408 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 9

who, when he satisfied a great emperor who wanted to give him anything he

might ask, out of ignorance asked only a few broken grains of husked rice.
PURPORT

In this verse the word svarajyam, which means complete independence,
is very significant. A conditioned soul does not know what complete inde-
pendence is. Complete independence means situation in one’s own consti-
tutional position. The real independence of a living entity, who is part and
parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is to remain always depen-
dent on the Supreme Lord, just like a child who plays in complete inde-
pendence, guided by his parents, who watch over him. The independence
of the conditioned soul does not mean to fight with the obstacles offered
by maya, but to surrender to Krsna. In the material world, everyone is
trying to become completely independent simply by fighting against the
obstacles offered by maya. This is called the struggle for existence. Real
independence is to be reinstated in the service of the Lord. Anyone who
goes to the Vaikuntha planets or Goloka Vrndavana planet is freely offering
his service to the Lord. That is complete independence. Just contrary to
this is material overlordship, which we wrongly take to be independence.
Many great political leaders have tried to establish independence, but due
to such so-called independence the people’s dependence has only increased.
The living entity cannot be happy trying to be independent in the material
world. One has to surrender, therefore, unto the lotus feet of the Lord and
engage in His original eternal service.

Dhruva Maharaja regrets that he wanted material opulence and greater
prosperity than that of his great-grandfather, Lord Brahma. His begging
from the Lord was like a poor man’s asking a great emperor for a few
grains of broken rice. The conclusion is that anyone who is engaged in the
loving service of the Lord should never ask for material prosperity from
the Lord. The awarding of material prosperity simply depends on the strin-
gent rules and regulations of the external energy. Pure devotees ask the
Lord only for the privilege of serving Him. This is our real independence.
If we want anything else, it is a sign of our misfortune.

TEXT 36
aaa vara
a9 ga unfit
THAINA «AAEM FAT: |
