Shloka 63
Nābhāga’s Inheritance, Śiva’s Verdict, and the Rise of Ambarīṣa—Prelude to Durvāsā’s Offense
श्रीभगवानुवाच अहं भक्तपराधीनो ह्यस्वतन्त्र इव द्विज । साधुभिर्ग्रस्तहृदयो भक्तैर्भक्तजनप्रिय: ॥ ६३ ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca ahaṁ bhakta-parādhīno hy asvatantra iva dvija sādhubhir grasta-hṛdayo bhaktair bhakta-jana-priyaḥ
भगवान ब्राह्मणाला म्हणाले—हे द्विज! मी माझ्या भक्तांच्या अधीन आहे; जणू मी स्वतंत्रच नाही. साधुभक्तांनी माझे हृदय जिंकले आहे; म्हणून मला माझे भक्त प्रिय आहेत, आणि माझ्या भक्तांचे भक्त तर मला अधिकच प्रिय आहेत।
All the great stalwart personalities in the universe, including Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva, are fully under the control of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but the Supreme Personality of Godhead is fully under the control of His devotee. Why is this? Because the devotee is anyābhilāṣitā-śūnya; in other words, he has no material desires in his heart. His only desire is to think always of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and how to serve Him best. Because of this transcendental qualification, the Supreme Lord is extremely favorable to the devotees — indeed, not only the devotees, but also the devotees of the devotees. Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says, chāḍiyā vaiṣṇava-sevā nistāra pāyeche kebā: without being a devotee of a devotee, one cannot be released from material entanglement. Therefore Caitanya Mahāprabhu identified Himself as gopī-bhartuḥ pada-kamalayor dāsa-dāsānudāsaḥ. Thus he instructed us to become not directly servants of Kṛṣṇa but servants of the servant of Kṛṣṇa. Devotees like Brahmā, Nārada, Vyāsadeva and Śukadeva Gosvāmī are directly servants of Kṛṣṇa, and one who becomes a servant of Nārada, Vyāsadeva and Śukadeva, like the Six Gosvāmīs, is still more devoted. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura therefore says, yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ: if one very sincerely serves the spiritual master, Kṛṣṇa certainly becomes favorable to such a devotee. Following the instructions of a devotee is more valuable than following the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead directly.
FAQs
This verse states that the Lord becomes bhakta-parādhīna—dependent on His devotees—because His heart is captured by saintly devotion, showing bhakti’s supremacy over mere power or status.
In the Ambarisha–Durvasa episode, Durvasa offended a great devotee and faced danger; the Lord explains that He sides with and is bound by His devotees, so even a powerful sage should not harm them.
It teaches that sincere devotion, humility, and service to saints/devotees attract divine grace—so prioritize respectful conduct, avoid offenses, and cultivate steady devotional practice.