Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 19
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
El rey Mahārāja Ambarīṣa mantenía su mente siempre en los pies de loto de Śrī Kṛṣṇa; su palabra, en cantar las glorias del Señor de Vaikuṇṭha; sus manos, en servicios como limpiar el templo de Hari; y sus oídos, en escuchar las santas kathās de Acyuta. Sus ojos se ocupaban en el darśana de la Deidad de Mukunda, de Sus templos y de Sus dhāmas; su tacto, en tocar los cuerpos de los bhaktas; su olfato, en aspirar la fragancia de la tulasī ofrecida al Señor; y su lengua, en saborear el prasāda del Bhagavān. Sus pies caminaban hacia los kṣetras sagrados de Hari, su cabeza se inclinaba ante Hṛṣīkeśa, y todos sus deseos se entregaban al dāsya-sevā—no a la complacencia de los sentidos—y así crecía su rati de bhakti, amparada en el Uttamaśloka.
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 a practical model: mind on Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, speech in glorification, hands in temple service, and ears in hearing the Lord’s sacred narrations.
To demonstrate the hallmark of a pure devotee—every faculty is redirected from self-centered activity to continuous service and remembrance of the Lord.
Daily choose a bhakti use for each sense—listen to Bhāgavata-kathā, speak kīrtana, serve in a temple or home altar, and keep the mind anchored in remembrance.