Shloka 40
The Pracetās Meet Lord Viṣṇu—Benedictions, Pure Prayer, and the Birth of Dakṣa
यन्न: स्वधीतं गुरव: प्रसादिता विप्राश्च वृद्धाश्च सदानुवृत्त्या । आर्या नता: सुहृदो भ्रातरश्च सर्वाणि भूतान्यनसूययैव ॥ ३९ ॥ यन्न: सुतप्तं तप एतदीश निरन्धसां कालमदभ्रमप्सु । सर्वं तदेतत्पुरुषस्य भूम्नो वृणीमहे ते परितोषणाय ॥ ४० ॥
yan naḥ svadhītaṁ guravaḥ prasāditā viprāś ca vṛddhāś ca sad-ānuvṛttyā āryā natāḥ suhṛdo bhrātaraś ca sarvāṇi bhūtāny anasūyayaiva
O Īśa, we performed severe austerities within the water, fasting for a long time, free from the pride of time and from delusion. O Purusottama, we offer all of this only for Your satisfaction; we ask for nothing else.
As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, saṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇam: the real perfection of life is pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ: in understanding the Vedas, one has to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One who has actually understood Him surrenders unto Him after many, many births. We find all these qualifications in the Pracetās. They underwent severe austerities and penances within the water, and they did not take any food for a very long time. They practiced these austerities not for material benediction but for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord. One may engage in any business — material or spiritual — but the purpose should be the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This verse presents a perfect picture of Vedic civilization. People training to become devotees should be respectful not only to the Supreme Personality of Godhead but also to those who are elderly in knowledge, who are Āryans and actual devotees of the Lord. An Āryan is one who does not boast but is an actual devotee of the Lord. Āryan means “advanced.” Formerly, those who claimed to be Āryans had to be devotees of the Lord. For instance, in Bhagavad-gītā (2.2) Kṛṣṇa chastised Arjuna by saying that he was speaking like a non-Āryan:
FAQs
This verse highlights anasūyā—freedom from envy and fault-finding—as a key mark of devotion, enabling goodwill toward all beings.
They are presenting the dharmic foundation of their lives—study, service, humility, and harmony—as offerings meant to support pure devotion to Lord Viṣṇu.
Practice disciplined learning, serve teachers and elders, cultivate respectful relationships, and consciously replace criticism with goodwill toward others.