Text 18] The Transcendental Qualities of Vrtrasura 201

destroying my army; eva—certainly; sirah—head; yadi—if; iha—in
this battle; tatra—in that case; anrnah—relieved of all debts in this ma-
terial world; bhita-balim—a presentation for all living entities;
vidhaya—arranging; manasvindm—of great sages like Narada Muni;
pada-rajah—the dust of the lotus feet; prapatsye—I shall achieve.

TRANSLATION

But if in this battle you cut off my head with your thunderbolt
and kill my soldiers, O Indra, O great hero, I shall take great
pleasure in offering my body to other living entities [such as
jackals and vultures]. I shall thus be relieved of my obligations to
the reactions of my karma, and my fortune will be to receive the
dust from the lotus feet of great devotees like Narada Muni.

PURPORT

Sri Narottama dasa Thakura sings:

ei chaya gosani yara, mui tara dasa
tan’ sabara pada-renu mora parica-grasa

“T am the servant of the six Gosvamis, and the dust of their lotus feet
provides my five kinds of food.” A Vaisnava always desires the dust of
the lotus feet of previous Gcaryas and Vaisnavas. Vrtrasura was certain
that he would be killed in the battle with Indra, because this was the
desire of Lord Visnu. He was prepared for death because he knew that
after his death he was destined to return home, back to Godhead. This is
a great destination, and it is achieved by the grace of a Vaisnava.
Chaédiya vaisnava-seva nistara payeche keba: no one has ever gone back
to Godhead without being favored by a Vaisnava. In this verse.
therefore, we find the words manasvinam padda-rajah prapatsye: “I shall
receive the dust of the lotus feet of great devotees.” The word
manasvinam refers to great devotees who always think of Krsna. They
are always peaceful, thinking of Krsna, and therefore they are called
dhira. The best example of such a devotee is Narada Muni. If one
receives the dust of the lotus feet of a manasvi, a great devotee, he cer-
tainly returns home, back to Godhead.
