Madhya20.82

TEXT 82

sanatanera vairagye prabhura ananda apara

bhota-kambala pane prabhu cahe bare bara

SYNONYMS

sanatanera—of Sanatana Gosvami; vairagye—by the renunciation; prabhura—of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; ananda—happiness; apara—unlimited; bhota-kambala—the woolen blanket; pane—towards; prabhu—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; cahe—looks; bare bara—repeatedly.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu felt unlimited happiness to observe Sanatana Gosvami’s strict following of the principles of sannyasa. However, He repeatedly glanced at the woolen blanket Sanatana Gosvami was wearing.

Madhya20.83

TEXT 83

sanatana janila ei prabhure na bhaya

bhota tyaga karibare cintila upaya

SYNONYMS

sanatana janila—Sanatana Gosvami could understand; ei—this; prabhure—by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; na bhaya—is not approved; bhota—the woolen blanket; tyaga—giving up; karibare—to do; cintila—considered; upaya—a means.

TRANSLATION

Because Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was repeatedly glancing at this valuable woolen blanket, Sanatana Gosvami could understand that the Lord did not approve of it. He then began to consider a way to give it up.

Madhya20.84

TEXT 84

eta cinti’ gela gangaya madhyahna karite

eka gaudiya kantha dhuna diyache sukaite

SYNONYMS

eta cinti’—thinking this; gela—went; gangaya—to the bank of the Ganges; madhyahna—bathing at noon; karite—to do; eka—one; gaudiya—Bengali Vaisnava; kantha—quilt; dhuna—washing; diyache—spread out; sukaite—to dry.

TRANSLATION

Thinking in this way, Sanatana went to the bank of the Ganges to bathe. While there, he saw that a mendicant from Bengal had washed his quilt and had spread it out to dry.

Madhya20.85

TEXT 85

tare kahe,--"ore bhai, kara upakare

ei bhota lana ei kantha deha’ more"

SYNONYMS

tare kahe—he said to him; ore bhai—O my brother; kara upakare—kindly do a favor; ei bhota—this woolen blanket; lana—taking; ei—this; kantha—quilt; deha’-give; more—to me.

TRANSLATION

Sanatana Gosvami then told the Bengali mendicant, “My dear brother, please do me a favor. Trade me your quilt for this woolen blanket.”

Madhya20.86

TEXT 86

sei kahe,--"rahasya kara pramanika hana?

bahu-mulya bhota diba kena kantha lana?"

SYNONYMS

sei kahe—he said; rahasya—joking; kara—you do; pramanika hana—although being a man of authority; bahu-mulya—very valuable; bhota—woolen blanket; diba—you would give; kena—why; kantha lana—taking this quilt.

TRANSLATION

The mendicant replied, “Sir, you are a respectable gentleman. Why are you joking with me? Why would you trade your valuable blanket for my torn quilt?”

Madhya20.87

TEXT 87

tenho kahe,--"rahasya nahe, kahi satya-vani

bhota laha, tumi deha’ more kantha-khani"

SYNONYMS

tenho kahe—he said; rahasya nahe—there is no joking; kahi satya-vani—I am speaking the truth; bhota laha—take this blanket; tumi—you; deha’-give; more—to me; kantha-khani—the quilt.

TRANSLATION

Sanatana said, “I am not joking; I am speaking the truth. Kindly take this blanket in exchange for your torn quilt.”

Madhya20.88

TEXT 88

eta bali’ kantha la-ila, bhota tanre diya

gosanira thani aila kantha gale diya

SYNONYMS

eta bali’—saying this; kantha la-ila—he took the quilt; bhota—the blanket; tanre—unto him; diya—giving; gosanira thani—to Caitanya Mahaprabhu; aila—returned; kantha—quilt; gale—onto the shoulder; diya—keeping.

TRANSLATION

Saying this, Sanatana Gosvami exchanged the blanket for the quilt. He then returned to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu with the quilt on his shoulder.

