Madhya22.25

TEXT 25

tāte kṛṣṇa bhaje, kare gurura sevana

māyā-jāla chuṭe, pāya kṛṣṇera caraṇa

SYNONYMS

tāte—therefore; kṛṣṇa bhaje—if one worships Lord Kṛṣṇa; kare—performs; gurura sevana—service to his spiritual master; māyā-jāla chuṭe—gets free from the binding net of māyā; pāya—gets; kṛṣṇera caraṇa—shelter at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.

TRANSLATION

"If the conditioned soul engages in the service of the Lord and simultaneously carries out the orders of his spiritual master and serves him, he can get out of the clutches of māyā and become eligible for shelter at Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.

PURPORT

It is a fact that every living entity is eternally a servant of Kṛṣṇa. This is forgotten due to the influence of māyā, which induces one to believe in material happiness. Being illusioned by māyā, one thinks that material happiness is the only desirable object. This material consciousness is like a chain around the neck of the conditioned soul. As long as he is bound to that conception, he cannot get out of māyā’s clutches. However, if by Kṛṣṇa’s mercy he gets in touch with a bona fide spiritual master, abides by his order and serves him, engaging other conditioned souls in the Lord’s service, he then attains liberation and Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s shelter.

Madhya22.26

TEXT 26

cāri varṇāśramī yadi kṛṣṇa nāhi bhaje

svakarma karite se raurave paḍi’ maje

SYNONYMS

cāri varṇa-āśramī—followers of the four social and spiritual orders of life; yadi—if; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; nāhi—not; bhaje—serve; sva-karma karite—performing his duty in life; se—that person; raurave—in a hellish condition; paḍi’-falling down; maje—becomes immersed.

TRANSLATION

"The followers of the varṇāśrama institution accept the regulative principles of the four social orders [brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra] and four spiritual orders [brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa]. However, if one carries out the regulative principles of these orders but does not render transcendental service to Kṛṣṇa, he falls into the hellish condition of material life.

PURPORT

One may be a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya or śūdra, or one may perfectly follow the spiritual principles of brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa, but ultimately one falls down into a hellish condition unless one becomes a devotee. Without developing one’s dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one cannot be factually elevated. The regulative principles of varṇāśrama-dharma in themselves are insufficient for attainment of the highest perfection. That is confirmed in the following two quotations from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.2-3).

Madhya22.27

TEXT 27

mukha-bāhūru-pādebhyaḥ

puruṣasyāśramaiḥ saha

catvāro jajñire varṇā

guṇair viprādayaḥ pṛthak

SYNONYMS

mukha—the mouth; bāhu—the arms; ūru—the waist; pādebhyaḥ—from the legs; puruṣasya—of the Supreme Person; āśramaiḥ—the different spiritual orders; saha—with; catvāraḥ—the four; jajñire—appeared; varṇāḥ—social orders; guṇaiḥ—with particular qualifications; vipra-ādayaḥ—brāhmaṇas and so on; pṛthak—separately.

TRANSLATION

" ’From the mouth of Brahmā, the brahminical order has come into existence. Similarly, from his arms the kṣatriyas have come, from his waist the vaiśyas have come, and from his legs the śūdras have come. These four orders and their spiritual counterparts [brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa] combine to make human society complete.

Madhya22.28

TEXT 28

ya eṣāṁ puruṣaṁ sākṣād-

ātma-prabhavam īśvaram

na bhajanty avajānanti

sthānād bhraṣṭāḥ patanty adhaḥ

SYNONYMS

ye—anyone who; eṣām—of those divisions of social and spiritual orders; puruṣam—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sākṣāt—directly; ātma-prabhavam—the source of everyone; īśvaram—the supreme controller; na—not; bhajanti—worship; avajānanti—or who neglect; sthānāt—from their proper place; bhraṣṭāḥ—being fallen; patanti—fall; adhaḥ—downward into hellish conditions.

TRANSLATION

" ’If one simply maintains an official position in the four varṇas and āśramas but does not worship the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu, he falls down from his puffed-up position into a heIlish condition.’

Madhya22.29

TEXT 29

jñānī jīvan-mukta-daśā pāinu kari, māne

vastutaḥ buddhi ’śuddha’ nahe kṛṣṇa-bhakti vine

SYNONYMS

jñānī—the speculative philosophers; jīvan-mukta-daśā—the stage of liberation even while in this body; pāinu—I have gotten; kari’-taking; māne—considers; vastutaḥ—factually; buddhi—intelligence; śuddha—purified; nahe—not; kṛṣṇa-bhakti vine—without devotional service to Kṛṣṇa.

