Text 37] Creation of the Universal Form 255

ekanta-labham vacaso nu pumsam
susloka-mauler guna-vadam ahuh

Srutes ca vidvadbhir upakrtayam
katha-sudhayam upasamprayogam

ekanta—the one which has no comparison; labham—gain; vacasah—by
discussions; nu pumsam—after the Supreme Person; susloka—pious;
mauleh—activities; guna-vadam— glorification; ahuh—it is so said; sruteh—of
the ear; ca—also; vidvadbhih—by the learned; upakrtayam—being so edited;
katha-sudhayam—in the nectar of such a transcendental message; upasam-
prayogam—serves the real purpose, being nearer to.

TRANSLATION

The highest perfectional gain of humanity is to engage in discussions of
the activities and glories of the pious actor. Such activities are so nicely
arranged in writing by the greatly learned sages that the actual purpose of
the ear is served just by being near to them.

PURPORT

The impersonalists are very much afraid of hearing the activities of the
Lord because they think that the happiness derived from the transcendental
situation of Brahman is the ultimate goal of life; they think that anyone’s
activity, even that of the Personality of Godhead, is mundane. But the idea
of happiness indicated in this verse is different because it relates to the
activities of the Supreme Personality, who has transcendental qualities.
The word guna-vada is significant because the qualities of the Lord and His
activities and pastimes are the subject matter for the discussions of devo-
tees. A rsi like Maitreya is certainly not interested in discussing anything
pertaining to mundane qualities, yet he says that the highest perfectional
stage of transcendental realization is to discuss the Lord’s activities. Srila
Jiva Gosvami, therefore, concludes that topics regarding the transcendental
activities of the Lord are far beyond the transcendental realization of
kaivalya happiness. These transcendental activities of the Lord are so
arranged in writing by the great sages that simply by hearing of those
narrations one becomes perfectly self-realized, and the proper use of the
ear and the tongue is also achieved. Srimad-Bhagavatam is one of such
great literatures, and the highest perfectional state of life is attained simply
by hearing and reciting its contents.
