1506 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 30

mam ca yo ’vyabhicdrena
bhakti-yogena sevate

sa gunan samatityaitan
brahma-bhiiyaya kalpate

“One who engages in full devotional service, who does not fall down in
any circumstance, at once transcends the modes of material nature and
thus comes to the level of Brahman.” (Bg. 14.26)

A devotee is always situated on the Brahman platform. He has nothing
to do with material happiness or distress. When one is strongly fixed in
devotional service and free from all material attachment, uncontaminated
by the material modes of nature, he becomes fit to return home, back to
Godhead. Although by special blessing the Pracetas would enjoy material
facilities for millions of years, they would not be attached to them. Thus
at the end of their material enjoyment they would be promoted to the
spiritual world and return to Godhead.

The word pakva-gunasayah has special significance, for it means that by
devotional service one is able to give up the influence of the three modes
of material nature. As long as one is influenced by the modes of material
nature, he cannot return to Godhead. It is clearly explained that all
planets in the material world—beginning from Brahmaloka down to the
hellish planets—are unfit places for a devotee. Padam padam yad vipadam
na tesadm. A place where there is danger at every step is certainly not a
comfortable place. The Lord therefore says in Bhagavad-gita:

abrahma-bhuvanal lokah
punar avartino ’rjuna

mam upetya tu kaunteya
punar janma na vidyate

“From the highest planet in the material world down to the lowest, all are
places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place. But one who
attains to My abode, O son of Kunti, never take birth again.” (Bg. 8.16)
Thus there is no profit, even if one is promoted to the highest planet in
the material universe, Brahmaloka. However, if one is somehow or other
promoted to the abode of the Lord, he never returns to the material world.

TEXT 19

AMAA A AFIT Tet AAT: 12311
