Chapter 13: The Behavior of a Perfect Person

 

7.13.1

śrī-nārada uvāca

kalpas tv evaḿ parivrajya

deha-mātrāvaśeṣitaḥ

grāmaika-rātra-vidhinā

nirapekṣaś caren mahīm

 

śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca — Śrī Nārada Muni said; kalpaḥ — a person who is competent to undergo the austerities of sannyāsa, the renounced order of life, or to prosecute studies in transcendental knowledge; tu — but; evam — in this way (as described previously); parivrajya — fully understanding his spiritual identity and thus traveling from one place to another; deha-mātra — keeping only the body; avaśeṣitaḥ — at last; grāma — in a village; eka — one only; rātra — of passing a night; vidhinā — in the process; nirapekṣaḥ — without dependence on any material thing; caret — should move from one place to another; mahīm — on the earth.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrī Nārada Muni said: A person able to cultivate spiritual knowledge should renounce all material connections, and merely keeping the body inhabitable, he should travel from one place to another, passing only one night in each village. In this way, without dependence in regard to the needs of the body, the sannyāsī should travel all over the world.

 

7.13.2

bibhṛyād yady asau vāsaḥ

kaupīnācchādanaḿ param

tyaktaḿ na lińgād daṇḍāder

anyat kiñcid anāpadi

 

bibhṛyāt — one should use; yadi — if; asau — a person in the renounced order; vāsaḥ — a garment or covering; kaupīna — a loincloth (just to cover the private parts); ācchādanam — for covering; param — that much only; tyaktam — given up; na — not; lińgāt — than the distinguishing marks of a sannyāsī; daṇḍa-ādeḥ — like the rod (tridaṇḍa); anyat — other; kiñcit — anything; anāpadi — in ordinary undisturbed times.

 

TRANSLATION

 

A person in the renounced order of life may try to avoid even a dress to cover himself. If he wears anything at all, it should be only a loincloth, and when there is no necessity, a sannyāsī should not even accept a daṇḍa. A sannyāsī should avoid carrying anything but a daṇḍa and kamaṇḍalu.

 

7.13.3

eka eva cared bhikṣur

ātmārāmo 'napāśrayaḥ

sarva-bhūta-suhṛc-chānto

nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇaḥ

 

ekaḥ — alone; eva — only; caret — can move; bhikṣuḥ — a sannyāsī taking alms; ātma-ārāmaḥ — fully satisfied in the self; anapāśrayaḥ — without depending on anything; sarva-bhūta-suhṛt — becoming a well-wisher of all living entities; śāntaḥ — completely peaceful; nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇaḥ — becoming absolutely dependent on Nārāyaṇa and becoming His devotee.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The sannyāsī, completely satisfied in the self, should live on alms begged from door to door. Not being dependent on any person or any place, he should always be a friendly well-wisher to all living beings and be a peaceful, unalloyed devotee of Nārāyaṇa. In this way he should move from one place to another.

 

7.13.4

paśyed ātmany ado viśvaḿ

pare sad-asato 'vyaye

ātmānaḿ ca paraḿ brahma

sarvatra sad-asan-maye

 

paśyet — one should see; ātmani — in the Supreme Soul; adaḥ — this; viśvam — universe; pare — beyond; sat-asataḥ — the creation or cause of creation; avyaye — in the Absolute, which is free from deterioration; ātmānam — himself; ca — also; param — the supreme; brahma — absolute; sarvatra — everywhere; sat-asat — in the cause and in the effect; maye — all-pervading.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The sannyāsī should always try to see the Supreme pervading everything and see everything, including this universe, resting on the Supreme.

 

7.13.5

supti-prabodhayoḥ sandhāv

ātmano gatim ātma-dṛk

paśyan bandhaḿ ca mokṣaḿ ca

māyā-mātraḿ na vastutaḥ

 

supti — in the state of unconsciousness; prabodhayoḥ — and in the state of consciousness; sandhau — in the state of marginal existence; ātmanaḥ — of oneself; gatim — the movement; ātma-dṛk — one who can actually see the self; paśyan — always trying to see or understand; bandham — the conditional state of life; ca — and; mokṣam — the liberated state of life; ca — also; māyā-mātram — only illusion; na — not; vastutaḥ — in fact.

 

TRANSLATION

 

During unconsciousness and consciousness, and between the two, he should try to understand the self and be fully situated in the self. In this way, he should realize that the conditional and liberated stages of life are only illusory and not actually factual. With such a higher understanding, he should see only the Absolute Truth pervading everything.

