Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.2.31 for the continuation of Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa-puja celebration, on Saturday morning.
“One could argue that the devotee should be equal to all. But Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura explains that if we examine the qualities of the preacher, the intermediate devotee, we find that he makes distinctions: he gives his love to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he makes friends with other devotees, he gives mercy to the innocent, and he neglects the envious. So, the function of giving mercy belongs to the preacher, and it is not exercised without discrimination: mercy is given specifically to the innocent. And then, when the devotee gives his mercy, the Lord gives His. .
brahmanda brahmite kona bhagyavan jiva
guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija
First the guru gives mercy and then Krishna gives mercy, and thus the candidate receives the seed of devotional service. Krishna is partial to His devotee; if the devotee gives mercy, Krishna gives His mercy, being partial to the desire of His devotee. But, Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura explains, Krishna’s partiality to His devotee is not a fault — dushanam — but is Krishna’s most glorious quality— bushanam. This verse describes how the spiritual master gives mercy to the candidate and Krishna’s mercy follows.”