Verse Text
yathā prathame—
taṁ mopayātaṁ pratiyantu viprā
gaṅgā ca devī dhṛta-cittam īśe |
dvijopasṛṣṭaḥ kuhakas takṣako vā
daśatv alaṁ gāyata viṣṇu-gāthāḥ ||28||
Translation
In the First Canto, tolerance of the bhāva-bhakta is illustrated as follows: O brāhmaṇas, just accept me as a completely surrendered soul, and let mother Ganges, the representative of the Lord, also accept me in that way, for I have already taken the lotus feet of the Lord into my heart. Let the snake-bird—or whatever magical thing the brāhmaṇa created—bite me at once. I only desire that you all continue singing the deeds of Lord Viṣṇu. SB 1.19.15
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
…Parīkṣit was not disturbed, though understanding his approaching death, which was a cause for disturbance.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
“May the brāhmaṇas accept (pratiyantu) me as a surrendered soul, since I have fixed my mind on the Lord. Gaṅgā should also accept me.” Just as the great tolerance of Parīkṣit is seen here because of his great prema, it is understood that when he had previously developed bhāva, the sprout of prema, his tolerance also had sprouted in a similar way. Other examples should be understood in the same way.
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
An example of this perseverance and reservation is found in the behavior of King Parīkṣit, as described in the First Canto, Nineteenth Chapter, verse 15, of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. The King says there to all the sages present before him at the time of his death, “My dear brāhmaṇas, you should always accept me as your surrendered servant. I have come to the bank of the Ganges just to devote my heart and soul unto the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa. So please bless me, that mother Ganges may also be pleased with me. Let the curse of the brāhmaṇa’s son fall upon me—I do not mind. I only request that at the last moment of my life all of you will kindly chant the holy name of Viṣṇu, so that I may realize His transcendental qualities.”
This example of Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s behavior, his remaining patient even at the last point of his life, his undisturbed condition of mind, is an example of reservation. This is one of the characteristics of a devotee who has developed ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.