Prayers by the Personified Vedas 295

ready suffering tribulation in this life, and because they are not perfect in
self-realization, they will be plagued with further tribulation in the next
life. Despite all endeavors to attain perfection, such yogis, contaminated
by desires for sense gratification, will continue to suffer in this life and in
the next.

Srila Vigvanatha Cakravarti Thakur remarks in this connection that if
sannyasis and persons in the renounced order of life who have left their
homes for self-realization do not engage themselves in the devotional
service of the Lord but become attracted by philanthropic work, such as
opening educational institutions, hospitals, or even monastaries, churches
or temples of demigods, they find only trouble from such engagements,
not only in this life but in the next. Sannydsis who do not take advantage
of this life to realize Krsna simply waste their time and energy in activities
outside the jurisdiction of the renounced order of life. A devotee’s attempt
to engage his energies in such activities as constructing a Visnu temple is,
however, never wasted. Such engagements are called Krsndrthe akhila-
cesta, variegated activities performed to please Krsna. A philanthropist’s
opening a school building and a devotee’s constructing a temple are not on
the same level. Although a philanthropist’s opening an educational insti-
tution may be pious activity, it comes under the laws of karma, whereas
constructing a temple for Visnu is devotional service.

Devotional service is never within the jurisdiction of the law of karma.
It is stated in the Bhagavad-gita that devotees transcend the reaction of the
three modes of material nature and stand on the platform of Brahman
realization: brahma-bhiiydya kalpate. The Bhagavad-gitd says, sa gunan
samatityaitan brahma-bhiiyaya: kalpate: devotees of the Personality of
Godhead transcend all the reactions of the three modes of material nature
and are situated on the transcendental Brahman platform. The devotees
are liberated both in this life and in the next life. Any work done in this
material world for Yajfia or Visnu or Krsna is considered to be liberated
work, but without connection with Acyuta, the infallible Supreme Person-
ality of Godhead, there is no possibility of stopping the resultant actions
of the law of karma. The life of Krsna consciousness is the life of libera-
tion. The conclusion is that a devotee, by the grace of the Lord, is
liberated, both in this life and the next, whereas karmis, janis and yogis
are never liberated, either in this life or in the next.

The personified Vedas continued: “Dear Lord, anyone who, by Your
grace, has understood the glories of Your lotus feet is callous to material
happiness and distress. The material pangs are inevitable as long as we are
existing within the material world, but a devotee does not divert his atten-

