8.248
’duhkha-madhye kona duhkha haya gurutara?’
’krsna-bhakta-viraha vina duhkha nahi dekhi para’
SYNONYMS
duhkha-madhye—among the miserable conditions of life; kona—what; duhkha—misery; haya—is; gurutara—more painful; krsna-bhakta-viraha—separation from the devotee of Lord Krsna; vina—besides; duhkha—unhappiness; nahi—there is not; dekhi—I see; para—other.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked, “Of all kinds of distress, what is the most painful?”
Sri Ramananda Raya replied, “Apart from separation from the devotee of Krsna, I know of no unbearable unhappiness.”
PURPORT
Concerning this, the Lord states in the Vedic literature:
mam anaradhya duhkhartah
kutumbasakta-manasah
sat-sanga-rahito martyo
vrddha-seva-paricyutah “A person who does not worship Me, who is unduly attached to family and who does not stick to devotional service must be considered a most unhappy person.
Similarly, one who does not associate with Vaisnavas, or who does not render service to his superior, is also a most unhappy person.” There is also a statement given in the Brhad-bhagavatamrta (1.5.51):
sva-jivanadhikam prarthyam
sri-visnu-jana-sangatah
vicchedena ksanam catra
na sukhamsam labhamahe “(King Yudhisthira said:) ’Out of all kinds of desirable things experienced in the life of a living entity, association with the devotees of the Lord is the greatest.