The Superexcellent Power of Krsna 323
incident, the goddess of fortune, Laksmi, has not been very favorably
disposed towards the brahmanas, and therefore because the goddess of
fortune witholds her benedictions from them, the brahmanas are generally
very poor. Bhrgumuni’s touching the chest of Lord Visnu with his foot
was certainly a great offense, but Lord Visnu is so great that He did not
care. The so-called brahmanas of the Kali-yuga are sometimes very proud
that they can touch the chest of Lord Visnu with their feet. But when
Bhrgumuni touched the chest of Lord Visnu with his feet, it was different
because although it was the greatest offense, Lord Visnu, being greatly
magnanimous, did not take it very seriously.

Instead of being angry or cursing Bhrgumuni, Lord Visnu immediately
got up from His bed along with His wife, the goddess of fortune, and
offered respectful obeisances to the brahmana. He addressed Bhrgumuni
as follows: “‘My dear brahmana, it is a great blessing for Me that you have
come here. Please, therefore, sit down on this cushion for a few minutes.
My dear brahmana, I am very sorry that when you first entered I could
not receive you properly. It was a great offense on My part, and I beg you
to pardon Me. You are so pure and great that the water which washes your
feet can purify even the places of pilgrimage. Therefore, I request you to
purify the Vaikuntha planet where I live with My associates. My dear
father, O great sage, I know that your feet are very soft, like a lotus flower,
and that My chest is as hard as a thunderbolt. I am therefore afraid that
you may have felt some pain by touching My chest with your feet. Let Me
therefore touch your feet to relieve the pain you have suffered.” Lord
Visnu then began to massage the feet of Bhrgumuni.

The Lord continued to address Bhrgumuni. “‘My dear lord,” He said,
‘““My chest has now become sanctified because of the touch of your feet,
and I am now assured that the goddess of fortune, Laksmi, will be very
glad to live there perpetually.”” Another name for Laksmi is Caficala. She
does not stay in one place for a long time. Therefore, we see that a rich
man’s family sometimes becomes poor after a few generations, and some-
times we see that a poor man’s family becomes very rich. Laksmi, the
goddess of fortune, is Caficala in this material world, whereas in the
Vaikuntha planets she eternally lives at the lotus feet of the Lord. Because
Laksmi is famous as Cajicala, Lord Narayana indicated that she might not
have been living perpetually by His chest, but because His chest had been
touched by the feet of Bhrgumuni, it was now sanctified, and there was no
chance that the goddess of fortune would leave. Bhrgumuni, however,
could understand his position and that of the Lord, and he was struck with
wonder at the behavior of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because
