One of my favourite Tikas of OM VishnuPad Vallabha MahaAcharya. The Tika tells about Prapatti-Siddhanta (Sharanagati-Siddhanta) in comparison with pashu-Siddhanta.
लोकांश् च लोकानुगतान् पशूंश् च हित्वा श्रितास् ते चरणातपत्रम्
परस्परं त्वद्-गुण-वाद-सीधु- पीयूष-निर्यापित-देह-धर्माः
Shreemad-Bhagavatam, 3.21.17: “Oh Lord! your devotee always takes refuge in the shadow of The Umbrella of Your Lotus Feet, after giving up everyone, and those beings (pashu), who are attached to only “worldly” actions! Your devotees have made their “bodily duties” (and demands) peaceful, by meeting other devotees, and through the drinking of the nectar from the river of the singing of your qualities and “Leelas”! Only these devotees are your ideal “Bhakthas”, Oh Lord!”
SHREE SUBODHINI: The ideal devotees of our Lord have three important “virtues”.
(1) They give up this “world”.
(2) They take total refuge in
the umbrella of our Lord’s lotus feet only and
(3) At all times, they sing, with like minded devotees, our Lord’s “Leelas” and attributes.
Through all these, they lose the remembrance of their bodies etc. Out of these three qualities, even if one quality is bound to be deficient or less, then this devotee is not considered, as the “most ideal” one!
Our Sri Mahaprabhuji says here that, if a devotee always follows only, “worldly” desires and actions, then he should be also “given up”! Why? As these persons are like “animals” (Pasoon), being foolish! If a blind person falls into a well, due to his blindness, then it is appropriate! But, if a person, with good eyesight, falls into a well, then he should be considered us “really very blind”!
The ideal devotee, therefore, gives up all “worldly” ways, and takes “refuge” in the shadow of the umbrella of our Lord’s lotus feet!
On this devotee only, our Lord gets pleased and happy. After our Lord getting pleased, when this devotee does not give up the “refuge” of our Lord, then, this devotee, is considered, as the “most ideal and important” bhaktha!
It is said, that when a devotee sings the “Leelas” and virtues of our Lord, alone, then, the “bliss” of our Lord, does not get originated in his inner self!
The defect, in group singing, may also originate “ego”, in oneself! That is why, it is said here, very particularly, that the group of devotees, should be of the “same” attitude of pure love and Bhakthi to our Lord!
When this identical group of devotees sing the “Leelas” and virtues of our Lord, then, from the ocean of our Lord’s “Leelas” and virtues, due to their repeated “churning” (i.e. singing), the nectar, in the form of our Lord’s “bliss” (Aananda) emerges, and mitigates the hunger and thirst of this group of devotees.
This group of devotees, by drinking the nectar of our Lord’s Leelas and virtues are considered, as the “best” among our Lord’s devotees. The bliss of our Lord, which is capable of removing the attachments to one’s body, is the real “nectar” (Amrut).
Only such devotees are able to “give up” (renounce) this “world”.
The devotees, who have not been “freed” from their attachments to the bodily duties and demands, always need the objects and pleasures of this world (i.e. they are dependent on them).
The singing of our Lord’s “Leelas” and virtues removes the burden of these worldly attachments, when this devotee has taken total “refuge”, under the shadow of the umbrella of our Lord’s lotus feet. Others are not able to get rid of this bondage, especially those, who “depend” on food and other material objects only!
If these persons commit themselves only to “worldly” goals and attachments, then, they are regarded as “fallen”, as they are deprived of both — from our Lord’s Bhakthi, and freedom from “worldly” anxieties!
In this way, the three virtues of the best and most important devotees of our Lord are explained.
Through the next verse, it is said, that such “best and important” devotees are not affected by the factors of “time” (Kaala) and others.
Cited from the english edition of "Shree Subodhini",
Volume 24, page 157 in pdf-file -
