SB 3.25.37
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT 37
- atho vibhūtiṁ mama māyāvinas tām
- aiśvaryam aṣṭāṅgam anupravṛttam
- śriyaṁ bhāgavatīṁ vāspṛhayanti bhadrāṁ
- parasya me te 'śnuvate tu loke
SYNONYMS
atho — then; vibhūtim — opulence; mama — of Me; māyāvinaḥ — of the Lord of māyā; tām — that; aiśvaryam — mystic perfection; aṣṭa-aṅgam — consisting of eight parts; anupravṛttam — following; śriyam — splendor; bhāgavatīm — of the kingdom of God; vā — or; aspṛhayanti — they do not desire; bhadrām — blissful; parasya — of the Supreme Lord; me — of Me; te — those devotees; aśnuvate — enjoy; tu — but; loke — in this life.
TRANSLATION
Thus because he is completely absorbed in thought of Me, the devotee does not desire even the highest benediction obtainable in the upper planetary systems, including Satyaloka. He does not desire the eight material perfections obtained from mystic yoga, nor does he desire to be elevated to the kingdom of God. Yet even without desiring them, the devotee enjoys, even in this life, all the offered benedictions.
PURPORT
Teachings of Lord Kapila, the Son of Devahūti, Text 37
The vibhūti, or opulences, offered by māyā are of many varieties. We have experience of different varieties of material enjoyment even on this planet, but if one is able to promote himself to higher planets like Candraloka, the sun or, still higher, Maharloka, Janaloka and Tapoloka, or even ultimately the highest planet, which is inhabited by Brahmā and is called Satyaloka, there are immense possibilities for material enjoyment. For example, the duration of life on higher planets is far, far greater than on this planet. It is said that on the moon the duration of life is such that our six months are equal to one day. We cannot even imagine the duration of life on the highest planet. It is stated in Bhagavad-gītā that Brahmā's twelve hours are inconceivable even to our mathematicians. These are all descriptions of the external energy of the Lord, or māyā. Besides these, there are other opulences which the yogīs can achieve by their mystic power. They are also material. A devotee does not aspire for all these material pleasures, although they are available to him simply by wishing. By the grace of the Lord, a devotee can achieve wonderful success simply by willing, but a real devotee does not like that. Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu has taught that one should not desire material opulence or material reputation, nor should one try to enjoy material beauty; one should simply aspire to be absorbed in the devotional service of the Lord, even if one does not get liberation but has to continue the process of birth and death unlimitedly. Actually, however, to one who engages in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, liberation is already guaranteed. Devotees enjoy all the benefits of the higher planets and the Vaikuṇṭha planets also. It is especially mentioned here, bhāgavatīṁ bhadrām. In the Vaikuṇṭha planets everything is eternally peaceful, yet a pure devotee does not even aspire to be promoted there. But still he gets that advantage; he enjoys all the facilities of the material and spiritual worlds, even during the present life-span.