| Canto 11: General History | Chapter 3: Liberation from the Illusory Energy |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 11.3.33
SYNONYMS
iti -- thus; bhagavatan dharman -- the science of devotional service; siksan -- studying; bhaktya -- by devotion; tat-utthaya -- generated by it; narayana-parah -- completely devoted to the Supreme Lord, Narayana; mayam -- the illusory energy; anjah -- easily; tarati -- crosses beyond; dustaram -- impossible to cross.
TRANSLATION
Thus learning the science of devotional service and practically engaging in the devotional service of the Lord, the devotee comes to the stage of love of Godhead. And by complete devotion to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, the devotee easily crosses over the illusory energy, maya, which is extremely difficult to cross.
PURPORT
Srila Jiva Gosvami has pointed out that mukti, or liberation, which is described in this verse by the words mayam anjas tarati dustaram, is actually a by-product or secondary result of pure love of Godhead. In the second verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam it is pointed out, dharmah projjhita-kaitavo 'tra paramo nirmatsaranam satam/ vedyam vastavam atra vastu sivadam tapa-trayonmulanam [SB 1.1.2]. Srimad-Bhagavatam teaches the science of devotional service, in which the ultimate goal is pure love of Godhead. According to the Vaisnava acaryas, mukti, or liberation, is a by-product of love of Godhead. Sivadam tapa-trayonmulanam. One should not approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead for liberation, since one is automatically liberated by obeying the order of the Lord. Krsna's order is given at the end of Bhagavad-gita: sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. Every living being should give up his mundane conceptions of life and take full shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. If one carries out this order the Lord automatically provides liberation (mukti). Actual happiness comes from loving God without any tinge of mental speculation or fruitive desire.
anyabhilasita-sunyam
anukulyena krsnanu-
[Madhya 19.167]
"One should render transcendental loving service to Lord Krsna favorably and without desire for material profit or gain through fruitive activities or philosophical speculation. That is called pure devotional service." (Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.1.11) So crossing over the insurmountable ocean of illusion, as described here, is not actually the principal result of bhagavata-dharma, or devotional service to the Lord, but is a by-product of pure love of Godhead.
Copyright (c) The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
His Holiness Hrdayananda dasa Goswami
Gopiparanadhana dasa Adhikari
Dravida dasa Brahmacari