ ॥
śṛṇvan su-bhadrāṇi rathāṅga-pāṇer janmāni karmāṇi ca yāni loke gītāni nāmāni tad-arthakāni gāyan vilajjo vicared asaṅgaḥ
An intelligent person who has controlled his mind and conquered fear should give up all attachment to material objects such as wife, family and nation and should wander freely without embarrassment, hearing and chanting the holy names of the Lord, the bearer of the chariot wheel. The holy names of Kṛṣṇa are all-auspicious because they describe His transcendental birth and activities, which He performs within this world for the salvation of the conditioned souls. Thus the holy names of the Lord are sung throughout the world.
एवंव्रत: स्वप्रियनामकीर्त्या जातानुरागो द्रुतचित्त उच्चै: । हसत्यथो रोदिति रौति गाय- त्युन्मादवन्नृत्यति लोकबाह्य: ॥ ४० ॥
evaṁ-vrataḥ sva-priya-nāma-kīrtyā jātānurāgo druta-citta uccaiḥ hasaty atho roditi rauti gāyaty unmāda-van nṛtyati loka-bāhyaḥ
By chanting the holy name of the Supreme Lord, one comes to the stage of love of Godhead. Then the devotee is fixed in his vow as an eternal servant of the Lord, and he gradually becomes very much attached to a particular name and form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As his heart melts with ecstatic love, he laughs very loudly or cries or shouts. Sometimes he sings and dances like a madman, for he is indifferent to public opinion.
खं वायुमग्निं सलिलं महीं च ज्योतींषि सत्त्वानि दिशो द्रुमादीन् । सरित्समुद्रांश्च हरे: शरीरं यत् किंच भूतं प्रणमेदनन्य: ॥ ४१ ॥
khaṁ vāyum agniṁ salilaṁ mahīṁ ca jyotīṁṣi sattvāni diśo drumādīn sarit-samudrāṁś ca hareḥ śarīraṁ yat kiṁ ca bhūtaṁ praṇamed ananyaḥ
A devotee should not see anything as being separate from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. Ether, fire, air, water, earth, the sun and other luminaries, all living beings, the directions, trees and other plants, the rivers and oceans — whatever a devotee experiences he should consider to be an expansion of Kṛṣṇa. Thus seeing everything that exists within creation as the body of the Supreme Lord, Hari, the devotee should offer his sincere respects to the entire expansion of the Lord’s body.
भक्ति: परेशानुभवो विरक्ति- रन्यत्र चैष त्रिक एककाल: । प्रपद्यमानस्य यथाश्नत: स्यु- स्तुष्टि: पुष्टि: क्षुदपायोऽनुघासम् ॥ ४२ ॥
bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir anyatra caiṣa trika eka-kālaḥ prapadyamānasya yathāśnataḥ syus tuṣṭiḥ puṣṭiḥ kṣud-apāyo ’nu-ghāsam
Devotion, direct experience of the Supreme Lord, and detachment from other things — these three occur simultaneously for one who has taken shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in the same way that pleasure, nourishment and relief from hunger come simultaneously and increasingly, with each bite, for a person engaged in eating.
इत्यच्युताङ्घ्रि भजतोऽनुवृत्त्या भक्तिर्विरक्तिर्भगवत्प्रबोध: । भवन्ति वै भागवतस्य राजं- स्तत: परां शान्तिमुपैति साक्षात् ॥ ४३ ॥
ity acyutāṅghriṁ bhajato ’nuvṛttyā bhaktir viraktir bhagavat-prabodhaḥ bhavanti vai bhāgavatasya rājaṁs tataḥ parāṁ śāntim upaiti sākṣāt
My dear King, the devotee who worships the lotus feet of the infallible Personality of Godhead with constant endeavor thus achieves unflinching devotion, detachment and experienced knowledge of the Personality of Godhead. In this way the successful devotee of the Lord achieves supreme spiritual peace.
