TEXT 19
tvam tv abja-nabhanghri-saroja-kosa-
durgasrito nirjita-sat-sapatnah
bhunksveha bhogan purusatidistan
vimukta-sangah prakrtim bhajasva
SYNONYMS
tvamyourself; tuthen; abja-nabhaof the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose navel is like a lotus flower; anghrifeet; sarojalotus; kosahole; durgathe stronghold; asritahtaken shelter of; nirjitaconquered; sat-sapatnahthe six enemies (the mind and five senses); bhunksvaenjoy; ihain this material world; bhoganenjoyable things; purusaby the Supreme person; atidistanextraordinarily ordered; vimuktaliberated; sangahfrom material association; prakrtimconstitutional position; bhajasvaenjoy.
TRANSLATION
Lord Brahma continued: My dear Priyavrata, seek shelter inside the opening in the lotus of the feet of the Lord, whose navel is also like a lotus. Thus conquer the six sense organs [the mind and knowledge-acquiring senses]. Accept material enjoyment because the Lord, extraordinarily, has ordered you to do this. You will thus always be liberated from material association and be able to carry out the Lords orders in your constitutional position.
PURPORT
There are three kinds of men within this material world. Those who are trying to enjoy the senses to the utmost are called karmis, above them are the jnanis, who try to conquer the urges of the senses, and above them are the yogis, who have already conquered the senses. None of them, however, are situated in a transcendental position. Only devotees. who belong to none of the above-mentioned groups, are transcendental. As explained in Bhagavad-gita (14.26):
One who engages in full devotional service, who does not fall down in any circumstance, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman. Lord Brahma herein advises Priyavrata to remain transcendental in the fortress not of family life but of the lotus feet of the Lord (abja-nabhanghri-saroja). When a bumblebee enters the opening of a lotus flower and drinks its honey, it is fully protected by the petals of the lotus. The bee is undisturbed by sunshine and other external influences. Similarly, one who always seeks shelter at the lotus feet of the personality of Godhead is protected from all dangers. It is therefore said in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.58):
For one who has taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord, everything becomes easier. Indeed, even crossing the great ocean of nescience (bhavambudhi) is exactly like crossing the hoofprint created by a calf (vatsa-padam). For such a devotee, there is no question of remaining in a place where every step is dangerous.
Our actual duty is to carry out the supreme order of the Personality of Godhead. If we are fixed in our determination to carry out the supreme order of the Lord, we are always secure, regardless of where we are situated, whether in hell or in heaven. Herein the words prakrtim bhajasva are very significant. Prakrtim refers to ones constitutional position. Every living entity has the constitutional position of being an eternal servant of God. Therefore Lord Brahma advised Priyavrata, Be situated in your original position as an eternal servant of the Lord. If you carry out His orders, you will never fall, even in the midst of material enjoyment. Material enjoyment achieved by dint of ones fruitive activities differs from material enjoyment given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. A devotee sometimes appears to be in a very opulent position, but he accepts that position to follow the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore a devotee is never affected by material influences. The devotees in the Krsna consciousness movement are preaching all over the world in accordance with the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. They have to meet many karmis, but by the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they are unaffected by material influences. He has blessed them, as described in the Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 7.129):
A sincere devotee who engages in the service of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by preaching His cult all over the world will never be affected by visaya-taranga, material influences. On the contrary, in due course of time he will return to the shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and will thus have perpetual association with Him.
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