Text 18]
The Characteristics of Rṣabhadeva
159
enriched by first-class ingredients. They were executed in holy places according to the proper time by priests who were all young and faithful. In this way Lord Viṣṇu was worshiped, and the prasāda was offered to all the demigods. Thus the functions and festivals were all successful.
PURPORT
It is said,  kaumāra ācaret prājño dharmān bhāgavatān iha  ( Bhāg.  7.6.1). A ritual should be performed by young men, even boys, at a tender age in order for the ritual to be performed successfully. From childhood, people should be trained in Vedic culture, especially in devotional service. In this way, one can perfect one's life. A Vaiṣṇava does not disrespect the demigods, but on the other hand he is not so foolish that he accepts each and every demigod as the Supreme Lord. The Supreme Lord is master of all demigods; therefore the demigods are His servants. The Vaiṣṇava accepts them as servants of the Supreme Lord, and he worships them directly. In the  Brahma-saṁhitā , the important demigods—Lord Śiva, Lord Brahmā and even the incarnations and expansions of Lord Kṛṣṇa like Mahā-Viṣṇu, Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu and all the other  viṣṇu-tattvas , as well as the  śakti-tattvas  like Durgādevī—are all worshiped by the process of worshiping Govinda with the words  govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi . A Vaiṣṇava worships the demigods in relation to Govinda, not independently. Vaiṣṇavas are not so foolish that they consider the demigods independent of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is confirmed in  Caitanya-caritāmṛta .  Ekale īśvara kṛṣṇa, āra saba bhṛtya : the supreme master is Kṛṣṇa, and all others are His servants.
TEXT 18
भगवतर्षमेण परिरक्ष्यमाण एतस्मिन् वर्षे न कश्चन पुरुषो वाञ्छत्य- विद्यमानमिवात्मनोऽन्यस्मात्कथञ्चन किमपि कर्हिचिदवेक्षते भर्तर्यनुसवनं विजृम्भितस्नेहातिशयमन्तरेण ॥ १८ ॥
bhagavatarṣabheṇa parirakṣyamāṇa etasmin varṣe na kaścana puruṣo vāñchaty avidyamānam ivātmano 'nyasmāt kathañcana kimapi karhicid avekṣate bhartary anusavanaṁ vijṛmbhita-snehātiśayam an- tareṇa.