 

7.13.6

nābhinanded dhruvaḿ mṛtyum

adhruvaḿ vāsya jīvitam

kālaḿ paraḿ pratīkṣeta

bhūtānāḿ prabhavāpyayam

 

na — not; abhinandet — one should praise; dhruvam — sure; mṛtyum — death; adhruvam — not sure; vā — either; asya — of this body; jīvitam — the duration of life; kālam — eternal time; param — supreme; pratīkṣeta — one must observe; bhūtānām — of the living entities; prabhava — manifestation; apyayam — disappearance.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Since the material body is sure to be vanquished and the duration of one's life is not fixed, neither death nor life is to be praised. Rather, one should observe the eternal time factor, in which the living entity manifests himself and disappears.

 

7.13.7

nāsac-chāstreṣu sajjeta

nopajīveta jīvikām

vāda-vādāḿs tyajet tarkān

pakṣaḿ kaḿca na saḿśrayet

 

na — not; asat-śāstreṣu — literature like newspapers, novels, dramas and fiction; sajjeta — one should be attached or should indulge in reading; na — nor; upajīveta — one should try to live; jīvikām — upon some professional literary career; vāda-vādān — unnecessary arguments on different aspects of philosophy; tyajet — one should give up; tarkān — arguments and counterarguments; pakṣam — faction; kaḿca — any; na — not; saḿśrayet — should take shelter of.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Literature that is a useless waste of time — in other words, literature without spiritual benefit — should be rejected. One should not become a professional teacher as a means of earning one's livelihood, nor should one indulge in arguments and counter-arguments. Nor should one take shelter of any cause or faction.

 

7.13.8

na śiṣyān anubadhnīta

granthān naivābhyased bahūn

na vyākhyām upayuñjīta

nārambhān ārabhet kvacit

 

na — not; śiṣyān — disciples; anubadhnīta — one should induce for material benefit; granthān — unnecessary literatures; na — not; eva — certainly; abhyaset — should try to understand or cultivate; bahūn — many; na — nor; vyākhyām — discourses; upayuñjīta — should make as a means of livelihood; na — nor; ārambhān — unnecessary opulences; ārabhet — should attempt to increase; kvacit — at any time.

 

TRANSLATION

 

A sannyāsī must not present allurements of material benefits to gather many disciples, nor should he unnecessarily read many books or give discourses as a means of livelihood. He must never attempt to increase material opulences unnecessarily.

 

7.13.9

na yater āśramaḥ prāyo

dharma-hetur mahātmanaḥ

śāntasya sama-cittasya

bibhṛyād uta vā tyajet

 

na — not; yateḥ — of the sannyāsī; āśramaḥ — the symbolic dress (with daṇḍa and kamaṇḍalu); prāyaḥ — almost always; dharma-hetuḥ — the cause of advancement in spiritual life; mahā-ātmanaḥ — who is factually exalted and advanced; śāntasya — who is peaceful; sama-cittasya — who has attained the stage of being equipoised; bibhṛyāt — one may accept (such symbolic signs); uta — indeed; vā — or; tyajet — one may give up.

 

TRANSLATION

 

A peaceful, equipoised person who is factually advanced in spiritual consciousness does not need to accept the symbols of a sannyāsī, such as the tridaṇḍa and kamaṇḍalu. According to necessity, he may sometimes accept those symbols and sometimes reject them.

 

7.13.10

avyakta-lińgo vyaktārtho

manīṣy unmatta-bālavat

kavir mūkavad ātmānaḿ

sa dṛṣṭyā darśayen nṛṇām

 

avyakta-lińgaḥ — whose symptoms of sannyāsa are unmanifested; vyakta-arthaḥ — whose purpose is manifested; manīṣī — such a great saintly person; unmatta — restless; bāla-vat — like a boy; kaviḥ — a great poet or orator; mūka-vat — like a dumb man; ātmānam — himself; saḥ — he; dṛṣṭyā — by example; darśayet — should present; nṛṇām — to human society.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Although a saintly person may not expose himself to the vision of human society, by his behavior his purpose is disclosed. To human society he should present himself like a restless child, and although he is the greatest thoughtful orator, he should present himself like a dumb man.

 

7.13.11

atrāpy udāharantīmam

itihāsaḿ purātanam

prahrādasya ca saḿvādaḿ

muner ājagarasya ca

 

atra — herein; api — although not exposed to common eyes; udāharanti — the learned sages recite as an example; imam — this; itihāsam — historical incident; purātanam — very, very old; prahrādasya — of Prahlāda Mahārāja; ca — also; saḿvādam — conversation; muneḥ — of the great saintly person; ājagarasya — who took the profession of a python; ca — also.

 

TRANSLATION

 

As a historical example of this, learned sages recite the story of an ancient discussion between Prahlāda Mahārāja and a great saintly person who was feeding himself like a python.

