Text 20] Further Inquiries by Vidura 283

PURPORT

The association of a bona fide spiritual master like the sage Maitreya
can be of absolute help in achieving transcendental attachment for the
direct service of the Lord. The Lord is the enemy of the Madhu demon,
or in other words He is the enemy of the sufferings of His pure devotee.
The word rati-rasah is significant in this verse. Service to the Lord is
rendered in different transcendental mellows (relationships): neutral,
active, friendly, parental and nuptial. A living entity in the liberated
position of transcendental service to the Lord becomes attracted to
one of the above-mentioned mellows, and when one is engaged in tran-
scendental loving service to the Lord, one’s service attachment in the
material world is automatically vanquished. As stated in Bhagavad-gita
(2.59), rasa-varjam raso ‘py asya param drstva nivartate.

TEXT 20

SUN Aqsa: A sgraqaia |
awaited 2atat waea: IRoll

durapa hy alpatapasah
seva vaikuntha-vartmasu

yatropagiyate nityam
deva-devo janardanah

durapa—rarely obtainable; hi—certainly; alpa-tapasah—of one whose
austerity is meager; seva—service; vaikuntha—the transcendental kingdom
of God; vartmasu—on the path of; yatra— wherein; upagiyate—is glorified;
nityam—always; deva—Lord; devah—of the demigods; Janardanah —the
controller of the living entities.

TRANSLATION

Persons whose austerity is meager can hardly obtain the service of the
pure devotees who are progressing on the path back to the kingdom
of Godhead, the Vaikunthas. Pure devotees engage one hundred percent
in glorifying the Supreme Lord, who is the Lord of the demigods and the
controller of all living entities.

PURPORT

The path of liberation, as recommended by all authorities, is to serve
the mahatma transcendentalists. As far as Bhagavad-gita is concerned, the
