Text 53] Brahma Stealing the Boys and Calves 59

engagement in the service of Vasudeva, one very quickly renounces ma-
terial life. The members of the Krsna consciousness movement, for ex-
ample, being engaged in vasudeva-bhakti, very quickly come to the stage
of being nice Vaisnavas, so much so that people are surprised that mlec-
chas and yavanas are able to come to this stage. This is possible by
vdsudeva-bhakti. But if we do not come to the stage of sattva-guna in
this human life, then, as Narottama dasa Thakura sings, hari hari
viphale janama gorndinu—there is no profit in gaining this human form
of life.

Sri Viraraghava Acarya comments that each of the items mentioned in
the first half of this verse is a cause for material entanglement. Kala, or
the time factor, agitates the modes of material nature, and svabhdva is
the result of association with these modes. Therefore Narottama dasa
Thakura says, bhakta-sane vasa. If one associates with bhaktas, then
one’s svabhdava, or nature, will change. Our Krsna consciousness move-
ment is meant to give people good association so that this change may
take place, and we actually see that by this method people all over the
world are gradually becoming devotees.

As for samskdra, or reformation, this is possible by good association,
for by good association one develops good habits, and habit becomes sec-
ond nature. Therefore, bhakta-sane vasa: let people have the chance to
live with bhaktas. Then their habits will change. In the human form of
life one has this chance, but as Narottama dasa Thakura sings, hari hari
viphale janama goridinu: if one fails to take advantage of this oppor-
tunity, one’s human life is wasted. We are therefore trying to save
human society from degradation and actually elevate people to the higher
nature.

As for kama and karma— desires and activities—if one engages in de-
votional service, one develops a different nature than if one engages in
activities of sense gratification, and of course the result is also different.
According to the association of different natures, one receives a particu-
lar type of body. Kdranam guna-sarigo ’sya sad-asad-yoni-janmasu
(Bg. 13.22). Therefore we should always seek good association, the
association of devotees. Then our life will be successful. A man is known
by his company. If one has the chance to live in the good association of
devotees, one is able to cultivate knowledge, and naturally one’s
character or nature will change for one’s eternal benefit.
