Shloka 18
Nābhāga’s Inheritance, Śiva’s Verdict, and the Rise of Ambarīṣa—Prelude to Durvāsā’s Offense
स वै मन: कृष्णपदारविन्दयो- र्वचांसि वैकुण्ठगुणानुवर्णने । करौ हरेर्मन्दिरमार्जनादिषु श्रुतिं चकाराच्युतसत्कथोदये ॥ १८ ॥ मुकुन्दलिङ्गालयदर्शने दृशौ तद्भृत्यगात्रस्पर्शेऽङ्गसङ्गमम् । घ्राणं च तत्पादसरोजसौरभे श्रीमत्तुलस्या रसनां तदर्पिते ॥ १९ ॥ पादौ हरे: क्षेत्रपदानुसर्पणे शिरो हृषीकेशपदाभिवन्दने । कामं च दास्ये न तु कामकाम्यया यथोत्तमश्लोकजनाश्रया रति: ॥ २० ॥
sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravindayor vacāṁsi vaikuṇṭha-guṇānuvarṇane karau harer mandira-mārjanādiṣu śrutiṁ cakārācyuta-sat-kathodaye
Mahārāja Ambarīṣa fixed his mind always on Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet; his words in glorifying the qualities of Vaikuṇṭha; his hands in cleaning and serving Hari’s temple; and his ears in hearing sacred narrations of Acyuta. He used his eyes to behold Mukunda’s Deity, temples, and holy dhāmas; his touch to associate with the bodies of the Lord’s devotees; his smell to savor the fragrance of tulasī offered to the Lord; and his tongue to taste the Lord’s prasāda. He used his feet to walk to the Lord’s tīrthas and temples, his head to bow to Hṛṣīkeśa, and all his desires for dāsya-sevā—not for sense enjoyment. Thus engaging all his senses in bhakti, he increased his attachment to the Lord and became free from all material desires.
In Bhagavad-gītā (7.1) the Lord recommends, mayy āsakta-manāḥ pārtha yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśrayaḥ. This indicates that one must execute devotional service under the guidance of a devotee or directly under the guidance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is not possible, however, to train oneself without guidance from the spiritual master. Therefore, according to the instructions of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, the first business of a devotee is to accept a bona fide spiritual master who can train him to engage his various senses in rendering transcendental service to the Lord. The Lord also says in Bhagavad-gītā (7.1) , asaṁśayaṁ samagraṁ māṁ yathā jñāsyasi tac chṛṇu. In other words, if one wants to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead in completeness, one must follow the prescriptions given by Kṛṣṇa by following in the footsteps of Mahārāja Ambarīṣa. It is said, hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate: bhakti means to engage the senses in the service of the master of the senses, Kṛṣṇa, who is called Hṛṣīkeśa or Acyuta. These words are used in these verses. Acyuta-sat-kathodaye, hṛṣīkeśa-padābhivandane. The words Acyuta and Hṛṣīkeśa are also used in Bhagavad-gītā. Bhagavad-gītā is kṛṣṇa-kathā spoken directly by Kṛṣṇa, and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is also kṛṣṇa-kathā because everything described in the Bhāgavatam is in relationship with Kṛṣṇa.
FAQs
This verse shows the bhakti principle of sense engagement: mind on Krishna’s lotus feet, speech in glorification, hands in temple service, and ears in hearing Krishna-kathā—devotion becomes practical through the senses.
Because Ambarīṣa is presented as an ideal devotee: his unwavering absorption is demonstrated by how each sense is redirected from material enjoyment to service of Acyuta, establishing the standard of one-pointed bhakti.
Choose daily anchors: hear Bhagavatam talks, speak Krishna’s names and qualities, do some tangible service (temple, altar, or community), and keep the mind returning to Krishna’s feet through regular remembrance.