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 9: Liberation | Chapter 18: King Yayati Regains His Youth |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Srimad Bhagavatam 9.18.43
pratikartum kshamo yasya
SYNONYMS
sri-puruh uvaca -- Puru said; kah -- what; nu -- indeed; loke -- in this world; manushya-indra -- O Your Majesty, best of human beings; pituh -- the father; atma-kritah -- who has given this body; puman -- a person; pratikartum -- to repay; kshamah -- is able; yasya -- of whom; prasadat -- by the mercy; vindate -- one enjoys; param -- superior life.
TRANSLATION
Puru replied: O Your Majesty, who in this world can repay his debt to his father? By the mercy of one's father, one gets the human form of life, which can enable one to become an associate of the Supreme Lord.
PURPORT
The father gives the seed of the body, and this seed gradually grows and develops until one ultimately attains the developed human body, with consciousness higher than that of the animals. In the human body one can be elevated to the higher planets, and, furthermore, if one cultivates Krishna consciousness, one can return home, back to Godhead. This important human body is obtained by the grace of the father, and therefore everyone is indebted to his father. Of course, in other lives one also gets a father and mother; even cats and dogs have fathers and mothers. But in the human form of life the father and mother can award their son the greatest benediction by teaching him to become a devotee. When one becomes a devotee, he achieves the greatest benediction because he completely averts the repetition of birth and death. Therefore the father who trains his child in Krishna consciousness is the most benevolent father in this world. It is said:
janame janame sabe pita mata paya
krishna guru nahi mile bhaja hari ei
Everyone gets a father and mother, but if one gets the benediction of Krishna and guru, he can conquer material nature and return home, back to Godhead.
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