Pure Devotee Never Hankers For Benedictions

2011-05-29
Srimad Bhagavatam 09.21.13-16 - Pure Devotee Never Hankers For Benedictions (downloadmp3)
by Shreenathji Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty
www.iskcondesiretree.net





SB 9.21.13
ksut-trt-sramo gatra-paribhramas ca
dainyam klamah soka-visada-mohah
sarve nivrttah krpanasya jantor
jijivisor jiva-jalarpanan me

Translation: 
By offering my water to maintain the life of this poor candala, who is struggling to live, I have been freed from all hunger, thirst, fatigue, trembling of the body, moroseness, distress, lamentation and illusion.

SB 9.21.14
iti prabhasya paniyam
mriyamanah pipasaya
pulkasayadadad dhiro
nisarga-karuno nrpah

Translation: 
Having spoken thus, King Rantideva, although on the verge of death because of thirst, gave his own portion of water to the candala without hesitation, for the King was naturally very kind and sober.

SB 9.21.15
tasya tribhuvanadhisah
phaladah phalam icchatam
atmanam darsayam cakrur
maya visnu-vinirmitah

Translation: 
Demigods like Lord Brahma and Lord Siva, who can satisfy all materially ambitious men by giving them the rewards they desire, then manifested their own identities before King Rantideva, for it was they who had presented themselves as the brahmana, sudra, candala and so on.


SB 9.21.16
sa vai tebhyo namaskrtya
nihsango vigata-sprhah
vasudeve bhagavati
bhaktya cakre manah param

Translation: 
King Rantideva had no ambition to enjoy material benefits from the demigods. He offered them obeisances, but because he was factually attached to Lord Visnu, Vasudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he fixed his mind at Lord Visnu's lotus feet.

Purport: 
Srila Narottama dasa Thakura has sung:

anya devasraya nai, tomare kahinu bhai,
ei bhakti parama karana

If one wants to become a pure devotee of the Supreme Lord, one should not hanker to take benedictions from the demigods. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (7.20), kamais tais tair hrta jñanah prapadyante 'nya-devatah: those befooled by the illusion of the material energy worship gods other than the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, although Rantideva was personally able to see Lord Brahma and Lord Siva, he did not hanker to take material benefits from them. Rather, he fixed his mind upon Lord Vasudeva and rendered devotional service unto Him. This is the sign of a pure devotee, whose heart is not adulterated by material desires.

anyabhilasita-sunyam
jñana-karmady-anavrtam
anukulyena krsnanu-
silanam bhaktir uttama
[Cc. Madhya 19.167]

"One should render transcendental loving service to the Supreme Lord Krsna favorably and without desire for material profit or gain through fruitive activities or philosophical speculation. That is called pure devotional service."