Canto 9: LiberationChapter 4: Ambarīṣa Mahārāja Offended by Durvāsā Muni

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 9.4.27

gṛheṣu dāreṣu suteṣu bandhuṣu

dvipottama-syandana-vāji-vastuṣu

akṣayya-ratnābharaṇāmbarādiṣv

ananta-kośeṣv akarod asan-matim

SYNONYMS

gṛheṣuin the homes; dāreṣuin wives; suteṣuin children; bandhuṣuin friends and relatives; dvipa-uttamain the best of powerful elephants; syandanain nice chariots; vājiin first-class horses; vastuṣuin all such things; akṣayya — whose value never decreases; ratnain jewels; ābharaṇain ornaments; ambara-ādiṣuin such dresses and ornaments; ananta-kośeṣuin an inexhaustible treasury; akarot — accepted; asat-matimno attachment.

TRANSLATION

Mahārāja Ambarīṣa gave up all attachment to household affairs, wives, children, friends and relatives, to the best of powerful elephants, to beautiful chariots, carts, horses and inexhaustible jewels, and to ornaments, garments and an inexhaustible treasury. He gave up attachment to all of them, regarding them as temporary and material.

PURPORT

Anāsaktasya viṣayān yathārham upayuñjataḥ. Material possessions can be accepted as far as they can be used in devotional service. Ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānuśīlanam. Ānukūlyasya sańkalpaḥ prātikūlyasya varjanam. In preaching, many things considered material are needed. A devotee should not have any attachment for such material involvements as house, wife, children, friends and cars. Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, for example, had all such things, but he was not attached to them. This is the effect of bhakti-yoga. Bhaktiḥ pareśānubhavo viraktir anyatra ca (Bhāg. 11.2.42). One who is advanced in devotional service has no attachment for material things for sense enjoyment, but for preaching, to spread the glories of the Lord, he accepts such things without attachment. Anāsaktasya viṣayān yathārham upayuñjataḥ. Everything can be used to the extent that it can be engaged in Kṛṣṇa's service.

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