Text 37]
The Marriage of Kardama Muni and Devahūti
897
above these three modes of material nature. It is stated in  Bhagavad-gītā  that anyone who engages in devotional service to the Lord automatically becomes transcendental to the three destinations of material nature and is situated in the  brahma-bhūta  or self-realized stage. Although Svāyambhuva Manu, the ruler of this material world, appeared to be absorbed in material happiness, he was neither in the mode of goodness, nor in the modes of passion or ignorance, but in the transcendental stage.
Therefore, one who fully engages in devotional service is always liberated. Bilvamangala Thākura, a great devotee of the Lord, stated: "If I have unflinching devotion to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, then Mother Liberation is always engaged in my service. Complete perfection of material enjoyment, religion and economic development are at my command." People are after  dharma ,  artha ,  kāma  and  mokṣa . Generally they perform religious activities to achieve some material gain, and they engage in material activity for sense gratification. After being frustrated in material sense gratification, one wants to be liberated and become one with the Absolute Truth. These four principles form the transcendental path for the less intelligent. Those who are actually intelligent engage in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, not caring for these four principles of the transcendental method. They at once elevate themselves to the transcendental platform which is above liberation. Liberation is not a very great achievement for a devotee, to say nothing of the results of ritualistic performances in religion, economic development, or the materialistic life of sense gratification. Devotees do not care for these. They are situated always on the transcendental platform of the  brahma-bhūta  stage of self-realization.
TEXT 37
शारीरा मानसा दिव्या वैयासे ये च मानुषाः ।
भौतिकाश्च कथं क्लेशा बाधन्ते हरिसंश्रयम् ॥३७॥
śārīrā mānasā divyā
vaiyāse ye ca mānuṣāḥ
bhautikāś ca kathaṁ kleśā
bādhante hari-saṁśrayam
śārīrāḥ—pertaining to the body; mānasāḥ—pertaining to the mind; divyāḥ—pertaining to supernatural powers (demigods); vaiyāse—O Vidura; ye—those; ca—and; mānuṣāḥ—pertaining to other men; bhautikāḥ—pertain-