Chapter 22: Pṛthu Mahārāja's Meeting with the Four Kumāras

 

4.22.1

maitreya uvāca

janeṣu pragṛṇatsv evaḿ

pṛthuḿ pṛthula-vikramam

tatropajagmur munayaś

catvāraḥ sūrya-varcasaḥ

 

maitreyaḥ uvāca — the great sage Maitreya continued to speak; janeṣu — the citizens; pragṛṇatsu — while praying for; evam — thus; pṛthum — unto Mahārāja Pṛthu; pṛthula — highly; vikramam — powerful; tatra — there; upajagmuḥ — arrived; munayaḥ — the Kumāras; catvāraḥ — four; sūrya — as the sun; varcasaḥ — bright.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The great sage Maitreya said: While the citizens were thus praying to the most powerful King Pṛthu, the four Kumāras, who were as bright as the sun, arrived on the spot.

 

4.22.2

tāḿs tu siddheśvarān rājā

vyomno 'vatarato 'rciṣā

lokān apāpān kurvāṇān

sānugo 'caṣṭa lakṣitān

 

tān — them; tu — but; siddha-īśvarān — masters of all mystic power; rājā — the King; vyomnaḥ — from the sky; avatarataḥ — while descending; arciṣā — by their glaring effulgence; lokān — all the planets; apāpān — sinless; kurvāṇān — doing so; sa-anugaḥ — with his associates; acaṣṭa — recognized; lakṣitān — by seeing them.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Seeing the glowing effulgence of the four Kumāras, the masters of all mystic Power, the King and his associates could recognize them as they descended from the sky.

 

4.22.3

tad-darśanodgatān prāṇān

pratyāditsur ivotthitaḥ

sa-sadasyānugo vainya

indriyeśo guṇān iva

 

tat — him; darśana — seeing; udgatān — being greatly desired; prāṇān — life; pratyāditsuḥ — peacefully going; iva — like; utthitaḥ — got up; sa — with; sadasya — associates or followers; anugaḥ — officers; vainyaḥ — King Pṛthu; indriya-īśaḥ — a living entity; guṇān iva — as influenced by the modes of material nature.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Seeing the four Kumāras, Pṛthu Mahārāja 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.

 

4.22.4

gauravād yantritaḥ sabhyaḥ

praśrayānata-kandharaḥ

vidhivat pūjayāḿ cakre

gṛhītādhyarhaṇāsanān

 

gauravāt — glories; yantritaḥ — completely; sabhyaḥ — most civilized; praśraya — by humbleness; ānata-kandharaḥ — bowing down his shoulder; vidhi-vat — according to the instructions of the śāstra; pūjayām — by worshiping; cakre — performed; gṛhīta — accepting; adhi — including; arhaṇa — paraphernalia for reception; āsanān — sitting places.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When the great sages accepted their reception, according to the instructions of the śāstras, 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 Kumāras.

 

4.22.5

tat-pāda-śauca-salilair

mārjitālaka-bandhanaḥ

tatra śīlavatāḿ vṛttam

ācaran mānayann iva

 

tat-pāda — their lotus feet; śauca — washed; salilaiḥ — water; mārjita — sprinkled; alaka — hair; bandhanaḥ — bunch; tatra — there; śīlavatām — of the respectable gentlemen; vṛttam — behavior; ācaran — behaving; mānayan — practicing; iva — like.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After this, the King took the water which had washed the lotus feet of the Kumāras and sprinkled it over his hair. By such respectful actions, the King, as an exemplary personality, showed how to receive a spiritually advanced personality.

 

4.22.6

hāṭakāsana āsīnān

sva-dhiṣṇyeṣv iva pāvakān

śraddhā-saḿyama-saḿyuktaḥ

prītaḥ prāha bhavāgrajān

 

hāṭaka-āsane — on the throne made of gold; āsīnān — when they were seated; sva-dhiṣṇyeṣu — on the altar; iva — like; pāvakān — fire; śraddhā — respect; saḿyama — restraint; saḿyuktaḥ — being decorated with; prītaḥ — pleased; prāha — said; bhava — Lord Śiva; agra-jān — the elder brothers.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The four great sages were elder to Lord Śiva, and when they were seated on the golden throne, they appeared just like fire blazing on an altar. Mahārāja Pṛthu, out of his great gentleness and respect for them, began to speak with great restraint as follows.

 

4.22.7

pṛthur uvāca

aho ācaritaḿ kiḿ me

mańgalaḿ mańgalāyanāḥ

yasya vo darśanaḿ hy āsīd

durdarśānāḿ ca yogibhiḥ

 

pṛthuḥ uvāca — King Pṛthu spoke; aho — O Lord; ācaritam — practice; kim — what; me — by me; mańgalam — good fortune; mańgala-āyanāḥ — O personified good fortune; yasya — by which; vaḥ — your; darśanam — audience; hi — certainly; āsīt — became possible; durdarśānām — visible with great difficulty; ca — also; yogibhiḥ — by great mystic yogīs.

 

TRANSLATION

 

King Pṛthu spoke: My dear great sages, auspiciousness personified, it is very difficult for even the mystic yogīs 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.

 

4.22.8

kiḿ tasya durlabhataram

iha loke paratra ca

yasya viprāḥ prasīdanti

śivo viṣṇuś ca sānugaḥ

 

kim — what; tasya — his; durlabha-taram — very rare to achieve; iha — in this world; loke — world; paratra — after death; ca — or; yasya — one whose; viprāḥ — the brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas; prasīdanti — become pleased; śivaḥ — all-auspicious; viṣṇuḥ — Lord Viṣṇu; ca — as well as; sa-anugaḥ — going along with.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Any person upon whom the brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas 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 Śiva and Lord Viṣṇu, who accompany the brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas.

 

4.22.9

naiva lakṣayate loko

lokān paryaṭato 'pi yān

yathā sarva-dṛśaḿ sarva

ātmānaḿ ye 'sya hetavaḥ

 

na — not; eva — thus; lakṣayate — can see; lokaḥ — people; lokān — all planets; paryaṭataḥ — traveling; api — although; yān — whom; yathā — as much as; sarva-dṛśam — the Supersoul; sarve — in all; ātmānam — within everyone; ye — those; asya — of the cosmic manifestation; hetavaḥ — causes.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Pṛthu Mahārāja 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 Brahmā and Lord Śiva cannot understand the Supersoul.

 

4.22.10

adhanā api te dhanyāḥ

sādhavo gṛha-medhinaḥ

yad-gṛhā hy arha-varyāmbu-

tṛṇa-bhūmīśvarāvarāḥ

 

adhanāḥ — not very rich; api — although; te — they; dhanyāḥ — glorious; sādhavaḥ — saintly persons; gṛha-medhinaḥ — persons who are attached to family life; yat-gṛhāḥ — whose house; hi — certainly; arha-varya — the most worshipable; ambu — water; tṛṇa — grass; bhūmi — land; īśvara — the master; avarāḥ — 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.

 

4.22.11

vyālālaya-drumā vai teṣv

ariktākhila-sampadaḥ

yad-gṛhās tīrtha-pādīya-

pādatīrtha-vivarjitāḥ

 

vyāla — venomous serpents; ālaya — home; drumāḥ — tree; vai — certainly; teṣu — in those houses; arikta — abundantly; akhila — all; sampadaḥ — opulences; yat — that; gṛhāḥ — houses; tīrtha-pādīya — in relation with the feet of great saintly persons; pāda-tīrtha — the water which washed their feet; vivarjitāḥ — 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.

 

4.22.12

svāgataḿ vo dvija-śreṣṭhā

yad-vratāni mumukṣavaḥ

caranti śraddhayā dhīrā

bālā eva bṛhanti ca

 

su-āgatam — welcome; vaḥ — unto you; dvija-śreṣṭhāḥ — the best of the brāhmaṇas; yat — whose; vratāni — vows; mumukṣavaḥ — of persons desiring liberation; caranti — behave; śraddhayā — with great faith; dhīrāḥ — controlled; bālāḥ — boys; eva — like; bṛhanti — observe; ca — also.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Mahārāja Pṛthu offered his welcome to the four Kumāras, addressing them as the best of the brāhmaṇas. 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.

 

4.22.13

kaccin naḥ kuśalaḿ nāthā

indriyārthārtha-vedinām

vyasanāvāpa etasmin

patitānāḿ sva-karmabhiḥ

 

kaccit — whether; naḥ — our; kuśalam — good fortune; nāthāḥ — O masters; indriya-artha — sense gratification as the ultimate goal of life; artha-vedinām — persons who understand only sense gratification; vyasana — illness; āvāpe — got; etasmin — in this material existence; patitānām — those who are fallen; sva-karmabhiḥ — by their own ability.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Pṛthu Mahārāja 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?

 

4.22.14

bhavatsu kuśala-praśna

ātmārāmeṣu neṣyate

kuśalākuśalā yatra

na santi mati-vṛttayaḥ

 

bhavatsu — unto you; kuśala — good fortune; praśnaḥ — question; ātma-ārāmeṣu — one who is always engaged in spiritual bliss; na iṣyate — there is no need of; kuśala — good fortune; akuśalāḥ — inauspiciousness; yatra — where; na — never; santi — exists; mati-vṛttayaḥ — mental concoction.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Pṛthu Mahārāja 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.

 

4.22.15

tad ahaḿ kṛta-viśrambhaḥ

suhṛdo vas tapasvinām

sampṛcche bhava etasmin

kṣemaḥ kenāñjasā bhavet

 

tat — therefore; aham — I; kṛta-viśrambhaḥ — being completely assured; su-hṛdaḥ — friend; vaḥ — our; tapasvinām — suffering material pangs; sampṛcche — wish to inquire; bhave — in this material world; etasmin — this; kṣemaḥ — ultimate reality; kena — by which means; añjasā — 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.

 

4.22.16

vyaktam ātmavatām ātmā

bhagavān ātma-bhāvanaḥ

svānām anugrahāyemāḿ

siddha-rūpī caraty ajaḥ

 

vyaktam — clear; ātma-vatām — of the transcendentalists; ātmā — the goal of life; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ātma-bhāvanaḥ — always wishing to elevate the living entities; svānām — whose own devotees; anugrahāya — just to show mercy; imām — this way; siddha-rūpī — perfectly self-realized; carati — travels; ajaḥ — Nārāyaṇa.

 

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.

 

4.22.17

maitreya uvāca

pṛthos tat sūktam ākarṇya

sāraḿ suṣṭhu mitaḿ madhu

smayamāna iva prītyā

kumāraḥ pratyuvāca ha

 

maitreyaḥ uvāca — the great sage Maitreya continued to speak; pṛthoḥ — of King Pṛthu; tat — that; sūktam — Vedic conclusion; ākarṇya — hearing; sāram — very substantial; suṣṭhu — appropriate; mitam — minimized; madhu — sweet to hear; smayamānaḥ — smiling; iva — like; prītyā — out of great satisfaction; kumāraḥ — celibate; pratyuvāca — replied; ha — thus.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The great sage Maitreya continued: Thus Sanat-kumāra, the best of the celibates, after hearing the speech of Pṛthu Mahārāja, which was meaningful, appropriate, full of precise words and very sweet to hear, smiled with full satisfaction and began to speak as follows.

 

4.22.18

sanat-kumāra uvāca

sādhu pṛṣṭaḿ mahārāja

sarva-bhūta-hitātmanā

bhavatā viduṣā cāpi

sādhūnāḿ matir īdṛśī

 

sanat-kumāraḥ uvāca — Sanat-kumāra said; sādhu — saintly; pṛṣṭam — question; mahārāja — my dear King; sarva-bhūta — all living entities; hita-ātmanā — by one who desires good for all; bhavatā — by you; viduṣā — well learned; ca — and; api — although; sādhūnām — of the saintly persons; matiḥ — intelligence; īdṛśī — like this.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Sanat-kumāra said: My dear King Pṛthu, 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.

