Shloka 38
Avatāra-kathā — The Puruṣa, the Many Incarnations, and Kṛṣṇa as Svayam Bhagavān
स वेद धातु: पदवीं परस्य दुरन्तवीर्यस्य रथाङ्गपाणे: । योऽमायया सन्ततयानुवृत्त्या भजेत तत्पादसरोजगन्धम् ॥ ३८ ॥
sa veda dhātuḥ padavīṁ parasya duranta-vīryasya rathāṅga-pāṇeḥ yo ’māyayā santatayānuvṛttyā bhajeta tat-pāda-saroja-gandham
പരമ സ്രഷ്ടാവിന്റെ യഥാർത്ഥ പദവിയും ദുർജയവീര്യനായ രഥാംഗപാണി ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണന്റെ മഹിമയും, കപടമില്ലാതെ നിരന്തരവും അനുകൂലവുമായ സേവാഭക്തിയോടെ അവന്റെ പാദപദ്മങ്ങളെ ആശ്രയിക്കുന്നവൻ മാത്രമേ അറിയുകയുള്ളൂ।
Only the pure devotees can know the transcendental name, form and activities of Lord Kṛṣṇa due to their being completely freed from the reactions of fruitive work and mental speculation. The pure devotees have nothing to derive as personal profit from their unalloyed service to the Lord. They render incessant service to the Lord spontaneously, without any reservation. Everyone within the creation of the Lord is rendering service to the Lord indirectly or directly. No one is an exception to this law of the Lord. Those who are rendering service indirectly, being forced by the illusory agent of the Lord, are rendering service unto Him unfavorably. But those who are rendering service unto Him directly under the direction of His beloved agent are rendering service unto Him favorably. Such favorable servitors are devotees of the Lord, and by the grace of the Lord they can enter into the mysterious region of transcendence by the mercy of the Lord. But the mental speculators remain in darkness all the time. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā, the Lord Himself guides the pure devotees toward the path of realization due to their constant engagement in the loving service of the Lord in spontaneous affection. That is the secret of entering into the kingdom of God. Fruitive activities and speculation are no qualifications for entering.
FAQs
This verse teaches that the Supreme Lord’s true position is known by one who worships Him with steady, uninterrupted devotion, free from deceit, taking shelter of the fragrance (sweetness) of His lotus feet.
Because realization of the Lord is not attained by display, argument, or ulterior motives; it arises from sincere, straightforward devotion that is continuously practiced.
Keep a daily rhythm of remembrance—regular japa, hearing/reading Bhagavatam, and offering your work and choices to the Lord—so devotion becomes steady rather than occasional.