 

7.13.12-13

taḿ śayānaḿ dharopasthe

kāveryāḿ sahya-sānuni

rajas-valais tanū-deśair

nigūḍhāmala-tejasam

 

dadarśa lokān vicaran

loka-tattva-vivitsayā

vṛto 'mātyaiḥ katipayaiḥ

prahrādo bhagavat-priyaḥ

 

tam — that (saintly person); śayānam — lying down; dharā-upasthe — on the ground; kāveryām — on the bank of the River Kāverī; sahya-sānuni — on a ridge of the mountain known as Sahya; rajaḥ-valaiḥ — covered with dust and dirt; tanū-deśaiḥ — with all the parts of the body; nigūḍha — very grave and deep; amala — spotless; tejasam — whose spiritual power;

 

dadarśa — he saw; lokān — to all the different planets; vicaran — traveling; loka-tattva — the nature of the living beings (especially those who are trying to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness); vivitsayā — to try to understand; vṛtaḥ — surrounded; amātyaiḥ — by royal associates; katipayaiḥ — a few; prahrādaḥ — Mahārāja Prahlāda; bhagavat-priyaḥ — who is always very, very dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Prahlāda Mahārāja, the most dear servitor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, once went out touring the universe with some of his confidential associates just to study the nature of saintly persons. Thus he arrived at the bank of the Kāverī, where there was a mountain known as Sahya. There he found a great saintly person who was lying on the ground, covered with dirt and dust, but who was deeply spiritually advanced.

 

7.13.14

karmaṇākṛtibhir vācā

lińgair varṇāśramādibhiḥ

na vidanti janā yaḿ vai

so 'sāv iti na veti ca

 

karmaṇā — by activities; ākṛtibhiḥ — by bodily features; vācā — by words; lińgaiḥ — by symptoms; varṇa-āśrama — pertaining to the particular material and spiritual divisions of varṇa and āśrama; ādibhiḥ — and by other symptoms; na vidanti — could not understand; janāḥ — people in general; yam — whom; vai — indeed; saḥ — whether that person; asau — was the same person; iti — thus; na — not; vā — or; iti — thus; ca — also.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Neither by that saintly person's activities, by his bodily features, by his words nor by the symptoms of his varṇāśrama status could people understand whether he was the same person they had known.

 

7.13.15

taḿ natvābhyarcya vidhivat

pādayoḥ śirasā spṛśan

vivitsur idam aprākṣīn

mahā-bhāgavato 'suraḥ

 

tam — him (the saintly person); natvā — after offering obeisances unto; abhyarcya — and worshiping; vidhi-vat — in terms of the rules and regulations of etiquette; pādayoḥ — the lotus feet of the saintly person; śirasā — with the head; spṛśan — touching; vivitsuḥ — desiring to know about him (the saintly person); idam — the following words; aprākṣīt — inquired; mahā-bhāgavataḥ — the very advanced devotee of the Lord; asuraḥ — although born in an asura family.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The advanced devotee Prahlāda Mahārāja duly worshiped and offered obeisances to the saintly person who had adopted a python's means of livelihood. After thus worshiping the saintly person and touching his own head to the saint's lotus feet, Prahlāda Mahārāja, in order to understand him, inquired very submissively as follows.

 

7.13.16-17

bibharṣi kāyaḿ pīvānaḿ

sodyamo bhogavān yathā

vittaḿ caivodyamavatāḿ

bhogo vittavatām iha

 

bhogināḿ khalu deho 'yaḿ

pīvā bhavati nānyathā

 

bibharṣi — you are maintaining; kāyam — a body; pīvānam — fat; sa-udyamaḥ — one who endeavors; bhogavān — one who enjoys; yathā — as; vittam — money; ca — also; eva — certainly; udyama-vatām — of persons always engaged in economic development; bhogaḥ — sense gratification; vitta-vatām — for persons who possess considerable wealth; iha — in this world;

 

bhoginām — of the enjoyers, karmīs; khalu — indeed; dehaḥ — body; ayam — this; pīvā — very fat; bhavati — becomes; na — not; anyathā — otherwise.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Seeing the saintly person to be quite fat, Prahlāda Mahārāja said: My dear sir, you undergo no endeavor to earn your livelihood, but you have a stout body, exactly like that of a materialistic enjoyer. I know that if one is very rich and has nothing to do, he becomes extremely fat by eating and sleeping and performing no work.

 

7.13.18

na te śayānasya nirudyamasya

brahman nu hārtho yata eva bhogaḥ

abhogino 'yaḿ tava vipra dehaḥ

pīvā yatas tad vada naḥ kṣamaḿ cet

 

na — not; te — of you; śayānasya — lying down; nirudyamasya — without activities; brahman — O saintly person; nu — indeed; ha — it is evident; arthaḥ — money; yataḥ — from which; eva — indeed; bhogaḥ — sense enjoyment; abhoginaḥ — of one who is not engaged in sense enjoyment; ayam — this; tava — your; vipra — O learned brāhmaṇa; dehaḥ — body; pīvā — fat; yataḥ — how is it; tat — that fact; vada — kindly tell; naḥ — us; kṣamam — excuse; cet — if I have asked an impudent question.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O brāhmaṇa, fully in knowledge of transcendence, you have nothing to do, and therefore you are lying down. It is also understood that you have no money for sense enjoyment. How then has your body become so fat? Under the circumstances, if you do not consider my question impudent, kindly explain how this has happened.