 

4.22.19

sańgamaḥ khalu sādhūnām

ubhayeṣāḿ ca sammataḥ

yat-sambhāṣaṇa-sampraśnaḥ

sarveṣāḿ vitanoti śam

 

sańgamaḥ — association; khalu — certainly; sādhūnām — of devotees; ubhayeṣām — for both; ca — also; sammataḥ — conclusive; yat — which; sambhāṣaṇa — discussion; sampraśnaḥ — question and answer; sarveṣām — of all; vitanoti — expands; śam — 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.

 

4.22.20

asty eva rājan bhavato madhudviṣaḥ

pādāravindasya guṇānuvādane

ratir durāpā vidhunoti naiṣṭhikī

kāmaḿ kaṣāyaḿ malam antar-ātmanaḥ

 

asti — there is; eva — certainly; rājan — O King; bhavataḥ — your; madhu-dviṣaḥ — of the Lord; pāda-aravindasya — of the lotus feet; guṇa-anuvādane — in glorifying; ratiḥ — attachment; durāpā — very difficult; vidhunoti — washes; naiṣṭhikī — unflinching; kāmam — lusty; kaṣāyam — the embellishment of lusty desire; malam — dirty; antaḥ-ātmanaḥ — from the core of the heart.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Sanat-kumāra 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.

 

4.22.21

śāstreṣv iyān eva suniścito nṛṇāḿ

kṣemasya sadhryag-vimṛśeṣu hetuḥ

asańga ātma-vyatirikta ātmani

dṛḍhā ratir brahmaṇi nirguṇe ca yā

 

śāstreṣu — in the scriptures; iyān eva — this is only; su-niścitaḥ — positively concluded; nṛṇām — of human society; kṣemasya — of the ultimate welfare; sadhryak — perfectly; vimṛśeṣu — by full consideration; hetuḥ — cause; asańgaḥ — detachment; ātma-vyatirikte — the bodily concept of life; ātmani — unto the Supreme Soul; dṛḍhā — strong; ratiḥ — attachment; brahmaṇi — transcendence; nirguṇe — in the Supreme, who is beyond the material modes; ca — and; yā — 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.

 

4.22.22

sā śraddhayā bhagavad-dharma-caryayā

jijñāsayādhyātmika-yoga-niṣṭhayā

yogeśvaropāsanayā ca nityaḿ

puṇya-śravaḥ-kathayā puṇyayā ca

 

sā — that devotional service; śraddhayā — with faith and conviction; bhagavat-dharma — devotional service; caryayā — by discussion; jijñāsayā — by inquiry; adhyātmika — spiritual; yoga-niṣṭhayā — by conviction in spiritual understanding; yoga-īśvara — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; upāsanayā — by worship of Him; ca — and; nityam — regularly; puṇya-śravaḥ — by hearing which; kathayā — by discussion; puṇyayā — 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 Yogeśvara, 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.

 

4.22.23

arthendriyārāma-sagoṣṭhy-atṛṣṇayā

tat-sammatānām aparigraheṇa ca

vivikta-rucyā paritoṣa ātmani

vinā harer guṇa-pīyūṣa-pānāt

 

artha — riches; indriya — senses; ārāma — gratification; sa-goṣṭhī — with their companion; atṛṣṇayā — by reluctance; tat — that; sammatānām — since approved by them; aparigraheṇa — by nonacceptance; ca — also; vivikta-rucyā — disgusted taste; paritoṣe — happiness; ātmani — self; vinā — without; hareḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; guṇa — qualities; pīyūṣa — nectar; pānāt — 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.

 

4.22.24

ahiḿsayā pāramahaḿsya-caryayā

smṛtyā mukundācaritāgrya-sīdhunā

yamair akāmair niyamaiś cāpy anindayā

nirīhayā dvandva-titikṣayā ca

 

ahiḿsayā — by nonviolence; pāramahaḿsya-caryayā — by following in the footsteps of great ācāryas; smṛtyā — by remembering; mukunda — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ācarita-agrya — simply preaching His activities; sīdhunā — by the nectar; yamaiḥ — by following regulative principles; akāmaiḥ — without material desires; niyamaiḥ — by strictly following the rules and regulations; ca — also; api — certainly; anindayā — without blaspheming; nirīhayā — living simply, plain living; dvandva — duality; titikṣayā — by tolerance; ca — and.

 

TRANSLATION

 

A candidate for spiritual advancement must be nonviolent, must follow in the footsteps of great ācāryas, 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.

 

4.22.25

harer muhus tatpara-karṇa-pūra-

guṇābhidhānena vijṛmbhamāṇayā

bhaktyā hy asańgaḥ sad-asaty anātmani

syān nirguṇe brahmaṇi cāñjasā ratiḥ

 

hareḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; muhuḥ — constantly; tat-para — in relation with the Supreme Personality of Godhead; karṇa-pūra — decoration of the ear; guṇa-abhidhānena — discussing transcendental qualities; vijṛmbhamāṇayā — by increasing Kṛṣṇa consciousness; bhaktyā — by devotion; hi — certainly; asańgaḥ — uncontaminated; sat-asati — the material world; anātmani — opposed to spiritual understanding; syāt — should be; nirguṇe — in transcendence; brahmaṇi — in the Supreme Lord; ca — and; añjasā — easily; ratiḥ — 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.

 

4.22.26

yadā ratir brahmaṇi naiṣṭhikī pumān

ācāryavān jñāna-virāga-raḿhasā

dahaty avīryaḿ hṛdayaḿ jīva-kośaḿ

pañcātmakaḿ yonim ivotthito 'gniḥ

 

yadā — when; ratiḥ — attachment; brahmaṇi — in the Supreme Personality of Godhead; naiṣṭhikī — fixed; pumān — the person; ācāryavān — completely surrendered to the spiritual master; jñāna — knowledge; virāga — detachment; raḿhasā — by the force of; dahati — burns; avīryam — impotent; hṛdayam — within the heart; jīva-kośam — the covering of the spirit soul; pañca-ātmakam — five elements; yonim — source of birth; iva — like; utthitaḥ — emanating; agniḥ — 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.

 

4.22.27

dagdhāśayo mukta-samasta-tad-guṇo

naivātmano bahir antar vicaṣṭe

parātmanor yad-vyavadhānaḿ purastāt

svapne yathā puruṣas tad-vināśe

 

dagdha-āśayaḥ — all material desires being burned; mukta — liberated; samasta — all; tat-guṇaḥ — qualities in connection with matter; na — not; eva — certainly; ātmanaḥ — the soul or the Supersoul; bahiḥ — external; antaḥ — internal; vicaṣṭe — acting; para-ātmanoḥ — of the Supersoul; yat — that; vyavadhānam — difference; purastāt — as it was in the beginning; svapne — in dream; yathā — as; puruṣaḥ — a person; tat — that; vināśe — 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.

 

4.22.28

ātmānam indriyārthaḿ ca

paraḿ yad ubhayor api

saty āśaya upādhau vai

pumān paśyati nānyadā

 

ātmānam — the soul; indriya-artham — for sense gratification; ca — and; param — transcendental; yat — that; ubhayoḥ — both; api — certainly; sati — being situated; āśaye — material desires; upādhau — designation; vai — certainly; pumān — the person; paśyati — sees; na anyadā — 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.

 

4.22.29

nimitte sati sarvatra

jalādāv api pūruṣaḥ

ātmanaś ca parasyāpi

bhidāḿ paśyati nānyadā

 

nimitte — on account of causes; sati — being; sarvatra — everywhere; jala-ādau api — water and other reflecting media; pūruṣaḥ — the person; ātmanaḥ — oneself; ca — and; parasya api — another's self; bhidām — differentiation; paśyati — sees; na anyadā — 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.

