252 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 7, Ch. 15
*nadrta-yusmad-anghrayah: if one neglects to serve the lotus feet of
Krsna, one cannot become free from the material clutches simply by
knowledge. Even if one attains the stage of brahma-padam, merging in
Brahman, without bhakti he is prone to fall down. One must be very
careful in regard to the danger of falling down again into material bon-
dage. The only insurance is to come to the stage of bhakti, from which
one is sure not to fall. Then one is free from the activities of the material
world. In summary, as stated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, one must get
in touch with a bona fide spiritual master coming in the parampara of
Krsna consciousness, for by his mercy and instructions one is able to get
strength from Krsna. Thus one engages in devotional service and attains
the ultimate goal of life, the lotus feet of Visnu.

Significant in this verse are the words jnandsim acyuta-balah.
Jnanasim, the sword of knowledge, is given by Krsna, and when one
serves the guru and Krsna in order to hold the sword of Krsna’s instruc-
tions, Balarama gives one strength. Balarama is Nityananda. Vrajendra-
nandana yei, Saci-suta_haila sei, balarama ha-ila nitai. This bala—
Balarama—comes with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and both of Them are
so merciful that in this age of Kali one may very easily take shelter of
Their lotus feet. They come especially to deliver the fallen souls of this
age. Papi tapi yata chila, hari-nadme uddhdrila. Their weapon is
sankirtana, hari-ndma. Thus one should accept the sword of knowledge
from Krsna and be strong with the mercy of Balarama. We are therefore
worshiping Krsna-Balarama in Vrndavana. In the Mundaka Upanisad
(3.2.4) it is said:

nayam atma bala-hinena labhyo
na ca pramadat tapaso vapy alingat
etair updyair yatate yas tu vidvarns
tasyaisa Gtmda visate brahma-dhdma
One cannot attain the goal of life without the mercy of Balarama. Sri
Narottama dasa Thakura therefore says, nitdiyera karund habe, vraje
radha-krsna pabe: when one receives the mercy of Balarama,
Nityananda, one can attain the lotus feet of Radha and Krsna very easily.
se sambandha nahi yara, brtha janma gela tara,
vidyd-kule hi karibe tara
