212 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 9, Ch. 6

advised that an exalted saintly person avoid the association of those who
are materially inclined. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura also recommends
that one engage in the service of the dcdryas, and if one wants to live in
association, he must live in the association of devotees (tandera carana
sevi bhakta-sane vasa). The Krsna consciousness movement is creating
many centers just to create devotees so that by associating with the mem-
bers of such a center people will automatically become uninterested in
material affairs. Although this is an ambitious proposal, this association
is proving effective by the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. By gradu-
ally associating with the members of the Krsna consciousness movement,
simply by taking prasdda and taking part in chanting of the Hare Krsna
mantra, ordinary persons are being considerably elevated. Saubhari
Muni regrets that he had bad association even in the deepest part of the
water. Because of the bad association of the sexually engaged fish, he fell
down. A secluded place is also not secure unless there is good association.

TEXT 52
THA TTEATETA ATR
GaMIaaat Iaaeaa: |
Aa ATA F ATA
AAMAS 14

ekas tapasvy aham athambhasi matsya-sargat
paricadsad dsam uta parica-sahasra-sargah

nantam vrajamy ubhaya-krtya-manorathanam
mayd-gunair hrta-matir visaye ’rtha-bhavah

ekah—one only; tapasvi—great sage; aham—I; atha—thus;
ambhasi—in the deep water; matsya-sarigat—by associating with the
fish; paricdsat—fifty; dsam—got wives; uta—and what to speak of
begetting one hundred sons in each of them; payica-sahasra-sargah—
procreation of five thousand; na antam—no end; vrajami—I can find;
ubhaya-krtya—duties of this life and the next; manorathandm—mental
concoctions; ma@ya-gunaih —influenced by the modes of material nature;
hrta—lost; matih visaye—great attraction for material things; artha-
bhavah—matters of self-interest.
