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Chapter Twenty-two
Prthu Maharaja's Meeting with the Four Kumaras
TEXT 1
TEXT
maitreya uvaca
janesu pragrnatsv evam
prthum prthula-vikramam
tatropajagmur munayas
catvarah surya-varcasah
SYNONYMS
maitreyah uvaca--the great sage Maitreya continued to speak; janesu--the citizens; pragrnatsu--while praying for; evam--thus; prthum--unto Maharaja Prthu; prthula--highly; vikramam--powerful; tatra--there; upajagmuh--arrived; munayah--the Kumaras; catvarah--four; surya--as the sun; varcasah--bright.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Maitreya said: While the citizens were thus praying to the most powerful King Prthu, the four Kumaras, who were as bright as the sun, arrived on the spot.
TEXT 2
TEXT
tams tu siddhesvaran raja
vyomno 'vatarato 'rcisa
lokan apapan kurvanan
sanugo 'casta laksitan
SYNONYMS
tan--them; tu--but; siddha-isvaran--masters of all mystic power; raja--the King; vyomnah--from the sky; avataratah--while descending; arcisa--by their glaring effulgence; lokan--all the planets; apapan--sinless; kurvanan--doing so; sa-anugah--with his associates; acasta--recognized; laksitan--by seeing them.
TRANSLATION
Seeing the glowing effulgence of the four Kumaras, the masters of all mystic Power, the King and his associates could recognize them as they descended from the sky.
PURPORT
The four Kumaras are described herein as siddhesvaran, which means "masters of all mystic power." One who has attained perfection in yoga practice immediately becomes master of the eight mystic perfections--to become smaller than the smallest, to become lighter than the lightest, to become bigger than the biggest, to achieve anything one desires, to control everything, etc. These four Kumaras, as siddhesvaras, had achieved all the yogic perfectional achievements, and as such they could travel in outer space without machines. While they were coming to Maharaja Prthu from other planets, they did not come by airplane, but personally. In other words, these four Kumaras were also spacemen who could travel in space without machines. The residents of the planet known as Siddhaloka can travel in outer space from one planet to another without vehicles. However, the special power of the Kumaras mentioned herewith is that whatever place they went to would immediately become sinless. During the reign of Maharaja Prthu, everything on the surface of this globe was sinless, and therefore the Kumaras decided to see the King. Ordinarily they do not go to any planet which is sinful.
TEXT 3
TEXT
tad-darsanodgatan pranan
pratyaditsur ivotthitah
sa-sadasyanugo vainya
indriyeso gunan iva
SYNONYMS
tat--him; darsana--seeing; udgatan--being greatly desired; pranan--life; pratyaditsuh--peacefully going; iva--like; utthitah--got up; sa--with; sadasya--associates or followers; anugah--officers; vainyah--King Prthu; indriya-isah--a living entity; gunan iva--as influenced by the modes of material nature.
TRANSLATION
Seeing the four Kumaras, Prthu Maharaja was greatly anxious to receive them. Therefore the King, with all his officers, very hastily got up, as anxiously as a conditioned soul whose senses are immediately attracted by the modes of material nature.
PURPORT
In Bhagavad-gita (3.27) it is said:
prakrteh kriyamanani
gunaih karmani sarvasah
ahankara-vimudhatma
kartaham iti manyate
Every conditioned soul is influenced by a particular mixture of the modes of material nature. As such, the conditioned soul is attracted to certain types of activity which he is forced to perform because he is completely under the influence of material nature. Here Prthu Maharaja is compared to such a conditioned soul, not because he was a conditioned soul but because he was so anxious to receive the Kumaras that it was as if without them he would have lost his life. The conditioned soul is attracted by the objects of sense gratification. His eyes are attracted to see beautiful things, his ears are attracted to hear nice music, his nose is attracted to enjoy the aroma of a nice flower, and his tongue is attracted to taste nice food. Similarly, all his other senses--his hands, his legs, his belly, his genitals, his mind, etc.--are so susceptible to the attraction of the objects of enjoyment that he cannot restrain himself. Prthu Maharaja, in the same way, could not restrain himself from receiving the four Kumaras, who were bright by dint of their spiritual progress, and thus not only he himself but also his officers and associates all received the four Kumaras. It is said, "Birds of a feather flock together." In this world, everyone is attracted by a person of the same category. A drunkard is attracted to persons who are also drunkards. Similarly, a saintly person is attracted by other saintly persons. Prthu Maharaja was in the topmost position of spiritual advancement, and as such, he was attracted by the Kumaras, who were of the same category. It is said, therefore, that a man is known by his company.
TEXT 4
TEXT
gauravad yantritah sabhyah
prasrayanata-kandharah
vidhivat pujayam cakre
grhitadhyarhanasanan
SYNONYMS
gauravat--glories; yantritah--completely; sabhyah--most civilized; prasraya--by humbleness; anata-kandharah--bowing down his shoulder; vidhi-vat--according to the instructions of the sastra; pujayam--by worshiping; cakre--performed; grhita--accepting; adhi--including; arhana--paraphernalia for reception; asanan--sitting places.
TRANSLATION
When the great sages accepted their reception, according to the instructions of the sastras, and finally took their seats offered by the King, the King, influenced by the glories of the sages, immediately bowed down. Thus he worshiped the four Kumaras.
PURPORT
The four Kumaras are parampara spiritual masters of the Vaisnava sampradaya. Out of the four sampradayas, namely Brahma-sampradaya, Sri-sampradaya, Kumara-sampradaya and Rudra-sampradaya, the disciplic succession of spiritual master to disciple known as the Kumara-sampradaya is coming down from the four Kumaras. So Prthu Maharaja was very respectful to the sampradaya-acaryas. As it is said by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastraih: a spiritual master, or the parampara-acarya, should be respected exactly like the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The word vidhivat is significant in this verse. This means that Prthu Maharaja also strictly followed the injunctions of the sastra in receiving a spiritual master, or acarya, of the transcendental disciplic succession. Whenever an acarya is seen, one should immediately bow down before him. Prthu Maharaja did this properly; therefore the words used here are prasrayanata-kandharah. Out of humility, he bowed down before the Kumaras.
TEXT 5
TEXT
tat-pada-sauca-salilair
marjitalaka-bandhanah
tatra silavatam vrttam
acaran manayann iva
SYNONYMS
tat-pada--their lotus feet; sauca--washed; salilaih--water; marjita--sprinkled; alaka--hair; bandhanah--bunch; tatra--there; silavatam--of the respectable gentlemen; vrttam--behavior; acaran--behaving; manayan--practicing; iva--like.
TRANSLATION
After this, the King took the water which had washed the lotus feet of the Kumaras and sprinkled it over his hair. By such respectful actions, the King, as an exemplary personality, showed how to receive a spiritually advanced personality.
PURPORT
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said, apani acari prabhu jivere sikhaya. It is very well known that whatever Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught in His life as acarya, He Himself practiced. When He was preaching as a devotee, although He was detected by several great personalities to be the incarnation of Krsna, He never agreed to be addressed as an incarnation. Even though one may be an incarnation of Krsna, or especially empowered by Him, he should not advertise that he is an incarnation. People will automatically accept the real truth in due course of time. Prthu Maharaja was the ideal Vaisnava king; therefore he taught others by his personal behavior how to receive and respect saintly persons like the Kumaras. When a saintly person comes to one's home, it is the Vedic custom first to wash his feet with water and then sprinkle this water over the heads of oneself and one's family. Prthu Maharaja did this, for he was an exemplary teacher of the people in general.
TEXT 6
TEXT
hatakasana asinan
sva-dhisnyesv iva pavakan
sraddha-samyama-samyuktah
pritah praha bhavagrajan
SYNONYMS
hataka-asane--on the throne made of gold; asinan--when they were seated; sva-dhisnyesu--on the altar; iva--like; pavakan--fire; sraddha--respect; samyama--restraint; samyuktah--being decorated with; pritah--pleased; praha--said; bhava--Lord Siva; agra-jan--the elder brothers.
TRANSLATION
The four great sages were elder to Lord Siva, and when they were seated on the golden throne, they appeared just like fire blazing on an altar. Maharaja Prthu, out of his great gentleness and respect for them, began to speak with great restraint as follows.
PURPORT
The Kumaras are described herein as the elder brothers of Lord Siva. When the Kumaras were born out of the body of Lord Brahma, they were requested to get married and increase the population. In the beginning of the creation there was a great need of population; therefore Lord Brahma was creating one son after another and ordering them to increase. However, when the Kumaras were requested to do so, they declined. They wanted to remain brahmacari throughout life and be engaged fully in the devotional service of the Lord. The Kumaras are called naisthika-brahmacari, meaning they are never to marry. Because of their refusal to marry, Lord Brahma became so angry that his eyes became reddish. From between his eyes, Lord Siva, or Rudra, appeared. The mode of anger is consequently known as rudra. Lord Siva also has a sampradaya party, known as the Rudra-sampradaya, and they are also known as Vaisnavas.
TEXT 7
TEXT
prthur uvaca
aho acaritam kim me
mangalam mangalayanah
yasya vo darsanam hy asid
durdarsanam ca yogibhih
SYNONYMS
prthuh uvaca--King Prthu spoke; aho--O Lord; acaritam--practice; kim--what; me--by me; mangalam--good fortune; mangala-ayanah--O personified good fortune; yasya--by which; vah--your; darsanam--audience; hi--certainly; asit--became possible; durdarsanam--visible with great difficulty; ca--also; yogibhih--by great mystic yogis.
TRANSLATION
King Prthu spoke: My dear great sages, auspiciousness personified, it is very difficult for even the mystic yogis to see you. Indeed, you are very rarely seen. I do not know what kind of pious activity I performed for you to grace me by appearing before me without difficulty.
PURPORT
When something uncommon happens in one's progressive spiritual life, it should be understood to be incurred by ajnata-sukrti, or pious activities beyond one's knowledge. To see personally the Supreme personality of Godhead or His pure devotee is not an ordinary incident. When such things happen, they should be understood to be caused by previous pious activity, as confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (7.28): yesam tv anta-gatam papam jananam punya-karmanam. One who is completely freed from all the resultant actions of sinful activities and who is absorbed only in pious activities can engage in devotional service. Although Maharaja Prthu's life was full of pious activities, he was wondering how his audience with the Kumaras happened. He could not imagine what kind of pious activities he had performed. This is a sign of humility on the part of King Prthu, whose life was so full of pious activities that even Lord Visnu came to see him and predicted that the Kumaras would also come.
TEXT 8
TEXT
kim tasya durlabhataram
iha loke paratra ca
yasya viprah prasidanti
sivo visnus ca sanugah
SYNONYMS
kim--what; tasya--his; durlabha-taram--very rare to achieve; iha--in this world; loke--world; paratra--after death; ca--or; yasya--one whose; viprah--the brahmanas and Vaisnavas; prasidanti--become pleased; sivah--all-auspicious; visnuh--Lord Visnu; ca--as well as; sa-anugah--going along with.
TRANSLATION
Any person upon whom the brahmanas and Vaisnavas are pleased can achieve anything which is very rare to obtain in this world as well as after death. Not only that, but one also receives the favor of the auspicious Lord Siva and Lord Visnu, who accompany the brahmanas and Vaisnavas.
PURPORT
The brahmanas and Vaisnavas are the bearers of Lord Visnu, the all-auspicious. As confirmed in the Brahma-samhita (5.38):
premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena
santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti
yam syamasundaram acintya-guna-svarupam
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
The devotees, out of their extreme love for Govinda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, always carry the Lord within their hearts. The Lord is already in the heart of everyone, but the Vaisnavas and the brahmanas actually perceive and see Him always in ecstasy. Therefore brahmanas and Vaisnavas are carriers of Visnu. Wherever they go, Lord Visnu, Lord Siva or the devotees of Lord Visnu are all carried. The four Kumaras are brahmanas, and they visited the place of Maharaja Prthu. Naturally Lord Visnu and His devotees were also present. Under the circumstances, the conclusion is that when the brahmanas and Vaisnavas are pleased with a person, Lord Visnu is also pleased. This is confirmed by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura in his eight stanzas on the spiritual master: yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah. By pleasing the spiritual master, who is both brahmana and Vaisnava, one pleases the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If the Supreme Personality of Godhead is pleased, then one has nothing more to achieve either in this world or after death.
TEXT 9
TEXT
naiva laksayate loko
lokan paryatato 'pi yan
yatha sarva-drsam sarva
atmanam ye 'sya hetavah
SYNONYMS
na--not; eva--thus; laksayate--can see; lokah--people; lokan--all planets; paryatatah--traveling; api--although; yan--whom; yatha--as much as; sarva-drsam--the Supersoul; sarve--in all; atmanam--within everyone; ye--those; asya--of the cosmic manifestation; hetavah--causes.
TRANSLATION
Prthu Maharaja continued: Although you are traveling in all planetary systems, people cannot know you, just as they cannot know the Supersoul, although He is within everyone's heart as the witness of everything. Even Lord Brahma and Lord Siva cannot understand the Supersoul.
PURPORT
In the beginning of the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said: muhyanti yat surayah. Great demigods like Lord Brahma, Lord Siva, Indra and Candra are sometimes bewildered trying to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It so happened that when Krsna was present on this planet, Lord Brahma and King Indra also mistook Him. And what to speak of great yogis or jnanis who conclude that the Absolute Truth, the Personality of Godhead, is impersonal? In the same way, great personalities and Vaisnavas like the four Kumaras are also invisible to ordinary persons, although they are traveling all over the universe in different planetary systems. When Sanatana Gosvami went to see Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he could not be recognized by Candrasekhara Acarya. The conclusion is that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is situated in everyone's heart, and His pure devotees, the Vaisnavas, are also traveling all over the world, but those who are under the modes of material nature cannot understand the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the source of this cosmic manifestation, or the Vaisnavas. It is said, therefore, that one cannot see the Supreme Personality of Godhead or a Vaisnava with these material eyes. One has to purify his senses and engage in the service of the Lord. Then gradually one can realize who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and who is a Vaisnava.
TEXT 10
TEXT
adhana api te dhanyah
sadhavo grha-medhinah
yad-grha hy arha-varyambu-
trna-bhumisvaravarah
SYNONYMS
adhanah--not very rich; api--although; te--they; dhanyah--glorious; sadhavah--saintly persons; grha-medhinah--persons who are attached to family life; yat-grhah--whose house; hi--certainly; arha-varya--the most worshipable; ambu--water; trna--grass; bhumi--land; isvara--the master; avarah--the servants.
TRANSLATION
A person who is not very rich and is attached to family life becomes highly glorified when saintly persons are present in his home. The master and servants who are engaged in offering the exalted visitors water, a sitting place and paraphernalia for reception are glorified, and the home itself is also glorified.
PURPORT
Materially if a man is not very rich, he is not glorious, and spiritually if a man is too attached to family life, he is also not glorious. But saintly persons are quite ready to visit the house of a poor man or a man who is attached to material family life. When this happens, the owner of the house and his servants are glorified because they offer water for washing the feet of a saintly person, sitting places and other things to receive him. The conclusion is that if a saintly person goes to the house of even an unimportant man, such a person becomes glorious by his blessings. It is therefore the Vedic system that a householder invite a saintly person in his home to receive his blessings. This system is still current in India, and therefore saintly persons, wherever they go, are hosted by the householders, who in turn get an opportunity to receive transcendental knowledge. It is the duty of a sannyasi, therefore, to travel everywhere just to favor the householders, who are generally ignorant of the values of spiritual life.
It may be argued that all householders are not very rich and that one cannot receive great saintly persons or preachers because they are always accompanied by their disciples. If a householder is to receive a saintly person, he has to receive his entourage also. It is said in the sastras that Durvasa Muni was always accompanied by sixty thousand disciples and that if there was a little discrepancy in their reception, he would be very angry and would sometimes curse the host. The fact is that every householder, regardless of his position or economic condition, can at least receive saintly guests with great devotion and offer them drinking water, for drinking water is available always. In India the custom is that even an ordinary person is offered a glass of water if he suddenly visits and one cannot offer him foodstuff. If there is no water, then one can offer a sitting place, even if it is on straw mats. And if one has no straw mat, he can immediately cleanse the ground and ask the guest to sit there. Supposing that a householder cannot even do that, then with folded hands he can simply receive the guest, saying, "Welcome." And if he cannot do that, then he should feel very sorry for his poor condition and shed tears and simply offer obeisances with his whole family, wife and children. In this way he can satisfy any guest, even if the guest is a saintly person or a king.
TEXT 11
TEXT
vyalalaya-druma vai tesv
ariktakhila-sampadah
yad-grhas tirtha-padiya-
padatirtha-vivarjitah
SYNONYMS
vyala--venomous serpents; alaya--home; drumah--tree; vai--certainly; tesu--in those houses; arikta--abundantly; akhila--all; sampadah--opulences; yat--that; grhah--houses; tirtha-padiya--in relation with the feet of great saintly persons; pada-tirtha--the water which washed their feet; vivarjitah--without.
TRANSLATION
On the contrary, even though full of all opulence and material prosperity, any householder's house where the devotees of the Lord are never allowed to come in, and where there is no water for washing their feet, is to be considered a tree in which all venomous serpents live.
PURPORT
In this verse the word tirtha-padiya indicates devotees of Lord Visnu, or Vaisnavas. As far as brahmanas are concerned, in the previous verse the mode of reception has been already described. Now, in this verse, special stress is being given to the Vaisnavas. Generally the sannyasis, or those in the renounced order of life, take trouble to enlighten the householders. There are ekadandi sannyasis and tridandi sannyasis. The ekadandi sannyasis are generally followers of Sankaracarya and are known as Mayavadi sannyasis, whereas the tridandi sannyasis are followers of Vaisnava acaryas--Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya and so on--and they take trouble to enlighten the householders. Ekadandi sannyasis can be situated on the platform of pure Brahman because they are aware that the spirit soul is different from the body, but they are mainly impersonalists. The Vaisnavas know that the Absolute Truth is the Supreme Person and that the Brahman effulgence is based on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita (14.27): brahmano hi pratisthaham. The conclusion is that tirtha-padiya refers to Vaisnavas. In the Bhagavatam (1.13.10) there is also another reference: tirthi-kurvanti tirthani. Wherever he goes, a Vaisnava immediately makes that place a tirtha, a place of pilgrimage. The Vaisnava sannyasis travel all over the world to make every place a place of pilgrimage by the touch of their lotus feet. It is mentioned here that any house which does not receive a Vaisnava in the manner already explained in the previous verse is to be considered the residential quarters of venomous serpents. It is said that around the sandalwood tree, which is a very valuable tree, there is a venomous serpent. Sandalwood is very cold, and venomous serpents, because of their poisonous teeth, are always very warm, and they take shelter of the sandalwood trees to become cooler. Similarly, there are many rich men who keep watchdogs or doormen and put up signs that say, "Do not enter," "Trespassers not allowed," "Beware of the dog," etc. Sometimes in Western countries a trespasser is shot, and there is no crime in such shooting. This is the position of demoniac householders, and such houses are considered to be the residential quarters of venomous snakes. The members of such families are no better than snakes because snakes are very much envious, and when that envy is directed to the saintly persons, their position becomes more dangerous. It is said by Canakya Pandita that there are two envious living entities--the snake and the envious man. The envious man is more dangerous than a snake because a snake can be subdued by charming mantras or by some herbs, but an envious person cannot be pacified by any means.
TEXT 12
TEXT
svagatam vo dvija-srestha
yad-vratani mumuksavah
caranti sraddhaya dhira
bala eva brhanti ca
SYNONYMS
su-agatam--welcome; vah--unto you; dvija-sresthah--the best of the brahmanas; yat--whose; vratani--vows; mumuksavah--of persons desiring liberation; caranti--behave; sraddhaya--with great faith; dhirah--controlled; balah--boys; eva--like; brhanti--observe; ca--also.
TRANSLATION
Maharaja Prthu offered his welcome to the four Kumaras, addressing them as the best of the brahmanas. He welcomed them, saying: From the beginning of your birth you strictly observed the vows of celibacy, and although you are experienced in the path of liberation, you are keeping yourselves just like small children.
PURPORT
The specific importance of the Kumaras is that they were brahmacaris, living the life of celibacy from birth. They kept themselves as small children about four or five years old because by growing into youth one's senses sometimes become disturbed and celibacy becomes difficult. The Kumaras therefore purposefully remained children because in a child's life the senses are never disturbed by sex. This is the significance of the life of the Kumaras, and as such Maharaja Prthu addressed them as the best of the brahmanas. Not only were the Kumaras born of the best brahmana (Lord Brahma), but they are addressed herein as dvija-sresthah ("the best of the brahmanas") on account of their being Vaisnavas also. As we have already explained, they have their sampradaya (disciplic succession), and even to date the sampradaya is being maintained and is known as the Nimbarka-sampradaya. Out of the four sampradayas of the Vaisnava acaryas, the Nimbarka-sampradaya is one. Maharaja Prthu specifically appreciated the position of the Kumaras because they maintained the brahmacarya vow from the very beginning of their birth. Maharaja Prthu, however, expressed his great appreciation of Vaisnavism by addressing the Kumaras as vaisnava-sresthah. In other words, everyone should offer respect to a Vaisnava without considering his source of birth. Vaisnave jati-buddhih. No one should consider a Vaisnava in terms of birth. The Vaisnava is always the best of the brahmanas, and as such one should offer all respects to a Vaisnava, not only as a brahmana but as the best of the brahmanas.
TEXT 13
TEXT
kaccin nah kusalam natha
indriyarthartha-vedinam
vyasanavapa etasmin
patitanam sva-karmabhih
SYNONYMS
kaccit--whether; nah--our; kusalam--good fortune; nathah--O masters; indriya-artha--sense gratification as the ultimate goal of life; artha-vedinam--persons who understand only sense gratification; vyasana--illness; avape--got; etasmin--in this material existence; patitanam--those who are fallen; sva-karmabhih--by their own ability.
TRANSLATION
Prthu Maharaja inquired from the sages about persons entangled in this dangerous material existence because of their previous actions; could such persons, whose only aim is sense gratification, be blessed with any good fortune?
PURPORT
Maharaja Prthu did not ask the Kumaras about their good fortune, for the Kumaras are always auspicious by dint of their life in celibacy. Since they are always engaged on the path of liberation, there was no question of ill fortune. In other words, brahmanas and Vaisnavas who are strictly following the path of spiritual advancement are always fortunate. The question was asked by Prthu Maharaja for his own sake, since he was in the position of a grhastha and in charge of the royal authority. Kings are not only grhasthas, who are generally absorbed in sense gratification, but are sometimes employed to kill animals in hunting because they have to practice the killing art, otherwise it is very difficult for them to fight their enemies. Such things are not auspicious. Four kinds of sinful activities--associating with woman for illicit sex, eating meat, intoxication and gambling--are allowed for the ksatriyas. For political reasons, sometimes they have to take to these sinful activities. Ksatriyas do not refrain from gambling. One vivid example is the Pandavas. When the Pandavas were challenged by the opposite party, Duryodhana, to gamble and risk their kingdom, they could not refrain, and by that gambling they lost their kingdom, and their wife was insulted. Similarly, the ksatriyas cannot refrain from fighting if challenged by the opposite party. Therefore Prthu Maharaja, taking consideration of all these facts, inquired whether there is any auspicious path. Grhastha life is inauspicious because grhastha means consciousness for sense gratification, and as soon as there is sense gratification, one's position is always full of dangers. This material world is said to be padam padam yad vipadam na tesam, dangerous in every step (Bhag. 10.14.58). Everyone in this material world is struggling hard for sense gratification. Clearing all these points, Maharaja Prthu inquired from the four Kumaras about the fallen conditioned souls who are rotting in this material world due to their past bad or inauspicious activities. Is there any possibility for their auspicious spiritual life? In this verse, the word indriyarthartha-vedinam is very significant. It indicates persons whose only aim is to satisfy the senses. They are also described as patitanam, or fallen. Only one who stops all activities for sense gratification is considered to be elevated. Another significant word is sva-karmabhih. One becomes fallen by dint of his own past bad activities. Everyone is responsible for his fallen condition because of his own activities. When activities are changed to devotional service, one's auspicious life begins.
TEXT 14
TEXT
bhavatsu kusala-prasna
atmaramesu nesyate
kusalakusala yatra
na santi mati-vrttayah
SYNONYMS
bhavatsu--unto you; kusala--good fortune; prasnah--question; atma-aramesu--one who is always engaged in spiritual bliss; na isyate--there is no need of; kusala--good fortune; akusalah--inauspiciousness; yatra--where; na--never; santi--exists; mati-vrttayah--mental concoction.
TRANSLATION
Prthu Maharaja continued: My dear sirs, there is no need to ask about your good and bad fortune because you are always absorbed in spiritual bliss. The mental concoction of the auspicious and inauspicious does not exist in you.
PURPORT
In the Caitanya-caritamrta (Antya 4.176) it is said:
'dvaite' bhadrabhadra-jnana, saba----'manodharma'
'ei bhala, ei manda,'----ei saba 'bhrama'
In this material world the auspicious and inauspicious are simply mental concoctions because such things exist only due to association with the material world. This is called illusion, or atma-maya. We think ourselves created by material nature exactly as we think ourselves experiencing so many things in a dream. The spirit soul, however, is always transcendental. There is no question of becoming materially covered. This covering is simply something like a hallucination or a dream. In Bhagavad-gita (2.62) it is also said, sangat sanjayate kamah. Simply by association we create artificial material necessities. Dhyayato visayan pumsah sangas tesupajayate. When we forget our real constitutional position and wish to enjoy the material resources, our material desires manifest, and we associate with varieties of material enjoyment. As soon as the concoctions of material enjoyment are there, because of our association we create a sort of lust or eagerness to enjoy them, and when that false enjoyment does not actually make us happy, we create another illusion, known as anger, and by the manifestation of anger, the illusion becomes stronger. When we are illusioned in this way, forgetfulness of our relationship with Krsna follows, and by thus losing Krsna consciousness, our real intelligence is defeated. In this way we become entangled in this material world. In Bhagavad-gita (2.63) it is said:
krodhad bhavati sammohah
sammohat smrti-vibhramah
smrti-bhramsad buddhi-naso
buddhi-nasat pranasyati
By material association we lose our spiritual consciousness; consequently there is the question of the auspicious and inauspicious. But those who are atmarama, or self-realized, have transcended such questions. The atmaramas, or self-realized persons, gradually making further progress in spiritual bliss, come to the platform of association with the Supreme personality of Godhead. That is the perfection of life. In the beginning, the Kumaras were self-realized impersonalists, but gradually they became attracted to the personal pastimes of the Supreme Lord. The conclusion is that for those who are always engaged in the devotional service of the Personality of Godhead, the duality of the auspicious and inauspicious does not arise. Prthu Maharaja is therefore asking about auspiciousness not for the sake of the Kumaras but for his own sake.
TEXT 15
TEXT
tad aham krta-visrambhah
suhrdo vas tapasvinam
samprcche bhava etasmin
ksemah kenanjasa bhavet
SYNONYMS
tat--therefore; aham--I; krta-visrambhah--being completely assured; su-hrdah--friend; vah--our; tapasvinam--suffering material pangs; samprcche--wish to inquire; bhave--in this material world; etasmin--this; ksemah--ultimate reality; kena--by which means; anjasa--without delay; bhavet--can be achieved.
TRANSLATION
I am completely assured that personalities like you are the only friends for persons who are blazing in the fire of material existence. I therefore ask you how in this material world we can very soon achieve the ultimate goal of life.
PURPORT
When saintly persons go from door to door to see those who are too much materially engaged, it is to be understood that they do not go to ask anything for their personal benefit. It is a fact that saintly persons go to materialists just to give real information of the auspicious. Maharaja Prthu was assured of this fact; therefore instead of wasting time by asking the Kumaras about their welfare, he preferred to inquire from them whether he could soon be relieved from the dangerous position of materialistic existence. This was not, however, a question personally for Prthu Maharaja. It was raised to teach the common man that whenever one meets a great saintly person, one should immediately surrender unto him and inquire about relief from the material pains of existence. Therefore Srila Narottama dasa Thakura says, samsara-visanale, divanisi hiya jvale, judaite na kainu upaya: "we are always suffering from material pangs, and our hearts are burning, but we cannot find any way out of it." The materialistic person can also be called a tapasvi, which means someone who is always suffering from material pains. One can get rid of all these material pains only when he takes shelter of the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra. This is also explained by Narottama dasa Thakura: golokera prema-dhana, harinama-sankirtana, rati na janmila kene taya. Narottama dasa Thakura regretted that he did not pursue his attraction for the transcendental vibration of the Hare Krsna mantra. The conclusion is that all persons in this material world are suffering from material pains, and if one wants to get rid of them, he must associate with saintly persons, pure devotees of the Lord, and chant the maha-mantra, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. That is the only auspicious way for materialistic persons.
TEXT 16
TEXT
vyaktam atmavatam atma
bhagavan atma-bhavanah
svanam anugrahayemam
siddha-rupi caraty ajah
SYNONYMS
vyaktam--clear; atma-vatam--of the transcendentalists; atma--the goal of life; bhagavan--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; atma-bhavanah--always wishing to elevate the living entities; svanam--whose own devotees; anugrahaya--just to show mercy; imam--this way; siddha-rupi--perfectly self-realized; carati--travels; ajah--Narayana.
TRANSLATION
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is always anxious to elevate the living entities, who are His parts and parcels, and for their special benefit, the Lord travels all over the world in the form of self-realized persons like you.
PURPORT
There are different kinds of transcendentalists, namely the jnanis, or impersonalists, the mystic yogis and, of course, all the devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Kumaras, however, were both yogis and jnanis and finally bhaktas later on. In the beginning they were impersonalists, but later they developed devotional activities; therefore they are the best of the transcendentalists. The devotees are representatives of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and to elevate the conditioned souls to their original consciousness, they travel all over the universes to enlighten the conditioned souls about Krsna consciousness. The best devotees are atmavat, or those who have fully realized the Supreme Soul. The Supreme personality of Godhead, as Paramatma, is sitting within everyone's heart, trying to elevate everyone to the platform of Krsna consciousness. Therefore He is called atma-bhavana. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is always trying to give the individual soul the intelligence to understand about Himself. He is always with the individual as a friend sitting by the side of a friend, and He gives facilities to all living entities according to their desires.
The word atmavatam is significant in this verse. There are three different kinds of devotees, namely kanistha-adhikari, madhyama-adhikari and uttama-adhikari: the neophyte, the preacher and the maha-bhagavata, or the highly advanced devotee. The highly advanced devotee is one who knows the conclusion of the Vedas in full knowledge; thus he becomes a devotee. Indeed, not only is he convinced himself, but he can convince others on the strength of Vedic evidence. The advanced devotee can also see all other living entities as part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, without discrimination. The madhyama-adhikari (preacher) is also well versed in the sastras and can convince others also, but he discriminates between the favorable and the unfavorable. In other words, the madhyama-adhikari does not care for the demoniac living entities, and the neophyte kanistha-adhikari does not know much about sastra but has full faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Kumaras, however, were maha-bhagavatas because after scrutinizingly studying the Absolute Truth, they became devotees. In other words, they were in full knowledge of the Vedic conclusion. In the Bhagavad-gita it is confirmed by the Lord that there are many devotees, but a devotee who is fully conversant in the Vedic conclusion is very dear to Him. Everyone is trying to elevate himself to the highest position according to his mentality. The karmis, who have a bodily concept of life, try to enjoy sense gratification to the utmost. The jnanis' idea of the highest position is merging into the effulgence of the Lord. But a devotee's highest position is in preaching all over the world the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore the devotees are actually the representatives of the Supreme Lord, and as such they travel all over the world directly as Narayana because they carry Narayana within their hearts and preach His glories. The representative of Narayana is as good as Narayana, but he is not to conclude, like the Mayavadis, that he has become Narayana. Generally, a sannyasi is addressed as Narayana by the Mayavadis. Their idea is that simply by taking sannyasa one becomes equal to Narayana or becomes Narayana Himself. The Vaisnava conclusion is different, as stated by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura:
saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair
uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih
kinto prabhor yah priya eva tasya
vande guroh sri-caranaravindam
According to the Vaisnava philosophy, a devotee is as good as Narayana not by becoming Narayana but by becoming the most confidential servant of Narayana. Such great personalities act as spiritual masters for the benefit of the people in general, and as such, a spiritual master who is preaching the glories of Narayana should be accepted as Narayana and be given all respects due Him.
TEXT 17
TEXT
maitreya uvaca
prthos tat suktam akarnya
saram susthu mitam madhu
smayamana iva pritya
kumarah pratyuvaca ha
SYNONYMS
maitreyah uvaca--the great sage Maitreya continued to speak; prthoh--of King Prthu; tat--that; suktam--Vedic conclusion; akarnya--hearing; saram--very substantial; susthu--appropriate; mitam--minimized; madhu--sweet to hear; smayamanah--smiling; iva--like; pritya--out of great satisfaction; kumarah--celibate; pratyuvaca--replied; ha--thus.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Maitreya continued: Thus Sanat-kumara, the best of the celibates, after hearing the speech of Prthu Maharaja, which was meaningful, appropriate, full of precise words and very sweet to hear, smiled with full satisfaction and began to speak as follows.
PURPORT
Prthu Maharaja's talks before the Kumaras were very laudable because of so many qualifications. A speech should be composed of selected words, very sweet to hear and appropriate to the situation. Such speech is called meaningful. All these good qualifications are present in Prthu Maharaja's speech because he is a perfect devotee. It is said, yasyasti bhaktir bhagavaty akincana sarvair gunais tatra samasate surah: "For one who has unflinching devotional faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead and is engaged in His service, all good qualities become manifest in his person." (Bhag. 5.18.12) Thus the Kumaras were very much pleased, and Sanat-kumara began to speak as follows.
TEXT 18
TEXT
sanat-kumara uvaca
sadhu prstam maharaja
sarva-bhuta-hitatmana
bhavata vidusa capi
sadhunam matir idrsi
SYNONYMS
sanat-kumarah uvaca--Sanat-kumara said; sadhu--saintly; prstam--question; maharaja--my dear King; sarva-bhuta--all living entities; hita-atmana--by one who desires good for all; bhavata--by you; vidusa--well learned; ca--and; api--although; sadhunam--of the saintly persons; matih--intelligence; idrsi--like this.
TRANSLATION
Sanat-kumara said: My dear King Prthu, I am very nicely questioned by you. Such questions are beneficial for all living entities, especially because they are raised by you, who are always thinking of the good of others. Although you know everything, you ask such questions because that is the behavior of saintly persons. Such intelligence is befitting your position.
PURPORT
Maharaja Prthu was well conversant in transcendental science, yet he presented himself before the Kumaras as one ignorant of it. The idea is that even if a person is very exalted and knows everything, before his superior he should present questions. For instance, although Arjuna knew all the transcendental science, he questioned Krsna as if he did not know. Similarly, Prthu Maharaja knew everything, but he presented himself before the Kumaras as if he did not know anything. The idea is that questions by exalted persons put before the Supreme Personality of Godhead or His devotees are meant for the benefit of the general people. Therefore sometimes great personalities put themselves in that position and inquire from a higher authority because they are always thinking of the benefit of others.
TEXT 19
TEXT
sangamah khalu sadhunam
ubhayesam ca sammatah
yat-sambhasana-samprasnah
sarvesam vitanoti sam
SYNONYMS
sangamah--association; khalu--certainly; sadhunam--of devotees; ubhayesam--for both; ca--also; sammatah--conclusive; yat--which; sambhasana--discussion; samprasnah--question and answer; sarvesam--of all; vitanoti--expands; sam--real happiness.
TRANSLATION
When there is a congregation of devotees, their discussions, questions and answers become conclusive to both the speaker and the audience. Thus such a meeting is beneficial for everyone's real happiness.
PURPORT
Hearing discussions among the devotees is the only means to receive the powerful message of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. For instance, Bhagavad-gita has been well known all over the world for a very long time, especially in the Western world, but because the subject matter was not discussed by devotees, there was no effect. Not a single person in the West became Krsna conscious before the Krsna consciousness movement was founded. But when the same Bhagavad-gita was presented as it is through the disciplic succession, the effect of spiritual realization was immediately manifested.
Sanat-kumara, one of the Kumaras, informed Prthu Maharaja that his meeting with the Kumaras benefited not only Maharaja Prthu but the Kumaras as well. When Narada Muni questioned Lord Brahma about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Brahma thanked Narada Muni for giving him a chance to speak about the Supreme Lord. Therefore questions put by a saintly person to another saintly person about the Supreme Personality of Godhead or about the ultimate goal of life surcharge everything spiritually. Whoever takes advantage of such discussions is benefited both in this life and in the next.
