Shloka 21
The Prayers of the Personified Vedas (Śruti-stuti) and the Indescribable Absolute
दुरवगमात्मतत्त्वनिगमाय तवात्ततनो- श्चरितमहामृताब्धिपरिवर्तपरिश्रमणा: । न परिलषन्ति केचिदपवर्गमपीश्वर ते चरणसरोजहंसकुलसङ्गविसृष्टगृहा: ॥ २१ ॥
duravagamātma-tattva-nigamāya tavātta-tanoś carita-mahāmṛtābdhi-parivarta-pariśramaṇāḥ na parilaṣanti kecid apavargam apīśvara te caraṇa-saroja-haṁsa-kula-saṅga-visṛṣṭa-gṛhāḥ
Wahai Tuhanku, demi menyebarkan ilmu diri yang sukar dipahami dalam Veda, Engkau menampakkan wujud pribadi dan menjalankan līlā; dan dengan menyelam ke samudra nektar agung kisah-kisah-Mu, beberapa jiwa beruntung memperoleh kelegaan dari letihnya hidup duniawi. Ya Īśvara, mereka yang langka ini bahkan tidak mendambakan mokṣa; karena pergaulan dengan para bhakta bak angsa di teratai kaki-Mu, mereka meninggalkan kebahagiaan rumah dan keluarga.
Ritualistic brāhmaṇas ( smārtas ) and impersonalists (Māyāvādīs) always try to relegate the process of bhakti-yoga to a relative or minor role. They say that devotion to the Personality of Godhead is for sentimental persons who lack the maturity to observe strict rituals or pursue the rigorous culture of knowledge.
FAQs
Because by associating with pure devotees and relishing the nectar of the Lord’s pastimes, their hearts become satisfied in loving service, making even liberation seem insignificant.
The personified Vedas (Śrutis) are speaking, offering prayers to the Supreme Lord—celebrated here as the master who reveals ātma-tattva by manifesting divine forms and līlā.
Seek saintly association, study and hear the Lord’s pastimes regularly, and prioritize devotion over ego-driven goals—even spiritual ambition—so that inner fulfillment comes from bhakti itself.