Prayers by Queen Kunti 1.8.20 Humility

1.8.20

tathā paramahaḿsānāḿ munīnām amalātmanām

bhakti-yoga-vidhānārthaḿ kathaḿ paśyema hi striyaḥ

You Yourself descend to propagate the transcendental science of devotional service unto the hearts of the advanced transcendentalists and mental speculators, who are purified by being able to discriminate between matter and spirit. How, then, can we women know You perfectly?

Kunti Devi here says that "You come to further enlighten those who are already advanced, those who are able to distinguish between matter and spirit- But what about people like me?How will we who are not great philosophers know You"-

In previous verses she has already mentioned that in spite of the Lord being situated inside and outside we cannot perceive Him, we cannot perceive Him through our senses and inspite of the Lord providing us with so many necessities, always being our benefactor and the Lord Himself giving us so many ways of seeing Him we fail to accept the Lord's presence. Then what is the hope for a mere women?

In this way Kunti Devi expresses herself and teaches us the mood in which we must approach the Lord.

Kunti Devi not an ordinary woman

Kunti Devi was not an ordinary woman.- she was able to see the Lord not just as her nephew but she knew His position as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Srila Prabhupada mentions in his lecture 

• "But Kuntidevi, although she is in such exalted position, practically on the level of Yasodamayi, such a great devotee... So she is so submissive that "Krsna, You are meant for the paramahamsas, and what we can see You? We are women." 
• "But she could perceive the Lord "There in the previous verse she said, alaksyam sarva-bhutanam antar bahir avasthitam: "You are not seen by ordinary men, although You are inside and outside." In another verse also, na laksyase mudha-drsa: "Fools and rascals cannot see You." That means Kunti sees Him. Unless she sees Krsna as He is, how she can say, mudha-drsa na laksyase? And (s)he says, prakrteh param: "You are transcendental to this material creation."
• Although she understands everything, she still takes the position of an ordinary woman and says, "How can I understand You?" This is humility.

 

How can one see the Lord??

In the previous post we read that SP mentions we must take to the process of hearing srvataha sva kathah krsna, because of which we will have the vision to see the Lord. Here we learn that we need to be humble as well to enhance our vision of the Lord else we will be caught up in the temporary- material strength, power, influence, beauty, knowledge,etc.

By hearing, all the undesirable things from our hearts will be cleansed personally by the Lord (amalatmana- no lust and greed) and gradually we will become qualified to see the Lord.

"One must feel humility. Material Strength, beauty, intelligence and assorted other good qualities remain insufficient assets when one tries to know the Lord.Srila Prabhupada is encouraging in his purport to text 20: "The Lord is so kind that He does not show special favor only to one who is a great philosopher. He knows the sincerity of purpose."" - From Unveiling His Lotus Feet- Page 139

From another lecture of Srila Prabhupada: "So following her footsteps, any woman can also understand Krsna. Krsna is ready to be understood by anyone. Mam hi partha vyapasritya ye 'pi syuh... [Bg. 9.32]. Simply we have to follow the path how to appreciate Krsna, how to understand Krsna, how to see Krsna, how to talk with Him, how to walk with Him. These things are there. That is called bhakti-yoga. Where you learn this science of bhakti-yoga -- that we have mentioned, Nectar of Devotion, the perfect science of bhakti-yoga. So if one is interested in seeing Krsna, then there is no hindrance, there is no block. Anyone. Striyo vaisyas tatha sudras te 'pi yanti param gatim."