This is explained by Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu, that the characteristic of individual living entity is to remain eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa, jīvera svarūpa haya nitya kṛṣṇa dāsa (CC Madhya 20.108-109). Kṛṣṇa dāsa. We do not become Kṛṣṇa. This is a false theory. We never become Kṛṣṇa. We cannot become even equal to Kṛṣṇa. Asamaurdhva. In the Bhagavad-gītā it is stated that God is not only great, but nobody is equal to Him. Asama. Asama means not equal. Everybody is below. Eko bahūnāṁ yo vidadhāti kāmām. That is the statement in the Kaṭha Upaniṣad:
- nityo nityānāṁ cetanaś cetanānām
- eka yo bahūnāṁ vidadhāti kāmān
- (Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.2.13)
This is the distinction between God and others. He's also living entity, just . . . Kṛṣṇa comes just like ordinary human being, and He works also with us, but that does not mean that Kṛṣṇa is like us. No. That is a mistake.
That is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā: avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritāḥ, paraṁ bhāvam ajānantaḥ (BG 9.11). This is stated, that "Those who are mūḍhas"—mūḍha means rascal or asses—"they think that I am also equal to them or they're equal to Me." Avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā. They deride. They think, "Kṛṣṇa is as good as I am." This term . . . thinking like this is meant for the asses, mūḍha. Muḍḥa means asses, who has no knowledge. Avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritāḥ, paraṁ bhāvam ajānantaḥ. "He does not know what is the background of My existence, personality." That is known by the devotees.
So this is the statement of Bhagavad-gītā, and we should try to understand this verse very nicely. Kṛṣṇa says: "I existed." That means Kṛṣṇa existed as the Supreme Lord, not like us. Similarly, we existed also in the past as His servants. That is the explanation of this verse. Because we are eternal servant of God, and that service attitude, being misplaced, we have divided our service spirit in so many ways. Everyone is trying to render service. Big, big leaders, they also want to give some service.
So this is our service attitude. It is our eternal attitude. It cannot be changed. Just like faith. Today I am Muslim; tomorrow I may become Hindu. Today I am Christian; tomorrow I may become Muslim. The faith can be changed, but my character is still that I am servant. That cannot be changed. It does not mean . . . suppose you are working in office. Now today you are Hindu or tomorrow you become Muslim. Does it mean in the office you be . . . become master? No. The service is there. Either you change your faith or don't change your faith, your characteristic to serve will continue. That is the reality. That is sanātana. Sanātana means eternal. Try to understand.