Text 17] The Dynasty of Bharata 133

rddhasah—for Rantideva, who was undeviating and desired nothing
other than to serve the Supreme Lord; maéyd—the illusory energy;
guna-mayi—consisting of the three modes of nature; rdjan—O
Maharaja Pariksit; svapna-vat—like a dream; pratyaliyata—merged.

TRANSLATION

O Maharaja Pariksit, because King Rantideva was a pure devo-
tee, always Krsna conscious and free from all material desires, the
Lord’s illusory energy, maya, could not exhibit herself before
him. On the contrary, for him maya entirely vanished, exactly like
a dream.

PURPORT
As it is said:

krsna —stirya-sama; méyd haya andhakara
yahan krsna, tahan nahi mayara adhikara

Just as there is no chance that darkness can exist in the sunshine, in a
pure Krsna conscious person there can be no existence of mdyd. The

Lord Himself says in Bhagavad-gita (7.14):

daivi hy esa gunamayi
mama maya duratyaya

mam eva ye prapadyante
maydm etam taranti te

“This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material
nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me
can easily cross beyond it.” If one wants to be free from the influence of
maya, the illusory energy, one must become Krsna conscious and always
keep Krsna prominent within the core of his heart. In Bhagavad-gita
(9.34) the Lord advises that one always think of Him (man-mana bhava
mad-bhakto mad-yaji maém namaskuru). In this way, by always being
Krsna-minded or Krsna conscious, one can surpass the influence of maya
(mayam etam taranti te). Because Rantideva was Krsna conscious, he
was not under the influence of the illusory energy. The word svapnavat