 

7.13.19

kaviḥ kalpo nipuṇa-dṛk

citra-priya-kathaḥ samaḥ

lokasya kurvataḥ karma

śeṣe tad-vīkṣitāpi vā

 

kaviḥ — very learned; kalpaḥ — expert; nipuṇa-dṛk — intelligent; citra-priya-kathaḥ — able to speak palatable words that are pleasing to the heart; samaḥ — equipoised; lokasya — of the people in general; kurvataḥ — engaged in; karma — fruitive work; śeṣe — you lie down; tat-vīkṣitā — seeing them all; api — although; vā — either.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Your Honor appears learned, expert and intelligent in every way. You can speak very well, saying things that are pleasing to the heart. You see that people in general are engaged in fruitive activities, yet you are lying here inactive.

 

7.13.20

śrī-nārada uvāca

sa itthaḿ daitya-patinā

paripṛṣṭo mahā-muniḥ

smayamānas tam abhyāha

tad-vāg-amṛta-yantritaḥ

 

śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca — the great saint Nārada Muni said; saḥ — that saintly person (lying down); ittham — in this way; daitya-patinā — by the King of the Daityas (Prahlāda Mahārāja); paripṛṣṭaḥ — being sufficiently questioned; mahā-muniḥ — the great saintly person; smayamānaḥ — smiling; tam — unto him (Prahlāda Mahārāja); abhyāha — prepared to give answers; tat-vāk — of his words; amṛta-yantritaḥ — being captivated by the nectar.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Nārada Muni continued: When the saintly person was thus questioned by Prahlāda Mahārāja, the King of the Daityas, he was captivated by this shower of nectarean words, and he replied to the inquisitiveness of Prahlāda Mahārāja with a smiling face.

 

7.13.21

śrī-brāhmaṇa uvāca

vededam asura-śreṣṭha

bhavān nanv ārya-sammataḥ

īhoparamayor nṝṇāḿ

padāny adhyātma-cakṣuṣā

 

śrī-brāhmaṇaḥ uvāca — the brāhmaṇa replied; veda — know very well; idam — all these things; asura-śreṣṭha — O best of the asuras; bhavān — you; nanu — indeed; ārya-sammataḥ — whose activities are approved by civilized men; īhā — of inclination; uparamayoḥ — of decreasing; nṝṇām — of the people in general; padāni — different stages; adhyātma-cakṣuṣā — by transcendental eyes.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The saintly brāhmaṇa said: O best of the asuras, Prahlāda Mahārāja, who are recognized by advanced and civilized men, you are aware of the different stages of life because of your inherent transcendental eyes, with which you can see a man's character and thus know clearly the results of acceptance and rejection of things as they are.

 

7.13.22

yasya nārāyaṇo devo

bhagavān hṛd-gataḥ sadā

bhaktyā kevalayājñānaḿ

dhunoti dhvāntam arkavat

 

yasya — of whom; nārāyaṇaḥ devaḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa; bhagavān — the Lord; hṛt-gataḥ — in the core of the heart; sadā — always; bhaktyā — by devotional service; kevalayā — alone; ajñānam — ignorance; dhunoti — cleans; dhvāntam — darkness; arka-vat — as the sun.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is full of all opulences, is predominant within the core of your heart because of your being a pure devotee. He always drives away all the darkness of ignorance, as the sun drives away the darkness of the universe.

 

7.13.23

tathāpi brūmahe praśnāḿs

tava rājan yathā-śrutam

sambhāṣaṇīyo hi bhavān

ātmanaḥ śuddhim icchatā

 

tathāpi — still; brūmahe — I shall answer; praśnān — all the questions; tava — your; rājan — O King; yathā-śrutam — as I have learned by hearing from the authorities; sambhāṣaṇīyaḥ — fit for being addressed; hi — indeed; bhavān — you; ātmanaḥ — of the self; śuddhim — purification; icchatā — by one who desires.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear King, although you know everything, you have posed some questions, which I shall try to answer according to what I have learned by hearing from authorities. I cannot remain silent in this regard, for a personality like you is just fit to be spoken to by one who desires self-purification.

