52
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 5, Ch. 1]
these sons of Priyavrata, namely Kavi, Mahāvīra and Savana, were situated in the  paramahaṁsa  stage from the very beginning. Their senses could not disturb them, for their senses were completely engaged in serving the Lord. Therefore the three brothers are described in this verse as  upaśama-śīlāḥ .  Upaśama  means “completely subdued.” Because they completely subdued their senses, they are understood to have been great sages and saints.
After subduing their senses, the three brothers concentrated their minds upon the lotus feet of Vāsudeva, Lord Kṛṣṇa. As stated in  Bhagavad-gītā  (7.19),  vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti . The lotus feet of Vāsudeva are everything. Lord Vāsudeva is the reservoir of all living entities. When this cosmic manifestation is dissolved, all living entities enter the supreme body of the Lord, Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, who merges within the body of Mahā-Viṣṇu. Both of these  viṣṇu-tattvas  are  vāsudeva-tattvas , and therefore the great sages Kavi, Mahāvīra and Savana concentrated always upon the lotus feet of Lord Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa. In this way they could understand that the Supersoul within the heart is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and they could recognize their identity with Him. The complete description of this realization is that simply by discharging the unalloyed form of devotional service, one can realize his self completely. The  parama-bhakti-yoga  mentioned in this verse means that a living entity, by dint of unalloyed devotional service, has no other interest than the service of the Lord, as described in  Bhagavad-gītā  ( vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti ). By  parama-bhakti-yoga , by elevating oneself to the highest platform of loving service, one can automatically be relieved from the bodily concept of life and see the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face. As confirmed in  Brahma-saṁhitā :
premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena 
    santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti 
    yaṁ śyāmasundaram acintya-guṇa-svarūpaṁ 
    govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi
An advanced devotee, who is known as a  sat , or saint, can always see within his heart the Supreme Personality of Godhead, face to face. Kṛṣṇa, Śyāmasundara, expands Himself by His plenary portion, and thus a devotee can always see Him within his heart.