Explanation of the Atmarama Verse in Srimad Bhagwatam 137
even though he may have many desires. Not by any kind of transcendental
activities, either in fruitive action or the cultivation of knowledge, nor by
mystic yogic cultivation, can a person achieve the highest perfection, without
adding a tinge of devotional service to them.

Except for devotional service, all other forms of transcendental processes
are just like nipples on the neck of a goat. There are some nipples hanging on
the neck of a goat, but they do not supply milk. If one is to derive, therefore,
the actual perfection of his process he must take to the devotional service of
Krishna.

In Bhagavad Gita it is stated, in the Seventh Chapter, 16th verse, that there
are four kinds of beginners in devotional service whose backgrounds are very
righteous. They are the distressed, the inquisitive, the seeker of material profit,
and the Jnani, or the wise man. These four kinds of people, when they are coated
by previous righteous activities, come to the devotional service of the Lord.
Out of these four, those who are distressed and those who are in need of mater-
ial possessions are called devotees with desires, whereas the other two, the inquisi-
tive and the wise, are under the heading of seeking liberation. But, because they
worship Krishna, they are considered to be very fortunate. In due course of
time, if they give up all their desires and become pure devotees of the Supreme
Lord, they are called the most fortunate.

Such fortunate beginners can develop only in the association of pure devo-
tees of Lord Krishna. When one is associated with such pure devotees, one
becomes a pure devotee himself. This is confirmed in the Srimad Bhagwatam
in the First Canto, Tenth Chapter, as follows: “A person who is actually
intelligent is able, by association with pure devotees, to hear about Lord Kri-
shna and His activities.” These activities are very attractive, and he does not
give up such association with the Lord.

Except for the association of pure devotees, any association is called Kai-
tava, or cheating. This is also confirmed in Srimad Bhagwatam, First Canto;
where it is stated that any cheating process which obstructs transcendental
realization is to be thrown off. By the Srimad Bhagwatam one can understand
reality as it is, and that becomes auspicious in helping one to transcend the
three kinds of material miseries. Srimad Bhagwatam is compiled by the greatest
sage, Vyasadeva, as a work of his mature experience; and therefore, by under-
standing Srimad Bhagwatam, one can immediately capture the Supreme Lord
within his heart, by devotional service.

Lord Chaitanya then explained¥that the word Projjhitta means desire for
liberation, which is explained by one great commentator as the most obstruc-
