254 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 7

oblations offered to different demigods were actually offered unto
the different limbs of Lord Vasudeva.

PURPORT

The Supreme Personality of Godhead says that as long as one does not
develop the pure devotional service of sravanam kirtanam, hearing and
chanting. one must carry out his prescribed duties. Since Bharata
Maharaja was a great devotee, one may ask why he performed so many
sacrifices that are actually meant for karmis. The fact is that he was
simply following the orders of Vasudeva. As Krsna says in Bhagavad-
gitd, sarva dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja: **Abandon all
varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me.” (Be. 18.66) Whatever
we do. we should constantly remember Vasudeva. People are generally
addicted to offering obeisances to various demigods, but Bharata Mahara-
ja simply wanted to please Lord Vasudeva. As stated in Bhagavad-gita:
bhoktararh yajria-tapasarh sarva-loka-mahesvaram (Bg. 5.29). A yajria
may be carried out to satisfy a particular demigod, but when the yajria is
offered to the yajria-purusa, Narayana. the demigods are satisfied. The
purpose of performing different yajrias is to satisfy the Supreme Lord.
One may perform them in the name of different demigods or directly. If
we directly offer oblations to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. the
demigods are automatically satisfied. If we water the root of a tree. the
branches. twigs. fruits and flowers are automatically satisfied. When one
offers sacrifices to different demigods. one should remember that the
demigods are simply parts of the body of the Supreme. If we worship the
hand of a person, we intend to satisfy the person himself. If we massage a
person's legs. we do not really serve the legs but the person who
possesses the legs. All the demigods are different parts of the Lord. and if
we offer service to them, we actually serve the Lord Himself. Demigod
worship is mentioned in Brahma-samhita, but actually the slokas advo-
cate worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda. For in-
stance, worship of the goddess Durga is mentioned this way in Brahma-
samhita (5.44):

srsti-sthiti-pralaya-sadhana-saktir eka
chayeva yasya bhuvanani vibharti durga
