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
| Canto 4: Creation of the Fourth Order | Chapter 25: The Descriptions of the Characteristics of King Puranjana |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 4.25.6
SYNONYMS
griheshu -- in family life; kuta-dharmeshu -- in false occupational duties; putra -- sons; dara -- wife; dhana -- wealth; artha -- the goal of life; dhih -- one who considers; na -- not; param -- transcendence; vindate -- achieves; mudhah -- rascal; bhramyan -- wandering; samsara -- of material existence; vartmasu -- on the paths.
TRANSLATION
Those who are interested only in a so-called beautiful life -- namely remaining as a householder entangled by sons and a wife and searching after wealth -- think that such things are life's ultimate goal. Such people simply wander in different types of bodies throughout this material existence without finding out the ultimate goal of life.
PURPORT
Those who are too much attached to family life -- which consists of entanglement with wife, children, wealth and home -- are engaged in kuta-dharma, pseudo duties. Prahlada Maharaja has likened these pseudo occupational duties to a dark well (andha-kupam). Prahlada has purposefully spoken of this dark well because if one falls into this well, he will die. He may cry for help, but no one will hear him or come to rescue him.
The words bhramyan samsara-vartmasu are significant. In Caitanya-caritamrita (Madhya 19.151), Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu very clearly explains: brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva. All living entities are wandering in different types of bodies throughout different planets, and if, in the course of their wanderings, they come in contact with a devotee by the direction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, their lives become successful. Even though King Pracinabarhishat was engaged in fruitive activity, the great sage Narada appeared before him. The King was very fortunate to be able to associate with Narada, who enlightened him in spiritual knowledge. It is the duty of all saintly persons to follow in the footsteps of Narada Muni and travel all over the world to every country and village just to instruct illusioned persons about the goal of life and to save them from the entanglement of karma-bandha, fruitive activity.
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