Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 20
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 plaça son mental aux pieds de lotus de Kṛṣṇa, sa parole dans la description des qualités de Vaikuṇṭha, ses mains dans le sevā —tel que nettoyer le temple de Hari— et ses oreilles dans l’écoute de la sat-kathā d’Acyuta. Ses yeux se consacrèrent au darśana de la Deité de Mukunda et de Son dhāma; son toucher, au contact des corps des bhaktas; son odorat, au parfum de la tulasī offerte à Ses pieds; et sa langue, à goûter le prasāda offert au Seigneur. Ses pieds marchèrent vers les kṣetras de Hari, sa tête s’inclina devant Hṛṣīkeśa, et tous ses désirs furent remis au dāsya-sevā—non à la convoitise des sens—ainsi grandit la bhakti-rati abritée en 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 Ambarīṣa engaging mind, speech, hands, and ears—fixing the mind on Kṛṣṇa’s feet, speaking His qualities, serving His temple, and hearing His kathā—illustrating complete sense engagement in bhakti.
To establish Ambarīṣa as an ideal devotee whose fully absorbed devotional life becomes the spiritual backdrop to the Durvāsā episode in this chapter.
Dedicate daily time to hearing (kathā), chanting/speaking about Kṛṣṇa, and doing practical service; even simple acts like cleaning a sacred space and mindful remembrance align life toward bhakti.