Verse Text
atha dāsāḥ –
dāsās tu praśritās tasya nideśa-vaśa-vartiṇaḥ |
viśvastāḥ prabhutā-jṣāna-vinamrita-dhiyaś ca te ||16||
Translation
The servants (dāsas) are well behaved, always ready to follow the order of the Lord. They have full faith in Him and have a sense of humility while recognizing that He is their master.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
Praśritāḥ means they are well behaved, lowering their eyes before the Lord. Nideśa-vaśa-vartiṇaḥ means that they have a desire to follow the instructions of the Lord concerning activities fit for them. Vaśa means “desire.” Amara-kośa says vaśa kāntau: vaśa means “that which is desired.” According to this description, the word dāsa is used with its conventional meaning. However, the brāhmaṇas and others who are the object of veneration by Kṛṣṇa should be considered dāsas according to the meaning derived from the root of the word. There is a verb dās, meaning “to give.” The dāsas are those to whom desired results are given (dāsyate) by mercy of the Lord. In the Bhāṣā-vṛtti, this is authenticated. It says guṇināṁ brāhmaṇo dāsa: among those with qualities, the brāhmaṇas are called dāsa.
The servants are of two types: nitya-siddha associates in the Lord’s pastimes, and sādhana-siddhas, those who desire the mood of a dāsa.