Text 5] The Characteristics of Rsabhadeva 143

his transcendental son with great affection, and he was over-
whelmed with transcendental bliss, joy and devotion.

PURPORT

The word maya is used in the sense of illusion. Considering the
Supreme Personality of Godhead to be his own son, Maharaja Nabhi was
certainly in illusion, but this was transcendental illusion. This illusion is
required; otherwise how can one accept the supreme father as his own
son? The Supreme Lord appears as the son of one of His devotees, just as
Lord Krsna appeared as the son of Yasoda and Nanda Maharaja. These
devotees could never think of their son as the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, for such appreciation would hamper their relationship of
paternal love.

TEXT 5

Airgas saat oat afd arad-
Taras merger ae aeeeq faq waa
fag aT AAA ATTA Wed TATA TAA:
Bled AeANATAATT UI & II

viditanuragam dpaura-prakrti jana-pado raja nabhir dtmajam
samaya-setu-raksayam abhisicya brahmanesiipanidhaya saha
merudevya visalayam prasanna-nipunena tapasad samdadhi-yogena
nara-narayanakhyam bhagavantam vdsudevam upasinah kdlena tan-
mahimanam avapa.

vidita—known very well: anuragam—popularity: dpaura-prakrti—
among all the citizens and government officers: jana-padah—desiring to
serve the people in general; raja—the King: nabhih—Nabhi: datma-
jam—his son; samaya-setu-rakséyam—to protect the people strictly ac-
cording to the Vedic principles of religious life: abhisicya—enthroning:
brahmanesu—to the learned brdhmanas; upanidhdya—entrusting:
saha—with; merudevyd—his wife. Merudevi: visalayam—in
Badarikasrama; prasanna-nipunena—performed with great satisfaction
