TEXT 165
rddha siddhi-vraja-vijayita satya-dharma samadhir
brahmanando gurur api camatkarayaty eva tavat
yavat premnam madhu-ripu-vasikara-siddhausadhinam
gandho 'py antah-karana-sarani-panthatam na prayati
SYNONYMS
rddhaexcellent; siddhi-vrajaof the groups of material perfections of the yogis (anima, laghima, prapti and so on); vijayitathe victory; satya-dharmathe religious principles of perfection (satya, sama, titiksa and so on); samadhihthe yogic perfection of meditation; brahma-anandahthe spiritually blissful life of the monist; guruhvery high in material considerations; apialthough; camatkarayatithey appear very important; evaonly; tavatthat long; yavatas long as; premnamof love of Krsna; madhu-ripuof Krsna, the enemy of the Madhu demon; vasikarain the controlling; siddha-ausadhinamwhich is like perfect herbs that can control snakes; gandhaha light fragrance; apieven; antah-karana-sarani-panthatama traveler on the path of the heart; na prayatidoes not become.
TRANSLATION
"As long as there is not the slightest fragrance of pure love of Krsna, which is the perfected medicinal herb for controlling Lord Krsna within the heart, the opulences of material perfection-known as the siddhis, the brahminical perfections [satya, sama, titiksa and so on], the trance of the yogis and the monistic bliss of Brahman-all seem wonderful for men.
PURPORT
There are different types of material perfection known as siddhi-vraja, brahminical qualifications, yogic trance and merging into the Supreme. All these are certainly very attractive for a mundane person, but their brilliance exists only as long as one does not take to devotional service. Devotional service can control the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the supreme controller of all universal affairs. The five rasas (mellows) in the transcendental world are practiced by the inhabitants of Goloka Vrndavana in neutrality, servitorship, friendship, paternal affection and conjugal love. All these please the Lord so much that He is controlled by the devotees. For instance, mother Yasoda was so advanced in devotional service that Krsna agreed to be controlled by her stick. In other words, the five principal mellows are so great and glorious that they are able to control the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the material world, however, the so-called siddhis, or perfections, manifest their brightness only as long as one is not interested in devotional service. In other words, the perfection of the karmis, jnanis, yogis and others remains attractive only as long as one does not come to the point of devotional service, which is so great and significant that it can control the supreme controller, Krsna.

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