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In this verse the word naiskarmyam, which means transcendental knowledge, is also significant. Unless one comes to the platform of transcendental knowledge and offers devotional service to the Lord, he is not perfect. Generally the processes of jnana, yoga and karma are executed life after life before one gets a chance to render pure devotional service to the Lord. This chance is given by the grace of a pure devotee, and it is in this way only that one can actually attain liberation. In the context of this narration, the wives of the demigods repented because although they had the opportunity of a birth in a higher planetary system, a lifetime spanning millions of years and all material comforts, they were not as fortunate as Prthu Maharaja and his wife, who were actually surpassing them. In other words, Prthu Maharaja and his wife scorned promotion to the higher planetary systems and even to Brahmaloka because the position which they were attaining was incomparable. In Bhagavad-gita the Lord affirms, abrahma-bhuvanal lokah punar avartino 'rjuna: "From the highest planet in the material world to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place." (Bg. 8.16) In other words, even if one goes to the highest planet, Brahmaloka, he has to return to the miseries of birth and death. In the Ninth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita, Lord Krsna also asserts:
(More...) One cannot become a perfect devotee of the Lord without having touched the lotus feet of a great devotee. One who has nothing to do with this material world is called niskincana. The process of self-realization and the path home, back to Godhead, means surrendering to the bona fide spiritual master and taking the dust of his lotus feet on one's head. Thus one advances on the path of transcendental realization. Vidura had this relationship with Maitreya, and he attained the results.
(More...) Only a devotee can surpass maya's great influence. It was no fault on Maharaja Nabhi's part that he wanted a son. He wanted a son like the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the best of all sons. By the association of the Lord's devotee, one no longer desires material opulence. This is confirmed in Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 22.54):
(More...) If one is serious about escaping maya's influence and returning home, back to Godhead, one must associate with a sadhu (devotee). That is the verdict of all scriptures. By the slight association of a devotee, one can be freed from the clutches of maya. Without the mercy of the pure devotee, one cannot get freedom by any means. Certainly a pure devotee's association is necessary in order to obtain the loving service of the Lord. One cannot be freed from maya's clutches without sadhu-saṅga, the benediction of a great devotee. In Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.5.32) Prahlada Maharaja says:
(More...) One cannot become the Lord's pure devotee without taking the dust of a great devotee on his head (pada-rajo-'bhisekam). A pure devotee is niskincana; he has no material desire to enjoy the material world. One has to take shelter of such a pure devotee in order to attain his qualities. The pure devotee is always free from the clutches of maya and her influence.
(More...) The two brothers Jagai and Madhai epitomize the sinful population of this age of Kali. They were most disturbing elements in society because they were meat eaters, drunkards, women hunters, rogues and thieves. Yet Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu delivered them, to say nothing of others who were sober, pious, devoted and conscientious. Bhagavad-gita also confirms (kim punar brahmanah punya bhakta rajarsayas tatha) that to say nothing of the brahminically qualified devotees and rajarsis, anyone who by the association of a pure devotee comes to Krsna consciousness becomes eligible to go back home, back to Godhead. In Bhagavad-gita the Lord declares:
(More...) In this Twenty-second Chapter, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu describes the process of devotional service. In the beginning He describes the truth about the living entity and the superexcellence of devotional service. He then describes the uselessness of mental speculation and mystic yoga. In all circumstances the living entity is recommended to accept the path of devotional service as personally explained by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The speculative method of the so-called jnanis is considered a waste of time, and that is proved in this chapter. An intelligent person should abandon the processes of karma-kanda, jnana-kanda and mystic yoga. One should give up all these useless processes and take seriously to the path of Krsna consciousness. In this way one's life will be successful. If one takes to Krsna consciousness fully, even though he may sometimes be agitated due to having previously practiced mental speculation and yogic mysticism, he will be saved by Lord Krsna Himself. The fact is that devotional service is bestowed by the blessings of a pure devotee (sa mahatma sudurlabhah). A pure devotee is the supreme transcendentalist, and one has to receive his mercy for one's dormant Krsna consciousness to be awakened. One has to associate with pure devotees. If one has firm faith in the words of a great soul, pure devotional service will awaken.
(More...) By his mercy we cross over this dangerous material existence, and by his mercy Krsna is obtained. Unless one is favored by the pure devotee, he cannot attain the platform of devotional service. To say nothing of krsna-bhakti, one cannot even be relieved from bondage of material existence.
(More...) 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:
(More...) "The root cause of devotional service to Lord Krsna is association with advanced devotees. Even when one's dormant love for Krsna awakens, association with devotees is still most essential.
(More...) " 'O devotees! O you who are free from all sins! Let me inquire from you about that which is supremely auspicious for all living entities. Association with a pure devotee for even half a moment in this material world is the greatest treasure for human society.'
