148 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 4
TRANSLATION

[The second prayer is this.] ‘‘Who is a better worshiper of
brahmanas than Maharaja Nabhi? Because he worshiped the
qualified brahmanas to their full satisfaction, the brahmanas, by
their brahminical prowess, showed Maharaja Nabhi the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, Narayana, in person.”

PURPORT

The braéhmanas engaged as priests in the sacrificial ceremony were not
ordinary brahmanas. They were so powerful that they could bring forth
the Supreme Personality of Godhead by their prayers. Thus Maharaja
Nabhi was able to see the Lord face to face. Unless one is a Vaisnava, he
cannotcall forth the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Lord does not
accept an invitation unless one is a Vaisnava. Therefore it is said in
Padma Purana:

sat-karma-nipuno vipro
mantra-tantra-visdradah
avaisnavo gurur na sydd
vaisnavah sva-paco guruh
‘A scholarly bradhmana expert in all subjects of Vedic knowledge is unfit
to become a spiritual master without being a Vaisnava, but a person born
in a family of a lower caste can become a spiritual master if he is a
Vaisnava.”” These brahmanas were certainly very expert in chanting the
Vedic mantras. They were competent in the performance of the Vedic
rituals, and over and above this they were Vaisnavas. Therefore by their
spiritual powers they could call on the Supreme Personality of Godhead
and enable their disciple, Maharaja Nabhi, to see the Lord face to face.
Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura comments that the word ojasa
means “‘by dint of devotional service.”
TEXT 8

Me WAT: at waragEIMA: sefraTET-

~ y Ln Lan
Ta By ga Beata qalatgRrraon azecafies-
