vijñÄya Å›akra-ká¹›tam akramam Ädi-devaḥ
prÄha prahasya gata-vismaya ejamÄnÄn
mÄ bhair vibho madana mÄruta deva-vadhvo
gṛhṇīta no balim aśūnyam imaṠkurudhvam
vijñÄya - understanding perfectly; Å›akra - by Indra; ká¹›tam - committed; akramam - the offense; Ädi-devaḥ - the original Personality of Godhead; prÄha - He spoke; prahasya - laughing; gata-vismayaḥ - free from pride; ejamÄnÄn - to those who were trembling; mÄ bhaiḥ - please have no fear; vibho - O mighty one; madana - Cupid; mÄruta - O god of the wind; deva-vadhvaḥ - O wives of the demigods; gá¹›hṇīta - please accept; naḥ - from Us; balim - these gifts; aśūnyam - not empty; imam - this (ÄÅ›rama); kurudhvam - please make.
The word gata-vismayaḥ, or “free from false pride,†is very significant. If one becomes proud by performing severe penances, such penances are considered material. One should not think, “I am a great, austere personality.†ŚrÄ« Nara-NÄrÄyaṇa could immediately understand the foolishness of Indra, and thus He was amused by the whole situation. Cupid and the heavenly women, understanding their great offense, were trembling before Nara-NÄrÄyaṇa in fear of receiving a powerful curse. But the Lord, exhibiting most sublime saintly behavior, reassured them by saying, mÄ bhaiḥ — “Don’t worry about it†— and actually offered them nice prasÄdam and articles of worship. “If you do not give Me the opportunity to act as host to the demigods and other respectable personalities,†He said, “what will be the use of My ÄÅ›rama? My ÄÅ›rama will be void without the opportunity to receive respectable personalities such as you.â€
Similarly, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness is establishing beautiful centers in all the major cities of the world. In some of these centers, such as those in Los Angeles, Bombay, London, Paris and Melbourne, the Society has established very gorgeous preaching ÄÅ›ramas. But the Vaiṣṇavas who live in these beautiful buildings feel that the buildings are void if guests do not come to hear about Kṛṣṇa and chant His holy name. Thus, one may establish a beautiful ÄÅ›rama not for one’s personal sense gratification but to execute Kṛṣṇa consciousness peacefully and encourage others to take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness also.