Madhya20.89

TEXT 89

prabhu kahe,--’tomara bhota-kambala kotha gela?’

prabhu-pade saba katha gosani kahila

SYNONYMS

prabhu kahe—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; tomara—your; bhota-kambala—woolen blanket; kotha gela—where did it go; prabhu-pade—unto the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya; saba—all; katha—narration; gosani—Sanatana Gosvami; kahila—said.

TRANSLATION

When Sanatana Gosvami returned, the Lord asked, “Where is your woolen blanket?” Sanatana Gosvami then narrated the whole story to the Lord.

Madhya20.90-91

TEXTS 90-91

prabhu kahe,--"iha ami kariyachi vicara

visaya-roga khandaila krsna ye tomara

se kene rakhibe tomara sesa visaya-bhoga?

roga khandi’ sad-vaidya na rakhe sesa roga

SYNONYMS

prabhu kahe—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said; iha—this; ami—I; kariyachi vicara—considered deliberately; visaya-roga—the disease of material attraction; khandaila—has now nullified; krsna—Lord Krsna; ye—since; tomara—your; se—Lord Krsna; kene—why; rakhibe—should allow you to keep; tomara—your; sesa—last; visaya-bhoga—attraction for material things; roga khandi’-vanquishing the disease; sat-vaidya—a good physician; na rakhe—does not keep; sesa—the last part; roga—disease.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then said, "I have already deliberately considered this matter. Since Lord Krsna is very merciful, He has nullified your attachment for material things. Why should Krsna allow you to maintain a last bit of material attachment? After vanquishing a disease, a good physician does not allow any of the disease to remain.

Madhya20.92

TEXT 92

tina mudrara bhota gaya, madhukari grasa

dharma-hani haya, loka kare upahasa"

SYNONYMS

tina mudrara bhota—a woolen blanket costing three gold coins; gaya—on the body; madhukari grasa—and practicing the madhukari system; dharma-hani haya—that is a religious discrepancy; loka kare upahasa—people will joke.

TRANSLATION

“It is contradictory to practice madhukari and at the same time wear a valuable blanket. One loses his spiritual strength by doing this, and one will also become an object for jokes.”

Madhya20.93

TEXT 93

gosani kahe,--’ye khandila kuvisaya-bhoga

tanra icchaya gela mora sesa visaya-roga"

SYNONYMS

gosani kahe—Sanatana Gosvami said; ye khandila—the person who has vanquished; ku-visaya-bhoga—enjoyment of sinful material life; tanra icchaya—by His desire; gela—has gone; mora—my; sesa—last bit; visaya-roga—material disease.

TRANSLATION

Sanatana Gosvami replied, “The Supreme Personality of Godhead has saved me from the sinful life of material existence. By His desire, my last piece of material attraction is now gone.”

Madhya20.94

TEXT 94

prasanna hana prabhu tanre krpa kaila

tanra krpaya prasna karite tanra sakti haila

SYNONYMS

prasanna hana—being very pleased; prabhu—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; tanre—unto him; krpa kaila—offered His causeless mercy; tanra krpaya—by His mercy; prasna karite—to inquire; tanra—his; sakti haila—there was strength.

TRANSLATION

Being pleased with Sanatana Gosvami, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu bestowed His causeless mercy upon him. By the Lord’s mercy, Sanatana Gosvami received the spiritual strength to inquire from Him.

Madhya20.95-96

TEXTS 95-96

purve yaiche raya-pase prabhu prasna kaila

tanra saktye ramananda tanra uttara dila

ihan prabhura saktye prasna kare sanatana

apane mahaprabhu kare ’tattva’-nirupana

SYNONYMS

purve—formerly; yaiche—as; raya-pase—unto Ramananda Raya; prabhu—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; prasna kaila—inquired; tanra saktye—only by His mercy; ramananda—Ramananda Raya; tanra—his; uttara—answers; dila—gave; ihan—here; prabhura—of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; saktye—by the strength; prasna—questions; kare—puts; sanatana—Sanatana Gosvami; apane—personally; mahaprabhu—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kare—does; tattva—the truth; nirupana—discerning.

