SB 8.22.27
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT 27
- māna-stambha-nimittānāṁ
- janmādīnāṁ samantataḥ
- sarva-śreyaḥ-pratīpānāṁ
- hanta muhyen na mat-paraḥ
SYNONYMS
māna — of false prestige; stambha — because of this impudence; nimittānām — which are the causes; janma-ādīnām — such as birth in a high family; samantataḥ — taken together; sarva-śreyaḥ — for the supreme benefit of life; pratīpānām — which are impediments; hanta — also; muhyet — becomes bewildered; na — not; mat-paraḥ — My pure devotee.
TRANSLATION
Although aristocratic birth and other such opulences are impediments to advancement in devotional service because they are causes of false prestige and pride, these opulences never disturb a pure devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
PURPORT
Devotees like Dhruva Mahārāja, who was given unlimited material opulence, have the special mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Once Kuvera wanted to give Dhruva Mahārāja a benediction, but although Dhruva Mahārāja could have asked him for any amount of material opulence, he instead begged Kuvera that he might continue his devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When a devotee is fixed in his devotional service, there is no need for the Lord to deprive him of his material opulences. The Supreme Personality of Godhead never takes away material opulences achieved because of devotional service, although He sometimes takes away opulences achieved by pious activities. He does this to make a devotee prideless or put him in a better position in devotional service. If a special devotee is meant for preaching but does not give up his family life or material opulences to take to the service of the Lord, the Lord surely takes away his material opulences and establishes him in devotional service. Thus the pure devotee becomes fully engaged in propagating Kṛṣṇa consciousness.