Text 50] The Appearance of the Demon Vrtrasura 153
terial lust. The benedictions will be finished at the end of the cosmic
manifestation, along with those who bestow them. If one approaches
Lord Visnu for benedictions, the Lord will give him a benediction that
will help him return home, back to Godhead. This is also confirmed by
the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gita (10.10):
tesam satata-yuktanam
bhajatam priti-pitrvakam
dadami buddhi-yogam tari
yena mam upayanti te
Lord Visnu, or Lord Krsna, instructs a devotee who constantly engages in
His service how to approach Him at the end of his material body. The
Lord says in Bhagavad-gita (4.9):
janma karma ca me divyam
evar yo vetti tattvatah
tyaktva deham punar janma
naiti mam eti so ’rjuna
“One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and ac-
tivities, does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this ma-
terial world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.” This is the
benediction of Lord Visnu, Krsna. After giving up his body, a devotee
returns home, back to Godhead.

A devotee may foolishly ask for material benedictions, but Lord Krsna
does not give him such benedictions, despite the devotee’s prayers.
Therefore people who are very attached to material life do not generally
become devotees of Krsna or Visnu. Instead they become devotees of the
demigods (kdmais tais tair hrta-jnanah prapadyante ‘nya-devatah). The
benedictions of the demigods, however, are condemned in Bhagavad-
gitd. Antavat tu phalam tesdm tad bhavaty alpa-medhasam: ‘Men of
small intelligence worship the demigods, and their fruits are limited and
temporary.” A non-Vaisnava, one who is not engaged in the service of
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is considered a fool with a small
quantity of brain substance.