श्रीराजोवाच अथ भागवतं ब्रूत यद्धर्मो यादृशो नृणाम् । यथा चरति यद् ब्रूते यैर्लिङ्गैर्भगवत्प्रिय: ॥ ४४ ॥
śrī-rājovāca atha bhāgavataṁ brūta yad-dharmo yādṛśo nṛṇām yathācarati yad brūte yair liṅgair bhagavat-priyaḥ
Mahārāja Nimi said: Now please tell me in greater detail about the devotees of the Supreme Lord. What are the natural symptoms by which I can distinguish between the most advanced devotees, those on the middle level and those who are neophytes? What are the typical religious activities of a Vaiṣṇava, and how does he speak? Specifically, please describe those symptoms and characteristics by which Vaiṣṇavas become dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
श्रीहविरुवाच सर्वभूतेषु य: पश्येद् भगवद्भावमात्मन: । भूतानि भगवत्यात्मन्येष भागवतोत्तम: ॥ ४५ ॥
śrī-havir uvāca sarva-bhūteṣu yaḥ paśyed bhagavad-bhāvam ātmanaḥ bhūtāni bhagavaty ātmany eṣa bhāgavatottamaḥ
Śrī Havir said: The most advanced devotee sees within everything the soul of all souls, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Consequently he sees everything in relation to the Supreme Lord and understands that everything that exists is eternally situated within the Lord.
ईश्वरे तदधीनेषु बालिशेषु द्विषत्सु च । प्रेममैत्रीकृपोपेक्षा य: करोति स मध्यम: ॥ ४६ ॥
īśvare tad-adhīneṣu bāliśeṣu dviṣatsu ca prema-maitrī-kṛpopekṣā yaḥ karoti sa madhyamaḥ
An intermediate or second-class devotee, called madhyama-adhikārī, offers his love to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is a sincere friend to all the devotees of the Lord, shows mercy to ignorant people who are innocent and disregards those who are envious of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
अर्चायामेव हरये पूजां य: श्रद्धयेहते । न तद्भक्तेषु चान्येषु स भक्त: प्राकृत: स्मृत: ॥ ४७ ॥
arcāyām eva haraye pūjāṁ yaḥ śraddhayehate na tad-bhakteṣu cānyeṣu sa bhaktaḥ prākṛtaḥ smṛtaḥ
A devotee who faithfully engages in the worship of the Deity in the temple but does not behave properly toward other devotees or people in general is called a prākṛta-bhakta, a materialistic devotee, and is considered to be in the lowest position.
गृहीत्वापीन्द्रियैरर्थान्यो न द्वेष्टि न हृष्यति । विष्णोर्मायामिदं पश्यन्स वै भागवतोत्तम: ॥ ४८ ॥
gṛhītvāpīndriyair arthān yo na dveṣṭi na hṛṣyati viṣṇor māyām idaṁ paśyan sa vai bhāgavatottamaḥ
Even while engaging his senses in contact with their objects, one who sees this whole world as the energy of Lord Viṣṇu is neither repelled nor elated. He is indeed the greatest among devotees.
देहेन्द्रियप्राणमनोधियां यो जन्माप्ययक्षुद्भयतर्षकृच्छ्रै: । संसारधर्मैरविमुह्यमान: स्मृत्या हरेर्भागवतप्रधान: ॥ ४९ ॥
dehendriya-prāṇa-mano-dhiyāṁ yo janmāpyaya-kṣud-bhaya-tarṣa-kṛcchraiḥ saṁsāra-dharmair avimuhyamānaḥ smṛtyā harer bhāgavata-pradhānaḥ
Within the material world, one’s material body is always subject to birth and decay. Similarly, the life air [prāṇa] is harassed by hunger and thirst, the mind is always anxious, the intelligence hankers for that which cannot be obtained, and all of the senses are ultimately exhausted by constant struggle in the material nature. A person who is not bewildered by the inevitable miseries of material existence, and who remains aloof from them simply by remembering the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is to be considered bhāgavata-pradhāna, the foremost devotee of the Lord.
न कामकर्मबीजानां यस्य चेतसि सम्भव: । वासुदेवैकनिलय: स वै भागवतोत्तम: ॥ ५० ॥
na kāma-karma-bījānāṁ yasya cetasi sambhavaḥ vāsudevaika-nilayaḥ sa vai bhāgavatottamaḥ
One who has taken exclusive shelter of the Supreme Lord, Vāsudeva, becomes free from fruitive activities, which are based on material lust. In fact, one who has taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord is freed from even the desire to enjoy material sense gratification. Plans for enjoying sex life, social prestige and money cannot develop within his mind. Thus he is considered bhāgavatottama, a pure devotee of the Lord on the highest platform.