TRANSLATION

"There are many philosophical speculators [jñānīs] belonging to the Māyāvāda school who consider themselves liberated and call themselves Nārāyaṇa. However, their intelligence is not purified unless they engage in Kṛṣṇa’s devotional service.

Madhya22.30

TEXT 30

ye ’nye ’ravindākṣa vimukta-māninas

tvayy asta-bhāvād aviśuddha-buddhayaḥ

āruhya kṛcchreṇa paraṁ padaṁ tataḥ

patanty adho ’nādṛta-yuṣmad-aṅghrayaḥ

SYNONYMS

ye—all those who; anye—others (nondevotees); aravinda-akṣa—O lotus-eyed one; vimukta-māninaḥ—who consider themselves liberated; tvayi—unto You; asta-bhāvāt—without devotion; aviśuddha-buddhayaḥ—whose intelligence is not purified; āruhya—having ascended; kṛcchreṇa—by severe austerities and penances; param padam—to the supreme position; tataḥ—from there; patanti—fall; adhaḥ—down; anādṛta—without respecting; yuṣmat—Your; aṅghrayaḥ—lotus feet.

TRANSLATION

" ’O lotus-eyed one, those who think they are liberated in this life but do not render devotional service to You must be of impure intelligence. Although they accept severe austerities and penances and rise to the spiritual position, to impersonal Brahman realization, they fall down again because they neglect to worship Your lotus feet.’

PURPORT

This verse is quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.2.32).

Madhya22.31

TEXT 31

kṛṣṇa--sūrya-sama; māyā haya andhakāra

yāhāṅ kṛṣṇa, tāhāṅ nāhi māyāra adhikāra

SYNONYMS

kṛṣṇa—Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sūrya-sama—like the sun planet; māyā—the illusory energy; haya—is; andhakāra—darkness; yāhāṅ kṛṣṇa—wherever there is Kṛṣṇa; tāhāṅ—there; nāhi—not; māyāra—of māyā, or the darkness of illusion; adhikāra—the jurisdiction.

TRANSLATION

"Kṛṣṇa is compared to sunshine, and māyā is compared to darkness. Wherever there is sunshine, there cannot be darkness. As soon as one takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the darkness of illusion (the influence of the external energy) will immediately vanish.

PURPORT

Madhya22.32

TEXT 32

vilajjamānayā yasya

sthātum īkṣā-pathe ’muyā

vimohitā vikatthante

mamāham iti durdhiyaḥ

SYNONYMS

vilajjamānaya—being ashamed; yasya—of whom; sthātum—to remain; īkṣā-pathe—in the line of sight; amuyā—by that (māyā); vimohitāḥ—bewildered; vikatthante—boast; mama—my; aham—I; iti—thus; durdhiyaḥ—having poor intelligence.

TRANSLATION

" ’The external illusory energy of Kṛṣṇa, known as māyā, is always ashamed to stand in front of Kṛṣṇa, just as darkness is ashamed to remain before the sunshine. However, that māyā bewilders unfortunate people who have no intelligence. Thus they simply boast that this material world is theirs and that they are its enjoyers.’

PURPORT

Madhya22.33

TEXT 33

’kṛṣṇa, tomāra haṅa’ yadi bale eka-bāra

māyā-bandha haite kṛṣṇa tāre kare pāra

SYNONYMS

kṛṣṇa—O my Lord Kṛṣṇa; tomāra haṅa—I am Yours; yadi—if; bale—someone says; eka-bāra—once; māyā-bandha haite—from the bondage of conditional life; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; tāre—him; kare pāra—releases.

TRANSLATION

"One is immediateIy freed from the clutches of māyā if he seriously and sincerely says, ’My dear Lord Kṛṣṇa, although I have forgotten You for so many long years in the material world, today I am surrendering unto You. I am Your sincere and serious servant. Please engage me in Your service.’

Madhya22.34

TEXT 34

sakṛd eva prapanno yas

tavāsmīti ca yācate

abhayaṁ sarvadā tasmai

dadāmy etad vrataṁ mama

SYNONYMS

sakṛt—once only; eva—certainly; prapannaḥ—surrendered; yaḥ—anyone who; tava—Yours; asmi—I am; iti—thus; ca—also; yācate—prays; abhayam—fearlessness; sarvadā—always; tasmai—unto him; dadāmi—I give; etat—this; vratam—vow; mama—My.

TRANSLATION

“ ’It is My vow that if one only once seriously surrenders unto Me, saying, ”My dear Lord, from this day I am Yours," and prays to Me for courage, I shall immediately award courage to that person, and he will always remain safe from that time on.’

PURPORT

This is a quotation from the Rāmāyaṇa.

Madhya22.35

TEXT 35

bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kāmī ’subuddhi’ yadi haya

gāḍha-bhakti-yoge tabe kṛṣṇere bhajaya

SYNONYMS

bhukti—of material enjoyment; mukti—of impersonal liberation; siddhi—of achieving mystic power; kāmī—desirous; su-buddhi—actually intelligent; yadi—if; haya—he is; gāḍha—deep; bhakti-yoge—by devotional service; tabe—then; kṛṣṇere bhajaya—worships Lord Kṛṣṇa.

TRANSLATION

"Due to bad association, the living entity desires material happiness, liberation or merging into the impersonal aspect of the Lord, or he engages in mystic yoga for material power. If such a person actually becomes intelligent, he takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness by engaging himself in intense devotional service to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Madhya22.36

TEXT 36

akāmaḥ sarva-kāmo vā

mokṣa-kāma udāra-dhīḥ

tīvreṇa bhakti-yogena

yajeta puruṣaṁ param

SYNONYMS

akāmaḥ—a pure devotee with no desire for material enjoyment; sarva-kāmaḥ—one who has no end to his desires for material enjoyment; vā—or; mokṣa-kāmaḥ—one who desires to merge into the existence of Brahman; udāra-dhīḥ—being very intelligent; tīvreṇa—firm; bhakti-yogena—by devotional service; yajeta—should worship; puruṣam—the person; param—supreme.

TRANSLATION

" ’Whether one desires everything or nothing, or whether he desires to merge into the existence of the Lord, he is intelligent only if he worships Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by rendering transcendental Ioving service.’

PURPORT

Madhya22.37

TEXT 37

anya-kāmī yadi kare kṛṣṇera bhajana

nā māgiteha kṛṣṇa tāre dena sva-caraṇa

SYNONYMS

anya-kāmī—one who desires many other things; yadi—if; kare—he performs; kṛṣṇera bhajana—devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa; nā māgiteha—although not asking; kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; tāre—to him; dena—gives; sva-caraṇa—the shelter of His lotus feet.

TRANSLATION

"If those who desire material enjoyment or merging into the existence of the Absolute Truth engage in the Lord’s transcendental loving service, they will immediately attain shelter at Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, although they did not ask for it. Kṛṣṇa is therefore very merciful.

Madhya22.38

TEXT 38

kṛṣṇa kahe,--’āmā bhaje, māge viṣaya-sukha

amṛta chāḍi’ viṣa māge,--ei baḍa mūrkha

SYNONYMS

kṛṣṇa kahe—Kṛṣṇa says; āmā bhaje—he worships Me; māge—but requests; viṣaya-sukha—material happiness; amṛta chāḍi’-giving up the nectar; viṣa māge—he begs for poison; ei baḍa mūrkha—he is a great fool.

TRANSLATION

"Kṛṣṇa says, ’If one engages in My transcendental loving service but at the same time wants the opulence of material enjoyment, he is very, very foolish. Indeed, he is just like a person who gives up ambrosia to drink poison.

Madhya22.39

TEXT 39

āmi--vijña, ei mūrkhe ’viṣaya’ kene diba?

sva-caraṇāmṛta diyā ’viṣaya’ bhulāiba

SYNONYMS

āmi—I; vijña—all-intelligent; ei mūrkhe—unto this foolish person; viṣaya—material enjoyment; kene diba—why should I give; sva-caraṇa-amṛta—the nectar of shelter at My lotus feet; diyā—giving; viṣaya—the idea of material enjoyment; bhulāiba—I shall make him forget.

TRANSLATION

" ’Since I am very intelligent, why should I give this fool material prosperity? Instead I shall induce him to take the nectar of the shelter of My lotus feet and make him forget illusory material enjoyment.’

