Section 68
Attaining Vaikuëöha Surpasses Liberation

          Vaikuëöha belittles the bliss of liberation and is achieved only by pure devotional service. Lord Brahmä said to the demigods (3. 15. 23,25): 

          "It is very much regrettable that unfortunate people do not discuss the description of the Vaikuëöha planets but engage in topics which are unworthy to hear and which bewilder one's intelligence. Those who give up the topics of Vaikuëöha and take to talk of the material world are thrown into the darkest region of ignorance. Persons whose bodily features change in ecstasy and who breathe heavily and perspire due to hearing the glories of the Lord are promoted to the kingdom of God, even though they do not care for meditations and other austerities. The kingdom of God is above the material universes, and it is desired by Brahmä and other demigods."         

          Yat or that refers to Vaikuëöha, which is situated even above my (Brahmä's) planet, is attained by them." Or the meaning is that Vaikuëöha is  desirable even to Brahmä. Dureyamä means they from who Yamaräja, the Lord of death, is away. Or those who are beyond rules and regulations due to becoming perfect. Only such saintly people go to Vaikuëöha.

          The phrase "relishing the glory of the Lord among themselves" (bharturmithaù suyaçasaù) implies that the popularity of bhakti preformed in this way in surpassing even the happiness derived from impersonal liberation. This is also confirmed by the Kumäras in the verse beginning (3.15. 48), "The devotees do not have regard even for liberation." And then later, "Those who have taken shelter of Your lotus feet are expert in tasting the mellows of devotion by purely singing Your glories which are purifying and worshipable."

 

Purport 

          Brahman is eternal and is attained only after getting free from the modes of nature.  The bliss of attaining Vaikuëöha is far superior to that experienced by impersonal liberation.  The liberated person does not experience material miseries and remains in a passive state because his ego is dissolved or suppressed. He cannot taste the positive bliss of serving the Personality of Godhead.  In Vaikuëöha, however, the devotee has a spiritual body, ego, a particular relationship with the Lord, and experiences His internal potency.  This leads to many joyful exchanges between the Lord and His devotee.  This state is only attained by pure devotional service.  To illustrate this, Çréla Jéva Gosvämé cites two verses spoken by Lord Brahmä to the demigods while describing the birth of Hiranyäkña and Hiraëyakaçipu.

          He explains that Vaikuëöha cannot be reached by non devotees who talk of sense gratification.  They lose all piety by talking about mundane subjects which don't concern the Lord's pastimes.  The Lord's léläs are purifying--puëyaçravaëa-kértanaù (S.B. 1.2.17).  Materialistic people, however, think them a waste of time because they have lost their intelligence by hearing talks of sense pleasure--kukathä matighné (3.15.23).  They are interested in talks about the opposite sex and this leads them to hell--tamo dväraà yoñitäà saìgi saìgam (S.B. 5.5.2).  Närada Muni compares such mundane talks to the refuse which is eaten by crows (S.B. 1.5.10):

"Those words which do not describe the glories of the Lord, who alone can sanctify the atmosphere of the whole universe, are considered by saintly persons to be like unto a place of pilgrimage for crows.  Since the all-perfect persons are inhabitants of the transcendental abode, they do not derive any pleasure there."

          According to Çréla Jéva Gosvämé, aghabhit (S.B. 3.15.23) means "Kåñëa, the killer of Aghä."  Lord Kåñëa killed the demon Aghäsura and when His pastimes are faithfully heard, all sins are dispelled from the heart.  This implies that hearing the pastimes of Lord Kåñëa is more purifying than hearing the pastimes of all His incarnations.  Yet unfortunate people do not take interest in hearing them even after achieving this rare human form.  Lord Kapila laments for such souls (S.B. 3.32.19):

"Such persons are condemned by the supreme order of the Lord. Because they are averse to the nectar of the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they are compared to stool-eating hogs. They give up hearing the transcendental activities of the Lord and indulge in hearing of the abominable activities of materialistic persons."

          In the second verse (S.B. 3.15.25) Lord Brahmä glorifies those who are enraptured by hearing and chanting about the Lord.  Such people are described as dureyamä, beyond the jurisdiction of Yamaräja, who instructed his servants (S.B. 6.3.27):

"My dear servants, please do not approach such devotees, for they have fully surrendered to the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They are equal to everyone, and their narrations are sung by the demigods and the inhabitants of Siddhaloka. Please do not even go near them. They are always protected by the club of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore Lord Brahmä and I and even the time factor are not competent to chastise them."

          Even Lord Brahmä desires to follow in the footsteps of such devotees.  Only they have the right to enter Vaikuëöha.

          Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravarti Öhäkura comments in särärtha darçiné that some Puräëas cite instances where demons temporarily go to Vaikuëöha.  He says the demons do not experience the transcendental qualities of Vaikuëöha so their going there is as good as not going.  When Kåñëa allows a demon to enter Vaikuëöha it is compared to a king allowing a tamed tiger decorated with various gems to enter the assembly hall for entertainment.  Sometimes the Lord allows material objects or people influenced by the modes to be brought to Vaikuëöha for the experience of His transcendental associates .  This includes the instances of Bhågu Muni and the Kumäras.  As they are not qualified to stay there, they are sent back immediately.  The Lord's devotees, however, are taken to Vaikuëöha in transcendental airplanes and enjoy eternal residence and loving relationships with Him.  Therefore in the jitante stotra of Närada Païcarätra Lord Brahmä says:

"The planet called Vaikuëöha is replete with six types of opulence and devoid of the three modes of material nature.  The non devotees can never attain it."

          Because the devotees enjoy talking about the Lord and His pastimes they frown on the bliss of impersonal liberation.  This is confirmed by the Kumäras, the best of the jïänis, who directly experienced Vaikuëöha and the dealings between the Lord and His devotees.  After the Kumaras cursed Jaya and Vijaya and realized the personal form of the Lord they spoke the Bhagavatam verse 3.15.48.  They also realized that the taste of hari kathä is far superior to brahmänanda.  Previously, they were absorbed in the bliss of Brahman but gave it up having found something superior.  They spoke from their experience and not from hearsay.  Çré Çukadeva had a similar experience and said (S.B. 2.1.7):

"O King Pariksit, mainly the topmost transcendentalists, who are above the regulative principles and restrictions, take pleasure in describing the glories of the Lord."

          In this verse he describes the general principle and then he speaks of his own direct experience (S.B. 2.1.9): Therefore one should not think that his case is exceptional.

"O saintly King, I was certainly situated perfectly in transcendence, yet I was still attracted by the delineation of the pastimes of the Lord, who is described by enlightened verses."

          In this verse nairguëya refers to the liberated state.  Thus Çréla Jéva Gosvämé concludes that the bliss in Vaikuëöha is superior to that of impersonal liberation.