Chapter Eighteen
Maharaja Pariksit Cursed by a Brahmana Boy
TEXT 1
TEXT
suta uvaca
yo vai drauny-astra-viplusto
na matur udare mrtah
anugrahad bhagavatah
krsnasyadbhuta-karmanah
SYNONYMS
sutah uvaca--Sri Suta Gosvami said; yah--one who; vai--certainly; drauni-astra--by the weapon of the son of Drona; viplustah--burned by; na--never; matuh--of the mother; udare--in the womb; mrtah--met his death; anugrahat--by the mercy; bhagavatah--of the Personality of Godhead; krsnasya--Krsna; adbhuta-karmanah--who acts wonderfully.
TRANSLATION
Sri Suta Gosvami said: Due to the mercy of the Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, who acts wonderfully, Maharaja Pariksit, though struck by the weapon of the son of Drona in his mother's womb, could not be burned.
PURPORT
The sages of Naimisaranya became struck with wonder after hearing about the wonderful administration of Maharaja Pariksit, especially in reference to his punishing the personality of Kali and making him completely unable to do any harm within the kingdom. Suta Gosvami was equally anxious to describe Maharaja Pariksit's wonderful birth and death, and this verse is stated by Suta Gosvami to increase the interest of the sages of Naimisaranya.
TEXT 2
TEXT
brahma-kopotthitad yas tu
taksakat prana-viplavat
na sammumohorubhayad
bhagavaty arpitasayah
SYNONYMS
brahma-kopa--fury of a brahmana; utthitat--caused by; yah--what was; tu--but; taksakat--by the snake-bird; prana-viplavat--from dissolution of life; na--never; sammumoha--was overwhelmed; uru-bhayat--great fear; bhagavati--unto the Personality of Godhead; arpita--surrendered; asayah--consciousness.
TRANSLATION
Furthermore, Maharaja Pariksit was always consciously surrendered to the Personality of Godhead, and therefore he was neither afraid nor overwhelmed by fear due to a snake-bird which was to bite him because of the fury of a brahmana boy.
PURPORT
A self-surrendered devotee of the Lord is called narayana-parayana. Such a person is never afraid of any place or person, not even of death. For him nothing is as important as the Supreme Lord, and thus he gives equal importance to heaven and hell. He knows well that both heaven and hell are creations of the Lord, and similarly life and death are different conditions of existence created by the Lord. But in all conditions and in all circumstances, remembrance of Narayana is essential. The narayana-parayana practices this constantly. Maharaja Pariksit was such a pure devotee. He was wrongfully cursed by an inexperienced son of a brahmana, who was under the influence of Kali, and Maharaja Pariksit took this to be sent by Narayana. He knew that Narayana (Lord Krsna) had saved him when he was burned in the womb of his mother, and if he were to be killed by a snake bite, it would also take place by the will of the Lord. The devotee never goes against the will of the Lord; anything sent by God is a blessing for the devotee. Therefore Maharaja Pariksit was neither afraid of nor bewildered by such things. That is the sign of a pure devotee of the Lord.
TEXT 3
TEXT
utsrjya sarvatah sangam
vijnatajita-samsthitih
vaiyasaker jahau sisyo
gangayam svam kalevaram
SYNONYMS
utsrjya--after leaving aside; sarvatah--all around; sangam--association; vijnata--being understood; ajita--one who is never conquered (the Personality of Godhead); samsthitih--actual position; vaiyasakeh--unto the son of Vyasa; jahau--gave up; sisyah--as a disciple; gangayam--on the bank of the Ganges; svam--his own; kalevaram--material body.
TRANSLATION
Furthermore, after leaving all his associates, the King surrendered himself as a disciple to the son of Vyasa [Sukadeva Gosvami], and thus he was able to understand the actual position of the Personality of Godhead.
PURPORT
The word ajita is significant here. The Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna, is known as Ajita, or unconquerable, and He is so in every respect. No one can know His actual position. He is unconquerable by knowledge also. We have heard about His dhama, or place, eternal Goloka Vrndavana, but there are many scholars who interpret this abode in different ways. But by the grace of a spiritual master like Sukadeva Gosvami, unto whom the King gave himself up as a most humble disciple, one is able to understand the actual position of the Lord, His eternal abode, and His transcendental paraphernalia in that dhama, or abode. Knowing the transcendental position of the Lord and the transcendental method by which one can approach that transcendental dhama, the King was confident about his ultimate destination, and by knowing this he could leave aside everything material, even his own body, without any difficulty of attachment. In the Bhagavad-gita, it is stated, param drstva nivartate: one can give up all connection with material attachment when one is able to see the param, or the superior quality of things. From Bhagavad-gita we understand the quality of the Lord's energy that is superior to the material quality of energy, and by the grace of a bona fide spiritual master like Sukadeva Gosvami, it is quite possible to know everything of the superior energy of the Lord by which the Lord manifests His eternal name, quality, pastimes, paraphernalia and variegatedness. Unless one thoroughly understands this superior or eternal energy of the Lord, it is not possible to leave the material energy, however one may theoretically speculate on the true nature of the Absolute Truth. By the grace of Lord Krsna, Maharaja Pariksit was able to receive the mercy of such a personality as Sukadeva Gosvami, and thus he was able to know the actual position of the unconquerable Lord. It is very difficult to find the Lord from the Vedic literatures, but it is very easy to know Him by the mercy of a liberated devotee like Sukadeva Gosvami.
TEXT 4
TEXT
nottamasloka-vartanam
jusatam tat-kathamrtam
syat sambhramo 'nta-kale 'pi
smaratam tat-padambujam
SYNONYMS
na--never; uttama-sloka--the Personality of Godhead, of whom the Vedic hymns sing; vartanam--of those who live on them; jusatam--of those who are engaged in; tat--His; katha-amrtam--transcendental topics about Him; syat--it so happens; sambhramah--misconception; anta--at the end; kale--in time; api--also; smaratam--remembering; tat--His; pada-ambujam--lotus feet.
TRANSLATION
This was so because those who have dedicated their lives to the transcendental topics of the Personality of Godhead, of whom the Vedic hymns sing, and who are constantly engaged in remembering the lotus feet of the Lord, do not run the risk of having misconceptions even at the last moment of their lives.
PURPORT
The highest perfection of life is attained by remembering the transcendental nature of the Lord at the last moment of one's life. This perfection of life is made possible by one who has learned the actual transcendental nature of the Lord from the Vedic hymns sung by a liberated soul like Sukadeva Gosvami or someone in that line of disciplic succession. There is no gain in hearing the Vedic hymns from some mental speculator. When the same is heard from an actual self-realized soul and is properly understood by service and submission, everything becomes transparently clear. Thus a submissive disciple is able to live transcendentally and continue to the end of life. By scientific adaptation, one is able to remember the Lord even at the end of life, when the power of remembrance is slackened due to derangement of bodily membranes. For a common man, it is very difficult to remember things as they are at the time of death, but by the grace of the Lord and His bona fide devotees, the spiritual masters, one can get this opportunity without difficulty. And it was done in the case of Maharaja Pariksit.
TEXT 5
TEXT
tavat kalir na prabhavet
pravisto 'piha sarvatah
yavad iso mahan urvyam
abhimanyava eka-rat
SYNONYMS
tavat--so long; kalih--the personality of Kali; na--cannot; prabhavet--flourish; pravistah--entered in; api--even though; iha--here; sarvatah--everywhere; yavat--as long as; isah--the lord; mahan--great; urvyam--powerful; abhimanyavah--the son of Abhimanyu; eka-rat--the one emperor.
TRANSLATION
As long as the great, powerful son of Abhimanyu remains the Emperor of the world, there is no chance that the personality of Kali will flourish.
PURPORT
As we have already explained, the personality of Kali had entered the jurisdiction of this earth long ago, and he was looking for an opportunity to spread his influence all over the world. But he could not do so satisfactorily due to the presence of Maharaja Pariksit. That is the way of good government. The disturbing elements like the personality of Kali will always try to extend their nefarious activities, but it is the duty of the able state to check them by all means. Although Maharaja Pariksit allotted places for the personality of Kali, at the same time he gave no chance for the citizens to be swayed by the personality of Kali.
TEXT 6
TEXT
yasminn ahani yarhy eva
bhagavan utsasarja gam
tadaivehanuvrtto 'sav
adharma-prabhavah kalih
SYNONYMS
yasmin--on that; ahani--very day; yarhi eva--in the very moment; bhagavan--the Personality of Godhead; utsasarja--left aside; gam--the earth; tada--at that time; eva--certainly; iha--in this world; anuvrttah--followed; asau--he; adharma--irreligion; prabhavah--accelerating; kalih--the personality of quarrel.
TRANSLATION
The very day and moment the Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krsna, left this earth, the personality of Kali, who promotes all kinds of irreligious activities, came into this world.
PURPORT
The Personality of Godhead and His holy name, qualities, etc., are all identical. The personality of Kali was not able to enter the jurisdiction of the earth due to the presence of the Personality of Godhead. And similarly, if there is an arrangement for the constant chanting of the holy names, qualities, etc., of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there is no chance at all for the personality of Kali to enter. That is the technique of driving away the personality of Kali from the world. In modernized human society there are great advancements of material science, and they have invented the radio to distribute sound in the air. So instead of vibrating some nuisance sound for sense enjoyment, if the state arranges to distribute transcendental sound by resounding the holy name, fame and activities of the Lord, as they are authorized in the Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam, then a favorable condition will be created, the principles of religion in the world will be reestablished, and thus the executive heads, who are so anxious to drive away corruption from the world, will be successful. Nothing is bad if properly used for the service of the Lord.
TEXT 7
TEXT
nanudvesti kalim samrat
saranga iva sara-bhuk
kusalany asu siddhyanti
netarani krtani yat
SYNONYMS
na--never; anudvesti--envious; kalim--unto the personality of Kali; samrat--the Emperor; saram-ga--realist, like the bees; iva--like; sara-bhuk--one who accepts the substance; kusalani--auspicious objects; asu--immediately; siddhyanti--become successful; na--never; itarani--which are inauspicious; krtani--being performed; yat--as much as.
TRANSLATION
Maharaja Pariksit was a realist, like the bees who only accept the essence [of a flower]. He knew perfectly well that in this age of Kali, auspicious things produce good effects immediately, whereas inauspicious acts must be actually performed [to render effects]. So he was never envious of the personality of Kali.
PURPORT
The age of Kali is called the fallen age. In this fallen age, because the living beings are in an awkward position, the Supreme Lord has given some special facilities to them. So by the will of the Lord, a living being does not become a victim of a sinful act until the act is actually performed. In other ages, simply by thinking of performing a sinful act, one used to become a victim of the act. On the contrary, a living being in this age is awarded with the results of pious acts simply by thinking of them. Maharaja Pariksit, being the most learned and experienced king by the grace of the Lord, was not unnecessarily envious of the personality of Kali because he did not intend to give him any chance to perform any sinful act. He protected his subjects from falling prey to the sinful acts of the age of Kali, and at the same time he gave full facility to the age of Kali by allotting him some particular places. At the end of the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said that even though all nefarious activities of the personality of Kali are present, there is a great advantage in the age of Kali. One can attain salvation simply by chanting the holy name of the Lord. Thus Maharaja Pariksit made an organized effort to propagate the chanting of the Lord's holy name, and thus he saved the citizens from the clutches of Kali. It is for this advantage only that great sages sometimes wish all good for the age of Kali. In the Vedas also it is said that by discourse on Lord Krsna's activities, one can get rid of all the disadvantages of the age of Kali. In the beginning of the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is also said that by the recitation of Srimad-Bhagavatam, the Supreme Lord becomes at once arrested within one's heart. These are some of the great advantages of the age of Kali, and Maharaja Pariksit took all the advantages and did not think any ill of the age of Kali, true to his Vaisnavite cult.
TEXT 8
TEXT
kim nu balesu surena
kalina dhira-bhiruna
apramattah pramattesu
yo vrko nrsu vartate
SYNONYMS
kim--what; nu--may be; balesu--among the less intelligent persons; surena--by the powerful; kalina--by the personality of Kali; dhira--self-controlled; bhiruna--by one who is afraid of; apramattah--one who is careful; pramattesu--among the careless; yah--one who; vrkah--tiger; nrsu--among men; vartate--exists.
TRANSLATION
Maharaja Pariksit considered that less intelligent men might find the personality of Kali to be very powerful, but that those who are self-controlled would have nothing to fear. The King was powerful like a tiger and took care for the foolish, careless persons.
PURPORT
Those who are not devotees of the Lord are careless and unintelligent. Unless one is thoroughly intelligent, one cannot be a devotee of the Lord. Those who are not devotees of the Lord fall prey to the actions of Kali. It will not be possible to bring about a saner condition in society unless we are prepared to accept the modes of action adopted by Maharaja Pariksit, i.e., propagation of the devotional service of the Lord to the common man.
TEXT 9
TEXT
upavarnitam etad vah
punyam pariksitam maya
vasudeva-kathopetam
akhyanam yad aprcchata
SYNONYMS
upavarnitam--almost everything described; etat--all these; vah--unto you; punyam--pious; pariksitam--about Maharaja Pariksit; maya--by me; vasudeva--of Lord Krsna; katha--narrations; upetam--in connection with; akhyanam--statements; yat--what; aprcchata--you asked from me.
TRANSLATION
O sages, as you did ask me, now I have described almost everything regarding the narrations about Lord Krsna in connection with the history of the pious Maharaja Pariksit.
