BHAKTI-devotional service
.TX 17
``Devotional service to Krishna is the chief function of the living entity. There are different methods for the liberation of the conditioned soul--karma, jnana, yoga and bhakti--but all are dependent on bhakti.
.TX 18
``But for devotional service, all other methods for spiritual self-realization are weak and insignificant. Unless one comes to the devotional service of Lord Krishna, jnana and yoga cannot give the desired results. In Vedic scriptures, stress is sometimes given to fruitive activity, speculative knowledge and the mystic yoga system. Although people are inclined to practice these processes, they cannot attain the desired results without being touched by krsna-bhakti, devotional service. in other words, the real desired result is to invoke dormant love for Krishna. Shrimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.6) states:
sa vai pumsam paro dharmo
yato bhaktir adhokshaje
ahaituky apratihata
yayatma suprasidati
Karma, jnana and yoga cannot actually awaken love of Godhead. One has to take to the Lord's devotional service, and the more one is inclined to devotional service, the more he loses interest in other so-called achievements. Dhruva Maharaja went to practice mystic yoga to see the Lord personally face to face, but when he developed an interest in devotional service, he saw that he was not being benefited by karma, jnana and yoga.
.TX 19
`` `When pure knowledge is beyond alI material affinity but is not dedicated to the Supreme PersonaIity of Godhead [Krishna], it does not appear very beautiful, although it is knowledge without a material tinge. What, then, is the use of fruitive activities--which are naturally painful from the beginning and transient by nature--if they are not utilized for the devotional service of the
Lord? How can they be very attractive?'
This is a quotation from Shrimad-Bhagavatam (1.5.12). Even after writing many Vedic literatures, Vyasadeva felt very morose. Therefore his spiritual master, Naradadeva, told him that he could be happy by writing about the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Up to that time, Shrila Vyasadeva had written the karma-kanda and jnana-kanda sections of the Vedas, but he had not written about upasana-kanda, or bhakti. Thus his spiritual master, Narada, chastised him and advised him to write about the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore Vyasadeva began writing Shrimad-Bhagavatam.
.TX 20
`` `Those who perform severe austerities and penances, those who give away all their possessions out of charity, those who are very famous for their auspicious activity, those who are engaged in meditation and mental speculation, and even those who are very expert in reciting the Vedic mantras, are not able to obtain any auspicious results, although they are engaged in auspicious activities, if they do not dedicate their activities to the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I therefore repeatedly offer my respecfful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose glories are always auspicious.,
This is also a quotation from Shrimad-Bhagavatam (2.4.17).
.TX 21
``Speculative knowledge alone, without devotionaI service, is not able to give liberation. On the other hand, even without knowledge one can obtain liberation if one engages in the Lord's devotional service.
One cannot attain liberation simply by speculative knowledge. Even though one may be able to distinguish between Brahman and matter, one's liberation will be hampered if one is misled into thinking that the living entity is as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. indeed, one falls down again onto the material platform because considering oneself the Supreme Person, the Supreme Absolute Truth, is offensive. When such a person comes in contact with a pure devotee, he can actually become liberated from material bondage and engage in the Lord's service. A prayer by Bilvamangala Thakura is relevant here:
bhaktis tvayi sthiratara bhagavan yadi syad
daivena nah phalati divya-kishora-murtih
muktih svayam mukulitanjalih sevate'sman
dharmartha-kama-gata yah sama ya-pratiksah
``O my Lord, if one engages in Your pure devotional service with determination, You become visible in Your original transcendental youthful form as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As far as liberation is concerned, she stands before the devotee with folded hands waiting to render service. Religion, economic development and sense gratification are all automatically attained without separate
endeavor.''
.TX 22
`` `My dear Lord, devotionaI service unto You is the only auspicious path. If one gives it up simply for speculative knowledge or the understanding that these living beings are spirit souls and the material world is false, he undergoes a great deal of trouble. He only gains troublesome and inauspicious activities. His endeavors are like beating a husk that is aIready devoid of rice. One's labor becomes fruitless.'
This is a verse from Shrimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.4).
