SB 7.10.21
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT 21
- bhavanti puruṣā loke
- mad-bhaktās tvām anuvratāḥ
- bhavān me khalu bhaktānāṁ
- sarveṣāṁ pratirūpa-dhṛk
SYNONYMS
bhavanti—become; puruṣāḥ—persons; loke—in this world; mat-bhaktāḥ—My pure devotees; tvām—you; anuvratāḥ—following in your footsteps; bhavān—you; me—My; khalu—indeed; bhaktānām—of all devotees; sarveṣām—in different mellows; pratirūpa-dhṛk—tangible example.
TRANSLATION
Those who follow your example will naturally become My pure devotees. You are the best example of My devotee, and others should follow in your footsteps.
PURPORT
In this connection, Śrīla Madhvācārya quotes a verse from the Skanda Purāṇa:
- ṛte tu tāttvikān devān
- nāradādīṁs tathaiva ca
- prahrādād uttamaḥ ko nu
- viṣṇu-bhaktau jagat-traye
There are many, many devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and they have been enumerated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (SB 6.3.20) as follows:
- svayambhūr nāradaḥ śambhuḥ
- kumāraḥ kapilo manuḥ
- prahlādo janako bhīṣmo
- balir vaiyāsakir vayam
Of the twelve authorized devotees—Lord Brahmā, Nārada, Lord Śiva, Kapila, Manu and so on—Prahlāda Mahārāja is understood to be the best example.