TRANSLATION

Formerly, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked Ramananda Raya spiritual questions, and by the Lord’s causeless mercy, Ramananda Raya could properly reply. Now, by the Lord’s mercy, Sanatana Gosvami questioned the Lord, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally supplied the truth.

Madhya20.97

TEXT 97

krsna-svarupa-madhuryais-

varya-bhakti-rasasrayam

tattvam sanatanayesah

krpayopadidesa sah

SYNONYMS

krsna-svarupa—of the real identity of Sri Krsna; madhurya—of conjugal love; aisvarya—of opulence; bhakti—of devotional service; rasa—of transcendental mellows; asrayam—the shelter; tattvam—the truth; sanatanaya—unto Sri Sanatana; isah—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Lord; krpaya—by His causeless mercy; upadidesa—instructed; sah—He.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, personally told Sanatana Gosvami about Lord Krsna’s real identity. He also told him about the Lord’s conjugal love, His personal opulence and the mellows of devotional service. All these truths were explained to Sanatana Gosvami by the Lord Himself out of His causeless mercy.

Madhya20.98

TEXT 98

tabe sanatana prabhura carane dhariya

dainya vinati kare dante trna lana

SYNONYMS

tabe—thereafter; sanatana—Sanatana Gosvami; prabhura—of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; carane—the lotus feet; dhariya—catching; dainya—humility; vinati—bowing; kare—does; dante—in the teeth; trna—a straw; lana—taking.

TRANSLATION

Putting a straw in his mouth and bowing down, Sanatana Gosvami clasped the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and humbly spoke as follows.

Madhya20.99

TEXT 99

"nica jati, nica-sangi, patita adhama

kuvisaya-kupe padi’ gonainu janama!

SYNONYMS

nica jati—born of a low family; nica-sangi—associated with low men; patita—fallen; adhama—the lowest; ku-visaya-kupe—in a well of material enjoyment; padi’-having fallen down; gonainu—I have passed; janama—my life.

TRANSLATION

Sanatana Gosvami said, "I was born in a low family, and my associates are all low-class men. I myself am fallen and am the lowest of men. Indeed, I have passed my whole life fallen in the well of sinful materialism.

PURPORT

Actually Sri Sanatana Gosvami belonged to a brahmana family because he belonged to the Sarasvata division of the brahmanas and was well cultured and well educated. Somehow or other he accepted a ministership in the Muslim government; therefore he had to associate with meat-eaters, drunkards and gross materialists. Sanatana Gosvami considered himself fallen, for in the association of such men, he also fell victim to material enjoyment. Having passed his life in that way, he considered that he had wasted his valuable time. This statement about how one can become fallen in this material world is made by the greatest authority in the Gaudiya Vaisnava-sampradaya. Actually the whole world is presently fallen into material existence. Everyone is a meat-eater, drunkard, woman hunter, gambler and whatnot. People are enjoying material life by committing the four basic sins. Although they are fallen, if they simply submit themselves at the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they will be saved from sinful reactions.

Madhya20.100

TEXT 100

apanara hitahita kichui na jani!

gramya-vyavahare pandita, tai satya mani

SYNONYMS

apanara—of my personal self; hita—welfare; ahita—inauspiciousness; kichui—anything; na jani—I do not know; gramya-vyavahare—in ordinary dealings; pandita—a learned man; tai satya mani—I accept that as truth.

TRANSLATION

"I do not know what is beneficial for me and what is detrimental. Nonetheless, in ordinary dealings people consider me a learned scholar, and I am also thinking of myself as such.

