450 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 1, Ch. 9

Muni. He begot six sons (like the fire-god) by his wife Candramasi, one
of the reputed stars. He could travel in space, and therefore he could
present himself even in the planets of Brahmaloka and Indraloka. He
advised the King of heaven, Indra, about conquering the demons. Once
he cursed Indra, who thus had to become a hog on the earth and was
unwilling to return to heaven. Such is the power of the attraction of the
illusory energy. Even a hog does not wish to part with its earthly posses-
sions in exchange of a heavenly kingdom. He was the religious preceptor
of the natives of different planets.

TEXT 9

a ANA ARIMMNAIST TAMA: |

TIM aaa SaTePTAT INS I

tan sametan maha-bhagan
upalabhya vasiittamah

pitjayamdasa dharma-jno
desa-kdla-vibhaga-vit

tan—all of them; sametan—assembled together; maha-bhagan—all greatly
powerful; upalabhya—having received; vasiittamah—the best among the
Vastis (Bhismadeva); pitjayamdsa—welcomed; dharma-jiiah—one who
knows religious principles; desa—place; kala—time; vibhaga-vit—one who
knows the adjustment of place and time.

TRANSLATION

Bhismadeva, who was the best amongst the eight Vasias, received and
welcomed all the great and powerful rsis who were assembled there, for he
knew perfectly all the religious principles according to time and place.

PURPORT

Expert religionists know perfectly well how to adjust religious principles
in terms of time and place. All the great dcdryas or religious preachers or
reformers of the world executed their mission by adjustment of religious
principles in terms of time and place. There are different climates and
situations in different parts of the world, and if one has to discharge his
duties to preach the message of the Lord, he must be expert in adjusting