.TX 23
`` `This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.'
This is a quotation from Bhagavad-gita (7.14).
.TX 24
``The living entity is bound around the neck by the chain of maya because he has forgotten that he is eternally a servant of Krishna.
.TX 25
``If the conditioned soul engages in the service of the Lord and simultaneously carries out the orders of his spiritual master and serves him, he can get out of the clutches of maya and become eligible for sheIter at Krishna's lotus feet.
It is a fact that every living entity is eternally a servant of Krishna. This is forgotten due to the influence of maya, which induces one to believe in material happiness. Being illusioned by maya, one thinks that material happiness is the only desirable object. This material consciousness is like a chain around the neck of the conditioned soul. As long as he is bound to that conception, he cannot get out of maya's clutches. However, if by Krishna's mercy he gets in touch with a bona fide spiritual master, abides by his order and serves him, engaging other conditioned souls in the Lord's service, he then attains liberation and Lord Shri Krishna's shelter.
.TX 33
``One is immediateIy freed from the clutches of maya if he seriousIy and sincerely says, `My dear Lord Krishna, although I have forgotten You for so many long years in the material world, today I am surrendering unto You. I am Your sincere and serious servant. Please engage me in Your service.'
.TX 34
`` `It is My vow that if one only once seriously surrenders unto Me, saying, ``My dear Lord, from this day I am Yours,'' and prays to Me for courage, I shaII immediately award courage to that person, and he will always remain safe from that time on.'
This is a quotation from the Ramayana.
.TX 35
``Due to bad association, the living entity desires material happiness, liberation or merging into the impersonal aspect of the Lord, or he engages in mystic yoga for material power. If such a person actually becomes intelligent, he takes to Krishna consciousness by engaging himself in intense devotional service to Lord Shri Krishna.
.TX 36
`` `Whether one desires everything or nothing, or whether he desires to merge into the existence of the Lord, he is intelligent only if he worships Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by rendering transcendental Ioving service.'
This is a verse from Shrimad-Bhagavatam (2.3.10).
.TX 37
``If those who desire material enjoyment or merging into the existence of the Absolute Truth engage in the Lord's transcendental loving service, they will immediately attaln shelter at Krishna's lotus feet, although they did not ask for it. Krishna is therefore very merciful.
.TX 38
``Krishna says, `If one engages in My transcendental loving service but at the same time wants the opulence of material enjoyment, he is very, very fooIish. Indeed, he is just like a person who gives up ambrosia to drink poison.
.TX 39
`` `Since I am very intelligent, why should I give this fool material prosperity? Instead I shall induce him to take the nectar of the shelter of My lotus feet and make him forget illusory material enjoyment.'
Those who are interested in material enjoyment are known as bhukti. One who is interested in merging into the effulgence of Brahman or perfecting the mystic yoga system is not a devotee at all. Devotees do not have such desires. However, if a karmi, jnani or yogi somehow contacts a devotee and renders devotional service, Krishna immediately awards him love of God and gives him shelter at His lotus feet, although he may have no idea how to develop love of Krishna. If a person
wants material profit from devotional service, Krishna condemns such materialistic desires. To desire material opulence while engaging in devotional service is foolish. Although the person may be foolish, Krishna, being all-intelligent, engages him in His devotional service in such a way that he gradually forgets material opulence. The point is that we should not try to exchange loving service for material prosperity. If we are actually surrendered to the lotus feet of Krishna, our only desire should be to satisfy Krishna. That is pure Krishna consciousness. Surrender does not mean that we demand something from the Lord but that we completely depend
on His mercy.
.TX 40
`` `Whenever Krishna is requested to fulfill one's desire, He undoubtedly does so, but He does not award anything which, after being enjoyed, wiIl cause someone to petition Him again and again to fulfill further desires. When one has other desires but engages in the Lord's service, Krishna forcibly gives one shelter at His lotus feet, where one will forget all other desires.,
This is a quotation from Shrimad-Bhagavatam (5.19.26).
