Vaishnava Seva-The Only Hope

2010-10-14
Srimad Bhagavatam 09.04.57-63 - Vaishnava Seva-The Only Hope (download mp3)
by Jagannath Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty
www.iskcondesiretree.net





 SB 9.4.57-59
aham sanat-kumaras ca
narado bhagavan ajah
kapilo 'pantaratamo
devalo dharma asurih
marici-pramukhas canye
siddhesah para-darsanah
vidama na vayam sarve
yan-mayam mayayavrtah
tasya visvesvarasyedam
sastram durvisaham hi nah
tam evam saranam yahi
haris te sam vidhasyati

Translation:
Past, present and future are known to me [Lord Siva], Sanat-kumara, Narada, the most revered Lord Brahma, Kapila [the son of Devahuti], Apantaratama [Lord Vyasadeva], Devala, Yamaraja, Asuri, Marici and many saintly persons headed by him, as well as many others who have achieved perfection. Nonetheless, because we are covered by the illusory energy of the Lord, we cannot understand how expansive that illusory energy is. You should simply approach that Supreme Personality of Godhead to get relief, for this Sudarsana cakra is intolerable even to us. Go to Lord Visnu. He will certainly be kind enough to bestow all good fortune upon you.

SB 9.4.60
tato niraso durvasah
padam bhagavato yayau
vaikunthakhyam yad adhyaste
srinivasah sriya saha

Translation:
Thereafter, being disappointed even in taking shelter of Lord Siva, Durvasa Muni went to Vaikutha-dhama, where the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, resides with His consort, the goddess of fortune.

SB 9.4.61
sandahyamano 'jita-sastra-vahnina
tat-pada-mule patitah savepathuh
ahacyutananta sad-ipsita prabho
krtagasam mavahi visva-bhavana

Translation:
Durvasa Muni, the great mystic, scorched by the heat of the Sudarsana cakra, fell at the lotus feet of Narayana. His body trembling, he spoke as follows: O infallible, unlimited Lord, protector of the entire universe, You are the only desirable objective for all devotees. I am a great offender, my Lord. Please give me protection.

SB 9.4.62
ajanata te paramanubhavam
krtam mayagham bhavatah priyanam
vidhehi tasyapacitim vidhatar
mucyeta yan-namny udite narako 'pi

Translation:
O my Lord, O supreme controller, without knowledge of Your unlimited prowess I have offended Your most dear devotee. Very kindly save me from the reaction of this offense. You can do everything, for even if a person is fit for going to hell, You can deliver him simply by awakening within his heart the holy name of Your Lordship.

SB 9.4.63
sri-bhagavan uvaca
aham bhakta-paradhino
hy asvatantra iva dvija
sadhubhir grasta-hrdayo
bhaktair bhakta-jana-priyah

Translation:
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said to the brahmana: I am completely under the control of My devotees. Indeed, I am not at all independent. Because My devotees are completely devoid of material desires, I sit only within the cores of their hearts. What to speak of My devotee, even those who are devotees of My devotee are very dear to Me.

Purport:
All the great stalwart personalities in the universe, including Lord Brahma and Lord Siva, are fully under the control of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but the Supreme Personality of Godhead is fully under the control of His devotee. Why is this? Because the devotee is anyabhilasita-sunya; in other words, he has no material desires in his heart. His only desire is to think always of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and how to serve Him best. Because of this transcendental qualification, the Supreme Lord is extremely favorable to the devotees indeed, not only the devotees, but also the devotees of the devotees. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura says, chadiya vaisnava-seva nistara payeche keba: without being a devotee of a devotee, one cannot be released from material entanglement. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu identified Himself as gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanudasah [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. Thus he instructed us to become not directly servants of Krsna but servants of the servant of Krsna. Devotees like Brahma, Narada, Vyasadeva and Sukadeva Gosvami are directly servants of Krsna, and one who becomes a servant of Narada, Vyasadeva and Sukadeva, like the six Gosvamis, is still more devoted. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura therefore says, yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah: ** if one very sincerely serves the spiritual master, Krsna certainly becomes favorable to such a devotee. Following the instructions of a devotee is more valuable than following the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead directly.