Shloka 39
Vidura’s Questions on Devotion and Sarga; Maitreya Begins the Account of Creation
देवा ऊचु: नमाम ते देव पदारविन्दं प्रपन्नतापोपशमातपत्रम् । यन्मूलकेता यतयोऽञ्जसोरु- संसारदु:खं बहिरुत्क्षिपन्ति ॥ ३९ ॥
devā ūcuḥ namāma te deva padāravindaṁ prapanna-tāpopaśamātapatram yan-mūla-ketā yatayo ’ñjasoru- saṁsāra-duḥkhaṁ bahir utkṣipanti
The demigods said: O Lord, we bow to Your lotus feet, an umbrella for surrendered souls that soothes the burning miseries of material life. Under that shelter the sages easily cast away the great sorrow of saṁsāra; therefore we offer our reverent obeisances to Your feet.
There are many sages and saints who engage in trying to conquer rebirth and all other material miseries. But of all of them, those who take shelter under the lotus feet of the Lord can completely throw off all such miseries without difficulty. Others, who are engaged in transcendental activities in different ways, cannot do so. For them it is very difficult. They may artificially think of becoming liberated without accepting the shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord, but that is not possible. One is sure to fall again to material existence from such false liberation, even though one may have undergone severe penances and austerities. This is the opinion of the demigods, who are not only well versed in Vedic knowledge but are also seers of the past, present and future. The opinions of the demigods are valuable because the demigods are authorized to hold positions in the affairs of universal management. They are appointed by the Lord as His confidential servants.
FAQs
This verse says the Lord’s lotus feet act like a cooling shade that pacifies the burning distress of those who surrender, enabling them to cast off the misery of samsara.
They glorify the lotus feet as the ultimate refuge: sages who take shelter there quickly transcend worldly sorrow, showing the Lord as the dependable protector of all beings.
Practice sincere surrender through bhakti—regular prayer, remembrance, and humility—using devotion as a shelter that reduces anxiety and attachment-driven suffering.