Text 33] Entanglement in Fruitive Activities 1403
cloud he sees the hill and something green. When one actually approaches
the hill, he will see many varieties. Another example is in perceiving milk.
When we see milk, we see that it is white; when we taste it, it appears that
milk is very palatable. When we touch milk, it appears very cold; when we
smell milk, it appears to have a very good flavor; and when we hear, we
understand that it is called milk. Perceiving milk with different senses, we
say that it is something white, something very delicious, something very
aromatic, and so on. Actually, it is milk. Similarly, those who are trying
to find the Supreme Godhead by mental speculation may approach the
bodily effulgence, or the impersonal Brahman, and those who are trying
to find the Supreme Godhead by yoga practice may find Him as the
localized Supersoul, but those who are directly trying to approach the
Supreme Truth by practice of bhakti-yoga can see Him face to face as the
Supreme Person.

Ultimately, the Supreme Person is the destination of all different
processes. The fortunate person who, by following the principles of scrip-
tures, becomes completely purified of all material contamination, surrenders
unto the Supreme Lord as everything. Just as one can appreciate the real
taste of milk with the tongue and not with the eyes, nostrils or ears, one
can similarly appreciate the Absolute Truth perfectly and with all relish-
able pleasure only through one path, devotional service. This is also
confirmed in Bhagavad-gita, bhaktya mam abhijanati: if one wants to
understand the Absolute Truth in perfection, he must take to devotional
service. Of course, no one can understand the Absolute Truth in all perfec-
tion. That is not possible for the infinitesimal living entities. But the
highest point of understanding by the living entity is reached by discharge
of devotional service, not otherwise.

By following various scriptural paths, one may come to the impersonal
effulgence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The transcendental
pleasure derived from merging with or understanding the impersonal
Brahman is very extensive because Brahman is ananta. Tad-brahma-niskalam
anantam: brahmananda is unlimited. But that unlimited pleasure can also
be surpassed. That is the nature of the Transcendence. The unlimited can
be surpassed also, and that higher platform is Krsna. When one deals
directly with Krsna, the mellow and the humor relished by reciprocation
of devotional service is incomparable, even with the pleasure derived from
transcendental Brahman. Prabodhananda Sarasvati therefore says that
kaivalya, the Brahman pleasure, is undoubtedly very great and is appre-
ciated by many philosophers, but to a devotee who has understood how
to derive pleasure from exchanging devotional service with the Lord, this
