Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 5.1.2

na nūnam mukta-sańgānām

tādriśānām dvijarshabha

griheshv abhiniveśo 'yam

pumsām bhavitum arhati

SYNONYMS

na — not; nūnam — certainly; mukta-sańgānām — who are free from attachment; tādriśānām — such; dvija-rishabha — O greatest of the brāhmanas; griheshu — to family life; abhiniveśah — excessive attachment; ayam — this; pumsām — of persons; bhavitum — to be; arhati — is possible.

TRANSLATION

Devotees are certainly liberated persons. Therefore, O greatest of the brāhmanas, they cannot possibly be absorbed in family affairs.

PURPORT

In Bhakti-rasāmrita-sindhu it is said that by executing devotional service to the Lord, one can understand the transcendental position of the living being and the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot be understood by any means except bhakti. The Lord confirms this in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.14.21). Bhaktyāham ekayā grāhyah: "only by executing devotional service can one appreciate Me." Similarly, in Bhagavad-gītā (18.55) Lord Krishna says, bhaktyā mām abhijānāti: "simply by discharging devotional service, one can understand Me." Thus for a bhakta to become attached to family affairs is impossible, since a bhakta and his associates are liberated. Everyone is searching after ānanda, or bliss, but in the material world there can never be any bliss. It is only possible in devotional service. Attachment for family affairs and devotional service are incompatible. Therefore Mahārāja Parīkshit was somewhat surprised to hear that Mahārāja Priyavrata was simultaneously attached to devotional service and to family life.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness