1142 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 27
TRANSLATION

In executing devotional service, one has to see every living entity
equally, without enmity towards anyone yet without intimate connections
with anyone. One has to observe celibacy, be grave and execute his eternal
activities, offering the results to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

PURPORT

A devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead who seriously
engages in devotional service is equal to all living entities. There are various
species of living entities, but a devotee does not see the outward covering;
he sees the inner soul inhabiting the body. Because each and every soul is
part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he does not see
any difference. That is the vision of a learned devotee. As explained in
Bhagavad-gita, a devotee or a learned sage does not see any difference
between alearned brahmana, a dog, an elephant or a cow because he knows
that the body is the outer covering only and that the soul is actually part
and parcel of the Supreme Lord. A devotee has no enmity towards any
living entity, but that does not mean that he mixes with everyone. That is
prohibited. Aprasangatah means ‘‘not to be in intimate touch with every-
one.” A devotee is concerned with his execution of devotional service,
and he should therefore mix with devotees only, in order to advance his
objective. He has no business mixing with others, for although he does not
see anyone as his enemy, his dealings are only with persons who engage in
devotional service. A devotee should observe the vow of celibacy. Celibacy
does not necessitate that one be absolutely free from sex life; satisfaction
with one’s wife is permitted also under the vow of celibacy. The best
policy is to avoid sex life altogether. That is preferable. Otherwise, a
devotee can get married under religious principles and live peacefully with
a wife. A devotee should not speak needlessly. A serious devotee has no
time to speak of nonsense. He is always busy in Krsna consciousness.
Whenever he speaks, he speaks about Krsna. Mauna means “‘silence.”
Silence does not mean that one should not speak at all, but that he should
not speak of nonsense. He should be very enthusiastic in speaking about
Krsna. Another important item described here is sva-dharmena, or being
exclusively occupied in one’s eternal occupation, which is to act as the
eternal servitor of the Lord, or to act in Krsna consciousness. The next
word, baliyasa, means “offering the result of all activities to the Supreme
Personality of Godhead.” A devotee does not act on his personal account
for sense gratification. Whatever he earns, whatever he eats and whatever
