Text 29]
Talks Between Nārada and King Prācīnabarhi
1401
When the living entity is covered by the influence of  māyā , he becomes a so-called scientist, philosopher, politician or socialist, and at every moment presents different plans for the benefit of human society. All these plans are ultimately failures because they are illusory. In this way the living entity forgets his position as an eternal servant of the Lord. He instead becomes a servant of  māyā . In any case he remains a servant. It is his misfortune that by forgetting his real contact with the Supreme Lord, he becomes a servant of  māyā . As servant of  māyā , he sometimes becomes a king, sometimes an ordinary citizen, sometimes a  brāhmaṇa , a  śūdra , and so on. Sometimes he is a happy man, sometimes a prosperous man, sometimes a small insect. Sometimes he is in heaven, and sometimes in hell. Sometimes he is a demigod, and sometimes he is a demon. Sometimes he is a servant, and sometimes he is a master. In this way the living entity wanders all over the universe. Only when he comes in contact with the bona fide spiritual master can he understand his real constitutional position. He then becomes disgusted with material existence. At that time, in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he regrets his past experiences in material existence. This regret is very beneficial because it purifies the living entity of material conditional life. He then prays to the Lord to engage in His service, and, at that time, Kṛṣṇa grants liberation from the clutches of  māyā . Lord Kṛṣṇa explains this in  Bhagavad-gītā :
daivī hy eṣā guṇamayī  
 mama māyā duratyayā  
 mām eva ye prapadyante  
 māyām etāṁ taranti te
“This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.” (Bg. 7.14)
Only by the grace of Kṛṣṇa can one get out of the clutches of  māyā . It is not possible to get out by mental speculation or other activities. When the living entity understands his real position by the grace of Kṛṣṇa, he keeps himself always fit in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and acts accordingly. Thus he gradually becomes completely free from the clutches of  māyā . When he is strong in Kṛṣṇa consciousness,  māyā  cannot touch him. In this way, in the association of Kṛṣṇa conscious devotees, the living entity can get free from the contamination of material existence. In this connection, Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī says:
tāte kṛṣṇa bhaje, kare gurura sevana  
 māyā-jāla chuṭe, pāya kṛṣṇera caraṇa