Text 32] Entanglement in Fruitive Activities 1401

jiiténa-yogah—philosophical research; ca—and; mat-nisthah—directed

towards Me; nairgunyah—free from the material modes of nature;

bhakti—devotional service; laksanah—named; dvayoh—of both; api—

moreover; ekah—one; eva—certainly; arthah—purpose; bhagavat—the

Supreme Personality of Godhead; sabda—by the word; laksanah—signified.
TRANSLATION

Philosophical research culminates in understanding the Supreme Person-
ality of Godhead. After achieving this understanding, when one becomes
free from the material modes of nature, he attains the stage of devotional
service. Either by devotional service directly or by philosophical research,
one has to find the same destination, which is the Supreme Personality of
Godhead.

PURPORT

It is said in Bhagavad-gita that after many, many lives of philosophical
research the wise man ultimately comes to the point of knowing that
Vasudeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is everything, and there-
fore he surrenders unto Him. Such serious students in philosophical
research are rare because they are very great souls. If by philosophical
research one cannot come to the point of understanding the Supreme
Person, then his task is not finished. His search in knowledge is still to be
continued until he comes to the point of understanding the Supreme
Lord in devotional service.

The opportunity for direct touch with the Personality of Godhead is
given in Bhagavad-gita, where it is also said that those who take to other
processes, namely the processes of philosophical speculation and mystic
yoga practice, have much trouble. After many, many years of much
trouble, a yogi or wise philosopher may come to Him, but his path is very
troublesome, whereas the path of devotional service is easy for everyone.
One can achieve the result of wise philosophical speculation simply by
discharging devotional service, and unless one reaches the point of the
Personality of Godhead by his mental speculation, then all his research
work is said to be simply a labor of love. The ultimate destination of the
wise philosopher is to merge in the impersonal Brahman, but that
Brahman is the effulgence of the Supreme Person. The Lord says in
Bhagavad-gita, brahmano hi pratisthaham amytasyavyayasya ca: “I am the
basis of the impersonal Brahman, whichis indestructible and is the supreme
bliss.” The Lord is the supreme reservoir of all pleasure, including Brahman
