SB 10.88.2 · Srimad-Bhagavatam

Devanagari

एतद् वेदितुमिच्छाम: सन्देहोऽत्र महान् हि न: । विरुद्धशीलयो: प्रभ्वोर्विरुद्धा भजतां गति: ॥ २ ॥

Verse text

etad veditum icchāmaḥ sandeho ’tra mahān hi naḥ viruddha-śīlayoḥ prabhvor viruddhā bhajatāṁ gatiḥ

Synonyms

etat — this ; veditum — to understand ; icchāmaḥ — we wish ; sandehaḥ — doubt ; atra — in this matter ; mahān — great ; hi — indeed ; naḥ — on our part ; viruddha — opposite ; śīlayoḥ — whose characters ; prabhvoḥ — of the two lords ; viruddhā — opposite ; bhajatām — of their worshipers ; gatiḥ — the destinations .

Translation

We wish to properly understand this matter, which greatly puzzles us. Indeed, the results attained by the worshipers of these two lords of opposite characters are contrary to what one would expect.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

We wish to properly understand this matter, which greatly puzzles us. Indeed, the results attained by the worshipers of these two lords of opposite characters are contrary to what one would expect. KB 10.88.2 “Why is this so?” Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s question is very intelligent. The two classes of devotees, namely the devotees of Lord Śiva and the devotees of Lord Viṣṇu, are always in disagreement. Even today in India these two classes of devotees still criticize each other, and especially in South India the followers of Rāmānujācārya and the followers of Śaṅkarācārya hold occasional meetings for understanding the Vedic conclusion. Generally, the followers of Rāmānujācārya come out victorious in such meetings. So Parīkṣit Mahārāja wanted to clarify the situation by asking this question of Śukadeva Gosvāmī. That Lord Śiva lives as a poor man although his devotees appear very opulent, whereas Lord Kṛṣṇa, or Lord Viṣṇu, is always opulent and yet His devotees appear poverty-stricken, is a situation which appears contradictory and puzzling to a discriminating person.

Purport

The preceding chapter ended with the recommendation that one should always meditate on Lord Hari, the bestower of liberation. In this regard Mahārāja Parīkṣit here expresses a common fear among ordinary people that by becoming a devotee of Lord Viṣṇu one will lose his wealth and social status. For the benefit of such persons of little faith, King Parīkṣit requests Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī to explain an apparent paradox: Lord Śiva, who lives like a beggar, without even a house to call his own, makes his devotees rich and powerful, while Lord Viṣṇu, the omnipotent possessor of all that exists, often reduces His servants to abject poverty. Śukadeva Gosvāmī will respond with reasoned explanations and an ancient account concerning the demon Vṛka.

Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Those who worship Siva who is a beggar get wealth, and those who worship Visnu the husband of Laksmi become beggars. This opposite bestowal seems wrong.

Purport (Jiva Goswami)

I desire to know the reason (etad) for this. The plural is used (we desire) to indicate the crowd of Śaivites who were also in the assembly, and who were glancing about, expressing opposition to what was just said. Śiva and Viṣṇu have opposite characters: Śiva is a renunciant and Viṣṇu is an enjoyer. The possessive (prabhvoḥ) indicates the accusative case. The result of those who worship the two is opposite to the natures of the two since those worshipping Śiva get enjoyment and those worshipping Viṣṇu do not. One sees worshipers of Śiva attaining great wealth immediately. Śiva however is dependent on Lakṣmī, wife of Viṣṇu, for wealth. This is strange. This is not expressed directly however.

Purport (Sanatana Goswami)

I desire to know the reason (etad) for this. The plural is used (we desire) to indicate the crowd of Śaivites who were also in the assembly. “Śiva generally gives material happiness. The Lord gives the supreme abode. That is well known everywhere.” That is true. But seeing the direct contradiction we are not certain. We have a great doubt. The cause is given. There is opposite attainments for the worshippers of the two with opposite natures. Śiva’s excellence occurs because of seeing the great bestowal of wealth to his worshippers.