 

4.22.30

indriyair viṣayākṛṣṭair

ākṣiptaḿ dhyāyatāḿ manaḥ

cetanāḿ harate buddheḥ

stambas toyam iva hradāt

 

indriyaiḥ — by the senses; viṣaya — the sense objects; ākṛṣṭaiḥ — being attracted; ākṣiptam — agitated; dhyāyatām — always thinking of; manaḥ — mind; cetanām — consciousness; harate — becomes lost; buddheḥ — of intelligence; stambaḥ — big straws; toyam — water; iva — like; hradāt — 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.

 

4.22.31

bhraśyaty anusmṛtiś cittaḿ

jñāna-bhraḿśaḥ smṛti-kṣaye

tad-rodhaḿ kavayaḥ prāhur

ātmāpahnavam ātmanaḥ

 

bhraśyati — becomes destroyed; anusmṛtiḥ — constantly thinking; cittam — consciousness; jñāna-bhraḿśaḥ — bereft of real knowledge; smṛti-kṣaye — by destruction of remembrance; tat-rodham — choking that process; kavayaḥ — great learned scholars; prāhuḥ — have opined; ātma — of the soul; apahnavam — destruction; ātmanaḥ — 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.

 

4.22.32

nātaḥ parataro loke

puḿsaḥ svārtha-vyatikramaḥ

yad-adhy anyasya preyastvam

ātmanaḥ sva-vyatikramāt

 

na — not; ataḥ — after this; parataraḥ — greater; loke — in this world; puḿsaḥ — of the living entities; sva-artha — interest; vyatikramaḥ — obstruction; yat-adhi — beyond that; anyasya — of others; preyastvam — to be more interesting; ātmanaḥ — for the self; sva — own; vyatikramāt — 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.

 

4.22.33

arthendriyārthābhidhyānaḿ

sarvārthāpahnavo nṛṇām

bhraḿśito jñāna-vijñānād

yenāviśati mukhyatām

 

artha — riches; indriya-artha — for the satisfaction of the senses; abhidhyānam — constantly thinking of; sarva-artha — four kinds of achievements; apahnavaḥ — destructive; nṛṇām — of human society; bhraḿśitaḥ — being devoid of; jñāna — knowledge; vijñānāt — devotional service; yena — by all this; āviśati — enters; mukhyatām — 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.

 

4.22.34

na kuryāt karhicit sańgaḿ

tamas tīvraḿ titīriṣuḥ

dharmārtha-kāma-mokṣāṇāḿ

yad atyanta-vighātakam

 

na — do not; kuryāt — act; karhicit — at any time; sańgam — association; tamaḥ — ignorance; tīvram — with great speed; titīriṣuḥ — persons who desire to cross over nescience; dharma — religion; artha — economic development; kāma — sense gratification; mokṣāṇām — of salvation; yat — that which; atyanta — very much; vighātakam — 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.

 

4.22.35

tatrāpi mokṣa evārtha

ātyantikatayeṣyate

traivargyo 'rtho yato nityaḿ

kṛtānta-bhaya-saḿyutaḥ

 

tatra — there; api — also; mokṣaḥ — liberation; eva — certainly; arthe — for the matter of; ātyantikatayā — most important; iṣyate — taken in that way; trai-vargyaḥ — the three others, namely religion, economic development and sense gratification; arthaḥ — interest; yataḥ — wherefrom; nityam — regularly; kṛta-anta — death; bhaya — fear; saḿyutaḥ — 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.

 

4.22.36

pare 'vare ca ye bhāvā

guṇa-vyatikarād anu

na teṣāḿ vidyate kṣemam

īśa-vidhvaḿsitāśiṣām

 

pare — in the higher status of life; avare — in the lower status of life; ca — and; ye — all those; bhāvāḥ — conceptions; guṇa — material qualities; vyatikarāt — by interaction; anu — following; na — never; teṣām — of them; vidyate — exist; kṣemam — correction; īśa — the Supreme Lord; vidhvaḿsita — destroyed; āśiṣām — 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.