PURPORT

Those who are interested in material enjoyment are known as bhukti. One who is interested in merging into the effulgence of Brahman or perfecting the mystic yoga system is not a devotee at all. Devotees do not have such desires. However, if a karmī, jñānī or yogī somehow contacts a devotee and renders devotional service, Kṛṣṇa immediately awards him love of God and gives him shelter at His lotus feet, although he may have no idea how to develop love of Kṛṣṇa. If a person wants material profit from devotional service, Kṛṣṇa condemns such materialistic desires. To desire material opulence while engaging in devotional service is foolish. Although the person may be foolish, Kṛṣṇa, being all-intelligent, engages him in His devotional service in such a way that he gradually forgets material opulence. The point is that we should not try to exchange loving service for material prosperity. If we are actually surrendered to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, our only desire should be to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. That is pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Surrender does not mean that we demand something from the Lord but that we completely depend on His mercy.

Madhya22.40

TEXT 40

satyaṁ diśaty arthitam arthito nṛṇāṁ

naivārthado yat punar arthitā yataḥ

svayaṁ vidhatte bhajatām anicchatām

icchā-pidhānaṁ nija-pāda-pallavam

SYNONYMS

satyam—it is true; diśati—He awards; arthitam—that which is desired; arthitaḥ—being requested; nṛṇām—by human beings; na—not; eva—certainly; artha-daḥ—giving desired things; yat—which; punaḥ—again; arthitā—request; yataḥ—from which; svayam—Himself; vidhatte—He gives; bhajatām—of those engaged in devotional service; anicchatām—even though not desiring; icchā-pidhānam—covering all other desires; nija-pāda-pallavam—the shelter of His own lotus feet.

TRANSLATION

" ’Whenever Kṛṣṇa is requested to fulfill one’s desire, He undoubtedly does so, but He does not award anything which, after being enjoyed, will cause someone to petition Him again and again to fulfill further desires. When one has other desires but engages in the Lord’s service, Kṛṣṇa forcibly gives one shelter at His lotus feet, where one will forget all other desires.’

PURPORT

Madhya22.41

TEXT 41

kāma lāgi’ kṛṣṇe bhaje, pāya kṛṣṇa-rase

kāma chāḍi’ ’dāsa’ haite haya abhilāṣe

SYNONYMS

kāma lāgi’—for fulfillment of one’s material desires; kṛṣṇe bhaje—one engages in the transcendental service of Lord Kṛṣṇa; pāya—he gets; kṛṣṇa-rase—a taste of the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa; kāma chāḍi’-giving up all desires for material enjoyment; dāsa haite—to be an eternal servant of the Lord; haya—there is; abhilāṣe—aspiration.

TRANSLATION

"When someone engages in Lord Kṛṣṇa’s devotional service for the satisfaction of the senses and instead acquires a taste to serve Kṛṣṇa, he gives up his material desires and willingly offers himself as an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa.

Madhya22.42

TEXT 42

sthānābhilāṣī tapasi sthito ’haṁ

tvāṁ prāptavān deva-munīndra-guhyam

kācaṁ vicinvann api divya-ratnaṁ

svāmin kṛtārtho ’smi varaṁ na yāce

SYNONYMS

sthāna-abhilāṣī—desiring a very high position in the material world; tapasi—in severe austerities and penances; sthitaḥ—situated; aham—I; tvām—You; prāptavān—have obtained; deva-muni-indra-guhyam—difficult to achieve even for great demigods, saintly persons and kings; kācam—a piece of glass; vicinvan—searching for; api—although; divya-ratnam—a transcendental gem; svāmin—O my Lord; kṛta-arthaḥ asmi—I am fully satisfied; varam—any benediction; na yāce—I do not ask.

TRANSLATION

[When he was being benedicted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Dhruva Mahārāja said] " ’O my Lord, because I was seeking an opulent material position, I was performing severe types of penance and austerity. Now I have gotten You, who are very difficult for the great demigods, saintly persons and kings to attain. I was searching after a piece of glass, but instead I have found a most valuable jewel. Therefore I am so satisfied that I do not wish to ask any benediction from You.’

PURPORT

This verse is from the Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya (7.28).

Madhya22.43

TEXT 43

saṁsāra bhramite kona bhāgye keha tare

nadīra pravāhe yena kāṣṭha lāge tīre

SYNONYMS

saṁsāra bhramite—wandering throughout the universe; kona bhāgye—by some good fortune; keha tare—someone crosses the ocean of nescience; nadīra pravāhe—in the flow of the river; yena—just as; kāṣṭha—wood; lāge—sticks; tīre—on the bank.

