Text 3]
The Activities of Mahārāja Priyavrata
5
TRANSLATION
Devotees are certainly liberated persons. Therefore, O greatest of the brāhmaṇas, they cannot possibly be absorbed in family affairs.
PURPORT
In  Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu  it is said that by executing devotional service to the Lord, one can understand the transcendental position of the living being and the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot be understood by any means except  bhakti . The Lord confirms this in  Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam  (11.14.21).  Bhaktyāham ekayā grāhyaḥ : “Only by executing devotional service can one appreciate Me.” Similarly, in  Bhagavad-gītā  (18.55) Lord Kṛṣṇa says,  bhaktyā mām abhijānāti : “Simply by discharging devotional service, one can understand Me.” Thus for a  bhakta  to become attached to family affairs is impossible, since a  bhakta  and his associates are liberated. Everyone is searching after  ānanda , or bliss, but in the material world there can never be any bliss. It is only possible in devotional service. Attachment for family affairs and devotional service are incompatible. Therefore Mahārāja Parikṣit was somewhat surprised to hear that Mahārāja Priyavrata was simultaneously attached to devotional service and to family life.
TEXT 3
महतां खलु विप्रर्षे उत्तमश्लोकपादयोः । छायानिर्वृतचित्तानां न कुटुम्बे स्पृहामतिः ॥ ३ ॥
mahatām khalu viprarṣe uttamaśloka-pādayoḥ chāyā-nirvṛta-cittānām na kuṭumbe spṛhā-matiḥ
mahatām —of great devotees;  khalu —certainly;  vipra-ṛṣe —O great sage among the  brāhmaṇas ;  uttama-śloka-pādayoḥ —of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead;  chāyā —by the shade;  nirvṛta —satiated;  cittānām —whose consciousness;  na —never;  kuṭumbe —to family members;  spṛhā-matiḥ —consciousness with attachment.