Text 32] What Prahlada Learned in the Womb 83

possession should be dedicated to the spiritual master. Pranair arthair
dhiya vaca. Everyone has his life, his wealth, his intelligence and his
words, and all of them should be offered to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead through the via medium of the spiritual master. Everything
should be offered to the spiritual master as a matter of duty, but the
offering should be made to the spiritual master with heart and soul, not
artificially to gain material prestige. This offering is called arpana.
Moreover, one should live among devotees, saintly persons, to learn the
etiquette and proper behavior of devotional service. Srila Viévanatha
Cakravarti Thakura remarks in this connection that whatever is offered
to the spiritual master should be offered with love and affection, not for
material adoration. Similarly, it is recommended that one associate with
devotees, but there must be some discrimination. Actually, a sadhu, a
saintly person, must be saintly in his behavior (sadhavah sad-dcarah).
Unless one adheres to the standard behavior, one’s position as a sddhu, a
saintly person, is not complete. Therefore a Vaisnava, a sddhu, must
completely adhere to the standard of behavior. Srila Visvanatha
Cakravarti Thakura says that a Vaisnava, a person initiated into the
Vaisnava cult, should be offered the respect befitting a Vaisnava, which
means that he should be offered service and prayers. However, one
should not associate with him if he is not a fit person with whom to asso-
ciate.

TEXT 32

at: aag Yay Aaa at: |
efa anf rae arate: ANY ATAAT 1122

harih sarvesu bhitesu
bhagavan asta isvarah

iti bhiittani manasa
kamais taih sadhu manayet

harih—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sarvesu—in all;
bhittesu—living entities; bhagavan—the supreme personality; dste—is
situated; iSvarah—the supreme controller; iti—thus; bhitani—all liv-
ing entities; manasd—by such understanding; kamaih—by desires;
taih—those; sadhu manayet—one should highly esteem.
