Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 15
Nābhi’s Sacrifice and Lord Viṣṇu’s Promise to Appear as a Son (Ṛṣabhadeva’s Advent Prelude)
यदु ह वाव तव पुनरदभ्रकर्तरिह समाहूतस्तत्रार्थधियां मन्दानां नस्तद्यद्देवहेलनं देवदेवार्हसि साम्येन सर्वान् प्रतिवोढुमविदुषाम् ॥ १५ ॥
yad u ha vāva tava punar adabhra-kartar iha samāhūtas tatrārtha-dhiyāṁ mandānāṁ nas tad yad deva-helanaṁ deva-devārhasi sāmyena sarvān prativoḍhum aviduṣām.
Oh Señor, Tú realizas obras maravillosas. Nuestro propósito en este gran sacrificio era sólo obtener un hijo; por eso nuestra inteligencia es torpe y no somos diestros en discernir la meta de la vida. Al invitarte a este insignificante yajña por un motivo material, ciertamente hemos cometido una ofensa a Tus pies de loto. Por ello, oh Señor de señores, perdona nuestra falta por Tu misericordia sin causa y Tu mente ecuánime.
The priests were certainly unhappy to have called the Supreme Lord from Vaikuṇṭha for such an insignificant reason. A pure devotee never wants to see the Lord unnecessarily. The Lord is engaged in various activities, and the pure devotee does not want to see Him whimsically, for his own sense gratification. The pure devotee simply depends on the Lord’s mercy, and when the Lord is pleased, he can see Him face to face. The Lord is unseen even by demigods like Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva. By calling on the Supreme Lord, the priests of Nābhi Mahārāja proved themselves unintelligent; nonetheless, the Lord came out of His causeless mercy. All of them therefore wanted to be excused by the Lord.
FAQs
This verse shows devotees admitting possible deva-helana (disrespect to the divine) and praying to the Lord of lords to forgive and tolerate the ignorance of conditioned souls.
Because their intelligence is primarily fixed on material goals (artha), they are slow to grasp spiritual truth; thus they require the Lord’s guidance and mercy.
Adopt humility, acknowledge mistakes, and practice tolerance—seeking to respond with steadiness and fairness rather than ego or resentment.