Text 14]
Rṣabhadeva's Appearance
127
TRANSLATION
Dear Lord, unless one worships the lotus feet of great devotees, one will be conquered by the illusory energy, and his intelligence will be bewildered. Indeed, who has not been carried away by the waves of material enjoyment, which are like poison? Your illusory energy is unconquerable. No one can see the path of this material energy or tell how it is working.
PURPORT
Mahārāja Nābhi was inclined to performing great sacrifices for begetting a son. The son might be as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but such a material desire—be it great or insignificant—is brought about by the influence of  māyā . A devotee does not at all desire anything for sense gratification. Devotion is therefore explained as devoid of material desires ( anyābhilāṣitā-śūnya ). Everyone is subjected to the influence of  māyā  and entangled in all kinds of material desire, and Mahārāja Nābhi was no exception. Freedom from  māyā 's influence is possible when one engages in the service of the great devotees ( mahac-caraṇa-sevā ). Without worshiping the lotus feet of a great devotee, one cannot be freed from  māyā 's influence. Śrīla Narottama dāsa Thākura therefore says,  chāḍiyā vaiṣṇava-sevā nistāra pāyeche kebā : "Who has been freed from  māyā 's clutches without serving the lotus feet of a Vaiṣṇava?"  Māyā  is  aparājita , and her influence is also  aparājita . As confirmed in  Bhagavad-gītā  (7.14):
daivī hy eṣā guṇamayī mama māyā duratyayā
"This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome."
Only a devotee can surpass  māyā 's great influence. It was no fault on Mahārāja Nābhi's part that he wanted a son. He wanted a son like the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the best of all sons. By the association of the Lord's devotee, one no longer desires material opulence. This is confirmed in  Caitanya-caritāmṛta  ( Madhya  22.54):