168 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 10, Ch. 2

considered the most powerful original existence or which is executed by
mahdajanas; kurvanti—they make; govatsa-padam—like the hoofprint
of a calf; bhava-abdhim—the great ocean of nescience.

TRANSLATION

O lotus-eyed Lord, by concentrating one’s meditation on Your
lotus feet, which are the reservoir of all existence, and by accept-
ing those lotus feet as the boat by which to cross the ocean of ne-
science, one follows in the footsteps of mahajanas [great saints,
sages and devotees]. By this simple process, one can cross the
ocean of nescience as easily as one steps over the hoofprint of a

calf.

PURPORT

The true mission in life is to cross the ocean of nescience, of repeated
birth and death. Those in the darkness of ignorance, however, do not
know this mission. Instead, being carried away by the waves of material
nature (prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karméni sarvasah), they are
undergoing the tribulations of mrtyu-samsdra-vartmani, repeated birth
and death. But persons who have achieved knowledge by the association
of devotees follow the mahdjanas (mahat-krtena). Such a person always
concentrates his mind upon the lotus feet of the Lord and executes one or
more of the nine varieties of devotional service (sravanam kirtanam
visnoh smaranam pGda-sevanam). Simply by this process, one can cross
the insurmountable ocean of nescience. .

Devotional service is powerful in any form. Sri-visnoh sravane
pariksid abhavad vaiydsakih kirtane (Bhakti-rasémrta-sindhu 1.2.265).
According to this verse, Maharaja Pariksit became liberated by fully con-
centrating his mind on hearing the Lord’s holy name, attributes and
pastimes. Similarly, Sukadeva Gosvami simply glorified the Lord, and by
speaking on the subject matters of Krsna that constitute the entire
Srimad-Bhagavatam, he too was liberated. One may also be liberated
simply by sakhya, friendly behavior with the Lord. Such is the power of
devotional service, as we learn from the examples set by the Lord’s many
pure devotees.
