168 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 6, Ch. 10
animal, tree or plant. all living entities are sons of the Supreme Per-
sonality of Godhead. Lord Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita (14.4):
sarva-yonisu kaunteya
mirtayah sambhavanti yah
tasam brahma mahad yonir
aham bija-pradah pita
“It should be understood that all species of life, O son of Kunti, are made
possible by birth in this material nature, and that I am the seed-giving
father.” The different forms of these living entities are only their exter-
nal dresses. Every living being is actually a spirit soul. a part and parcel
of God. Therefore one should not favor only one kind of living being. A
Vaisnava sees all living entities as part and parcel of God. As the Lord
says in Bhagavad-gita (5.18 and 18.54):
vidyd-vinaya-sampanne
brahmane gavi hastini
Suni caiva Svapake ca
panditah sama-darsinah
“The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge. sees with equal vision a
learned and gentle brahmana, a cow. an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater
[outcaste].””
brahma-bhitah prasannatma
na Socati na kanksati
samah sarvesu bhitesu
mad-bhaktirn labhate param
“One who is transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme
Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments nor desires to have
anything: he is equally disposed to every living entity. In that state he at-
tains pure devotional service unto Me.”’ A Vaisnava. therefore. is truly a
perfect person because he laments to see others unhappy and feels joy at
seeing others happy. A Vaisnava is para-duhkha-duhkhi; he is always
unhappy to see the conditioned souls in an unhappy state of materialism.
