Shloka 11
Brahmā’s Prayers to Lord Nārāyaṇa and the Lord’s Empowering Instructions for Creation
त्वं भक्तियोगपरिभावितहृत्सरोज आस्से श्रुतेक्षितपथो ननु नाथ पुंसाम् । यद्यद्धिया त उरुगाय विभावयन्ति तत्तद्वपु: प्रणयसे सदनुग्रहाय ॥ ११ ॥
tvaṁ bhakti-yoga-paribhāvita-hṛt-saroja āsse śrutekṣita-patho nanu nātha puṁsām yad-yad-dhiyā ta urugāya vibhāvayanti tat-tad-vapuḥ praṇayase sad-anugrahāya
হে নাথ! ভক্তিযোগে পরিশুদ্ধ হৃদয়-পদ্মে আপনি শুদ্ধ শ্রবণের পথেই প্রকাশিত হন এবং সেখানে আসন গ্রহণ করেন। হে উরুগায়! ভক্তরা যে চিরন্তন রূপে আপনাকে ধ্যান করে, অনুগ্রহ করে আপনি সেই রূপেই প্রকাশ পান।
The statement here that the Lord manifests Himself before the devotee in the form in which the devotee likes to worship Him indicates that the Lord becomes subordinate to the desire of the devotee — so much so that He manifests His particular form as the devotee demands. This demand of the devotee is satisfied by the Lord because He is pliable in terms of the transcendental loving service of the devotee. This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (4.11) : ye yathā māṁ prapadyante tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham. We should note, however, that the Lord is never the order supplier of the devotee. Here in this verse it is particularly mentioned: tvaṁ bhakti-yoga-paribhāvita. This indicates the efficiency achieved through execution of matured devotional service, or prema, love of Godhead. This state of prema is achieved by the gradual process of development from faith to love. On faith one associates with bona fide devotees, and by such association one can become engaged in bona fide devotional service, which includes proper initiation and the execution of the primary devotional duties prescribed in the revealed scriptures. This is clearly indicated herein by the word śrutekṣita. The śrutekṣita path is to hear from bona fide devotees who are conversant with Vedic wisdom, free from mundane sentiment. By this bona fide hearing process, the neophyte devotee becomes cleansed of all material rubbish, and thus he becomes attached to one of the many transcendental forms of the Lord, as described in the Vedas.
FAQs
This verse says the Lord dwells in the lotus-heart that has been awakened by bhakti-yoga, becoming personally present to the devotee through devotion.
Brahmā praises the Supreme as “Urugāya,” the greatly glorified Lord, emphasizing that the Lord responds to devotees by revealing the very form they lovingly contemplate.
Practice bhakti through hearing sacred teachings and steady meditation on the Lord’s form; sincerity and devotion invite inner clarity and a living sense of divine presence.