Text 18] The Lord Instructs Srila Ripa Gosvami 255

tac chraddadhanah munayo
jfiana-vairdg ya-yuk taya

pasyanty atmani catmanam
bhaktya sruta-grhitaya

“That Absolute Truth is realized by the seriously inquisitive student or sage who is
well equipped with knowledge and who has become detached by rendering
devotional service and hearing the Vedanta-sruti.”

This is not sentiment. Knowledge and renunciation can be obtained through
devotional service (bhaktya sruta-grhitaya), that is, by arousing one’s dormant
devotional consciousness, Krsna consciousness. When Krsna consciousness is
aroused, it relieves one from fruitive activity, activity for economic improvement
and material enjoyment. This relief is technically called naiskarma, and when one
is relieved, he is no longer interested in working hard for sense gratification.
Srimad-Bhagavatam is Srila Vyasadeva’s last mature contribution, and one should
read and hear it in an assembly of realized souls while engaging in devotional ser-
vice. At such a time one can be liberated from all material bondage. This was the
course taken by Sanatana Gosvami, who retired from government service to
study Srimad-Bhagavatam with learned scholars.

TEXT 18

eta faa carota, ACH SoA |
SUBACS cattaatos-ASteS CHT SHAAN Sv UI

dra dina gaudesvara, sarige eka-jana
acambite gosdafi-sabhate kaila 4gamana

SYNONYMS

dra dina—one day; gaudesvara—the Nawab of Bengal; sarige—with; eka-
jana—one other person; acambite—suddenly; gosafi-sabhate—in the assembly
of Sanatana Gosvami; kaila 4gamana—came.

TRANSLATION

While Sanatana Gosvami was studying Srimad-Bhagavatam in the assembly
of learned brahmanas, one day the Nawab of Bengal and another person sud-
denly appeared.

PURPORT

The full name of the Nawab of Bengal (Hussain Shah) was Alauddina Saiyada
Husena Saha Seripha Makka, and he ruled Bengal for twenty-three years, from
1420 to 1443 Sakabda Era. Sanatana Gosvami was studying Srimad-Bhagavatam
with the scholars in the year 1424.
