Volume 7 - Prabhupada

332 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta [Madhya-lila, Ch. 19SYNONYMSbrahmal)c;/a bhramite -wandering in this universe; kana-some; bhagyavanmostfortunate; jiva-living being; guru-of the spiritual master; krQa-of Krl)a;prasade-by the mercy; paya-gets; bhakti-lata-of the creeper of devotionalservice; bija-the seed.TRANSLATION11 According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout theentire universe. Some of them are being elevated to the upper planetarysystems, and some are going down into the lower planetary systems. Out ofmany millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets anopportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace ofKrt:Ja. By the mercy of both Krt:a and the spiritual master, such a personreceives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.PURPORTWhen we speak of brahmal)c;/a, we refer to the whole universe, or to the clusterof many millions of universes. In all universes, there are innumerable planets andinnumerable living entities upon those planets in the air and in the water. Thereare millions and trillions of living entities everywhere, and they are engaged bymaya in suffering and enjoying the results of their fruitive activity life after life. Thisis the position of the materially conditioned living entities. Out of many of theseliving entities, if one is actually fortunate (bhagyavan), he comes in contact with abona fide spiritual master by Krl)a's mercy.Krl)a is situated in everyone's heart, and if one desires something, Krl)a fulfillsone's desire. If the living entity by chance or fortune comes in contact with theKrl)a consciousness movement and wishes to associate with that movement,Krl)a, who is situated in everyone's heart, gives him the chance to meet a bonafide spiritual master. This is called guru-krQa-prasada. Krl)a is prepared to bestowHis mercy upon all living entities, and as soon as a living entity desires the Lord'smercy, the Lord immediately gives him an opportunity to meet a bona fidespiritual master. Such a person is fortified by both Krl)a and the spiritual master.He is helped from within by Krl)a and from without by the spiritual master. Bothare prepared to help the sincere living being become free from this materialbondage.How one can become this fortunate can be seen in the life of Srila Narada Muni.In his previous life he was born of a maidservant. Although he was not born into aprestigious position, his mother was fortunately engaged in rendering service tosome Vail)avas. When these Vail)avas were resting during the Caturmasyaperiod, the boy Narada took the opportunity to engage in their service. Takingcompassion upon the boy, the Vail)avas offered him the remnants of their food.