Shloka 58
Dhruva’s Humiliation, Sunīti’s Counsel, and Nārada’s Bhakti-Yoga Instruction
परिचर्या भगवतो यावत्य: पूर्वसेविता: । ता मन्त्रहृदयेनैव प्रयुञ्ज्यान्मन्त्रमूर्तये ॥ ५८ ॥
paricaryā bhagavato yāvatyaḥ pūrva-sevitāḥ tā mantra-hṛdayenaiva prayuñjyān mantra-mūrtaye
One should follow the previous devotees in the methods of serving and worshiping Bhagavān with the prescribed paraphernalia. Or, by the “heart of the mantra,” one may worship within the heart alone—reciting the mantra to the Lord who is the mantra’s very form and nondifferent from it.
It is recommended here that even if one cannot arrange to worship the forms of the Lord with all recommended paraphernalia, one can simply think about the form of the Lord and mentally offer everything recommended in the śāstras, including flowers, candana pulp, conchshell, umbrella, fan and cāmara. One can meditate upon offering and chant the twelve-syllable mantra, oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Since the mantra and the Supreme Personality of Godhead are nondifferent, one can worship the form of the Lord with the mantra in the absence of physical paraphernalia. The story of the brāhmaṇa who worshiped the Lord within his mind, as related in Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, or The Nectar of Devotion, should be consulted in this connection. If paraphernalia is not present physically, one can think of the items and offer them to the Deity by chanting the mantra. Such are the liberal and potent facilities in the process of devotional service.
FAQs
This verse teaches that external acts of worship should be performed while keeping the mantra internally—serving the Lord with absorbed remembrance, because the Lord is the embodiment of the mantra.
Nārada is guiding Dhruva’s sādhana: Dhruva should continue the devotional services he has learned, but now execute them with concentrated mantra-remembrance directed to Viṣṇu.
Whatever service you do—japa, pūjā, study, or daily duties—do it while keeping the Lord’s name/mantra present in the mind, so actions become devotional and focused.