Through loving recognition of Krishna in all creation, even the simplest devotional practice purifies the soul.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.8.22 — April 14, 1973, Los Angeles 730414SB-LOS ANGELES [33:43 Minutes] SB-01.08.22_730414SB-LOS ANGELES Prabhupāda: [leads singing of Jaya rādhā-mādhava] [04:59] [prema-dhvāṇī prayers] Thank you very much. Hare Kṛṣṇa [break] [05:56] Pradyumna: ...vate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya.
[leads chanting of verse] [Prabhupāda and devotees repeat] namaḥ paṅkaja-nābhāya namaḥ paṅkaja-māline namaḥ paṅkaja-netrāya namas te paṅkajāṅghraye [SB 1.8.22] Prabhupāda: That's all. Now, word meaning. Pradyumna: namaḥ—all respectful obeisances; paṅkaja-nābhāya—unto the Lord who has a specific depression resembling a lotus flower in the center of His abdomen; paṅkaja-māline—one who is always decorated with a garland of lotus flowers; paṅkaja-netrāya—one whose glance is as cooling as a lotus flower; namas te—respectful obeisances unto You; paṅkaja-aṅghraye—unto You, the soles of whose feet are engraved with lotus flowers (and who are therefore said to possess lotus feet). [12:12] Translation: "My respectful obeisances are unto You, O Lord, whose abdomen is marked with a depression like a lotus flower, who is always decorated with garlands of lotus flowers, whose glance is as cool as the lotus, and whose feet are engraved with lotuses." Prabhupāda: Lord's feet, there are flags, lotus flower, chariot. These are the symbolic representation.
God is person, but His personality is distinct from our personality. So these specific marks are there on His lotus feet. And paṅkaja-nābhāya, another meaning, paṅkaja-nābhāya means originally a lotus stem came out from the navel of Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, and Brahmā was born in that lotus flower, the origin of creation. So Kṛṣṇa's all parts of the body reference to the paṅkaja. Paṅkaja means lotus flower.
Paṅka means mud, and ja means generate. Paṅkaja, the lotus flower, is so important. Still, it is generated from mud. So Kṛṣṇa likes paṅkaja very much, lotus flower.
So if we see lotus flower, we can remember..., immediately remember Kṛṣṇa. If... Just like if you love your child, if you see any garment, a small ship..., shoes or any play things, immediately you remember your child: "Oh, this is my child's shoes. This is my child's playing things.
This is my garment." So it is the question of love. If you actually love God, Kṛṣṇa, then you can remember Him at any time, always, always. There is no difficulty. Here Kuntīdevī describes paṅkaja, with reference to lotus flower.
And Kṛṣṇa describes Himself in the Bhagavad-gītā, raso 'ham apsu kaunteya [Bg. 7.8]: "I am the taste of the liquid." So Kṛṣṇa can be remembered by tasting water. Even those who are drinking... If he thinks that "This taste of drinking is Kṛṣṇa," he will one day come out a great saintly person. Such a nice thing, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, if you have cultivate Kṛṣṇa consciousness, if you follow the description given by the śāstras...