Madhya20.101

TEXT 101

krpa kari’ yadi more kariyacha uddhara

apana-krpate kaha ’kartavya’ amara

SYNONYMS

krpa kari’—by Your causeless mercy; yadi—if; more—unto me; kariyacha—You have done; uddhara—deliverance; apana-krpate—by Your own mercy; kaha—please speak; kartavya amara—my duty.

TRANSLATION

"Out of Your causeless mercy, You have delivered me from the materialistic path. Now, by the same causeless mercy, please tell me what my duty is.

Madhya20.102

TEXT 102

’ke ami’, ’kene amaya jare tapa-traya’

iha nahi jani--’kemane hita haya’

SYNONYMS

ke ami—who am I; kene—why; amaya—unto me; jare—give trouble; tapa-traya—the three kinds of miserable conditions; iha—this; nahi jani—I do not know; kemane—how; hita—my welfare; haya—there is.

TRANSLATION

"Who am I? Why do the threefold miseries always give me trouble? If I do not know this, how can I be benefited?

PURPORT

The threefold material miseries are miseries arising from the body and the mind, miseries arising from dealings with other living entities, and miseries arising from natural disturbances. Sometimes we suffer bodily when we are attacked by a fever, and sometimes we suffer mentally when a close relative dies. Other living entities also cause us misery. There are living entities born of the human embryo, of eggs, perspiration and vegetation. Miserable conditions brought about by natural catastrophes are controlled by the higher demigods. There may be severe cold or thunderbolts, or a person may be haunted by ghosts. These threefold miseries are always before us, and they entrap us in a dangerous situation. Padam padam yad vipadam. There is danger in every step of life.

Madhya20.103

TEXT 103

’sadhya’-’sadhana’-tattva puchite na jani

krpa kari’ saba tattva kaha ta’ apani"

SYNONYMS

sadhya—of the goal of spiritual life; sadhana—of the process of obtaining that goal; tattva—truth; puchite—to inquire; na jani—I do not know; krpa kari’-by Your causeless mercy; saba tattva—all such truths; kaha ta’ apani—please personally explain to me.

TRANSLATION

“Actually I do not know how to inquire about the goal of life and the process for obtaining it. Being merciful upon me, please explain all these truths.”

Madhya20.104

TEXT 104

prabhu kahe,--"krsna-krpa tomate purna haya

saba tattva jana, tomara nahi tapa-traya

SYNONYMS

prabhu—Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; kahe—said; krsna-krpa—the mercy of Krsna; tomate—on you; purna—full; haya—there is; saba tattva—all truths; jana—you know; tomara—of you; nahi—there is not; tapa-traya—the threefold miseries.

TRANSLATION

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "Lord Krsna has bestowed His full mercy upon you so that all these things are known to you. For you, the threefold miseries certainly do not exist.

Madhya20.105

TEXT 105

krsna-sakti dhara tumi, jana tattva-bhava

jani’ dardhya lagi’ puche,--sadhura svabhava

SYNONYMS

krsna-sakti—the energy of Lord Krsna; dhara—process; tumi—you; jana—know; tattva-bhava—the factual position; jani’-although knowing all these things; dardhya lagi’-for the sake of strictness; puche—he inquires; sadhura—of the saintly persons; sva-bhava—the nature.

TRANSLATION

"Since you possess Lord Krsna’s potency, you certainly know these things. However, it is the nature of a sadhu to inquire. Although he knows these things, the sadhu inquires for the sake of strictness.

Madhya20.106

TEXT 106

acirad eva sarvarthah

sidhyaty esam abhipsitah

sad-dharmasyavabodhaya

yesam nirbandhini matih

SYNONYMS

acirat—very soon; eva—certainly; sarva-arthah—the goal of life; sidhyati—becomes fulfilled; esam—of these persons; abhipsitah—desired; sat-dharmasya—of the path of progressive devotional service; avabodhaya—for understanding; yesam—those whose; nirbandhini—unflinching; matih—intelligence.

TRANSLATION

" ’Those who are anxious to awaken their spiritual consciousness, who have unflinching intelligence and who are not deviated, certainly attain the desired goal.’

