Text 24] The Activities of Saksi-gopala 123
kanya-dana-patra ami na ha-i tomdra
krsna-pritye kari tomdra seva-vyavahdara
SYNONYMS
kanya-dana-patra—a bridegroom suitable for one’s daughter; 4mi—l; nd—not;
ha-i—am; tomara—of you; krsma-pritye—only for satisfaction of Krsna; kari—l
do; tomara—of you; seva—of service; vyavahara—activities.
TRANSLATION
“Sir, | am not a suitable bridegroom for your daughter. | render service to
you only for the satisfaction of Krsna.
PURPORT
Both brahmanas were pure Vaisnavas. The younger man took special care of
the older one simply to please Krsna. In Srimad-Bhagavatam Krsna says, mad-
bhakta-péjabhyadhika: “It is better to render service to My devotee.”
(Bhag. 11.21.19) Thus, according to the Gaudiya-Vaisnava philosophy of
Caitanya Mahaprabhu, it is better to be a servant of the servant of God. One
should not try to serve Krsna directly. A pure Vaisnava serves a servant of Krsna
and identifies himself as a servant of a servant of Krsna. This is pleasing to Lord
Krsna. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura confirms this philosophy: chadiya vaisnava-
seva nistara payeche keba. Unless one serves a liberated Vaisnava, he cannot at-
tain liberation by directly serving Krsna. He must serve the servant of Krsna.
TEXT 24
Srmnl-cAaR STHI ALS ay ez I
SRA ACSICA SlS-A-Ay AGA i” 28 1
brahmana-sevaya krsnera priti bada haya
tanhara santose bhakti-sampad badaya”
SYNONYMS
brahmana-sevaya—by rendering service to a brahmana; krsnera—of Lord
Krsna; priti—the satisfaction; bada—very great; haya—is; tan hara santose—by
pleasing the Lord; bhakti—of devotional service; sampad—the opulence;
badaya—increases.
TRANSLATION
“Lord Krsna is very pleased by service rendered to brahmanas, and when
the Lord is pleased, the opulence of one’s devotional service increases.’
