Text 12] The Doorkeepers Cursed by the Sages 647
PURPORT
It has been observed in many instances in the Vedic scriptures that
when the brahmanas or Vaisnavas curse someone in an angry mood, the
person who is cursed does not take it upon himself to treat the brahmanas
or Vaisnavas in the same way. There are many examples of this. For
instance, the sons of Kuvera, when they were cursed by the great sage
Narada, did not seek revenge in the same harsh way, but submitted. Here
also, when Jaya and Vijaya were cursed by the four Kumaras, they did not
become harsh towards them; rather, they submitted. That should be the
way of treating brahmanas and Vaisnavas. One may sometimes be faced
with a grievous situation created by a brahmana, but instead of meeting
him with a similar mood, one should try to pacify him with a smiling
face and mild treatment. Brahmanas and Vaisnavas should be accepted as
earthly representatives of Narayana. Nowadays some foolish persons have
manufactured the term “daridra-narayana,” indicating that the poor man
should be accepted as the representative of Narayana. But in Vedic
literature we do not find that poor men should be treated as representa-
tives of Narayana. Of course, “those who are unprotected” are mentioned
here, but the definition of this phrase is clear from the sastras. The poor
man should not be unprotected, but the brahmana should especially be
treated as the representative of Narayana and should be worshiped like
Him. It is specifically said that to pacify the brahmanas, one’s face should
be lotuslike. A lotuslike face is exhibited when one is adorned with love
and affection. In this respect, the example of the father’s being angry at
the son and the son’s trying to pacify the father with smiling and sweet
words is very appropriate.
TEXT 12
ae MATAR
TULA erearaeaet MITE Ae: |
ait abraRat scan 3
THOTT AA TNT Ut V2 UI
tan me sva-bhartur avasayam alaksamanau
yusmad-vyatikrama-gatim pratipadya sadyah
bhuyo mamantikam itam tad anugraho me
yat kalpatam acirato bhrtayor vivasah
