Text 66] Talks Between the Lord and Ramananda Raya 119

knowledge, simple detachment from material conditions is but another side of
material existence. From the spiritual point of view, it is all external. When $ri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu rejected this proposal, Ramananda Raya suggested that
devotional service based on philosophy and logic is a more progressed position.
He therefore quoted the following verse from Bhagavad-gita (18.54).

TEXT 65

THES? AAA! A CHIBAS A BERT |
AM Ardy Yrwy ASHes ASS Walz ve i

brahma-bhitah prasannatma
na Socati na kanksati

samah sarvesu bhitesu
mad-bhaktirn labhate param

SYNONYMS

brahma-bhitah —freed from material conceptions of life but attached to an im-
personal situation; prasanna-d4tmad—fully joyful; na socati—he does not lament;
na kanksati—he does not hanker; samah—equally disposed; sarvesu—all;
bhdtesu—to the living entities; mat-bhaktim—My devotional service; labhate —
achieves; parém—transcendental.

TRANSLATION

Ramananda Raya continued, “According to Bhagavad-gita: ‘One who is
thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and be-
comes fully joyful. He never laments nor desires to have anything; he is
equally disposed to every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional
service unto Me.’ ’’

PURPORT

In Bhagavad-gitd it is said that a person who accepts the theory of monism—
being always engaged in empiric philosophical discussions about spiritual life—
becomes joyful and is relieved from all material lamentation and hankering. At
that stage, one is equipoised. He sees all living entities as spiritual beings. After at-
taining this elevated stage, one can attain pure devotional service. The conclusion
is that devotional service mixed with ritualistic fruitive activity is inferior to
spiritual service based on empiric philosophic discussion.

TEXT 66

AS FR, “HTL AW, Sica SE Sls 1”
AT SCR — “BAD SiS — AGATA w” vw t
