Text 32] Prayers by the Demigods 175
the benediction he desired, Dhruva Maharaja refused it, saying, svamin
krtdrtho ’smi varam na ydace: “‘Now I am fully satisfied. I do not want
any material benediction.” (Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya 7.28) This is the
perfection of life. Yar labdhvé céparam labham manyate nadhikam
tatah (Bg. 6.22). If one achieves the shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet, one
is fully satisfied and does not need to ask for any material benediction.
At night, no one can see a lotus, for lotuses blossom only during the
daytime. Therefore the word aravindaksa is significant. One who is not
captivated by the lotus eyes or transcendental form of the Supreme Lord
is in darkness, exactly like one who cannot see a lotus. One who has not
come to the point of seeing the lotus eyes and transcendental form of
Sydmasundara is a failure. Premafjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena san-
tah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti. Those who are attached to the
Supreme Personality of Godhead in love always see the Lord’s lotus eyes
and lotus feet, whereas others cannot see the Lord’s beauty and are
therefore classified as anddrta-yusmad-arighrayah, or neglectful of the
Lord’s personal form. Those who neglect the Lord’s form are surely
failures on every path in life, but if one develops even a little love for the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, one is liberated without difficulty
(svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhaydt). Therefore the
Supreme Personality of Godhead recommends in Bhagavad-gita (9.34),
man-manéd bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru: “Simply
think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer some slight
homage to Me.” Simply by this process, one is guaranteed to return
home, back to Godhead, and thus attain the highest perfection. The Lord
further affirms in Bhagavad-gita (18.54—55):
brahma-bhitah prasannaétma
na Socati na kanksati
samah sarvesu bhitesu
mad-bhaktim labhate param
bhaktyé mam abhijanati
yavan yas cdsmi tattvatah
tato mam tattvato jndtva
visate tad-anantaram