 

4.22.37

tat tvaḿ narendra jagatām atha tasthūṣāḿ ca

dehendriyāsu-dhiṣaṇātmabhir āvṛtānām

yaḥ kṣetravit-tapatayā hṛdi viśvag āviḥ

pratyak cakāsti bhagavāḿs tam avehi so 'smi

 

tat — therefore; tvam — you; nara-indra — O best of kings; jagatām — of the moving; atha — therefore; tasthūṣām — the immovable; ca — also; deha — body; indriya — senses; asu — life air; dhiṣaṇā — by consideration; ātmabhiḥ — self-realization; āvṛtānām — those who are covered in that way; yaḥ — one who; kṣetra-vit — knower of the field; tapatayā — by controlling; hṛdi — within the heart; viśvak — everywhere; āviḥ — manifest; pratyak — in every hair follicle; cakāsti — shining; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tam — unto Him; avehi — try to understand; saḥ asmi — I am that.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Sanat-kumāra advised the King: Therefore, my dear King Pṛthu, 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.

 

4.22.38

yasminn idaḿ sad-asad-ātmatayā vibhāti

māyā viveka-vidhuti sraji vāhi-buddhiḥ

taḿ nitya-mukta-pariśuddha-viśuddha-tattvaḿ

pratyūḍha-karma-kalila-prakṛtiḿ prapadye

 

yasmin — in which; idam — this; sat-asat — the Supreme Lord and His different energies; ātmatayā — being the root of all cause and effect; vibhāti — manifests; māyā — illusion; viveka-vidhuti — liberated by deliberate consideration; sraji — on the rope; vā — or; ahi — serpent; buddhiḥ — intelligence; tam — unto Him; nitya — eternally; mukta — liberated; pariśuddha — uncontaminated; viśuddha — pure; tattvam — truth; pratyūḍha — transcendental; karma — fruitive activities; kalila — impurities; prakṛtim — 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 Paramātmā 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.

 

4.22.39

yat-pāda-pańkaja-palāśa-vilāsa-bhaktyā

karmāśayaḿ grathitam udgrathayanti santaḥ

tadvan na rikta-matayo yatayo 'pi ruddha-

sroto-gaṇās tam araṇaḿ bhaja vāsudevam

 

yat — whose; pāda — feet; pańkaja — lotus; palāśa — petals or toes; vilāsa — enjoyment; bhaktyā — by devotional service; karma — fruitive activities; āśayam — desire; grathitam — hard knot; udgrathayanti — root out; santaḥ — devotees; tat — that; vat — like; na — never; rikta-matayaḥ — persons devoid of devotional service; yatayaḥ — ever-increasingly trying; api — even though; ruddha — stopped; srotaḥ-gaṇāḥ — the waves of sense enjoyment; tam — unto Him; araṇam — worthy to take shelter; bhaja — engage in devotional service; vāsudevam — unto Kṛṣṇa, 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 jñānīs and yogīs — although trying to stop the waves of sense gratification, cannot do so. Therefore you are advised to engage in the devotional service of Kṛṣṇa, the son of Vasudeva.

 

4.22.40

kṛcchro mahān iha bhavārṇavam aplaveśāḿ

ṣaḍ-varga-nakram asukhena titīrṣanti

tat tvaḿ harer bhagavato bhajanīyam ańghriḿ

kṛtvoḍupaḿ vyasanam uttara dustarārṇam

 

kṛcchraḥ — troublesome; mahān — very great; iha — here (in this life); bhava-arṇavam — ocean of material existence; aplava-īśām — of the nondevotees, who have not taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ṣaṭ-varga — six senses; nakram — sharks; asukhena — with great difficulty; titīrṣanti — cross over; tat — therefore; tvam — you; hareḥ — of the Personality of Godhead; bhagavataḥ — of the Supreme; bhajanīyam — worthy of worship; ańghrim — the lotus feet; kṛtvā — making; uḍupam — boat; vyasanam — all kinds of dangers; uttara — cross over; dustara — very difficult; arṇam — 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.

