104 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 7, Ch. 2
for he is always understood to be completely different from the
manifested body.
PURPORT
Here it is very plainly explained that God is not responsible for the liv-
ing entity’s accepting different types of bodies. One has to accept a body
according to the laws of nature and one’s own karma. Therefore the
Vedic injunction is that a person engaged in material activities should be
given directions by which he can intelligently apply his activities to the
service of the Lord to become free from the material bondage of repeated
birth and death (sva-karmané tam abhyarcya siddhimn vindati
manavah). The Lord is always ready to give directions. Indeed, His
directions are elaborately given in Bhagavad-gita. If we take advantage
of these directions, then in spite of our being conditioned by the laws of
material nature, we shall become free to attain our original constitution
(mam eva ye prapadyante maéyam etdm taranti te). We should have firm
faith that the Lord is supreme and that if we surrender to Him, He will
take charge of us and indicate how we can get out of material life and
return home, back to Godhead. Without such surrender, one is obliged to
accept a certain type of body according to his karma, sometimes as an
animal, sometimes a demigod and so on. Although the body is obtained
and lost in due course of time, the spirit soul does not actually mix with
the body, but is subjugated by the particular modes of nature with which
he is sinfully associated. Spiritual education changes one’s consciousness
so that one simply carries out the orders of the Supreme Lord and be-
comes free from the influence of the modes of material nature.
TEXT 42
Katt ge ates
mm wralfradtad Tez |
rice: = Uftadadla:
iN
wet TH Raat areata le?
idam Sariram purusasya mohajam
yatha prthag bhautikam iyate grham
