Shloka 39
Pṛthu Mahārāja’s Homecoming, Sacrificial Assembly, and Instruction on Devotional Kingship
यत्सेवयाशेषगुहाशय: स्वराड् विप्रप्रियस्तुष्यति काममीश्वर: । तदेव तद्धर्मपरैर्विनीतै: सर्वात्मना ब्रह्मकुलं निषेव्यताम् ॥ ३९ ॥
yat-sevayāśeṣa-guhāśayaḥ sva-rāḍ vipra-priyas tuṣyati kāmam īśvaraḥ tad eva tad-dharma-parair vinītaiḥ sarvātmanā brahma-kulaṁ niṣevyatām
By serving them, the Supreme Lord—ever independent and dwelling in the heart’s deepest chamber—becomes fully pleased, for He is dear to the brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas. Therefore the humble, devoted to dharma, should with their whole being serve the brāhmaṇa and Vaiṣṇava lineages.
It is said that the Lord is most pleased when He sees one engage in the service of His devotee. He does not need any service from anyone because He is complete, but it is in our own interest to offer all kinds of services to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. These services can be offered to the Supreme Person not directly but through the service of brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas. Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura sings, chāḍiyā vaiṣṇava-sevā nistāra pāyeche kebā, which means that unless one serves the Vaiṣṇavas and brāhmaṇas, one cannot get liberation from the material clutches. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura also says, yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ: by satisfying the senses of the spiritual master, one can satisfy the senses of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus this behavior is not only mentioned in scriptures but also followed by ācāryas. Pṛthu Mahārāja advised his citizens to follow the exemplary behavior of the Lord Himself and thus engage in the service of brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas.
FAQs
This verse teaches that the independent Supreme Lord, who resides in everyone’s heart and is dear to brāhmaṇas, becomes satisfied by such service; therefore, dharma-minded and humble people should wholeheartedly serve the brāhmaṇa community.
In his instructions on righteous kingship and dharma, Pṛthu highlights that honoring and serving brāhmaṇas supports true spiritual culture and directly pleases the Lord who is worshiped through devotion and purity.
Support genuine spiritual learning and character—serve and respect qualified teachers and saintly persons with humility, and align your actions with dharma so that devotion becomes the center of your life.