1260 Stimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 29
arhayed dana-manabhyam
maitryabhinnena caksusa

atha—therefore; mam—Me; sarva-bhiitesu—in all creatures; bhiita-
atmanam—the Self in all beings; krta-alayam— abiding; arhayet— one should
propitiate; dana-manabhyam—through charity and respect; maitrya—
through friendship; abhinnena—equal; caksusa—by viewing.

TRANSLATION

Therefore, through charitable gifts and attention, as well as through
friendly behavior and by viewing all to be alike, one should propitiate Me,
who abide in all creatures as their very Self.

PURPORT

It should not be misunderstood that because the Supersoul is dwelling
within the heart of a living entity, the individual soul has become equal to
Him. The equality of the Supersoul and the individual soul is misconceived
by the impersonalist. Here it is distinctly mentioned that the individual
soul should be recognized in relationship with the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. The method of worshiping the individual soul is described here
as either giving charitable gifts or behaving in a friendly manner, free from
any separatist outlook. The impersonalist sometimes accepts a poor
individual soul as being daridra-ndrayapa, meaning that Narayana, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, has become poor. This is a contradiction.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is full in all opulences. He can agree
to live with a poor soul or even with an animal, but this does not make Him

oor.

: There are two Sanskrit words used here, seva and daya. Seva indicates a
superior, and daya indicates one who gives charitable gifts or is compas-
sionate towards an inferior. We cannot treat the Supreme Personality of
Godhead as an inferior who is dependent on our charitable gifts. When we
give charity, it is to a person who is inferior in his material or economic
condition. Charity is not given to a rich man. Similarly, it is explicitly
stated here that mana, respect, is offered to a superior, and charity is
offered to an inferior. The living entities, according to different results of
fruitive activities, may become rich or poor, but the Supreme Personality
of Godhead is unchangeable; He is always full in six opulences. Treating
a living entity equally does not mean treating him as one would treat the
