Theology of the Gaudiya parampara

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Naradamuni once tried to glorify Krsna, but soon became ashamed

because he had just come into the exalted company of the Pandavas, and he

said (Brhad-bhagavatamrta, 1.5.30-1):

 

"'Dear tongue,' he then acknowledged, 'this effort of yours

attests to your great fortune. As far as you are able, just go on

speaking something about these beloved devotees of Krsna."

 

Sanatana Gosvami's Dig-darsini commentary explains this:

 

"To avoid discouraging his tongue, Narada gave it some practical

advice: 'If you cannot adequately praise Krsna, then at least try to

praise His devotees. If you cannot describe the devotees' transcendental

glories, then simply describe their activities. If you cannot describe

everything about those activities, then just describe something. Even

if you cannot speak with full realization, speak anyway. The attempt to

say something will be all-auspicious.

 

"Narada proposes to his tongue: 'You would do better to glorify

the Lord's devotees than to glorify the Lord.' Although the greatness of

the devotees is also ultimately indescribable, the Lord's greatness has

no beginning or end, defeats all attempts at analysis and classification,

and cannot be fully understood even by the Lord Himself. To Narada,

however, the Lord's devotees appear similar to human beings; he has seen

them, so his tongue should be able to speak their deeds. If his tongue

offends the devotees by making false statements about them or by

distorting accounts if their activities, the devotees will easily overlook

those mistakes, because devotees are always compassionate to

unfortunate persons. Therefore Narada recommends glorifying the

Vaisnavas as the best engagement for his tongue."

 

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