74 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 1
live there. One cannot be promoted to civilized life unless one comes to
Krsna consciousness, for by nature one is destined to live in a particular
situation according to one’s karma and association with the modes of
nature. If men want to live in harmony and peace, they must take to
Krsna consciousness, for they cannot achieve the highest standard while
absorbed in the bodily concept of life. Maharaja Priyavrata divided the
surface of the globe into different islands so that each class of men would
live peacefully and not clash with the others. The modern idea of nation-
hood has gradually developed from the divisions made by Maharaja
Priyavrata.
TEXT 41
° ° ° ° es
ald et mad a ated BATT |
ba! e
wae | freaterd gengaafirr: 1192
bhaumam divyam manusam ca
mahitvam karma-yogajam
yas cakre nirayaupamyam
purusGnujana-priyah
bhaumam—of the lower planets; divyam—heavenly; madnusam—of
human beings; ca—also; mahitvam—all opulences; karma —by fruitive
activities; yoga—by mystic power; jam—born; yah—one who; cakre—
did; niraya—with hell; aupamyam—comparison or equality; purusa —
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; anujana—to the devotee;
priyah—most dear.
TRANSLATION
‘*As a great follower and devotee of the sage Narada, Maharaja
Priyavrata considered hellish the opulences he had achieved by
dint of fruitive activities and mystic power, whether in the lower
or heavenly planetary systems or in human society.”
PURPORT
Srila Rapa Gosvami has said that the position of a devotee is so
superexcellent that a devotee does not consider any material opulence