The word ubhayesam can be described in many ways. Generally there are two classes of men, the materialist and the transcendentalist. By hearing discussions between devotees, both the materialist and transcendentalist are benefited. The materialist is benefited by association with devotees because his life then becomes regulated so that his chance of becoming a devotee or making the present life successful for understanding the real position of the living entity is increased. When one takes advantage of this opportunity, he is assured of a human form of life in the next birth, or he may be liberated completely and go back home, back to Godhead. The conclusion is that if one participates in a discussion of devotees, he is both materially and spiritually benefited. The speaker and the audience are both benefited, and the karmis and jnanis are benefited. The discussion of spiritual matters amongst devotees is beneficial for everyone, without exception. Consequently the Kumaras admitted that not only was the King benefited by such a meeting, but the Kumaras were as well.
TEXT 20
TEXT
asty eva rajan bhavato madhudvisah
padaravindasya gunanuvadane
ratir durapa vidhunoti naisthiki
kamam kasayam malam antar-atmanah
SYNONYMS
asti--there is; eva--certainly; rajan--O King; bhavatah--your; madhu-dvisah--of the Lord; pada-aravindasya--of the lotus feet; guna-anuvadane--in glorifying; ratih--attachment; durapa--very difficult; vidhunoti--washes; naisthiki--unflinching; kamam--lusty; kasayam--the embellishment of lusty desire; malam--dirty; antah-atmanah--from the core of the heart.
TRANSLATION
Sanat-kumara continued: My dear King, you already have an inclination to glorify the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such attachment is very difficult to achieve, but when one has attained such unflinching faith in the Lord, it automatically cleanses lusty desires from the core of the heart.
PURPORT
satam prasangan mama virya-samvido
bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah kathah
taj-josanad asv apavarga-vartmani
sraddha ratir bhaktir anukramisyati
(Bhag. 3.25.25)
By association with devotees, dirty things within the heart of a materialistic man are gradually washed away by the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As silver becomes shiny by being polished, the heart of a materialistic person is cleansed of lusty desires by the good association of devotees. Actually the living being has no connection with this material enjoyment nor with lusty desires. He is simply imagining or dreaming while asleep. But by the association of pure devotees, he is awakened, and immediately the spirit soul is situated in his own glory by understanding his constitutional position as the eternal servant of the Lord. Prthu Maharaja was already a self-realized soul; therefore he had a natural inclination to glorify the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the Kumaras assured him that there was no chance of his falling victim to the illusory energy of the Supreme Lord. In other words, the process of hearing and chanting about the glories of the Lord is the only means to clarify the heart of material contamination. By the process of karma, jnana and yoga, no one will succeed in driving away contamination from the heart, but once a person takes to the shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord by devotional service, automatically all dirty things in the heart are removed without difficulty.
TEXT 21
TEXT
sastresv iyan eva suniscito nrnam
ksemasya sadhryag-vimrsesu hetuh
asanga atma-vyatirikta atmani
drdha ratir brahmani nirgune ca ya
SYNONYMS
sastresu--in the scriptures; iyan eva--this is only; su-niscitah--positively concluded; nrnam--of human society; ksemasya--of the ultimate welfare; sadhryak--perfectly; vimrsesu--by full consideration; hetuh--cause; asangah--detachment; atma-vyatirikte--the bodily concept of life; atmani--unto the Supreme Soul; drdha--strong; ratih--attachment; brahmani--transcendence; nirgune--in the Supreme, who is beyond the material modes; ca--and; ya--which.
TRANSLATION
It has been conclusively decided in the scriptures, after due consideration, that the ultimate goal for the welfare of human society is detachment from the bodily concept of life and increased and steadfast attachment for the Supreme Lord, who is transcendental, beyond the modes of material nature.
PURPORT
Everyone in human society is engaged for the ultimate benefit of life, but persons who are in the bodily conception cannot achieve the ultimate goal, nor can they understand what it is. The ultimate goal of life is described in Bhagavad-gita (2.59). param drstva nivartate. When one finds out the supreme goal of life, he naturally becomes detached from the bodily concept. Here in this verse the indication is that one has to steadfastly increase attachment for the Transcendence (brahmani). As confirmed in the Vedanta-sutra (1.1.1), athato brahma jijnasa: without inquiry about the Supreme, or the Transcendence, one cannot give up attachment for this material world. By the evolutionary process in because in all those species of life, the bodily conception is very prominent. Athato brahma jijnasa means that in order to get out of the bodily conception, one has to increase attachment to or inquiry about Brahman. Then he can be situated in the transcendental devotional service--sravanam kirtanam visnoh. To increase attachment for Brahman means to engage in devotional service. Those who are attached to the impersonal form of Brahman cannot remain attached for very long. Impersonalists, after rejecting this world as mithya, or false (jagan mithya), come down again to this jagan mithya, although they take sannyasa to increase their attachment for Brahman. Similarly, many yogis who are attached to the localized aspect of Brahman as Paramatma--great sages like Visvamitra--also fall down as victims of women. Therefore increased attachment for the Supreme personality of Godhead is advised in all sastras. That is the only way of detachment from material existence and is explained in Bhagavad-gita (2.59) as param drstva nivartate. One can cease material activities when he actually has the taste for devotional service. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu also recommended love of Godhead as the ultimate goal of life (prema pum-artho mahan). Without increasing love of Godhead, one cannot achieve the perfectional stage of the transcendental position.
TEXT 22
TEXT
sa sraddhaya bhagavad-dharma-caryaya
jijnasayadhyatmika-yoga-nisthaya
yogesvaropasanaya ca nityam
punya-sravah-kathaya punyaya ca
SYNONYMS
sa--that devotional service; sraddhaya--with faith and conviction; bhagavat-dharma--devotional service; caryaya--by discussion; jijnasaya--by inquiry; adhyatmika--spiritual; yoga-nisthaya--by conviction in spiritual understanding; yoga-isvara--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; upasanaya--by worship of Him; ca--and; nityam--regularly; punya-sravah--by hearing which; kathaya--by discussion; punyaya--by pious; ca--also.
TRANSLATION
Attachment for the Supreme can be increased by practicing devotional service, inquiring about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, applying bhakti-yoga in life, worshiping the Yogesvara, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and by hearing and chanting about the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. These actions are pious in themselves.
PURPORT
The word yogesvara is applicable to both the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, and His devotees also. In Bhagavad-gita this word occurs in two places. In the Eighteenth Chapter (18.78), Krsna is described as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, who is the master of all mystic power (yatra yogesvarah krsnah). Yogesvara is also described at the end of the Sixth Chapter (6.47): sa me yuktatamo matah. This yuktatama indicates the topmost of all yogis--the devotees, who can also be called yogesvara. In this verse, yogesvara-upasana means to render service to a pure devotee. Thus Narottama dasa Thakura says, chadiya vaisnava-seva nistara payeche keba: without serving a pure devotee, one cannot advance in spiritual life. Prahlada Maharaja also has said:
naisam matis tavad urukramanghrim
sprsaty anarthapagamo yad-arthah
mahiyasam pada-rajo-'bhisekam
niskincananam na vrnita yavat
(Bhag. 7.5.32)
One should take shelter of a pure devotee, who has nothing to do with this material world but is simply engaged in devotional service. By serving him only, one can transcend the qualitative material condition. In this verse it is recommended (yogesvara-upasanaya) that one serve the lotus feet of the topmost yogi, or the devotee. To serve the topmost devotee means to hear from him about the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. To hear the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead from the mouth of a pure devotee is to acquire a pious life. In Bhagavad-gita (7.28) it is also said that without being pious one cannot engage in devotional service.
yesam tv anta-gatam papam
jananam punya-karmanam
te dvandva-moha-nirmukta
bhajanti mam drdha-vratah
To become fixed in devotional service one has to become completely cleansed from the contamination of the material modes of nature. For work in devotional service the first item is adau gurv-asrayam: one should accept a bona fide spiritual master, and from the bona fide spiritual master inquire about one's transcendental occupational duties (sad-dharma-prccha) and follow in the footsteps of great saintly persons, devotees (sadhu-marga-anugamanam). These are the instructions given in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu by Rupa Gosvami.
The conclusion is that to increase attachment for the Supreme Personality of Godhead one has to accept a bona fide spiritual master and learn from him the methods of devotional service and hear from him about the transcendental message and glorification of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this way one has to increase his conviction about devotional service. Then it will be very easy to increase attachment for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
TEXT 23
TEXT
arthendriyarama-sagosthy-atrsnaya
tat-sammatanam aparigrahena ca
vivikta-rucya paritosa atmani
vina harer guna-piyusa-panat
SYNONYMS
artha--riches; indriya--senses; arama--gratification; sa-gosthi--with their companion; atrsnaya--by reluctance; tat--that; sammatanam--since approved by them; aparigrahena--by nonacceptance; ca--also; vivikta-rucya--disgusted taste; paritose--happiness; atmani--self; vina--without; hareh--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; guna--qualities; piyusa--nectar; panat--drinking.
TRANSLATION
One has to make progress in spiritual life by not associating with persons who are simply interested in sense gratification and making money. Not only such persons, but one who associates with such persons should be avoided. One should mold his life in such a way that he cannot live in peace without drinking the nectar of the glorification of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari. One can be thus elevated by being disgusted with the taste for sense enjoyment.
PURPORT
In the material world everyone is interested in money and sense gratification. The only objective is to earn as much money as possible and utilize it for satisfaction of the senses. Srila Sukadeva Gosvami thus described the activities of the materialistic persons:
nidraya hriyate naktam
vyavayena ca va vayah
diva carthehaya rajan
kutumba-bharanena va
(Bhag. 2.1.3)
This is a typical example of materialistic persons. At night they waste their time by sleeping more than six hours or by wasting time in sex indulgence. This is their occupation at night, and in the morning they go to their office or business place just to earn money. As soon as there is some money, they become busy in purchasing things for their children and others. Such persons are never interested in understanding the values of life--what is God, what is the individual soul, what is its relationship with God, etc. Things are degraded to such an extent that those who are supposed to be religious are also at the present moment interested only in sense gratification. The number of materialistic persons in this age of Kali has increased more than in any other age; therefore persons who are interested in going back home, back to Godhead, should not only engage in the service of realized souls but should give up the company of materialistic persons, whose only aim is to earn money and employ it in sense gratification. They should also not accept the objectives of materialistic persons, namely money and sense gratification. Therefore it is stated: bhaktih paresanubhavo viraktir anyatra ca (Bhag. 11.2.42). To advance in devotional service one should be uninterested in the materialistic way of life. That which is the subject matter of satisfaction for the devotees is of no interest to the nondevotees.
Simple negation, or giving up the company of materialistic persons, will not do. We must have engagements. Sometimes it is found that a person interested in spiritual advancement gives up the company of material society and goes to a secluded place as recommended for the yogis especially, but that will also not help a person in spiritual advancement, for in many instances such yogis also fall down. As far as jnanis are concerned, generally they fall down without taking shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord. The impersonalists or the voidists can simply avoid the positive material association; they cannot remain fixed in transcendence without being engaged in devotional service. The beginning of devotional service is to hear about the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is recommended in this verse: vina harer guna-piyusa-panat. One must drink the nectar of the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and this means that one must be always engaged in hearing and chanting the glories of the Lord. It is the prime method for advancing in spiritual life. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu also recommends this in the Caitanya-caritamrta. If one wants to make advancement in spiritual life, by great fortune he may meet a bona fide spiritual master and from him learn about Krsna. By serving both the spiritual master and Krsna he gets the seed of devotional service (bhakti-lata-bija), and if he sows the seed within his heart and waters it by hearing and chanting, it grows into a luxuriant bhakti-lata, or bhakti creeper. The creeper is so strong that it penetrates the covering of the universe and reaches the spiritual world and continues to grow on and on until it reaches and takes shelter of the lotus feet of Krsna, just as an ordinary creeper also grows on and on until it takes a solid shelter on a roof; then it very steadily grows and produces the required fruit. The real cause of the growing of such fruit, which is here called the nectar of hearing the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is to water the creeper of devotional service by hearing and chanting. The purport is that one cannot live outside the society of devotees; one must live in the association of devotees, where there is constant chanting and hearing of the glories of the Lord. The Krsna consciousness movement is started for this purpose, so that hundreds of ISKCON centers may give people a chance to hear and chant, to accept the spiritual master and to disassociate themselves from persons who are materially interested, for in this way one can make solid advancement in going back home, back to Godhead.
TEXT 24
TEXT
ahimsaya paramahamsya-caryaya
smrtya mukundacaritagrya-sidhuna
yamair akamair niyamais capy anindaya
nirihaya dvandva-titiksaya ca
SYNONYMS
ahimsaya--by nonviolence; paramahamsya-caryaya--by following in the footsteps of great acaryas; smrtya--by remembering; mukunda--the Supreme personality of Godhead; acarita-agrya--simply preaching His activities; sidhuna--by the nectar; yamaih--by following regulative principles; akamaih--without material desires; niyamaih--by strictly following the rules and regulations; ca--also; api--certainly; anindaya--without blaspheming; nirihaya--living simply, plain living; dvandva--duality; titiksaya--by tolerance; ca--and.
TRANSLATION
A candidate for spiritual advancement must be nonviolent, must follow in the footsteps of great acaryas, must always remember the nectar of the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, must follow the regulative principles without material desire and, while following the regulative principles, should not blaspheme others. A devotee should lead a very simple life and not be disturbed by the duality of opposing elements. He should learn to tolerate them.
PURPORT
The devotees are actually saintly persons, or sadhus. The first qualification of a sadhu, or devotee, is ahimsa, or nonviolence. Persons interested in the path of devotional service, or in going back home, back to Godhead, must first practice ahimsa, or nonviolence. A sadhu is described as titiksavah karunikah (Bhag. 3.25.21). A devotee should be tolerant and should be very much compassionate toward others. For example, if he suffers personal injury, he should tolerate it, but if someone else suffers injury, the devotee need not tolerate it. The whole world is full of violence, and a devotee's first business is to stop this violence, including the unnecessary slaughter of animals. A devotee is the friend not only of human society but of all living entities, for he sees all living entities as sons of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He does not claim himself to be the only son of God and allow all others to be killed, thinking that they have no soul. This kind of philosophy is never advocated by a pure devotee of the Lord. Suhrdah sarva-dehinam: a true devotee is the friend of all living entities. Krsna claims in Bhagavad-gita to be the father of all species of living entities; consequently the devotee of Krsna is always a friend of all. This is called ahimsa. Such nonviolence can be practiced only when we follow in the footsteps of great acaryas. Therefore, according to our Vaisnava philosophy, we have to follow the great acaryas of the four sampradayas, or disciplic successions.
Trying to advance in spiritual life outside the disciplic succession is simply ludicrous. It is said, therefore, acaryavan puruso veda: one who follows the disciplic succession of acaryas knows things as they are (Chandogya Upanisad 6.14.2). Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet: in order to understand the transcendental science, one must approach the bona fide spiritual master (Mundaka Upanisad 1.2.12). The word smrtya is very important in spiritual life. Smrtya means remembering Krsna always. Life should be molded in such a way that one cannot remain alone without thinking of Krsna. We should live in Krsna so that while eating, sleeping, walking and working we remain only in Krsna. Our Krsna consciousness society recommends that we arrange our living so that we can remember Krsna. In our ISKCON society the devotees, while engaged in making Spiritual Sky incense, are also hearing about the glories of Krsna or His devotees. The sastra recommends, smartavyah satatam visnuh: Lord Visnu should be remembered always, constantly. Vismartavyo na jatucit: Visnu should never be forgotten. That is the spiritual way of life. Smrtya. This remembrance of the Lord can be continued if we hear about Him constantly. It is therefore recommended in this verse: mukundacaritagrya-sidhuna. Sidhu means "nectar." To hear about Krsna from Srimad-Bhagavatam or Bhagavad-gita or similar authentic literature is to live in Krsna consciousness. Such concentration in Krsna consciousness can be achieved by persons who are strictly following the rules and regulative principles. We have recommended in our Krsna consciousness movement that a devotee chant sixteen rounds on beads daily and follow the regulative principles. That will help the devotee be fixed in his spiritual advancement in life.
It is also stated in this verse that one can advance by controlling the senses (yamaih). By controlling the senses, one can become a svami or gosvami. One who is therefore enjoying this supertitle, svami or gosvami, must be very strict in controlling his senses. Indeed, he must be master of his senses. This is possible when one does not desire any material sense gratification. If, by chance, the senses want to work independently, he must control them. If we simply practice avoiding material sense gratification, controlling the senses is automatically achieved.
Another important point mentioned in this connection is anindaya--we should not criticize others' methods of religion. There are different types of religious systems operating under different qualities of material nature. Those operating in the modes of ignorance and passion cannot be as perfect as that system in the mode of goodness. In Bhagavad-gita everything has been divided into three qualitative divisions; therefore religious systems are similarly categorized. When people are mostly under the modes of passion and ignorance, their system of religion will be of the same quality. A devotee, instead of criticizing such systems, will encourage the followers to stick to their principles so that gradually they can come to the platform of religion in goodness. Simply by criticizing them, a devotee's mind will be agitated. Thus a devotee should tolerate and learn to stop agitation.
Another feature of the devotee is nirihaya, simple living. Niriha means "gentle," "meek" or "simple." A devotee should not live very gorgeously and imitate a materialistic person. Plain living and high thinking are recommended for a devotee. He should accept only so much as he needs to keep the material body fit for the execution of devotional service. He should not eat or sleep more than is required. Simply eating for living, and not living for eating, and sleeping only six to seven hours a day are principles to be followed by devotees. As long as the body is there it is subjected to the influence of climatic changes, disease and natural disturbances, the threefold miseries of material existence. We cannot avoid them. Sometimes we receive letters from neophyte devotees questioning why they have fallen sick, although pursuing Krsna consciousness. They should learn from this verse that they have to become tolerant (dvandva-titiksaya). This is the world of duality. One should not think that because he has fallen sick he has fallen from Krsna consciousness. Krsna consciousness can continue without impediment from any material opposition. Lord Sri Krsna therefore advises in Bhagavad-gita (2.14), tams titiksasva bharata: "My dear Arjuna, please try to tolerate all these disturbances. Be fixed in your Krsna conscious activities."
TEXT 25
TEXT
harer muhus tatpara-karna-pura-
gunabhidhanena vijrmbhamanaya
bhaktya hy asangah sad-asaty anatmani
syan nirgune brahmani canjasa ratih
SYNONYMS
hareh--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; muhuh--constantly; tat-para--in relation with the Supreme Personality of Godhead; karna-pura--decoration of the ear; guna-abhidhanena--discussing transcendental qualities; vijrmbhamanaya--by increasing Krsna consciousness; bhaktya--by devotion; hi--certainly; asangah--uncontaminated; sat-asati--the material world; anatmani--opposed to spiritual understanding; syat--should be; nirgune--in transcendence; brahmani--in the Supreme Lord; ca--and; anjasa--easily; ratih--attraction.
