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resume from where it left off. Devotional service is ahaituky
apratihata; it is not the effect of any mundane cause, nor
can it be terminated by any mundane cause or permanently
curtailed by any material interruption. Therefore a devotee
should be confident about his engagement and should not be
very interested in the activities of the karmis, jrdnis and
yogis.

There are certainly many good qualities among fruitive
actors, philosophical speculators and mystic yogis, but all
good qualities automatically develop in the character of a
devotee. No extraneous endeavor is needed. As confirmed by
Srimad-Bhagavatam (5.18.12), all the good qualities of the
demigods manifest progressively in one who has developed
pure devotional service. Because a devotee is not interested
in any material activity, he does not become materially con-
taminated. He is immediately situated on the platform of
transcendental life. However, one who engages in mun-
dane activity—be he a so-called jani, yogi, karmi,
philanthropist, nationalist, or whatever—cannot attain the
higher stage of mahatmd. He remains a duratma, or cripple-
minded person. According to Bhagavad-gita (9.13):

mahdatmanas tu mam partha
daivirh prakrtim asritah
bhajanty ananya-manaso
Jnatva bhiitadim avyayam
‘‘O son of Prtha, those who are not deluded, the great souls,
are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully
