Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.11

Krishna Needs Nothing Yet Accepts Our Service, Devotee Finds Benefit in Serving Krishna

📅 February 18, 1976 📍 Mayapur ⏱ 26 min
Krishna needs nothing; all benefit from service flows to the grateful devotee who serves with sincere endeavor.
Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca

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Anantarām Sāstrīji: Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. [Prabhupāda and devotees repeat] [chants verse, Prabhupāda and devotees chant responsively] [break] naivātmanaḥ prabhur ayaṁ nija-lābha-pūrṇo mānaṁ janād aviduṣaḥ karuṇo vṛṇīte yad yaj jano bhagavate vidadhīta mānaṁ tac cātmane prati-mukhasya yathā mukha-śrīḥ [SB 7.9.11] Hṛdayānanda: [chants synonyms; devotees chant responsively] [break] [00:50] Translation: "Specifically the Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead, is always full in satisfaction by Himself. Therefore, when something is offered to Him, it is for the benefit of the devotee. The Lord does not require any service from anyone.

The example is given here that if the original face is decorated, then the reflection in the mirror is seen with face decorated." Prabhupāda: Hm? Naivātmanaḥ prabhur ayaṁ nija-lābha-pūrṇo [SB 7.9.11]. Aiśvaryasya samagrasya vīryasya yaśasaḥ śriyaḥ [Viṣṇu Purāṇa 6.5.74(1)]. Everything is complete; therefore Kṛṣṇa is God.

Everything, whatever we require... We require money, aiśvarya. We require strength. We require influence.

We require education. So many things we require. Ṣaḍ-aiśvarya-pūrṇaḥ. [Cc Ādi 1.3] Nija-lābha-pūrṇaḥ. Another definition of Kṛṣṇa is He's full with six kinds of opulences.

So He's sufficient to fulfill His desire. He doesn't require anyone's service. Just like we are in need of so many things; therefore we require others' help. But Kṛṣṇa does not require anyone's help.

Then why He accepts worship? That is the... That is for the benefit of the devotee, not for His personal benefit. Just like Lord Rāmacandra, He...

His one wife Sītādevī was kidnapped by Rāvaṇa. Of course, Rāvaṇa cannot kidnap. It was externally, Māyā Sītā. Still, taking for exception that Sītā was kidnapped, so Lord Rāmacandra could have possessed many millions of Sītā by His will, but for one Sītā He had to fight with Rāvaṇa and finish the whole dynasty, because Rāmacandra is the ideal king.

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