SB 3.16.20

TEXT 20

TEXT

यं वै विभूतिरुपयात्यनुवेलमन्यैर् अर्थार्थिभिः स्वशिरसा धृतपादरेणुः ।
धन्यार्पिताङ्घ्रितुलसीनवदामधाम्नो लोकं मधुव्रतपतेरिव कामयाना ॥ २० ॥

yam vai vibhutir upayaty anuvelam anyair

artharthibhih sva-sirasa dhrta-pada-renuh

dhanyarpitaṅghri-tulasi-nava-dama-dhamno

lokam madhu-vrata-pater iva kamayana

yam-whom; vai-certainly; vibhutih-Laksmi, the Goddess of Fortune; upayati-waits upon; anuvelam-occasionally; anyaih-by others; artha-material facility; arthibhih-by those who desire; sva-sirasa-on their own heads; dhrta-accepting; pada-of the feet; renuh-the dust; dhanya-by the devotees; arpita-offered; aṅghri-at Your feet; tulasi-of tulasi leaves; nava-fresh; dama-on the garland; dhamnah-having a place; lokam-the place; madhu-vrata-pateh-of the king of the bees; iva-like; kamayana-is anxious to secure.

TRANSLATION

The goddess of fortune, Laksmi, 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 tulasi leaves offered at Your feet by some blessed devotee.

PURPORT

As previously described, tulasi 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 tulasi leaves offered to the lotus feet of the Lord, so Laksmi, the goddess who is sought after by the demigods, brahmanas, Vaisnavas 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.