202 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 5

though one may have undergone severe penances and austerities. This is
the opinion of the demigods, who are not only well versed in Vedic knowl-
edge but who are also seers of the past, present and future. The opinions
of the demigods are valuable because they are authorized to hold positions
in the affairs of universal management. They are appointed by the Lord as
His confidential servants.

TEXT 40

aradafr wa fat sitar
MAINE A Tl
sort aad = APA Ivell

dhatar yad asmin bhava isa jivas
tapa-trayenabhihata na garma

atmal labhante bhagavams tavanghri-
cchayam savidyam ata asrayema

dhatah—O father; yat—because; asmin—in this; bhave—material world;
wsa—O Lord; jivah—the living entities; tapa—miseries; trayena—by the three;
abhihatah—always embarrassed; na—never; sarma—in happiness; atman—
self; labhante—do gain; bhagavan—Personality of Godhead; tava— Your;
anghri-chayam—shade of Your feet; savidyam—full of knowledge; atah—
obtain; asraye ma—shelter.

TRANSLATION

O Father, O Lord, O Personality of Godhead, the living entities in the
material world can never have any happiness because they are overwhelmed
by the three kinds of miseries. Therefore they take shelter of the shade of
Your lotus feet, which are full of knowledge, and we also thus take shelter
of them.

PURPORT

The way of devotional service is neither sentimental nor mundane. It is
the path of reality by which the living entity can attain the transcendental
happiness of being freed from the three kinds of material miseries—miseries
arising from the body and mind, from other living entities and from
natural disturbances. Everyone who is conditioned by material existence—
whether he be a man or beast or demigod or bird—must suffer from
