Text 20] Rahagana Converses with Jada Bharata 453

rahigana tvam api hy adhvano ’sya
sannyasta-dandah krta-bhita-maitrah
asaj-jitatma hari-sevaya sitam
Jnandsim adaya tarati-param

rahiigana—O King Rahigana: tvam—you: api—also: hi—certainly:
adhvanah—of the path of material existence; asya—this: sannyasta-
dandah—having given up the king’s rod for punishing criminals: krta-
bhiita-maitrah—having become friendly to everyone: asat-jita-atma—
whose mind is not attracted to the material pleasure of life: hari-
sevaya—by the means of loving service to the Supreme Lord: sitam—
sharpened: jridna-asim—the sword of knowledge: dddya—taking in
hand; tara—cross over; atiparam—to the ultimate end of spiritual exis-
tence.

TRANSLATION

My dear King Rahigana, you are also a victim of the external
energy, being situated on the path of attraction to material
pleasure. So that you may become an equal friend to all living en-
tities, | now advise you to give up your kingly position and the rod
by which you punish criminals. Give up attraction to the sense ob-
jects and take up the sword of knowledge sharpened by devotional
service. Then you will be able to cut the hard knot of illusory
energy and cross to the other side of the ocean of nescience.

PURPORT

In Bhagavad-gita Lord Krsna compares the material world to a tree of
illusion from which one must cut oneself free:

na ripam asyeha tathopalabhyate
nanto na cddir na ca sampratistha

asvattham enam suvirtidha-milam
asanga-sastrena drdhena chittva

tatah padam tat parimargitavyam
yasmin gata na nivartanti bhiyah

tam eva caddyam purusarh prapadye
yatah pravrttih prasrta purani
