SB 6.18.75
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT 75
- ārādhyātma-pradaṁ devaṁ
- svātmānaṁ jagad-īśvaram
- ko vṛṇīta guṇa-sparśaṁ
- budhaḥ syān narake 'pi yat
SYNONYMS
ārādhya — after worshiping; ātma-pradam — who gives Himself; devam — the Lord; sva-ātmānam — the most dear; jagat-īśvaram — the Lord of the universe; kaḥ — what; vṛṇīta — would choose; guṇa-sparśam — material happiness; budhaḥ — intelligent person; syāt — is; narake — in hell; api — even; yat — which.
TRANSLATION
The ultimate goal of all ambitions is to become a servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If an intelligent man serves the most dear Lord, who gives Himself to His devotees, how can he desire material happiness, which is available even in hell?
PURPORT
An intelligent man will never aspire to become a devotee to achieve material happiness. That is the test of a devotee. As Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu teaches:
- na dhanaṁ na janaṁ na sundarīṁ
- kavitāṁ vā jagad-īśa kāmaye
- mama janmani janmanīśvare
- bhavatād bhaktir ahaitukī tvayi
- (CC Antya 20.29, Śikṣāṣṭaka 4)
"O almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor do I desire beautiful women, nor do I want any number of followers. I only want Your causeless devotional service birth after birth." A pure devotee never begs the Lord for material happiness in the shape of riches, followers, a good wife or even mukti. The Lord promises, however, yoga-kṣemaṁ vahāmy aham: (BG 9.22) "I voluntarily bring everything necessary for My service."