SB: Canto: 1 Chapter 18, Verse # 3:
Translation:
Furthermore, after leaving all his associates, the King surrendered himself as a disciple to the son of Vyāsa [Śukadeva Gosvāmī], and thus he was able to understand the actual position of the Personality of Godhead.
Purport:
The word ajita is significant here. The Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, is known as Ajita, or unconquerable, and He is so in every respect. No one can know His actual position. He is unconquerable by knowledge also. We have heard about His dhāma, or place, eternal Goloka Vṛndāvana, but there are many scholars who interpret this abode in different ways. But by the grace of a spiritual master like Śukadeva Gosvāmī, unto whom the King gave himself up as a most humble disciple, one is able to understand the actual position of the Lord, His eternal abode, and His transcendental paraphernalia in that dhāma, or abode. Knowing the transcendental position of the Lord and the transcendental method by which one can approach that transcendental dhāma, the King was confident about his ultimate destination, and by knowing this he could leave aside everything material, even his own body, without any difficulty of attachment. In the Bhagavad-gītā, it is stated, paraḿ dṛṣṭvā nivartate: one can give up all connection with material attachment when one is able to see the param, or the superior quality of things. From Bhagavad-gītā we understand the quality of the Lord's energy that is superior to the material quality of energy, and by the grace of a bona fide spiritual master like Śukadeva Gosvāmī, it is quite possible to know everything of the superior energy of the Lord by which the Lord manifests His eternal name, quality, pastimes, paraphernalia and variegatedness. Unless one thoroughly understands this superior or eternal energy of the Lord, it is not possible to leave the material energy, however one may theoretically speculate on the true nature of the Absolute Truth. By the grace of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Mahārāja Parīkṣit was able to receive the mercy of such a personality as Śukadeva Gosvāmī, and thus he was able to know the actual position of the unconquerable Lord. It is very difficult to find the Lord from the Vedic literatures, but it is very easy to know Him by the mercy of a liberated devotee like Śukadeva Gosvāmī.
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When a sincere disciple like Maharaj Parikshit humble surrenders himself unto the lotus of spiritual master like Srila Sukadeva Goswami and hears from him, as Maharaj Parikhit heard from Srila Sukadeva Goswami, disciple could understand the actual position of the Lord and His abode. He is also revealed by the mercy of spiritual master, not by one's own speculative mind because Lord is ajita, how to approach that supreme abode of the Lord. This transcendental knowledge instills so much confidence in the heart of the disciple about his ultimate destination that he could leave aside everything material without any difficulty of attachment.
Such detachment from the material energy is only possible when disciple has thorough understanding of the superior energy of the Lord. No amount of speculation about the absolute truth can substitute this. By speculation, neither one can detach himself from material energy nor can one understand the Lord's superior energy. Detachment comes when there is clear understanding which can only be imparted by a bonafide spiritual master.
My understanding of the word 'confidence' talked of in the purport: Confidence means a sense of security and freedom from feelings of insecurity. We take nice care of the body because we believe that when body is safe'n'secure and taken care of then 'happy I am'. That's why we are attached to body. We are attached to eating nice stuffs but not to poison because we know that the former makes me happy but latter can cause me severe problems. So whatever gives us a sense of happiness, although illusory, we become attached to it (ananda mayo'bhyasat). So, coming back to original discussion about confidence, whenever the interests of the body are threatened we feel insecure. Example: loosing a job makes us insecure, for a student performing bad in the exams makes him insecure. But in reality attachment to anything material is potentially a source of misery, then how can attachment to body be a source of happiness. By transcendental knowledge we can clearly see the reality and come to conclusion that material things are incapable of securing us or giving us happiness. Our only security lies with serving and pleasing the Lord. And when this knowledge is thoroughly and firmly established within a disciple's heart, only then he is no more attached to the things of this world. Thus, he becomes fearless at the time of death.
Translation:
Furthermore, after leaving all his associates, the King surrendered himself as a disciple to the son of Vyāsa [Śukadeva Gosvāmī], and thus he was able to understand the actual position of the Personality of Godhead.
Purport:
The word ajita is significant here. The Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, is known as Ajita, or unconquerable, and He is so in every respect. No one can know His actual position. He is unconquerable by knowledge also. We have heard about His dhāma, or place, eternal Goloka Vṛndāvana, but there are many scholars who interpret this abode in different ways. But by the grace of a spiritual master like Śukadeva Gosvāmī, unto whom the King gave himself up as a most humble disciple, one is able to understand the actual position of the Lord, His eternal abode, and His transcendental paraphernalia in that dhāma, or abode. Knowing the transcendental position of the Lord and the transcendental method by which one can approach that transcendental dhāma, the King was confident about his ultimate destination, and by knowing this he could leave aside everything material, even his own body, without any difficulty of attachment. In the Bhagavad-gītā, it is stated, paraḿ dṛṣṭvā nivartate: one can give up all connection with material attachment when one is able to see the param, or the superior quality of things. From Bhagavad-gītā we understand the quality of the Lord's energy that is superior to the material quality of energy, and by the grace of a bona fide spiritual master like Śukadeva Gosvāmī, it is quite possible to know everything of the superior energy of the Lord by which the Lord manifests His eternal name, quality, pastimes, paraphernalia and variegatedness. Unless one thoroughly understands this superior or eternal energy of the Lord, it is not possible to leave the material energy, however one may theoretically speculate on the true nature of the Absolute Truth. By the grace of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Mahārāja Parīkṣit was able to receive the mercy of such a personality as Śukadeva Gosvāmī, and thus he was able to know the actual position of the unconquerable Lord. It is very difficult to find the Lord from the Vedic literatures, but it is very easy to know Him by the mercy of a liberated devotee like Śukadeva Gosvāmī.
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When a sincere disciple like Maharaj Parikshit humble surrenders himself unto the lotus of spiritual master like Srila Sukadeva Goswami and hears from him, as Maharaj Parikhit heard from Srila Sukadeva Goswami, disciple could understand the actual position of the Lord and His abode. He is also revealed by the mercy of spiritual master, not by one's own speculative mind because Lord is ajita, how to approach that supreme abode of the Lord. This transcendental knowledge instills so much confidence in the heart of the disciple about his ultimate destination that he could leave aside everything material without any difficulty of attachment.
Such detachment from the material energy is only possible when disciple has thorough understanding of the superior energy of the Lord. No amount of speculation about the absolute truth can substitute this. By speculation, neither one can detach himself from material energy nor can one understand the Lord's superior energy. Detachment comes when there is clear understanding which can only be imparted by a bonafide spiritual master.
My understanding of the word 'confidence' talked of in the purport: Confidence means a sense of security and freedom from feelings of insecurity. We take nice care of the body because we believe that when body is safe'n'secure and taken care of then 'happy I am'. That's why we are attached to body. We are attached to eating nice stuffs but not to poison because we know that the former makes me happy but latter can cause me severe problems. So whatever gives us a sense of happiness, although illusory, we become attached to it (ananda mayo'bhyasat). So, coming back to original discussion about confidence, whenever the interests of the body are threatened we feel insecure. Example: loosing a job makes us insecure, for a student performing bad in the exams makes him insecure. But in reality attachment to anything material is potentially a source of misery, then how can attachment to body be a source of happiness. By transcendental knowledge we can clearly see the reality and come to conclusion that material things are incapable of securing us or giving us happiness. Our only security lies with serving and pleasing the Lord. And when this knowledge is thoroughly and firmly established within a disciple's heart, only then he is no more attached to the things of this world. Thus, he becomes fearless at the time of death.
