954 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 22

service than one who distributes the knowledge of spiritual realization in
relation with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. All living entities are
within the clutches of the illusory energy. Forgetting their real identity,
they hover in material existence, transmigrating from one body to another
in search of a peaceful life. Since these living entities have very little knowl-
edge of self-realization, they are not getting any relief, although they are
very anxious to attain peace of mind and some substantial happiness.
Saintly persons like the Kumaras, Narada, Prahlada, Janaka, Sukadeva
Gosvami, Kapiladeva, as well as the followers of such authorities as the
Vaisnava acaryas and their servants, can render a valuable service to hu-
manity by disseminating knowledge of the relationship between the
Supreme Personality of Godhead and the living entity. Such knowledge
is the perfect benediction for humanity.

Knowledge of Krsna is such a great gift that it is impossible to repay
the benefactor. Therefore Prthu Maharaja requested the Kumaras to be
satisfied by their own benevolent activities, which involved delivering souls
from the clutches of maya. The King saw that there was no other way to
satisfy them for their exalted activities. The word vinodapatram can be
divided into two words, vina and uda-patram, or can be understood as one
word, vinoda-patram, which means joker. A joker’s activities simply
arouse laughter, and a person who tries to repay the spiritual master or
teacher of the transcendental message of Krsna becomes a laughing stock
just like a joker because it is not possible to repay such a debt. The best
friend and benefactor of all people is one who awakens humanity to its
original Krsna consciousness.

TEXT 48
#2 WV

a wrematrray anger Tha: |
ts TRI Aad: ASAT WZ Mv!
maitreya uvaca
ta atma-yoga-pataya
adi-rajena pujitah
Silam tadiyam samsantah
khe ’bhavan misatam nrnam

maitreyah uvaca—the great sage Maitreya continued to speak; te— they;
atma-yoga-patayah—the masters of self-realization by devotional service;