TRANSLATION
The devotee should gradually increase the culture of devotional service by constant hearing of the transcendental qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. These pastimes are like ornamental decorations on the ears of devotees. By rendering devotional service and transcending the material qualities, one can easily be fixed in transcendence in the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
PURPORT
This verse is especially mentioned to substantiate the devotional process of hearing the subject matter. A devotee does not like to hear anything other than subjects dealing with spiritual activities, or the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We can increase our propensity for devotional service by hearing Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam from realized souls. The more we hear from realized souls, the more we make advancement in our devotional life. The more we advance in devotional life, the more we become detached from the material world. The more we become detached from the material world, as advised by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the more we increase in attachment for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, a devotee who actually wants to make progress in devotional service and go back home, back to Godhead, must lose interest in sense enjoyment and associating with persons who are after money and sense gratification. This is the advice of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu:
niskincanasya bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya
param param jigamisor bhava-sagarasya
sandarsanam visayinam atha yositam ca
ha hanta hanta visa-bhaksanato 'py asadhu
(Cc. Madhya 11.8)
The word brahmani used in this verse is commented upon by the impersonalists or professional reciters of Bhagavatam, who are mainly advocates of the caste system by demoniac birthright. They say that brahmani means the impersonal Brahman. But they cannot conclude this with reference to the context of the words bhaktya and gunabhidhanena. According to the impersonalists, there are no transcendental qualities in the impersonal Brahman; therefore we should understand that brahmani means "in the Supreme Personality of Godhead." Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as admitted by Arjuna in Bhagavad-gita; therefore wherever the word brahma is used, it must refer to Krsna, not to the impersonal Brahman effulgence. Brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate (Bhag. 1.2.11). Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan can all be taken in total as Brahman, but when there is reference to the word bhakti or remembrance of the transcendental qualities, this indicates the Supreme Personality of Godhead, not the impersonal Brahman.
TEXT 26
TEXT
yada ratir brahmani naisthiki puman
acaryavan jnana-viraga-ramhasa
dahaty aviryam hrdayam jiva-kosam
pancatmakam yonim ivotthito 'gnih
SYNONYMS
yada--when; ratih--attachment; brahmani--in the Supreme Personality of Godhead; naisthiki--fixed; puman--the person; acaryavan--completely surrendered to the spiritual master; jnana--knowledge; viraga--detachment; ramhasa--by the force of; dahati--burns; aviryam--impotent; hrdayam--within the heart; jiva-kosam--the covering of the spirit soul; panca-atmakam--five elements; yonim--source of birth; iva--like; utthitah--emanating; agnih--fire.
TRANSLATION
Upon becoming fixed in his attachment to the Supreme Personality of Godhead by the grace of the spiritual master and by awakening knowledge and detachment, the living entity, situated within the heart of the body and covered by the five elements, burns up his material surroundings exactly as fire, arising from wood, burns the wood itself.
PURPORT
It is said that both the jivatma, the individual soul, and the Paramatma live together within the heart. In the Vedic version it is stated, hrdi hy ayam atma: the soul and Supersoul both live within the heart. The individual soul is liberated when it comes out of the material heart or cleanses the heart to make it spiritualized. The example given here is very appropriate: yonim ivotthito'gnih. Agni, or fire, comes out of wood, and by it the wood is completely destroyed. Similarly, when a living entity increases his attachment for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is to be considered like fire. A blazing fire is visible by its exhibition of heat and light; similarly, when the living entity within the heart becomes enlightened with full spiritual knowledge and detached from the material world, he burns up his material covering of the five elements--earth, water, fire, air and sky--and becomes free from the five kinds of material attachments, namely ignorance, false egoism, attachment to the material world, envy and absorption in material consciousness. Therefore pancatmakam, as mentioned in this verse, refers to either the five elements or the five coverings of material contamination. When these are all burned into ashes by the blazing fire of knowledge and detachment, one is fixed firmly in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Unless one takes shelter of a bona fide spiritual master and advances one's attraction for Krsna by the spiritual master's instructions, the five coverings of the living entity cannot be uncovered from the material heart. The living entity is centered within the heart, and to take him away from the heart is to liberate him. This is the process. One must take shelter of a bona fide spiritual master and by his instruction increase one's knowledge in devotional service, become detached from the material world and thus become liberated. An advanced devotee, therefore, does not live within the material body but within his spiritual body, just as a dry coconut lives detached from the coconut husk, even though within the husk. The pure devotee's body is therefore called cin-maya-sarira ("spiritualized body"). In other words, a devotee's body is not connected with material activities, and as such, a devotee is always liberated (brahma-bhuyaya kalpate), as confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (14.26). Srila Rupa Gosvami also confirms this:
iha yasya harer dasye
karmana manasa gira
nikhilasv apy avasthasu
jivan-muktah sa ucyate
"Whatever his condition may be, one who is engaged fully with his body, mind and speech in the service of the Lord is liberated, even within this body."
TEXT 27
TEXT
dagdhasayo mukta-samasta-tad-guno
naivatmano bahir antar vicaste
paratmanor yad-vyavadhanam purastat
svapne yatha purusas tad-vinase
SYNONYMS
dagdha-asayah--all material desires being burned; mukta--liberated; samasta--all; tat-gunah--qualities in connection with matter; na--not; eva--certainly; atmanah--the soul or the Supersoul; bahih--external; antah--internal; vicaste--acting; para-atmanoh--of the Supersoul; yat--that; vyavadhanam--difference; purastat--as it was in the beginning; svapne--in dream; yatha--as; purusah--a person; tat--that; vinase--being finished.
TRANSLATION
When a person becomes devoid of all material desires and liberated from all material qualities, he transcends distinctions between actions executed externally and internally. At that time the difference between the soul and the Supersoul, which was existing before self-realization, is annihilated. When a dream is over, there is no longer a distinction between the dream and the dreamer.
PURPORT
As described by Srila Rupa Gosvami (anyabhilasita-sunyam), one must be devoid of all material desires. When a person becomes devoid of all material desires, there is no longer need for speculative knowledge or fruitive activities. In that condition it is to be understood that one is free from the material body. The example is already given above--a coconut which is dry is loosened from its outward husk. This is the stage of liberation. As said in Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.10.6), mukti (liberation) means svarupena vyavasthitih--being situated in one's own constitutional position. All material desires are present as long as one is in the bodily concept of life, but when one realizes that he is an eternal servant of Krsna, his desires are no longer material. A devotee acts in this consciousness. In other words, when material desires in connection with the body are finished, one is actually liberated.
When one is liberated from the material qualities, he does not do anything for his personal sense gratification. At that time all activities performed by him are absolute. In the conditioned state there are two kinds of activities. One acts on behalf of the body, and at the same time he acts to become liberated. The devotee, when he is completely free from all material desires or all material qualities, transcends the duality of action for the body and soul. Then the bodily concept of life is completely over. Therefore Srila Rupa Gosvami says:
iha yasya harer dasye
karmana manasa gira
nikhilasv apy avasthasu
jivan-muktah sa ucyate
When one is completely fixed in the service of the Lord, he is a liberated person in any condition of life. He is called jivan-muktah, liberated even within this body. In such a liberated condition, there is no distinction between actions for sense gratification and actions for liberation. When one is liberated from the desires of sense gratification, he has no longer to suffer the reactions of lamentation or illusion. Activities performed by the karmis and jnanis are subject to lamentation and illusion, but a self-realized liberated person acting only for the Supreme Personality of Godhead experiences none. This is the stage of oneness, or merging into the existence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This means that the individual soul, while keeping his individuality, no longer has separate interests. He is fully in the service of the Lord, and he has nothing to do for his personal sense gratification; therefore he sees only the Supreme Personality of Godhead and not himself. His personal interest completely perishes. When a person comes out of a dream, the dream vanishes. While dreaming a person may consider himself a king and see the royal paraphernalia, his soldiers, etc., but when the dream is over, he does not see anything beyond himself. Similarly, a liberated person understands that he is part and parcel of the Supreme Lord acting in accordance with the desire of the Supreme Lord, and as such there is no distinction between himself and the Supreme Lord, although both of them retain their individuality. Nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam. This is the perfect conception of oneness in relation to the Supersoul and the soul.
TEXT 28
TEXT
atmanam indriyartham ca
param yad ubhayor api
saty asaya upadhau vai
puman pasyati nanyada
SYNONYMS
atmanam--the soul; indriya-artham--for sense gratification; ca--and; param--transcendental; yat--that; ubhayoh--both; api--certainly; sati--being situated; asaye--material desires; upadhau--designation; vai--certainly; puman--the person; pasyati--sees; na anyada--not otherwise.
TRANSLATION
When the soul exists for sense gratification, he creates different desires, and for that reason he becomes subjected to designations. But when one is in the transcendental position, he is no longer interested in anything except fulfilling the desires of the Lord.
PURPORT
Being covered by material desires, a spirit soul is also considered to be covered by designations belonging to a particular type of body. Thus he considers himself an animal, man, demigod, bird, beast, etc. In so many ways he is influenced by false identification caused by false egotism, and being covered by illusory material desires, he distinguishes between matter and spirit. When one is devoid of such distinctions, there is no longer a difference between matter and spirit. At that time, the spirit is the only predominating factor. As long as one is covered by material desires, he thinks himself the master or the enjoyer. Thus he acts for sense gratification and becomes subjected to material pangs, happiness and distress. But when one is freed from such a concept of life, he is no longer subjected to designations, and he envisions everything as spiritual in connection with the Supreme Lord. This is explained by Srila Rupa Gosvami in his Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.255):
anasaktasya visayan
yatharham upayunjatah
nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe
yuktam vairagyam ucyate
The liberated person has no attachment for anything material or for sense gratification. He understands that everything is connected with the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that everything should be engaged in the service of the Lord. Therefore he does not give up anything. There is no question of renouncing anything because the paramahamsa knows how to engage everything in the service of the Lord. Originally everything is spiritual; nothing is material. In the Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 8.274) also it is explained that a maha-bhagavata, a highly advanced devotee, has no material vision:
sthavara-jangama dekhe, na dekhe tara murti
sarvatra haya nija ista-deva-sphurti
Although he sees trees, mountains, and other living entities moving here and there, he sees all as the creation of the Supreme Lord and, with reference to the context, sees only the creator and not the created. In other words, he no longer distinguishes between the created and the creator. He sees only the Supreme Personality of Godhead in everything. He sees Krsna in everything and everything in Krsna. This is oneness.
TEXT 29
TEXT
nimitte sati sarvatra
jaladav api purusah
atmanas ca parasyapi
bhidam pasyati nanyada
SYNONYMS
nimitte--on account of causes; sati--being; sarvatra--everywhere; jala-adau api--water and other reflecting media; purusah--the person; atmanah--oneself; ca--and; parasya api--another's self; bhidam--differentiation; pasyati--sees; na anyada--there is no other reason.
TRANSLATION
Only because of different causes does a person see a difference between himself and others, just as one sees the reflection of a body appearing differently manifested on water, on oil or in a mirror.
PURPORT
The spirit soul is one, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is manifested in svamsa and vibhinna-msa expansions. The jivas are vibhinnamsa expansions. The different incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are svamsa expansions. Thus there are different potencies of the Supreme Lord, and there are different expansions of the different potencies. In this way, for different reasons there are different expansions of the same one principle, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This understanding is real knowledge, but when the living entity is covered by the upadhi, or designated body, he sees differences, exactly as one sees differences in reflections of oneself on water, on oil or in a mirror. When something is reflected on the water, it appears to be moving. When it is reflected on ice, it appears fixed. When it is reflected on oil, it appears hazy. The subject is one, but under different conditions it appears differently. When the qualifying factor is taken away, the whole appears to be one. In other words, when one comes to the paramahamsa or perfectional stage of life by practicing bhakti-yoga, he sees only Krsna everywhere. For him there is no other objective.
In conclusion, due to different causes, the living entity is visible in different forms as an animal, human being, demigod, tree, etc. Actually every living entity is the marginal potency of the Supreme Lord. In Bhagavad-gita (5.18), therefore, it is explained that one who actually sees the spirit soul does not distinguish between a learned brahmana and a dog, an elephant or a cow. panditah sama-darsinah. One who is actually learned sees only the living entity, not the outward covering. Differentiation is therefore the result of different karma, or fruitive activities, and when we stop fruitive activities, turning them into acts of devotion, we can understand that we are not different from anyone else, regardless of the form. This is only possible in Krsna consciousness. In this movement there are many different races of men from all parts of the world participating, but because they think of themselves as servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they do not differentiate between black and white, yellow and red. The Krsna consciousness movement is therefore the only means to make the living entities free of all designations.
TEXT 30
TEXT
indriyair visayakrstair
aksiptam dhyayatam manah
cetanam harate buddheh
stambas toyam iva hradat
SYNONYMS
indriyaih--by the senses; visaya--the sense objects; akrstaih--being attracted; aksiptam--agitated; dhyayatam--always thinking of; manah--mind; cetanam--consciousness; harate--becomes lost; buddheh--of intelligence; stambah--big straws; toyam--water; iva--like; hradat--from the lake.
TRANSLATION
When one's mind and senses are attracted to sense objects for enjoyment, the mind becomes agitated. As a result of continually thinking of sense objects, one's real consciousness almost becomes lost, like the water in a lake that is gradually sucked up by the big grass straws on its bank.
PURPORT
In this verse it is very nicely explained how our original Krsna consciousness becomes polluted and we gradually become almost completely forgetful of our relationship with the Supreme Lord. In the previous verse it is recommended that we should always keep in touch with the devotional service of the Lord so that the blazing fire of devotional service can gradually burn into ashes material desires and we can become liberated from the repetition of birth and death. This is also how we can indirectly keep our staunch faith in the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When the mind is allowed to think of sense gratification continuously, it becomes the cause of our material bondage. If our mind is simply filled with sense gratification, even though we want Krsna consciousness, by continuous practice we cannot forget the subject matter of sense gratification. If one takes up the sannyasa order of life but is not able to control the mind, he will think of objects of sense gratification--namely family, society, expensive house, etc. Even though he goes to the Himalayas or the forest, his mind will continue thinking of the objects of sense gratification. In this way, gradually one's intelligence will be affected. When intelligence is affected, one loses his original taste for Krsna consciousness.
The example given here is very appropriate. If a big lake is covered all around by long kusa grass, just like columns, the waters dry up. Similarly, when the big columns of material desire increase, the clear water of consciousness is dried up. Therefore these columns of kusa grass should be cut or thrown away from the very beginning. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has instructed that if from the very beginning we do not take care of unwanted grass in the paddy fields, the fertilizing agents or water will be used by them, and the paddy plants will dry up. The material desire for sense enjoyment is the cause of our falldown in this material world, and thus we suffer the threefold miseries and continuous birth, death, old age and disease. However, if we turn our desires toward the transcendental loving service of the Lord, our desires become purified. We cannot kill desires. We have to purify them of different designations. If we constantly think of being a member of a particular nation, society or family and continuously think about them, we become very strongly entangled in the conditioned life of birth and death. But if our desires are applied to the service of the Lord, they become purified, and thus we become immediately freed from material contamination.
TEXT 31
TEXT
bhrasyaty anusmrtis cittam
jnana-bhramsah smrti-ksaye
tad-rodham kavayah prahur
atmapahnavam atmanah
SYNONYMS
bhrasyati--becomes destroyed; anusmrtih--constantly thinking; cittam--consciousness; jnana-bhramsah--bereft of real knowledge; smrti-ksaye--by destruction of remembrance; tat-rodham--choking that process; kavayah--great learned scholars; prahuh--have opined; atma--of the soul; apahnavam--destruction; atmanah--of the soul.
TRANSLATION
When one deviates from his original consciousness, he loses the capacity to remember his previous position or recognize his present one. When remembrance is lost, all knowledge acquired is based on a false foundation. When this occurs, learned scholars consider that the soul is lost.
PURPORT
The living entity, or the soul, is ever existing and eternal. It cannot be lost, but learned scholars say that it is lost when actual knowledge is not working. That is the difference between animals and human beings. According to less intelligent philosophers, animals have no soul. But factually animals have souls. Due to the animals' gross ignorance, however, it appears that they have lost their souls. Without the soul, a body cannot move. That is the difference between a living body and a dead body. When the soul is out of the body, the body is called dead. The soul is said to be lost when there is no proper knowledge exhibited. Our original consciousness is Krsna consciousness because we are part and parcel of Krsna. When this consciousness is misguided and one is put into the material atmosphere, which pollutes the original consciousness, one thinks that he is a product of the material elements. Thus one loses his real remembrance of his position as part and parcel of the Supreme personality of Godhead, just as a man who sleeps forgets himself. In this way, when the activities of proper consciousness are checked, all the activities of the lost soul are performed on a false basis. At the present moment, human civilization is acting on a false platform of bodily identification; therefore it can be said that the people of the present age have lost their souls, and in this respect they are no better than animals.
TEXT 32
TEXT
natah parataro loke
pumsah svartha-vyatikramah
yad-adhy anyasya preyastvam
atmanah sva-vyatikramat
SYNONYMS
na--not; atah--after this; paratarah--greater; loke--in this world; pumsah--of the living entities; sva-artha--interest; vyatikramah--obstruction; yat-adhi--beyond that; anyasya--of others; preyastvam--to be more interesting; atmanah--for the self; sva--own; vyatikramat--by obstruction.
TRANSLATION
There is no stronger obstruction to one's self-interest than thinking other subject matters to be more pleasing than one's self-realization.
PURPORT
Human life is especially meant for self-realization. "Self" refers to the Superself and the individual self, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the living entity. When, however, one becomes more interested in the body and bodily sense gratification, he creates for himself obstructions on the path of self-realization. By the influence of maya, one becomes more interested in sense gratification, which is prohibited in this world for those interested in self-realization. Instead of becoming interested in sense gratification, one should divert his activities to satisfy the senses of the Supreme Soul. Anything performed contrary to this principle is certainly against one's self-interest.
TEXT 33
TEXT
arthendriyarthabhidhyanam
sarvarthapahnavo nrnam
bhramsito jnana-vijnanad
yenavisati mukhyatam
SYNONYMS
artha--riches; indriya-artha--for the satisfaction of the senses; abhidhyanam--constantly thinking of; sarva-artha--four kinds of achievements; apahnavah--destructive; nrnam--of human society; bhramsitah--being devoid of; jnana--knowledge; vijnanat--devotional service; yena--by all this; avisati--enters; mukhyatam--immovable life.
TRANSLATION
For human society, constantly thinking of how to earn money and apply it for sense gratification brings about the destruction of everyone's interests. When one becomes devoid of knowledge and devotional service, he enters into species of life like those of trees and stones.
