lebhe tad-gaṇa-mukhyatām
lebhe tad-gaṇa-mukhyatām
yat-pārśve bhagavān āste
hy adyāpi pura-pālakaḥ
Since King Bāṇa was a great worshiper of Lord Śiva, he became one of Lord Śiva's most celebrated associates. Even now, Lord Śiva, standing by his side, protects King Bāṇa's capital.
|| 6.18.19 ||
marutaś ca diteḥ putrāś
catvāriṁśan navādhikāḥ
ta āsann aprajāḥ sarve
nītā indreṇa sātmatām
The forty-nine Maruts, also born from the womb of Diti, did not have sons. Although they were born of Diti, King Indra gave them a position as devatās.
Sātmatām means that they attained the position of devatās, worshipped just like Indra.
|| 6.18.20||
śrī-rājovāca
kathaṁ ta āsuraṁ bhāvam
apohyautpattikaṁ guro
indreṇa prāpitāḥ sātmyaṁ
kiṁ tat sādhu kṛtaṁ hi taiḥ
King Parīkṣit said: O guru! Why did Indra convert person born with demonic mentality into devatās? Did they perform any pious activities?
|| 6.18.21 ||
ime śraddadhate brahmann
ṛṣayo hi mayā saha
parijñānāya bhagavaṁs
tan no vyākhyātum arhasi
My dear brāhmaṇa! All the sages present along with me are eager to know about this. Therefore, O great soul, kindly explain to us the reason.
Parīkṣit puts his faith in the sages. They have faith that you will make known to them the secret reason.
|| 6.18.22 ||
śrī-sūta uvāca
tad viṣṇurātasya sa bādarāyaṇir
vaco niśamyādṛtam alpam arthavat
sabhājayan san nibhṛtena cetasā
jagāda satrāyaṇa sarva-darśanaḥ
Sūta Gosvāmī said: O sage Śaunaka! After hearing Mahārāja Parīkṣit speak respectful, precise words holding many meanings, omniscient Śukadeva Gosvāmī praised him and, with perfectly concentrated mind, replied.
Arthavat means “with many meanings.” One meaning is obtained from the story.
Performing tamasic bhakti to the Lord with the goal of harming others, one becomes purified in heart, and along with developing bhakti without tamas, one gains liberation from saṁsāra and gives up the tendency for violence to others. Diti is the proof of this. That is the first meaning of the story. Those with crooked hearts, who see faults in others, though they are intelligent, do not see those same faults in themselves. Diti is also an example of this, with her words starting in verse 24. This is the second meaning. A learned person can be cheated by the attraction of a woman. Kaśyapa is an example of this. That is the third meaning. Alpam means “with measured syllables.” Sannibhṛtena means “completely concentrated mind.” Satrāyaṇa is Śaunaka.
|| 6.18.23 ||
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