1056
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 3, Ch. 25]
brink of spiritual realization in Brahman realization, they think that they are in the effulgence of Brahman. But actually, because they have no transcendental activities, they fall down to material activities.” One should not be satisfied simply with knowing that he is Brahman. He must engage himself in the service of the Supreme Brahman; that is  bhakti . The engagement of Brahman should be the service of Parabrahman. It is said that unless one becomes Brahman one cannot serve Brahman. The Supreme Brahman is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the living entity is also Brahman. Without realization that he is Brahman, spirit soul, an eternal servitor of the Lord, if one simply thinks that he is Brahman, then that is only theoretical. He has to realize and at the same time engage himself in the devotional service of the Lord; then he can exist in the Brahman status. Otherwise he falls down.
The  Bhāgavatam  says that because nondevotees neglect the transcendental loving service of the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead, their intelligence is not sufficient, and therefore these persons fall down. The living entity must have some activity. If he does not engage in the activity of transcendental service, he must fall down to material activity. As soon as one falls down to material activity, there is no rescue from the cycle of birth and death. It is stated here by Lord Kapila, “Without My mercy” ( nānyatra mad bhagavataḥ ). The Lord is stated here to be Bhagavān, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, indicating that He is full of all opulences and is therefore perfectly competent to deliver one from the cycle of birth and death. He is also called  pradhāna  because He is the Supreme. He is equal to everyone, but to one who surrenders to Him. He is especially favorable. It is also confirmed in  Bhagavad-gītā  that the Lord is equal to everyone; no one is His enemy and no one is His friend. But to one who surrenders unto Him, He is especially inclined. By the grace of the Lord, simply by surrendering unto Him one can get out of this cycle of birth and death. Otherwise, he may go on in many, many lives and may many times attempt other processes for liberation.
TEXT 42
मद्धयाद्वाति वातोऽयं सूर्यस्तपति मद्धयात् ।
वर्षतीन्द्रो दहत्यग्निर्मृत्युश्चरति मद्धयात् ॥४२॥
mad-bhayād vāti vāto 'yam   sūryas tapati mad-bhayāt