Verse 1.12.184

Bengali text, Devanagari and Unicode transliteration of verse 1.12.184:

লক্ষ্মী-কান্তে সেবন করিযা কেনে তুমি অন্ন-বস্ত্রে দুঃখ পাও, কহ দেখি, শুনি?” ॥ ১৮৪ ॥

लक्ष्मी-कान्ते सेवन करिया केने तुमि अन्न-वस्त्रे दुःख पाओ, कह देखि, शुनि?” ॥ १८४ ॥

lakṣmī-kānte sevana kariyā kene tumi anna-vastre duḥkha pāo, kaha dekhi, śuni?” || 184 ||

laksmi-kante sevana kariya kene tumi anna-vastre duhkha pao, kaha dekhi, suni?” (184)

English translation:

(184) “Can you please tell Me why, after serving the beloved Lord of Lakṣmī, you do not get sufficient food and clothes?”

Commentary: Gauḍīya-bhāṣya by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura:

Lord Nārāyaṇa is the omnipotent sole proprietor of unlimited opulences. In order to test His own servant, Śrīdhara, the Lord asked him why the servants of Nārāyaṇa remain afflicted with poverty in this world even though they are eligible for the wealth of their Lord. Although the

followers of śākta philosophy who wish to mitigate their poverty or gratify their senses and fulfill their self-interest offer water and tulasī leaves at the feet of Lord Nārāyaṇa and thus receive mundane opulences or temporary benefits, they do not achieve eternal good fortune. But the fully surrendered servants of Nārāyaṇa who are engaged in unalloyed service do not accept any exchange for their service. In order to exhibit the ideal example of such Vaiṣṇava qualities, the Lord’s associates from Vaikuṇṭha display various poverty stricken pastimes. By such pastimes, however, they do not feel any misery. They have the following strong conviction at heart: tomāra sevāya duḥkha haya yata, se o ta’ parama sukha—“Whatever misery comes in the course of Your service is my greatest happiness.” They do not desire anything from the Lord for their own sense gratification. But foolish persons, through material vision inspired by external considerations, think that Vaiṣṇavas are afflicted by various needs. Since due to a lack of wealth, Śrīdhara Vipra or other pure devotees of the Lord appear from the material point of view unable to accumulate fine items of enjoyment for dressing and eating like ordinary people, such questions may naturally arise. This is clearly seen in this conversation between Śrīdhara and Śrī Gaurasundara.