.TX 41
``When someone engages in Lord Krishna's devotional service for the satisfaction of the senses and instead acquires a taste to serve Krishna, he gives up his
material desires and willingly offers himself as an eternal servant of Krishna.
.TX 42
[When he was being benedicted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Dhruva Maharaja said] `` `O my Lord, because I was seeking an opulent material position, I was performing severe types of penance and austerity. Now I have gotten You, who are very difficult for the great demigods, saintly persons and kings to attain. I was searching after a piece of glass, but instead I have found a most valuable jewel. Therefore I am so satisfied that I do not wish to ask any benediction from You.'
This verse is from the Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya (7.28).
.TX 43
``There are unlimited conditioned souls who are bereft of Lord Krishna's service. Not knowing how to cross the ocean of nescience, they are scattered by waves, time and tide. However, some are fortunate to contact devotees, and by this contact they are deIivered from the ocean of nescience, just as a log, floating down a river, accidentalIy washes upon the bank.
.TX 45
``By good fortune, one becomes eligible to cross the ocean of nescience, and when one's term of material existence decreases, one may get an opportunity to associate with pure devotees. By such association, one's attraction to Krishna is awakened.
Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura explains this point. Is this bhagya (fortune) the result of an accident or something else? In the scriptures, devotional service and pious activity are considered fortunate. Pious activities can be divided into three categories--pious activities that awaken one's dormant Krishna consciousness are called bhakty-unmukhi sukriti. Pious activities that bestow material opulence are called bhogonmukhi, and pious activities that enable the living entity to merge into the existence of the Supreme are called mokshonmukhi. These last two awards of pious activity are not actually fortunate. Pious activities are fortunate when they help one become Krishna conscious. The good fortune of bhakty-un- mukhi is attainable only when one comes in contact with a devotee. By associating with a devotee willingly or unwillingly, one advances in devotional service, and thus one's dormant Krishna consciousness is awakened.
.TX 51
``Unless one is favored by a pure devotee, he cannot attain the plafform of devotional service. To say nothing of krishna-bhakti, one cannot even be relieved from the bondage of material existence.
Pious activities bring about material opulence, but one cannot acquire devotional service by any amount of material pious activity, not by giving charity, opening big hospitals and schools or working philanthropically. Devotional service can be attained only by the mercy of a pure devotee. Without a pure devotee's mercy, one cannot even escape the bondage of material existence. The word mahat in this verse means ``a pure devotee.'' As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita-:
mahatmanas tu mam partha
daivim prakritim ashritah
bhajanty ananya-manaso
jnatva bhutadim avyayam
``O son of Pritha, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible.'' (Bg. 9.13)
One also has to associate with such a mahatma who has accepted Krishna as the supreme source of the entire creation. Without being a mahatma, one cannot understand Krishna's absolute position. A mahatma is rare and transcendental, and he is a pure devotee of Lord Krishna. Foolish people consider Krishna a human being, and they consider Lord Krishna's pure devotee an ordinary human being also. Whatever one may be, one must take shelter at the lotus feet of a devotee mahatma and treat him as the most exalted well-wisher of all human society. We should take shelter of such a mahatma and ask for his causeless mercy. Only by his benediction can one be relieved from attachment to a materialistic way of life. When one is thus relieved, he can engage in the Lord's transcendental loving service through the mercy of the mahatma.
.TX 52
`` `O King Rahugana, without taking upon one's head the dust from the lotus feet of a pure devotee [a mahajana or mahatma], one cannot attain devotional service. Devotional service is not possible to attain simply by undergoing severe austerities and penances, by gorgeously worshiping the Deity, or by strictly following the rules and regulations of the sannyasa or grihastha order, nor by studying the Vedas, submerging oneself in water, or exposing oneself to fire or scorching sunlight.'
This verse appears in Shrimad-Bhagavatam (5.12.12). Jada Bharata herein tells King Rahugana how he attained the paramahamsa stage. Maharaja Rahugana, the King of Sindhu-sauvira, had asked Jada Bharata how he had attained the paramahamsa stage. The King had called him to carry his palanquin, but when the King heard from paramahamsa Jada Bharata about the supreme philosophy, he expressed surprise and asked Jada Bharata how he had attained such great liberation. At that time Jada Bharata informed the King how to become detached from material attraction.
