Service to the Lord 99
give up all those paths and engage himself in sincere devotional service to the
Lord. The Bhagwatam also confirms, in the Second Canto, Third Chapter,
that a person—whatever he may be, either full with all desires for material
enjoyment or desirous of liberation—if he is actually intelligent, should engage
himself in perfect devotional service.

Persons who are ambitious for deriving material benefit from devotional
service are not pure devotees, but because they are engaged in devotional
service they are considered fortunate. They do not know that the result of
devotional service is not material benediction; but, because they engage
themselves in devotional service of the Supreme Lord, ultimately they will
come to the understanding that material enjoyment is not the result of engage-
ment in His devotional service. Krishna says that such persons, engaged in
His devotional service, are certainly foolish for wanting some material benefit
in exchange. Such persons are foolish because, instead of achieving the stage
of love of Godhead, they try to accept something which is poisonous for them.
Although such persons want material benefit from Krishna, Krishna being
All-powerful considers the person’s position and gradually liberates him from
such an ambitious life, and engages him in devotional service. And when he
is actually in devotional service he forgets his past ambitions and desires for
material benefits.

In the Srimad Bhagwatam, Fifth Canto, Nineteenth Chapter, this is con-
firmed as follows: “Lord Krishna certainly fulfills the desire of His devotees
who come to Him in devotional service. But He does not fulfill such desires
as would again cause miseries. In spite of being materially ambitious, because
they are engaged in the transcendental service of the Lord, such devotees are
gradually purified of desire for material enjoyment, and come to desire the
pleasure of devotional service.”

Generally people come to the association of devotees for mitigating some
material wants. But the influence of a pure devotee frees a man from all material
desires, and he relishes the taste of devotional service. Devotional service is
so nice and pure that it purifies the devotee, and he forgets all material ambi-
tions as he engages fully in the transcendental loving service of Krishna. A
practical example is Druva Maharaj, who wanted something from Krishna,
and for that reason engaged in devotional service. But when the Lord appeared
as four-handed Vishnu before Druva, he said, “My dear Lord, I engaged
myself in Your devotional service with great austerity and penances, and thus
Iam now seeing You. It is always very difficult to see You, even for the great
demigods and great sages, and I am now pleased and all my desires are satisfied.
