The Magnanimity of a Devotee's Heart - Part 1

Date: 2011-07-31 Author: Vaijayantimala devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble pranams! All Glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev!

The following is the transcription of the wonderful class by our beloved God brother HG Devakinandan prabhuji on Srimad Bhagavatam verse 9.4.63 delivered in Abu Dhabi on 30.04.2011 morning.

śrī-bhagavān uvāca ahaṁ bhakta-parādhīno hy asvatantra iva dvija sādhubhir grasta-hṛdayo bhaktair bhakta-jana-priyaḥ

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said to the brahmana: I am completely under the control of My devotees. Indeed, I am not at all independent. Because My devotees are completely devoid of material desires, I sit only within the cores of their hearts. What to speak of My devotee, even those who are devotees of My devotee are very dear to Me.

This verse touches on the relationship between the Lord and His devotees and it touches on the point of relationship between devotees and the devotees. This verse is spoken by Lord Vishnu to Durvasa muni when he runs to Him to ask Him to please remove the Sudarshana cakra which was chasing Durvasa muni.

In the last line of the purport to this verse, Srila Prabhupada says, "Following the instructions of a devotee is more valuable than following the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead directly."

Maharaj noticed that Prabhupada does not say following the instructions of a pure devotee. He says following the instructions of a devotee. Maharaj asked us to take note of that. This verse describes the sweet relationship between Krishna and His devotees. It tells us how important it is for us to understand that there is a very unique relationship between Krishna and His devotees and between the devotees of the devotees.

Now we must understand this whole verse in the context of the background. It is very important and you will find here that Ambarish maharaj is a very great and pure devotee of the Lord. He had all the opulences in the world because he was the emperor of the whole world but all of his time was spent in devotional service. All of his time was spent in remembering Krishna. In fact, his kingdom was so peaceful and so devotional, and his standard of devotional service, Bhagavatam tells us, was so great that Krishna almost permanently stationed Sudarshana chakra just to guard his palace and entire kingdom. This is how much faith Krishna had in him. Krishna does not park Sudarshana chakra anywhere. It is normally with Him in Dwaraka but we find here that He actually parked Sudarshana chakra with Ambarish Maharaj. You can imagine what kind of a great personality Ambarish maharaj is. Bhagavatam tells us, despite his great kingly duties, he was perfectly adjusting his life in such a way that he used all his senses at the lotus feet of Krishna. Not a single moment of his life was wasted in materialistic pursuits. Despite the fact that he was surrounded by the so-called material energy, he utilized it for Krishna. So material energy never touched him, because he used it for Krishna. So if we use any material item in the service of Krishna, that material item will not touch us. In fact, that material item frees us. This is the secret of spiritual success. If we use something for Krishna, instead of dragging you down, it liberates you. If you use something which is supposed to be related to Krishna for yourself, then it will drag you.

So Ambarish maharaj one day was observing a very strong and powerful Ekadasi fast and just as he was going to break it on Dwadashi, Durvasa muni comes. Durvasa muni is the personification of anger. Very very hot-tempered and short- tempered personality. It is one thing to be hot-tempered. It is another thing to be short-tempered. Short-tempered means, little thing and you just blow your top. So Durvasa muni was a wonderful combination of both. So Durvasa muni decides to come and meet Ambarish maharaj and Ambarish maharaj welcomes him as befitting a guest. The moment he came, Ambarish maharaj speaks to him, greets him very lovingly and Durvasa muni becomes very pleased with Ambarish maharaj. Then Durvasa muni says, "I am very pleased with you. I think you are a great exalted personality" and Ambarish maharaj invites Durvasa muni to breakfast with him. As it is etiquette, Durvasa muni says, "I have to go and perform oblations. I will come back and we will breakfast together." So what happens then? Durvasa muni leaves and just like when he left in the incident with Draupadi Mata and Pandavas, Durvasa muni took a bit longer time. So what happens is that time is passing and the situation was becoming critical because if Ambarish Maharaj does not break his fast, it is not very good because it is one of the regulations set by Krishna. So Ambarish maharaj consults the brahmanas of the kingdom, "What should I do?" and with their suggestion he decides, "If I take a sip of water it will be like continuing with the fast and breaking the fast. So using water to break the fast is the best thing I can do."

Maharaj said that taking of water in between is how we must live our lives. In life there will always be one position that appears correct and another position also that appears correct and sometimes we do not know what the solution is because both situations are favorable and both situations have to be taken care of. If you offend one situation, the other situation is there. If you offend that situation, the other situation is still there. So Maharaj said remember Ambarish maharaj. Ambarish maharaj took the middle path and he took a sip of water and by taking the sip of water, shastrically he was not wrong. But Durvasa muni comes back and he is a very powerful sage. So he knows now without Ambarish maharaj telling him. He says, "You have taken a sip of water. You have broken fast. What kind of a man are you? You are an uncultured personality even though you claim to be a king and you claim to be a devotee of the Lord." Actually, Ambarish maharaj never claimed to be a devotee of the Lord. Devotees never claim to be devotees but Durvasa muni is short-tempered and hot-tempered. So now his temper is raising and he says, "Because you have transgressed the rules of Vaishnava etiquette and because you have no wisdom in your head and you have done this, I now feel it is proper for me to curse you." So Durvasa muni with all his yogic powers he just snatches a piece of hair from his head and he throws it on the ground and Bhagavatam tells us, the most fearsome personality appears - a great demon about to devour the whole world. The description of the demon is very scary and the demon immediately makes the way towards Ambarish maharaj. Now how Aambarish maharaj reacts to this demon is very important.

Prabhuji very beautifully explained how Ambarish maharaj reacted and the same shall be transcribed and offered in the next mail, Krishna willing.

Thank you very much. Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada and Gurudev, Vaijayantimala devi dasi Abu Dhabi.