VMA 1.25 : What business do we have with kings or gods?


kiṁ no bhūpaiḥ kiṁ nu devādibhir vā
svāpnaiśvaryotphullitaiḥ kiṁ ca muktaiḥ |
śūnyālambair vaiṣṇavair vāpi kiṁ naḥ
śrīmad-vṛndā-kānanaikānta-bhājām||
What business do we have with kings or gods
who are puffed up with riches that are like dreams,
we who are the exclusive devotees of Vrindavan?
And what do we care for liberated souls
who take shelter of emptiness,
or even for the worshipers of Vishnu? (1.25)
Commentary

Prabodhananda continues to demonstrate his niṣṭhā for the sadhana of Brajavasa. He seeks a vision of the eternal Vrindavan that lies outside the purview of those who only have empirical vision. The real vision of Vrindavan is internal. The single-minded devotee of the Lord has no time for those whose hearts have not been opened to this vision. The prizes of this world are ephemeral. Recognizing this is the beginning of spiritual life.

tasyaiva hetoḥ prayateta kovido
na labhyate yad bhramatām upary adhaḥ
tal labhyate duḥkhavad anyataḥ sukhaṁ
kālena sarvatra gabhīra-raṁhasā
For this reason, a clever person should seek out that which cannot be found from one extremity to the other within this material universe. Whatever happiness is found here is obtained in the same way that distress is—automatically by the force of time, whose workings are inscrutable. (1.5.18)
Not everyone is meant for this life of devotion. Not everyone is attracted to bhakti or to the particular mood and culture of Vrindavan. These are gifts that are transrational. So if you have gotten this gift, be grateful and associate with devotees.

tulayāma lavenāpi
na svargaṁ nāpunarbhavam
bhagavat-saṅgi-saṅgasya
martyānāṁ kim utāśiṣaḥ
We cannot compare heaven or liberation, what to speak of the miserable benedictions sought by the worldly, to even the briefest moment of association with the companions of the Lord. (SB 1.18.13)
Prabodhananda Saraswati incarnates this mood and manner.


Ten Previous posts
VMA 1.24 : Take pleasure in the eternal joys within Vrindavan
VMA 1.23 : When will I roam in Vrindavan?
VMA 1.22 : The Upanishads do not reveal Vrindavan
VMA 1.21 : Vrindavan enchants everyone
VMA 1.20 : The gold and black jewel light
VMA 1.19 : Who's mind will not be stolen?
VMA 1.18 : How to meditate on Vrindavan
VMA 1.17 : Grant me residence here until the end of life
VMA 1.16 : A prayer for the siddha Vrindavan to manifest
VMA 1.15 : Rolling in the dust of Vrindavan

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