PURPORT
Srimad-Bhagavatam is the history of the activities of the Lord. And the activities of the Lord are performed in relation with the devotees of the Lord. Therefore, the history of the devotees is not different from the history of Lord Krsna's activities. A devotee of the Lord regards both the activities of the Lord and those of His pure devotees on an equal level, for they are all transcendental.
TEXT 10
TEXT
ya yah katha bhagavatah
kathaniyoru-karmanah
guna-karmasrayah pumbhih
samsevyas ta bubhusubhih
SYNONYMS
yah--whatever; yah--and whatsoever; kathah--topics; bhagavatah--about the Personality of Godhead; kathaniya--were to be spoken by me; uru-karmanah--of Him who acts wonderfully; guna--transcendental qualities; karma--uncommon deeds; asrayah--involving; pumbhih--by persons; samsevyah--ought to be heard; tah--all of them; bubhusubhih--by those who want their own welfare.
TRANSLATION
Those who are desirous of achieving complete perfection in life must submissively hear all topics that are connected with the transcendental activities and qualities of the Personality of Godhead, who acts wonderfully.
PURPORT
The systematic hearing of the transcendental activities, qualities and names of Lord Sri Krsna pushes one towards eternal life. Systematic hearing means knowing Him gradually in truth and fact, and this knowing Him in truth and fact means attaining eternal life, as stated in the Bhagavad-gita. Such transcendental, glorified activities of Lord Sri Krsna are the prescribed remedy for counteracting the process of birth, death, old age and disease, which are considered to be material awards for the conditioned living being. The culmination of such a perfectional stage of life is the goal of human life and the attainment of transcendental bliss.
TEXT 11
TEXT
rsaya ucuh
suta jiva samah saumya
sasvatir visadam yasah
yas tvam samsasi krsnasya
martyanam amrtam hi nah
SYNONYMS
rsayah ucuh--the good sages said; suta--O Suta Gosvami; jiva--we wish you life for; samah--many years; saumya--grave; sasvatih--eternal; visadam--particularly; yasah--in fame; yah tvam--because you; samsasi--speaking nicely; krsnasya--of Lord Sri Krsna; martyanam--of those who die; amrtam--eternity of life; hi--certainly; nah--our.
TRANSLATION
The good sages said: O grave Suta Gosvami! May you live many years and have eternal fame, for you are speaking very nicely about the activities of Lord Krsna, the Personality of Godhead. This is just like nectar for mortal beings like us.
PURPORT
When we hear about the transcendental qualities and activities of the Personality of Godhead, we may always remember what has been spoken by the Lord Himself in the Bhagavad-gita (4.9). His acts, even when He acts in human society, are all transcendental, for they are all accentuated by the spiritual energy of the Lord, which is distinguished from His material energy. As stated in the Bhagavad-gita, such acts are called divyam. This means that He does not act or take His birth like an ordinary living being under the custody of material energy. Nor is His body material or changeable like that of ordinary living beings. And one who understands this fact, either from the Lord or from authorized sources, is not reborn after leaving the present material body. Such an enlightened soul is admitted into the spiritual realm of the Lord and engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. Therefore, the more we hear about the transcendental activities of the Lord, as they are stated in the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, the more we can know about His transcendental nature and thus make definite progress on the path back to Godhead.
TEXT 12
TEXT
karmany asminn anasvase
dhuma-dhumratmanam bhavan
apayayati govinda-
pada-padmasavam madhu
SYNONYMS
karmani--performance of; asmin--in this; anasvase--without certainty; dhuma--smoke; dhumra-atmanam--tinged body and mind; bhavan--your good self; apayayati--very much pleasing; govinda--the Personality of Godhead; pada--feet; padma-asavam--nectar of the lotus flower; madhu--honey.
TRANSLATION
We have just begun the performance of this fruitive activity, a sacrificial fire, without certainty of its result due to the many imperfections in our action. Our bodies have become black from the smoke, but we are factually pleased by the nectar of the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead, Govinda, which you are distributing.
PURPORT
The sacrificial fire kindled by the sages of Naimisaranya was certainly full of smoke and doubts because of so many flaws. The first flaw is that there is an acute scarcity of expert brahmanas able to carry out such performances successfully in this age of Kali. Any discrepancy in such sacrifices spoils the whole show, and the result is uncertain, like agricultural enterprises. The good result of tilling the paddy field depends on providential rain, and therefore the result is uncertain. Similarly, performance of any kind of sacrifice in this age of Kali is also uncertain. Unscrupulous greedy brahmanas of the age of Kali induce the innocent public to such uncertain sacrificial shows without disclosing the scriptural injunction that in the age of Kali there is no fruitful sacrificial performance but the sacrifice of the congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord. Suta Gosvami was narrating the transcendental activities of the Lord before the congregation of sages, and they were factually perceiving the result of hearing these transcendental activities. One can feel this practically, as one can feel the result of eating food. Spiritual realization acts in that way.
The sages of Naimisaranya were practically sufferers from the smoke of a sacrificial fire and were doubtful about the result, but by hearing from a realized person like Suta Gosvami, they were fully satisfied. In the Brahma-vaivarta Purana, Visnu tells Siva that in the age of Kali, men full of anxieties of various kinds can vainly labor in fruitive activity and philosophical speculations, but when they are engaged in devotional service, the result is sure and certain, and there is no loss of energy. In other words, nothing performed for spiritual realization or for material benefit can be successful without the devotional service to the Lord.
TEXT 13
TEXT
tulayama lavenapi
na svargam napunar-bhavam
bhagavat-sangi-sangasya
martyanam kim utasisah
SYNONYMS
tulayama--to be balanced with; lavena--by a moment; api--even; na--never; svargam--heavenly planets; na--nor; apunah-bhavam--liberation from matter; bhagavat-sangi--devotee of the Lord; sangasya--of the association; martyanam--those who are meant for death; kim--what is there; uta--to speak of; asisah--worldly benediction.
TRANSLATION
The value of a moment's association with the devotee of the Lord cannot even be compared to the attainment of heavenly planets or liberation from matter, and what to speak of worldly benedictions in the form of material prosperity, which are for those who are meant for death.
