Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 4 Chapter 22 Verse 40

Canto 4: Creation of the Fourth Order | Chapter 22: Pṛthu Mahārāja's Meeting with the Four Kumāras

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.22.40

kṛcchro mahān iha bhavārṇavam aplaveśāḿ

ṣaḍ-varga-nakram asukhena titīrṣanti

tat tvaḿ harer bhagavato bhajanīyam ańghriḿ

kṛtvoḍupaḿ vyasanam uttara dustarārṇam

SYNONYMS

kṛcchraḥ — troublesome; mahān — very great; iha — here (in this life); bhava-arṇavam — ocean of material existence; aplava-īśām — of the nondevotees, who have not taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ṣaṭ-varga — six senses; nakram — sharks; asukhena — with great difficulty; titīrṣanti — cross over; tat — therefore; tvam — you; hareḥ — of the Personality of Godhead; bhagavataḥ — of the Supreme; bhajanīyam — worthy of worship; ańghrim — the lotus feet; kṛtvā — making; uḍupam — boat; vyasanam — all kinds of dangers; uttara — cross over; dustara — very difficult; arṇam — the ocean.

TRANSLATION

The ocean of nescience is very difficult to cross because it is infested with many dangerous sharks. Although those who are nondevotees undergo severe austerities and penances to cross that ocean, we recommend that you simply take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord, which are like boats for crossing the ocean. Although the ocean is difficult to cross, by taking shelter of His lotus feet you will overcome all dangers.

PURPORT

Material existence is compared herein to the great ocean of nescience. Another name of this ocean is Vaitaraṇī. In that Vaitaraṇī Ocean, which is the Causal Ocean, there are innumerable universes floating like footballs. On the other side of the ocean is the spiritual world of Vaikuṇṭha, which is described in Bhagavad-gītā (8.20) as paras tasmāt tu bhāvo 'nyaḥ. Thus there is an ever-existing spiritual nature which is beyond this material nature. Even though all the material universes are annihilated again and again in the Causal Ocean, the Vaikuṇṭha planets, which are spiritual, exist eternally and are not subject to dissolution. The human form of life gives the living entity a chance to cross the ocean of nescience, which is this material universe, and enter into the spiritual sky. Although there are many methods or boats by which one can cross the ocean, the Kumāras recommend that the King take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord, just as one would take shelter of a good boat. Nondevotees, who do not take shelter of the Lord's lotus feet, try to cross the ocean of nescience by other methods (karma, jñāna and yoga), but they have a great deal of trouble. Indeed, sometimes they become so busy simply enjoying their troubles that they never cross the ocean. There is no guarantee that the nondevotees will cross the ocean, but even though they manage to cross, they have to undergo severe austerities and penances. On the other hand, anyone who takes to the process of devotional service and has faith that the lotus feet of the Lord are safe boats to cross that ocean is certain to cross very easily and comfortably.

Pṛthu Mahārāja is therefore advised to take the boat of the lotus feet of the Lord to easily cross over all dangers. Dangerous elements in the universe are compared to sharks in the ocean. Even though one may be a very expert swimmer, he cannot possibly survive if he is attacked by sharks. One often sees that many so-called svāmīs and yogīs sometimes advertise themselves as competent to cross the ocean of nescience and to help others cross, but in actuality they are found to be simply victims of their own senses. Instead of helping their followers to cross the ocean of nescience, such svāmīs and yogīs fall prey to māyā, represented by the fair sex, woman, and are thus devoured by the sharks in that ocean.

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