Text 16] Chanting the Song Sung by Lord Siva 1039

yat—that; uktam—said: pathi—on the way; drstena—while meeting;
girisena—by Lord Siva; prasidata— being very much satisfied; tat— that;
dhyayantah— meditating; japantah ca—chanting also; pujayantah ca—
worshiping also; samyatah—with great control.

TRANSLATION

When all the sons of Pracinabarhi left home to execute austerities, they
met Lord Siva, who, out of great mercy, instructed them about the Abso-
lute Truth. All the sons of Pracinabarhi meditated upon the instructions,
chanting and worshiping them with great care and attention.

PURPORT

It is clear that to perform austerities or penances, or, for that matter, any
form of devotional service, one has to be guided by a spiritual master. Here
it is clearly stated that the ten sons of Maharaja Pracinabarhi were favored
by an appearance of Lord Siva, who, out of great kindness, gave them
instructions regarding the execution of austerities. Lord Siva actually
became the spiritual master of the ten sons, and in turn his disciples took
his words so seriously that simply by meditating upon his instructions
(dhyayantah) they became perfect. This is the secret of success. After being
initiated and receiving the orders of the spiritual master, the disciple should
unhesitatingly think about the instructions or orders of the spiritual master
and should not allow himself to be disturbed by anything else. This is also
the verdict of Srila Visvanatha Cakravart? Thakura, who, while explaining
a verse of Bhagavad-gitd (vyavasdyatmika buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana,
Bg. 2.41), points out that the order of the spiritual master is the life sub-
stance of the disciple. The disciple shouldn’t consider whether he is going
back home, back to Godhead; his first business should be to execute the
order of his spiritual master. Thus a disciple should always meditate on
the order of the spiritual master, and that is perfectional meditation. Not
only should he meditate upon that order, but he should find out the means
by which he can perfectly worship and execute it.

TEXT 16

fige FarF
waa fifa anssdicaty axa: |
TET a: Meat a Tea 12K
