Shloka 24
The Lord’s Advent: Yoga-māyā’s Mission, Saṅkarṣaṇa’s Transfer, and the Demigods’ Prayers
आसीन: संविशंस्तिष्ठन् भुञ्जान: पर्यटन् महीम् । चिन्तयानो हृषीकेशमपश्यत् तन्मयं जगत् ॥ २४ ॥
āsīnaḥ saṁviśaṁs tiṣṭhan bhuñjānaḥ paryaṭan mahīm cintayāno hṛṣīkeśam apaśyat tanmayaṁ jagat
സിംഹാസനത്തിൽ ഇരുന്നാലും, ശയ്യയിൽ കിടന്നാലും, നിന്നാലും, ഭൂമിയിൽ സഞ്ചരിച്ചാലും—ഭക്ഷിക്കുമ്പോഴും ഉറങ്ങുമ്പോഴും നടക്കുമ്പോഴും—കംസൻ തന്റെ ശത്രുവായ ശ്രീഹൃഷീകേശനെയേ മാത്രം കണ്ടു; സർവ്വജഗത്തും അവനു അവനിൽ നിറഞ്ഞതുപോലെ തോന്നി।
Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has described the finest pattern of devotional service as ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānuśīlanam, or cultivating Kṛṣṇa consciousness favorably. Kaṁsa, of course, was also Kṛṣṇa conscious, but because he regarded Kṛṣṇa as his enemy, even though he was fully absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, his Kṛṣṇa consciousness was not favorable for his existence. Kṛṣṇa consciousness, favorably cultivated, makes one completely happy, so much so that a Kṛṣṇa conscious person does not consider kaivalya-sukham, or merging into the existence of Kṛṣṇa, to be a great gain. Kaivalyaṁ narakāyate . For a Kṛṣṇa conscious person, even merging into the existence of Kṛṣṇa, or Brahman, as impersonalists aspire to do, is uncomfortable. Kaivalyaṁ narakāyate tridaśa-pūr ākāśa-puṣpāyate . Karmīs hanker to be promoted to the heavenly planets, but a Kṛṣṇa conscious person considers such promotion a will-o’-the-wisp, good for nothing. Durdāntendriya-kāla-sarpa-paṭalī protkhāta-daṁṣṭrāyate. Yogīs try to control their senses and thus become happy, but a Kṛṣṇa conscious person neglects the methods of yoga. He is unconcerned with the greatest of enemies, the senses, which are compared to snakes. For a Kṛṣṇa conscious person who is cultivating Kṛṣṇa consciousness favorably, the happiness conceived by the karmīs, jñānīs and yogīs is treated as less than a fig. Kaṁsa, however, because of cultivating Kṛṣṇa consciousness in a different way — that is, inimically — was uncomfortable in all the affairs of his life; whether sitting, sleeping, walking or eating, he was always in danger. This is the difference between a devotee and a nondevotee. A nondevotee or atheist also cultivates God consciousness — by trying to avoid God in everything. For example, so-called scientists who want to create life by a combination of chemicals regard the external, material elements as supreme. Such scientists do not like the idea that life is part and parcel of the Supreme Lord. As clearly stated in Bhagavad-gītā ( mamaivāṁśo jīva-loke jīva-bhūtaḥ ), the living entities do not arise from a combination of material elements, such as earth, water, air and fire, but are separated portions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If one can understand the position of the living entity as a separated portion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by studying the nature of the living entity one can understand the nature of the Supreme Godhead, since the living entity is a fragmental sample of the Godhead. But because atheists are not interested in God consciousness, they try to be happy by cultivating Kṛṣṇa consciousness in various unfavorable ways.
FAQs
This verse explains that through constant remembrance of Hṛṣīkeśa, a devotee comes to perceive the entire world as pervaded by the Lord—everything appears connected to and filled with Kṛṣṇa.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating, describing the effect of continuous meditation on Hṛṣīkeśa (Śrī Kṛṣṇa): in all postures and activities, one sees the world as the Lord’s presence.
Practice remembering Kṛṣṇa during ordinary actions—sitting, eating, working, traveling—by japa, brief prayer, or mindful offering; over time, this steadies devotion and makes one see life as connected to the Divine.