Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 9
The Lord’s Apology to the Kumāras and the Fall of Jaya and Vijaya
येषां बिभर्म्यहमखण्डविकुण्ठयोग- मायाविभूतिरमलाङ्घ्रि रज: किरीटै: । विप्रांस्तु को न विषहेत यदर्हणाम्भ: सद्य: पुनाति सहचन्द्रललामलोकान् ॥ ९ ॥
yeṣāṁ bibharmy aham akhaṇḍa-vikuṇṭha-yoga- māyā-vibhūtir amalāṅghri-rajaḥ kirīṭaiḥ viprāṁs tu ko na viṣaheta yad-arhaṇāmbhaḥ sadyaḥ punāti saha-candra-lalāma-lokān
Yo soy el señor de Mi energía interna, ininterrumpida como el yoga-māyā de Vaikuṇṭha; el agua del Ganges es el remanente que queda tras lavar Mis pies. Esa agua santifica al instante los tres mundos, junto con Śiva, el de la luna por adorno, que la lleva en su cabeza. Si Yo mismo llevo sobre Mi cabeza, como corona, el polvo de los pies de un vaiṣṇava, ¿quién se negará a hacer lo mismo?
The difference between the internal and external energies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is that in the internal energy, or in the spiritual world, all the opulences are undisturbed, whereas in the external or material energy, all the opulences are temporary manifestations. The Lord’s supremacy is equal in both the spiritual and material worlds, but the spiritual world is called the kingdom of God, and the material world is called the kingdom of māyā. Māyā refers to that which is not actually fact. The opulence of the material world is a reflection. It is stated in Bhagavad-gītā that this material world is just like a tree whose roots are up and branches down. This means that the material world is the shadow of the spiritual world. Real opulence is in the spiritual world. In the spiritual world the predominating Deity is the Lord Himself, whereas in the material world there are many lords. That is the difference between the internal and external energies. The Lord says that although He is the predominating factor of the internal energy and although the material world is sanctified just by the water that has washed His feet, He has the greatest respect for the brāhmaṇa and the Vaiṣṇava. When the Lord Himself offers so much respect to the Vaiṣṇava and the brāhmaṇa, how can one deny such respect to such personalities?
FAQs
In 3.16.9 Lord Viṣṇu declares that He carries the dust of His devotees’ feet like a crown, so offending such brāhmaṇas/devotees is intolerable and spiritually dangerous.
After Jaya and Vijaya stopped the Kumāras at Vaikuṇṭha’s gate, the Lord appeared and emphasized that His devotees and saintly brāhmaṇas are supremely worshipable and must never be slighted.
Cultivate respectful speech, avoid criticizing sincere devotees, serve and hear from saintly persons, and remember that devotion—not status—makes someone venerable in the Lord’s eyes.