SB 1.5.23 (1962)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT No. 23
Aham pura atitabhave abhavam mune Dasyascha kasys chana vedavadinah Nirupito valaka eva yoginam Shushrusane prabrishi nrivivikshatam
ENGLISH SYNONYMS
Aham—I, Pura—formerly, Atitabhve—in the previous millennium, Abhavam—became, Mune—of the muni, Dasyscha—of the maid servant, Kasyaschna—certain, Vedavadinah—of the followers of Vedanta, Nirupita—engaged, Valaka—boy servant, Eva—only, Yoginam—of the devotees, Shushrusane—in the service of, Prabrisi—during the four months of rainy season, Nirvivikshatam—living together.
TRANSLATION
Oh the muni, in the last millennium i.e., in my past life I was born as the son of a certain maid servant engaged in the service of the Brahmins following the principles of Vedanta. When they were living together during the four months of the rainy season, I was then engaged in their personal service.
PURPORT
The wonder of an atmosphere surcharged with devotional service of the Lord is briefly described herewith by Sri Narada Muni in the incidence of His previous birth. He was the son of the most insignificant parentage, neither He was properly educated and still because His complete energy was engaged in the service of the Lord He became an immortal sage like Narada. Such is the powerful action of devotional service. The living entities are marginal energy of the Lord and therefore they are meant for being properly utilised in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. When it is not so done it is called Maya. Therefore the illusion of Maya is at once dissipated as soon as one's full energy is converted in the service of the Lord instead of in the matter of sense enjoyment. From the personal example of Sri Narada Muni in His previous birth, it is clear that the service of the Lord begins with the service of the Lord's bonafide servants. The Lord says that the service of His servants is more than His personal service. Service of the devotee is more valuable than the service of the Lord. One should therefore choose out a bonafide servant of the Lord constantly engaged in His service and accept such servant as the spiritual master and engage himself in his (the spiritual master's) service. Such spiritual master is the transparent medium to visualise the Lord Who is beyond the conception of material senses. By service of the bonafide spiritual master the Lord consents to reveal Himself in proportion of service rendered. Utilisation of the human energy in the service of the Lord is the progressive path of salvation. The whole cosmic creation becomes at once identical with the Lord as soon as the respective service in relation with the Lord is rendered under the guidance of a bonafide spiritual master. The Expert spiritual master knows the art how to utilise everything in the matter of glorifying the Lord and therefore under his guidance the whole world can be turned into the spiritual abode by the Divine Grace of the Lord's servant.