5.23
kanya-dana-patra ami na ha-i tomara
krsna-pritye kari tomara seva-vyavahara
SYNONYMS
kanya-dana-patra—a bridegroom suitable for one’s daughter; ami—I; na—not; ha-i—am; tomara—of you; krsna-pritye—only for satisfaction of Krsna; kari—I do; tomara—of you; seva—of service; vyavahara—activities "Sir, I am not a suitable bridegroom for your daughter.
I render service to you only for the satisfaction of Krsna.
PURPORT
Both brahmanas were pure Vaisnavas.
The younger man took special care of the older one simply to please Krsna.
In Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.19.21) Krsna says, mad-bhakta-pujabhyadhika: “It is better to render service to My devotee.” Thus, according to the Gaudiya-Vaisnava philosophy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, it is better to be a servant of the servant of God.
One should not try to serve Krsna directly.
A pure Vaisnava serves a servant of Krsna and identifies himself as a servant of a servant of Krsna.
This is pleasing to Lord Krsna.
Srila Narottama dasa Thakura confirms this philosophy: chadiya vaisnava-seva nistara payeche keba.
Unless one serves a liberated Vaisnava, he cannot attain liberation by directly serving Krsna.
He must serve the servant of Krsna.