brahmÄnanda haite pÅ«rṇÄnanda lÄ«lÄ-rasa
brahma-jñÄnÄ« Äkará¹£iyÄ kare Ätma-vaÅ›a

 brahma-Änanda - the pleasure of self-realization; haite - from; pÅ«rṇa-Änanda - complete pleasure; lÄ«lÄ-rasa - the mellows of the pastimes of the Lord; brahma-jñÄnÄ« - those who are on the platform of Brahman understanding; Äkará¹£iyÄ - attracting; kare - make; Ätma-vaÅ›a - subordinate to Kṛṣṇa.


Text

“The mellows of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, which are full of bliss, attract the jñÄnÄ« from the pleasure of Brahman realization and conquer him.

Purport

When one understands that he belongs not to the material world but to the spiritual world, one is called liberated. Being situated in the spiritual world is certainly pleasurable, but those who realize the transcendental name, form, qualities and pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa enjoy transcendental bliss many times more than one who has simply realized the self. When one is situated on the platform of self-realization, he can certainly be easily attracted by Kṛṣṇa and become a servant of the Lord. This is explained in the Bhagavad-gÄ«tÄ (18.54):

brahma-bhÅ«taḥ prasannÄtmÄ na Å›ocati na kÄá¹…ká¹£ati
samaḥ sarveá¹£u bhÅ«teá¹£u mad-bhaktiá¹ labhate parÄm

“One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments or desires to have anything. He is equally disposed to every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me.â€

When one becomes spiritually realized (brahma-bhÅ«ta), he becomes happy (prasannÄtmÄ), for he is relieved from material conceptions. One who has attained this platform is not agitated by material action and reaction. He sees everyone on the platform of spirit soul (paṇá¸itÄḥ sama-darÅ›inaḥ). When one is completely realized, he can rise to the platform of pure devotional service (mad-bhaktiá¹ labhate parÄm). When one comes to the platform of bhakti, devotional service, he automatically realizes who Kṛṣṇa is. As the Lord says in the Bhagavad-gÄ«tÄ (18.55):

bhaktyÄ mÄm abhijÄnÄti yÄvÄn yaÅ› cÄsmi tattvataḥ
tato mÄá¹ tattvato jñÄtvÄ viÅ›ate tad-anantaram

“One can understand Me as I am, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of Me by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God.â€

It is only on the bhakti platform that one can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead Kṛṣṇa and His transcendental name, form, qualities, pastimes and entourage. Being thus qualified spiritually, one is allowed to enter the spiritual kingdom of God and return home, back to Godhead (viśate tad-anantaram).