.TX 53
`` `Unless human society accepts the dust of the lotus feet of great mahatmas--devotees who have nothing to do with material possessions--mankind cannot turn its attention to the lotus feet of Krishna. Those lotus feet vanquish all the unwanted miserable conditions of material life.'
This verse appears in the Shrimad-Bhagavatam (7.5.32). When the great sage Narada was giving instructions to Maharaja Yudhishthira, he narrated the activities of Prahlada Maharaja. This verse was spoken by Prahlada Maharaja to his father, Hiranyakashipu, the king of demons. Prahlada Maharaja informed his father of the nine basic processes of bhakti-yoga. Whoever takes to these processes is to be considered a highly learned scholar. Hiranyakashipu, however, did not like his son to talk about devotional service; therefore he immediately called his teacher, Sandamarka. The teacher explained that he did not teach devotional service to Prahlada but that the boy was naturally inclined that way. At that time Hiranyakashipu became very angry and asked Prahlada why he had become a Vaishnava. In answer to this question, Prahlada Maharaja recited this verse to the effect that one cannot become the Lord's devotee without receiving the mercy and blessings of another devotee.
.TX 54
``The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that by even a moment's association with a pure devotee, one can attain all success.
According to astronomical calculations, lava is one eleventh of one second.
.TX 55
`` `The value of a moment's association with a devotee of the Lord cannot even be compared to the attainment of heavenly planets or liberation from matter, and what to speak of worldly benedictions in the form of material prosperity, which is for those who are meant for death.'
This is a quotation from Shrimad-Bhagavatam (1.18.13). This verse concerns the Vedic rites and sacrifices performed by the great sages of Naimisharanya, headed by Shaunaka Rishi. The sages pointed out that association with a devotee for even less than a second is beyond comparison to a thousand Vedic rituals and sacrifices, elevation to heavenly planets or merging into the existence of the Supreme.
``Devotional service to Krishna is the chief function of the living entity. There are different methods for the liberation of the conditioned soul--karma, jnana, yoga and bhakti--but all are dependent on bhakti.
.TX 18
``But for devotional service, all other methods for spiritual self-realization are weak and insignificant. Unless one comes to the devotional service of Lord Krishna, jnana and yoga cannot give the desired results. In Vedic scriptures, stress is sometimes given to fruitive activity, speculative knowledge and the mystic yoga system. Although people are inclined to practice these processes, they cannot attain the desired results without being touched by krsna-bhakti, devotional service. in other words, the real desired result is to invoke dormant love for Krishna. Shrimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.6) states:
sa vai pumsam paro dharmo
yato bhaktir adhokshaje
ahaituky apratihata
yayatma suprasidati
Karma, jnana and yoga cannot actually awaken love of Godhead. One has to take to the Lord's devotional service, and the more one is inclined to devotional service, the more he loses interest in other so-called achievements. Dhruva Maharaja went to practice mystic yoga to see the Lord personally face to face, but when he developed an interest in devotional service, he saw that he was not being benefited by karma, jnana and yoga.
.TX 19
`` `When pure knowledge is beyond alI material affinity but is not dedicated to the Supreme PersonaIity of Godhead [Krishna], it does not appear very beautiful, although it is knowledge without a material tinge. What, then, is the use of fruitive activities--which are naturally painful from the beginning and transient by nature--if they are not utilized for the devotional service of the
Lord? How can they be very attractive?'
This is a quotation from Shrimad-Bhagavatam (1.5.12). Even after writing many Vedic literatures, Vyasadeva felt very morose. Therefore his spiritual master, Naradadeva, told him that he could be happy by writing about the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Up to that time, Shrila Vyasadeva had written the karma-kanda and jnana-kanda sections of the Vedas, but he had not written about upasana-kanda, or bhakti. Thus his spiritual master, Narada, chastised him and advised him to write about the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore Vyasadeva began writing Shrimad-Bhagavatam.
