1064
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 4, Ch. 24]
ceive instructions from the all-perfect, there is no chance of their being misled. This is also confirmed in  Bhagavad-gītā :  dadāmi buddhi-yogam tam yena mām upayānti te  (Bg. 10.10). The Lord is always ready to give instructions to the pure devotee so that the devotee can advance further and further in devotional service. Since the Lord gives instructions as  Śarvātmā , the Supersoul, Lord Śiva offers Him respect with the words  sarvātmā ātmane namaḥ . The individual soul is called  ātmā , and the Lord is also called  ātmā  as well as  Paramātmā . Being situated in everyone's heart, the Lord is known as the supreme  ātmā . Therefore all obeisances are offered unto Him. In this regard, one may refer to the prayers of Kuntī in the First Canto of  Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam :
tathā paramahamśānām munīnām amalātmanām
bhaktiyoga-vidhānārtham katham paśyema hi striyaḥ (Bhāg. 1.8.20)
The Lord is always ready to give instructions to the  paramahamśas , or the topmost devotees of the Lord who are completely liberated from all contaminations of the material world. The Lord always gives instructions to such exalted devotees to inform them how they can remain fixed in devotional service. Similarly, it is stated in the  ātmārāma  verse:
ātmārāmāś ca munayo nirgranthā apy urukrame
kurvanty ahaitukīm bhaktim itthambhūta-guṇo hariḥ (Bhāg. 1.7.10)
The word  ātmārāma  refers to those who are not interested in the material world but are simply engaged in spiritual realization. Such self-realized persons are generally considered in two categories—impersonal and personal. However, impersonalists also become devotees when they are attracted by the personal transcendental qualities of the Lord. The conclusion is that Lord Śiva wanted to remain a fixed devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead,  Vāsudeva . As explained in the following verses, Lord Śiva never desires to merge into the existence of the Supreme Lord like the impersonalists. Rather, he thinks that it would be good fortune for him to continue to be fixed in the understanding of the Lord as the Supreme Being. By this understanding, one realizes that all living entities—including Lord Śiva, Lord Brahmā and other demigods—are servants of the Supreme Lord.
TEXT 34
नमः पङ्कजनाभाय भूतस्रक्षेन्द्रियात्मने ।
वासुदेवाय शान्ताय कूटस्थाय स्वरोचिषे ॥३४॥