Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.16.20
यं वै विभूतिरुपयात्यनुवेलमन्यै-
रर्थार्थिभि: स्वशिरसा धृतपादरेणु: ।
धन्यार्पिताङ्घ्रितुलसीनवदामधाम्नो
लोकं मधुव्रतपतेरिव कामयाना ॥ २० ॥
yaṁ vai vibhūtir upayāty anuvelam anyair
[yam vai vibhootir upayaaty anuvelam anyair]
arthārthibhiḥ sva-śirasā dhṛta-pāda-reṇuḥ
[arthaarthibhih sva-shirasaa dhrita-paada-renuh]
dhanyārpitāṅghri-tulasī-nava-dāma-dhāmno
[dhanyaarpitaanghri-tulasee-nava-daama-dhaamno]
lokaṁ madhuvrata-pater iva kāma-yānā
[lokam madhuvrata-pater iva kaama-yaanaa]
Word-for-word
yam
—
whom
vai
—
certainly
vibhūtiḥ
—
Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune
upayāti
—
waits upon
anuvelam
—
occasionally
anyaiḥ
—
by others
artha
—
material facility
arthibhiḥ
—
by those who desire
sva-śirasā
—
on their own heads
dhṛta
—
accepting
pāda
—
of the feet
reṇuḥ
—
the dust
dhanya
—
by the devotees
arpita
—
offered
aṅghri
—
at Your feet
tulasī
—
of tulasī leaves
nava
—
fresh
dāma
—
on the garland
dhāmnaḥ
—
having a place
lokam
—
the place
madhu-vrata-pateḥ
—
of the king of the bees
iva
—
like
kāma-yānā
—
is anxious to secure.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yaṁ vai vibhūtir upayāty anuvelam anyair
yam
whom
vai
certainly
vibhūtiḥ
Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune
upayāti
waits upon
anuvelam
occasionally
anyaiḥ
by others
arthārthibhiḥ sva-śirasā dhṛta-pāda-reṇuḥ
artha
material facility
arthibhiḥ
by those who desire
sva-śirasā
on their own heads
dhṛta
accepting
pāda
of the feet
reṇuḥ
the dust
dhanyārpitāṅghri-tulasī-nava-dāma-dhāmno
dhanya
by the devotees
arpita
offered
aṅghri
at Your feet
tulasī
of tulasī leaves
nava
fresh
dāma
on the garland
dhāmnaḥ
having a place
lokaṁ madhuvrata-pater iva kāma-yānā
lokam
the place
madhu-vrata-pateḥ
of the king of the bees
iva
like
kāma-yānā
is anxious to secure.
The goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī, the dust of whose feet is worn on the head by others, waits upon You, as appointed, for she is anxious to secure a place in the abode of the king of bees, who hovers on the fresh wreath of tulasī leaves offered at Your feet by some blessed devotee.
Purport
As previously described, tulasī has attained all superior qualities due to being placed at the lotus feet of the Lord. The comparison made here is very nice. As the king of bees hovers over the tulasī leaves offered to the lotus feet of the Lord, so Lakṣmī, the goddess who is sought by the demigods, brāhmaṇas, Vaiṣṇavas and everyone else, always engages in rendering service to the lotus feet of the Lord. The conclusion is that no one can be the benefactor of the Lord; everyone is actually the servant of the servant of the Lord.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Lakṣmī, whose foot dust people desiring wealth hold on their heads, also serves you on various occasions with a desire for attaining the powerful position of the king of bees perched on the tulasī garland offered by the devotees to your feet,
You have said that Lakṣmī does not give you up because you have served the brāhmaṇas. That is difficult to understand, since it is impossible. This is expressed in two verses. Laksmī, the form of wealth (vibhūtiḥ), whose foot dust others, desiring material benefit, hold on their heads, serves you at various times. She desires the place (lokam) occupied by the chief of the bees, situated on new garland of tulasī offered by the devotees at your feet. Laksṁī is also only your devotee.
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Personal Guidance
Taking shelter of the Lord's lotus feet is not a poetic flourish — it names a real reorientation. The verse invites us to test which shelters we currently lean on and to notice when they fail to hold weight. Its centre of gravity is lotus feet of the Lord.
Reflection Questions
- Which security in your life have you confused with the Lord's protection?
- What small act of dependence on the Lord could you practice this week instead of self-reliance?
My note
Source: vedabase.io