248 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 7, Ch. 5
Purnsdrpita visnau. The word pumsd means “by all living entities.”
There are no distinctions permitting only a man or only a bréhmana to
offer devotional service to the Lord. Everyone can do so. As confirmed in
Bhagavad-gita (9.32), striyo vaisyds tatha Sidrds te ‘pi yanti param
gatim: although women, vaisyas and Siidras are considered less intelli-
gent, they also can become devotees and return home, back to Godhead.

After performing sacrifices, sometimes a person engaged in fruitive
activity customarily offers the results to Visnu. But here it is said,
bhagavaty addhd: one must directly offer everything to Visnu. This is
called sannydsa (not merely nydsa). A tridandi-sannyasi carries three
dandas, signifying kaya-mano-vakya—body, mind and words. All of
these should be offered to Visnu, and then one can begin devotional ser-
vice. Fruitive workers first perform some pious activities and then for-
mally or officially offer the results to Visnu. The real devotee, however,
first offers his surrender to Krsna with his body, mind and words and
then uses his body, mind and words for the service of Krsna as Krsna
desires,

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura gives the following explana-
tion in his Tathya. The word sravana refers to giving aural reception to
the holy name and descriptions of the Lord’s form, qualities, entourage
and pastimes as explained in Srimad-Bhdgavatam, Bhagavad-gita and
similar authorized scriptures. After aurally receiving such messages, one
should memorize these vibrations and repeat them (kirtanam).
Smaranam means trying to understand more and more about the
Supreme Lord, and pdda-sevanam means engaging oneself in serving
the lotus feet of the Lord according to the time and circumstances.
Arcanam means worshiping Lord Visnu as one does in the temple, and
vandanam means offering respectful obeisances. Man-mand bhava
mad-bhakto | mad-yaji mam namaskuru. Vandanam_ means
namaskuru—offering obeisances or offering prayers. Thinking oneself
to be nitya-krsna-ddsa, everlastingly a servant of Krsna, is called
dasyam, and sakhyam means being a well-wisher of Krsna. Krsna wants
everyone to surrender unto Him because everyone is constitutionally His
servant. Therefore, as a sincere friend of Krsna, one should preach this
philosophy, requesting everyone to surrender unto Krsna. Atma-
nivedanam means offering Krsna everything, including one’s body,
mind, intelligence and whatever one may possess.
