Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 5 Chapter 1 Verse 2

Canto 5: The Creative Impetus | Chapter 1: The Activities of Mahārāja Priyavrata

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 5.1.2

na nūnaḿ mukta-sańgānāḿ

tādṛśānāḿ dvijarṣabha

gṛheṣv abhiniveśo 'yaḿ

puḿsāḿ bhavitum arhati

SYNONYMS

na — not; nūnam — certainly; mukta-sańgānām — who are free from attachment; tādṛśānām — such; dvija-ṛṣabha — O greatest of the brāhmaṇas; gṛheṣu — to family life; abhiniveśaḥ — excessive attachment; ayam — this; puḿsām — of persons; bhavitum — to be; arhati — is possible.

TRANSLATION

Devotees are certainly liberated persons. Therefore, O greatest of the brāhmaṇas, they cannot possibly be absorbed in family affairs.

PURPORT

In Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu it is said that by executing devotional service to the Lord, one can understand the transcendental position of the living being and the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot be understood by any means except bhakti. The Lord confirms this in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.14.21). Bhaktyāham ekayā grāhyaḥ: "only by executing devotional service can one appreciate Me." Similarly, in Bhagavad-gītā (18.55) Lord Kṛṣṇa says, bhaktyā mām abhijānāti: "simply by discharging devotional service, one can understand Me." Thus for a bhakta to become attached to family affairs is impossible, since a bhakta and his associates are liberated. Everyone is searching after ānanda, or bliss, but in the material world there can never be any bliss. It is only possible in devotional service. Attachment for family affairs and devotional service are incompatible. Therefore Mahārāja Parīkṣit was somewhat surprised to hear that Mahārāja Priyavrata was simultaneously attached to devotional service and to family life.

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