| Canto 11: General History | Chapter 7: Lord Krishna Instructs Uddhava |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 11.7.29
SYNONYMS
janeshu -- all people; dahyamaneshu -- even while they are burning; kama -- of lust; lobha -- and greed; dava-agnina -- in the forest fire; na tapyase -- you are not burned; agnina -- from the fire; muktah -- free; ganga-ambhah -- in the water of the Ganga; sthah -- standing; iva -- as if; dvipah -- an elephant.
TRANSLATION
Although all people within the material world are burning in the great forest fire of lust and greed, you remain free and are not burned by that fire. You are just like an elephant who takes shelter from a forest fire by standing within the water of the Ganges River,
PURPORT
The natural result of transcendental bliss is described in this verse. The young brahmana was physically very attractive, and his senses were full of potency for material enjoyment, yet he was not at all affected by material lust. This position is called mukti, or liberation.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura explains that within the Ganges flow great currents of water, capable of extinguishing a blazing fire. If an elephant maddened by sex desire stands within the Ganges, its powerful, cooling currents extinguish his lust, and the elephant becomes pacified. Similarly, ordinary human beings trapped in the cycle of birth and death are constantly harassed by the enemies of lust and greed, which never allow the mind to be completely peaceful. But if, following the example of the elephant, one situates oneself within the cooling waves of transcendental bliss, then all material desire will soon be extinguished, and one will become santa, or peaceful. As described in Sr Caitanya-caritamrita, krishna-bhakta nishkama ataeva santa. Thus, everyone should take to the movement of Caitanya Mahaprabhu and cleanse himself in the cooling waters of Krishna consciousness, our real, eternal consciousness.
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