Notes from the Bhagavatam 3

Srimad Bhagavatam  7.1.9

TEXT 9

jyotir-adir ivabhati
sanghatan na vivicyate
vidanty atmanam atma-stham
mathitva kavayo ’ntatah

SYNONYMS

jyotih—fire; adih—and other elements; iva—just as; abhati—appear; sanghatat—from the bodies of demigods and others; na—not; vivicyate—are distinguished; vidanti—perceive; atmanam—the Supersoul; atma-stham—situated in the heart; mathitva—by discerning; kavayah—expert thinkers; antatah—within.

TRANSLATION

The all-pervading Personality of Godhead exists within the heart of every living being, and an expert thinker can perceive how He is present there to a large or small extent. Just as one can understand the supply of fire in wood, the water in a water pot, or the sky within a pot, one can understand whether a living entity is a demon or a demigod by understanding that living entity’s devotional performances. A thoughtful man can understand how much a person is favored by the Supreme Lord by seeing his actions.

"Thus when a person exhibits wonderful devotional activities, a thoughtful man understands that Krishna has been more favorable to this devotee.  This is not difficult to understand, but envious persons do not accept that Krishna has bestowed His favor upon a particular devotee in accordance with his advanced position."

PURPORT

In Bhagavad-gita (10.41) the Lord says:

yad yad vibhutimat sattvam
srimad urjitam eva va
tat tad evavagaccha tvam
mama tejo-‘msa-sambhavam

“Know that all beautiful, glorious and mighty creations spring from but a spark of My splendor.” We have the practical experience of seeing that one person is able to do very wonderful things whereas another cannot do those same things and cannot even do things that require only a little common sense. Therefore, how much a devotee has been favored by the Supreme Personality of Godhead can be tested by the activities the devotee has performed. In Bhagavad-gita (10.10) the Lord also says:

tesam satata-yuktanam
bhajatam priti-purvakam
dadami buddhi-yogamtam
yena mam upayanti te

[Bg. 10.10]

“To those who are constantly devoted and who worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.” This is very practical. A teacher instructs the student if the student is capable of taking more and more instructions. Otherwise, in spite of being instructed by the teacher, the student cannot make strides in his understanding. This has nothing to do with partiality. When Krishna says tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam priti-purvakam/ dadami buddhi-yogamtam [Bg. 10.10], this indicates that Krishna is prepared to give bhakti-yoga to everyone, but one must be capable of receiving it. That is the secret. Thus when a person exhibits wonderful devotional activities, a thoughtful man understands that Krishna has been more favorable to this devotee.

This is not difficult to understand, but envious persons do not accept that Krishna has bestowed His favor upon a particular devotee in accordance with his advanced position. Such foolish persons become envious and try to minimize an advanced devotee’s activities. That is not Vaishnavism. A Vaishnava should appreciate the service rendered to the Lord by other Vaishnavas. Therefore a Vaishnava is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam as nirmatsara. Vaishnavas are never envious of other Vaishnavas or of anyone else, and therefore they are called nirmatsaranam satam.

Your morning conch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1mXgYzNw_s&feature=related