Text 37] The Activities of the Pracetas 1535

TRANSLATION

Dear Lord, Your personal associates, devotees, wander all over the world
to purify even the holy places of pilgrimage. Is not such activity pleasing
to those who are actually afraid of material existence?

PURPORT

There are two kinds of devotees. One is called gosthdnandi and the
other bhajandnandi. The word bhajandnandi refers to the devotee who
does not move but remains in one place. Such a devotee is always engaged
in the devotional service of the Lord. He chants the mahd-mantra as
taught by many dcdryas and sometimes goes out for preaching work. The
gosthanandi is one who desires to increase the number of devotees all
over the world. He travels all over the world just to purify the world and
the people residing in it. Caitanya Mahaprabhu advised: prthivite dche
yata nagaradi grama sarvatra pracdra haibe mora nama. Lord Caitanya
Mahaprabhu wanted His followers to move all over the world and preach
in every town and village. In the Caitanya-sampradaya those who strictly
follow the principles of Lord Caitanya must travel all over the world to
preach the message of Lord Caitanya, which is the same as preaching the
words of Krsna—Bhagavad-gita—and Srimad-Bhdgavatam. The more the
devotees preach the principles of krsna-katha, the more people throughout
the world will benefit.

Devotees like the great sage Narada who travel all over to preach are
called gosthanandi. Narada Muni is always wandering throughout the uni-
verse just to create different types of devotees. Narada even made a hunter
a devotee. He also made Dhruva Maharaja and Prahlada devotees. Actually
all devotees are indebted to the great sage Narada, for he has wandered
both in heaven and in hell. A devotee of the Lord is not even afraid of hell.
He goes to preach the glories of the Lord everywhere—even in hell—because
there is no distinction between heaven and hell for a devotee.

nardyana-parah sarve
na kutascana bibhyati
svargdpavarga-narakesv
api tulydrtha-darsinah

‘“‘A pure devotee of Narayana is never afraid of going anywhere and every-
where. For him heaven and hell are one and the same.” (Bhag. 6.17.28)
Such devotees, wandering all over the world, deliver those who are actu-
