The Most Intelligent Woman 9

we have taken to Krsna consciousness to disturb Krsna or are actually
serious. That is Maya’s business. So in the beginning there will be tests
by Maya, and we shall feel so many disturbances while making progress
in Krsna consciousness. But if we follow the rules and regulations and
chant regularly as prescribed, then we shall remain steady. If we neglect
these principles, Maya will capture us immediately. Maya is always ready.
We are in the ocean, and at any moment we may be disturbed. Therefore
one who is not disturbed at all is called paramahamsa.

Kuntidevi therefore says, tatha paramahamsanam: ‘‘You are meant
to be understood by the paramahamsas.’> The word parama means
“‘ultimate,’’ and hamsa means ‘“‘swan.”’ So paramahamsa means ‘‘the
perfect swan.”’ If we give a swan milk mixed with water, the swan will
take the milk and leave aside the water. Similarly, this material world is
made of two natures—the inferior nature and the superior nature. The
superior nature means spiritual life, and the inferior nature is material
life. Thus a person who gives up the material part of this world and takes
only the spiritual part is called paramahamsa.

One should know that the activities of the body are due to the soul
within the body. That is the real fact. The body is only the outward cover-
ing. Similarly, one should know that Krsna is the real center of all ac-
tivities, and one who knows this is a paramahamsa. Thus bhakti-yoga is
for the paramahamsa, one who knows that Krsna is the central fact.
Krsna says in Bhagavad-gita, aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pra-
vartate: ‘‘I am the source of everything, everything emanates from Me.”’
So one who knows, not only theoretically but practically, that Krsna is
the cause of all causes—one who is convinced of this—is a paramahamsa.

Kuntidevi says, ‘‘You are meant for the paramahamsas, not for the ras-
cals and fools. You are meant for the paramahamsas and munis.”’ The
word muninam refers to those who are thoughtful or to mental specula-
tors, and the word amalatmanam refers to one who has no dirty things in
his heart. The heart of a materialistic person is full of dirty things. What
are those dirty things? Lust and greed. All materialistic persons are lusty
and greedy, and therefore their hearts are understood to be full of dirty
things, but amalatmanam refers to those who are freed from these two
contaminations.

Bhakti-yoga is meant for those whose hearts are cleansed, not for the
lusty and greedy. Of course, those who are lusty and greedy may try to
advance, and gradually they may do so, but once one is situated in bhakti-
yoga there is no more lust or greed. Viraktir anyatra ca (Bhdg. 11.2.42).
This is the test—when one is free from lusty desires and greed, then he is
