294 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 10, Ch. 4
from his family, society and nation. As long as this continues, one
continues his material life. [Otherwise, one is liberated.]
PURPORT
As confirmed in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.6):
sa vai pumsam paro dharmo
yato bhaktir adhoksaje
ahaituky apratihata
yaydtma suprasidati
The word dharma means “engagement.” One who is engaged in the ser-
vice of the Lord (yato bhaktir adhoksaje), without impediment and with-
out cessation, is understood to be situated in his original, spiritual status.
When one is promoted to this status, one is always happy in transcenden-
tal bliss. Otherwise, as long as one is in the bodily concept of life, one
must suffer material conditions. Janma-mrtyu-jard-vyddhi-duhkha-
dosdnudarsanam. The body is subject to its own principles of birth,
death, old age and disease, but one who is situated in spiritual life (yato
bhaktir adhoksaje) has no birth, no death, no old age and no disease. One
may argue that we may see a person who is spiritually engaged twenty-
four hours a day but is still suffering from disease. In fact, however, he
is neither suffering nor diseased; otherwise he could not be engaged
twenty-four hours a day in spiritual activities. The example may be
given in this connection that sometimes dirty foam or garbage is seen
floating on the water of the Ganges. This is called nira-dharma, a func-
tion of the water. But one who goes to the Ganges does not mind the foam
and dirty things floating in the water. With his hand, he pushes away
such nasty things, bathes in the Ganges and gains the beneficial results.
Therefore, one who is situated in the spiritual status of life is unaffected
by foam and garbage—or any superficial dirty things. This is confirmed
by Srila Ripa Gosvami:
ihé yasya harer dasye
karmané manasé gira
nikhildsv apy avasthdsu
Jivan-muktah sa ucyate
