372 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 5, Ch. 24

When the Supreme Personality of Godhead offers a devotee material
happiness, this is not His real favor. The demigods, who are very puffed
up by their material opulence, pray to the Lord only for material happi-
ness, not knowing anything better. Devotees like Prahlada Maharaja,
however, do not want material happiness. Not to speak of material happi-
ness, they do not want even liberation from material bondage, although
one can achieve this liberation simply by chanting the holy name of the
Lord, even with improper pronunciation.

Below Sutala is the planet Talatala, the abode of the demon Maya. This
demon is always materially happy because he is favored by Lord Siva,
but he cannot achieve spiritual happiness at any time. Below Talatala is
the planet Mahatala, where there are many snakes with hundreds and
thousands of hoods. Below Mahatala is Rasatala, and below that is Patala,
where the serpent Vasuki lives with his associates.

TEXT 1
ATR FA
n Q LN °
CeCe CIPO MEECRICC CECE Gi Or MEET ICE Col
D Sas x LN

Wet Wart AWasqarqa aqaguaad: afew aaena

TT FH Bat AafereaTA: Ue At

$ri-Suka uvaca

adhastat savitur yojandyute svarbhanur naksatravac caratity eke yo
‘sav amaratvam grahatvamm cdlabhata bhagavad-anukampayé svayam
asurapasadah saimhikeyo hy atad-arhas tasya tata janma karmani
copanstad vaksyamah.

Sri-Sukah uvaca—Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; adhastat—below;
savituh—the sun globe; yojana—a measurement equal to eight miles;
ayute—ten thousand; svarbhadnuh—the planet known as Rahu; nak-
satra-vat—like one of the stars; carati—is rotating; iti—thus; eke—
some who are learned in the Puranas; yah—which; asau—that;
amaratvam—a lifetime like those of the demigods; grahatvam—a posi-
tion as one of the chief planets; ca—and; alabhata—obtained;