PURPORT
When there are some similar points, it is possible to compare one thing to another. One cannot compare the association of a pure devotee to anything material. Men who are addicted to material happiness aspire to reach the heavenly planets like the moon, Venus and Indraloka, and those who are advanced in material philosophical speculations aspire after liberation from all material bondage. When one becomes frustrated with all kinds of material advancement, one desires the opposite type of liberation, which is called apunar-bhava, or no rebirth. But the pure devotees of the Lord do not aspire after the happiness obtained in the heavenly kingdom, nor do they aspire after liberation from material bondage. In other words, for the pure devotees of the Lord the material pleasures obtainable in the heavenly planets are like phantasmagoria, and because they are already liberated from all material conceptions of pleasure and distress, they are factually liberated even in the material world. This means that the pure devotees of the Lord are engaged in a transcendental existence, namely in the loving service of the Lord, both in the material world and in the spiritual world. As a government servant is always the same, either in the office or at home or at any place, so a devotee has nothing to do with anything material, for he is exclusively engaged in the transcendental service of the Lord. Since he has nothing to do with anything material, what pleasure can he derive from material benedictions like kingship or other overlordships, which are finished quickly with the end of the body? Devotional service is eternal; it has no end, because it is spiritual. Therefore, since the assets of a pure devotee are completely different from material assets, there is no comparison between the two. Suta Gosvami was a pure devotee of the Lord, and therefore his association with the rsis in Naimisaranya is unique. In the material world, association with gross materialists is veritably condemned. The materialist is called yosit-sangi, or one who is much attached to material entanglement (women and other paraphernalia). Such attachment is conditioned because it drives away the benedictions of life and prosperity. And just the opposite is bhagavata-sangi, or one who is always in the association with the Lord's name, form, qualities, etc. Such association is always desirable; it is worshipable, it is praiseworthy, and one may accept it as the highest goal of life.
TEXT 14
TEXT
ko nama trpyed rasavit kathayam
mahattamaikanta-parayanasya
nantam gunanam agunasya jagmur
yogesvara ye bhava-padma-mukhyah
SYNONYMS
kah--who is he; nama--specifically; trpyet--get full satisfaction; rasa-vit--expert in relishing mellow nectar; kathayam--in the topics of; mahat-tama--the greatest amongst the living beings; ekanta--exclusively; parayanasya--of one who is the shelter of; na--never; antam--end; gunanam--of attributes; agunasya--of the Transcendence; jagmuh--could ascertain; yoga-isvarah--the lords of mystic power; ye--all they; bhava--Lord Siva; padma--Lord Brahma; mukhyah--heads.
TRANSLATION
The Personality of Godhead, Lord Krsna [Govinda], is the exclusive shelter for all great living beings, and His transcendental attributes cannot even be measured by such masters of mystic powers as Lord Siva and Lord Brahma. Can anyone who is expert in relishing nectar [rasa] ever be fully satiated by hearing topics about Him?
PURPORT
Lord Siva and Lord Brahma are two chiefs of the demigods. They are full of mystic powers. For example, Lord Siva drank an ocean of poison of which one drop was sufficient to kill an ordinary living being. Similarly, Brahma could create many powerful demigods, including Lord Siva. So they are isvaras, or lords of the universe. But they are not the supreme powerful. The supreme powerful is Govinda, Lord Krsna. He is the Transcendence, and His transcendental attributes cannot be measured even by such powerful isvaras as Siva and Brahma. Therefore Lord Krsna is the exclusive shelter of the greatest of all living beings. Brahma is counted amongst the living beings, but he is the greatest of all of us. And why is the greatest of all the living beings so much attached to the transcendental topics of Lord Krsna? Because He is the reservoir of all enjoyment. Everyone wants to relish some kind of taste in everything, but one who is engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord can derive unlimited pleasure from such engagement. The Lord is unlimited, and His name, attributes, pastimes, entourage, variegatedness, etc. are unlimited, and those who relish them can do so unlimitedly and still not feel satiated. This fact is confirmed in the Padma Purana:
ramante yogino 'nante
satyananda-cid-atmani
iti rama-padenasau
param brahmabhidhiyate
"The mystics derive unlimited transcendental pleasures from the Absolute Truth, and therefore the Supreme Absolute Truth, the Personality of Godhead, is also known as Rama."
There is no end to such transcendental discourses. In mundane affairs there is the law of satiation, but in transcendence there is no such satiation. Suta Gosvami desired to continue the topics of Lord Krsna before the sages of Naimisaranya, and the sages also expressed their readiness to hear from him continuously. Since the Lord is transcendence and His attributes are transcendental, such discourses increase the receptive mood of the purified audience.
TEXT 15
TEXT
tan no bhavan vai bhagavat-pradhano
mahattamaikanta-parayanasya
harer udaram caritam visuddham
susrusatam no vitanotu vidvan
SYNONYMS
tat--therefore; nah--of us; bhavan--your good self; vai--certainly; bhagavat--in relation with the Personality of Godhead; pradhanah--chiefly; mahat-tama--the greatest of all greats; ekanta--exclusively; parayanasya--of the shelter; hareh--of the Lord; udaram--impartial; caritam--activities; visuddham--transcendental; susrusatam--those who are receptive; nah--ourselves; vitanotu--kindly describe; vidvan--O learned one.
TRANSLATION
O Suta Gosvami, you are a learned and pure devotee of the Lord because the Personality of Godhead is your chief object of service. Therefore please describe to us the pastimes of the Lord, which are above all material conception, for we are anxious to receive such messages.
PURPORT
The speaker on the transcendental activities of the Lord should have only one object of worship and service, Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And the audience for such topics should be anxious to hear about Him. When such a combination is possible, namely a qualified speaker and a qualified audience, it is then and there very much congenial to continue discourses on the Transcendence. Professional speakers and a materially absorbed audience cannot derive real benefit from such discourses. Professional speakers make a show of Bhagavata-saptaha for the sake of family maintenance, and the materially disposed audience hears such discourses of Bhagavata-saptaha for some material benefit, namely religiosity, wealth, gratification of the senses, or liberation. Such Bhagavatam discourses are not purified from the contamination of the material qualities. But the discourses between the saints of Naimisaranya and Sri Suta Gosvami are on the transcendental level. There is no motive for material gain. In such discourses, unlimited transcendental pleasure is relished both by the audience and by the speaker, and therefore they can continue the topics for many thousands of years. Now Bhagavata-saptahas are held for seven days only, and after finishing the show, both the audience and the speaker become engaged in material activities as usual. They can do so because the speaker is not bhagavat-pradhana and the audience is not susrusatam, as explained above.
TEXT 16
TEXT
sa vai maha-bhagavatah pariksid
yenapavargakhyam adabhra-buddhih
jnanena vaiyasaki-sabditena
bheje khagendra-dhvaja-pada-mulam
SYNONYMS
sah--he; vai--certainly; maha-bhagavatah--first-class devotee; pariksit--the King; yena--by which; apavarga-akhyam--by the name of liberation; adabhra--fixed; buddhih--intelligence; jnanena--by knowledge; vaiyasaki--the son of Vyasa; sabditena--vibrated by; bheje--taken to; khaga-indra--Garuda, the king of the birds; dhvaja--flag; pada-mulam--soles of the feet.
TRANSLATION
O Suta Gosvami, please describe those topics of the Lord by which Maharaja Pariksit, whose intelligence was fixed on liberation, attained the lotus feet of the Lord, who is the shelter of Garuda, the king of birds. Those topics were vibrated by the son of Vyasa [Srila Sukadeva].
