Shloka 21
अक्रूरस्य यमुनादर्शनम्, मथुराप्रवेशः, रजकवधः, माल्यजीवकवरदानम्
प्रसादपरमौ नाथौ मम गेहम् उपागतौ धन्यो ऽहम् अर्चयिष्यामीत्य् आह तौ माल्यजीवकः
prasādaparamau nāthau mama geham upāgatau dhanyo 'ham arcayiṣyāmīty āha tau mālyajīvakaḥ
“O noble Lords, whose very nature is grace—you have come to my home. Blessed am I!” Thus Mālyajīvaka spoke, resolved: “I shall worship you both.”
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya); the quoted speech is by Mālyajīvaka
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: Śrī Kṛṣṇa descends to lighten the earth’s burden and to bestow grace upon devotees through direct encounter.
Leela: Loka-rakshana
Dharma Restored: Affirming that the Lord’s grace (prasāda) is accessible to householders and those of humble station.
Concept: To recognize the Lord as ‘prasāda-parama’ is to see divine grace as His very nature and the ground of worship.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Receive life-events with gratitude and respond with pūjā/service, treating one’s home and work as spaces of offering.
Vishishtadvaita: Grace is personal and relational: the Lord freely approaches the devotee, not merely as an abstract Absolute but as the inner ruler who also becomes present in history.
Vishnu Form: Krishna
Bhakti Type: Dasya
FAQs
The verse frames the divine as “prasādaparamau”—defined by grace—showing that the devotee’s worship arises as a response to the Lord’s compassionate presence and favor.
Through Mālyajīvaka’s immediate reaction—recognizing the guests as divine lords and choosing arcana (worship)—Parāśara illustrates bhakti as reverent service prompted by direct encounter with sanctity.
Even when not named explicitly in the verse, the “lords” characterized by grace align with Vaishnava teaching that the Supreme Reality is benevolent and approachable, drawing devotees into worship through mercy.