396 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 9

merciful that He fulfilled his desire. Dhruva Maharaja wanted a residence
more exalted than any ever occupied by anyone else in his family. There-
fore he was offered the planet in which the Lord personally resides, and
his determination was completely satisfied. Still, when Dhruva Maharaja
returned home he was not very much pleased because although in pure
devotional service there is no demand from the Lord, because of his child-
ish nature he had demanded something, and although the Lord also fulfilled
his desire, he was not very pleased. Rather, he was ashamed that he had
demanded something from the Lord, for he should not have done this.

TEXT 28

fagx sara
aged wae ae at:
TRTATT
TOTUAL LAHAT
ai ATARTATAAT IRI

vidura uvaca
sudurlabham yat paramam padam harer
mayavinas tac-caranarcanarjitam
labdhvapy asiddhartham ivaika-janmana
katham svam atmanam amanyatartha-vit

vidurah uvdca—Vidura continued to inquire; sudurlabham—very rare;
yat—that which; paramam—is the supreme; padam-situation; hareh—of
the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ma@ydvinah—very affectionate; tat—
His; carana—lotus feet; arcana—by worshiping; arjitam—achieved ; labdhva—
having attained; api—although ; asiddha-artham—not fulfilled; iva—as if; eka-
janmana—in the duration of one life; katham—why ; svam—own; dtmadnam—
heart; amanyata—he felt; artha-vit—being very wise.

TRANSLATION

Sri Vidura inquired: My dear brahmana, the abode of the Lord is very
difficult to attain. It can be attained only by pure devotional service,
which alone pleases the most affectionate, merciful Lord. Dhruva
Maharaja achieved this position even in one life, and he was very wise and
conscientious. Why, then, was he not very pleased?
