Shloka 12
Brahmā’s Prayers to Lord Nārāyaṇa and the Lord’s Empowering Instructions for Creation
नातिप्रसीदति तथोपचितोपचारै- राराधित: सुरगणैर्हृदिबद्धकामै: । यत्सर्वभूतदययासदलभ्ययैको नानाजनेष्ववहित: सुहृदन्तरात्मा ॥ १२ ॥
nātiprasīdati tathopacitopacārair ārādhitaḥ sura-gaṇair hṛdi baddha-kāmaiḥ yat sarva-bhūta-dayayāsad-alabhyayaiko nānā-janeṣv avahitaḥ suhṛd antar-ātmā
হে প্রভু! হৃদয়ে কামনা বেঁধে রাখা দেবগণ নানা উপচারে জাঁকজমক করে পূজা করলেও আপনি তাতে বিশেষ প্রসন্ন হন না। আপনি সকলের হৃদয়ে অন্তর্যামী সুহৃদ্রূপে করুণায় অবস্থান করেন, কিন্তু অভক্তের কাছে আপনি দুর্লভ।
The demigods in the celestial heavenly planets, who are appointed administrators of the material affairs, are also devotees of the Lord. But, at the same time, they have desires for material opulence and sense gratification. The Lord is so kind that He awards them all sorts of material happiness, more than they can desire, but He is not satisfied with them because they are not pure devotees. The Lord does not want any one of His innumerable sons (the living entities) to remain in the material world of threefold miseries to perpetually suffer the material pangs of birth, death, old age and disease. The demigods in the heavenly planets, and many devotees on this planet also, want to remain in the material world as devotees of the Lord and take advantage of material happiness. They do so at a risk of falling down to the lower status of existence, and this makes the Lord dissatisfied with them.
FAQs
This verse teaches that the Lord is not especially satisfied merely by elaborate ritual offerings—even from demigods—if the worshiper is driven by desire; He is approached through sincere compassion and purity of heart.
Brahmā recognizes that the Lord resides as the indwelling Supersoul in everyone; therefore, mercy toward all living entities is direct alignment with the Lord’s presence and is more pleasing than showy worship.
Practice devotion with kindness: avoid harm, serve others, and cultivate empathy—seeing every being as connected to the Lord within—rather than relying only on external religious performance.