srutena -- by Vedic education; tapasa -- by austerities; va -- or; kim -- what is the meaning; vacobhih -- by words; citta -- of consciousness; vrttibhih -- by the occupations; buddhya -- by intelligence; va -- or; kim -- what is the use; nipunaya -- expert; balena -- by bodily strength; indriya-radhasa -- by power of the senses.
"Without devotional service, what is the meaning of severe austerities, the process of hearing, the power of speech, the power of mental speculation, elevated intelligence, strength, and the power of the senses?"
kim -- what is the use; va -- or; yogena -- by mystic yoga practice; sankhyena -- by the study of Sankhya philosophy; nyasa -- by accepting sannyasa; svadhyayayoh -- and by study of Vedic literature; api -- even; kim -- what is the use; va -- or; sreyobhih -- by auspicious activities; anyaih -- other; ca -- and; na -- never; yatra -- where; atma-pradah -- full satisfaction of self; harih -- the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
"Transcendental practices that do not ultimately help one realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead are useless, be they mystic yoga practices, the analytical study of matter, severe austerity, the acceptance of sannyasa, or the study of Vedic literature. All these may be very important aspects of spiritual advancement, but unless one understands the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, all these processes are useless."
Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore told Sanatana Gosvami that without a touch of devotional service, jnana, yoga and Sankhya philosophy cannot give one the desired results. The impersonalists wish to merge into the Supreme Brahman; however, merging into the Supreme Brahman also requires a touch of devotional service.
How to satisfy the Supreme Lord
[SB 4.31.19]
dayaya -- by showing mercy; sarva-bhutesu -- to all living entities; santustya -- by being satisfied; yena kena va -- somehow or other; sarva-indriya -- all the senses; upasantya -- by controlling; ca -- also; tusyati -- becomes satisfied; asu -- very soon; janardanah -- the Lord of all living entities.
"By showing mercy to all living entities, being satisfied somehow or other and controlling the senses from sense enjoyment, one can very quickly satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Janardana."
CANTO 5 BEGINS
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Canto 4 ends with descriptions of descendents of the 1st son of Svayambhu Manu - Maharaja Uttanpada, who had the famous son, Dhruva. Thus Prithu Maharaj, King Prachinabarhi and Pracetas were all descendents of Dhruva Maharaj.
Now, in the 5th canto, Sukadeva Goswami will describe the descendents of the 2nd son of Manu - Maharaja Priyavrata, who was a great devotee of the Lord.
Maharaj Privavrata was trained as a naisthiki brahmachari from the beginning of his life and had no interest in family life. However, by the insistence of Lord Brahma and Narada muni, he entered family life. This caused questions in mind of Maharaj Parikshit:
The father of Dhruva Maharaja, King Uttanapada, ruled over the universe because his elder brother, Priyavrata, practiced austerity from the very beginning of his life. Thus up to the point of the Pracetas, the kings of the universe were all descendants of Uttanapada Maharaja. Since there were no suitable kings after the Pracetas, Svayambhuva Manu went to the Gandhamadana Hill to bring back his eldest son, Priyavrata, who was meditating there. Svayambhuva Manu requested Priyavrata to rule over the universe. When he refused, Lord Brahma descended from the supreme planetary system, known as Satyaloka, to request Priyavrata to accept the order. Lord Brahma did not come alone. He came with other great sages like Marici, Atreya and Vasistha. To convince Priyavrata that it was necessary for him to follow the Vedic injunctions and accept the responsibility of ruling over the world, Lord Brahma also brought with him the personified Vedas, his constant associates.
1) Why did King Priyavrata, who was a great, self-realized devotee of the Lord, took to and remained in household life?
2) How was it possible for a person like King Priyavrata, who was so attached to wife, children and home, to achieve the topmost infallible perfection in Krsna consciousness?
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