Text 3] Appearance of Sukadeva Gosvami 987

certainly to be punished by the laws of the Lord, and he was expecting
something very difficult in the very near future. He therefore desired the
imminent calamity to fall on him and not on his family members. A man’s
personal misconduct affects all family members. Therefore Maharaja
Pariksit desired the calamity to fall on him alone. By suffering personally he
would be restrained from future sins, and at the same time the sin which
he had committed would be counteracted so that his descendants would
not suffer. That is the way a responsible devotee thinks. The family mem-
bers of a devotee also share the effects of a devotee’s service unto the
Lord. Maharaja Prahlada saved his demon father by his personal devotional
service. A devotee son in the family is the greatest boon or blessing of
the Lord.

TEXT 3

wT wi =6awagala
TRLTTAAFOTAS 2 |
TT Gt Asaq
qt = - tsazaateg 1 3 1

adyaiva rajyam balam rddha-kosarm
prakopita-brahma-kulanalo me

dahatv abhadrasya punar na me *bhut
papiyasi dhir dvija-deva-gobhyah

adya—this day; eva—on the very; rajyam—kingdom; balam ;ddha—
strength and riches; kosam—treasury ; prak opita—ignited by; brahma-kula—
by the brahmana community; analah—fire; me dahatu—let it burn me;
abhadrasya—inauspiciousness; punah— again;na— not;me— unto me;abhiit—
may occur; papiyasi—sinful; dhih—intelligence; dvija—brahmapas; deva—
the Supreme Lord; gobhyah—and the cows.

TRANSLATION

I am uncivilized and sinful due to my neglect of brahminical culture,
God consciousness and cow protection. Therefore I wish that my kingdom,
strength and riches burn up immediately by the fire of the brahmana’s
wrath so that in the future I may not be guided by such inauspicious
attitudes.
