benediction wanted
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Imported quote 13132 According to the opinion of expert followers of Vedic rites, there are different types of benedictions in terms of religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and liberation. These four principles are known as catur-vargas. Of all the catur-vargas, the benediction of liberation is considered to be the highest in this material world. To be enabled to cross over material nescience is known as the highest purusartha, or benediction for the human being. But Dhruva Maharaja wanted a benediction which surpasses even the highest purusartha, liberation. He wanted the benediction that he might constantly remember the lotus feet of the Lord. This stage of life is called panca-purusartha. When a devotee comes to the platform of panca-purusartha, simply engaging in devotional service to the Lord, the fourth purusartha, liberation, becomes very insignificant in his eyes. Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati has stated in this connection that for a devotee liberation is a hellish condition of life; as for sense gratification, which is available in the heavenly planets, the devotee considers it to be a will-o'-the-wisp, having no value in life. Yogis endeavor to control the senses, but for a devotee controlling the senses is no difficulty at all. The senses are compared to serpents, but for a devotee the serpents' poison teeth are broken. Thus Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati has analyzed all kinds of benedictions available in this world, and he clearly declares that for a pure devotee they are all of no significance. Dhruva Maharaja was also a maha-bhagavata, or a first-class pure devotee, and his intelligence was very great (maha-matiḥ). Unless one is very intelligent, one cannot take to devotional service or Krsna consciousness. Naturally, anyone who is a first-class devotee must be a first-class intelligent person and therefore not interested in any kind of benediction within this material world. Dhruva Maharaja was offered benediction by the king of the kings. Kuvera, the treasurer of the demigods, whose only business is to supply immense riches to persons within this materialistic world, is described as the king of kings because unless benedicted by Kuvera one cannot become a king. The king of kings personally offered Dhruva Maharaja any amount of riches, but he declined. He is described, therefore, as maha-matiḥ, very thoughtful or highly intellectual.
(More...) Imported quote 18389 Therefore a devotee never asks anything material from the Supreme Personality. As Caitanya Mahaprabhu has taught us, na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagad-isa kamaye . They are simply satisfied by glorifying the Lord. That is their only satisfaction. If they get the opportunity of glorifying the Lord, as it is said in the previous verse, that sabhajayante mama paurusani... [SB 3.25.34]. Mama paurusani, the glorious activities of the Lord. This is the way of bhajana. Satatam kirtayanto mam yatantas ca drḍha-vrataḥ [Bg 9.14]. This is the way of bhakti-yoga. Simply glorify this... Your glorification, so much activities... Krsna therefore comes to give advantage to the devotees for glorifying Him-because He acts. Paritranaya sadhūnam vinasaya ca duskrtam [Bg 4.8].
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