836 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 21

in general or show respect to other devotees, is considered to be a third-
class devotee. The second-class devotee is he who is merciful and compas-
sionate to the fallen soul. The second-class devotee is always cognizant of
his position as an eternal servant of the Lord; he therefore makes friend-
ships with devotees of the Lord, acts compassionately towards the general
public in teaching them devotional service, and refuses to cooperate or
associate with nondevotees. As long as one is not compassionate to people
in general in his devotional service to the Lord, he is a third-class devotee.
The first-class devotee gives assurance to every living being that there is no
fear of this material existence: ‘‘Let us live in Krsna consciousness and
conquer the nescience of material existence.”

It is indicated here that Kardama Muni was directed by the Lord to be
very compassionate and liberal in his householder life and to give assurance
to the people in his renounced life. A sannyasi, one in the renounced order
of life, is meant to give enlightenment to the people. He should travel,
going from home to home to enlighten. The householder, by the spell of
maya, becomes absorbed in family affairs and forgets his relationship with
Krsna. If he dies in forgetfulness, like the cats and dogs, then his life is
spoiled. It is the duty of a sannyasi, therefore, to go and awaken the for-
getful souls with enlightenment of their eternal relationship with the Lord
and to engage them in devotional service. The devotee should show mercy
to the fallen souls and also give them the assurance of fearlessness. As soon
as one becomes a devotee of the Lord, he is convinced that he is protected
by the Lord. Fear itself is afraid of the Lord; therefore, what has he to do
with fearfulness?

To award fearlessness to the common man is the greatest act of charity.
A sannyasi, or one who is in the renounced order of life, should wander
from door to door, from village to village, from town to town and from
country to country, all over the world as far as he is able to travel, and
enlighten the householders about Krsna consciousness. A person who is a
householder but is initiated by a sannyast has the duty to spread Krsna
consciousness at home; as far as possible, he should call his friends and
neighbors to his house and hold classes in Krsna consciousness. Holding
a class means chanting the holy name of Krsna and speaking from
Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam. There are immense literatures for
spreading Krsna consciousness, and it is the duty of each and every house-
holder to learn about Krsna from his sannyasi spiritual master. There is a
division of labor in the Lord’s service. The householder’s duty is to earn
money because a sannyasi is not supposed to earn money; he is completely
dependent on the householder. The householder should earn money by
