794 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 20

tary systems where the duration of life is very long and the standard of
living and happiness is very high. There are others, namely jiidnis and
yogis, who want the benediction of merging into the existence of the Lord.
This is called kaivalya. The Lord is therefore addressed as kaivalya-pati,
the master or Lord of the benediction known as kaivalya. But devotees
receive a different type of benediction from the Lord. Devotees are anxious
neither for the heavenly planets nor for merging into the existence of the
Lord. According to devotees, kaivalya, or merging into the existence of
the Lord, is considered as good as hell. The word naraka means hell.
Similarly, everyone who exists in this material world is called naraka
because this material existence itself is known as a hellish condition of life.
Prthu Maharaja, however, expressed that he was interested neither in the
benediction desired by the karmis nor that desired by the jianis and yogis.
Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Prabhu, a great devotee of Lord Caitanya,
described that kaivalya is no better than a hellish condition of life, and as
for the delights of the heavenly planets, they are factually will-o’-the-wisps
or phantasmagoria. They are not wanted by devotees. Devotees do not
even care for the positions held by Lord Brahma or Lord Siva, nor does a
devotee desire to become equal with Lord Visnu. As a pure devotee of the
Lord, Prthu Maharaja made his position very clear.

TEXT 24

a ama ay aqere a AYT-

TTA FAUT |
AAA AeTA HATA

fra wogaay Fae: will

na kamaye natha tad apy aham kvacin
na yatra yusmac-caranambujasavah
mahattamantar-hrdayan mukha-cyuto
vidhatsva karnayutam esa me varah

na—not; kamaye—do | desire; natha—O master; tat—that; api—even;
aham—|; kvacit—at any time; na—not; yatra— where; yusmat— Your; carana-
ambuja—of the lotus feet; asavah—the nectarean beverage; mahattama—of
the great devotees; antalt-hrdayat—from the core of the heart; mukha—
from the mouths; cyuta—being delivered; vidhatsva—give; karna—ears;
ayutam—one million; esah—this; me—my ; varah—benediction.
