Canto 11: General HistoryChapter 19: The Perfection of Spiritual Knowledge

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 11.19.20-24

sraddhamrta-kathayam me

sasvan mad-anukirtanam

parinistha ca pujayam

stutibhih stavanam mama

adarah paricaryayam

sarvangair abhivandanam

mad-bhakta-pujabhyadhika

sarva-bhutesu man-matih

mad-arthesv anga-cesta ca

vacasa mad-guneranam

mayy arpanam ca manasah

sarva-kama-vivarjanam

mad-arthe 'rtha-parityago

bhogasya ca sukhasya ca

istam dattam hutam japtam

mad-artham yad vratam tapah

evam dharmair manusyanam

uddhavatma-nivedinam

mayi sanjayate bhaktih

ko 'nyo 'rtho 'syavasisyate

SYNONYMS

sraddha -- faith; amrta -- in the nectar; kathayam -- of narrations; me -- about Me; sasvat -- always; mat -- of Me; anukirtanam -- chanting the glories; parinistha -- fixed in attachment; ca -- also; pujayam -- in worshiping Me; stutibhih -- with beautiful hymns; stavanam -- formal prayers; mama -- in relation to Me; adarah -- great respect; paricaryayam -- for My devotional service; sarva-angaih -- with all the limbs of the body; abhivandanam -- offering obeisances; mat -- My; bhakta -- of the devotees; puja -- worship; abhyadhika -- preeminent; sarva-bhutesu -- in all living entities; mat -- of Me; matih -- consciousness; mat-arthesu -- for the sake of serving Me; anga-cesta -- ordinary, bodily activities; ca -- also; vacasa -- with words; mat-guna -- My transcendental qualities; iranam -- declaring; mayi -- in Me; arpanam -- placing; ca -- also; manasah -- of the mind; sarva-kama -- of all material desires; vivarjanam -- rejection; mat-arthe -- for My sake; artha -- of wealth; parityagah -- the giving up; bhogasya -- of sense gratification; ca -- also; sukhasya -- of material happiness; ca -- also; istam -- desirable activities; dattam -- charity; hutam -- offering of sacrifice; japtam -- chanting the holy names of the Lord; mat-artham -- for the sake of achieving Me; yat -- which; vratam -- vows, such as fasting on Ekadasi; tapah -- austerities; evam -- thus; dharmaih -- by such religious principles; manusyanam -- of human beings; uddhava -- Mv dear Uddhava; atma-nivedinam -- who are surrendered souls; mayi -- to Me; sanjayate -- arises; bhaktih -- loving devotion; kah -- what; anyah -- other; arthah -- purpose; asya -- of My devotee; avasisyate -- remains.

TRANSLATION

Firm faith in the blissful narration of My pastimes, constant chanting of My glories, unwavering attachment to ceremonial worship of Me, praising Me through beautiful hymns, great respect for My devotional service, offering obeisances with the entire body, performing first-class worship of My devotees, consciousness of Me in all living entities, offering of ordinary, bodily activities in My devotional service, use of words to describe My qualities, offering the mind to Me, rejection of all material desires, giving up wealth for My devotional service, renouncing material sense gratification and happiness, and performing all desirable activities such as charity, sacrifice, chanting, vows and austerities with the purpose of achieving Me -- these constitute actual religious principles, by which those human beings who have actually surrendered themselves to Me automatically develop love for Me. What other purpose or goal could remain for My devotee?

PURPORT

The words mad-bhakta-pujabhyadhika are significant in this verse. Abhyadhika indicates "superior quality." The Lord is extremely satisfied with those who offer worship to His pure devotees, and He rewards them accordingly. Because of the Lord's generous appraisal of His pure devotees, worship of the pure devotees is described as superior to worship of the Lord Himself. The words mad-arthesv anga-cesta state that ordinary, bodily activities such as brushing the teeth, taking bath, eating, etc., should all be offered to the Supreme Lord as devotional service. The words vacasa mad-guneranam indicate that whether one speaks in ordinary, crude language or with learned poetic eloquence, one should describe the glories of the Personality of Godhead. The words mad-arthe 'rtha-parityagah indicate that one should spend one's money for festivals glorifying the Personality of Godhead, such as Ratha-yatra, Janmastami and Gaura-purnima. Also, one is herein instructed to spend money to assist the mission of one's spiritual master and other Vaisnavas. Wealth that cannot be used properly in the Lord's service and is thus an impediment to one's clear consciousness should be given up entirely. The word bhogasya refers to sense gratification, headed by sex enjoyment, and sukhasya refers to sentimental material happiness, such as excessive family attachment. The words dattam hutam indicate that one should offer to brahmanas and Vaisnavas first-class foods cooked in ghee. One should offer the vibration svaha to Lord Visnu in an authorized sacrificial fire along with grains and ghee. The word japtam indicates that one should constantly chant the holy names of the Lord.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
His Holiness Hrdayananda dasa Goswami
Gopiparanadhana dasa Adhikari
Dravida dasa Brahmacari