954
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 4, Ch. 22]
service than one who distributes the knowledge of spiritual realization in relation with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. All living entities are within the clutches of the illusory energy. Forgetting their real identity, they hover in material existence, transmigrating from one body to another in search of a peaceful life. Since these living entities have very little knowledge of self-realization, they are not getting any relief, although they are very anxious to attain peace of mind and some substantial happiness. Saintly persons like the Kumāras, Nārada, Prahlāda, Janaka, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, Kapiladeva, as well as the followers of such authorities as the Vaiṣṇava  ācāryas  and their servants, can render a valuable service to humanity by disseminating knowledge of the relationship between the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the living entity. Such knowledge is the perfect benediction for humanity.
Knowledge of Kṛṣṇa is such a great gift that it is impossible to repay the benefactor. Therefore Pṛthu Mahārāja requested the Kumāras to be satisfied by their own benevolent activities, which involved delivering souls from the clutches of  māyā . The King saw that there was no other way to satisfy them for their exalted activities. The word  vinodapātram  can be divided into two words,  vinā  and  uda-pātram , or can be understood as one word,  vinoda-pātram , which means joker. A joker's activities simply arouse laughter, and a person who tries to repay the spiritual master or teacher of the transcendental message of Kṛṣṇa becomes a laughing stock just like a joker because it is not possible to repay such a debt. The best friend and benefactor of all people is one who awakens humanity to its original Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
TEXT 48
मैत्रेय उवाच
त अत्मयोगपतय आदिराजेन पूजिताः ।
शीलं तदीयं शंसन्तः खेऽभवन्मिषतां नृणाम् ॥४८॥
maitreya uvāca
ta ātma-yoga-pataya
ādi-rājena pūjitāḥ
śūlam tadīyam śaṁsantaḥ
khe 'bhavan miṣatām nṛṇām
maitreyaḥ uvāca —the great sage Maitreya continued to speak;  te —they;  ātma-yoga-patayaḥ —the masters of self-realization by devotional service;