TEXTS 1516
sri-suka uvaca
ambariso maha-bhagah
sapta-dvipavatim mahim
avyayam ca sriyam labdhva
vibhavam catulam bhuvi
mene tidurlabham pumsam
sarvam tat svapna-samstutam
vidvan vibhava-nirvanam
tamo visati yat puman
SYNONYMS
sri-sukah uvacaSri Sukadeva Gosvami said; ambarisahKing Ambarisa; maha-bhagahthe greatly fortunate king; sapta-dvipavatimconsisting of seven islands; mahimthe whole world; avyayam caand inexhaustible; sriyambeauty; labdhvaafter achieving; vibhavam caand opulences; atulamunlimited; bhuviin this earth; menehe decided; ati-durlabhamwhich is rarely obtained; pumsamof many persons; sarvameverything (he had obtained); tatthat which; svapna-samstutamas if imagined in a dream; vidvancompletely understanding; vibhava-nirvanamthe annihilation of that opulence; tamahignorance; visatifallen into; yatbecause of which; pumana person.
TRANSLATION
Sukadeva Gosvami said: Maharaja Ambarisa, the most fortunate personality, achieved the rule of the entire world, consisting of seven islands, and achieved inexhaustible, unlimited opulence and prosperity on earth. Although such a position is rarely obtained, Maharaja Ambarisa did not care for it at all, for he knew very well that all such opulence is material. Like that which is imagined in a dream, such opulence will ultimately be destroyed. The King knew that any nondevotee who attains such opulence merges increasingly into material natures mode of darkness.
PURPORT
For a devotee material opulence is insignificant, whereas for a nondevotee material opulence is the cause of increasing bondage, for a devotee knows that anything material is temporary, whereas a nondevotee regards the temporary so-called happiness as everything and forgets the path of self-realization. Thus for the nondevotee material opulence is a disqualification for spiritual advancement.

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