PURPORT
Jnana, or knowledge, means to understand one's constitutional position, and vijnana refers to practical application of that knowledge in life. In the human form of life, one should come to the position of jnana and vijnana, but despite this great opportunity if one does not develop knowledge and practical application of knowledge through the help of a spiritual master and the sastras--in other words, if one misuses this opportunity--then in the next life he is sure to be born in a species of nonmoving living entities. Nonmoving living entities include hills, mountains, trees, plants, etc. This stage of life is called punyatam or mukhyatam, namely, making all activities zero. Philosophers who support stopping all activities are called sunyavadi. By nature's own way, our activities are to be gradually diverted to devotional service. But there are philosophers who, instead of purifying their activities, try to make everything zero, or void of all activities. This lack of activity is represented by the trees and the hills. This is a kind of punishment inflicted by the laws of nature. If we do not properly execute our mission of life in self-realization, nature's punishment will render us inactive by putting us in the form of trees and hills. Therefore activities directed toward sense gratification are condemned herein. One who is constantly thinking of activities to earn money and gratify the senses is following a path which is suicidal. Factually all human society is following this path. Some way or other, people are determined to earn money or get money by begging, borrowing or stealing and applying that for sense gratification. Such a civilization is the greatest obstacle in the path of self-realization.
TEXT 34
TEXT
na kuryat karhicit sangam
tamas tivram titirisuh
dharmartha-kama-moksanam
yad atyanta-vighatakam
SYNONYMS
na--do not; kuryat--act; karhicit--at any time; sangam--association; tamah--ignorance; tivram--with great speed; titirisuh--persons who desire to cross over nescience; dharma--religion; artha--economic development; kama--sense gratification; moksanam--of salvation; yat--that which; atyanta--very much; vighatakam--obstruction or stumbling block.
TRANSLATION
Those who strongly desire to cross the ocean of nescience must not associate with the modes of ignorance, for hedonistic activities are the greatest obstructions to realization of religious principles, economic development, regulated sense gratification and, at last, liberation.
PURPORT
The four principles of life allow one to live according to religious principles, to earn money according to one's position in society, to allow the senses to enjoy the sense objects according to regulations, and to progress along the path of liberation from this material attachment. As long as the body is there, it is not possible to become completely free from all these material interests. It is not, however, recommended that one act only for sense gratification and earn money for that purpose only, sacrificing all religious principles. At the present moment, human civilization does not care for religious principles. It is, however, greatly interested in economic development without religious principles. For instance, in a slaughterhouse the butchers certainly get money easily, but such business is not based on religious principles. Similarly, there are many nightclubs for sense gratification and brothels for sex. Sex, of course, is allowed in married life, but prostitution is prohibited because all our activities are ultimately aimed at liberation, at freedom from the clutches of material existence. Similarly, although the government may license liquor shops, this does not mean that liquor shops should be opened unrestrictedly and illicit liquor smuggled. Licensing is meant for restricting. No one has to take a license for sugar, wheat or milk because there is no need to restrict these things. In others words, it is advised that one not act in a way that will obstruct the regular process of advancement in spiritual life and liberation. The Vedic process of sense gratification is therefore planned in such a way that one can economically develop and enjoy sense gratification and yet ultimately attain liberation. Vedic civilization offers us all knowledge in the sastras, and if we live a regulated life under the direction of sastras and guru, all our material desires will be fulfilled; at the same time we will be able to go forward to liberation.
TEXT 35
TEXT
tatrapi moksa evartha
atyantikatayesyate
traivargyo 'rtho yato nityam
krtanta-bhaya-samyutah
SYNONYMS
tatra--there; api--also; moksah--liberation; eva--certainly; arthe--for the matter of; atyantikataya--most important; isyate--taken in that way; trai-vargyah--the three others, namely religion, economic development and sense gratification; arthah--interest; yatah--wherefrom; nityam--regularly; krta-anta--death; bhaya--fear; samyutah--attached.
TRANSLATION
Out of the four principles--namely religion, economic development, sense gratification and liberation--liberation has to be taken very seriously. The other three are subject to destruction by the stringent law of nature--death.
PURPORT
Moksa, or liberation, has to be taken very seriously, even at the sacrifice of the other three items. As advised by Suta Gosvami in the beginning of Srimad-Bhagavatam, religious principles are not based on success in economic development. Because we are very attached to sense gratification, we go to God, to the temple or churches, for some economic reasons. Then again, economic development does not mean sense gratification. Everything should be adjusted in such a way that we attain liberation. Therefore in this verse, liberation, moksa, is stressed. The other three items are material and therefore subject to destruction. Even if somehow we accumulate a great bank balance in this life and possess many material things, everything will be finished with death. In Bhagavad-gita it is said that death is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who ultimately takes away everything acquired by the materialistic person. Foolishly we do not care for this. Foolishly we are not afraid of death, nor do we consider that death will take away everything acquired by the process of dharma, artha and kama. By dharma, or pious activities, we may be elevated to the heavenly planets, but this does not mean freedom from the clutches of birth, death, old age and disease. The purport is that we can sacrifice our interests in traivargya--religious principles, economic development and sense gratification--but we cannot sacrifice the cause of liberation. Regarding liberation, it is stated in Bhagavad-gita (4.9): tyaktva deham punar janma naiti. Liberation means that after giving up this body one does not have to accept another material body. To the impersonalists liberation means merging into the existence of impersonal Brahman. But factually this is not moksa because one has to again fall down into this material world from that impersonal position. One should therefore seek the shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and engage in His devotional service. That is real liberation. The conclusion is that we should not stress pious activities, economic development and sense gratification, but should concern ourselves with approaching Lord Visnu in His spiritual planets, of which the topmost is Goloka Vrndavana, where Lord Krsna lives. Therefore this Krsna consciousness movement is the greatest gift for persons who are actually desiring liberation.
TEXT 36
TEXT
pare 'vare ca ye bhava
guna-vyatikarad anu
na tesam vidyate ksemam
isa-vidhvamsitasisam
SYNONYMS
pare--in the higher status of life; avare--in the lower status of life; ca--and; ye--all those; bhavah--conceptions; guna--material qualities; vyatikarat--by interaction; anu--following; na--never; tesam--of them; vidyate--exist; ksemam--correction; isa--the Supreme Lord; vidhvamsita--destroyed; asisam--of the blessings.
TRANSLATION
We accept as blessings different states of higher life, distinguishing them from lower states of life, but we should know that such distinctions exist only in relation to the interchange of the modes of material nature. Actually these states of life have no permanent existence, for all of them will be destroyed by the supreme controller.
PURPORT
In our material existence we accept a higher form of life as a blessing and a lower form as a curse. This distinction of "higher" and "lower" only exists as long as the different material qualities (gunas) interact. In other words, by our good activities we are elevated to the higher planetary systems or to a higher standard of life (good education, beautiful body, etc.). These are the results of pious activities. Similarly, by impious activities we remain illiterate, get ugly bodies, a poor standard of living, etc. But all these different states of life are under the laws of material nature through the interaction of the qualities of goodness, passion and ignorance. However, all these qualities will cease to act at the time of the dissolution of the entire cosmic manifestation. The Lord therefore says in Bhagavad-gita (8.16):
abrahma-bhuvanal lokah
punar avartino 'rjuna
mam upetya tu kaunteya
punar janma na vidyate
Even though we elevate ourselves to the highest planetary system by the scientific advancement of knowledge or by the religious principles of life--great sacrifices and fruitive activities--at the time of dissolution these higher planetary systems and life on them will be destroyed. In this verse the words isa-vidhvamsitasisam indicate that all such blessings will be destroyed by the supreme controller. We will not be protected. Our bodies, either in this planet or in another planet, will be destroyed, and again we will have to remain for millions of years in an unconscious state within the body of Maha-Visnu. And again, when the creation is manifested, we have to take birth in different species of life and begin our activities. Therefore we should not be satisfied simply by a promotion to the higher planetary systems. We should try to get out of the material cosmic manifestation, go to the spiritual world and take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is our highest achievement. We should not be attracted by anything material, higher or lower, but should consider them all on the same level. Our real engagement should be in inquiring about the real purpose of life and rendering devotional service to the Lord. Thus we will be eternally blessed in our spiritual activities, full of knowledge and bliss.
Regulated human civilization promotes dharma, artha, kama and moksa. In human society there must be religion. Without religion, human society is only animal society. Economic development and sense gratification must be based on religious principles. When religion, economic development and sense gratification are adjusted, liberation from this material birth, death, old age and disease is assured. In the present age of Kali, however, there is no question of religion and liberation. People have taken interest only in economic development and sense gratification. Therefore, despite sufficient economic development all over the world, dealings in human society have become almost animalistic. When everything becomes grossly animalistic, dissolution takes place. This dissolution is to be accepted as isa-vidhvamsitasisam. The Lord's so-called blessings of economic development and sense gratification will be conclusively dissolved by destruction. At the end of this Kali-yuga, the Lord will appear as the incarnation of Kalki, and His only business will be to kill all human beings on the surface of the globe. After that killing, another golden age will begin. We should therefore know that our material activities are just like childish play. Children may play on the beach, and the father will sit and watch this childish play, the construction of buildings with sand, the construction of walls and so many things, but finally the father will ask the children to come home. Then everything is destroyed. Persons who are too much addicted to the childish activities of economic development and sense gratification are sometimes especially favored by the Lord when He destroys their construction of these things.
It is said by the Lord: yasyaham anugrhnami harisye tad-dhanam sanaih. The Lord told Yudhisthira Maharaja that His special favor is shown to His devotee when He takes away all the devotee's material opulences. Generally, therefore, it is experienced that Vaisnavas are not very opulent in the material sense. When a Vaisnava, pure devotee, tries to be materially opulent and at the same time desires to serve the Supreme Lord, his devotional service is checked. The Lord, in order to show him a special favor, destroys his so-called economic development and material opulences. Thus the devotee, being frustrated in his repeated attempts at economic development, ultimately takes solid shelter under the lotus feet of the Lord. This kind of action may also be accepted as isa-vidhvam-sitasisam, whereby the Lord destroys one's material opulences but enriches one in spiritual understanding. In the course of our preaching work, we sometimes see that materialistic persons come to us and offer their obeisances to take blessings, which means they want more and more material opulences. If such material opulences are checked, such persons are no longer interested in offering obeisances to the devotees. Such materialistic persons are always concerned about their economic development. They offer obeisances to saintly persons or the Supreme Lord and give something in charity for preaching work with a view that they will be rewarded with further economic development.
However, when one is sincere in his devotional service, the Lord obliges the devotee to give up his material development and completely surrender unto Him. Because the Lord does not give blessings of material opulence to His devotee, people are afraid of worshiping Lord Visnu because they see that the Vaisnavas, who are worshipers of Lord Visnu, are poor in superficial material opulences. Such materialistic persons, however, get immense opportunity for economic development by worshiping Lord Siva, for Lord Siva is the husband of the goddess Durga, the proprietor of this universe. By the grace of Lord Siva, a devotee gets the opportunity to be blessed by the goddess Durga. Ravana, for example, was a great worshiper and devotee of Lord Siva, and in return he got all the blessings of goddess Durga, so much so that his whole kingdom was constructed of golden buildings. In Brazil, in this present age, huge quantities of gold have been found, and from historical references in the Puranas, we can guess safely that this was Ravana's kingdom. This kingdom was, however, destroyed by Lord Ramacandra.
By studying such incidents, we can understand the full meaning of isa-vidhvamsitasisam. The Lord does not bestow material blessings upon the devotees, for they may be entrapped again in this material world by continuous birth, death, old age and disease. Due to materialistic opulences, persons like Ravana become puffed up for sense gratification. Ravana even dared kidnap Sita, who was both the wife of Lord Ramacandra and the goddess of fortune, thinking that he would be able to enjoy the pleasure potency of the Lord. But actually, by such action, Ravana became vidhvamsita, or ruined. At the present moment human civilization is too much attached to economic development and sense gratification and is therefore nearing the path of ruination.
TEXT 37
TEXT
tat tvam narendra jagatam atha tasthusam ca
dehendriyasu-dhisanatmabhir avrtanam
yah ksetravit-tapataya hrdi visvag avih
pratyak cakasti bhagavams tam avehi so 'smi
SYNONYMS
tat--therefore; tvam--you; nara-indra--O best of kings; jagatam--of the moving; atha--therefore; tasthusam--the immovable; ca--also; deha--body; indriya--senses; asu--life air; dhisana--by consideration; atmabhih--self-realization; avrtanam--those who are covered in that way; yah--one who; ksetra-vit--knower of the field; tapataya--by controlling; hrdi--within the heart; visvak--everywhere; avih--manifest; pratyak--in every hair follicle; cakasti--shining; bhagavan--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tam--unto Him; avehi--try to understand; sah asmi--I am that.
TRANSLATION
Sanat-kumara advised the King: Therefore, my dear King Prthu, try to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is living within everyone's heart along with the individual soul, in each and every body, either moving or not moving. The individual souls are fully covered by the gross material body and subtle body made of the life air and intelligence.
PURPORT
In this verse it is specifically advised that instead of wasting time in the human form of life endeavoring for economic development and sense gratification, one should try to cultivate spiritual values by understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is existing with the individual soul within everyone's heart. The individual soul and the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His Paramatma feature are both sitting within this body, which is covered by gross and subtle elements. To understand this is to attain actual spiritual culture. There are two ways of advancing in spiritual culture--by the method of the impersonalist philosophers and by devotional service. The impersonalist comes to the conclusion that he and the Supreme Spirit are one, whereas devotees, or personalists, realize the Absolute Truth by understanding that because the Absolute Truth is the supreme predominator and we living entities are predominated, our duty is to serve Him. The Vedic injunctions say, tat tvam asi, "You are the same," and so'ham, "I am the same." The impersonalist conception of these mantras is that the Supreme Lord, or the Absolute Truth, and the living entity are one, but from the devotee's point of view these mantras assert that both the Supreme Lord and ourselves are of the same quality. Tat tvam asi, ayam atma brahma. Both the Supreme Lord and the living entity are spirit. Understanding this is self-realization. The human form of life is meant for understanding the Supreme Lord and oneself by spiritual cultivation of knowledge. One should not waste valuable life simply engaged in economic development and sense gratification.
In this verse the word ksetra-vit is also important. This word is explained in Bhagavad-gita (13.2): idam sariram kaunteya ksetram ity abhidhiyate. This body is called ksetra (the field of activities), and the proprietors of the body (the individual soul and the Supersoul sitting within the body) are both called ksetra-vit. But there is a difference between the two kinds of ksetra-vit. One ksetra-vit, or knower of the body, namely the Paramatma, or the Supersoul, is directing the individual soul. When we rightly take the direction of the Supersoul, our life becomes successful. He is directing from within and from without. From within He is directing as caitya-guru, or the spiritual master sitting within the heart. Indirectly He is also helping the living entity by manifesting Himself as the spiritual master outside. In both ways the Lord is giving directions to the living entity so that he may finish up his material activities and come back home, back to Godhead. The presence of the Supreme Soul and the individual soul within the body can be perceived by anyone by the fact that as long as the individual soul and the Supersoul are both living within the body, the body is always shining and fresh. But as soon as the Supersoul and the individual soul give up possession of the gross body, it immediately decomposes. One who is spiritually advanced can thus understand the real difference between a dead body and a living body. In conclusion, one should not waste his time by so-called economic development and sense gratification, but should cultivate spiritual knowledge to understand the Supersoul and the individual soul and their relationship. In this way, by advancement of knowledge, one can achieve liberation and the ultimate goal of life. It is said that if one takes to the path of liberation, even rejecting his so-called duties in the material world, he is not a loser at all. But a person who does not take to the path of liberation yet carefully executes economic development and sense gratification loses everything. Narada's statement before Vyasadeva is appropriate in this connection:
tyaktva sva-dharmam caranambujam harer
bhajann apakvo 'tha patet tato yadi
yatra kva vabhadram abhud amusya kim
ko vartha apto 'bhajatam sva-dharmatah
(Bhag. 1.5.17)
If a person, out of sentiment or for some other reason, takes to the shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord and in due course of time does not succeed in coming to the ultimate goal of life or falls down due to lack of experience, there is no loss. But for a person who does not take to devotional service yet executes his material duties very nicely, there is no gain.
TEXT 38
TEXT
yasminn idam sad-asad-atmataya vibhati
maya viveka-vidhuti sraji vahi-buddhih
tam nitya-mukta-parisuddha-visuddha-tattvam
pratyudha-karma-kalila-prakrtim prapadye
SYNONYMS
yasmin--in which; idam--this; sat-asat--the Supreme Lord and His different energies; atmataya--being the root of all cause and effect; vibhati--manifests; maya--illusion; viveka-vidhuti--liberated by deliberate consideration; sraji--on the rope; va--or; ahi--serpent; buddhih--intelligence; tam--unto Him; nitya--eternally; mukta--liberated; parisuddha--uncontaminated; visuddha--pure; tattvam--truth; pratyudha--transcendental; karma--fruitive activities; kalila--impurities; prakrtim--situated in spiritual energy; prapadye--surrender.
TRANSLATION
The Supreme Personality of Godhead manifests Himself as one with the cause and effect within this body, but one who has transcended the illusory energy by deliberate consideration, which clears the misconception of a snake for a rope, can understand that the Paramatma is eternally transcendental to the material creation and situated in pure internal energy. Thus the Lord is transcendental to all material contamination. Unto Him only must one surrender.
PURPORT
This verse is specifically stated to defy the Mayavada conclusion of oneness without differentiation between the individual soul and the Supersoul. The Mayavada conclusion is that the living entity and the Supersoul are one; there is no difference. The Mayavadis proclaim that there is no separate existence outside the impersonal Brahman and that the feeling of separation is maya, or an illusion, by which one considers a rope to be a snake. The rope-and-the-snake argument is generally offered by the Mayavadi philosophers. Therefore these words, which represent vivarta-vada, are specifically mentioned herein. Actually Paramatma, the Supersoul, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and He is eternally liberated. In other words, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is living within this body along with the individual soul, and this is confirmed in the Vedas. They are likened to two friends sitting on the same tree. Yet Paramatma is above the illusory energy. The illusory energy is called bahiranga sakti, or external energy, and the living entity is called tatastha sakti, or marginal potency. As stated in Bhagavad-gita, the material energy, represented as earth, water, air, fire, sky, etc., and the spiritual energy, the living entity, are both energies of the Supreme Lord. Even though the energies and the energetic are identical, the living entity, individual soul, being prone to be influenced by the external energy, considers the Supreme Personality of Godhead to be one with himself.
