Shloka 47
Viśvarūpa’s Death, Vṛtrāsura’s Manifestation, and the Devas’ Surrender to Nārāyaṇa
श्रीभगवानुवाच प्रीतोऽहं व: सुरश्रेष्ठा मदुपस्थानविद्यया । आत्मैश्वर्यस्मृति: पुंसां भक्तिश्चैव यया मयि ॥ ४७ ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca prīto ’haṁ vaḥ sura-śreṣṭhā mad-upasthāna-vidyayā ātmaiśvarya-smṛtiḥ puṁsāṁ bhaktiś caiva yayā mayi
శ్రీభగవానుడు పలికెను—హే సురశ్రేష్ఠులారా! మదుపాసన-విద్యతో కూడిన మీ స్తుతులతో నేను అత్యంత ప్రీతుడనయ్యాను. ఈ జ్ఞానమే మనుష్యులకు నా పరమ ఐశ్వర్యాన్ని స్మరింపజేసి, నాయందు భక్తిని ఉద్భవింపజేసి పెంపొందిస్తుంది।
Another name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is Uttamaśloka, which means that He is offered prayers with selected verses. Bhakti means śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ, chanting and hearing about Lord Viṣṇu. Impersonalists cannot be purified, for they do not offer personal prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Even though they sometimes offer prayers, the prayers are not directed toward the Supreme Person. Impersonalists sometimes show their incomplete knowledge by addressing the Lord as being nameless. They always offer prayers indirectly, saying, “You are this, You are that,” but they do not know to whom they are praying. A devotee, however, always offers personal prayers. A devotee says, govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi: “I offer my respectful obeisances unto Govinda, unto Kṛṣṇa.” That is the way to offer prayers. If one continues to offer such personal prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is eligible to become a pure devotee and return home, back to Godhead.
FAQs
This verse states that devotion to the Lord arises through the proper knowledge and practice of worshiping Him (mad-upasthāna-vidyā), which also awakens remembrance of one’s true spiritual identity.
He is pleased because they have approached and worshiped Him with the correct understanding—knowledge of how to serve and honor Him—rather than relying only on power or ritual without devotion.
Practice conscious worship and service—hearing about the Lord, chanting His names, offering daily prayers and gratitude—so that devotion deepens and you remember your true self beyond temporary roles and anxieties.