1164 Stimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 27

to understand the Supreme Person as He is, his activities may thus appear
to be like those of a mental speculator, but actually he is trying to under-
stand the spiritual nature and transcendental activities. Thus although
the tendency for philosophical speculation exists, the material effects of
fruitive activities and empiric speculation do not, because this activity is
meant for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

TEXT 24

WHAT eer cea a ergy: |
ANAT TA ey afefa fara 7 UNzvll

bhukta-bhoga parityakta
drsta-dosa ca nityasah

nesvarasyasubham dhatte
sve mahimni sthitasya ca

bhukta—enjoyed; bhoga—enjoyment; parityakta—given up; drsta—dis-
covered; dosa—faultiness; ca—and; nityasah—always; na—not; isvarasya—of
the independent; asubham—harm; dhatte—she inflicts; sve mahimni—in
his own glory; sthitasya—situated; ca—and.

TRANSLATION

By discovering the faultiness of his desiring to lord it over material
nature and by therefore giving it up, the living entity becomes independent
and stands in his own glory.

PURPORT

Because the living entity is not actually the enjoyer of the material
resources, his attempt to lord it over material nature is, at the ultimate
issue, frustrated. As a result of frustration he desires more power than the
ordinary living entity and thus wants to merge into the existence of the
supreme enjoyer. In this way he develops a plan for greater enjoyment.

When one is actually situated in devotional service, that is his indepen-
dent position. Less intelligent men cannot understand the position of the
eternal servant of the Lord. Because the word “servant” is used, they
become confused; they cannot understand that this servitude is not the
servitude of this material world. To be the servant of the Lord is the
