Chaitanya Bhagavata
by Bhumipati Dāsa | 2008 | 1,349,850 words
The Chaitanya Bhagavata 3.3.487, English translation, including a commentary (Gaudiya-bhasya). This text is similair to the Caitanya-caritamrita and narrates the pastimes of Lord Caitanya, proclaimed to be the direct incarnation of Krishna (as Bhagavan) This is verse 487 of Antya-khanda chapter 3—“Mahaprabhu’s Deliverance of Sarvabhauma, Exhibition of His Six-armed Form, and Journey to Bengal”.
Verse 3.3.487
Bengali text, Devanagari and Unicode transliteration of verse 3.3.487:
এতেকে বৈষ্ণব-সেবা পরম উপায ভক্ত-সেবা হৈতে সে সবাই কৃষ্ণ পায ॥ ৪৮৭ ॥
एतेके वैष्णव-सेवा परम उपाय भक्त-सेवा हैते से सबाइ कृष्ण पाय ॥ ४८७ ॥
eteke vaiṣṇava-sevā parama upāya bhakta-sevā haite se sabāi kṛṣṇa pāya || 487 ||
eteke vaisnava-seva parama upaya bhakta-seva haite se sabai krsna paya (487)
English translation:
(487) Therefore service to the Vaiṣṇavas is the best means of deliverance. Everyone can attain Kṛṣṇa by serving the devotees.
Commentary: Gauḍīya-bhāṣya by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura:
The word eteke means “for this reason” or “that is why.”
Many people may not attain any fruits by serving Kṛṣṇa, but by serving the devotees of Kṛṣṇa attainment of Kṛṣṇa is guaranteed. If one serves the lotus feet of anyone who serves the lotus feet of Śrī Vakreśvara Paṇḍita, he will certainly become qualified to attain love for Kṛṣṇa. Since Kṛṣṇa resides in the body of Vakreśvara, whenever Vakreśvara dances, Kṛṣṇa happily dances along with him. Wherever Vakreśvara resides is more sanctified than all holy places; it is Vaikuṇṭha.