FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.14.40

ततोऽर्चायां हरिं केचित् संश्रद्धाय सपर्यया । उपासत उपास्तापि नार्थदा पुरुषद्विषाम् ॥ ४० ॥
tato ’rcāyāṁ hariṁ kecit
[tato ’rchaayaam harim kechit]
saṁśraddhāya saparyayā
[samshraddhaaya saparyayaa]
upāsata upāstāpi
[upaasata upaastaapi]
nārthadā puruṣa-dviṣām
[naarthadaa purusha-dvishaam]
Word-for-word
tataḥ — thereafter arcāyām — the Deity harim — who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead (the form of the Lord being identical with the Lord) kecit — someone saṁśraddhāya — with great faith saparyayā — and with the required paraphernalia upāsate — worships upāstā api — although worshiping the Deity (with faith and regularity) na — not artha-dā — beneficial puruṣa-dviṣām — for those who are envious of Lord Viṣṇu and His devotees.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tato ’rcāyāṁ hariṁ kecit
tataḥ
thereafter
arcāyām
the Deity
saṁśraddhāya saparyayā
harim
who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead (the form of the Lord being identical with the Lord)
kecit
someone
saṁśraddhāya
with great faith
upāsata upāstāpi
saparyayā
and with the required paraphernalia
upāsate
worships
upāstā api
although worshiping the Deity (with faith and regularity)
nārthadā puruṣa-dviṣām
na
not
artha-dā
beneficial
puruṣa-dviṣām
for those who are envious of Lord Viṣṇu and His devotees.
Sometimes a neophyte devotee offers all the paraphernalia for worshiping the Lord, and he factually worships the Lord as the Deity, but because he is envious of the authorized devotees of Lord Viṣṇu, the Lord is never satisfied with his devotional service.
Purport

Deity worship is especially meant for purifying the neophyte devotees. Actually, however, preaching is more important. In Bhagavad-gītā (18.69) it is said, na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu kaścin me priya-kṛttamaḥ: if one wants to be recognized by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he must preach the glories of the Lord. One who worships the Deity must therefore be extremely respectful to preachers; otherwise simply worshiping the Deity will keep one in the lower stage of devotion.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
After that, people offered all the paraphernalia with faith to the deity, but there was no result for those who offended the Lord. Upāstā means “worshipped.” Though worship takes place, there is no effect because of greater offense than simply disrespect mentioned in the previous verse.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
A neophyte who worships the Deity with full paraphernalia but is envious of authorized devotees does not please the Lord. Outer worship without honor for devotees is incomplete. The Lord checks how you treat His servants.
Reflection Questions
  • Whose service to the Lord do you privately dismiss or compete with?
  • How can you honor a devotee whose style differs from yours?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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