TEXT 12
yaj-jala-sparsa-matrena
brahma-danda-hata api
sagaratmaja divam jagmuh
kevalam deha-bhasmabhih
SYNONYMS
yat-jalawhose water; sparsa-matrenasimply by touching; brahma-danda-hatahthose who were condemned for offending brahma, the self; apialthough; sagara-atmajahthe sons of Sagara; divamto the heavenly planets; jagmuhwent; kevalamonly; deha-bhasmabhihby the remaining ashes of their burnt bodies.
TRANSLATION
Because the sons of Sagara Maharaja had offended a great personality, the heat of their bodies had increased, and they were burnt to ashes. But simply by being sprinkled with water from the Ganges, all of them became eligible to go to the heavenly planets. What then is to be said of those who use the water of mother Ganges to worship her?
PURPORT
Mother Ganges is worshiped by the water of the Ganges: a devotee takes a little water from the Ganges and offers it back to the Ganges. When the devotee takes the water, mother Ganges does not lose anything, and when the water is offered back, mother Ganges does not increase, but in this way the worshiper of the Ganges is benefited. Similarly, a devotee of the Lord offers the Lord patram puspam phalam toyama leaf, flower, fruit or waterin great devotion, but everything, including the leaf, flower, fruit and water, belongs to the Lord, and therefore there is nothing to renounce or to accept. One must simply take advantage of the bhakti process because by following this process one does not lose anything but one gains the favor of the Supreme Person.

Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/9/9/12

Previous: SB 9.9.11     Next: SB 9.9.13

If you Love Me Distribute My Books -- Srila Prabhupada