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Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.19.32
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A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT 32
- parīkṣid uvāca
- aho adya vayaṁ brahman
- sat-sevyāḥ kṣatra-bandhavaḥ
- kṛpayātithi-rūpeṇa
- bhavadbhis tīrthakāḥ kṛtāḥ
parīkṣitthe fortunate Mahārāja Parīkṣit said uvācathe fortunate Mahārāja Parīkṣit said — the fortunate Mahārāja Parīkṣit said; ahoah — ah; adyatoday — today; vayamwe — we; brahmanO brāhmaṇa — O brāhmaṇa; sateligible to serve the devotee-sevyāḥeligible to serve the devotee — eligible to serve the devotee; kṣatrathe ruling class — the ruling class; bandhavaḥfriends — friends; kṛpayāby your mercy — by your mercy; atithiin the manner of a guest-rūpeṇain the manner of a guest — in the manner of a guest; bhavadbhiḥby your good self — by your good self; tīrthakāḥqualified for being places of pilgrimage — qualified for being places of pilgrimage; kṛtāḥdone by you — done by you.
The fortunate King Parīkṣit said: O brāhmaṇa, by your mercy only, you have sanctified us, making us like unto places of pilgrimage, all by your presence here as my guest. By your mercy, we, who are but unworthy royalty, become eligible to serve the devotee.
Saintly devotees like Śukadeva Gosvāmī generally do not approach worldly enjoyers, especially those in royal orders. Mahārāja Pratāparudra was a follower of Lord Caitanya, but when he wanted to see the Lord, the Lord refused to see him because he was a king. For a devotee who desires to go back to Godhead, two things are strictly prohibited: worldly enjoyers and women. Therefore, devotees of the standard of Śukadeva Gosvāmī are never interested in seeing kings. Mahārāja Parīkṣit was, of course, a different case. He was a great devotee, although a king, and therefore Śukadeva Gosvāmī came to see him in his last stage of life. Mahārāja Parīkṣit, out of his devotional humility, felt himself an unworthy descendant of his great kṣatriya forefathers, although he was as great as his predecessors. The unworthy sons of the royal orders are called kṣatra-bandhavas, as the unworthy sons of the brāhmaṇas are called dvija-bandhus or brahma-bandhus. Mahārāja Parīkṣit was greatly encouraged by the presence of Śukadeva Gosvāmī. He felt himself sanctified by the presence of the great saint whose presence turns any place into a place of pilgrimage.