Preserving Culture Of Respect And Gratitude

2010-08-15
Srimad Bhagavatam 08.24.39-46 - Preserving Culture Of Respect And Gratitude (download mp3)
by Sridama Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty
www.iskcondesiretree.net





 SB 8.24.39
ittham adisya rajanam
harir antaradhiyata
so 'nvavaiksata tam kalam
yam hrsikesa adisat

Translation:
After thus instructing the King, the Supreme Personality of Godhead immediately disappeared. Then King Satyavrata began to wait for that time of which the Lord had instructed.

SB 8.24.40
astirya darbhan prak-kulan
rajarsih prag-udan-mukhah
nisasada hareh padau
cintayan matsya-rupinah

Translation:
After spreading kusa with its tips pointing east, the saintly King, himself facing the northeast, sat down on the grass and began to meditate upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, who had assumed the form of a fish.

SB 8.24.41
tatah samudra udvelah
sarvatah plavayan mahim
vardhamano maha-meghair
varsadbhih samadrsyata

Translation:
Thereafter, gigantic clouds pouring incessant water swelled the ocean more and more. Thus the ocean began to overflow onto the land and inundate the entire world.

SB 8.24.42
dhyayan bhagavad-adesam
dadrse navam agatam
tam aruroha viprendrair
adayausadhi-virudhah

Translation:
As Satyavrata remembered the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he saw a boat coming near him. Thus he collected herbs and creepers, and, accompanied by saintly brahmanas, he got aboard the boat.

SB 8.24.43
tam ucur munayah prita
rajan dhyayasva kesavam
sa vai nah sankatad asmad
avita sam vidhasyati

Translation:
The saintly brahmanas, being pleased with the King, said to him: O King, please meditate upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kesava. He will save us from this impending danger and arrange for our well-being.

SB 8.24.44
so 'nudhyatas tato rajña
pradurasin maharnave
eka-srnga-dharo matsyo
haimo niyuta-yojanah

Translation:
Then, while the King constantly meditated upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, a large golden fish appeared in the ocean of inundation. The fish had one horn and was eight million miles long.

SB 8.24.45
nibadhya navam tac-chrnge
yathokto harina pura
varatrenahina tustas
tustava madhusudanam

Translation:
Following the instructions formerly given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the King anchored the boat to the fish's horn, using the serpent Vasuki as a rope. Thus being satisfied, he began offering prayers to the Lord.

SB 8.24.46
sri-rajovaca
anady-avidyopahatatma-samvidas
tan-mula-samsara-parisramaturah
yadrcchayopasrta yam apnuyur
vimuktido nah paramo gurur bhavan

Translation:
The King said: By the grace of the Lord, those who have lost their self-knowledge since time immemorial, and who because of this ignorance are involved in a material, conditional life full of miseries, obtain the chance to meet the Lord's devotee. I accept that Supreme Personality of Godhead as the supreme spiritual master.

Purport:
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is actually the supreme spiritual master. The Supreme Lord knows everything about the suffering of the conditioned soul, and therefore He appears in this material world, sometimes personally, sometimes by an incarnation and sometimes by authorizing a living being to act on His behalf. In all cases, however, He is the original spiritual master who enlightens the conditioned souls who are suffering in the material world. The Lord is always busy helping the conditioned souls in many ways. Therefore He is addressed here as paramo gurur bhavan. The representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead who acts to spread Krsna consciousness is also guided by the Supreme Lord to act properly in executing the Lord's order. Such a person may appear to be an ordinary human being, but because he acts on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the supreme spiritual master, he is not to be neglected as ordinary. It is therefore said, acaryam mam vijaniyat [SB 11.17.27]: an acarya who acts on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead should be understood to be as good as the Supreme Lord Himself.

saksad dharitvena samasta-sastrair
uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih
kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya
vande guroh sri-caranaravindam **

Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has advised that the spiritual master acting on the Supreme Lord's behalf must be worshiped as being as good as the Supreme Lord, for he is the Lord's most confidential servant in broadcasting the Lord's message for the benefit of the conditioned souls involved in the material world.