.TX 20
`` `Those who perform severe austerities and penances, those who give away all their possessions out of charity, those who are very famous for their auspicious activity, those who are engaged in meditation and mental speculation, and even those who are very expert in reciting the Vedic mantras, are not able to obtain any auspicious results, although they are engaged in auspicious activities, if they do not dedicate their activities to the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I therefore repeatedly offer my respecfful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose glories are always auspicious.,
This is also a quotation from Shrimad-Bhagavatam (2.4.17).
.TX 21
``Speculative knowledge alone, without devotionaI service, is not able to give liberation. On the other hand, even without knowledge one can obtain liberation if one engages in the Lord's devotional service.
One cannot attain liberation simply by speculative knowledge. Even though one may be able to distinguish between Brahman and matter, one's liberation will be hampered if one is misled into thinking that the living entity is as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. indeed, one falls down again onto the material platform because considering oneself the Supreme Person, the Supreme Absolute Truth, is offensive. When such a person comes in contact with a pure devotee, he can actually become liberated from material bondage and engage in the Lord's service. A prayer by Bilvamangala Thakura is relevant here:
bhaktis tvayi sthiratara bhagavan yadi syad
daivena nah phalati divya-kishora-murtih
muktih svayam mukulitanjalih sevate'sman
dharmartha-kama-gata yah sama ya-pratiksah
``O my Lord, if one engages in Your pure devotional service with determination, You become visible in Your original transcendental youthful form as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As far as liberation is concerned, she stands before the devotee with folded hands waiting to render service. Religion, economic development and sense gratification are all automatically attained without separate
endeavor.''
.TX 22
`` `My dear Lord, devotionaI service unto You is the only auspicious path. If one gives it up simply for speculative knowledge or the understanding that these living beings are spirit souls and the material world is false, he undergoes a great deal of trouble. He only gains troublesome and inauspicious activities. His endeavors are like beating a husk that is aIready devoid of rice. One's labor becomes fruitless.'
This is a verse from Shrimad-Bhagavatam (10.14.4).
.TX 23
`` `This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.'
This is a quotation from Bhagavad-gita (7.14).
.TX 24
``The living entity is bound around the neck by the chain of maya because he has forgotten that he is eternally a servant of Krishna.
.TX 25
``If the conditioned soul engages in the service of the Lord and simultaneously carries out the orders of his spiritual master and serves him, he can get out of the clutches of maya and become eligible for sheIter at Krishna's lotus feet.
It is a fact that every living entity is eternally a servant of Krishna. This is forgotten due to the influence of maya, which induces one to believe in material happiness. Being illusioned by maya, one thinks that material happiness is the only desirable object. This material consciousness is like a chain around the neck of the conditioned soul. As long as he is bound to that conception, he cannot get out of maya's clutches. However, if by Krishna's mercy he gets in touch with a bona fide spiritual master, abides by his order and serves him, engaging other conditioned souls in the Lord's service, he then attains liberation and Lord Shri Krishna's shelter.
.TX 33
``One is immediateIy freed from the clutches of maya if he seriousIy and sincerely says, `My dear Lord Krishna, although I have forgotten You for so many long years in the material world, today I am surrendering unto You. I am Your sincere and serious servant. Please engage me in Your service.'
.TX 34
`` `It is My vow that if one only once seriously surrenders unto Me, saying, ``My dear Lord, from this day I am Yours,'' and prays to Me for courage, I shaII immediately award courage to that person, and he will always remain safe from that time on.'
This is a quotation from the Ramayana.
.TX 35
``Due to bad association, the living entity desires material happiness, liberation or merging into the impersonal aspect of the Lord, or he engages in mystic yoga for material power. If such a person actually becomes intelligent, he takes to Krishna consciousness by engaging himself in intense devotional service to Lord Shri Krishna.
.TX 36
`` `Whether one desires everything or nothing, or whether he desires to merge into the existence of the Lord, he is intelligent only if he worships Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by rendering transcendental Ioving service.'
This is a verse from Shrimad-Bhagavatam (2.3.10).