PURPORT
There is some controversy amongst the students on the path of liberation. Such transcendental students are known as impersonalists and devotees of the Lord. The devotee of the Lord worships the transcendental form of the Lord, whereas the impersonalist meditates upon the glaring effulgence, or the bodily rays of the Lord, known as the brahmajyoti. Here in this verse it is said that Maharaja Pariksit attained the lotus feet of the Lord by instructions in knowledge delivered by the son of Vyasadeva, Srila Sukadeva Gosvami. Sukadeva Gosvami was also an impersonalist in the beginning, as he himself has admitted in the Bhagavatam (2.1.9), but later on he was attracted by the transcendental pastimes of the Lord and thus became a devotee. Such devotees with perfect knowledge are called maha-bhagavatas, or first-class devotees. There are three classes of devotees, namely the prakrta, madhyama, and maha-bhagavata. The prakrta, or third-class devotees, are temple worshipers without specific knowledge of the Lord and the Lord's devotees. The madhyama, or the second-class devotee, knows well the Lord, the Lord's devotees, the neophytes, and the nondevotees also. But the maha-bhagavata, or the first-class devotee, sees everything in relation with the Lord and the Lord present in everyone's relation. The maha-bhagavata, therefore, does not make any distinction, particularly between a devotee and nondevotee. Maharaja Pariksit was such a maha-bhagavata devotee because he was initiated by a maha-bhagavata devotee, Sukadeva Gosvami. He was equally kind, even to the personality of Kali, and what to speak of others.
So there are many instances in the transcendental histories of the world of an impersonalist who has later become a devotee. But a devotee has never become an impersonalist. This very fact proves that on the transcendental steps, the step occupied by a devotee is higher than the step occupied by an impersonalist. It is also stated in the Bhagavad-gita (12.5) that persons stuck on the impersonal step undergo more sufferings than achievement of reality. Therefore knowledge imparted by Sukadeva Gosvami unto Maharaja Pariksit helped him attain the service of the Lord. And this stage of perfection is called apavarga, or the perfect stage of liberation. Simple knowledge of liberation is material knowledge. Actual freedom from material bondage is called liberation, but attainment of the transcendental service of the Lord is called the perfect stage of liberation. Such a stage is attained by knowledge and renunciation, as we have already explained (Bhag. 1.2.12), and perfect knowledge, as delivered by Srila Sukadeva Gosvami, results in the attainment of the transcendental service of the Lord.
TEXT 17
TEXT
tan nah param punyam asamvrtartham
akhyanam atyadbhuta-yoga-nistham
akhyahy anantacaritopapannam
pariksitam bhagavatabhiramam
SYNONYMS
tat--therefore; nah--unto us; param--supreme; punyam--purifying; asamvrta-artham--as it is; akhyanam--narration; ati--very; adbhuta--wonderful; yoga-nistham--compact in bhakti-yoga; akhyahi--describe; ananta--the Unlimited; acarita--activities; upapannam--full of; pariksitam--spoken to Maharaja Pariksit; bhagavata--of the pure devotees; abhiramam--particularly very dear.
TRANSLATION
Thus please narrate to us the narrations of the Unlimited, for they are purifying and supreme. They were spoken to Maharaja Pariksit, and they are very dear to the pure devotees, being full of bhakti-yoga.
PURPORT
What was spoken to Maharaja Pariksit and what is very dear to the pure devotees is Srimad-Bhagavatam. Srimad-Bhagavatam is mainly full of the narrations of the activities of the Supreme Unlimited, and therefore it is the science of bhakti-yoga, or the devotional service of the Lord. Thus it is para, or supreme, because although it is enriched with all knowledge and religion, it is specifically enriched with the devotional service of the Lord.
TEXT 18
TEXT
suta uvaca
aho vayam janma-bhrto 'dya hasma
vrddhanuvrttyapi viloma-jatah
dauskulyam adhim vidhunoti sighram
mahattamanam abhidhana-yogah
SYNONYMS
sutah uvaca--Suta Gosvami said; aho--how; vayam--we; janma-bhrtah--promoted in birth; adya--today; ha--clearly; asma--have become; vrddha-anuvrttya--by serving those who are advanced in knowledge; api--although; viloma-jatah--born in a mixed caste; dauskulyam--disqualification of birth; adhim--sufferings; vidhunoti--purifies; sighram--very soon; mahat-tamanam--of those who are great; abhidhana--conversation; yogah--connection.
TRANSLATION
Sri Suta Gosvami said: O God, although we are born in a mixed caste, we are still promoted in birthright simply by serving and following the great who are advanced in knowledge. Even by conversing with such great souls, one can without delay cleanse oneself of all disqualifications resulting from lower births.
PURPORT
Suta Gosvami did not take his birth in a brahmana family. He was born in a family of mixed caste, or an uncultured low family. But because of higher association, like Sri Sukadeva Gosvami and the great rsis of Naimisaranya, certainly the disqualification of inferior birth was washed off. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu followed this principle in pursuance of the Vedic usages, and by His transcendental association He elevated many lowborn, or those disqualified by birth or action, to the status of devotional service and established them in the position of acaryas, or authorities. He clearly stated that any man, whatever he may be, whether a brahmana or sudra by birth, or a householder or mendicant in the order of society, if he is conversant with the science of Krsna, he can be accepted as an acarya or guru, a spiritual master.
Suta Gosvami learned the science of Krsna from great rsis and authorities like Sukadeva and Vyasadeva and he was so qualified that even the sages of Naimisaranya eagerly wanted to hear from him the science of Krsna in the form of Srimad-Bhagavatam. So he had the double association of great souls by hearing and preaching. Transcendental science, or the science of Krsna, has to be learned from the authorities, and when one preaches the science, he becomes still more qualified. So Suta Gosvami had both the advantages, and thus undoubtedly he was completely freed from all disqualifications of low birth and mental agonies. This verse definitely proves that Srila Sukadeva Gosvami did not refuse to teach Suta Gosvami about the transcendental science nor did the sages of Naimisaranya refuse to hear lessons from him because of his inferior birth. This means that thousands of years ago there was no bar to learning or preaching the transcendental science because of inferior birth. The rigidity of the so-called caste system in Hindu society became prominent within only one hundred years or so when the number of dvija-bandhus, or disqualified men in the families of higher castes, increased. Lord Sri Caitanya revived the original Vedic system, and He elevated Thakura Haridasa to the position of namacarya, or the authority in preaching the glories of the holy name of the Lord, although His Holiness Srila Haridasa Thakura was pleased to appear in a family of Mohammedans.
