Purport
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.28.47, purport
Bhaktivedānta Svāmī Prabhupāda
Disciple and teacher are never separated while the disciple follows the instructions; when the teacher is no longer physically present, one serves his instructions.
Key passages
The passages the site's articles cite, quoted word for word.
However, the disciple and spiritual master are never separated because the spiritual master always keeps company with the disciple as long as the disciple follows strictly the instructions of the spiritual master.
As long as the spiritual master is physically present, the disciple should serve the physical body of the spiritual master, and when the spiritual master is no longer physically existing, the disciple should serve the instructions of the spiritual master.
Cited in articles
Full text
The text is reproduced word for word, in the original language, without edits or cuts.
आत्मानं शोचती दीनमबन्धुं विक्लवाश्रुभि: ।
स्तनावासिच्य विपिने सुस्वरं प्ररुरोद सा ॥ ४७ ॥
ātmānaṁ śocatī dīnam
abandhuṁ viklavāśrubhiḥ
stanāv āsicya vipine
susvaraṁ praruroda sā
Synonyms
ātmānam — about herself; śocatī — lamenting; dīnam — wretched; abandhum — without a friend; viklava — brokenhearted; aśrubhiḥ — by tears; stanau — her breasts; āsicya — wetting; vipine — in the forest; susvaram — loudly; praruroda — began to cry; sā — she.
Translation
Being now alone and a widow in that forest, the daughter of Vidarbha began to lament, incessantly shedding tears, which soaked her breasts, and crying very loudly.
Purport
Figuratively the queen is supposed to be the disciple of the king; thus when the mortal body of the spiritual master expires, his disciples should cry exactly as the queen cries when the king leaves his body. However, the disciple and spiritual master are never separated because the spiritual master always keeps company with the disciple as long as the disciple follows strictly the instructions of the spiritual master. This is called the association of vāṇī (words). Physical presence is called vapuḥ. As long as the spiritual master is physically present, the disciple should serve the physical body of the spiritual master, and when the spiritual master is no longer physically existing, the disciple should serve the instructions of the spiritual master.
Where this text comes from
- Source
- vedabase.ioretrieved September 25, 2026
- Archived copy
- web.archive.orgsnapshot of September 25, 2026
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