 

7.13.24

tṛṣṇayā bhava-vāhinyā

yogyaiḥ kāmair apūryayā

karmāṇi kāryamāṇo 'haḿ

nānā-yoniṣu yojitaḥ

 

tṛṣṇayā — because of material desires; bhava-vāhinyā — under the sway of the material laws of nature; yogyaiḥ — as it is befitting; kāmaiḥ — by material desires; apūryayā — without end, one after another; karmāṇi — activities; kāryamāṇaḥ — constantly being compelled to perform; aham — I; nānā-yoniṣu — in various forms of life; yojitaḥ — engaged in the struggle for existence.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Because of insatiable material desires, I was being carried away by the waves of material nature's laws, and thus I was engaging in different activities, struggling for existence in various forms of life.

 

7.13.25

yadṛcchayā lokam imaḿ

prāpitaḥ karmabhir bhraman

svargāpavargayor dvāraḿ

tiraścāḿ punar asya ca

 

yadṛcchayā — carried by the waves of material nature; lokam — human form; imam — this; prāpitaḥ — achieved; karmabhiḥ — by the influence of different fruitive activities; bhraman — wandering from one form of life to another; svarga — to the heavenly planets; apavargayoḥ — to liberation; dvāram — the gate; tiraścām — lower species of life; punaḥ — again; asya — of the human beings; ca — and.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In the course of the evolutionary process, which is caused by fruitive activities due to undesirable material sense gratification, I have received this human form of life, which can lead to the heavenly planets, to liberation, to the lower species, or to rebirth among human beings.

 

7.13.26

tatrāpi dam-patīnāḿ ca

sukhāyānyāpanuttaye

karmāṇi kurvatāḿ dṛṣṭvā

nivṛtto 'smi viparyayam

 

tatra — there; api — also; dam-patīnām — of men and women united by marriage; ca — and; sukhāya — for the sake of pleasure, specifically the pleasure of sex life; anya-apanuttaye — for avoiding misery; karmāṇi — fruitive activities; kurvatām — always engaged in; dṛṣṭvā — by observing; nivṛttaḥ asmi — I have now ceased (from such activities); viparyayam — the opposite.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In this human form of life, a man and women unite for the sensual pleasure of sex, but by actual experience we have observed that none of them are happy. Therefore, seeing the contrary results, I have stopped taking part in materialistic activities.

 

7.13.27

sukham asyātmano rūpaḿ

sarvehoparatis tanuḥ

manaḥ-saḿsparśajān dṛṣṭvā

bhogān svapsyāmi saḿviśan

 

sukham — happiness; asya — of him; ātmanaḥ — of the living entity; rūpam — the natural position; sarva — all; īha — material activities; uparatiḥ — completely stopping; tanuḥ — the medium of its manifestation; manaḥ-saḿsparśa-jān — produced from demands for sense gratification; dṛṣṭvā — after seeing; bhogān — sense enjoyment; svapsyāmi — I am sitting silently, thinking deeply about these material activities; saḿviśan — entering into such activities.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The actual form of life for the living entities is one of spiritual happiness, which is real happiness. This happiness can be achieved only when one stops all materialistic activities. Material sense enjoyment is simply imagination. Therefore, considering this subject matter, I have ceased from all material activities and am lying down here.

 

7.13.28

ity etad ātmanaḥ svārthaḿ

santaḿ vismṛtya vai pumān

vicitrām asati dvaite

ghorām āpnoti saḿsṛtim

 

iti — in this way; etat — a person materially conditioned; ātmanaḥ — of his self; sva-artham — own interest; santam — existing within oneself; vismṛtya — forgetting; vai — indeed; pumān — the living entity; vicitrām — attractive false varieties; asati — in the material world; dvaite — other than the self; ghorām — very fearful (due to continuous acceptance of birth and death); āpnoti — one becomes entangled; saḿsṛtim — in material existence.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In this way the conditioned soul living within the body forgets his self-interest because he identifies himself with the body. Because the body is material, his natural tendency is to be attracted by the varieties of the material world. Thus the living entity suffers the miseries of material existence.

 

7.13.29

jalaḿ tad-udbhavaiś channaḿ

hitvājño jala-kāmyayā

mṛgatṛṣṇām upādhāvet

tathānyatrārtha-dṛk svataḥ

 

jalam — water; tat-udbhavaiḥ — by grass grown from that water; channam — covered; hitvā — giving up; ajñaḥ — a foolish animal; jala-kāmyayā — desiring to drink water; mṛgatṛṣṇām — a mirage; upādhāvet — runs after; tathā — similarly; anyatra — somewhere else; artha-dṛk — self-interested; svataḥ — in himself.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Just as a deer, because of ignorance, cannot see the water within a well covered by grass, but runs after water elsewhere, the living entity covered by the material body does not see the happiness within himself, but runs after happiness in the material world.

