Text 26] The Island of Jambidvipa 263

TRANSLATION

In India [Bharata-varsa], there are many worshipers of the
demigods, the various officials appointed by the Supreme Lord,
such as Indra, Candra and Sirya, all of whom are worshiped
differently. The worshipers offer the demigods their oblations,
considering the demigods part and parcel of the whole, the
Supreme Lord. Therefore the Supreme Personality of Godhead ac-
cepts these offerings and gradually raises the worshipers to the
real standard of devotional service by fulfilling their desires and
aspirations. Because the Lord is complete, He offers the
worshipers the benedictions they desire even if they worship only
part of His transcendental body.

PURPORT
In Bhagavad-gita (9.13) Lord Krsna says:

mahatmanas tu mam partha
daivim prakrtim asritah

bhajanty ananya-manaso
Jnatva bhiitadim avyayam

“O son of Prtha, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under
the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional
service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
original and inexhaustible.” Mahdtmds, advanced devotees, worship
only the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Others, however, who are also
sometimes called mahatmds, worship the Lord as ekatvena prthaktvena.
In other words, they accept the demigods as different parts of Krsna and
worship them for various benedictions. Although the devotees of the
demigods thus achieve the desired results offered by Krsna, they have
been described in Bhagavad-gita as hrta-jridna, not very intelligent.
Krsna does not desire to be worshiped indirectly through the different
parts of His body; Krsna wants direct devotional worship. Therefore a
devotee who directly worships Lord Krsna through staunch devotional
service, as recommended in Srimad-Bhdgavatam, (tivrena bhakti-
yogena yajeta purusam param), is very quickly elevated to the transcen-
dental position. Nevertheless, devotees who worship the demigods, the
