Purity of Devotional Service ol

even animals such as cows and dogs who render us so much
service.

In this way, we are indebted to the demigods, to the forefathers,
to the sages, to the animals and to society in general. It is our duty
to repay them all by proper discharge of service. But by the one
stroke of devotional service, if someone gives up all obligations and
simply surrenders unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is no
longer a debtor, nor obliged to any other source of benefit.

In the Bhagavad-gitad also the Lord says: “‘Give up all your occu-
pations and just become surrendered unto Me. I give you assurance
that I shall give you protection from all sinful reactions.”» One may
think that because he is surrendering unto the Supreme Personality
of Godhead, he will not be able to perform all of his other obliga-
tions. But the Lord says repeatedly, ‘“‘Don’t hesitate. Don’t consider
that because you are giving up all other engagements there will be
some flaw in your life. Don’t think like that. I will give you all pro-
tection.” That is the assurance of Lord Krsna in the Bhagavad-gita.

There is additional evidence in the Agastya-samhita: ‘“‘As the regu-
lative principles of scripture are not required by a liberated person,
similarly a person who is engaged duly in the service of Lord Rama-
candra is also not required to discharge the ritualistic principles
which are indicated in the Vedic supplimentaries.” In other words,
the devotees of Lord Ramacandra, or Krsna, are already liberated
persons and are not required to follow all the regulative principles
mentioned in the ritualistic portions of the Vedic literature.

Similarly, in the Eleventh Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, 5th Chap-
ter, Karabhajana Muni addresses King Nimi and says, ‘“‘My dear King,
a person who has given up the worship of the demigods and has com-
pletely concentrated his energy in the devotional service of the Su-
preme Personality of Godhead has become very, very dear to the
Lord. As such, if by chance or mistake he does something which is
forbidden, there is no need for him to perform any purificatory
ceremonies. Because the Lord is situated within his heart, He takes
compassion for the devotee’s accidental mistake and corrects him
from within.” It is also confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita in many
places that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, takes a
