Sri Priti-Sandarbha
BY: SUN STAFF
Srila Jiva Goswami
Jun 26, CANADA (SUN) —
Sri Priti-sandarbha
Volume One
by Srila Jiva Goswami
Anuccheda 35
From this it may be understood that pure love (shuddha-priti) for the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the best of all spiritual attainments. It is said in Srimad-Bhagavatam (6.14.3-5):
rajobhih sama-sankhyatah
parthavair iha jantavah
tesham ye kecanehante
shreyo vai manujadayah
"In this material world there are as many living entities as atoms. Among these living entities, a very few are human beings, and among them few are interested in following religious principles.*
prayo mumukshavas tesham
kecanaiva dvijottama
mumukshunam sahasreshu
kecin mucyeta sidhyati
"O best of the brahamnas, Shukadeva Gosvami, out of many persons who follow religious principles, only a few desire liberation from the material world. among many thousands who desire liberation, one may actually achieve liberation, giving up material attachment to society, friendship, love, county, home, wife, and children. And among many thousands of such liberated persons, one who can understand the true meaning of liberation is very rare.*
muktanam api siddhanam
narayana-parayanah
sudurlabhah prashantatma
kotishv api maha-mune
"O great sage, among many millions who are liberated and perfect in knowledge of liberation, one may be a devotee of Lord Narayana, or Krishna. Such devotees, who are fully peaceful, are very rare."*
In these verses the word "sreyah" means “persons who are interested in following religious principles so they will be happy in the next life, are better", and “mucyeta" means "they become liberated even while living in the material world". If after they attain liberation, such souls do not commit offenses to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they attain the highest, the final liberation. The liberated souls who commit offenses to the Supreme Personality of Godhead are described in these words of Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.2.32):
aruhya kricchrena param padam tatah
patanty adho 'nadrita-yushmad-anghrayah
"O lotus-eyed one, those who think they are liberated in this life but who are without devotional service to You are of impure intelligence. Although they accept severe austerities and penances to rise to the spiritual position, to impersonal Brahman realization, they fall down again because they neglect to worship Your lotus feet."*
These persons were also described in these words of the scriptures quoted previously in Bhakti-sandarbha (110-120):
jivan-muktah prapadyante
punah samsara-vasanam
yady acintya-maha-shaktau
bhagavarty aparadhinah
"Even liberated souls will again take birth in the world of birth and death if they offend the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose great powers are beyond all understanding."
nanuvrajati yo mohad
vrajantam parameshvaram
jnanagni-dagdha-karmapi
sa bhaved brahma-rakshasah
"Even if his past karma is burned to ashes by spiritual knowledge, a person who does not worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead when He arrives will take birth as a brahma-rakshasa demon."
Among many millions of liberated souls, one exalted devotee of the Lord is rare. It is said in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.9.21):
nayam sukhapo bhagavan. . .
"The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as the son of Yasoda and Nanda Maharaja, is never so completely known to the yogis and speculators. But He is easily available to His devotees."*
It is also said in Srimad-Bhagavatam (5.6.18):
muktim dadati karhicit sma na bhakti-yogam
"Those engaged in getting the Lord's favor attain liberation from the Lord very easily, but He does not very easily give the opportunity to render direct service unto Him."*
In Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.5) it is said:
narayana-parayanah sudurlabhah
"O great sage, among many millions who are liberated and perfect in knowledge of liberation, one may be a
Such devotees are peaceful (prashantatma) because they have full faith in the Sri Supreme Personality of Godhead.
This is confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.19.36), where the Supreme Lord declares:
shamo man-nishthata buddheh
"Faith in Me is peacefulness of the intelligence."
The verses quoted in the beginning of this anuccheda were spoken by King Pariksit to Srila Sukadeva Gosvami.
Return to Anuccheda 33-34
