Text 21] Questions by King Pariksit 445

samplavah—the perfect means or complete devastation; sarva-bhitanam
—of all living beings; vikramah—specific power or situation; pratisankramah
—ultimate destruction; ista—performance of Vedic rituals; pirtasya—pious
acts in terms of religion; kamydndm-—rituals for economic development;
tri-vargasya—the three means of religion, economic development and
sense satisfaction; ca—also; yah— whatsoever ; vidhih—procedures.

TRANSLATION

Please explain unto me how the living beings are generated, how they
are maintained, and how they are annihilated. Tell me also of the advan-
tages and disadvantages of discharging devotional service unto the Lord.
What are the Vedic rituals and injunctions of the supplementary Vedic
rites, and what are the procedures of religion, economic development
and sense satisfaction?

PURPORT

Samplavah, in the sense of “perfect means,” is employed to denote the
discharging of devotional service, and pratisamplavah means just the oppo-
site, or that which destroys the progress of devotional service. ®ne who is
firmly situated in devotional service of the Lord can very easily execute the
function of conditional life. Living the conditional life is just like plying a
boat in the middle of the ocean. @ne is completely at the mercy of the
ocean, and at every moment there is every chance of being drowned in the
ocean by slight agitation. If the atmosphere is all right, the boat can ply
very easily, undoubtedly, but if there is some storm, fog, wind, or cloud,
there is every possibility of being drowned in the ocean. No one can contro!
the whims of the ocean, however one may be materially well equipped.
One who has crossed the oceans by ship may have sufficient experience of
such dependence upon the mercy of the ocean. But one can ply over the
ocean of material existence by the grace of the Lord very easily, without
any fear of storm or fog. It all depends on the will of the Lord; no one can
help if there is some unfortunate danger in the state of conditional life.
The devotees of the Lord, however, cross the ocean of material existence
without anxiety because a pure devotee is always protected by the Lord
(Bg. 9.13). The Lord gives special attention to His devotees in their activi-
ties within material, conditional life. (Bg. 9.29) Therefore everyone should
take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord and be a pure devotee of the Lord
by all means.
