19.148
koti-jnani-madhye haya eka-jana ’mukta’
koti-mukta-madhye ’durlabha’ eka krsna-bhakta
SYNONYMS
koti-jnani-madhye—out of many millions of such wise men; haya—there is; eka-jana—one person; mukta—actually liberated; koti-mukta-madhye—out of many millions of such liberated persons; durlabha—very rare; eka—one; krsna-bhakta—pure devotee of Lord Krsna "Out of many millions of such wise men, one may actually become liberated (mukta), and out of many millions of such liberated persons, a pure devotee of Lord Krsna is very difficult to find.
PURPORT
In Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said that due to their poor fund of knowledge, the jnanis are not actually liberated.
They simply think that they are liberated.
The perfection of knowledge culminates when one comes to the platform of knowing the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate.
The Absolute Truth (satya-vastu) is described as Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan.
Knowledge of impersonal Brahman and the Supersoul is imperfect until one comes to the platform of knowing the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
It is therefore clearly said in this verse: koti-mukta-madhye ’durlabha’ eka krsna-bhakta.
Those who search after the knowledge of impersonal Brahman or localized Paramatma are certainly accepted as liberated, but due to their imperfect knowledge they are described in Srimad-Bhagavatam as vimukta-maninah.
Since their knowledge is imperfect, their conception of liberation is imperfect.
Perfect knowledge is possible when one knows the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
This is supported in Bhagavad-gita (5.29):
bhoktaram yajna-tapasam
sarva-loka-mahesvaram
suhrdam sarva-bhutanam
jnatva mam santim rcchati “The sages, knowing Me as the ultimate purpose of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attain peace from the pangs of material miseries.” Research is going on for the karmis, jnanis and yogis, but until the search is complete, no one can attain peace.
Therefore Bhagavad-gita says, jnatva mam santim rcchati: one can actually attain peace when he knows Krsna.
This is described in the next verse.