1262 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 29
given so that one can know when to behave friendly and when to give
charity. For example, a tiger is a living entity, part and parcel of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the Supreme Lord is living in the
heart of the tiger as Supersoul. But does this mean that we have to treat
the tiger in a friendly manner? Certainly not. We have to treat him
differently, giving him charity in the form of prasada. The many saintly
persons in the jungles do not treat the tigers in a friendly way, but they
supply prasdda foodstuffs to them. The tigers come, take the food and go
away, just asa dog does. According to the Vedic system, a dog is not allowed
to enter the house. Because of their uncleanliness, cats and dogs are not
allowed within the apartment of a gentleman, but they are so trained that
they stand outside. The compassionate householder will supply prasada
to the dogs and cats, who eat outside and then go away. We must treat the
lower living entities compassionately, but this does not mean that we
have to treat them in the same way we treat other human beings. The
feeling of equality must be there, but the treatment should be discrimi-
nating. Just how discrimination should be maintained is given in the
following six verses concerning the different grades of living conditions.

The first division is made between dead, stonelike matter and the living
organism. A living organism is sometimes manifested even in stone.
Experience shows that some hills and mountains grow. This is due to the
presence of the soul within that stone. Above that, the next manifestation
of the living condition is development of consciousness, and the next
manifestation is the development of sense perception. In the Moksa-
dharma section of the Mahabharata it is stated that trees have developed
sense perception; they can see and smell. We know by experience that
trees can see. Sometimes in its growth a large tree changes its course of
development to avoid some hindrances. This means that a tree can see, and
according to Mahabharata, a tree can also smell. This indicates the
development of sense perception.

TEXT 29
vant eedatea: san caafka: |
TR ma IE: ATTA: AT TA: 1123!
talrdpi sparsa-vedibhyah
pravard rasa-vedinah
tebhyo gandha-vidah sresthas
tatah sabda-vido varah
