Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 7.6.25

tushte ca tatra kim alabhyam ananta ādye

kim tair guna-vyatikarād iha ye sva-siddhāh

dharmādayah kim agunena ca kāńkshitena

sāram jushām caranayor upagāyatām nah

SYNONYMS

tushte — when satisfied; ca — also; tatra — that; kim — what; alabhyam — unobtainable; anante — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ādye — the original source of everything, the cause of all causes; kim — what need; taih — with them; guna-vyatikarāt — due to the actions of the modes of material nature; iha — in this world; ye — which; sva-siddhāh — automatically achieved; dharma-ādayah — the three principles of material advancement, namely religion, economic development and sense gratification; kim — what need; agunena — with liberation into the Supreme; ca — and; kāńkshitena — desired; sāram — essence; jushām — relishing; caranayoh — of the two lotus feet of the Lord; upagāyatām — who glorify the qualities of the Lord; nah — of us.

TRANSLATION

Nothing is unobtainable for devotees who have satisfied the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the cause of all causes, the original source of everything. The Lord is the reservoir of unlimited spiritual qualities. For devotees, therefore, who are transcendental to the modes of material nature, what is the use of following the principles of religion, economic development, sense gratification and liberation, which are all automatically obtainable under the influence of the modes of nature? We devotees always glorify the lotus feet of the Lord, and therefore we need not ask for anything in terms of dharma, kāma, artha and moksha.

PURPORT

In an advanced civilization, people are eager to be religious, to be economically well situated, to satisfy their senses to the fullest extent, and at last to attain liberation. However, these are not to be magnified as desirable. Indeed, for a devotee these are all very easily available. Bilvamańgala Thākura said, muktih svayam mukulitāñjali sevate 'smān dharmārtha-kāma-gatayah samaya-pratīkshāh. Liberation always stands at the door of a devotee, ready to carry out his orders. Material advancement in religion, economic development, sense gratification and liberation simply wait to serve a devotee at the first opportunity. A devotee is already in a transcendental position; he does not need further qualifications to be liberated. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (14.26), sa gunān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate: a devotee is transcendental to the actions and reactions of the three modes of material nature because he is situated on the Brahman platform.

Prahlāda Mahārāja said, agunena ca kāńkshitena: if one is engaged in the transcendental loving service of the lotus feet of the Lord, he does not need anything in terms of dharma, artha, kāma or moksha. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, therefore, in the beginning of the transcendental literature, it is said, dharmah projjhita-kaitavo 'tra [SB 1.1.2]. Dharma, artha, kāma and moksha are kaitava — false and unnecessary. Nirmatsarānām, persons who are completely transcendental to the material activities of separateness, who make no distinction between "mine" and "yours," but who simply engage in the devotional service of the Lord, are actually fit to accept bhāgavata-dharma (dharmān bhagavatān iha). Because they are nirmatsara, not jealous of anyone, they want to make others devotees, even their enemies. In this regard, Śrīla Madhvācārya remarks, kāńkshate moksha-gam api sukham nākāńkshato yathā. Devotees are not desirous of any material happiness, including the happiness derived from liberation. This is called anyābhilāshitā-śūnyam jñāna-karmādy-anāvritam [Bhakti-rasāmrita-sindhu 1.1.11]. Karmīs desire material happiness, and jñānīs desire liberation, but a devotee does not desire anything; he is simply satisfied by rendering transcendental loving service at the lotus feet of the Lord and glorifying Him everywhere by preaching, which is his life and soul.

<<< >>>

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