FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.31.19

दयया सर्वभूतेषु सन्तुष्ट्या येन केन वा । सर्वेन्द्रियोपशान्त्या च तुष्यत्याशु जनार्दन: ॥ १९ ॥
dayayā sarva-bhūteṣu
[dayayaa sarva-bhooteshu]
santuṣṭyā yena kena vā
[santushtyaa yena kena vaa]
sarvendriyopaśāntyā ca
[sarvendriyopashaantyaa cha]
tuṣyaty āśu janārdanaḥ
[tushyaty aashu janaardanah]
dayayā — by showing mercy sarva-bhūteṣu — to all living entities santuṣṭyā — by being satisfied yena kena vā — somehow or other sarva-indriya — all the senses upaśāntyā — by controlling ca — also tuṣyati — becomes satisfied āśu — very soon janārdanaḥ — the Lord of all living entities.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
dayayā sarva-bhūteṣu
dayayā
by showing mercy
sarva-bhūteṣu
to all living entities
santuṣṭyā yena kena vā
santuṣṭyā
by being satisfied
yena kena vā
somehow or other
sarvendriyopaśāntyā ca
sarva-indriya
all the senses
upaśāntyā
by controlling
ca
also
tuṣyaty āśu janārdanaḥ
tuṣyati
becomes satisfied
āśu
very soon
janārdanaḥ
the Lord of all living entities.
By showing mercy to all living entities, being satisfied somehow or other, and restricting the senses from sense enjoyment, one can very quickly satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Janārdana.

These are some of the ways in which the Supreme Personality of Godhead can be satisfied by the devotee. The first item mentioned is dayayā sarva-bhūteṣu, showing mercy to all conditioned souls. The best way to show mercy is to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The entire world is suffering for want of this knowledge. People should know that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the original cause of everything. Knowing this, everyone should directly engage in His devotional service. Those who are actually learned, advanced in spiritual understanding, should preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world so that people may take to it and make their lives successful.

The word sarva-bhūteṣu is significant because it applies not only to human beings but to all the living entities appearing in the 8,400,000 species of life. The devotee can do good not only to humanity but to all living entities as well. Everyone can benefit spiritually by the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. When the transcendental vibration of Hare Kṛṣṇa is sounded, even the trees, animals and insects benefit. Thus when one chants the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra loudly, he actually shows mercy to all living entities. To spread the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement throughout the world, the devotees should be satisfied in all conditions:

nārāyaṇa-parāḥ sarve na kutaścana bibhyati svargāpavarga-narakeṣv api tulyārtha-darśinaḥ

( Bhāg. 6.17.28 )

It does not matter to the pure devotee if he has to go to hell to preach. The Supreme Lord lives in the heart of a hog, although the Lord is in Vaikuṇṭha. Even while preaching in hell, a pure devotee remains a pure devotee by his constant association with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. To attain this state, one has to control his senses. The senses are automatically controlled when one’s mind is engaged in the service of the Lord.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The Lord is quickly pleased by a person showing mercy to all beings, by being satisfied by whatever comes of its own accord, and by controlling all the senses. He mentions a few favorable qualities in worshipping the Lord.
Related verses
Show mercy to all beings; be satisfied somehow; restrict senses — quickly satisfies Janārdana. Three simple practices; very practical, not technical.
Reflection Questions
  • Which of the three (mercy, contentment, sense-restraint) is most undeveloped?
  • Where could even one small daily act of the missing one begin to please the Lord?
📝 My note

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