 

4.22.41

maitreya uvāca

sa evaḿ brahma-putreṇa

kumāreṇātma-medhasā

darśitātma-gatiḥ samyak

praśasyovāca taḿ nṛpaḥ

 

maitreyaḥ uvāca — the great sage Maitreya said; saḥ — the King; evam — thus; brahma-putreṇa — by the son of Lord Brahmā; kumāreṇa — by one of the Kumāras; ātma-medhasā — well versed in spiritual knowledge; darśita — being shown; ātma-gatiḥ — spiritual advancement; samyak — completely; praśasya — worshiping; uvāca — said; tam — unto him; nṛpaḥ — the King.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The great sage Maitreya continued: Being thus enlightened in complete spiritual knowledge by the son of Brahmā — one of the Kumāras, who was complete in spiritual knowledge — the King worshiped them in the following words.

 

4.22.42

rājovāca

kṛto me 'nugrahaḥ pūrvaḿ

hariṇārtānukampinā

tam āpādayituḿ brahman

bhagavan yūyam āgatāḥ

 

rājā uvāca — the King said; kṛtaḥ — done; me — unto me; anugrahaḥ — causeless mercy; pūrvam — formerly; hariṇā — by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu; ārta-anukampinā — compassionate for persons in distress; tam — that; āpādayitum — to confirm it; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; bhagavan — O powerful one; yūyam — all of you; āgatāḥ — have arrived here.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The King said: O brāhmaṇa, O powerful one, formerly Lord Viṣṇu showed me His causeless mercy, indicating that you would come to my house, and to confirm that blessing, you have all come.

 

4.22.43

niṣpāditaś ca kārtsnyena

bhagavadbhir ghṛṇālubhiḥ

sādhūcchiṣṭaḿ hi me sarvam

ātmanā saha kiḿ dade

 

niṣpāditaḥ ca — also the order is properly carried out; kārtsnyena — in full; bhagavadbhiḥ — by the representatives of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ghṛṇālubhiḥ — by the most compassionate; sādhu-ucchiṣṭam — remnants of the foodstuffs of saintly persons; hi — certainly; me — mine; sarvam — everything; ātmanā — heart and soul; saha — with; kim — what; dade — shall give.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear brāhmaṇa, 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?

 

4.22.44

prāṇā dārāḥ sutā brahman

gṛhāś ca sa-paricchadāḥ

rājyaḿ balaḿ mahī kośa

iti sarvaḿ niveditam

 

prāṇāḥ — life; dārāḥ — wife; sutāḥ — children; brahman — O great brāhmaṇa; gṛhāḥ — home; ca — also; sa — with; paricchadāḥ — all paraphernalia; rājyam — kingdom; balam — strength; mahī — land; kośaḥ — treasury; iti — thus; sarvam — everything; niveditam — offered.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The King continued: Therefore, my dear brāhmaṇas, my life, wife, children, home, furniture and household paraphernalia, my kingdom, strength, land and especially my treasury are all offered unto you.

 

4.22.45

sainā-patyaḿ ca rājyaḿ ca

daṇḍa-netṛtvam eva ca

sarva lokādhipatyaḿ ca

veda-śāstra-vid arhati

 

sainā-patyam — post of commander-in-chief; ca — and; rājyam — post of ruler over the kingdom; ca — and; daṇḍa — ruling; netṛtvam — leadership; eva — certainly; ca — and; sarva — all; loka-adhipatyam — proprietorship of the planet; ca — and; veda-śāstra-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, Pṛthu Mahārāja offered everything to the Kumāras.

 

4.22.46

svam eva brāhmaṇo bhuńkte

svaḿ vaste svaḿ dadāti ca

tasyaivānugraheṇānnaḿ

bhuñjate kṣatriyādayaḥ

 

svam — own; eva — certainly; brāhmaṇaḥ — the brāhmaṇa; bhuńkte — enjoy; svam — own; vaste — clothing; svam — own; dadāti — gives in charity; ca — and; tasya — his; eva — certainly; anugraheṇa — by the mercy of; annam — food grains; bhuñjate — eats; kṣatriya-ādayaḥ — other divisions of society, headed by the kṣatriyas.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras eat their food by virtue of the brāhmaṇas' mercy. It is the brāhmaṇas who enjoy their own property, clothe themselves with their own property and give charity with t