PURPORT

This verse, quoted from the Naradiya Purana, is found in the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.103).

Madhya20.107

TEXT 107

yogya-patra hao tumi bhakti pravartaite

krame saba tattva suna, kahiye tomate

SYNONYMS

yogya-patra—fit person; hao—are; tumi—you; bhakti—devotional service; pravartaite—to propagate; krame—one after another; saba—all; tattva—truths; suna—please hear; kahiye—I shall speak; tomate—to you.

TRANSLATION

"You are fit to propagate the cult of devotional service. Therefore gradually hear all the truths about it from Me. I shall tell you about them.

Madhya20.108-109

TEXTS 108-109

jivera ’svarupa’ haya--krsnera ’nitya-dasa’

krsnera ’tatastha-sakti’ ’bhedabheda-prakasa

suryamsa-kirana, yaiche agni-jvala-caya

svabhavika krsnera tina-prakara ’sakti’ haya

SYNONYMS

jivera—of the living entity; sva-rupa—the constitutional position; haya—is; krsnera—of Lord Krsna; nitya-dasa—eternal servant; krsnera—of Lord Krsna; tatastha—marginal; sakti—potency; bheda-abheda—one and different; prakasa—manifestation; surya-amsa—part and parcel of the sun; kirana—a ray of sunshine; yaiche—as; agni-jvala-ca ya—molecular particle of fire; svabhavika—naturally; krsnera—of Lord Krsna; tina-prakara—three varieties; sakti—energies; haya—there are.

TRANSLATION

"It is the living entity’s constitutional position to be an eternal servant of Krsna because he is the marginal energy of Krsna and a manifestation simultaneously one and different from the Lord, like a molecular particle of sunshine or fire. Krsna has three varieties of energy.

PURPORT

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura paraphrases these verses as follows: Sri Sanatana Gosvami asked Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, “Who am I?” In answer, the Lord replied, “You are a pure living entity. You are neither the material body nor the subtle body composed of mind and intelligence. Actually you are a spirit soul, eternal part and parcel of the Supreme Soul, Krsna. Therefore you are His eternal servant. You belong to Krsna’s marginal potency. There are two worlds-the spiritual world and the material world-and you are situated between the material and spiritual potencies. You have a relationship with both the material and spiritual worlds; therefore you are called the marginal potency. You are related with Krsna as one and simultaneously different. Because you are spirit soul, you are one in quality with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but because you are a very minute particle of spirit soul, you are different from the Supreme Soul. Therefore your position is simultaneously one with and different from the Supreme Soul. The examples given are those of the sun itself and the small particles of sunshine and of a blazing fire and the small particles of fire.” Another explanation of these verses can be found in Adi-lila (Chapter Two, verse 96).

Madhya20.110

TEXT 110

eka-desa-sthitasyagner

jyotsna vistarini yatha

parasya brahmanah saktis

tathedam akhilam jagat

SYNONYMS

eka-desa—in one place; sthitasya—being situated; agneh—of fire; jyotsna—the illumination; vistarini—expanded everywhere; yatha—just as; parasya—of the illumination; vistarini—expanded everywhere; yatha—just as; parasya—of the Supreme; brahmanah—of the Absolute Truth; saktih—the energy; tatha—similarly; idam—this; akhilam—entire; jagat—universe.

TRANSLATION

" ’Just as the illumination of a fire, which is situated in one place, is spread all over, the energies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Parabrahman, are spread all over this universe.’

PURPORT

This is a quotation from the Visnu Purana (1.22.53).

Madhya20.111

TEXT 111

krsnera svabhavika tina-sakti-parinati

cic-chakti, jiva-sakti, ara maya-sakti

SYNONYMS

krsnera—of Lord Krsna; svabhavika—natural; tina—three; sakti—of energies; parinati—transformations; cit-sakti—spiritual potency; jiva-sakti—spiritual sparks, living entities; ara—and; maya-sakti—illusory energy.

