240 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 9, Ch. 24
Lord qualitatively, but quantitatively there is a great difference between
them, for the Lord is unlimited whereas the living entities are limited.
Thus the Lord possesses unlimited potency for pleasure, and the living
entities have a limited pleasure potency. Anandamayo ‘bhydsat
(Vedénta-sitra 1.1.12). Both the Lord and the living entity, being
qualitatively spirit soul, have the tendency for peaceful enjoyment, but
when the part of the Supreme Personality of Godhead unfortunately
wants to enjoy independently, without Krsna, he is put into the material
world, where he begins his life as Brahma and is gradually degraded
to the status of an ant or a worm in stool. This is called manah
sasthanindriyani prakrti-sthani karsati. There is a great struggle for ex-
istence because the living entity conditioned by material nature is under
nature’s full control (prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah).
Because of his limited knowledge, however, the living entity thinks he is
enjoying in this material world. Manah sasthanindriyani prakrti-sthani
karsati. He is actually under the full control of material nature, but still
he thinks himself independent (ahankara-vimudhatma kartaham iti
manyate). Even when he is elevated by speculative knowledge and tries
to merge into the existence of Brahman, the same disease continues.
Aruhya krechrena pararh padarn tatah patanty adhah (Bhag. 10.2.32).
Even having attained that pararn padam, having merged into the imper-
sonal Brahman, he falls again to the material world.

In this way, the conditioned soul undergoes a great struggle for exis-
tence in this material world, and therefore the Lord, out of compassion
for him, appears in this world and instructs him. Thus the Lord says in
Bhagavad-gita (4.7):

yada yada hi dharmasya
glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya
tadatmanam srjamy aham
“Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O de-
scendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion—at that time |
descend Myself.” The real dharma is to surrender unto Krsna, but the
rebellious living entity, instead of surrendering to Krsna, engages in
