1030 Stimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 25

nation, then he has to seek the association of devotees, wherein Krsna
consciousness is exclusively cultured. One can thereby become freed from
all material association.

Because a devotee is freed from all contaminated material association,
he is not affected by the miseries of material existence. Even though he
appears to be in the material world, he is not affected by the miseries of
the material world. How is it possible? There is a very good example in the
activities of the cat. The cat carries her kittens in her mouth, and when she
kills a rat she also carries the booty in her mouth. Thus both are carried in
the mouth of the cat, but they are in different conditions. The kitten feels
comfort in the mouth of the mother, whereas when the rat is carried in
the mouth of the cat, the rat feels the blows of death. Similarly, those who
are sddhavah, or devotees engaged in Krsna consciousness in the transcen-
dental service of the Lord, do not feel the contamination of material
miseries, whereas those who are not devotees in Krsna consciousness
actually feel the miseries of material existence. One should therefore give
up the association of materialistic persons and seek the association of
persons engaged in Krsna consciousness, and by such association he will be
benefited in spiritual advancement. By their words and instructions, he
will be able to cut off his attachment to material existence.

TEXT 25
aa | owagiena | atadfaet
ated EHC: HAT |
SRR ROCKS ICI
ag | Uaihacaaficata esi

satarh prasangan mama virya-sarivido
bhavanti hrt-karna-rasdyanah kathah

taj-josanad dsv apavarga-vartmani
sraddha ratir bhaktir anukramisyati

satam—of pure devotees; prasangat—through the association; mama— My;
virya— wonderful activities; sarividah—by discussion of; bhavanti— become;
hrt—to the heart; karna—to the ear; rasa-ayanah—pleasing; kathah—the
stories; tat—of that; josanat—by cultivation; asu—quickly; apavarga—of
