Text 11] Maharaja Prthu’s Going Back Home 987

mystic powers appear in his service. A devotee does not want any kind of
material opulence, but such opulence appears before him automatically.
He does not have to endeavor for it. Because of his devotional service, he
automatically becomes brahma-bhuta. As stated before, this is confirmed
in Bhagavad-gita:

mam ca yo ‘vyabhicarena
bhakti-yogena sevate

sa gunan samatityaitan
brahma-bhuyaya kalpate

“One who is engaged in full devotional service, unfailing in all circum-
stances, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes
to the level of Brahman.” (Bg. 14.26)

Because of his regular discharge of devotional service, a devotee
attains the transcendental stage of life. Since his mind is transcendentally
situated, he cannot think of anything but the lotus feet of the Lord.
This is the meaning of the word samsmarana-anupurtya. By constantly
thinking of the lotus feet of the Lord, the devotee immediately becomes
situated in suddha-sattva. Suddha-sattva refers to that platform which is
above the modes of material nature, including the mode of goodness.
In the material world, the mode of goodness is considered to be represen-
tative of the highest perfection, but one has to transcend this mode and
come to the stage of suddha-sattva, or pure goodness, where the three
qualities of material nature cannot act.

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura gives the following example:
If one has strong digestive power, after eating he automatically lights a
fire within his stomach to digest everything and does not need to take
medicine to aid his digestion. Similarly, the fire of devotional service is so
strong that a devotee does not need to act separately to attain perfect
knowledge or detachment from material attractions. A jiani may become
detached from material attractions by prolonged discussions on subjects
of knowledge and may in this way finally come to the brahma-bhuta
stage, but a devotee does not have to undergo so much trouble. By virtue
of his devotional service, he attains the brahma-bhuta stage without a
doubt. The yogis and jranis are always doubtful about their constitutional
position; therefore they mistakenly think of becoming one with the
Supreme. However, a devotee’s relationship with the Supreme becomes
manifest beyond all doubt, and he immediately understands that his
position is that of eternal servant of the Lord. The jnanis and yogis may
