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are called devotees. The Supreme Lord becomes the devotee of His devotees. If a reciprocal relationship is not
present between the devotee and the Lord, then there is no personalist philosophy. In the impersonal philosophy
there is no reciprocation between the Supreme and the living entity, but in the personalist philosophy there is.

The example is often given that the Lord is like a desire tree, and whatever one wants from this desire tree, the
Lord supplies. But here the explanation is more complete. The Lord is here stated to be partial to the devotees.
This is the manifestation of the Lord’s special mercy to the devotees. The Lord’s reciprocation should not be
considered to be under the law of karma. It belongs to the transcendental situation in which the Lord and His
devotees function. Devotional service to the Lord is not an activity of this material world; it is part of the spiritual
world, where eternity, bliss and knowledge predominate. (Bg 9.29 purport)

Relationships among mundane persons are always subject to the laws of karma which are without mercy.
Relationship with the Lord is not subject to the laws of karma. It is transcendental and full of mercy and love.
This is what people really want. But due to enviousness and ignorance of the Lord, they avoid the Lord’s mercy
and flounder in the material world of birth and death aimlessly.

It is impossible to equal or surpass the Lord because of His infinite powers that are not conceivable for mundane
persons preoccupied by eating, sleeping, mating and defending. They have no clue about the transcendental
reciprocal relationships possible with Lord Krishna. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada reveals in the purport
above that for the sincere devotees who dedicate their lives, thoughts and actions for the service of Krishna, He
becomes the devotee of His devotees. This is confidential knowledge of the possibilities that become reality
when one follows the instructions of Krishna and the bona fide spiritual masters. Eventually the devotee attains
pure love for the Lord. The Lord who is unconquerable becomes conquered by the pure love of His devotee.
This pure love is exchanged partially through neutrality, and specifically by servitorship, friendship, parental and
conjugal relationships with Lord Krishna.

The conception of oneness of the mayavadis (impersonalists who insist there is nothing beyond the impersonal
effulgence called the Brahmajyoti), is an inferior type of neutrality. The impersanalists offensively deny the
personality of Godhead and prefer to merge in the homogeneous oneness of the spiritual light emnanating from
the body of the Lord. Such inferior neutrality eventually becomes tedious and they fall down again to the
material world.

There is a much higher relationship of neutrality in the spiritual world (Goloka Vrindabana) where every blade
of grass and other eternal living enitites like the flowers, trees etc., are patiently waiting for Lord Krishna to
touch them with His lotus feet or hands, smell them or in some other way they may passively serve the Lord. If
the love for the Lord increases then the devotees in neutrality may progress to proactively serving the Lord as a
servant, friend, parent or conjugal lover. Progression in love for Krishna is dynamic in the spiritual world where
everything is in the fourth dimension.

The impersonalists (mayavadis) artificially limit their progress by the misconception that there is nothing beyond
the impersonal effulgence. They deny the existence of Lord Krishna’s personal, transcendental body and the
eternal Vaikuntha and Goloka Vrindabana abodes where innumerable pure devotees engage in loving pastimes
with the Lord.

Lord Krishna is unlimitedly affectionate to devotees who serve Him with a bond of uninterrupted love and
devotion. In Srimad-Bhagavatam (9.4.68) the Lord emphatically says:

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