448 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 13

prasajjati—becomes more and more attached; kvapi—sometimes:
lata-bhuja-asrayah—who takes shelter of the soft arms of his beautiful
wife which are like creepers; tat-dsraya—who are sheltered by such
creepers: avyakta-pada—who sing unclear songs; dvija-sprhah—desir-
ing to hear birds; kvacit—sometimes; kaddcit—somewhere; hari-
cakratah trasan—being afraid of the roaring sound of a lion;
sakhyam—friendship: vidhatte—makes; baka-karka-grdhraih—with

cranes. herons and vultures.

TRANSLATION

Sometimes the living entity in the forest of material existence
takes shelter of creepers and desires to hear the chirping of the
birds in those creepers. Being afraid of roaring lions in the forest,
he makes friends with cranes, herons and vultures.

PURPORT

In the forest of the material world there are many animals and birds,
trees and creepers. Sometimes the living entity wants to take shelter of
the creepers: in other words, he wants to be happy by being embraced by
the creeperlike arms of his wife. Within the creepers there are many
chirping birds; this indicates that he wants to satisfy himself by hearing
the sweet voice of his wife. In old age. however. he sometimes becomes
afraid of imminent death, which is compared to a roaring lion. To save
himself from the lion’s attack, he takes shelter of some bogus svdmis,
yogis, incarnations, pretenders and cheaters. Being misled by the illusory
energy in this way, he spoils his life. It is said. harim vina mrtim na
taranti: no one can be saved from the imminent danger of death without
taking shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The word hari in-
dicates the lion as well as the Supreme Lord. To be saved from the hands
of Hari, the lion of death, one must take shelter of the supreme Hari, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. People with a poor fund of knowledge
take shelter of nondevotee cheaters and pretenders in order to be saved
from the clutches of death. In the forest of the material world, the living
entity first of all wants to be very happy by taking shelter of the
creeperlike arms of his wife and hearing her sweet voice. Later. he some-
times takes shelter of so-called gurus and sa@dhus who are like cranes.
