FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.29.21

अहं सर्वेषु भूतेषु भूतात्मावस्थित: सदा । तमवज्ञाय मां मर्त्य: कुरुतेऽर्चाविडम्बनम् ॥ २१ ॥
ahaṁ sarveṣu bhūteṣu
[aham sarveshu bhooteshu]
bhūtātmāvasthitaḥ sadā
[bhootaatmaavasthitah sadaa]
tam avajñāya māṁ martyaḥ
[tam avajnaaya maam martyah]
kurute ’rcā-viḍambanam
[kurute ’rchaa-vidambanam]
Word-for-word
aham — I sarveṣu — in all bhūteṣu — living entities bhūta-ātmā — the Supersoul in all beings avasthitaḥ — situated sadā — always tam — that Supersoul avajñāya — disregarding mām — Me martyaḥ — a mortal man kurute — performs arcā — of worship of the Deity viḍambanam — imitation.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
ahaṁ sarveṣu bhūteṣu
aham
I
sarveṣu
in all
bhūteṣu
living entities
bhūtātmāvasthitaḥ sadā
bhūta-ātmā
the Supersoul in all beings
avasthitaḥ
situated
sadā
always
tam avajñāya māṁ martyaḥ
tam
that Supersoul
avajñāya
disregarding
mām
Me
martyaḥ
a mortal man
kurute ’rcā-viḍambanam
kurute
performs
arcā
of worship of the Deity
viḍambanam
imitation.
I am present in every living entity as the Supersoul. If someone neglects or disregards that Supersoul everywhere and engages himself in the worship of the Deity in the temple, that is simply imitation.
Purport

In purified consciousness, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one sees the presence of Kṛṣṇa everywhere. Therefore if one only engages in Deity worship in the temple and does not consider other living entities, then he is in the lowest grade of devotional service. One who worships the Deity in the temple and does not show respect to others is a devotee on the material platform, in the lowest stage of devotional service. A devotee should try to understand everything in relationship with Kṛṣṇa and try to serve everything in that spirit. To serve everything means to engage everything in the service of Kṛṣṇa. If a person is innocent and does not know his relationship with Kṛṣṇa, an advanced devotee should try to engage him in the service of Kṛṣṇa. One who is advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness can engage not only the living being but everything in the service of Kṛṣṇa.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
I, the soul of all beings, am always situated in all beings. He who disrespects me in all beings performs false worship of my deity form. However, in such bhakti, offence creates restriction. Offence generally stems from disrespect to the great devotees. Though such devotees are difficult to see, many exist. In order to avoid offences to them, one should pay respects to all living entities, thinking that the Lord is present in all of them. Without doing so, even worshiping the deity forms of the Lord will not give any result. Since he is the Supreme Lord, Kapila then speaks in six verses somewhat angrily, out of affection, to benefit his devotee who does not respect all beings. In these verses disrespect, disregard, hatred and criticism are forbidden. This person performs imitation worship of my deity forms (arcā-viḍambaṇam).
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The verse defines life's success by surrender, not by accumulation. What looks like 'giving up' from outside is, from inside, finally arriving at one's natural position.
Reflection Questions
  • What part of your day still belongs entirely to your own enjoyment, and could even a corner of it be offered?
  • What would steady, unglamorous service look like for you this month?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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