192 TEACHINGS OF QUEEN KUNTI

The Mayavadis simply see the effulgence, which is impersonal. They
cannot see anything more. We may see an airplane rise in the sky, but
after a while it passes out of our sight due to the dazzling sunshine. The
airplane is there, but we cannot see it. Similarly, if we simply try to see
the effulgent brahmajyoti, we are unable to see within it. One of the
mantras in the Isopanisad therefore petitions the Lord to wind up His
effulgence so that He can be seen properly.

The Mayavadi philosophers cannot see the personal activities of Krsna
nor the planet where Krsna is personally active. The Bhdgavatam says,
aruhya krcchrena param padam tatah patanty adho ’nddrta-yusmad-
anghrayah: because they do not see the lotus feet of Krsna, they have to
return to this material world, despite all their serious penances and
austerities. Thus renunciation in itself will not help us. We may ar-
tificially renounce, but again we shall become so-called enjoyers. Such re-
nunciation and enjoyment is like a pendulum that goes this way and that.
On one side we become false renunciants, and on the other we become
false enjoyers. The remedy, however, is here. If we really want to become
detached from this material world, we must increase our attachment for
Krsna consciousness. Renunciation alone will not help us. Therefore
Kuntidevi prays, tvayi me ’nanya-visaya. She prays that her attraction be
constantly drawn unto Krsna without being diverted to anything else.
This is bhakti, pure devotional service, for as mentioned by Ripa
Gosvami, devotional service should be unalloyed (anyabhildsitd-stinyam
jfidna-karmdady-anavrtam).

In this material world there are jrianis and karmis. The karmis are fools
who unnecessarily work very hard, and the jfdnis are those who, when a
little elevated, think, ‘Why work so hard? So many things are not re-
quired. Why accumulate so much money and food and so much false
prestige?’’ The jfdnithinks in this way. The bhakta, however, is beyond
the karmiand the jfidni. The karmihas many desires, and the jvdnitries to
get rid of all desires, but desirelessness can be possible only when we
desire to serve Krsna. Otherwise it is not possible to get rid of desires.
Jfiana-karmady-anavrtam. As bhaktas, we should have no desires for
jfana and karma. We should be without attachment for material things,
but we must have attachment for Krsna. In this way our detachment will
be fixed.

We must cultivate Krsna consciousness favorably (anuktuilyena krsna-
nusilanam). This means thinking of how Krsna will be satisfied. We
must always think of Krsna, just like the gopis. The Krsna consciousness
of the gopis was perfect because they had no desire other than to try to
