Text 24] The Demigods Appeal to the Lord 165

our bodies there are many enemies, such as lusty desires, anger and
greed. Maharaja Pariksit is specifically addressed as arindama because in
his political life he was able to subdue all kinds of enemies, and even
though he was a young king, as soon as he heard that he was going to die
within seven days, he immediately left his kingdom. He did not follow
the dictates of enemies within his body, such as lust, greed and anger. He
was not at all angry with the muni’s son who had cursed him. Rather, he
accepted the curse and prepared for his death in the association of
Sukadeva Gosvami. Death is inevitable; no one can surpass the force of
death. Therefore Maharaja Pariksit, while fully alive, wanted to hear
Srimad-Bhagavatam. He is consequently addressed here as arindama.

Another word, sura-priya, is also significant. Although Krsna, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, is equal toward everyone, He is es-
pecially inclined toward His devotees (ye bhajanti tu mam bhaktya mayi
te tesu capy aham). The devotees are all demigods. There are two kinds
of men within this world. One is called the deva, and the other is called
the asura. The Padma Purana states:

dvau bhiita-sargau loke ’smin
daiva dsura eva ca
visnu-bhaktah smrto daiva

dsuras tad-viparyayah

Anyone who is a devotee of Lord Krsna is called a deva, and others, even
though they may be devotees of demigods, are called asuras. Ravana, for
example, was a great devotee of Lord Siva, but he is described as an
asura. Similarly, Hiranyakasipu is described as a great devotee of Lord
Brahma, yet he was also an asura. Therefore, only the devotee of Lord
Visnu is called sura, not asura. Lord Krsna is very much pleased with
His devotees, even if they are not on the topmost stage of devotional ser-
vice. Even on the lower stages of devotional service one is transcenden-
tal, and if one continues with devotional life, he continues to be a deva or
sura. If one continues in this way, Krsna will always be pleased with him
and will give him all instructions so that he may very easily return home,

back to Godhead.
