SB 1.18.13 (1965)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT No. 13
Tulayama lavena api na swargam na apunarbhavam Bhagwatsamgi sangasya martanam kim uia ashisah.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS
Tulayama—to be balanced with, Lavena—by a moment, Api—even, Na—never, Swargam—heavenly planets, Na—neither, Apunarbhavam—liberation from matter, Bhagwatsamgi—Devotee of the Lord, Samgasya—of the association, Martanam—those who are meant for death, Kim—what is there, Uta—to speak of, Ashisah—worldly benediction.
TRANSLATION
The value of a moment's association with the devotee of the Lord cannot be compared even with the value of attainment of heavenly planets or becoming birthless (liberation from matter) and what to speak about wordly benediction in the shape of material prosperity of persons who are meant for death.
PURPORT
When there are some points of similarities it is possible then to compare one thing with similar another. As such one cannot compare association of a pure devotee, with anything materially valuable. Men who are too much addicted with material happiness, aspire after reaching the heavenly planets like the planet of Moon, Venus Indraloka etc and those who are advanced in material philosophical speculations do aspire after liberation from all material bondage. When one becomes frustrated in all kinds of material advancement of prosperity, one desires after the opposite number of liberation which is called Apunarbhava or not to take birth again. But the pure devotees of the Lord do not aspire after the happiness obtained in the heavenly kingdom neither do they aspire after liberation from the material bondage. In other words for the pure devotees of the Lord the material pleasures obtainable in the heavenly planets are something like phantasmagoria and because they are already liberated from all material conception of pleasure and distresses, they are factually liberated even in the material world. This means the pure devotees of the Lord are engaged in a different transcendental objective of existence namely in the loving service of the Lord in this material world or in the spiritual world. As a government servant is always the same, either in the office or at home or at any place, so a devotee has nothing to do with anything material and they are exclusively engaged in the matter of transcendental service of the Lord. As they have nothing to do with anything material what pleasuse they can derive in the matter of material benedictions like kingship or similar other overlordship which are finished quickly along with the end of the body. Devotional service is eternal and it has no finishing because it is spiritual. Such transcendental engagement is eternal and is never to be finished. Therefore, the assets, of a pure devotee being completely different from material assets, there is no question of comparison between the two, Suta Goswami was a pure devotee of the Lord and therefore his association for the Rishis in the Naimisaranya engaged in fruitive sacrificial activities, is not comparable. Association of Suta Goswami for the sage is unique. In the material world, association of the gross materialists is veritably condemned. The materialist is called, yoshitsamgi or one who is much attached with material engagement of women and paraphernalia. Such attachment is conditioned because it drives away benedictions of life and prosperity. And just the opposite number is "Bhagwatsamgi' or one who is always in the association of the Lord's Name Form Qualities etc. Such association is always disirable, it is worshipable, it is praiseworthy and one may accept as the highest goal of life.