न यस्य जन्मकर्मभ्यां न वर्णाश्रमजातिभि: । सज्जतेऽस्मिन्नहंभावो देहे वै स हरे: प्रिय: ॥ ५१ ॥
na yasya janma-karmabhyāṁ na varṇāśrama-jātibhiḥ sajjate ’sminn ahaṁ-bhāvo dehe vai sa hareḥ priyaḥ
Birth in an aristocratic family and the execution of austere and pious activities certainly cause one to take pride in himself. Similarly, if one enjoys a prestigious position within society because his parents are highly respected members of the varṇāśrama social system, one becomes even more infatuated with himself. But if despite these excellent material qualifications one does not feel even a tinge of pride within himself, he is to be considered the dearmost servitor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
न यस्य स्व: पर इति वित्तेष्वात्मनि वा भिदा । सर्वभूतसम: शान्त: स वै भागवतोत्तम: ॥ ५२ ॥
na yasya svaḥ para iti vitteṣv ātmani vā bhidā sarva-bhūta-samaḥ śāntaḥ sa vai bhāgavatottamaḥ
When a devotee gives up the selfish conception by which one thinks “This is my property, and that is his,” and when he is no longer concerned with the pleasures of his own material body or indifferent to the discomforts of others, he becomes fully peaceful and satisfied. He considers himself simply one among all the living beings who are equally part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such a satisfied Vaiṣṇava is considered to be at the highest standard of devotional service.
त्रिभुवनविभवहेतवेऽप्यकुण्ठ- स्मृतिरजितात्मसुरादिभिर्विमृग्यात् । न चलति भगवत्पदारविन्दा- ल्लवनिमिषार्धमपि य: स वैष्णवाग्य्र: ॥ ५३ ॥
tri-bhuvana-vibhava-hetave ’py akuṇṭha- smṛtir ajitātma-surādibhir vimṛgyāt na calati bhagavat-padāravindāl lava-nimiṣārdham api yaḥ sa vaiṣṇavāgryaḥ
The lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are sought even by the greatest of demigods, such as Brahmā and Śiva, who have all accepted the Supreme Personality of Godhead as their life and soul. A pure devotee of the Lord can never forget those lotus feet in any circumstance. He will not give up his shelter at the lotus feet of the Lord for a single moment — indeed, not for half a moment — even in exchange for the benediction of ruling and enjoying the opulence of the entire universe. Such a devotee of the Lord is to be considered the best of the Vaiṣṇavas.
भगवत उरुविक्रमाङ्घ्रिशाखा- नखमणिचन्द्रिकया निरस्ततापे । हृदि कथमुपसीदतां पुन: स प्रभवति चन्द्र इवोदितेऽर्कताप: ॥ ५४ ॥
bhagavata uru-vikramāṅghri-śākhā- nakha-maṇi-candrikayā nirasta-tāpe hṛdi katham upasīdatāṁ punaḥ sa prabhavati candra ivodite ’rka-tāpaḥ
How can the fire of material suffering continue to burn the hearts of those who worship the Supreme Lord? The Lord’s lotus feet have performed innumerable heroic deeds, and the beautiful nails on His toes resemble valuable jewels. The effulgence emanating from those nails resembles cooling moonshine, for it instantly relieves the suffering within the heart of the pure devotee, just as the appearance of the moon’s cooling light relieves the burning heat of the sun.
विसृजति हृदयं न यस्य साक्षा- द्धरिरवशाभिहितोऽप्यघौघनाश: । प्रणयरसनया धृताङ्घ्रिपद्म: स भवति भागवतप्रधान उक्त: ॥ ५५ ॥
visṛjati hṛdayaṁ na yasya sākṣād dharir avaśābhihito ’py aghaugha-nāśaḥ praṇaya-rasanayā dhṛtāṅghri-padmaḥ sa bhavati bhāgavata-pradhāna uktaḥ
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is so kind to the conditioned souls that if they call upon Him by speaking His holy name, even unintentionally or unwillingly, the Lord is inclined to destroy innumerable sinful reactions in their hearts. Therefore, when a devotee who has taken shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet chants the holy name of Kṛṣṇa with genuine love, the Supreme Personality of Godhead can never give up the heart of such a devotee. One who has thus captured the Supreme Lord within his heart is to be known as bhāgavata-pradhāna, the most exalted devotee of the Lord.
