Surrender unto His Lotus Feet - Part 16

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva.

This is in continuation of the previous offering, "Surrender unto His Lotus Feet" wherein we were meditating on Srimad Bhagavatam verse 2.6.7 and about elephant king Gajendra surrendering to Lord's lotus feet when being attacked by crocodile in the lake. In the last offering we saw the verse 8.3.10 wherein Gajendra offers his obeisances unto the Lord Who is Self-effulgent, witness, Supersoul and could not be reached by body mind or words.  

Now we shall see next prayer.

In Srimad Bhagavatan verse 8.3.11 Gajendra prays

sattvena pratilabhyāya
naiṣkarmyeṇa vipaścitā
namaḥ kaivalya-nāthāya
nirvāṇa-sukha-saṁvide

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is realized by pure devotees who act in the transcendental existence of bhakti-yoga. He is the bestower of uncontaminated happiness and is the master of the transcendental world. Therefore I offer my respect unto Him.

In this prayer Gajendra says as to how one could realise Supreme Lord by engaging in bhakti-yoga. Lord reveals Himself to those who are always engaged in pure devotional service.In Bhagavad Gita verse 18.55 Lord Krishna says

bhaktyā mām abhijānāti
yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ
tato māṁ tattvato jñātvā
viśate tad-anantaram

One can understand Me as I am, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of Me by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God.

Gajendra glorifies the Lord as

1.  kaivalya-nāthāya - the master of the transcendental world. When one engages in pure devotional service, Lord rewards Him liberation from material world and allows entrance into the spiritual world - for He is the master of all worlds. In Bhagavad Gita verse 10.8 Krishna says that those wise people who know that Lord is the source of all spiritual and material worlds amd everything emanates fom Him, would engage in sincere devotional serviice with all their hearts and such people alone can gain entry into the spiritual kingdom.

2. nirvāṇa-sukha-saṁvide - the bestower of uncontaminated happiness 
The nature of happiness that we get here by engaging in activities unrelated to Krishna is very transient. But when the same activities are dove-tailed in Krishna's service, then that gives one eternal joy. In this world uncontaminated happiness is very rare. Normally people become happy when others suffer (or go through difficulties or failures in life), especially those whom they treat as their enemy or competitors. This is contaminated happiness. It is contaminated by the thoughts and emotions that are governed by the three modes. It is not approved by Krishna or the pure devotees. However, since Krishna is guna-atita (untouched by the three modes), Gajendra is glorifying the Lord with this beautiful phrase to highlight the unique benediction of the Lord upon His devotees in the form of uncontaminated happiness. When we experience uncontaminated happiness as a result of our pure devotion, we will be happy even when those who hate us achieve success or happiness in their life. That happiness has no comparison in this world. This transcendental state is possible only when the Lord appreciates our attempt to be good and see good everywhere. 

Krishna willing we shall meditate further on this topic in the subsequent offering.

Thank you very much.
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva
Sudarshana devi dasi