256 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 19

yanti deva-vrata devan
pitrn yanti pitr-vratah

bhitani yanti bhitejyya
yanti mad-yajino ‘pi mam

“Those who worship the demigods will take birth among the demigods;
those who worship ghosts and spirits will take birth among such beings;
those who worship ancestors go to the ancestors; and those who worship
Me will live with Me.” People in the land of Bharata-varsa generally
follow the Vedic principles and consequently perform great sacrifices by
which they can be elevated to the heavenly planets. However, what is the
use of such great attainments? As stated in Bhagavad-gita (9.21), ksine
punye martya-lokar visanti: after the results of one’s sacrifices, charity
and other pious activities expire, one must return to the lower planetary
systems and again feel the pangs of birth and death. However, one who
becomes Krsna conscious can go back to Krsna (ydnti-mad-yajino ’pi
mam). Therefore the demigods even regret having been elevated to the
higher planetary systems. The denizens of the heavenly planets regret
that they could not take full advantage of being born in the land of
Bharata-varsa. Instead, they became captivated by a higher standard of
sense gratification, and therefore they forgot the lotus feet of Lord
Narayana at the time of death. The conclusion is that one who has taken
birth in the land of Bharata-varsa must follow the instructions given per-
sonally by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Yad gatvé na nivartante
tad dhdma paramam mama. One should try to return home, back to
Godhead, to the Vaikuntha planets—or to the topmost Vaikuntha planet,
Goloka Vrndavana—to live eternally in full, blissful knowledge in the
company of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

TEXT 23

RTT AAT IRGAAaT
ATU ARTA ATA |
at aa gd wafer:
ape AMAT TE FT URAL