TRANSLATION

"There are unlimited conditioned souls who are bereft of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s service. Not knowing how to cross the ocean of nescience, they are scattered by waves, time and tide. However, some are fortunate to contact devotees, and by this contact they are deIivered from the ocean of nescience, just as a log, floating down a river, accidentally washes upon the bank.

Madhya22.44

TEXT 44

maivaṁ mamādhamasyāpi

syād evācyuta-darśanam

hriyamāṇaḥ kāla-nadyā

kvacit tarati kaścana

SYNONYMS

mā—not; evam—thus; mama—of me; adhamasya—who is the most fallen; api—although; syāt—there may be; eva—certainly; acyuta-darśanam—seeing of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; hriyamāṇaḥ—being carried; kāla-nadyā—by the stream of time; kvacit—sometimes; tarati—crosses over; kaścana—someone.

TRANSLATION

“Because I am so fallen, I shall never get a chance to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” This was my false apprehension. Rather, by chance a person as fallen as I am may get to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although one is being carried away by the waves of the river of time, one may eventually reach the shore.’

PURPORT

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.38.5).

Madhya22.45

TEXT 45

kona bhāgye kāro saṁsāra kṣayonmukha haya

sādhu-saṅge tabe kṛṣṇe rati upajaya

SYNONYMS

kona bhāgye—by fortune; kāro—of someone; saṁsāra—conditioned life; kṣaya-unmukha—on the point of destruction; haya—is; sādhu-saṅge—by association with devotees; tabe—then; kṛṣṇe—to Lord Kṛṣṇa; rati—attraction; upa-jaya—awakens.

TRANSLATION

"By good fortune, one becomes eligible to cross the ocean of nescience, and when one’s term of material existence decreases, one may get an opportunity to associate with pure devotees. By such association, one’s attraction to Kṛṣṇa is awakened.

PURPORT

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura explains this point. Is this bhāgya (fortune) the result of an accident or something else? In the scriptures, devotional service and pious activity are considered fortunate. Pious activities can be divided into three categories-pious activities that awaken one’s dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness are called bhakty-unmukhī sukṛti. Pious activities that bestow material opulence are called bhogonmukhī, and pious activities that enable the living entity to merge into the existence of the Supreme are called mokṣonmukhī. These last two awards of pious activity are not actually fortunate. Pious activities are fortunate when they help one become Kṛṣṇa conscious. The good fortune of bhakty-unmukhī is attainable only when one comes in contact with a devotee. By associating with a devotee willingly or unwillingly, one advances in devotional service, and thus one’s dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness is awakened.

Madhya22.46

TEXT 46

bhavāpavargo bhramato yadā bhavej

janasya tarhy acyuta sat-samāgamaḥ

sat-saṅgamo yarhi tadaiva sad-gatau

parāvareśe tvayi jāyate ratiḥ

SYNONYMS

bhava-apavargaḥ—liberation from the nescience of material existence; bhramataḥ—wandering; yadā—when; bhavet—should be; janasya—of a person; tarhi—at that time; acyuta—O Supreme Personality of Godhead; sat-samāgamaḥ—association with devotees; sat-saṅgamaḥ—association with devotees; yarhi—when; tadā—at that time; eva—only; sat-gatau—the highest goal of life; parāvareśe—the Lord of the universe; tvayi—to You; jāyate—appears; ratiḥ—attraction.

TRANSLATION

" ’O my Lord! O infallible Supreme Person! When a person wandering throughout the universes becomes eligible for liberation from material existence, he gets an opportunity to associate with devotees. When he associates with devotees, his attraction for You is awakened. You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the highest goal of the supreme devotees and the Lord of the universe.’

PURPORT

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.51.53).

Madhya22.47

TEXT 47

kṛṣṇa yadi kṛpā kare kona bhāgyavāne

guru-antaryāmi-rūpe śikhāya āpane

SYNONYMS

kṛṣṇa—Lord Kṛṣṇa; yadi—if; kṛpā kare—shows His mercy; kona bhāgyavāne—to some fortunate person; guru—of the spiritual master; antaryāmi—of the Supersoul; rūpe—in the form; śikhāya—teaches; āpane—personally.

TRANSLATION

"Kṛṣṇa is situated in everyone’s heart as caitya-guru, the spiritual master within. When He is kind to some fortunate conditioned soul, He personally gives one lessons to progress in devotional service, instructing the person as the Supersoul within and the spiritual master without.

