172
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 10, Ch. 2]
follows the regulative principles and the method prescribed in the various books and literatures published by the authorities. The  ācārya  gives the suitable method for crossing the ocean of nescience by accepting the boat of the Lord's lotus feet, and if this method is strictly followed, the followers will ultimately reach the destination, by the grace of the Lord. This method is called  ācārya-sampradāya . It is therefore said,  sampradāya-vihīnā ye mantrās te niṣphalā matāḥ  ( Padma Purāṇa ). The  ācārya-sampradāya  is strictly bona fide. Therefore one must accept the  ācārya-sampradāya ; otherwise one's endeavor will be futile. Śrīla Narottama dāsa Thākura therefore sings:
tāṅdera caraṇa sevi bhakta sane vāsa janame janame haya, ei abhilāṣa
One must worship the lotus feet of the  ācārya  and live within the society of devotees. Then one's endeavor to cross over nescience will surely be successful.
TEXT 32
येऽन्येऽरविन्दाक्ष विमुक्तमानिन-
स्त्वय्यस्तभावादविशुद्धबुद्धयः ।
आरुह्य कृच्छ्रेण परं पदं ततः
पतन्त्यधोऽनाद्दतयुष्मदङ्घ्रयः ॥३२॥
ye 'nye 'ravindākṣa vimukta-māninas tvayy asta-bhāvād aviśuddha-buddhayaḥ āruhya kṛcchreṇa paraṁ padaṁ tataḥ patanty adho 'nādṛta-yuṣmad-aṅghrayaḥ
ye anye—anyone, or all others; aravinda-akṣa—O lotus-eyed one; vimukta-māninaḥ—falsely considering themselves free from the bondage of material contamination; tvayi—unto You; asta-bhāvāt—speculating in various ways but not knowing or desiring more information of Your lotus feet; aviśuddha-buddhayaḥ—whose intelligence is still not purified and who do not know the goal of life; āruhya—even though