Shloka 6
किं ते कामा: सुरस्पार्हा मुकुन्दमनसो द्विजा: । अधिजह्रुर्मुदं राज्ञ: क्षुधितस्य यथेतरे ॥ ६ ॥
kiṁ te kāmāḥ sura-spārhā mukunda-manaso dvijāḥ adhijahrur mudaṁ rājñaḥ kṣudhitasya yathetare
O brāhmaṇas, the King’s opulence was so alluring that even heaven’s denizens longed for it; yet, his mind absorbed in Mukunda’s service, nothing satisfied him but service to the Lord—just as only food can satisfy the hungry.
There are two things in the world which can satisfy living beings. When one is materially engrossed, he is satisfied only by sense gratification, but when one is liberated from the conditions of the material modes, he is satisfied only by rendering loving service for the satisfaction of the Lord. This means that the living being is constitutionally a servitor, and not one who is served. Being illusioned by the conditions of the external energy, one falsely thinks himself to be the served, but actually he is not served; he is servant of the senses like lust, desire, anger, avarice, pride, madness and intolerance. When one is in his proper senses by attainment of spiritual knowledge, he realizes that he is not the master of the material world, but is only a servant of the senses. At that time he begs for the service of the Lord and thus becomes happy without being illusioned by so-called material happiness. Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira was one of the liberated souls, and therefore for him there was no pleasure in a vast kingdom, good wife, obedient brothers, happy subjects and prosperous world. These blessings automatically follow for a pure devotee, even though the devotee does not aspire for them. The example set herein is exactly suitable. It is said that one who is hungry is never satisfied by anything other than food.
FAQs
This verse says that brāhmaṇas absorbed in Mukunda have no need for desires—even those sought by the gods—because devotion itself fulfills the heart.
They accepted not out of personal greed, but to give pleasure to the king and to honor the proper Vedic exchange between a righteous ruler and saintly brāhmaṇas.
Cultivate inner satisfaction through devotion and purpose, while still participating in giving and receiving in a way that supports dharma rather than personal craving.