 

7.13.30

dehādibhir daiva-tantrair

ātmanaḥ sukham īhataḥ

duḥkhātyayaḿ cānīśasya

kriyā moghāḥ kṛtāḥ kṛtāḥ

 

deha-ādibhiḥ — with the body, mind, ego and intelligence; daiva-tantraiḥ — under the control of superior power; ātmanaḥ — of the self; sukham — happiness; īhataḥ — searching after; duḥkha-atyayam — diminution of miserable conditions; ca — also; anīśasya — of the living entity fully under the control of material nature; kriyāḥ — plans and activities; moghāḥ kṛtāḥ kṛtāḥ — become baffled again and again.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The living entity tries to achieve happiness and rid himself of the causes of distress, but because the various bodies of the living entities are under the full control of material nature, all his plans in different bodies, one after another, are ultimately baffled.

 

7.13.31

ādhyātmikādibhir duḥkhair

avimuktasya karhicit

martyasya kṛcchropanatair

arthaiḥ kāmaiḥ kriyeta kim

 

ādhyātmika-ādibhiḥ — adhyātmika, adhidaivika and adhibhautika; duḥkhaiḥ — by the threefold miseries of material life; avimuktasya — of one who is not freed from such miserable conditions (or one who is subjected to birth, death, old age and disease); karhicit — sometimes; martyasya — of the living entity subjected to death; kṛcchra-upanataiḥ — things obtained because of severe miseries; arthaiḥ — even if some benefit is derived; kāmaiḥ — which can fulfill one's material desires; kriyeta — what do they do; kim — and what is the value of such happiness.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Materialistic activities are always mixed with three kinds of miserable conditions — adhyātmika, adhidaivika and adhibautika. Therefore, even if one achieves some success by performing such activities, what is the benefit of this success? One is still subjected to birth, death, old age, disease and the reactions of his fruitive activities.

 

7.13.32

paśyāmi dhanināḿ kleśaḿ

lubdhānām ajitātmanām

bhayād alabdha-nidrāṇāḿ

sarvato 'bhiviśańkinām

 

paśyāmi — I can practically see; dhaninām — of persons who are very rich; kleśam — the miseries; lubdhānām — who are extremely greedy; ajita-ātmanām — who are victims of their senses; bhayāt — because of fear; alabdha-nidrāṇām — who are suffering from insomnia; sarvataḥ — from all sides; abhiviśańkinām — being particularly afraid.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The brāhmaṇa continued: I am actually seeing how a rich man, who is a victim of his senses, is very greedy to accumulate wealth, and therefore suffers from insomnia due to fear from all sides, despite his wealth and opulence.

 

7.13.33

rājataś caurataḥ śatroḥ

sva-janāt paśu-pakṣitaḥ

arthibhyaḥ kālataḥ svasmān

nityaḿ prāṇārthavad bhayam

 

rājataḥ — from the government; caurataḥ — from thieves and rogues; śatroḥ — from enemies; sva-janāt — from relatives; paśu-pakṣitaḥ — from animals and birds; arthibhyaḥ — from beggars and persons seeking charity; kālataḥ — from the time factor; svasmāt — as well as from one's self; nityam — always; prāṇa-artha-vat — for one who has life or money; bhayam — fear.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Those who are considered materially powerful and rich are always full of anxieties because of governmental laws, thieves and rogues, enemies, family members, animals, birds, persons seeking charity, the inevitable time factor and even their own selves. Thus they are invariably afraid.

 

7.13.34

śoka-moha-bhaya-krodha-

rāga-klaibya-śramādayaḥ

yan-mūlāḥ syur nṛṇāḿ jahyāt

spṛhāḿ prāṇārthayor budhaḥ

 

śoka — lamentation; moha — illusion; bhaya — fear; krodha — anger; rāga — attachment; klaibya — poverty; śrama — unnecessary labor; ādayaḥ — and so on; yat-mūlāḥ — the original cause of all these; syuḥ — become; nṛṇām — of human beings; jahyāt — should give up; spṛhām — the desire; prāṇa — for bodily strength or prestige; arthayoḥ — and accumulating money; budhaḥ — an intelligent person.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Those in human society who are intelligent should give up the original cause of lamentation, illusion, fear, anger, attachment, poverty and unnecessary labor. The original cause of all of these is the desire for unnecessary prestige and money.

 

7.13.35

madhukāra-mahā-sarpau

loke 'smin no gurūttamau

vairāgyaḿ paritoṣaḿ ca

prāptā yac-chikṣayā vayam

 

madhukāra — bees that go from flower to flower to collect honey; mahā-sarpau — the big snake (the python, which does not move from one place to another); loke — in the world; asmin — this; naḥ — our; guru — spiritual masters; uttamau — first-class; vairāgyam — renunciation; paritoṣam ca — and satisfaction; prāptāḥ — obtained; yat-śikṣayā — by whose instruction; vayam — we.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The bee and the python are two excellent spiritual masters who give us exemplary instructions regarding how to be satisfied by collecting only a little and how to stay in one place and not move.

