CC Madhya 11.50
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT 50
- eta śuni’ sārvabhauma ha-ilā cintita
- rājāra anurāga dekhi’ ha-ilā vismita
SYNONYMS
eta śuni’ — hearing this; sārvabhauma — Sārvabhauma; ha-ilā — became; cintita — very thoughtful; rājāra — of the King; anurāga — attachment; dekhi’ — seeing; ha-ilā — became; vismita — astonished.
TRANSLATION
Hearing King Pratāparudra’s determination, Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya became thoughtful. Indeed, he was very much astonished to see the King’s determination.
PURPORT
Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya was astonished because such determination is not possible for a worldly man attached to material enjoyment. The King certainly had ample opportunity for material enjoyment, but he was thinking that his kingdom and everything else was useless if he could not see Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. This is certainly sufficient cause for astonishment. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is stated that bhakti, devotional service, must be unconditional. No material impediments can actually check the advancement of devotional service, be it executed by a common man or a king. In any case, devotional service rendered to the Lord is always complete, despite the devotee’s material position. Devotional service is so exalted that it can be executed by anyone in any position. One must simply be dṛḍha-vrata, firmly determined.