TEXT 28
vidura uvaca
sudurlabham yat paramam padam harer
mayavinas tac-caranarcanarjitam
labdhvapy asiddhartham ivaika-janmana
katham svam atmanam amanyatartha-vit
SYNONYMS
vidurah uvacaVidura continued to inquire; sudurlabhamvery rare; yatthat which; paramamis the supreme; padamsituation; harehof the Supreme Personality of Godhead; maya-vinahvery affectionate; tatHis; caranalotus feet; arcanaby worshiping; arjitamachieved; labdhvahaving attained; apialthough; asiddha-arthamnot fulfilled; ivaas if; eka-janmanain the duration of one life; kathamwhy; svamown; atmanamheart; amanyatahe felt; artha-vitbeing very wise.
TRANSLATION
Sri Vidura inquired: My dear brahmana, the abode of the Lord is very difficult to attain. It can be attained only by pure devotional service, which alone pleases the most affectionate, merciful Lord. Dhruva Maharaja achieved this position even in one life, and he was very wise and conscientious. Why, then, was he not very pleased?
PURPORT
Saint Viduras inquiry is very relevant. The word artha-vit, which refers to one who knows how to discriminate between reality and unreality, is very significant in this connection. An artha-vit is also called paramahamsa. A paramahamsa accepts only the active principle of everything; just as a swan accepts only the milk from a mixture of water and milk, a paramahamsa accepts only the Supreme Personality of Godhead as his life and soul, neglecting all external, material things. Dhruva Maharaja was in this category, and due to his determination he achieved, the result he desired, but still when he returned home he was not very pleased.

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