Such is the power of pure devotees of the Lord. The Ganges water is accepted as pure, and one can become purified after taking a bath in the waters of the Ganges. But as far as the great devotees of the Lord are concerned, they can purify a degraded soul even by being seen by the lowborn, and what to speak of association. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to purify the whole atmosphere of the polluted world by sending qualified preachers all over the world, and it remains with the Indians to take up this task scientifically and thus do the best kind of humanitarian work. The mental diseases of the present generation are more acute than bodily diseases; it is quite fit and proper to take up the preaching of Srimad-Bhagavatam all over the world without delay. Mahattamanam abhidhana also means dictionary of great devotees, or a book full of the words of great devotees. Such a dictionary of the words of great devotees and those of the Lord are in the Vedas and allied literatures, specifically the Srimad-Bhagavatam.
TEXT 19
TEXT
kutah punar grnato nama tasya
mahattamaikanta-parayanasya
yo 'nanta-saktir bhagavan ananto
mahad-gunatvad yam anantam ahuh
SYNONYMS
kutah--what to say; punah--again; grnatah--one who chants; nama--holy name; tasya--His; mahat-tama--great devotees; ekanta--exclusive; parayanasya--of one who takes shelter of; yah--He who; ananta--is the Unlimited; saktih--potency; bhagavan--the Personality of Godhead; anantah--immeasurable; mahat--great; gunatvat--on account of such attributes; yam--whom; anantam--by the name ananta; ahuh--is called.
TRANSLATION
And what to speak of those who are under the direction of the great devotees, chanting the holy name of the Unlimited, who has unlimited potency? The Personality of Godhead, unlimited in potency and transcendental by attributes, is called the ananta [Unlimited].
PURPORT
The dvija-bandhu, or the less intelligent, uncultured men born of higher castes, put forward many arguments against the lower-caste men becoming brahmanas in this life. They argue that birth in a family of sudras or less than sudras is made possible by one's previous sinful acts and that one therefore has to complete the terms of disadvantages due to lower birth. And to answer these false logicians, Srimad-Bhagavatam asserts that one who chants the holy name of the Lord under the direction of a pure devotee can at once get free from the disadvantages due to a lower-caste birth. A pure devotee of the Lord does not commit any offense while chanting the holy name of the Lord. There are ten different offenses in the chanting of the holy name of the Lord. To chant the holy name under the direction of a pure devotee is offenseless chanting. Offenseless chanting of the holy name of the Lord is transcendental, and, therefore, such chanting can at once purify one from the effects of all kinds of previous sins. This offenseless chanting indicates that one has fully understood the transcendental nature of the holy name and has thus surrendered unto the Lord. Transcendentally the holy name of the Lord and the Lord Himself are identical, being absolute. The holy name of the Lord is as powerful as the Lord. The Lord is the all-powerful Personality of Godhead, and He has innumerable names, which are all nondifferent from Him and are equally powerful also. In the last word of the Bhagavad-gita the Lord asserts that one who surrenders fully unto Him is protected from all sins by the grace of the Lord. Since His name and He Himself are identical, the holy name of the Lord can protect the devotee from all effects of sins. The chanting of the holy name of the Lord can undoubtedly deliver one from the disadvantages of a lower-caste birth. The Lord's unlimited power is extended on and on by the unlimited expansion of the devotees and incarnations, and thus every devotee of the Lord and incarnations also can be equally surcharged with the potency of the Lord. Since the devotee is surcharged with the potency of the Lord, even fractionally, the disqualification due to lower birth cannot stand in the way.
TEXT 20
TEXT
etavatalam nanu sucitena
gunair asamyanatisayanasya
hitvetaran prarthayato vibhutir
yasyanghri-renum jusate 'nabhipsoh
SYNONYMS
etavata--so far; alam--unnecessary; nanu--if at all; sucitena--by description; gunaih--by attributes; asamya--immeasurable; anati-sayanasya--of one who is unexcelled; hitva--leaving aside; itaran--others; prarthayatah--of those who ask for; vibhutih--favor of the goddess of fortune; yasya--one whose; anghri--feet; renum--dust; jusate--serves; anabhipsoh--of one who is unwilling.
TRANSLATION
It is now ascertained that He [the Personality of Godhead] is unlimited and there is none equal to Him. Consequently no one can speak of Him adequately. Great demigods cannot obtain the favor of the goddess of fortune even by prayers, but this very goddess renders service unto the Lord, although He is unwilling to have such service.
PURPORT
The Personality of Godhead, or the Paramesvara Parabrahman, according to the srutis, has nothing to do. He has no equal. Nor does anyone excel Him. He has unlimited potencies, and His every action is carried out systematically in His natural and perfect ways. Thus the Supreme Personality of Godhead is full in Himself, and He has nothing to accept from anyone else, including the great demigods like Brahma. Others ask for the favor of the goddess of fortune, and despite such prayers she declines to award such favors. But still she renders service unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although He has nothing to accept from her. The Personality of Godhead in His Garbhodakasayi Visnu feature begets Brahma, the first created person in the material world, from His navel lotus stem and not in the womb of the goddess of fortune, who is eternally engaged in His service. These are some of the instances of His complete independence and perfection. That He has nothing to do does not mean that He is impersonal. He is transcendentally so full of inconceivable potencies that simply by His willing, everything is done without physical or personal endeavor. He is called, therefore, Yogesvara, or the Lord of all mystic powers.
TEXT 21
TEXT
athapi yat-pada-nakhavasrstam
jagad virincopahrtarhanambhah
sesam punaty anyatamo mukundat
ko nama loke bhagavat-padarthah
SYNONYMS
atha--therefore; api--certainly; yat--whose; pada-nakha--nails of the feet; avasrstam--emanating; jagat--the whole universe; virinca--Brahmaji; upahrta--collected; arhana--worship; ambhah--water; sa--along with; isam--Lord Siva; punati--purifies; anyatamah--who else; mukundat--besides the Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna; kah--who; nama--name; loke--within the world; bhagavat--Supreme Lord; pada--position; arthah--worth.
TRANSLATION
Who can be worthy of the name of the Supreme Lord but the Personality of Godhead Sri Krsna? Brahmaji collected the water emanating from the nails of His feet in order to award it to Lord Siva as a worshipful welcome. This very water [the Ganges] is purifying the whole universe, including Lord Siva.
