1046 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 24

TRANSLATION

While traveling, the Pracetas happened to see a great reservoir of water
which seemed almost as big as the ocean. The water of this lake was
so calm and quiet that it seemed like the mind of a great soul, and its
inhabitants, the aquatics, appeared to be very peaceful and happy to be
under the protection of such a watery reservoir.

PURPORT

The word sa samudra means “‘near the sea.” The reservoir of water was
like a bay, for it was not very far from the sea. The word upa, meaning
“more or less,” is used in many ways, as in the word upapati, which indi-
cates a husband “‘more or less,” that is to say a lover who is acting like
a husband. Upa also means greater, smaller or nearer. Considering all
these points, the reservoir of water which was seen by the Pracetas while
they were traveling was actually a large bay or lake. And unlike the sea
or ocean, which has turbulent waves, this reservoir was very calm and
quiet. Indeed, the water was so clear that it seemed like the mind of
some great soul. There may be many great souls—jnanis, yogis and bhaktas,
or pure devotees, are also called great souls—but they are very rarely
found. One can find many great souls amongst yogis and jnanis, but a
truly great soul, a pure devotee of the Lord who is fully surrendered
to the Lord, is very rarely found (sa mahdtmd sudurlabhah, Bg. 7.19).
A devotee’s mind is always calm, quiet and desireless because he is al-
ways anyabhilasita-sunyam, and he has no desire other than to serve Krsna
as His personal servant, friend, father, mother or conjugal lover. Due
to his association with Krsna, a devotee is always very calm and cool.
It is also significant that within that reservoir all the aquatics were also
very calm and quiet. Because the disciples of a devotee have taken shelter
of a great man, they become very calm and quiet and are not agitated
by the waves of the material world.

This material world is often described as an ocean of nescience. In
such an ocean, everything is agitated. The mind of a great devotee is
also like an ocean or a very large lake, but there is no agitation. As
stated in Bhagavad-gita: vyavasayatmika buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana
(Bg. 2.41). Those who are fixed in the service of the Lord are not agitated
by anything. It is also stated in Bhagavad-gita: yasmin sthito na duhkhena
gurunapi vicalyate (Bg. 6.22). Even if he suffers some reversals in life, a
devotee is never agitated. Therefore whoever takes shelter of a great soul
or a great devotee becomes pacified. In the Caitanya-caritamrta it is stated:
