Text 46] Talks Between Narada and King Pracinabarhi 1421
difficult. The general populace is engaged in material activities, and when
people are a little advanced, they become attracted by the ritualistic cere-
monies mentioned in the Vedas. However, when one is frustrated in the
performance of these ritualistic ceremonies, he again comes to material
activities. In this way both the followers of the Vedic rituals and the
followers of material activities are entangled in conditional life. These
people get the seed of devotional service only by the good will of the
guru and Krsna. This is confirmed in Caitanya-caritamrta: guru-krsna-
prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija. ;

When one is engaged in devotional service, he is no longer attracted to
material activities. When a man is covered by different designations, he
cannot engage in devotional service. One has to become freed from such
designative activities (sarvopddhi-vinirmuktam) and become pure in order
to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead through purified senses.
Hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate: the service of the Lord through
purified senses is called bhakti-yoga or devotional service. The sincere
devotee is always helped by the Supersoul, who resides within the heart
of every living entity, as Lord Krsna confirms in Bhagavad-gita:

tesam satata-yuk tanam
bhajatam priti-pirvakam
dadami buddhi-yogam tam
yena mam upayanti te
“To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give
the understanding by which they can come to Me.” (Bg. 10.10)

This is the stage of becoming free from the contamination of the material
world. At such a time a devotee makes friends with another devotee, and
his engagement in material activities ceases completely. At that time,he
attains the favor of the Lord and loses his faith in material civilization,
which begins with varndsrama-dharma. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu speaks
clearly of one’s becoming liberated from the varndsrama-dharma, the most
exalted system of human civilization. At such a time one feels himself to
be perpetually the servant of Lord Krsna, a position taken by Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu Himself.

naham vipro na ca nara-patir napi vaisyo na siidro
ndham varni na ca grha-patir no vana-stho yatir va
kintu prodyan nikhila-paramananda-pirnamrtabdher
gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor ddsa-dasanuddasah
(Padyavali 63)
