1056 Stimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 25

brink of spiritual realization in Brahman realization, they think that they
are in the effulgence of Brahman. But actually, because they have no
transcendental activities, they fall down to material activities.”” One should
not be satisfied simply with knowing that he is Brahman. He must engage
himself in the service of the Supreme Brahman; that is bhakti. ‘The
engagement of Brahman should be the service of Parabrahman. It is said
that unless one becomes Brahman one cannot serve Brahman. ‘The Supreme
Brahman is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the living entity is
also Brahman. Without realization that he is Brahman, spirit soul, an eternal
servitor of the Lord, if one simply thinks that he is Brahman, then that is
only theoretical. He has to realize and at the same time engage himself in
the devotional service of the Lord; then he can exist in the Brahman sta-
tus. Otherwise he falls down.

The Bhagavatam says that because nondevotees neglect the transcenden-
tal loving service of the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead, their
intelligence is not sufficient, and therefore these persons fall down. ‘The
living entity must have some activity. If he does not engage in the activity
of transcendental service, he must fall down to material activity. As soon
as one falls down to material activity, there is no rescue from the cycle of
birth and death. It is stated here by Lord Kapila, “Without My mercy”
(ndnyatra mad bhagavatah). The Lord is stated here to be Bhagavan, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, indicating that He is full of all opulences
and is therefore perfectly competent to deliver one from the cycle of
birth and death. He is also called pradhana because He is the Supreme. He
is equal to everyone, but to one who surrenders to Him He is especially
favorable. It is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gita that the Lord is equal to
everyone; no one is Fis enemy and no one is His friend. But to one who
surrenders unto Him, He is especially inclined. By the grace of the Lord,
simply by surrendering unto Him one can get out of this cycle of birth and
death. Otherwise, he may go on in many, many lives and may many times
attempt other processes for liberation.

TEXT 42
MaMa Tse BARA ARAN |
aqdtent cecafedcgadta aRANT NYRI

mad-bhaydd vati vato ’yam
stryas tapati mad-bhayat
