Text 23]
Birth of Emperor Parīkṣit
641
pitāmaha —grandfather, or Brahmā;  samaḥ —equally good;  sāmye —in the matter;  prasāde —in charity or in munificence;  giriśa —Lord Śiva;  upamaḥ —comparison of equilibrium;  āśrayaḥ —resort;  sarva —all;  bhūtānām —of the living beings;  yathā —as;  devaḥ —the Supreme Lord;  ramā-āśrayaḥ —the Personality of Godhead.
TRANSLATION
This child will be like his grandfather Yudhiṣṭhira or Brahmā in equanimity of mind. He will be munificent like the lord of the Kailāsa Hill, Śiva. And he will be the resort of everyone, like the Supreme Personality of Godhead Nārāyaṇa who is even the shelter of the goddess of fortune.
PURPORT
Mental equanimity refers both to Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira and Brahmā, the grandfather of all living beings. According to Śrīdhara Svāmī, the grandfather referred to is Brahmā, but according to Viśvanātha Cakravartī, the grandfather is Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira himself. But in both the cases the comparison is equally good because both of them are recognized representatives of the Supreme Lord, and thus both of them have to maintain mental equanimity, being engaged in welfare work for the living being. Any responsible executive agent at the top of administration has to tolerate different types of onslaughts from the very persons for whom he works. Brahmājī was criticized even by the  gopīs , the highest perfectional devotees of the Lord. The  gopīs  were not satisfied with the work of Brahmājī because Lord Brahmā, as creator of this particular universe, created eyelids which obstructed their seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa. They could not tolerate a moment's blinking of the eyes, for it kept them from seeing their beloved Lord Kṛṣṇa. So what to speak of others, who are very naturally critical of every action of a responsible man? Similarly, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira had to cross over many difficult situations created by his enemies, and he proved to be the most perfect maintainer of mental equanimity in all critical circumstances. Therefore the example of both grandfathers for maintaining equanimity of mind is quite fitting.
Lord Śiva is a celebrated demigod who awards gifts to beggars. His name is, therefore, Āśutoṣa, or one who is pleased very easily. He is also called the Bhūtanātha, or the lord of the common folk who are mainly attached to him because of his munificent gifts, even without consideration of the after effects. Rāvaṇa was very attached to Lord Śiva, and by easily pleasing