The word prapadye is also significant in this verse, for it refers to the conclusion of the Bhagavad-gita (18.66): sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja. In another place the Lord says: bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate (Bg. 7.19). This prapadye or saranam vraja refers to the individual's surrender to the Supersoul. The individual soul, when surrendered, can understand that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although situated within the heart of the individual soul, is superior to the individual soul. The Lord is always transcendental to the material manifestation, even though it appears that the Lord and the material manifestation are one and the same. According to the Vaisnava philosophy, He is one and different simultaneously. The material energy is a manifestation of His external potency, and since the potency is identical with the potent, it appears that the Lord and individual soul are one; but actually the individual soul is under the influence of material energy, and the Lord is always transcendental to it. Unless the Lord is superior to the individual soul, there is no question of prapadye, or surrender unto Him. This word prapadye refers to the process of devotional service. Simply by nondevotional speculation on the rope and the snake, one cannot approach the Absolute Truth. Therefore devotional service is stressed as more important than deliberation or mental speculation to understand the Absolute Truth.
TEXT 39
TEXT
yat-pada-pankaja-palasa-vilasa-bhaktya
karmasayam grathitam udgrathayanti santah
tadvan na rikta-matayo yatayo 'pi ruddha-
sroto-ganas tam aranam bhaja vasudevam
SYNONYMS
yat--whose; pada--feet; pankaja--lotus; palasa--petals or toes; vilasa--enjoyment; bhaktya--by devotional service; karma--fruitive activities; asayam--desire; grathitam--hard knot; udgrathayanti--root out; santah--devotees; tat--that; vat--like; na--never; rikta-matayah--persons devoid of devotional service; yatayah--ever-increasingly trying; api--even though; ruddha--stopped; srotah-ganah--the waves of sense enjoyment; tam--unto Him; aranam--worthy to take shelter; bhaja--engage in devotional service; vasudevam--unto Krsna, the son of Vasudeva.
TRANSLATION
The devotees, who are always engaged in the service of the toes of the lotus feet of the Lord, can very easily overcome hard-knotted desires for fruitive activities. Because this is very difficult, the nondevotees--the jnanis and yogis--although trying to stop the waves of sense gratification, cannot do so. Therefore you are advised to engage in the devotional service of Krsna, the son of Vasudeva.
PURPORT
There are three kinds of transcendentalists trying to overcome the influence of the modes of material nature--the jnanis, yogis and bhaktas. All of them attempt to overcome the influence of the senses, which is compared to the incessant waves of a river. The waves of a river flow incessantly, and it is very difficult to stop them. Similarly, the waves of desire for material enjoyment are so strong that they cannot be stopped by any process other than bhakti-yoga. The bhaktas, by their transcendental devotional service unto the lotus feet of the Lord, become so overwhelmed with transcendental bliss that automatically their desires for material enjoyment stop. The jnanis and yogis, who are not attached to the lotus feet of the Lord, simply struggle against the waves of desire. They are described in this verse as rikta-matayah, which means "devoid of devotional service." In other words, the jnanis and yogis, although trying to be free from the desires of material activities, actually become more and more entangled in false philosophical speculation or strenuous attempts to stop the activities of the senses. As stated previously:
vasudeve bhagavati
bhakti-yogah prayojitah
janayaty asu vairagyam
jnanam ca yad ahaitukam
(Bhag. 1.2.7)
Here also the same point is stressed. Bhaja vasudevam indicates that one who is engaged in the loving service of Krsna, the son of Vasudeva, can very easily stop the waves of desires. As long as one continues to try to artificially stop the waves of desires, he will certainly be defeated. That is indicated in this verse. Desires for fruitive activities are strongly rooted, but the trees of desire can be uprooted completely by devotional service because devotional service employs superior desire. One can give up inferior desires when engaged in superior desires. To try to stop desires is impossible. One has to desire the Supreme in order not to be entangled in inferior desires. Jnanis maintain a desire to become one with the Supreme, but such desire is also considered to be kama, lust. Similarly, the yogis desire mystic power, and that is also kama. And the bhaktas, not being desirous of any sort of material enjoyment, become purified. There is no artificial attempt to stop desire. Desire becomes a source of spiritual enjoyment under the protection of the toes of the lotus feet of the Lord. It is stated herein by the Kumaras that the lotus feet of Lord Krsna are the ultimate reservoir of all pleasure. One should therefore take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord instead of trying unsuccessfully to stop desires for material enjoyment. As long as one is unable to stop the desire for material enjoyment, there is no possibility of becoming liberated from the entanglement of material existence. It may be argued that the waves of a river are incessantly flowing and that they cannot be stopped, but the waves of the river flow toward the sea. When the tide comes over the river, it overwhelms the flowing of the river, and the river itself becomes overflooded, and the waves from the sea become more prominent than the waves from the river. Similarly, a devotee with intelligence plans so many things for the service of the Lord in Krsna consciousness that stagnant material desires become overflooded by the desire to serve the Lord. As confirmed by Yamunacarya, since he has been engaged in the service of the lotus feet of the Lord, there is always a current of newer and newer desires flowing to serve the Lord, so much so that the stagnant desire of sex life becomes very insignificant. Yamunacarya even says that he spits on such desires. Bhagavad-gita (2.59) also confirms: param drstva nivartate. The conclusion is that by developing a loving desire for the service of the lotus feet of the Lord, we subdue all material desires for sense gratification.
TEXT 40
TEXT
krcchro mahan iha bhavarnavam aplavesam
sad-varga-nakram asukhena titirsanti
tat tvam harer bhagavato bhajaniyam anghrim
krtvodupam vyasanam uttara dustararnam
SYNONYMS
krcchrah--troublesome; mahan--very great; iha--here (in this life); bhava-arnavam--ocean of material existence; aplava-isam--of the nondevotees, who have not taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sat-varga--six senses; nakram--sharks; asukhena--with great difficulty; titirsanti--cross over; tat--therefore; tvam--you; hareh--of the Personality of Godhead; bhagavatah--of the Supreme; bhajaniyam--worthy of worship; anghrim--the lotus feet; krtva--making; udupam--boat; vyasanam--all kinds of dangers; uttara--cross over; dustara--very difficult; arnam--the ocean.
TRANSLATION
The ocean of nescience is very difficult to cross because it is infested with many dangerous sharks. Although those who are nondevotees undergo severe austerities and penances to cross that ocean, we recommend that you simply take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord, which are like boats for crossing the ocean. Although the ocean is difficult to cross, by taking shelter of His lotus feet you will overcome all dangers.
PURPORT
Material existence is compared herein to the great ocean of nescience. Another name of this ocean is Vaitarani. In that Vaitarani Ocean, which is the Causal Ocean, there are innumerable universes floating like footballs. On the other side of the ocean is the spiritual world of Vaikuntha, which is described in Bhagavad-gita (8.20) as paras tasmat tu bhavo 'nyah. Thus there is an ever-existing spiritual nature which is beyond this material nature. Even though all the material universes are annihilated again and again in the Causal Ocean, the Vaikuntha planets, which are spiritual, exist eternally and are not subject to dissolution. The human form of life gives the living entity a chance to cross the ocean of nescience, which is this material universe, and enter into the spiritual sky. Although there are many methods or boats by which one can cross the ocean, the Kumaras recommend that the King take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord, just as one would take shelter of a good boat. Nondevotees, who do not take shelter of the Lord's lotus feet, try to cross the ocean of nescience by other methods (karma, jnana and yoga), but they have a great deal of trouble. Indeed, sometimes they become so busy simply enjoying their troubles that they never cross the ocean. There is no guarantee that the nondevotees will cross the ocean, but even though they manage to cross, they have to undergo severe austerities and penances. On the other hand, anyone who takes to the process of devotional service and has faith that the lotus feet of the Lord are safe boats to cross that ocean is certain to cross very easily and comfortably.
Prthu Maharaja is therefore advised to take the boat of the lotus feet of the Lord to easily cross over all dangers. Dangerous elements in the universe are compared to sharks in the ocean. Even though one may be a very expert swimmer, he cannot possibly survive if he is attacked by sharks. One often sees that many so-called svamis and yogis sometimes advertise themselves as competent to cross the ocean of nescience and to help others cross, but in actuality they are found to be simply victims of their own senses. Instead of helping their followers to cross the ocean of nescience, such svamis and yogis fall prey to maya, represented by the fair sex, woman, and are thus devoured by the sharks in that ocean.
TEXT 41
TEXT
maitreya uvaca
sa evam brahma-putrena
kumarenatma-medhasa
darsitatma-gatih samyak
prasasyovaca tam nrpah
SYNONYMS
maitreyah uvaca--the great sage Maitreya said; sah--the King; evam--thus; brahma-putrena--by the son of Lord Brahma; kumarena--by one of the Kumaras; atma-medhasa--well versed in spiritual knowledge; darsita--being shown; atma-gatih--spiritual advancement; samyak--completely; prasasya--worshiping; uvaca--said; tam--unto him; nrpah--the King.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Maitreya continued: Being thus enlightened in complete spiritual knowledge by the son of Brahma--one of the Kumaras, who was complete in spiritual knowledge--the King worshiped them in the following words.
PURPORT
In this verse the word atma-medhasa is commented upon by Sripada Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, who says that atmani means "unto Lord Krsna, paramatmani." Lord Krsna is Paramatma. Isvarah paramah krsnah (Brahma-samhita 5.1). Therefore one whose mind is acting fully in Krsna consciousness is called atma-medhah. This may be contrasted to the word grha-medhi, which refers to one whose brain is always engrossed with thoughts of material activities. The atma-medhah is always thinking of Krsna's activities in Krsna consciousness. Since Sanat-kumara, who was a son of Lord Brahma, was fully Krsna conscious, he could point out the path of spiritual advancement. The word atma-gatih refers to that path of activities by which one can make progress in understanding Krsna.
TEXT 42
TEXT
rajovaca
krto me 'nugrahah purvam
harinartanukampina
tam apadayitum brahman
bhagavan yuyam agatah
SYNONYMS
raja uvaca--the King said; krtah--done; me--unto me; anugrahah--causeless mercy; purvam--formerly; harina--by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Visnu; arta-anukampina--compassionate for persons in distress; tam--that; apadayitum--to confirm it; brahman--O brahmana; bhagavan--O powerful one; yuyam--all of you; agatah--have arrived here.
TRANSLATION
The King said: O brahmana, O powerful one, formerly Lord Visnu showed me His causeless mercy, indicating that you would come to my house, and to confirm that blessing, you have all come.
PURPORT
When Lord Visnu appeared in the great arena of sacrifice at the time when King Prthu was performing a great sacrifice (asvamedha), He predicted that the Kumaras would very soon come and advise the King. Therefore Prthu Maharaja remembered the causeless mercy of the Lord and thus welcomed the arrival of the Kumaras, who were fulfilling the Lord's prediction. In other words, when the Lord makes a prediction, He fulfills that prediction through some of His devotees. Similarly, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu predicted that both His glorious names and the Hare Krsna maha-mantra would be broadcast in all the towns and villages of the world. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada desired to fulfill this great prediction, and we are following in their footsteps.
Regarding His devotees, Lord Krsna told Arjuna, kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah pranasyati: "O son of Kunti, declare it boldly that My devotee will never perish." (Bg. 9.31) The point is that the Lord Himself could declare such things, but it was His desire to make the declaration through Arjuna and thus doubly assure that His promise would never be broken. The Lord Himself promises, and His confidential devotees execute the promise. The Lord makes so many promises for the benefit of suffering humanity. Although the Lord is very compassionate upon suffering humanity, human beings are generally not very anxious to serve Him. The relationship is something like that between the father and the son; the father is always anxious for the welfare of the son, even though the son forgets or neglects the father. The word anukampina is significant; the Lord is so compassionate upon the living entities that He comes Himself into this world in order to benefit fallen souls.
yada yada hi dharmasya
glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya
tadatmanam srjamy aham
"Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion--at that time I descend Myself." (Bg. 4.7)
Thus it is out of compassion that the Lord appears in His different forms. Lord Sri Krsna appeared on this planet out of compassion for fallen souls; Lord Buddha appeared out of compassion for the poor animals who were being killed by the demons; Lord Nrsimhadeva appeared out of compassion for Prahlada Maharaja. The conclusion is that the Lord is so compassionate upon the fallen souls within this material world that He comes Himself or sends His devotees and His servants to fulfill His desire to have all the fallen souls come back home, back to Godhead. Thus Lord Sri Krsna instructed Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna for the benefit of the entire human society. Intelligent men should therefore seriously consider this Krsna consciousness movement and fully utilize the instructions of Bhagavad-gita as preached without adulteration by His pure devotees.
TEXT 43
TEXT
nispaditas ca kartsnyena
bhagavadbhir ghrnalubhih
sadhucchistam hi me sarvam
atmana saha kim dade
SYNONYMS
nispaditah ca--also the order is properly carried out; kartsnyena--in full; bhagavadbhih--by the representatives of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ghrnalubhih--by the most compassionate; sadhu-ucchistam--remnants of the foodstuffs of saintly persons; hi--certainly; me--mine; sarvam--everything; atmana--heart and soul; saha--with; kim--what; dade--shall give.
TRANSLATION
My dear brahmana, you have carried out the order thoroughly because you are also as compassionate as the Lord. It is my duty, therefore, to offer you something, but all I possess are but remnants of food taken by great saintly persons. What shall I give?
PURPORT
The word sadhucchistam is significant in this verse. Prthu Maharaja got his kingdom from great saintly persons like Bhrgu and others just as one gets remnants of food. After the death of King Vena, the whole world was bereft of a popular ruler. There were so many catastrophes occurring that the great saintly persons, headed by Bhrgu, created the body of King Prthu out of the body of his dead father, King Vena. Since King Prthu was thus offered the kingdom by the virtue of the mercy of great saintly persons, he did not want to divide his kingdom among saints like the Kumaras. When a father is eating food, he may, out of compassion, offer the remnants of his food to his son. Although such food may be already chewed by the father, it cannot be offered to the father again. Prthu Maharaja's position was something like this; whatever he possessed had already been chewed, and therefore he could not offer it to the Kumaras. Indirectly, however, he offered everything he possessed to the Kumaras, and consequently they utilized his possessions in whatever way they liked. The next verse clarifies this matter.
TEXT 44
TEXT
prana darah suta brahman
grhas ca sa-paricchadah
rajyam balam mahi kosa
iti sarvam niveditam
SYNONYMS
pranah--life; darah--wife; sutah--children; brahman--O great brahmana; grhah--home; ca--also; sa--with; paricchadah--all paraphernalia; rajyam--kingdom; balam--strength; mahi--land; kosah--treasury; iti--thus; sarvam--everything; niveditam--offered.
TRANSLATION
The King continued: Therefore, my dear brahmanas, my life, wife, children, home, furniture and household paraphernalia, my kingdom, strength, land and especially my treasury are all offered unto you.
PURPORT
In some readings, the word darah is not used, but the word used then is rayah, which means "wealth." In India there are still wealthy persons who are recognized by the state as raya. A great devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was called Ramananda Raya because he was governor of Madras and very rich. There are still many holders of the title raya--Raya Bahadur, Raya Chaudhuri and so on. The darah, or wife, is not permitted to be offered to the brahmanas. Everything is offered to worthy persons who are able to accept charity, but nowhere is it found that one offers his wife; therefore in this case the reading rayah is more accurate than darah. Also, since Prthu Maharaja offered everything to the Kumaras, the word kosah ("treasury") need not be separately mentioned. Kings and emperors used to keep a private treasury which was known as ratna-bhanda. The ratna-bhanda was a special treasury room which contained special jewelries, such as bangles, necklaces and so on, which were presented to the king by the citizens. This jewelry was kept separate from the regular treasury house where all the collected revenues were kept. Thus Prthu Maharaja offered his stock of private jewelry to the lotus feet of the Kumaras. It has already been admitted that all the King's property belonged to the brahmanas and that Prthu Maharaja was simply using it for the welfare of the state. If it were actually the property of the brahmanas, how could it be offered again to them? In this regard, Sripada Sridhara Svami has explained that this offering is just like the servant's offering of food to his master. The food already belongs to the master, for the master has purchased it, but the servant, by preparing food, makes it acceptable to the master and thus offers it to him. In this way, everything belonging to Prthu Maharaja was offered to the Kumaras.
TEXT 45
TEXT
saina-patyam ca rajyam ca
danda-netrtvam eva ca
sarva lokadhipatyam ca
veda-sastra-vid arhati
SYNONYMS
saina-patyam--post of commander-in-chief; ca--and; rajyam--post of ruler over the kingdom; ca--and; danda--ruling; netrtvam--leadership; eva--certainly; ca--and; sarva--all; loka-adhipatyam--proprietorship of the planet; ca--and; veda-sastra-vit--one who knows the purport of Vedic literature; arhati--deserves.
TRANSLATION
Since only a person who is completely educated according to the principles of Vedic knowledge deserves to be commander-in-chief, ruler of the state, the first to chastise and the proprietor of the whole planet, Prthu Maharaja offered everything to the Kumaras.
PURPORT
In this verse it is very clearly stated that a kingdom, state or empire must be governed under the instructions of saintly persons and brahmanas like the Kumaras. When monarchy ruled throughout the world, the monarch was actually directed by a board of brahmanas and saintly persons. The king, as the administrator of the state, executed his duties as a servant of the brahmanas. It was not that the kings or brahmanas were dictators, nor did they consider themselves proprietors of the state. The kings were also well versed in Vedic literatures and thus were familiar with the injunction of Sri Isopanisad: isavasyam idam sarvam--everything that exists belongs to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In Bhagavad-gita Lord Krsna also claims that He is the proprietor of all planetary systems (sarva-loka-mahesvaram). Since this is the case, no one can claim to be proprietor of the state. The king, president or head of the state should always remember that he is not the proprietor but the servant.
In the present age, the king or president forgets that he is the servant of God and thinks of himself as servant of the people. The present democratic government is proclaimed to be a people's government, a government by the people and for the people, but this type of government is not sanctioned by the Vedas. The Vedas maintain that a kingdom should be governed for the purpose of satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead and should therefore be ruled by a representative of the Lord. The head of a state should not be appointed if he is bereft of all Vedic knowledge. In this verse it is clearly stated (veda-sastra-vid arhati) that all high government posts are especially meant for persons who are well conversant with the teachings of the Vedas. In the Vedas there are definite instructions defining how a king, commander-in-chief, soldier and citizen should behave. Unfortunately there are many so-called philosophers in the present age who give instruction without citing authority, and many leaders follow their unauthorized instruction. Consequently people are not happy.
