TEXT 20
bhavan atarsin mayam vai
vaisnavim jana-mohinim
yad vihayasuram bhavam
maha-purusatam gatah
SYNONYMS
bhavanyour good self; atarsithas surmounted; mayamthe illusory energy; vaiindeed; vaisnavimof Lord Visnu; jana-mohinimwhich deludes the mass of people; yatsince; vihayagiving up; asuramof the demons; bhavamthe mentality; maha-purusatamthe position of an exalted devotee; gatahobtained.
TRANSLATION
You have surmounted the illusory energy of Lord Visnu, and because of this liberation, you have given up the demoniac mentality and have attained the position of an exalted devotee.
PURPORT
Lord Visnu is the maha-purusa. Therefore one who becomes a Vaisnava attains the position of a maha-paurusya. This position was attained by Maharaja Pariksit. It is said in the Padma Purana that the distinction between a demigod and a demon is that a demigod is a devotee of Lord Visnu whereas a demon is just the opposite: visnu-bhaktah smrto daiva asuras tad-viparyayah. Vrtrasura was considered a demon, but actually he was more than qualified as a devotee, or maha-paurusya. If one somehow becomes a devotee of the Supreme Lord, whatever his position, he can be brought to the position of a perfect person. This is possible if an unalloyed devotee tries to serve the Lord by delivering him in this way. Therefore Sukadeva Gosvami says in Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.4.18):
kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa
abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah
ye nye ca papa yad-apasrayasrayah
sudhyanti tasmai prabhavisnave namah
Kiratas, Hunas, Andhras, Pulindas, Pulkasas, Abhiras, Sumbhas, Yavanas and members of the Khasa races, and even others addicted to sinful acts can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord, for He is the supreme power. I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto Him. Anyone can be purified if he takes shelter of a pure devotee and molds his character according to the pure devotees direction. Then, even if one is a Kirata, Andhra, Pulinda or whatever, he can be purified and elevated to the position of a maha-paurusya.

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