.TX 37
``If those who desire material enjoyment or merging into the existence of the Absolute Truth engage in the Lord's transcendental loving service, they will immediately attaln shelter at Krishna's lotus feet, although they did not ask for it. Krishna is therefore very merciful.
.TX 38
``Krishna says, `If one engages in My transcendental loving service but at the same time wants the opulence of material enjoyment, he is very, very fooIish. Indeed, he is just like a person who gives up ambrosia to drink poison.
.TX 39
`` `Since I am very intelligent, why should I give this fool material prosperity? Instead I shall induce him to take the nectar of the shelter of My lotus feet and make him forget illusory material enjoyment.'
Those who are interested in material enjoyment are known as bhukti. One who is interested in merging into the effulgence of Brahman or perfecting the mystic yoga system is not a devotee at all. Devotees do not have such desires. However, if a karmi, jnani or yogi somehow contacts a devotee and renders devotional service, Krishna immediately awards him love of God and gives him shelter at His lotus feet, although he may have no idea how to develop love of Krishna. If a person
wants material profit from devotional service, Krishna condemns such materialistic desires. To desire material opulence while engaging in devotional service is foolish. Although the person may be foolish, Krishna, being all-intelligent, engages him in His devotional service in such a way that he gradually forgets material opulence. The point is that we should not try to exchange loving service for material prosperity. If we are actually surrendered to the lotus feet of Krishna, our only desire should be to satisfy Krishna. That is pure Krishna consciousness. Surrender does not mean that we demand something from the Lord but that we completely depend
on His mercy.
.TX 40
`` `Whenever Krishna is requested to fulfill one's desire, He undoubtedly does so, but He does not award anything which, after being enjoyed, wiIl cause someone to petition Him again and again to fulfill further desires. When one has other desires but engages in the Lord's service, Krishna forcibly gives one shelter at His lotus feet, where one will forget all other desires.,
This is a quotation from Shrimad-Bhagavatam (5.19.26).
.TX 41
``When someone engages in Lord Krishna's devotional service for the satisfaction of the senses and instead acquires a taste to serve Krishna, he gives up his
material desires and willingly offers himself as an eternal servant of Krishna.
.TX 42
[When he was being benedicted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Dhruva Maharaja said] `` `O my Lord, because I was seeking an opulent material position, I was performing severe types of penance and austerity. Now I have gotten You, who are very difficult for the great demigods, saintly persons and kings to attain. I was searching after a piece of glass, but instead I have found a most valuable jewel. Therefore I am so satisfied that I do not wish to ask any benediction from You.'
This verse is from the Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya (7.28).
.TX 43
``There are unlimited conditioned souls who are bereft of Lord Krishna's service. Not knowing how to cross the ocean of nescience, they are scattered by waves, time and tide. However, some are fortunate to contact devotees, and by this contact they are deIivered from the ocean of nescience, just as a log, floating down a river, accidentalIy washes upon the bank.
.TX 45
``By good fortune, one becomes eligible to cross the ocean of nescience, and when one's term of material existence decreases, one may get an opportunity to associate with pure devotees. By such association, one's attraction to Krishna is awakened.
Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura explains this point. Is this bhagya (fortune) the result of an accident or something else? In the scriptures, devotional service and pious activity are considered fortunate. Pious activities can be divided into three categories--pious activities that awaken one's dormant Krishna consciousness are called bhakty-unmukhi sukriti. Pious activities that bestow material opulence are called bhogonmukhi, and pious activities that enable the living entity to merge into the existence of the Supreme are called mokshonmukhi. These last two awards of pious activity are not actually fortunate. Pious activities are fortunate when they help one become Krishna conscious. The good fortune of bhakty-un- mukhi is attainable only when one comes in contact with a devotee. By associating with a devotee willingly or unwillingly, one advances in devotional service, and thus one's dormant Krishna consciousness is awakened.
.TX 51
``Unless one is favored by a pure devotee, he cannot attain the plafform of devotional service. To say nothing of krishna-bhakti, one cannot even be relieved from the bondage of material existence.
