Importance of Association with the Devotees



2011-12-27
Srimad Bhagavatam 10.04.43 - Importance of Association with the Devotees (download mp3) and (download flv)
by Radhika Vallabha Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty
www.iskcondesiretree.net





 SB 10.4.43
sri-suka uvaca
evam durmantribhih kamsah
saha sammantrya durmatih
brahma-himsam hitam mene
kala-pasavrto 'surah

Translation:
Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Thus, having considered the instructions of his bad ministers, Kamsa, who was bound by the laws of Yamaraja and devoid of good intelligence because he was a demon, decided to persecute the saintly persons, the brahmanas, as the only way to achieve his own good fortune.

Purport:
Srila Locana dasa Thakura has sung, apana karama, bhuñjaye samana, kahaye locana dasa. Instead of taking good instructions from the sages and the sastras, godless nondevotees act whimsically, according to their own plans. Actually, however, no one has his own plans because everyone is bound by the laws of nature and must act according to his tendency in material, conditional life. Therefore one must change one's own decision and follow the decision of Krsna and Krsna's devotees. Then one is rescued from punishment by Yamaraja. Kamsa was not uneducated. It appears from his talks with Vasudeva and Devaki that he knew all about the laws of nature. But because of his association with bad ministers, he could not make a clear decision about his welfare. Therefore the Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 22.54) says:

'sadhu-sanga,' 'sadhu-sanga'—sarva-sastre kaya
lava-matra sadhu-sasge sarva-siddhi haya

If one desires his real welfare, he must associate with devotees and saintly persons and in this way rectify the material condition of his life.