 

7.13.36

virāgaḥ sarva-kāmebhyaḥ

śikṣito me madhu-vratāt

kṛcchrāptaḿ madhuvad vittaḿ

hatvāpy anyo haret patim

 

virāgaḥ — detachment; sarva-kāmebhyaḥ — from all material desires; śikṣitaḥ — has been taught; me — unto me; madhu-vratāt — from the bumblebee; kṛcchra — with great difficulties; āptam — acquired; madhu-vat — as good as honey ("money is honey"); vittam — money; hatvā — killing; api — even; anyaḥ — another; haret — takes away; patim — the owner.

 

TRANSLATION

 

From the bumblebee I have learned to be unattached to accumulating money, for although money is as good as honey, anyone can kill its owner and take it away.

 

7.13.37

anīhaḥ parituṣṭātmā

yadṛcchopanatād aham

no cec chaye bahv-ahāni

mahāhir iva sattvavān

 

anīhaḥ — with no desire to possess more; parituṣṭa — very satisfied; ātmā — self; yadṛcchā — in its own way, without endeavor; upanatāt — by things brought in by possession; aham — I; no — not; cet — if so; śaye — I lie down; bahu — many; ahāni — days; mahā-ahiḥ — a python; iva — like; sattva-vān — enduring.

 

TRANSLATION

 

I do not endeavor to get anything, but am satisfied with whatever is achieved in its own way. If I do not get anything, I am patient and unagitated like a python and lie down in this way for many days.

 

7.13.38

kvacid alpaḿ kvacid bhūri

bhuñje 'nnaḿ svādv asvādu vā

kvacid bhūri guṇopetaḿ

guṇa-hīnam uta kvacit

śraddhayopahṛtaḿ kvāpi

kadācin māna-varjitam

bhuñje bhuktvātha kasmiḿś cid

divā naktaḿ yadṛcchayā

 

kvacit — sometimes; alpam — very little; kvacit — sometimes; bhūri — a great quantity; bhuñje — I eat; annam — food; svādu — palatable; asvādu — stale; vā — either; kvacit — sometimes; bhūri — great; guṇa-upetam — a nice flavor; guṇa-hīnam — without flavor; uta — whether; kvacit — sometimes; śraddhayā — respectfully; upahṛtam — brought by someone; kvāpi — sometimes; kadācit — sometimes; māna-varjitam — offered without respect; bhuñje — I eat; bhuktvā — after eating; atha — as such; kasmin cit — sometimes, in some place; divā — during the daytime; naktam — or at night; yadṛcchayā — as it is available.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Sometimes I eat a very small quantity and sometimes a great quantity. Sometimes the food is very palatable, and sometimes it is stale. Sometimes prasāda is offered with great respect, and sometimes food is given neglectfully. Sometimes I eat during the day and sometimes at night. Thus I eat what is easily available.

 

7.13.39

kṣaumaḿ dukūlam ajinaḿ

cīraḿ valkalam eva vā

vase 'nyad api samprāptaḿ

diṣṭa-bhuk tuṣṭa-dhīr aham

 

kṣaumam — clothing made of linen; dukūlam — silk or cotton; ajinam — deerskin; cīram — loincloth; valkalam — bark; eva — as it is; vā — either; vase — I put on; anyat — something else; api — although; samprāptam — as available; diṣṭa-bhuk — because of destiny; tuṣṭa — satisfied; dhīḥ — mind; aham — I am.

 

TRANSLATION

 

To cover my body I use whatever is available, whether it be linen, silk, cotton, bark or deerskin, according to my destiny, and I am fully satisfied and unagitated.

 

7.13.40

kvacic chaye dharopasthe

tṛṇa-parṇāśma-bhasmasu

kvacit prāsāda-paryańke

kaśipau vā parecchayā

 

kvacit — sometimes; śaye — I lie down; dhara-upasthe — on the surface of the earth; tṛṇa — on grass; parṇa — leaves; aśma — stone; bhasmasu — or a pile of ashes; kvacit — sometimes; prāsāda — in palaces; paryańke — on a first-class bedstead; kaśipau — on a pillow; vā — either; para — of another; icchayā — by the wish.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Sometimes I lie on the surface of the earth, sometimes on leaves, grass or stone, sometimes on a pile of ashes, or sometimes, by the will of others, in a palace on a first-class bed with pillows.