Pious activities bring about material opulence, but one cannot acquire devotional service by any amount of material pious activity, not by giving charity, opening big hospitals and schools or working philanthropically. Devotional service can be attained only by the mercy of a pure devotee. Without a pure devotee's mercy, one cannot even escape the bondage of material existence. The word mahat in this verse means ``a pure devotee.'' As confirmed in Bhagavad-gita-:
mahatmanas tu mam partha
daivim prakritim ashritah
bhajanty ananya-manaso
jnatva bhutadim avyayam
``O son of Pritha, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible.'' (Bg. 9.13)
One also has to associate with such a mahatma who has accepted Krishna as the supreme source of the entire creation. Without being a mahatma, one cannot understand Krishna's absolute position. A mahatma is rare and transcendental, and he is a pure devotee of Lord Krishna. Foolish people consider Krishna a human being, and they consider Lord Krishna's pure devotee an ordinary human being also. Whatever one may be, one must take shelter at the lotus feet of a devotee mahatma and treat him as the most exalted well-wisher of all human society. We should take shelter of such a mahatma and ask for his causeless mercy. Only by his benediction can one be relieved from attachment to a materialistic way of life. When one is thus relieved, he can engage in the Lord's transcendental loving service through the mercy of the mahatma.
.TX 52
`` `O King Rahugana, without taking upon one's head the dust from the lotus feet of a pure devotee [a mahajana or mahatma], one cannot attain devotional service. Devotional service is not possible to attain simply by undergoing severe austerities and penances, by gorgeously worshiping the Deity, or by strictly following the rules and regulations of the sannyasa or grihastha order, nor by studying the Vedas, submerging oneself in water, or exposing oneself to fire or scorching sunlight.'
This verse appears in Shrimad-Bhagavatam (5.12.12). Jada Bharata herein tells King Rahugana how he attained the paramahamsa stage. Maharaja Rahugana, the King of Sindhu-sauvira, had asked Jada Bharata how he had attained the paramahamsa stage. The King had called him to carry his palanquin, but when the King heard from paramahamsa Jada Bharata about the supreme philosophy, he expressed surprise and asked Jada Bharata how he had attained such great liberation. At that time Jada Bharata informed the King how to become detached from material attraction.
.TX 53
`` `Unless human society accepts the dust of the lotus feet of great mahatmas--devotees who have nothing to do with material possessions--mankind cannot turn its attention to the lotus feet of Krishna. Those lotus feet vanquish all the unwanted miserable conditions of material life.'
This verse appears in the Shrimad-Bhagavatam (7.5.32). When the great sage Narada was giving instructions to Maharaja Yudhishthira, he narrated the activities of Prahlada Maharaja. This verse was spoken by Prahlada Maharaja to his father, Hiranyakashipu, the king of demons. Prahlada Maharaja informed his father of the nine basic processes of bhakti-yoga. Whoever takes to these processes is to be considered a highly learned scholar. Hiranyakashipu, however, did not like his son to talk about devotional service; therefore he immediately called his teacher, Sandamarka. The teacher explained that he did not teach devotional service to Prahlada but that the boy was naturally inclined that way. At that time Hiranyakashipu became very angry and asked Prahlada why he had become a Vaishnava. In answer to this question, Prahlada Maharaja recited this verse to the effect that one cannot become the Lord's devotee without receiving the mercy and blessings of another devotee.
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``The verdict of all revealed scriptures is that by even a moment's association with a pure devotee, one can attain all success.
According to astronomical calculations, lava is one eleventh of one second.
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`` `The value of a moment's association with a devotee of the Lord cannot even be compared to the attainment of heavenly planets or liberation from matter, and what to speak of worldly benedictions in the form of material prosperity, which is for those who are meant for death.'
This is a quotation from Shrimad-Bhagavatam (1.18.13). This verse concerns the Vedic rites and sacrifices performed by the great sages of Naimisharanya, headed by Shaunaka Rishi. The sages pointed out that association with a devotee for even less than a second is beyond comparison to a thousand Vedic rituals and sacrifices, elevation to heavenly planets or merging into the existence of the Supreme.
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