The modern theory of dialectical communism, set forth by Karl Marx and followed by communist governments, is not perfect. According to Vedic communism, no one in the state should ever starve. Presently there are many bogus institutions which are collecting funds from the public for the purpose of giving food to starving people, but these funds are invariably misused. According to the Vedic instructions, the government should arrange things in such a way that there will be no question of starvation. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is stated that a householder must see to it that even a lizard or a snake does not starve. They also must be given food. In actuality, however, there is no question of starvation because everything is the property of the Supreme Lord, and He sees to it that there is ample arrangement for feeding everyone. In the Vedas (Katha Upanisad 2.2.13) it is said: eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman. The Supreme Lord supplies the necessities of life to everyone, and there is no question of starvation. If anyone starves, it is due to the mismanagement of the so-called ruler, governor or president.
It is clear therefore that a person who is not well versed in the Vedic injunctions (veda-sastra-vit) should not run for election as president, governor, etc. Formerly kings were rajarsis, which meant that although they were serving as kings, they were as good as saintly persons because they would not transgress any of the injunctions of the Vedic scriptures and would rule under the direction of great saintly persons and brahmanas. According to this arrangement, modern presidents, governors and chief executive officers are all unworthy of their posts because they are not conversant with Vedic administrative knowledge and they do not take direction from great saintly persons and brahmanas. Because of his disobedience to the orders of the Vedas and the brahmanas, King Vena, Prthu Maharaja's father, was killed by the brahmanas. Prthu Maharaja therefore knew very well that it behooved him to rule the planet as the servant of saintly persons and brahmanas.
TEXT 46
TEXT
svam eva brahmano bhunkte
svam vaste svam dadati ca
tasyaivanugrahenannam
bhunjate ksatriyadayah
SYNONYMS
svam--own; eva--certainly; brahmanah--the brahmana; bhunkte--enjoy; svam--own; vaste--clothing; svam--own; dadati--gives in charity; ca--and; tasya--his; eva--certainly; anugrahena--by the mercy of; annam--food grains; bhunjate--eats; ksatriya-adayah--other divisions of society, headed by the ksatriyas.
TRANSLATION
The ksatriyas, vaisyas and sudras eat their food by virtue of the brahmanas' mercy. It is the brahmanas who enjoy their own property, clothe themselves with their own property and give charity with their own property.
PURPORT
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is worshiped with the words namo brahmanya-devaya, which indicate that the Supreme Lord accepts the brahmanas as worshipable gods. The Supreme Lord is worshiped by everyone, yet to teach others He worships the brahmanas. Everyone should follow the instructions of the brahmanas, for their only business is to spread sabda-brahma, or Vedic knowledge, all over the world. Whenever there is a scarcity of brahmanas to spread Vedic knowledge, chaos throughout human society results. Since brahmanas and Vaisnavas are direct servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they do not depend on others. In actuality, everything in the world belongs to the brahmanas, and out of their humility the brahmanas accept charity from the ksatriyas, or kings, and the vaisyas, or merchants. Everything belongs to the brahmanas, but the ksatriya government and the mercantile people keep everything in custody, like bankers, and whenever the brahmanas need money, the ksatriyas and vaisyas should supply it. It is like a savings account with money which the depositor can draw out at his will. The brahmanas, being engaged in the service of the Lord, have very little time to handle the finances of the world, and therefore the riches are kept by the ksatriyas, or the kings, who are to produce money upon the brahmanas' demand. Actually the brahmanas or Vaisnavas do not live at others' cost; they live by spending their own money, although it appears that they are collecting this money from others. Ksatriyas and vaisyas have no right to give charity, for whatever they possess belongs to the brahmanas. Therefore charity should be given by the ksatriyas and vaisyas under the instructions of the brahmanas. Unfortunately at the present moment there is a scarcity of brahmanas, and since the so-called ksatriyas and vaisyas do not carry out the orders of the brahmanas, the world is in a chaotic condition.
The second line of this verse indicates that the ksatriyas, vaisyas and sudras eat only by virtue of the brahmana's mercy; in other words, they should not eat anything which is forbidden by the brahmanas. The brahmanas and Vaisnavas know what to eat, and by their personal example they do not eat anything which is not offered first to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They eat only prasada, or remnants of the food offered to the Lord. The ksatriyas, vaisyas and sudras should eat only krsna-prasada, which is afforded them by the mercy of the brahmanas. They cannot open slaughterhouses and eat meat, fish or eggs or drink liquor, or earn money for this purpose without authorization. In the present age, because society is not guided by brahminical instruction, the whole population is only absorbed in sinful activities. Consequently, everyone is deservedly being punished by the laws of nature. This is the situation in this age of Kali.
TEXT 47
TEXT
yair idrsi bhagavato gatir atma-vada
ekantato nigamibhih pratipadita nah
tusyantv adabhra-karunah sva-krtena nityam
ko nama tat pratikaroti vinoda-patram
SYNONYMS
yaih--by those; idrsi--such kind of; bhagavatah--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; gatih--progress; atma-vade--spiritual consideration; ekantatah--in complete understanding; nigamibhih--by Vedic evidences; pratipadita--conclusively established; nah--unto us; tusyantu--be satisfied; adabhra--unlimited; karunah--mercy; sva-krtena--by your own activity; nityam--eternal; kah--who; nama--no one; tat--that; pratikaroti--counteracts; vina--without; uda-patram--offering of water in cupped hands.
TRANSLATION
Prthu Maharaja continued: How can such persons, who have rendered unlimited service by explaining the path of self-realization in relation to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and whose explanations are given for our enlightenment with complete conviction and Vedic evidence, be repaid except by folded palms containing water for their satisfaction? Such great personalities can be satisfied only by their own activities, which are distributed amongst human society out of their unlimited mercy.
PURPORT
Great personalities of the material world are very eager to render welfare service to human society, but actually no one can render better service than one who distributes the knowledge of spiritual realization in relation with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. All living entities are within the clutches of the illusory energy. Forgetting their real identity, they hover in material existence, transmigrating from one body to another in search of a peaceful life. Since these living entities have very little knowledge of self-realization, they are not getting any relief, although they are very anxious to attain peace of mind and some substantial happiness. Saintly persons like the Kumaras, Narada, Prahlada, Janaka, Sukadeva Gosvami and Kapiladeva, as well as the followers of such authorities as the Vaisnava acaryas and their servants, can render a valuable service to humanity by disseminating knowledge of the relationship between the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the living entity. Such knowledge is the perfect benediction for humanity.
Knowledge of Krsna is such a great gift that it is impossible to repay the benefactor. Therefore Prthu Maharaja requested the Kumaras to be satisfied by their own benevolent activities in delivering souls from the clutches of maya. The King saw that there was no other way to satisfy them for their exalted activities. The word vinoda-patram can be divided into two words, vina and uda-patram, or can be understood as one word, vinoda-patram, which means "joker." A joker's activities simply arouse laughter, and a person who tries to repay the spiritual master or teacher of the transcendental message of Krsna becomes a laughingstock just like a joker because it is not possible to repay such a debt. The best friend and benefactor of all people is one who awakens humanity to its original Krsna consciousness.
TEXT 48
TEXT
maitreya uvaca
ta atma-yoga-pataya
adi-rajena pujitah
silam tadiyam samsantah
khe 'bhavan misatam nrnam
SYNONYMS
maitreyah uvaca--the great sage Maitreya continued to speak; te--they; atma-yoga-patayah--the masters of self-realization by devotional service; adi-rajena--by the original king (Prthu); pujitah--being worshiped; silam--character; tadiyam--of the King; samsantah--eulogizing; khe--in the sky; abhavan--appeared; misatam--while observing; nrnam--of the people.
TRANSLATION
The great sage Maitreya continued: Being thus worshiped by Maharaja Prthu, the four Kumaras, who were masters of devotional service, became very pleased. Indeed, they appeared in the sky and praised the character of the King, and everyone observed them.
PURPORT
It is said that the demigods never touch the surface of the earth. They walk and travel in space only. Like the great sage Narada, the Kumaras do not require any machine to travel in space. There are also residents of Siddhaloka who can travel in space without machines. Since they can go from one planet to another, they are called siddhas; that is to say they have acquired all mystic and yogic powers. Such great saintly persons who have attained complete perfection in mystic yoga are not visible in this age on earth because humanity is not worthy of their presence. The Kumaras, however, praised the characteristics of Maharaja Prthu and his great devotional attitude and humility. The Kumaras were greatly satisfied by King Prthu's method of worship. It was by the grace of Maharaja Prthu that the common citizens in his domain could see the Kumaras flying in outer space.
TEXT 49
TEXT
vainyas tu dhuryo mahatam
samsthityadhyatma-siksaya
apta-kamam ivatmanam
mena atmany avasthitah
SYNONYMS
vainyah--the son of Vena Maharaja (Prthu); tu--of course; dhuryah--the chief; mahatam--of great personalities; samsthitya--being completely fixed; adhyatma-siksaya--in the matter of self-realization; apta--achieved; kamam--desires; iva--like; atmanam--in self-satisfaction; mene--considered; atmani--in the self; avasthitah--situated.
TRANSLATION
Amongst great personalities, Maharaja Prthu was the chief by virtue of his fixed position in relation to spiritual enlightenment. He remained satisfied as one who has achieved all success in spiritual understanding.
PURPORT
Remaining fixed in devotional service gives one the utmost in self-satisfaction. Actually self-satisfaction can be achieved only by pure devotees, who have no desire other than to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Since the Supreme Personality of Godhead has nothing to desire, He is fully satisfied with Himself. Similarly, a devotee who has no desire other than to serve the Supreme personality of Godhead is as self-satisfied as the Supreme Lord. Everyone is hankering after peace of mind and self-satisfaction, but these can only be achieved by becoming a pure devotee of the Lord.
King Prthu's statements in previous verses regarding his vast knowledge and perfect devotional service are justified here, for he is considered best amongst all mahatmas. In Bhagavad-gita (9.13) Sri Krsna speaks of mahatmas in this way:
mahatmanas tu mam partha
daivim prakrtim asritah
bhajanty ananya-manaso
jnatva bhutadim avyayam
"O son of Prtha, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible."
The mahatmas are not under the clutches of the illusory energy but are under the protection of the spiritual energy. Because of this, the real mahatma is always engaged in the devotional service of the Lord. Prthu Maharaja exhibited all the symptoms of a mahatma; therefore he is mentioned in this verse as dhuryo mahatam, best of the mahatmas.
TEXT 50
TEXT
karmani ca yatha-kalam
yatha-desam yatha-balam
yathocitam yatha-vittam
akarod brahma-sat-krtam
SYNONYMS
karmani--activities; ca--also; yatha-kalam--befitting time and circumstances; yatha-desam--befitting the place and situation; yatha-balam--befitting one's own strength; yatha-ucitam--as far as possible; yatha-vittam--as far as one can spend money in this connection; akarot--performed; brahma-sat--in the Absolute Truth; krtam--did.
TRANSLATION
Being self-satisfied, Maharaja Prthu executed his duties as perfectly as possible according to the time and his situation, strength and financial position. His only aim in all his activities was to satisfy the Absolute Truth. In this way, he duly acted.
PURPORT
Maharaja Prthu was a responsible monarch, and he had to execute the duties of a ksatriya, a king and a devotee at the same time. Being perfect in the Lord's devotional service, he could execute his prescribed duties with complete perfection as befitted the time and circumstance and his financial strength and personal ability. In this regard, the word karmani in this verse is significant. Prthu Maharaja's activities were not ordinary, for they were in relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Srila Rupa Gosvami has advised that things which are favorable to devotional service should not be rejected, nor should activity favorable for devotional service be considered ordinary work or fruitive activity. For example, an ordinary worker conducts business in order to earn money for his sense gratification. A devotee may perform the same work in exactly the same way, but his aim is to satisfy the Supreme Lord. Consequently his activities are not ordinary.
Prthu Maharaja's activities were therefore not ordinary but were all spiritual and transcendental, for his aim was to satisfy the Lord. Just as Arjuna, who was a warrior, had to fight to satisfy Krsna, Prthu Maharaja performed his royal duties as king for the satisfaction of Krsna. Indeed, whatever he did as emperor of the whole world was perfectly befitting a pure devotee. It is therefore said by a Vaisnava poet, vaisnavera kriyamudra vijne na bujhaya: no one can understand the activities of a pure devotee. A pure devotee's activities may appear like ordinary activities, but behind them there is profound significance--the satisfaction of the Lord. In order to understand the activities of a Vaisnava, one has to become very expert. Maharaja Prthu did not allow himself to function outside the institution of four varnas and four asramas, although as a Vaisnava he was a paramahamsa, transcendental to all material activities. He remained at his position as a ksatriya to rule the world and at the same time remained transcendental to such activities by satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Concealing himself as a pure devotee, he externally manifested himself as a very powerful and dutiful king. In other words, none of his activities were carried out for his own sense gratification; everything he did was meant for the satisfaction of the senses of the Lord. This is clearly explained in the next verse.
TEXT 51
TEXT
phalam brahmani sannyasya
nirvisangah samahitah
karmadhyaksam ca manvana
atmanam prakrteh param
SYNONYMS
phalam--result; brahmani--in the Absolute Truth; sannyasya--giving up; nirvisangah--without being contaminated; samahitah--completely dedicated; karma--activity; adhyaksam--superintendent; ca--and; manvanah--always thinking of; atmanam--the Supersoul; prakrteh--of material nature; param--transcendental.
TRANSLATION
Maharaja Prthu completely dedicated himself to be an eternal servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, transcendental to material nature. Consequently all the fruits of his activities were dedicated to the Lord, and he always thought of himself as the servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the proprietor of everything.
PURPORT
The life and dedication of Maharaja Prthu in the transcendental loving service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead serve as a good example of karma-yoga. The term karma-yoga is often used in Bhagavad-gita-, and herein Maharaja Prthu is giving a practical example of what karma-yoga actually is. The first requirement for the proper execution of karma-yoga is given herein. phalam brahmani sannyasya (or vinyasya): one must give the fruits of his activities to the Supreme Brahman, Parabrahman, Krsna. By doing so, one actually situates himself in the renounced order of life, sannyasa. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (18.2), giving up the fruits of one's activities to the Supreme Personality of Godhead is called sannyasa.
kamyanam karmanam nyasam
sannyasam kavayo viduh
sarva-karma-phala-tyagam
prahus tyagam vicaksanah
"To give up the results of all activities is called renunciation [tyaga] by the wise. And that state is called the renounced order of life [sannyasa] by great learned men." Although he was living as a householder, Prthu Maharaja was actually in the renounced order of life, sannyasa. This will be clearer in the following verses.
The word nirvisangah ("uncontaminated") is very significant because Maharaja Prthu was not attached to the results of his activities. In this material world a person is always thinking of the proprietorship of everything he accumulates or works for. When the fruits of one's activities are rendered to the service of the Lord, one is actually practicing karma-yoga. Anyone can practice karma-yoga, but it is especially easy for the householder, who can install the Deity of the Lord in the home and worship Him according to the methods of bhakti-yoga. This method includes nine items: hearing, chanting, remembering, serving, worshiping the Deity, praying, carrying out orders, serving Krsna as friend and sacrificing everything for Him.
sravanam kirtanam visnoh
smaranam pada-sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyam
sakhyam atma-nivedanam
(Bhag. 7.5.23)
These methods of karma-yoga and bhakti-yoga are being broadcast all over the world by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Anyone can learn these methods simply by following the examples of the members of the Society.
In one's home or in a temple, the Deity is considered the proprietor of everything, and everyone is considered the Deity's eternal servant. The Lord is transcendental, for He is not part of this material creation. The words prakrteh param are used in this verse because everything within this material world is created by the external, material energy of the Lord, but the Lord Himself is not a creation of this material energy. The Lord is the supreme superintendent of all material creations, as confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (9.10):
mayadhyaksena prakrtih
suyate sa-caracaram
hetunanena kaunteya
jagad viparivartate
"This material nature is working under My direction, O son of Kunti, producing all the moving and unmoving beings, and by its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again."
All material changes and material progress taking place by the wonderful interaction of matter are under the superintendence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. Events in the material world are not taking place blindly. If one always remains a servant of Krsna and engages everything in His service, one is accepted as jivan-mukta, a liberated soul, even during his lifetime within the material world. Generally liberation takes place after one gives up this body, but one who lives according to the example of Prthu Maharaja is liberated even in this lifetime. In Krsna consciousness the results of one's activities depend on the will of the Supreme Person. Indeed, in all cases the result is not dependent on one's own personal dexterity but is completely dependent on the will of the Supreme. This is the real significance of phalam brahmani sannyasya. A soul dedicated to the service of the Lord should never think of himself as the personal proprietor or the superintendent. A dedicated devotee should prosecute his work according to the rules and regulations described in devotional service. The results of his activities are completely dependent on the supreme will of the Lord.
TEXT 52
TEXT
grhesu vartamano 'pi
sa samrajya-sriyanvitah
nasajjatendriyarthesu
niraham-matir arkavat
SYNONYMS
grhesu--at home; vartamanah--being present; api--although; sah--King Prthu; samrajya--the entire empire; sriya--opulence; anvitah--being absorbed in; na--never; asajjata--became attracted; indriya-arthesu--for sense gratification; nih--nor; aham--I am; matih--consideration; arka--the sun; vat--like.
TRANSLATION
Maharaja Prthu, who was very opulent due to the prosperity of his entire empire, remained at home as a householder. Since he was never inclined to utilize his opulences for the gratification of his senses, he remained unattached, exactly like the sun, which is unaffected in all circumstances.
PURPORT
The word grhesu is significant in this verse. Out of the four asramas--the brahmacarya, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa--only a grhastha, or householder, is allowed to associate with women; therefore the grhastha-asrama is a kind of license for sense gratification given to the devotee. Prthu Maharaja was special in that although he was given license to remain a householder, and although he possessed immense opulences in his kingdom, he never engaged in sense gratification. This was a special sign that indicated him to be a pure devotee of the Lord. A pure devotee is never attracted by sense gratification, and consequently he is liberated. In material life a person engages in sense gratification for his own personal satisfaction, but in the devotional or liberated life one aims to satisfy the senses of the Lord.
In this verse Maharaja Prthu is likened to the sun (arka-vat). Sometimes the sun shines on stool, urine and so many other polluted things, but since the sun is all-powerful, it is never affected by the polluted things with which it associates. On the contrary, the sunshine sterilizes and purifies polluted and dirty places. Similarly, a devotee may engage in so many material activities, but because he has no desire for sense gratification, they never affect him. On the contrary, he dovetails all material activities for the service of the Lord. Since a pure devotee knows how to utilize everything for the Lord's service, he is never affected by material activities. Instead, by his transcendental plans he purifies such activities. This is described in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam: his aim is to become completely purified in the service of the Lord without being affected by material designations.
