FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.30.33

यावत्ते मायया स्पृष्टा भ्रमाम इह कर्मभि: । तावद्भवत्प्रसङ्गानां सङ्ग: स्यान्नो भवे भवे ॥ ३३ ॥
yāvat te māyayā spṛṣṭā
[yaavat te maayayaa sprishtaa]
bhramāma iha karmabhiḥ
[bhramaama iha karmabhih]
tāvad bhavat-prasaṅgānāṁ
[taavad bhavat-prasangaanaam]
saṅgaḥ syān no bhave bhave
[sangah syaan no bhave bhave]
yāvat — as long as te — Your māyayā — by the illusory energy spṛṣṭāḥ — contaminated bhramāmaḥ — we wander iha — in this material world karmabhiḥ — by the reaction of fruitive activities tāvat — so long bhavat-prasaṅgānām — of Your loving devotees saṅgaḥ — association syāt — let there be naḥ — our bhave bhave — in every species of life.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yāvat te māyayā spṛṣṭā
yāvat
as long as
te
Your
māyayā
by the illusory energy
spṛṣṭāḥ
contaminated
bhramāma iha karmabhiḥ
bhramāmaḥ
we wander
iha
in this material world
karmabhiḥ
by the reaction of fruitive activities
tāvad bhavat-prasaṅgānāṁ
tāvat
so long
bhavat-prasaṅgānām
of Your loving devotees
saṅgaḥ
association
saṅgaḥ syān no bhave bhave
syāt
let there be
naḥ
our
bhave bhave
in every species of life.
Dear Lord, as long as we have to remain within this material world due to our material contamination and wander from one type of body to another and from one planet to another, we pray that we may associate with those who are engaged in discussing Your pastimes. We pray for this benediction life after life, in different bodily forms and on different planets.

This is the best benediction that a devotee can ask of the Supreme Lord. This is also confirmed by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu: sthāne sthitāḥ śruti-gatāṁ tanu-vāṅ-manobhiḥ ( Bhāg. 10.14.3 ). One may be in one position or another according to destiny, but in any case one must continue to hear about the activities and pastimes of the Supreme Lord, regardless of circumstances. A pure devotee does not pray for liberation or for cessation of the cycle of birth and death because he does not consider that important. The most important thing for a devotee is getting a chance to hear about the pastimes and glories of the Lord. The devotees who engage in the service of the Lord in this world will have the same opportunity in the spiritual world also. Thus for a devotee, everything is in the spiritual world, for as long as he can hear about the pastimes of the Lord, or wherever he can chant, the Lord is personally present ( yatra gāyanti mad-bhaktāḥ tatra tiṣṭhāmi nārada ). When the pure devotees assemble to chant, hear and talk about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the place where they assemble becomes Vaikuṇṭha. For the devotee there is no need to pray to the Lord for transferal to the Vaikuṇṭha world. A pure devotee can create Vaikuṇṭha or Vṛndāvana anywhere simply by chanting the glories of the Lord without offense.

The Pracetās pray for an opportunity to hear of the glories of the Lord in every form of life ( bhave bhave ). A living entity transmigrates from one body to another. The devotee is not particularly eager to stop this process. Caitanya Mahāprabhu prays, mama janmani janmanīśvare bhavatād bhaktir ahaitukī tvayi: “My dear Lord, life after life may I be fixed in Your pure devotional service.” Out of humility, a devotee considers himself unfit to be transferred to the spiritual world. He always thinks himself contaminated by the modes of material nature. Nor is there any need for a devotee to ask to be freed from the modes of material nature. Devotional service itself is in the transcendental position; therefore there is no question of asking for this special facility. The conclusion is that a pure devotee is not anxious to stop the repetition of birth and death, but is always eager to associate with other devotees who are engaged in chanting and hearing about the glories of the Lord.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
As long as we wander about in this world because of our actions, contaminated by māyā, we want the association of devotees, life after life. They state their one desire. Bhavat-prasaṅgānām means devotees.
Related verses
While we remain in material existence, let us associate with those who discuss Your pastimes. The benediction asked for is company, not exit; community-of-storytellers is the real request.
Reflection Questions
  • Whose 'company of pastime-discussers' am I overdue to seek out?
  • Where could establishing such company become my actual benediction?
📝 My note

← Read full Chapter 30