TRANSLATION

"Lord Krsna naturally has three energetic transformations, and these are known as the spiritual potency, the living entity potency and the illusory potency.

Madhya20.112

TEXT 112

visnu-saktih para prokta

ksetrajnakhya tatha para

avidya-karma-samjnan ya

trtiya saktir isyate

SYNONYMS

visnu-saktih—the potency of Lord Visnu; para—spiritual; prokta—it is said; ksetra-jna-akhya—the potency known as ksetrajna; tatha—as well as; para—spiritual; avidya—ignorance; karma—fruitive activities; samjna—known as; anya—other; trtiya—third; saktih—potency; isyate—known thus.

TRANSLATION

" ’Originally, Krsna’s energy is spiritual, and the energy known as the living entity is also spiritual. However, there is another energy, called illusion, which consists of fruitive activity. That is the Lord’s third potency.’

PURPORT

This is a quotation from the Visnu Purana (6.7.61). For a further explanation of this verse, refer to the Adi-lila, Chapter Seven, verse 119.

Madhya20.113

TEXT 113

saktayah sarva-bhavanam

acintya-jnana-gocarah

yato ’to brahmanas tas tu

sargadya bhava-saktayah

bhavanti tapatam srestha

pavakasya yathosnata

SYNONYMS

saktayah—energies; sarva-bhavanam—of all types of creation; acintya—inconceivable; jnana-gocarah—by the range of man’s knowledge; yatah—from whom; atah—therefore; brahmanah—from the Absolute Truth; tah—those; tu—but; sarga-adyah—bringing about creation, maintenance and annihilation; bhava-saktayah—the creative energies; bhavanti—are; tapatam—of all the ascetics; srestha—O chief; pavakasya—of fire; yatha—as; usnata—heat.

TRANSLATION

" ’All the creative energies, which are inconceivable to a common man, exist in the Supreme Absolute Truth. These inconceivable energies act in the process of creation, maintenance and annihilation. O chief of the ascetics, just as there are two energies possessed by fire-namely heat and light-these inconceivable creative energies are the natural characteristics of the Absolute Truth.’

PURPORT

This is a quotation from the Visnu Purana (1.3.2).

Madhya20.114

TEXT 114

yaya ksetra-jna-saktih sa

vestita nrpa sarva-ga

samsara-tapan akhilan

avapnoty atra santatan

SYNONYMS

yaya—by which; ksetra-jna-saktih—the living entities, known as the ksetra-jna potency; sa—that potency; vestita—covered; nrpa—O King; sarva-ga—capable of going anywhere in the spiritual or material worlds; samsara-tapan—miseries due to the cycle of repeated birth and death; akhilan—all kinds of; avapnoti—obtains; atra—in this material world; santatan—arising from suffering or enjoying various kinds of reactions to fruitive activities.

TRANSLATION

" ’O King, the ksetra-jna-sakti is the living entity. Although he has the facility to live in either the material or spiritual world, he suffers the threefold miseries of material existence because he is influenced by the avidya [nescience] potency, which covers his constitutional position.

PURPORT

This and the following verse are also quoted from the Visnu Purana (6.7.62-63).

Madhya20.115

TEXT 115

taya tirohitatvac ca

saktih ksetra-jna-samjnita

sarva-bhutesu bhu-pala

taratamyena vartate

SYNONYMS

taya—by her; tirah-hitatvat—from being freed from the influence; ca—also; saktih—the potency; ksetra-jna—ksetra-jna; samjnita—known by the name; sarva-bhutesu—in different types of bodies; bhu-pala—O King; taratamyena—in different degrees; vartate—exists.

TRANSLATION

" ’This living entity, covered by the influence of nescience, exists in different forms in the material condition. O King, he is thus proportionately freed from the influence of material energy, to greater or lesser degrees.’

