SB 7.6.25 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

तुष्टे च तत्र किमलभ्यमनन्त आद्ये किं तैर्गुणव्यतिकरादिह ये स्वसिद्धा: । धर्मादय: किमगुणेन च काङ्‌क्षितेन सारं जुषां चरणयोरुपगायतां न: ॥ २५ ॥

Verse text

tuṣṭe ca tatra kim alabhyam ananta ādye kiṁ tair guṇa-vyatikarād iha ye sva-siddhāḥ dharmādayaḥ kim aguṇena ca kāṅkṣitena sāraṁ juṣāṁ caraṇayor upagāyatāṁ naḥ

Synonyms

tuṣṭe — when satisfied ; ca — also ; tatra — that ; kim — what ; alabhyam — unobtainable ; anante — the Supreme Personality of Godhead ; ādye — the original source of everything, the cause of all causes ; kim — what need ; taiḥ — with them ; guṇa — vyatikarāt — due to the actions of the modes of material nature ; iha — in this world ; ye — which ; sva — siddhāḥ — automatically achieved ; dharma — ādayaḥ — the three principles of material advancement, namely religion, economic development and sense gratification ; kim — what need ; aguṇena — with liberation into the Supreme ; ca — and ; kāṅkṣitena — desired ; sāram — essence ; juṣām — relishing ; caraṇayoḥ — of the two lotus feet of the Lord ; upagāyatām — who glorify the qualities of the Lord ; naḥ — of us .

Translation

Nothing is unobtainable for devotees who have satisfied the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the cause of all causes, the original source of everything. The Lord is the reservoir of unlimited spiritual qualities. For devotees, therefore, who are transcendental to the modes of material nature, what is the use of following the principles of religion, economic development, sense gratification and liberation, which are all automatically obtainable under the influence of the modes of nature? We devotees always glorify the lotus feet of the Lord, and therefore we need not ask for anything in terms of dharma, kāma, artha and mokṣa.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

What cannot be attained if the unlimited original Lord is satisfied? Since we glorify and relish the lotus feet of the Lord, what is the need for dharma, artha and kāma which are achieved automatically by the transformations of the guṇas? What is the need of liberation? If the Lord is satisfied, what is use of other goals of aspiration? They have no result. They are attained on their own (sva-siddhāḥ) in this world by transformation of the guṇas. What is the use of liberation (aguṇena)? We glorify profusely (upagāyatām) and serve (juṣām) the sweetness of the Lord’s lotus feet. The Lord’s feet are like lotuses with sweet fragrance and taste (sāram). The devotees are like bees, who by their nature do not desire other things.

Purport

In an advanced civilization, people are eager to be religious, to be economically well situated, to satisfy their senses to the fullest extent, and at last to attain liberation. However, these are not to be magnified as desirable. Indeed, for a devotee these are all very easily available. Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura said, muktiḥ svayaṁ mukulitāṣjali sevate ’smān dharmārtha-kāma-gatayaḥ samaya-pratīkṣāḥ. Liberation always stands at the door of a devotee, ready to carry out his orders. Material advancement in religion, economic development, sense gratification and liberation simply wait to serve a devotee at the first opportunity. A devotee is already in a transcendental position; he does not need further qualifications to be liberated. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (14.26) , sa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate: a devotee is transcendental to the actions and reactions of the three modes of material nature because he is situated on the Brahman platform. Prahlāda Mahārāja said, aguṇena ca kāṅkṣitena: if one is engaged in the transcendental loving service of the lotus feet of the Lord, he does not need anything in terms of dharma, artha, kāma or mokṣa. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, therefore, in the beginning of the transcendental literature, it is said, dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo ’tra. Dharma, artha, kāma and mokṣa are kaitava — false and unnecessary. Nirmatsarāṇām, persons who are completely transcendental to the material activities of separateness, who make no distinction between “mine” and “yours,” but who simply engage in the devotional service of the Lord, are actually fit to accept bhāgavata-dharma ( dharmān bhagavatān iha ). Because they are nirmatsara, not jealous of anyone, they want to make others devotees, even their enemies. In this regard, Śrīla Madhvācārya remarks, kāṅkṣate mokṣa-gam api sukhaṁ nākāṅkṣato yathā. Devotees are not desirous of any material happiness, including the happiness derived from liberation. This is called anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jṣāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam. Karmīs desire material happiness, and jṣānīs desire liberation, but a devotee does not desire anything; he is simply satisfied by rendering transcendental loving service at the lotus feet of the Lord and glorifying Him everywhere by preaching, which is his life and soul.