 

7.13.41

kvacit snāto 'nuliptāńgaḥ

suvāsāḥ sragvy alańkṛtaḥ

rathebhāśvaiś care kvāpi

dig-vāsā grahavad vibho

 

kvacit — sometimes; snātaḥ — bathing very nicely; anulipta-ańgaḥ — with sandalwood pulp smeared all over the body; su-vāsāḥ — dressing with very nice garments; sragvī — decorated with garlands of flowers; alańkṛtaḥ — bedecked with various types of ornaments; ratha — on a chariot; ibha — on an elephant; aśvaiḥ — or on the back of a horse; care — I wander; kvāpi — sometimes; dik-vāsāḥ — completely naked; graha-vat — as if haunted by a ghost; vibho — O lord.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O my lord, sometimes I bathe myself very nicely, smear sandalwood pulp all over my body, put on a flower garland, and dress in fine garments and ornaments. Then I travel like a king on the back of an elephant or on a chariot or horse. Sometimes, however, I travel naked, like a person haunted by a ghost.

 

7.13.42

nāhaḿ ninde na ca staumi

sva-bhāva-viṣamaḿ janam

eteṣāḿ śreya āśāse

utaikātmyaḿ mahātmani

 

na — not; aham — I; ninde — blaspheme; na — nor; ca — also; staumi — praise; sva-bhāva — whose nature; viṣamam — contradictory; janam — a living entity or human being; eteṣām — of all of them; śreyaḥ — the ultimate benefit; āśāse — I pray for; uta — indeed; aikātmyam — oneness; mahā-ātmani — in the Supersoul, the Parabrahman (Kṛṣṇa).

 

TRANSLATION

 

Different people are of different mentalities. Therefore it is not my business either to praise them or to blaspheme them. I only desire their welfare, hoping that they will agree to become one with the Supersoul, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa.

 

7.13.43

vikalpaḿ juhuyāc cittau

tāḿ manasy artha-vibhrame

mano vaikārike hutvā

taḿ māyāyāḿ juhoty anu

 

vikalpam — discrimination (between good and bad, one person and another, one nation and another, and all similar discrimination); juhuyāt — one should offer as oblations; cittau — in the fire of consciousness; tām — that consciousness; manasi — in the mind; artha-vibhrame — the root of all acceptance and rejection; manaḥ — that mind; vaikārike — in false ego, identification of oneself with matter; hutvā — offering as oblations; tam — this false ego; māyāyām — in the total material energy; juhoti — offers as oblations; anu — following this principle.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The mental concoction of discrimination between good and bad should be accepted as one unit and then invested in the mind, which should then be invested in the false ego. The false ego should be invested in the total material energy. This is the process of fighting false discrimination.

 

7.13.44

ātmānubhūtau tāḿ māyāḿ

juhuyāt satya-dṛń muniḥ

tato nirīho viramet

svānubhūty-ātmani sthitaḥ

 

ātma-anubhūtau — unto self-realization; tām — that; māyām — the false ego of material existence; juhuyāt — should offer as an oblation; satya-dṛk — one who has actually realized the ultimate truth; muniḥ — such a thoughtful person; tataḥ — because of this self-realization; nirīhaḥ — without material desires; viramet — one must completely retire from material activities; sva-anubhūti-ātmani — in self-realization; sthitaḥ — thus being situated.

 

TRANSLATION

 

A learned, thoughtful person must realize that material existence is illusion. This is possible only by self-realization. A self-realized person, who has actually seen the truth, should retire from all material activities, being situated in self-realization.

 

7.13.45

svātma-vṛttaḿ mayetthaḿ te

suguptam api varṇitam

vyapetaḿ loka-śāstrābhyāḿ

bhavān hi bhagavat-paraḥ

 

sva-ātma-vṛttam — the information of the history of self-realization; mayā — by me; ittham — in this way; te — unto you; su-guptam — extremely confidential; api — although; varṇitam — explained; vyapetam — without; loka-śāstrābhyām — the opinion of the common man or common literatures; bhavān — your good self; hi — indeed; bhagavat-paraḥ — having fully realized the Personality of Godhead.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Prahlāda Mahārāja, you are certainly a self-realized soul and a devotee of the Supreme Lord. You do not care for public opinion or so-called scriptures. For this reason I have described to you without hesitation the history of my self-realization.

 

7.13.46

śrī-nārada uvāca

dharmaḿ pāramahaḿsyaḿ vai

muneḥ śrutvāsureśvaraḥ

pūjayitvā tataḥ prīta

āmantrya prayayau gṛham

 

śrī-nāradaḥ uvāca — Śrī Nārada Muni said; dharmam — the occupational duty; pāramahaḿsyam — of the paramahaḿsas, the most perfect human beings; vai — indeed; muneḥ — from the saintly person; śrutvā — thus hearing; asura-īśvaraḥ — the King of the asuras, Prahlāda Mahārāja; pūjayitvā — by worshiping the saintly person; tataḥ — thereafter; prītaḥ — being very pleased; āmantrya — taking permission; prayayau — left that place; gṛham — for his home.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Nārada Muni continued: After Prahlāda Mahārāja, the King of the demons, heard these instructions from the saint, he understood the occupational duties of a perfect person [paramahaḿsa]. Thus he duly worshiped the saint, took his permission and then left for his own home.