Madhya20.116

TEXT 116

apareyam itas tv anyam

prakrtim viddhi me param

jiva-bhutam maha-baho

yayedam dharyate jagat

SYNONYMS

apara—inferior energy; iyam—this material world; itah—beyond this; tu—but; anyam—another; prakrtim—energy; viddhi—you must know; me—of Me; param—which is superior energy; jiva-bhutam—they are the living entities; maha-baho—O mighty-armed; yaya—by which; idam—this material world; dharyate—is being conducted; jagat—the cosmic manifestation.

TRANSLATION

" ’Besides this inferior nature, O mighty-armed Arjuna, there is a superior energy of Mine, which consists of all living entities who are struggling with material nature and are sustaining the universe.’

PURPORT

Madhya20.117

TEXT 117

krsna bhuli’ sei jiva anadi-bahirmukha

ataeva maya tare deya samsara-duhkha

SYNONYMS

krsna bhuli’-forgetting Krsna; sei jiva—that living entity; anadi—from time immemorial; bahih-mukha—attracted by the external feature; ataeva—therefore; maya—illusory energy; tare—to him; deya—gives; samsara-duhkha—miseries of material existence.

TRANSLATION

"Forgetting Krsna, the living entity has been attracted by the external feature from time immemorial. Therefore the illusory energy [maya] gives him all kinds of misery in his material existence.

PURPORT

When the living entity forgets his constitutional position as an eternal servant of Krsna, he is immediately entrapped by the illusory, external energy. The living entity is originally part and parcel of Krsna and is therefore the superior energy of Krsna. He is endowed with inconceivable minute energy that works inconceivably within the body. However, the living entity, forgetting his position, is situated in material energy. The living entity is called the marginal energy because by nature he is spiritual but by forgetfulness he is situated in the material energy. Thus he has the power to live either in the material energy or in the spiritual energy, and for this reason he is called marginal energy. He is sometimes attracted by the external illusory energy when he stays in the marginal position, and this is the beginning of his material life. When he enters the material energy, he is subjected to the threefold time measurement-past, present and future. Past, present and future belong only to the material world; they do not exist in the spiritual world. The living entity is eternal, and he existed before the creation of this material world. Unfortunately he has forgotten his relationship with Krsna. The living entity’s forgetfulness is described herein as anadi, which indicates that it has existed since time immemorial. One should understand that due to his desire to enjoy himself in competition with Krsna, the living entity comes into material existence.

Madhya20.118

TEXT 118

kabhu svarge uthaya, kabhu narake dubaya

dandya-jane raja yena nadite cubaya

SYNONYMS

kabhu—sometimes; svarge—to higher planetary systems; uthaya—he rises; kabhu—sometimes; narake—in hellish conditions of life; dubaya—he is drowned; dandya-jane—a criminal; raja—a king; yena—as; nadite—in the river; cubaya—dunks.

TRANSLATION

"In the material condition, the living entity is sometimes raised to higher planetary systems and material prosperity and sometimes drowned in a hellish situation. His state is exactly like that of a criminal whom a king punishes by submerging him in water and then raising him again from the water.

PURPORT

In the Vedas it is stated, asango ’yam purusah: the living entity is always free from the contamination of the material world. One who is not materially infected and who does not forget Krsna as his master is called nitya-mukta. In other words, one who is eternally liberated from material contamination is called nitya-mukta. From time immemorial the nitya-mukta living entity has always been a devotee of Krsna, and his only attempt has been to serve Krsna. Thus he never forgets his eternal servitorship to Krsna. Any living entity who forgets his eternal relationship with Krsna is under the sway of the material condition. Bereft of the Lord’s transcendental loving service, he is subjected to the reactions of fruitive activity. When he is elevated to the higher planetary systems due to worldly pious activities, he considers himself well situated, but when he is subjected to punishment, he thinks himself improperly situated. Thus material nature awards and punishes the living entity. When the living entity is materially opulent, material nature is rewarding him. When he is materially embarrassed, material nature is punishing him.