Canto 1: CreationChapter 19: The Appearance of Śukadeva Gosvāmī

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 1.19.32

parīkshid uvāca

aho adya vayam brahman

sat-sevyāh kshatra-bandhavah

kripayātithi-rūpena

bhavadbhis tīrthakāh kritāh

SYNONYMS

parīkshit uvāca — the fortunate Mahārāja Parīkshit said; aho — ah; adya — today; vayam — we; brahmanO brāhmana; sat-sevyāh — eligible to serve the devotee; kshatra — the ruling class; bandhavah — friends; kripayā — by your mercy; atithi-rūpenain the manner of a guest; bhavadbhih — by your good self; tīrthakāh — qualified for being places of pilgrimage; kritāh — done by you.

TRANSLATION

The fortunate King Parīkshit said: O brāhmana, by your mercy only, you have sanctified us, making us like unto places of pilgrimage, all by your presence here as my guest. By your mercy, we, who are but unworthy royalty, become eligible to serve the devotee.

PURPORT

Saintly devotees like Śukadeva Gosvāmī generally do not approach worldly enjoyers, especially those in royal orders. Mahārāja Pratāparudra was a follower of Lord Caitanya, but when he wanted to see the Lord, the Lord refused to see him because he was a king. For a devotee who desires to go back to Godhead, two things are strictly prohibited: worldly enjoyers and women. Therefore, devotees of the standard of Śukadeva Gosvāmī are never interested in seeing kings. Mahārāja Parīkshit was, of course, a different case. He was a great devotee, although a king, and therefore Śukadeva Gosvāmī came to see him in his last stage of life. Mahārāja Parīkshit, out of his devotional humility, felt himself an unworthy descendant of his great kshatriya forefathers, although he was as great as his predecessors. The unworthy sons of the royal orders are called kshatra-bandhavas, as the unworthy sons of the brāhmanas are called dvija-bandhus or brahma-bandhus. Mahārāja Parīkshit was greatly encouraged by the presence of Śukadeva Gosvāmī. He felt himself sanctified by the presence of the great saint whose presence turns any place into a place of pilgrimage.

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