SB 5.13.20

TEXT 20

TEXT

रहूगण त्वमपि ह्यध्वनो ऽस्य सन्न्यस्तदण्डः कृतभूतमैत्रः ।
असज्जितात्मा हरिसेवया शितं ज्ञानासिमादाय तरातिपारम् ॥ २० ॥

rahūgana tvam api hy adhvano 'sya

sannyasta-danḍaḥ krta-bhūta-maitraḥ

asaj-jitatma hari-sevaya sitam

jnanasim adaya tarati-param

rahūgana-O King Rahūgana; tvam-you; api-also; hi-certainly; adhvanaḥ-of the path of material existence; asya-this; sannyasta-danḍaḥ-having given up the king's rod for punishing criminals; krta-bhūta-maitraḥ-having become friendly to everyone; asat-jita-atma-whose mind is not attracted to the material pleasure of life; hari-sevaya-by the means of loving service to the Supreme Lord; sitam-sharpened; jnana-asim-the sword of knowledge; adaya-taking in hand; tara-cross over; ati-param-to the ultimate end of spiritual existence.

TRANSLATION

My dear King Rahūgana, you are also a victim of the external energy, being situated on the path of attraction to material pleasure. So that you may become an equal friend to all living entities, I now advise you to give up your kingly position and the rod by which you punish criminals. Give up attraction to the sense objects and take up the sword of knowledge sharpened by devotional service. Then you will be able to cut the hard knot of illusory energy and cross to the other side of the ocean of nescience.

PURPORT

In Bhagavad-gita Lord Krsna compares the material world to a tree of illusion from which one must cut oneself free:

na rūpam asyeha tathopalabhyate
nanto na cadir na ca sampratistha
asvattham enam suvirūḍha-mūlam
asahga-sastrena drḍhena chittva

tataḥ padam tat parimargitavyam
yasmin gata na nivartanti bhūyaḥ
tam eva cadyam purusam prapadye
yataḥ pravrttiḥ prasrta purani

"The real form of this tree cannot be perceived in this world. No one can understand where it ends, where it begins, or where its foundation is. But with determination, one must cut down this tree with the weapon of detachment. So doing, one must seek that place from which, having once gone, one never returns, and there surrender to that Supreme Personality of Godhead from whom everything has begun and in whom everything is abiding since time immemorial." (Bg. 15.3-4)

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