Text 61] Hiranyakasipu, King of the Demons 127

PURPORT

When a relative dies one certainly becomes very much interested in
philosophy, but when the funeral ceremony is over one again becomes
attentive to materialism. Even Daityas, who are materialistic persons,
sometimes think of philosophy when some relative meets death. The
technical term for this attitude of the materialistic person is Smasdna-
vairdgya, or detachment in a cemetery or place of cremation. As con-
firmed in Bhagavad-gita, four classes of men receive an understanding
of spiritual life and God —drta (the distressed), jijAdsu (the inquisitive),
artharthi (one who desires material gains) and jfdni (one who is search-
ing for knowledge). Especially when one is very much distressed by ma-
terial conditions, one becomes interested in God. Therefore Kuntidevi
said in her prayers to Krsna that she preferred distress to a happy mood
of life. In the material world, one who is happy forgets Krsna, or God,
but sometimes, if one is actually pious but in distress, he remembers
Krsna. Queen Kuntidevi therefore preferred distress because it is an op-
portunity for remembering Krsna. When Krsna was leaving Kuntidevi
for His own country, Kuntidevi regretfully said that she was better off in
distress because Krsna was always present, whereas now that the Pan-
davas were situated in their kingdom, Krsna was going away. For a devo-
tee, distress is an opportunity to remember the Supreme Personality of

Godhead constantly.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Seventh Canto, Second
Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled “Hiranyakasipu, King of
the Demons.”