TEXT 53
TEXT
evam adhyatma-yogena
karmany anusamacaran
putran utpadayam asa
pancarcisy atma-sammatan
SYNONYMS
evam--thus; adhyatma-yogena--by the means of bhakti-yoga; karmani--activities; anu--always; samacaran--executing; putran--sons; utpadayam asa--begotten; panca--five; arcisi--in his wife, Arci; atma--own; sammatan--according to his desire.
TRANSLATION
Being situated in the liberated position of devotional service, Prthu Maharaja not only performed all fruitive activities but also begot five sons by his wife, Arci. Indeed, all his sons were begotten according to his own desire.
PURPORT
As a householder, Prthu Maharaja had five sons by his wife, Arci, and all these sons were begotten as he desired them. They were not born whimsically or by accident. How one can beget children according to one's own desire is practically unknown in the present age (Kali-yuga). In this regard the secret of success depends on the parents' acceptance of the various purificatory methods known as samskaras. The first samskara, the garbhadhana-samskara, or child-begetting samskara, is compulsory, especially for the higher castes, the brahmanas and the ksatriyas. As stated in Bhagavad-gita, sex life which is not against religious principles is Krsna Himself, and according to religious principles, when one wants to beget a child he must perform the garbhadhana-samskara before having sex. The mental state of the father and mother before sex will certainly affect the mentality of the child to be begotten. A child who is begotten out of lust may not turn out as the parents desire. As stated in the sastras, yatha yonir yatha bijam. Yatha yonih indicates the mother, and yatha bijam indicates the father. If the mental state of the parents is prepared before they have sex, the child which they will beget will certainly reflect their mental condition. It is therefore understood by the words atma-sammatan that both Prthu Maharaja and Arci underwent the garbhadhana purificatory process before begetting children, and thus they begot all their sons according to their desires and purified mental states. Prthu Maharaja did not beget his children out of lust, nor was he attracted to his wife for sense gratificatory purposes. He begot the children as a grhastha for the future administration of his government all over the world.
TEXT 54
TEXT
vijitasvam dhumrakesam
haryaksam dravinam vrkam
sarvesam loka-palanam
dadharaikah prthur gunan
SYNONYMS
vijitasvam--of the name Vijitasva; dhumrakesam--of the name Dhumrakesa; haryaksam--of the name Haryaksa; dravinam--of the name Dravina; vrkam--of the name Vrka; sarvesam--of all; loka-palanam--the governing heads of all planets; dadhara--accepted; ekah--one; prthuh--Prthu Maharaja; gunan--all qualities.
TRANSLATION
After begetting five sons, named Vijitasva, Dhumrakesa, Haryaksa, Dravina and Vrka, Prthu Maharaja continued to rule the planet. He accepted all the qualities of the deities who governed all other planets.
PURPORT
In each and every planet there is a predominating deity. It is understood from Bhagavad-gita that in the sun there is a predominating deity named Vivasvan. Similarly, there is a predominating deity of the moon and of the various planets. Actually the predominating deities in all the other planets are descendants from the predominating deities of the sun and moon. On this planet earth there are two ksatriya dynasties, and one comes from the predominating deity of the sun and the other from the predominating deity of the moon. These dynasties are known as Surya-vamsa and Candra-vamsa respectively. When monarchy existed on this planet, the chief member was one of the members of the Surya dynasty, or Surya-vamsa, and the subordinate kings belonged to the Candra-vamsa. However, Maharaja Prthu was so powerful that he could exhibit all the qualities of the predominating deities in other planets.
In the modern age, people from earth have tried to go to the moon, but they have not been able to find anyone there, what to speak of meeting the moon's predominating deity. The Vedic literature, however, repeatedly informs us that the moon is full of highly elevated inhabitants who are counted amongst the demigods. We are therefore always in doubt about what kind of moon adventure the modern scientists of this planet earth have undertaken.
TEXT 55
TEXT
gopithaya jagat-srsteh
kale sve sve 'cyutatmakah
mano-vag-vrttibhih saumyair
gunaih samranjayan prajah
SYNONYMS
gopithaya--for the protection of; jagat-srsteh--of the supreme creator; kale--in due course of time; sve sve--own; acyuta-atmakah--being Krsna conscious; manah--mind; vak--words; vrttibhih--by occupation; saumyaih--very gentle; gunaih--by qualification; samranjayan--pleasing; prajah--the citizens.
TRANSLATION
Since Maharaja Prthu was a perfect devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he wanted to protect the Lord's creation by pleasing the various citizens according to their various desires. Therefore Prthu Maharaja used to please them in all respects by his words, mentality, works and gentle behavior.
PURPORT
As will be explained in the next verse, Prthu Maharaja used to please all kinds of citizens by his extraordinary capacity to understand the mentality of others. Indeed, his dealings were so perfect that every one of the citizens was very much satisfied and lived in complete peace. The word acyutatmakah is significant in this verse, for Maharaja Prthu used to rule this planet as the representative of the Supreme personality of Godhead. He knew that he was the representative of the Lord and that the Lord's creation must be protected intelligently. Atheists cannot understand the purpose behind the creation. Although this material world is condemned when it is compared to the spiritual world, there is still some purpose behind it. Modern scientists and philosophers cannot understand that purpose, nor do they believe in the existence of a creator. They try to establish everything by their so-called scientific research, but they do not center anything around the supreme creator. A devotee, however, can understand the purpose of creation, which is to give facilities to the individual living entities who want to lord it over material nature. The ruler of this planet should therefore know that all the inhabitants, especially human beings, have come to this material world for sense enjoyment. It is therefore the duty of the ruler to satisfy them in their sense enjoyment as well as to elevate them to Krsna consciousness so that they all can ultimately return home, back to Godhead.
With this idea in mind, the king or government head should rule the world. In this way, everyone will be satisfied. How can this be accomplished? There are many examples like Prthu Maharaja, and the history of his regency on this planet is elaborately described in Srimad-Bhagavatam. Even in this fallen age if the rulers, governors and presidents take advantage of Prthu Maharaja's example, there will certainly be a reign of peace and prosperity throughout the world.
TEXT 56
TEXT
rajety adhan namadheyam
soma-raja ivaparah
suryavad visrjan grhnan
pratapams ca bhuvo vasu
SYNONYMS
raja--the King; iti--thus; adhat--took up; namadheyam--of the name; soma-rajah--the king of the moon planet; iva--like; aparah--on the other hand; surya-vat--like the sun-god; visrjan--distributing; grhnan--exacting; pratapan--by strong ruling; ca--also; bhuvah--of the world; vasu--revenue.
TRANSLATION
Maharaja Prthu became as celebrated a king as Soma-raja, the king of the moon. He was also powerful and exacting, just like the sun-god, who distributes heat and light and at the same time exacts all the planetary waters.
PURPORT
In this verse Maharaja Prthu is compared to the kings of the moon and sun. The king of the moon and the king of the sun serve as examples of how the Lord desires the universe to be ruled. The sun distributes heat and light and at the same time exacts water from all planets. The moon is very pleasing at night, and when one becomes fatigued after a day's labor in the sun, he can enjoy the moonshine. Like the sun-god, Prthu Maharaja distributed his heat and light to give protection to his kingdom, for without heat and light no one can exist. Similarly, Prthu Maharaja exacted taxes and gave such strong orders to the citizens and government that no one had the power to disobey him. On the other hand, he pleased everyone just like the moonshine. Both the sun and the moon have particular influences by which they maintain order in the universe, and modern scientists and philosophers should become familiar with the Supreme Lord's perfect plan for universal maintenance.
TEXT 57
TEXT
durdharsas tejasevagnir
mahendra iva durjayah
titiksaya dharitriva
dyaur ivabhista-do nrnam
SYNONYMS
durdharsah--unconquerable; tejasa--by prowess; iva--like; agnih--fire; maha-indrah--the King of heaven; iva--likened; durjayah--insuperable; titiksaya--by tolerance; dharitri--the earth; iva--like; dyauh--the heavenly planets; iva--like; abhista-dah--fulfilling desires; nrnam--of human society.
TRANSLATION
Maharaja Prthu was so strong and powerful that no one could disobey his orders any more than one could conquer fire itself. He was so strong that he was compared to Indra, the King of heaven, whose power is insuperable. On the other hand, Maharaja Prthu was also as tolerant as the earth, and in fulfilling various desires of human society, he was like heaven itself.
PURPORT
It is the duty of a king to give protection to the citizens and to fulfill their desires. At the same time, the citizens must obey the laws of the state. Maharaja Prthu maintained all the standards of good government, and he was so invincible that no one could disobey his orders any more than a person could stop heat and light emanating from a fire. He was so strong and powerful that he was compared to the King of heaven, Indra. In this age modern scientists have been experimenting with nuclear weapons, and in a former age they used to release brahmastras, but all these brahmastras and nuclear weapons are insignificant compared to the thunderbolt of the King of heaven. When Indra releases a thunderbolt, even the biggest hills and mountains crack. On the other hand, Maharaja Prthu was as tolerant as the earth itself, and he fulfilled all the desires of his citizens just like torrents of rain from the sky. Without rainfall, it is not possible to fulfill one's various desires on this planet. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (3.14), parjanyad anna-sambhavah: food grains are produced only because rain falls from the sky, and without grains, no one on the earth can be satisfied. Consequently an unlimited distribution of mercy is compared to the water falling from the clouds. Maharaja Prthu distributed his mercy incessantly, much like rainfall. In other words, Maharaja Prthu was softer than a rose flower and harder than a thunderbolt. In this way he ruled over his kingdom.
TEXT 58
TEXT
varsati sma yatha-kamam
parjanya iva tarpayan
samudra iva durbodhah
sattvenacala-rad iva
SYNONYMS
varsati--pouring; sma--used to; yatha-kamam--as much as one can desire; parjanyah--water; iva--like; tarpayan--pleasing; samudrah--the sea; iva--likened; durbodhah--not understandable; sattvena--by existential position; acala--the hills; rat iva--like the king of.
TRANSLATION
Just as rainfall satisfies everyone's desires, Maharaja Prthu used to satisfy everyone. He was like the sea in that no one could understand his depths, and he was like Meru, the king of hills, in the fixity of his purpose.
PURPORT
Maharaja Prthu used to distribute his mercy to suffering humanity, and it was like rainfall after excessive heat. The ocean is wide and expansive, and it is very difficult to measure its length and breadth; similarly, Prthu Maharaja was so deep and grave that no one could fathom his purposes. The hill known as Meru is fixed in the universe as a universal pivot, and no one can move it an inch from its position; similarly, no one could ever dissuade Maharaja Prthu when he was determined.
TEXT 59
TEXT
dharma-rad iva siksayam
ascarye himavan iva
kuvera iva kosadhyo
guptartho varuno yatha
SYNONYMS
dharma-rat iva--like King Yamaraja (the superintendent of death); siksayam--in education; ascarye--in opulence; himavan iva--like the Himalaya Mountains; kuverah--the treasurer of the heavenly planets; iva--like; kosa-adhyah--in the matter of possessing wealth; gupta-arthah--secrecy; varunah--the demigod named Varuna; yatha--like.
TRANSLATION
Maharaja Prthu's intelligence and education were exactly like that of Yamaraja, the superintendent of death. His opulence was comparable to the Himalaya Mountains, where all valuable jewels and metals are stocked. He possessed great riches like Kuvera, the treasurer of the heavenly planets, and no one could reveal his secrets, for they were like the demigod Varuna's.
PURPORT
Yamaraja, or Dharmaraja, as the superintendent of death, has to judge the criminal living entities who have committed sinful activities throughout their lives. Consequently Yamaraja is expected to be most expert in judicial matters. Prthu Maharaja was also highly learned and exceedingly exact in delivering his judgment upon the citizens. No one could excel him in opulence any more than estimate the stock of minerals and jewels in the Himalaya Mountains; therefore he is compared to Kuvera, the treasurer of the heavenly planets. Nor could anyone discover the secrets of his life any more than learn the secrets of Varuna, the demigod presiding over the water, the night, and the western sky. Varuna is omniscient, and since he punishes sins, he is prayed to for forgiveness. He is also the sender of disease and is often associated with Mitra and Indra.
TEXT 60
TEXT
matarisveva sarvatma
balena mahasaujasa
avisahyataya devo
bhagavan bhuta-rad iva
SYNONYMS
matarisva--the air; iva--like; sarva-atma--all-pervading; balena--by bodily strength; mahasa ojasa--by courage and power; avisahyataya--by intolerance; devah--the demigod; bhagavan--the most powerful; bhuta-rat iva--like Rudra, or Sadasiva.
TRANSLATION
In his bodily strength and in the strength of his senses, Maharaja Prthu was as strong as the wind, which can go anywhere and everywhere. As far as his intolerance was concerned, he was just like the all-powerful Rudra expansion of Lord Siva, or Sadasiva.
TEXT 61
TEXT
kandarpa iva saundarye
manasvi mrga-rad iva
vatsalye manuvan nrnam
prabhutve bhagavan ajah
SYNONYMS
kandarpah--Cupid; iva--like; saundarye--in beauty; manasvi--in thoughtfulness; mrga-rat iva--like the king of the animals, the lion; vatsalye--in affection; manu-vat--like Svayambhuva Manu; nrnam--of human society; prabhutve--in the matter of controlling; bhagavan--the lord; ajah--Brahma.
TRANSLATION
In his bodily beauty he was just like Cupid, and in his thoughtfulness he was like a lion. In his affection he was just like Svayambhuva Manu, and in his ability to control he was like Lord Brahma.
TEXT 62
TEXT
brhaspatir brahma-vade
atmavattve svayam harih
bhaktya go-guru-vipresu
visvaksenanuvartisu
hriya prasraya-silabhyam
atma-tulyah parodyame
SYNONYMS
brhaspatih--the priest of the heavenly planets; brahma-vade--in the matter of spiritual understanding; atma-vattve--in the matter of self-control; svayam--personally; harih--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhaktya--in devotion; go--cow; guru--spiritual master; vipresu--unto the brahmanas; visvaksena--the Personality of Godhead; anuvartisu--followers; hriya--by shyness; prasraya-silabhyam--by most gentle behavior; atma-tulyah--exactly like his personal interest; para-udyame--in the matter of philanthropic work.
TRANSLATION
In his personal behavior, Prthu Maharaja exhibited all good qualities, and in spiritual knowledge he was exactly like Brhaspati. In self-control he was like the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. As far as his devotional service was concerned, he was a great follower of devotees who were attached to cow protection and the rendering of all service to the spiritual master and the brahmanas. He was perfect in his shyness and in his gentle behavior, and when he engaged in some philanthropic activity, he worked as if he were working for his own personal self.
PURPORT
When Lord Caitanya talked to Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, the Lord honored him as the incarnation of Brhaspati. Brhaspati is the chief priest of the heavenly kingdom, and he is a follower of the philosophy known as brahma-vada, or Mayavada. Brhaspati is also a great logician. It appears from this statement that Maharaja Prthu, although a great devotee constantly engaged in the loving service of the Lord, could defeat all kinds of impersonalists and Mayavadis by his profound knowledge of Vedic scriptures. We should learn from Maharaja Prthu that a Vaisnava, or devotee, must not only be fixed in the service of the Lord, but, if required, must be prepared to argue with the impersonalist Mayavadis with all logic and philosophy and defeat their contention that the Absolute Truth is impersonal.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the ideal self-controller or brahmacari. When Krsna was elected to be president of the Rajasuya yajna performed by Maharaja Yudhisthira, Grandfather Bhismadeva praised Lord Krsna as the greatest brahmacari. Because Grandfather Bhismadeva was a brahmacari, he was quite fit to distinguish a brahmacari from a vyabhicari. Although Prthu Maharaja was a householder and father of five children, he was still considered to be most controlled. One who begets Krsna conscious children for the benefit of humanity is actually a brahmacari. One who simply begets children like cats and dogs is not a proper father. The word brahmacari also refers to one who acts on the platform of Brahman, or devotional service. In the impersonal Brahman conception, there is no activity, yet when one performs activities in connection with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is to be known as brahmacari. Thus Prthu Maharaja was an ideal brahmacari and grhastha simultaneously. Visvaksenanuvartisu refers to those devotees who are constantly engaged in the service of the Lord. Other devotees must follow in their footsteps. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura said, ei chaya gosani yara, mui tara dasa. He is prepared to become the disciple of anyone who follows in the footsteps of the six Gosvamis.
Also, like all Vaisnavas, Maharaja Prthu was devoted to cow protection, spiritual masters and qualified brahmanas. Prthu Maharaja was also very humble, meek and gentle, and whenever he performed any philanthropic work or welfare activity for the general public, he would labor exactly as if he were tending to his own personal necessities. In other words, his philanthropic activities were not for the sake of show but were performed out of personal feeling and commitment. All philanthropic activities should be thus performed.
TEXT 63
TEXT
kirtyordhva-gitaya pumbhis
trailokye tatra tatra ha
pravistah karna-randhresu
strinam ramah satam iva
SYNONYMS
kirtya--by reputation; urdhva-gitaya--by loud declaration; pumbhih--by the general public; trai-lokye--all over the universe; tatra tatra--here and there; ha--certainly; pravistah--entering; karna-randhresu--in the aural holes; strinam--of the women; ramah--Lord Ramacandra; satam--of the devotees; iva--like.
TRANSLATION
Throughout the whole universe--in the higher, lower and middle planetary systems--Prthu Maharaja's reputation was loudly declared, and all ladies and saintly persons heard his glories, which were as sweet as the glories of Lord Ramacandra.
PURPORT
In this verse the words strinam and ramah are significant. It is the practice amongst ladies to hear and enjoy the praises of certain heroes. From this verse it appears that Prthu Maharaja's reputation was so great that ladies all over the universe would hear of it with great pleasure. At the same time, his glories were heard all over the universe by the devotees, and they were as pleasing as Lord Ramacandra's glories. Lord Ramacandra's kingdom is still existing, and recently there was a political party in India named the Ramarajya party, which wanted to establish a kingdom resembling the kingdom of Rama. Unfortunately, modern politicians want the kingdom of Rama without Rama Himself. Although they have banished the idea of God consciousness, they still expect to establish the kingdom of Rama. Such a proposal is rejected by devotees. Prthu Maharaja's reputation was heard by saintly persons because he exactly represented Lord Ramacandra, the ideal king.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Fourth Canto, Twenty-second Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled "Prthu Maharaja's Meeting With the Four Kumaras."