SB 4.31.2 · Srimad Bhagavatam

Devanagari

दीक्षिता ब्रह्मसत्रेण सर्वभूतात्ममेधसा । प्रतीच्यां दिशि वेलायां सिद्धोऽभूद्यत्र जाजलि: ॥ २ ॥

Verse text

dīkṣitā brahma-satreṇa sarva-bhūtātma-medhasā pratīcyāṁ diśi velāyāṁ siddho ’bhūd yatra jājaliḥ

Synonyms

dīkṣitāḥ — being determined ; brahma — satreṇa — by understanding of the Supreme Spirit ; sarva — all ; bhūta — living entities ; ātma — medhasā — considering like one’s self ; pratīcyām — in the western ; diśi — direction ; velāyām — on the seashore ; siddhaḥ — perfect ; abhūt — became ; yatra — where ; jājaliḥ — the great sage Jājali .

Translation

The Pracetās went to the seashore in the west where the great liberated sage Jājali was residing. After perfecting the spiritual knowledge by which one becomes equal toward all living entities, the Pracetās became perfect in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

With a vow to contemplate the meaning of the Vedas and thereby understand that all beings are equal to oneself, they attained perfection in the east, on the shore of the ocean where Jājali resided. Brahma-satreṇa means by discussion about the meaning of the Vedas, for it is said svāyambhuva brahma-satraṁ jana-loke 'bhavat purā: O son of self-born Brahmā, once long ago on Janaloka, wise sages who resided there discussed the meaning of the Veda. (SB 10.87.9) Amara-koṣa says that brahma means the Vedas, truth and austerity. Sarva-bhutātma-medhasā means “with the thought that all beings are equal to oneself.” They attained perfection on the shore of the ocean where the sage Jājali resided.

Purport

The word brahma-satra means “cultivation of spiritual knowledge.” Actually, both the Vedas and severe austerity are known as brahma ( vedas tattvaṁ tapo brahma ) . Brahma also means “the Absolute Truth.” One has to cultivate knowledge of the Absolute Truth by pursuing studies in the Vedas and undergoing severe austerities and penances. The Pracetās properly executed this function and consequently became equal to all other living entities. As Bhagavad-gītā (18.54) confirms: brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā na śocati na kāṅkṣati samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu mad-bhaktiṁ labhate parām “One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments or desires to have anything; he is equally disposed to every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.” When one actually becomes spiritually advanced, he does not see the difference between one living entity and another. This platform is attained by determination. When perfect knowledge is expanded, one ceases to see the outward covering of the living entity. He sees, rather, the spirit soul within the body. Thus he does not make distinctions between a human being and an animal, a learned brāhmaṇa and a caṇḍāla: vidyā-vinaya-sampanne brāhmaṇe gavi hastini śuni caiva śvapāke ca paṇḍitāḥ sama-darśinaḥ “The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brāhmaṇa, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste].” ( Bg. 5.18 ) A learned person sees everyone equally on a spiritual basis, and a learned person, a devotee, wants to see everyone developed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The place where the Pracetās were residing was perfect for executing spiritual activities, for it is indicated that the great sage Jājali attained mukti (liberation) there. One desiring perfection or liberation should associate with a person who is already liberated. This is called sādhu-saṅga, associating with a perfect devotee.