Text 15] The History of the Life of Ajamila 23

Speculators who undergo great labor to gain a meticulous understanding
of the material world by distinguishing between sinful and pious ac-
tivities, but who are not situated in devotional service are prone to ma-
terial activities. They may fall down and become implicated in fruitive
activities. If one becomes attached to devotional service, however, his
desires for material enjoyment are automatically vanquished without
separate endeavor. Bhaktih paresanubhavo viraktir anyatra ca: if one
is advanced in Krsna consciousness, material activities, both sinful and
pious, automatically become distasteful to him. That is the test of Krsna
consciousness. Both pious and impious activities are actually due to ig-
norance because a living entity, as an eternal servant of Krsna, has no
need to act for his personal sense gratification. Therefore as soon as one
is reclaimed to the platform of devotional service, he relinquishes his at-
tachment for pious and impious activities and is interested only in what
will satisfy Krsna. This process of bhakti, devotional service to Krsna
(vdsudeva-pardyana), relieves one from the reactions of all activities.
Since Maharaja Pariksit was a great devotee, the answers of his guru,
Sukadeva Gosvami, concerning karma-kadnda and jndna-kanda could
not satisfy him. Therefore Sukadeva Gosvami, knowing very well the
heart of his disciple, explained the transcendental bliss of devotional ser-
vice. The word kecit, which is used in this verse, means, “‘a few people
but not all.” Not everyone can become Krsna conscious. As Krsna

explains in Bhagavad-gita (7.3):

manusydnam sahasresu
kascid yatati siddhaye

yatatam api siddhanam
kascin mam vetti tattvatah

“Out of many thousands among men, one may endeavor for perfection,
and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in
truth.” Practically no one understands Krsna as He is, for Krsna cannot
be understood through pious activities or attainment of the most elevated
speculative knowledge. Actually the highest knowledge consists of
understanding Krsna. Unintelligent men who do not understand Krsna
are grossly puffed up, thinking that they are liberated or have them-
selves become Krsna or Narayana. This is ignorance.
