Text 38]
The Glories of Devotional Service
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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; he should simply aspire to be absorbed in the devotional service of the Lord, even if he 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,  bhāgavatīm 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.
TEXT 38
न कर्हिचिन्मत्पराः शान्तरूपे
नङ्क्ष्यन्ति नो मेऽनिमिषो लेढि हेतिः ।
येषामहं प्रिय आत्मा सुतश्च
सखा गुरुः सुहृदो दैवमिष्टम् ॥३८॥
na karhicin mat-parāḥ śānta-rūpe
naṅkṣyanti no me 'nimiṣo leḍhi hetiḥ
yeṣām ahaṁ priya ātmā sutaś ca
sakhā guruḥ suhṛdo daivam iṣṭam
na —not;  karhicit —ever;  mat-parāḥ —My devotees;  śānta-rūpe —O mother;  naṅkṣyanti —will lose;  no —not;  me —My;  animiṣaḥ —time;  leḍhi —destroys;  hetiḥ —weapon;  yeṣām —of whom;  aham —I;  priyaḥ —dear;  ātmā —self;  sutaḥ —son;  ca —and;  sakhā —friend;  guruḥ —preceptor;  suhṛdaḥ —benefactor;  daivam —Deity;  iṣṭam —chosen.