Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 16
Bhakti as the Supreme Process; Detachment and the Rudiments of Meditation
निरपेक्षं मुनिं शान्तं निर्वैरं समदर्शनम् । अनुव्रजाम्यहं नित्यं पूयेयेत्यङ्घ्रिरेणुभि: ॥ १६ ॥
nirapekṣaṁ muniṁ śāntaṁ nirvairaṁ sama-darśanam anuvrajāmy ahaṁ nityaṁ pūyeyety aṅghri-reṇubhiḥ
เราย่อมติดตามรอยบาทของมุนีผู้ภักดีอันปราศจากความใคร่ส่วนตน สงบ ไร้เวร และเห็นเสมอทุกแห่ง เพื่อให้ธุลีจากบาทบัวของเขาชำระโลกให้บริสุทธิ์
Just as the devotees always follow the footsteps of Lord Kṛṣṇa, similarly Lord Kṛṣṇa, being a devotee of His devotees, follows the footsteps of His devotees. A pure servitor of the Lord is always meditating on the pastimes of the Lord and considering how to assist the Lord in His mission. All the material universes are situated in Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s body, as demonstrated to Arjuna, mother Yaśodā and others. Lord Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore there is no question of impurity in the Lord. Still, the Lord desires to purify the universes situated within Him by taking the dust of the lotus feet of His pure devotees. Without the dust of the lotus feet of the devotees, it is not possible to engage in pure devotional service, without which one cannot directly experience transcendental bliss. Lord Kṛṣṇa thought, “I have established this strict rule that one can enjoy My transcendental bliss only through devotional service obtained from the dust of the lotus feet of My devotees. Since I also desire to experience My own bliss, I will observe the standard procedure and accept the dust of My devotees’ feet.” Śrīla Madhvācārya points out that Lord Kṛṣṇa follows the footsteps of His devotees in order to purify them. As the Lord walks along behind His pure devotees, the wind blows the dust of the Lord’s feet in the front of His devotees, who then become purified by contact with such transcendental dust. One should not foolishly look for material logic in these transcendental pastimes of the Lord. It is simply a question of love between the Lord and His devotees.
FAQs
A true sadhu is described as nirapekṣa (free from dependence), śānta (peaceful), nirvaira (without enmity), and samadarśī (equal in vision).
To teach the supreme value of saintly association: even the Lord honors the devotee-sage and emphasizes purification through humble following and reverence for the devotee’s foot-dust.
Practice non-hostility, reduce ego-driven preferences, and treat others with steady respect—especially by seeking guidance and company of peaceful, detached devotees.