BG In Essence - Suhotra Maharaja Archives

perfection which is exhibited by the Lord in His abode. Lord Caitanya likenstranscendental devotional service to the sowing of a seed in the heart of the livingentity. There are innumerable living entities traveling throughout the different planetsof the universe, and out of them there are a few who are fortunate enough to meet apure devotee and get the chance to understand devotional service. This devotionalservice is just like a seed, and if it is sown in the heart of a living entity, and if he goeson hearing and chanting Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ HareRama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, that seed fructifies, just as the seed of atree fructifies with regular watering. The spiritual plant of devotional servicegradually grows and grows until it penetrates the covering of the material universeand enters into the brahmajyoti effulgence in the spiritual sky. In the spiritual sky alsothat plant grows more and more until it reaches the highest planet, which is calledGoloka Vrndavana, the supreme planet of Krsna. Ultimately, the plant takes shelterunder the lotus feet of Krsna and rests there. Gradually, as a plant grows fruits andflowers, that plant of devotional service also produces fruits, and the watering processin the form of chanting and hearing goes on. This plant of devotional service is fullydescribed in the Caitanya-- caritamrta (Madhya-lila, Chapter Nineteen). It isexplained there that when the complete plant takes shelter under the lotus feet of theSupreme Lord, one becomes fully absorbed in love of God; then he cannot live evenfor a moment without being in contact with the Supreme Lord, just as a fish cannotlive without water. In such a state, the devotee actually attains the transcendentalqualities in contact with the Supreme Lord.The Srimad-Bhagavatam is also full of such narrations about the relationship betweenthe Supreme Lord and His devotees; therefore the Srimad-Bhagavatam is very dear tothe devotees, as stated in the Bhagavatam itself (12.13.18). Srimad- bhagavatampuranam amalam yad vaisnavanam priyam. In this narration there is nothing aboutmaterial activities, economic development, sense gratification or liberation. Srimad-Bhagavatam is the only narration in which the transcendental nature of the SupremeLord and His devotees is fully described. Thus the realized souls in Krsnaconsciousness take continual pleasure in hearing such transcendental literatures, justas a young boy and girl take pleasure in association.TEXT 10tesam satata-yuktanambhajatam priti-purvakamdadami buddhi-yogam tamyena mam upayanti tetesam--unto them; satata-yuktanam--always engaged; bhajatam--in renderingdevotional service; priti-purvakam-- in loving ecstasy; dadami--I give; buddhiyogam--realintelligence; tam--that; yena--by which; mam--unto Me; upayanti--come;te--they.TRANSLATIONTo those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give theunderstanding by which they can come to Me.