Shloka 23
Aditi’s Lament and Kaśyapa’s Instruction of the Payo-vrata (Milk Vow) to Please Keśava
आदिश त्वं द्विजश्रेष्ठ विधिं तदुपधावनम् । आशु तुष्यति मे देव: सीदन्त्या: सह पुत्रकै: ॥ २३ ॥
ādiśa tvaṁ dvija-śreṣṭha vidhiṁ tad-upadhāvanam āśu tuṣyati me devaḥ sīdantyāḥ saha putrakaiḥ
O best of brāhmaṇas, please instruct me in the flawless method and order of worship, by which my Lord will quickly be pleased. I am afflicted, along with my sons, in a most perilous condition; by worshiping Him with bhakti, may the Lord swiftly deliver us from this dreadful plight.
Sometimes less intelligent men ask whether one has to approach a guru to be instructed in devotional service for spiritual advancement. The answer is given here — indeed, not only here, but also in Bhagavad-gītā, where Arjuna accepted Kṛṣṇa as his guru ( śiṣyas te ’haṁ śādhi māṁ tvāṁ prapannam ). The Vedas also instruct, tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa guruṁ evābhigacchet: one must accept a guru for proper direction if one is seriously inclined toward advancement in spiritual life. The Lord says that one must worship the ācārya, who is the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead ( ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyāt ). One should definitely understand this. In Caitanya-caritāmṛta it is said that the guru is the manifestation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, according to all the evidence given by the śāstra and by the practical behavior of devotees, one must accept a guru. Aditi accepted her husband as her guru, so that he would direct her how to advance in spiritual consciousness, devotional service, by worshiping the Supreme Lord.
FAQs
Payovrata is a devotional vow involving regulated worship and purity, performed to please Lord Vishnu; here Aditi asks Kashyapa to teach its correct procedure so the Lord may be satisfied.
Aditi was distressed along with her sons and sought a dharmic, devotional remedy; she understood that correct, guided observance of the vow would quickly please Lord Vishnu.
Seek authentic guidance, follow a disciplined devotional practice, and approach God with sincerity—especially in hardship—trusting that heartfelt bhakti attracts divine grace.