Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, 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 ocupaba siempre su mente en los pies de loto de Kṛṣṇa; sus palabras en cantar las cualidades de Vaikuṇṭha; sus manos en limpiar el templo de Hari; y sus oídos en oír las santas kathās de Acyuta. Sus ojos en contemplar la mūrti de Mukunda, Sus templos y dhāmas; su tacto en el contacto con los cuerpos de los bhaktas; su olfato en la fragancia de tulasī ofrecida al Señor; y su lengua en saborear el prasāda del Señor. Sus pies en caminar a los tīrthas y templos; su cabeza en postrarse ante Hṛṣīkeśa; y todos sus deseos en dāsya-sevā, no en la complacencia de los sentidos. Así, al emplear todos sus sentidos en bhakti, aumentó su apego al Señor y quedó libre de todo deseo material.
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.