Shloka 7
The Lord’s Apology to the Kumāras and the Fall of Jaya and Vijaya
यत्सेवया चरणपद्मपवित्ररेणुं सद्य:क्षताखिलमलं प्रतिलब्धशीलम् । न श्रीर्विरक्तमपि मां विजहाति यस्या: प्रेक्षालवार्थ इतरे नियमान् वहन्ति ॥ ७ ॥
yat-sevayā caraṇa-padma-pavitra-reṇuṁ sadyaḥ kṣatākhila-malaṁ pratilabdha-śīlam na śrīr viraktam api māṁ vijahāti yasyāḥ prekṣā-lavārtha itare niyamān vahanti
भगवान बोले—मैं अपने भक्तों का सेवक हूँ; इसलिए मेरे चरण-कमलों की पवित्र रज तुरंत ही समस्त पाप-मल को नष्ट कर देती है। उसी सेवा से मेरा स्वभाव ऐसा हो गया है कि लक्ष्मीजी, मेरे उनसे अनासक्त होने पर भी, मुझे नहीं छोड़तीं; पर दूसरे लोग उनकी झलक-भर कृपा पाने के लिए उनके सौंदर्य की स्तुति करते और व्रत-नियम धारण करते हैं।
The relationship between the Lord and His devotee is transcendentally beautiful. As the devotee thinks that it is due to being a devotee of the Lord that he is elevated in all good qualities, so the Lord also thinks that it is because of His devotion to the servitor that all His transcendental glories have increased. In other words, as the devotee is always anxious to render service to the Lord, so the Lord is ever anxious to render service to the devotee. The Lord admits herein that although He certainly has the quality that anyone who receives a slight particle of the dust of His lotus feet becomes at once a great personality, this greatness is due to His affection for His devotee. It is because of this affection that the goddess of fortune does not leave Him and that not only one but many thousands of goddesses of fortune engage in His service. In the material world, simply to get a little favor from the goddess of fortune, people observe many rigid regulations of austerity and penance. The Lord cannot tolerate any inconvenience on the part of the devotee. He is therefore famous as bhakta-vatsala.
FAQs
This verse says that service to the Lord’s lotus feet instantly destroys all contamination and restores one’s true virtuous character, showing bhakti as the most direct purifier.
He contrasts pure devotion with material motivation: Lakṣmī naturally stays with Him, yet worldly people perform many disciplines just to gain a brief glance of her favor—highlighting how bhakti is superior to desire-driven austerities.
Prioritize steady devotional practices (hearing, chanting, serving) over anxiety-driven “achievement spirituality”; the verse emphasizes inner purification and character transformation through sincere service.