Text 23] Birth of Emperor Pariksit 641

pitamaha— grandfather, or Brahma; samah—equally good; samye—in the
matter; prasade— in charity or in munificence; girisa—Lord Siva; upamah
—comparison of equilibrium; dsrayah—resort; sarva—all; bhutanam—of
the living beings; yatha—as; devah—the Supreme Lord; rama-asrayah—the
Personality of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

This child will be like his grandfather Yudhisthira or Brahma in
equanimity of mind. He will be munificent like the lord of the Kailasa Hill,
Siva. And he will be the resort of everyone, like the Supreme Personality
of Godhead Narayana who is even the shelter of the goddess of fortune.

PURPORT

Mental equanimity refers both to Maharaja Yudhisthira and Brahma,
the grandfather of all living beings. According to Sridhara Svami, the
grandfather referred to is Brahma, but according to Visvanatha Cakravarti,
the grandfather is Maharaja Yudhisthira himself. But in both the cases the
comparison is equally good because both of them are recognized repre-
sentatives of the Supreme Lord, and thus both of them have to maintain
mental equanimity, being engaged in welfare work for the living being. Any
responsible executive agent at the top of administration has to tolerate
different types of onslaughts from the very persons for whom he works.
Brahm§ji was criticized even by the gopis, the highest perfectional devotees
of the Lord. The gopis were not satisfied with the work of Brahmaji
because Lord Brahmi, as creator of this particular universe, created eyelids
which obstructed their seeing Lord Krsna. They could not tolerate a
moment’s blinking of the eyes, for it kept them from seeing their beloved
Lord Krsna. So what to speak of others, who are very naturally critical of
every action of a responsible man? Similarly, Maharaja Yudhisthira had to
cross over many difficult situations created by his enemies, and he proved
to be the most perfect maintainer of mental equanimity in all critical
circumstances. Therefore the example of both grandfathers for maintaining
equanimity of mind is quite fitting.

Lord Siva is a celebrated demigod who awards gifts to beggars. His name
is, therefore, Asutosa, or one who is pleased very easily. He is also called
the Bhitanatha, or the lord of the common folk who are mainly attached
to him because of his munificent gifts, even without consideration of the
after effects. Ravana was very attached to Lord Siva, and by easily pleasing