Madhya22.48

TEXT 48

naivopayanty apacitiṁ kavayas taveśa

brahmāyuṣāpi kṛtam ṛddha-mudaḥ smarantaḥ

yo ’ntar bahis tanu-bhṛtām aśubhaṁ vidhunvann

ācārya-caittya-vapuṣā sva-gatiṁ vyanakti

SYNONYMS

na eva—not at all; upayanti—are able to express; apacitim—their gratitude; kavayaḥ—learned devotees; tava—Your; īśa—O Lord; brahma-āyuṣā—with a lifetime equal to Lord Brahmā’s; api—in spite of; kṛtam—magnanimous work; ṛddha—increased; mudaḥ—joy; smarantaḥ—remembering; yaḥ—who; antaḥ—within; bahiḥ—outside; tanu-bhṛtām—of those who are embodied; aśubham—misfortune; vidhunvan—dissipating; ācārya—of the spiritual master; caittya—of the Supersoul; vapuṣā—by the forms; sva—own; gatim—path; vyanakti—shows.

TRANSLATION

" ’O my Lord! Transcendental poets and experts in spiritual science could not fully express their indebtedness to You, even if they were endowed with the prolonged lifetime of Brahmā, for You appear in two features-externally as the ācārya and internally as the Supersoul-to deliver the embodied living being by directing him how to come to You.’

PURPORT

This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.29.6). It was spoken by Uddhava after he had been instructed in yoga by Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Madhya22.49

TEXT 49

sādhu-saṅge kṛṣṇa-bhaktye śraddhā yadi haya

bhakti-phala ’prema’ haya, saṁsāra yāya kṣaya

SYNONYMS

sādhu-saṅge—by the association of devotees; kṛṣṇa-bhaktye—in discharging devotional service to Kṛṣṇa; śraddhā—faith; yadi—if; haya—there is; bhakti-phala—the result of devotional service to Kṛṣṇa; prema—love of Godhead; haya—awakens; saṁsāra—the conditioned life in material existence; yāya kṣaya—becomes vanquished.

TRANSLATION

"By associating with a devotee, one awakens his faith in devotional service to Kṛṣṇa. Because of devotional service, one’s dormant love for Kṛṣṇa awakens, and thus one’s material, conditional existence comes to an end.

Madhya22.50

TEXT 50

yadṛcchayā mat-kathādau

jāta-śraddhas tu yaḥ pumān

na nirviṇṇo nātisakto

bhakti-yogo ’sya siddhidaḥ

SYNONYMS

yadṛcchayā—by some good fortune; mat-kathā-ādau—in talk about Me; jāta-śraddhaḥ—has awakened his attraction; tu—but; yaḥ pumān—a person who; na nirviṇṇaḥ—not falsely detached; na atisaktaḥ—not attached to material existence; bhakti-yogaḥ—the process of devotional service; asya—for such a person; siddhi-daḥ—bestowing perfection.

TRANSLATION

" ’Somehow or other, if one is attracted to talks about Me and has faith in the instructions I have set forth in Bhagavad-gītā, and if one is actually detached from material things and material existence, his dormant love for Me will be awakened by devotional service.’

PURPORT

This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.20.8) was spoken by Kṛṣṇa at the time of His departure from this material world. It was spoken to Uddhava.

Madhya22.51

TEXT 51

mahat-kṛpā vinā kona karme ’bhakti’ naya

kṛṣṇa-bhakti dūre rahu, saṁsāra nahe kṣaya

SYNONYMS

mahat-kṛpā—the mercy of great devotees; vinā—without; kona karme—by some other activity; bhakti naya—there is not devotional service; kṛṣṇa-bhakti—love of Kṛṣṇa or devotional service to Kṛṣṇa; dūre rahu—leaving aside; saṁsāra—the bondage of material existence; nahe—there is not; kṣaya—destruction.

TRANSLATION

"Unless one is favored by a pure devotee, he cannot attain the platform of devotional service. To say nothing of kṛṣṇa-bhakti, one cannot even be relieved from the bondage of material existence.

PURPORT

Pious activities bring about material opulence, but one cannot acquire devotional service by any amount of material pious activity, not by giving charity, opening big hospitals and schools or working philanthropically. Devotional service can be attained only by the mercy of a pure devotee. Without a pure devotee’s mercy, one cannot even escape the bondage of material existence. The word mahat in this verse means “a pure devotee.” As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā:

mahātmānas tu māṁ pārtha
daivīṁ prakṛtim āśritāḥ
bhajanty ananya-manaso
jñātvā bhūtādim avyayam

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