Text 57] Dhruva Maharaja Leaves Home for the Forest 335
TRANSLATION
It is possible to worship a form of the Lord made of physical elements
such as earth, water, pulp, wood and metal. In the forest one can make a
form with no more than earth and water and worship Him according to
the above principles. A devotee who has full control over his self should
be very sober and peaceful and must be satisfied simply with eating
whatever fruits and vegetables are available in the forest.
PURPORT
It is essential for a devotee to worship the form of the Lord and not
only to meditate upon the form of the Lord within his mind with the
chanting of the mantra given by the spiritual master. The worship of the
form must be present. The impersonalist takes unnecessary trouble to
meditate upon or worship something impersonal, but this is very trouble-
some, and the path is very precarious. We are not advised to follow the
impersonalist way of meditating or worshiping the Lord. Dhruva Maharaja
was advised to worship a form made of earth and water because in the
jungle, if it is not possible to have a form made of metal, wood or stone,
the best process is to take earth mixed with water and make a form of the
Lord and worship Him. The devotec should not be anxious about cooking
food; whatever is available in the forest or in the city among the fruit and
vegetable groups should be offered to the Deity, and the devotee should
be satisfied eating that. He should not be anxious to have very palatable
dishes. Of course, wherever it is possible, one should offer the Deities the
best foodstuffs, prepared within the category of fruits and vegetables,
cooked or uncooked. The important factor is that the devotee should be
regulated (mita-bhuk); that is one of the good qualifications of a devotee.
He should not hanker to satisfy the tongue with a particular kind of food-
stuff. He should be satisfied to eat whatever prasadam is available by the
grace of the Lord.
TEXT 57
Wao |
PITA RAT AMI TAFAZ 4
svecchavatara-caritair
acintya-nija-mayaya
karisyaty uttamaslokas
tad dhydyed dhrdayangamam