PURPORT
The conception of many gods in the Vedic literatures by the ignorant is completely wrong. The Lord is one without a second, but He expands Himself in many ways, and this is confirmed in the Vedas. Such expansions of the Lord are limitless, but some of them are the living entities. The living entities are not as powerful as the Lord's plenary expansions, and therefore there are two different types of expansions. Lord Brahma is generally one of the living entities, and Lord Siva is the via medium between the Lord and the living entities. In other words, even demigods like Lord Brahma and Lord Siva, who are the chief amongst all demigods, are never equal to or greater than Lord Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The goddess of fortune, Laksmi, and all-powerful demigods like Brahma and Siva are engaged in the worship of Visnu or Lord Krsna; therefore who can be more powerful than Mukunda (Lord Krsna) to be factually called the Supreme Personality of Godhead? The goddess of fortune, Laksmiji, Lord Brahma and Lord Siva are not independently powerful; they are powerful as expansions of the Supreme Lord, and all of them are engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, and so also are the living entities. There are four sects of worshipful devotees of the Lord, and the chief amongst them are the Brahma-sampradaya, Rudra-sampradaya and Sri-sampradaya, descending directly from Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and the goddess of fortune, Laksmi, respectively. Besides the above-mentioned three sampradayas, there is the Kumara-sampradaya, descending from Sanat-kumara. All of the four original sampradayas are still scrupulously engaged in the transcendental service of the Lord up to date, and they all declare that Lord Krsna, Mukunda, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and no other personality is equal to Him or greater than Him.
TEXT 22
TEXT
yatranuraktah sahasaiva dhira
vyapohya dehadisu sangam udham
vrajanti tat parama-hamsyam antyam
yasminn ahimsopasamah sva-dharmah
SYNONYMS
yatra--unto whom; anuraktah--firmly attached; sahasa--all of a sudden; eva--certainly; dhirah--self-controlled; vyapohya--leaving aside; deha--the gross body and subtle mind; adisu--relating to; sangam--attachment; udham--taken to; vrajanti--go away; tat--that; parama-hamsyam--the highest stage of perfection; antyam--and beyond that; yasmin--in which; ahimsa--nonviolence; upasamah--and renunciation; sva-dharmah--consequential occupation.
TRANSLATION
Self-controlled persons who are attached to the Supreme Lord Sri Krsna can all of a sudden give up the world of material attachment, including the gross body and subtle mind, and go away to attain the highest perfection of the renounced order of life, by which nonviolence and renunciation are consequential.
PURPORT
Only the self-controlled can gradually be attached to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Self-controlled means not indulging in sense enjoyment more than is necessary. And those who are not self-controlled are given over to sense enjoyment. Dry philosophical speculation is a subtle sense enjoyment of the mind. Sense enjoyment leads one to the path of darkness. Those who are self-controlled can make progress on the path of liberation from the conditional life of material existence. The Vedas, therefore, enjoin that one should not go on the path of darkness but should make a progressive march towards the path of light or liberation. Self-control is actually achieved not by artificially stopping the senses from material enjoyment, but by becoming factually attached to the Supreme Lord by engaging one's unalloyed senses in the transcendental service of the Lord. The senses cannot be forcibly curbed, but they can be given proper engagement. Purified senses, therefore, are always engaged in the transcendental service of the Lord. This perfectional stage of sense engagement is called bhakti-yoga. So those who are attached to the means of bhakti-yoga are factually self-controlled and can all of a sudden give up their homely or bodily attachment for the service of the Lord. This is called the paramahamsa stage. Hamsas, or swans, accept only milk out of a mixture of milk and water. Similarly, those who accept the service of the Lord instead of maya's service are called the paramahamsas. They are naturally qualified with all the good attributes, such as pridelessness, freedom from vanity, nonviolence, tolerance, simplicity, respectability, worship, devotion and sincerity. All these godly qualities exist in the devotee of the Lord spontaneously. Such paramahamsas, who are completely given up to the service of the Lord, are very rare. They are very rare even amongst the liberated souls. Real nonviolence means freedom from envy. In this world everyone is envious of his fellow being. But a perfect paramahamsa, being completely given up to the service of the Lord, is perfectly nonenvious. He loves every living being in relation with the Supreme Lord. Real renunciation means perfect dependence on God. Every living being is dependent on someone else because he is so made. Actually everyone is dependent on the mercy of the Supreme Lord, but when one forgets his relation with the Lord, he becomes dependent on the conditions of material nature. Renunciation means renouncing ones dependence on the conditions of material nature and thus becoming completely dependent on the mercy of the Lord. Real independence means complete faith in the mercy of the Lord without dependence on the conditions of matter. This paramahamsa stage is the highest perfectional stage in bhakti-yoga, the process of devotional service to the Supreme Lord.
TEXT 23
TEXT
aham hi prsto 'ryamano bhavadbhir
acaksa atmavagamo 'tra yavan
nabhah patanty atma-samam patattrinas
tatha samam visnu-gatim vipascitah
SYNONYMS
aham--my humble self; hi--certainly; prstah--asked by you; aryamanah--as powerful as the sun; bhavadbhih--by you; acakse--may describe; atma-avagamah--as far as my knowledge is concerned; atra--herein; yavan--so far; nabhah--sky; patanti--fly; atma-samam--as far as it can; patattrinah--the birds; tatha--thus; samam--similarly; visnu-gatim--knowledge of Visnu; vipascitah--even though learned.
TRANSLATION
O rsis, who are as powerfully pure as the sun, I shall try to describe to you the transcendental pastimes of Visnu as far as my knowledge is concerned. As the birds fly in the sky as far as their capacity allows, so do the learned devotees describe the Lord as far as their realization allows.
PURPORT
The Supreme Absolute Truth is unlimited. No living being can know about the unlimited by his limited capacity. The Lord is impersonal, personal and localized. By His impersonal feature He is all-pervading Brahman, by His localized feature He is present in everyone's heart as the Supreme Soul, and by His ultimate personal feature He is the object of transcendental loving service by His fortunate associates the pure devotees. The pastimes of the Lord in different features can only be estimated partly by the great learned devotees. So Srila Suta Gosvami has rightly taken this position in describing the pastimes of the Lord as far as he has realized. Factually only the Lord Himself can describe Himself, and His learned devotee also can describe Him as far as the Lord gives him the power of description.
TEXTS 24-25
TEXT
ekada dhanur udyamya
vicaran mrgayam vane
mrgan anugatah srantah
ksudhitas trsito bhrsam
jalasayam acaksanah
pravivesa tam asramam
dadarsa munim asinam
santam milita-locanam
SYNONYMS
ekada--once upon a time; dhanuh--arrows and bow; udyamya--taking firmly; vicaran--following; mrgayam--hunting excursion; vane--in the forest; mrgan--stags; anugatah--while following; srantah--fatigued; ksudhitah--hungry; trsitah--being thirsty; bhrsam--extremely; jala-asayam--reservoir of water; acaksanah--while searching for; pravivesa--entered into; tam--that famous; asramam--hermitage of Samika Rsi; dadarsa--saw; munim--the sage; asinam--seated; santam--all silent; milita--closed; locanam--eyes.
TRANSLATION
Once upon a time Maharaja Pariksit, while engaged in hunting in the forest with bow and arrows, became extremely fatigued, hungry and thirsty while following the stags. While searching for a reservoir of water, he entered the hermitage of the well-known Samika Rsi and saw the sage sitting silently with closed eyes.
