Text 28] Mother Parvati Curses Citraketu 193

api sahisnund. Just like a tree, a devotee can tolerate all kinds of curses
and reversals in life. This is the excellence of a devotee. Indirectly, Lord
Siva forbade Parvati to commit the mistake of cursing a devotee like
Citraketu. He indicated that although she was powerful, the King, with-
out showing any power, had excelled her power by his tolerance.

TEXT 28
ARAN: ad a Haga facafa |

euicaraerara = aware fara: 1<II

narayana-parah sarve
na kutascana bibhyati

svargapavarga-narakesv
api tulydrtha-darsinah

narayana-parah—pure devotees, who are interested only in the ser-
vice of Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sarve—all; na—
not; kutascana—anywhere; bibhyati—are afraid; svarga—in the higher
planetary systems; apavarga—in liberation; narakesu—and in hell:
api—even; tulya—equal; artha—value; darsinah—who see.

TRANSLATION

Devotees solely engaged in the devotional service of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, never fear any condi-
tion of life. For them the heavenly planets, liberation and the
hellish planets are all the same, for such devotees are interested
only in the service of the Lord.

PURPORT

Parvati might naturally have inquired how devotees become so ex-
alted. Therefore this verse explains that they are naérayana-para, simply
dependent on Narayana. They do not mind reverses in life because in the
service of Narayana they have learned to tolerate whatever hardships
there may be. They do not care whether they are in heaven or in hell:
they simply engage in the service of the Lord. This is their excellence.
Anukiilyena krsnanusilanam: they are liberally engaged in the service of
