192 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 10, Ch. 2
Strictly avoiding such inauspicious association, we should simply hear
from pure devotees. Srila Ripa Gosvami therefore recommends, sri-
guru-paddsrayah: one must seek shelter at the lotus feet of a pure devo-
tee who can be one’s guru. Caitanya Mahaprabhu advises that a guru is
one who strictly follows the instructions of Bhagavad-gita: yare dekha,
tare kaha, ‘krsna’—upadeéa (Cc. Madhya 7.128). A juggler, a magician
or one who speaks nonsense as an academic career is not a guru. Rather,
a guru is one who presents Bhagavad-gitd, Krsna’s instructions, as it is.
Sravana is very important; one must hear from the Vaisnava sddhu,
guru and Sdstra.

The word kriydsu, meaning “‘by manual labor”’ or “by work,” is im-
portant in this verse. One should engage in practical service to the Lord.
In our Krsna consciousness movement, all our activities are concentrated
upon distributing Krsna literature. This is very important. One may ap-
proach any person and induce him to read Krsna literature so that in the
future he also may become a devotee. Such activities are recommended in
this verse. Kriyasu yas tvac-carandravindayoh. Such activities will al-
ways remind the devotees of the Lord’s lotus feet. By fully concentrating
on distributing books for Krsna, one is fully absorbed in Krsna. This is
samadhi.

TEXT 38
~ x AN
EN TSEM AIT: TET BAT
mrisTdtaey = aeHafg: |
Pema Ti at a aaaH eT RCI
distya hare ’syé bhavatah pado bhuvo
bharo ’panitas tava janmanesituh
distyankitam tvat-padakaih susobhanair
draksyéma gam dyam ca tavanukampitam

distya—by fortune; hare—O Lord; asyah—of this (world);
bhavatah—of Your Lordship; padah—of the place; bhuvah—on this
earth; bhdrah—the burden created by the demons; apanitah—now
