36 The Nectar of Instruction

It is further stated in the Seventh Canto: “Although men-
tal speculators and fruitive actors may perform great
austerities and penances, they still fall down because they do
not have information about the lotus feet of the Lord.”” The
devotees of the Lord, however, never fall down. In
Bhagavad-gita (9.31), the Supreme Personality of Godhead
assures Arjuna, kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah pra-
nasyati: “‘O son of Kunti, declare it boldly that My devotee
never perishes.”

Again in Bhagavad-gita (2.40) Krsna says:

nehabhikrama-ndso ’sti
pratyavayo na vidyate

svalpam apy asya dharmasya
trayate mahato bhayat

‘In this endeavor there is no loss or dimunition, and a little
advancement on this path can protect one from the most
dangerous type of fear.”

Devotional service is so pure and perfect that once having
begun, one is forcibly dragged to ultimate success. Some-
times a person will give up his ordinary material engage-
ments and out of sentiment take shelter of the lotus feet of
the Supreme Lord and thus begin the preliminary execution
of devotional service. Even if such an immature devotee
falls down, there is no loss on his part. On the other hand,
what is the gain of one who executes the prescribed duties
according to his varna and asrama but does not take to devo-
tional service? Although a fallen devotee may take his nex
birth in a low family, his devotional service will nonetheless
