Text 2] Lord Rsabhadeva’s Teachings 167

mahantas te sama-cittah prasdnta
vimanyavah suhrdah sddhavo ye

mahat-sevam—service to the spiritually advanced persons called
mahatmas; dvaram—the way; a@huh—they say: vimukteh—of libera-
tion; tamah-dvaram—the way to the dungeon of a dark, hellish condi-
tion of life; yositam—of women; sangi—of associates; sangam—asso-
ciation; mahantah—highly advanced in spiritual understanding: te—
they; sama-cittah—persons who see everyone in a spiritual identity;
prasdntah—very peaceful, situated in Brahman or Bhagavan:
vimanyavah—without anger (one must distribute Krsna consciousness
to persons who are hostile without becoming angry at them): suhrdah—
well-wishers of everyone; sddhavah—qualified devotees. without
abominable behavior: ye—they who.

TRANSLATION

One can attain the path of liberation from material bondage only
by rendering service to highly advanced spiritual personalities.
These personalities are impersonalists and devotees. Whether one
wants to merge into the Lord’s existence or wants to associate with
the Personality of Godhead, one should render service to the
mahatmas. For those who are not interested in such activities, who
associate with people fond of women and sex, the path to hell is
wide open. The mahatmas are equipoised. They do not see any
difference between one living entity and another. They are very
peaceful and are fully engaged in devotional service. They are
devoid of anger, and they work for the benefit of everyone. They
do not behave in any abominable way. Such people are known as
mahatmas.

PURPORT

The human body is like a junction. One may either take the path of
liberation or the path leading to a hellish condition. How one can take
these paths is described herein. On the path of liberation. one associates
with mahatmas, and on the path of bondage one associates with those at-
tached to sense gratification and women. There are two types of mahat-
mas—the impersonalist and the devotee. Although their ultimate goal is