(More...) There is a nice verse in the Srimad Bhagwatam, Tenth Canto, Fifty-first Chapter [10.51.53], where it is stated by Muchakunda: "My dear Lord, a living entity, while travelling in this material world through different species of life, may develop towards liberation. By chance he may come in contact with pure devotees. Only at that time is he liberated from the clutches of the material energy, and he becomes a devotee of Yourself, the Personality of Godhead."
(More...) When a conditioned soul becomes a devotee of Krishna, Krishna by His causeless Mercy trains him in two ways: He trains him by the Spiritual Master from the outside, and He trains him from the inside by the Supersoul. In this connection there is a very nice verse in the Srimad Bhagwatam, Eleventh Canto, Twenty-ninth Chapter [11.29.6], in which it is said: "O my dear Lord, if somebody should get a duration of life like Brahma's, still he would be unable to express his gratitude to You for the benefits derived from remembering You; because, out of Your causeless mercy, You drive away all inauspicious conditions for a devotee, expressing Yourself from outside as the Spiritual Master, and from inside as the Supersoul."
(More...) Somehow or other, if somebody gets in touch with a pure devotee and thus develops a desire for devotional service to Krishna, he gradually rises up to the platform of love of Godhead, and thus he is freed from the clutches of the material energy. This is explained in the Srimad Bhagwatam, Eleventh Canto, Twentieth Chapter [11.20.8], where the Lord says: "For one who becomes attracted by the topics of My Activities out of his own accord-being neither lured nor repelled by material activities-the path of devotional service, leading to the perfection of love of God, becomes possible."
(More...) Bharata replied: "My dear Rohugana, no one can attain the perfected stage of devotional service without being favored by a great soul, or pure devotee. No one can attain such perfectional stages simply by following the regulative principles of Scriptures, nor by acceptance of the renounced order of life, nor by prosecuting the prescribed duties of householder life, nor by becoming a great student of spiritual science, nor by accepting severe austerity and penances performed for realization."
(More...) In Bhagavad Gita it is stated, in the Seventh Chapter, 16th verse, that there are four kinds of beginners in devotional service whose backgrounds are very righteous. They are the distressed, the inquisitive, the seeker of material profit, and the Jnani, or the wise man. These four kinds of people, when they are coated by previous righteous activities, come to the devotional service of the Lord. Out of these four, those who are distressed and those who are in need of material possessions are called devotees with desires, whereas the other two, the inquisitive and the wise, are under the heading of seeking liberation. But, because they worship Krishna, they are considered to be very fortunate. In due course of time, if they give up all their desires and become pure devotees of the Supreme Lord, they are called the most fortunate.
(More...) Such fortunate beginners can develop only in the association of pure devotees of Lord Krishna. When one is associated with such pure devotees, one becomes a pure devotee himself. This is confirmed in the Srimad Bhagwatam in the First Canto, Tenth Chapter [11], as follows: "A person who is actually intelligent is able, by association with pure devotees, to hear about Lord Krishna and His activities." These activities are very attractive, and he does not give up such association with the Lord.
(More...) That is the special verse. It is not very easy thing. Bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate [Bg 7.19]. Don't take things very easily. Things are very serious. Therefore we have to go step by step. That is, Narottama dasa Thakura said, taṅdera saṅge. Aim should be how to serve Rupa-Raghunatha, Rupa-Raghunatha. And bhakta-sane basa, pure devotee, to stay with pure devotee who has no other intention. Anyabhilasita-sunyam [Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.1.11]. This is the process. So do it carefully. That's all.
(More...) If one wants to acquire the mercy of the Lord, he has to associate with pure devotees. Such association alone can, by degrees, release one from the quivering elements. The quivering quality of material existence, which comes from identification with matter or thinking oneself, under the material influence of philosophical speculation, to be God, can be eradicated by devotional service to the Lord, by the mercy of the Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva. As discussed in the First Canto, the application of devotional service to Lord Vasudeva, because it invites pure knowledge, quickly detaches one from the material conception of life and thus revives one's normal condition of spiritual existence, even in this life, and frees one from the material winds which cause one to quiver. Only knowledge in devotional service can elevate one towards the path of liberation. The development of knowledge for the purpose of knowing everything without rendering devotional service is considered fruitless labor, and one cannot get the desired result by such labor of love. Lord Vasudeva is pleased by devotional service only, and thus His mercy is realized by association with pure devotees of the Lord. Pure devotees of the Lord are transcendental to all material desires, including the desire for the results of fruitive activities and philosophical speculation. If one wants to acquire the mercy of the Lord, he has to associate with pure devotees. Such association alone can, by degrees, release one from the quivering elements.
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