PURPORT
The Supreme Lord is so kind to His pure devotees that in proper time He calls such devotees up to Him and thus creates an auspicious circumstance for the devotee. Maharaja Pariksit was a pure devotee of the Lord, and there was no reason for him to become extremely fatigued, hungry and thirsty because a devotee of the Lord never becomes perturbed by such bodily demands. But by the desire of the Lord, even such a devotee can become apparently fatigued and thirsty just to create a situation favorable for his renunciation of worldly activities. One has to give up all attachment for worldly relations before one is able to go back to Godhead, and thus when a devotee is too much absorbed in worldly affairs, the Lord creates a situation to cause indifference. The Supreme Lord never forgets His pure devotee, even though he may be engaged in so-called worldly affairs. Sometimes He creates an awkward situation, and the devotee becomes obliged to renounce all worldly affairs. The devotee can understand by the signal of the Lord, but others take it to be unfavorable and frustrating. Maharaja Pariksit was to become the medium for the revelation of Srimad-Bhagavatam by Lord Sri Krsna, as his grandfather Arjuna was the medium for the Bhagavad-gita. Had Arjuna not been taken up with an illusion of family affection by the will of the Lord, the Bhagavad-gita would not have been spoken by the Lord Himself for the good of all concerned. Similarly, had Maharaja Pariksit not been fatigued, hungry and thirsty at this time, Srimad-Bhagavatam would not have been spoken by Srila Sukadeva Gosvami, the prime authority of Srimad-Bhagavatam. So this is a prelude to the circumstances under which Srimad-Bhagavatam was spoken for the benefit of all concerned. The prelude, therefore, begins with the words "once upon a time."
TEXT 26
TEXT
pratiruddhendriya-prana-
mano-buddhim uparatam
sthana-trayat param praptam
brahma-bhutam avikriyam
SYNONYMS
pratiruddha--restrained; indriya--the sense organs; prana--air of respiration; manah--the mind; buddhim--intelligence; uparatam--inactive; sthana--places; trayat--from the three; param--transcendental; praptam--achieved; brahma-bhutam--qualitatively equal with the Supreme Absolute; avikriyam--unaffected.
TRANSLATION
The muni's sense organs, breath, mind and intelligence were all restrained from material activities, and he was situated in a trance apart from the three [wakefulness, dream and unconsciousness], having achieved a transcendental position qualitatively equal with the Supreme Absolute.
PURPORT
It appears that the muni, in whose hermitage the King entered, was in yogic trance. The transcendental position is attained by three processes, namely the process of jnana, or theoretical knowledge of transcendence, the process of yoga, or factual realization of trance by manipulation of the physiological and psychological functions of the body, and the most approved process of bhakti-yoga, or the engagement of senses in the devotional service of the Lord. In the Bhagavad-gita also we have the information of the gradual development of perception from matter to a living entity. Our material mind and body develop from the living entity, the soul, and being influenced by the three qualities of matter, we forget our real identity. The jnana process theoretically speculates about the reality of the soul. But bhakti-yoga factually engages the spirit soul in activities. The perception of matter is transcended to still subtler states of the senses. The senses are transcended to the subtler mind, and then to breathing activities and gradually to intelligence. Beyond the intelligence, the living soul is realized by the mechanical activities of the yoga system, or practice of meditation restraining the senses, regulating the breathing system and applying intelligence to rise to the transcendental position. This trance stops all material activities of the body. The King saw the muni in that position. He also saw the muni as follows.
TEXT 27
TEXT
viprakirna-jatacchannam
rauravenajinena ca
visusyat-talur udakam
tatha-bhutam ayacata
SYNONYMS
viprakirna--all scattered; jata-acchannam--covered with compressed, long hair; rauravena--by the skin of a stag; ajinena--by the skin; ca--also; visusyat--dried up; taluh--palate; udakam--water; tatha-bhutam--in that state; ayacata--asked for.
TRANSLATION
The sage, in meditation, was covered by the skin of a stag, and long, compressed hair was scattered all over him. The King, whose palate was dry from thirst, asked him for water.
PURPORT
The King, being thirsty, asked the sage for water. That such a great devotee and king asked for water from a sage absorbed in trance was certainly providential. Otherwise there was no chance of such a unique happening. Maharaja Pariksit was thus placed in an awkward position so that gradually Srimad-Bhagavatam could be revealed.
TEXT 28
TEXT
alabdha-trna-bhumy-adir
asampraptarghya-sunrtah
avajnatam ivatmanam
manyamanas cukopa ha
SYNONYMS
alabdha--having not received; trna--seat of straw; bhumi--place; adih--and so on; asamprapta--not properly received; arghya--water for reception; sunrtah--sweet words; avajnatam--thus being neglected; iva--like that; atmanam--personally; manyamanah--thinking like that; cukopa--became angry; ha--in that way.
TRANSLATION
The King, not received by any formal welcome by means of being offered a seat, place, water and sweet addresses, considered himself neglected, and so thinking he became angry.
PURPORT
The law of reception in the codes of the Vedic principles states that even if an enemy is received at home, he must be received with all respects. He should not be given a chance to understand that he has come into the house of an enemy. When Lord Krsna, accompanied by Arjuna and Bhima, approached Jarasandha in Magadha, the respectable enemies were given a royal reception by King Jarasandha. The guest enemy, namely Bhima, was to fight with Jarasandha, and yet they were given a grand reception. At night they used to sit down together as friends and guests, and in the day they used to fight, risking life and death. That was the law of reception. The reception law enjoins that a poor man, who has nothing to offer his guest, should be good enough to offer a straw mat for sitting, a glass of water for drinking and some sweet words. Therefore, to receive a guest, either friend or foe, there is no expense. It is only a question of good manners.
When Maharaja Pariksit entered the door of Samika Rsi, he did not expect a royal reception by the rsi because he knew that saints and rsis are not materially rich men. But he never expected that a seat of straw, a glass of water and some sweet words would be denied to him. He was not an ordinary guest, nor was he an enemy of the rsi, and therefore the cold reception by the rsi astonished the King greatly. As a matter of fact, the King was right to get angry with the rsi when he needed a glass of water very badly. To become angry in such a grave situation was not unnatural for the King, but because the King himself was not less than a great saint, his becoming angry and taking action were astonishing. So it must be accepted that it was so ordained by the supreme will of the Lord. The King was a great devotee of the Lord, and the saint was also as good as the King. But by the will of the Lord, the circumstances were so created that they became ways to the King's becoming unattached to family connection and governmental activities and thus becoming a completely surrendered soul unto the lotus feet of Lord Krsna. The merciful Lord sometimes creates such awkward positions for his pure devotees in order to drag them towards Himself from the mire of material existence. But outwardly the situations appear to be frustrating to the devotees. The devotees of the Lord are always under the protection of the Lord, and in any condition, frustration or success, the Lord is the supreme guide for the devotees. The pure devotees, therefore, accept all conditions of frustration as blessings from the Lord.