74 Sri Caitanya-caritamrta [Madhya-lila, Ch. 20
come one with the Absolute. This means finishing one’s personal existence.
However, the spiritual part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead has
an eternal individual existence. Bhagavad-gita confirms that the individual soul ex-
isted in the past, is existing in the present and will continue to exist as an in-
dividual in the future. Artificially trying to become one with the Absolute is suici-
dal. One cannot annihilate his natural condition.

A yaksa, a protector of riches, will not allow anyone to take away riches for en-
joyment. Such a demon will simply create disturbances. In other words, a devotee
will not depend on his material resources but on the mercy of the Supreme Per-
sonality of Godhead, who can give real protection. This is called raksisyatiti
visvasah or (in the Bengali poetry of Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Saranagati), ‘avasya
raksibe krsna’—visvasa palana. The surrendered soul must accept the fact that
his real protector is Krsna, not his material acquisitions.

Considering all these points, devotional service to Krsna is the real treasure-
house for the living entity. When one comes to the platform of devotional ser-
vice, he always remains opulent in the association of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. One who is bereft of devotional service is swallowed by the black
snake of the yoga system and bitten by the wasps and drones of fruitive activity,
and he suffers consequent material miseries. Sometimes the living entity is misled
into trying to merge into spiritual existence, thinking himself as good as the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. This means that when he comes to the spiritual
platform, he will be disturbed and will again return to the material platform. Ac-
cording to Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.2.32):

ye ‘nye ‘ravindaksa vimukta-maninas
tvayy asta-bhavad avisuddha-buddhayah
4ruhya krcchrena param padam tatah
patanty adho ’nadrta-yusmad-anghrayah
Such people may become sannydsis, but unless they take shelter of Krsna’s lotus
feet, they will return to the material platform to perform philanthropic activities. In
this way, one’s spiritual life is lost. This is to be understood as being devoured by
the black snake.
TEXT 136
QB AB FCH,— 44, Gla, CAAT SHLE’ |
‘SCS FH At ST, SSS Sica SLH ti sev tl
aiche sastra kahe, —karma, jfiana, yoga tyaji’
‘bhaktye’ krsna vasa haya, bhaktye tanre bhaji
