Text 22

ananyas cintayanto mam
ye janah paryupasate
tesham nityabhiyuktanam
yoga-ksemam vahamy aham

Translation

But those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form—to them I carry what they lack, and I preserve what they have.

Commentary by Srila Prabhupada 

One who is unable to live for a moment without Krishna consciousness cannot but think of Krishna twenty-four hours a day, being engaged in devotional service by hearing, chanting, remembering, offering prayers, worshiping, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, rendering other services, cultivating friendship and surrendering fully to the Lord. Such activities are all auspicious and full of spiritual potencies, which make the devotee perfect in self-realization, so that his only desire is to achieve the association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such a devotee undoubtedly approaches the Lord without difficulty. This is called yoga. By the mercy of the Lord, such a devotee never comes back to this material condition of life. Kshema refers to the merciful protection of the Lord. The Lord helps the devotee to achieve Krishna consciousness by yoga, and when he becomes fully Krishna conscious the Lord protects him from falling down to a miserable conditioned life.

Commentary by Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur

The happiness of my ananya bhaktas however, is given by me, not obtained by pious acts. They are constantly (nityam) versed in, learned in this (abhiyuktanam) and are ignorant of all other things. Or the phrase can mean that they constantly desire to be in my association. I take care of their attainment of wealth (yoga) and their maintenance (ksemam), though they do not expect such things. To say that the Lord simply does these things would be unsuitable. Thus the word "carry," vahami is used. The use of the word vahami indicates that the Lord bears the burden of maintaining their bodies, in the manner that the householder takes the responsibility for maintaining his own wife and children. One should not say that, like others, their attainment or preservation of bodily needs is due to karma.

"Still, since you are atma rama, enjoying within, and indifferent to all things as the Supreme Lord, where is the question of you bearing it?"

The sruti says:

bhaktir asya bhajanam tad ihamutropadhi-nairasyenamusmin
manah-kalpanam etad eva naiskarmyam

Bhakti is worship of the Lord, concentrating the mind on him, renouncing all material desires for enjoyment (upadhi) in this world and the next. It destroys all karmas. Gopala Tapani Upanisad, Purva 1.15

Because my ananya devotee has no karma due to lack of desire (naiskarmayam), his happiness is given by me. Though I am indifferent to all else, I have great affection for my devotee. This is the cause.

One should also not say that in giving the burden of their maintenance to their worshipable Lord, the devotees show lack of prema. In fact, they do not give to me that burden. I, by my own will, accept it. It should also be understood that I am not bearing it as a duty, as I create and maintain the universe by my will alone. Rather, being attached to my devotees, 1 take the greatest pleasure in taking care of their needs, like carrying the weight of one's lover.