Parikramä‑khaëòa
32
Brahman is utterly condemned, for it is annihilation of the self. By this liberation you will lose material enjoyment, and nothing good is gained. Just consider that aspect of liberation. “‘The wiseman does not accept the path of material enjoyment or liberation, bhukti or mukti , but rather engages in devotional service to Çré Kåñëa. That person is free from the attraction to material enjoyment and completely attracted to serving the lotus feet of Kåñëa. “‘The process of bhakti may be divided into three parts: sambandha , abhidheya , and prayojana . The living entity is the servant of Kåñëa, therefore without performing devotional service, everything is lost. The tree of bhakti , however, bears fruit in the form of love of God. That fruit is the necessity, or ultimate goal, and eternal treasure of all living entities. Bhukti and mukti are insignificant in comparison. “‘Kåñëa is the sun, full of knowledge and bliss. Mäyä is His shadow, or perverted reflection. The living entity is an infinitesimal particle of Kåñëa’s effulgence. Because of his marginal nature ( tatastha ), when the living entity contacts mäyä , then mäyä captures and binds him. When one goes away from Kåñëa, he can only go towards mäyä . By mäyä’s contact, the living entity becomes attached to fruitive activities. In mäyä’s net, one suffers while wandering throughout the universe. Karma and jïäna promise relief from the suffering and deliverance from this world, but they are unable to give it. “‘Sometimes one takes to the regulative activities of the Vedas for material gain, sometimes one takes to the eightfold path of yoga, sometimes one takes to discussion on knowledge of Brahman, and sometimes one takes to logic and argument. But ultimately there is no success, for one does not consider the treasure held within his own soul, the actual nature of his soul. “‘While wandering from body to body, if he happens to meet a pure devotee, he will receive real çraddhä , pure faith. By association with the devotees, he will eventually take to the worship of Kåñëa and then give up all unwanted habits ( anarthas ). Then he becomes firmly fixed ( niñöhä ) in devotional service. As one continues to engage in devotional service, he develops taste ( ruci ). Gradually this taste leads to attachment ( äsakti ). This turns
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