Text 28]
The Hamsa-guhya Prayers
219
To understand Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one must undergo severe penances and austerities, but since the path of devotional service is perfect, by following this process one can very easily come to the spiritual platform and understand the Lord. This, too, is confirmed in  Bhagavad-gītā  (18.55), wherein Kṛṣṇa says:
bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ tato mām tattvato jñātvā viśate tad-anantaram
“One can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He is only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of the Supreme Lord by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God.”
Thus although the subject matter is  durvijñeyam , extremely difficult to understand, it becomes easy if one follows the prescribed method. Coming in touch with the Supreme Personality of Godhead is possible through pure devotional service, which begins with  śravaṇam kīrtanam viṣṇoḥ . In this regard, Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Thākura quotes a verse from  Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam  (2.8.5):  praviṣṭaḥ karṇa-randhreṇa svānām bhāva-saroruham . The process of hearing and chanting enters the core of the heart, and in this way one becomes a pure devotee. By continuing this process, one comes to the stage of transcendental love, and then he appreciates the transcendental name, form, qualities and pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In other words, a pure devotee, by devotional service, is able to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead despite many material impediments, which are all various energies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Easily making his way through these impediments, a devotee comes directly in contact with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. After all, the material impediments described in these verses are but various energies of the Lord. When a devotee is eager to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he prays to the Lord:
ayi nanda-tanuja kiṅkaram patitam mām viṣame bhavāmbudhau kṛpayā tava pāda-paṅkaja- sthita-dhūlī-sadṛśam vicintaya