SB 12.4.40
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Please note: The synonyms, translation and purport of this verse were composed by disciples of Śrīla Prabhupāda
TEXT 40
- saṁsāra-sindhum ati-dustaram uttitīrṣor
- nānyaḥ plavo bhagavataḥ puruṣottamasya
- līlā-kathā-rasa-niṣevaṇam antareṇa
- puṁso bhaved vividha-duḥkha-davārditasya
SYNONYMS
saṁsāra — of material existence; sindhum — the ocean; ati-dustaram — impossible to cross; uttitīrṣoḥ — for one who desires to cross; na — there is not; anyaḥ — any other; plavaḥ — boat; bhagavataḥ — of the Personality of Godhead; puruṣa-uttamasya — the Supreme Lord; līlā-kathā — of the narrations of the pastimes; rasa — to the transcendental taste; niṣevaṇam — the rendering of service; antareṇa — apart from; puṁsaḥ — for a person; bhavet — there can be; vividha — various; duḥkha — of material miseries; dava — by the fire; arditasya — who is distressed.
Translation and purport composed by disciples of Śrīla Prabhupāda
TRANSLATION
For a person who is suffering in the fire of countless miseries and who desires to cross the insurmountable ocean of material existence, there is no suitable boat except that of cultivating devotion to the transcendental taste for the narrations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead's pastimes.
PURPORT
Although it is not possible to completely describe the pastimes of the Lord, even a partial appreciation can save one from the unbearable miseries of material existence. The fever of material existence can be removed only by the medicine of the holy name and pastimes of the Supreme Lord, which are perfectly narrated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.