Text 19] Narada’s Instructions on Srimad-Bhagavatam 247

one can obtain birth in a good family, opulence, good education and good
bodily features. We see also that even in this life one obtains a good
education or money or bodily beauty. Similarly, in our next birth we get
such desirable positions only by good work. Otherwise, it would not so
happen that two persons born in the same place, at the same time are seen
differently placed according to previous work. But all such material posi-
tions are not permanent. The positions in the topmost Brahmaloka and in
the lowest Patala are also changeable according to our own work. The
philosophically inclined person must not be tempted by such changeable
positions. He should try to get into the permanent life of bliss and
knowledge where he will not be forced to come back again to the miserable
material world, either in this or that planet. Miseries and mixed happiness
are two features of material life, and they are obtained in Brahmaloka and
in other lokas also. They are obtained in the life of the demigods and also
in the life of the dogs and hogs. The miseries and mixed happiness of all
living beings are only of different degree and quality, but no one is free
from the miseries of birth, death, old age and disease. Similarly, everyone
has his destined happiness also. No one can get more or less of these things
simply by personal endeavors. Even if they are obtained, they can be lost
again. One should not, therefore, waste time with these flimsy things, but
one should only endeavor to go back to Godhead. That should be the

mission of everyone’s life.
TEXT 19

a2 aa ata waa
wearaacg «= dalay |
take ¥t-
fiiafirsaq amet aa? 12S

na vai jano jatu kathafcanavrajen
mukunda-sevy anyavad anga samsrtim

smaran mukundanghry-upagihanam punar
vihatum icchenna rasa-graho janah

na—never; vai—certainly; janah—a person; jatu—at any time; kathanicana
—somehow or other; avrajet—does not undergo; mukunda-sevi—the devotee
of the Lord; anyavat—like others; anga—O my dear; sariisrtim—material ex-
istence; smaran—remembering; mukunda-anghri—the lotus feet of the Lord;
