Copyright © r The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
| Canto 4: Creation of the Fourth Order | Chapter 29: Talks Between Nārada and King Prācīnabarhi |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.29.50
SYNONYMS
harih — Śrī Hari; deha-bhritām — of living entities who have accepted material bodies; ātmā — the Supersoul; svayam — Himself; prakritih — material nature; īśvarah — the controller; tat — His; pāda-mūlam — feet; śaranam — shelter; yatah — from which; kshemah — good fortune; nrinām — of men; iha — in this world.
TRANSLATION
Śrī Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the Supersoul and guide of all living entities who have accepted material bodies within this world. He is the supreme controller of all material activities in material nature. He is also our best friend, and everyone should take shelter at His lotus feet. In doing so, one's life will be auspicious.
PURPORT
In Bhagavad-gītā (18.61) it is said, īśvarah sarva-bhūtānām hrid-deśe 'rjuna tishthati: "The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone's heart, O Arjuna." The living entity is within the body, and the Supersoul, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is also there. He is called antaryāmī and caitya-guru. As Lord Krishna states in Bhagavad-gītā (15.15), He is controlling everything.
sarvasya cāham hridi sannivishto
matah smritir jñānam apohanam ca
"I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness."
Everything is being directed by the Supersoul within the body; therefore the better part of valor is to take His direction and be happy. To take His directions, one needs to be a devotee, and this is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (10.10):
"To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me."
Although the Supersoul is in everyone's heart (īśvarah sarva-bhūtānām hrid-deśe 'rjuna tishthati [Bg. 18.61]), He talks only to the pure devotees who constantly engage in His service. In Caitanya-bhāgavata (Antya 3.45) it is said:
tāhāre se bali vidyā, mantra, adhyayana
krishna-pāda-padme ye karaye sthira mana
"One who has fixed his mind on the lotus feet of Krishna is to be understood as having the best education and as having studied all the Vedas." There are also other appropriate quotes in Caitanya-bhāgavata:
sei se vidyāra phala jāniha niścaya
krishna-pāda-padme yadi citta-vritti raya
"The perfect result of an education is the fixing of one's mind on the lotus feet of Krishna." (Ādi 13.178)
'dig-vijaya kariba,' — vidyāra kārya nahe
īśvare bhajile, sei vidyā 'satya' kahe
"Conquering the world by means of material education is not desirable. If one engages himself in devotional service, his education is perfected." (Ādi 13.173)
pade kene loka — krishna-bhakti jānibāre
se yadi nahila, tabe vidyāya ki kare
"The purpose of education is to understand Krishna and His devotional service. If one does not do so, then education is false." (Ādi 12.49)
tāhāre se bali dharma, karma sadācāra
īśvare se prīti janme sammata sabāra
"Being cultured, educated, very active and religious means developing natural love for Krishna." (Antya 3.44) Everyone has dormant love for Krishna, and by culture and education that has to be awakened. That is the purpose of this Krishna consciousness movement. Once Lord Caitanya asked Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya what the best part of education was, and Rāmānanda Rāya replied that the best part of education is advancement in Krishna consciousness.
Copyright © r The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness