Text 30]
The Most Confidential Knowledge
483
him.” This transcendental reciprocation exists because both the Lord and the devotee are conscious. When a diamond is set in a golden ring, it looks very nice. The gold is glorified, and at the same time the diamond is glorified. The Lord and the living entity eternally glitter, and when a living entity becomes inclined to the service of the Supreme Lord, he looks like gold. The Lord is a diamond, and so this combination is very nice. Living entities in a pure state are called devotees. The Supreme Lord becomes the devotee of His devotees. If a reciprocal relationship is not present between the devotee and the Lord, then there is no personalist philosophy. In the impersonal philosophy there is no reciprocation between the Supreme and the living entity, but in the personalist philosophy there is.
The example is often given that the Lord is like a desire tree, and whatever one wants from this desire tree, the Lord supplies. But here the explanation is more complete. The Lord is here stated to be partial to the devotees. This is the manifestation of the Lord's special mercy to the devotees. The Lord's reciprocation should not be considered to be under the law of  karma . It belongs to the transcendental situation in which the Lord and His devotees function. Devotional service of the Lord is not an activity of this material world; it is part of the spiritual world where eternity, bliss and knowledge predominate.
TEXT 30
अपि चेत्सुदुराचारो भजते मामनन्यभाक् । 
    साधुरेव स मन्तव्यः सम्यग्व्यवसितो हि सः ॥३०॥
api cet sudurācāro  
 bhajate mām ananya-bhāk  
 sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ  
 samyag vyavasito hi saḥ
api —in spite of;  cet —although;  sudurācāraḥ —one committing the most abominable actions;  bhajate —engaged in devotional service;  mām —unto Me; ananya-bhāk —without deviation; sādhuḥ —saint; eva —certainly;  saḥ —he;  mantavyaḥ —to be considered;  samyak —completely;  vyavasitaḥ —situated;  hi —certainly;  saḥ —he.
TRANSLATION
Even if one commits the most abominable actions, if he is engaged in devotional service, he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated.