The Nectar of Devotion

Pradyumna: [reading] "4) Pure devotional service is rarely achieved. 5) Those in pure devotional service..."

Prabhupāda: Page number? Page number?

Pradyumna: Page 2. "Those in pure devotional service deride even the conception of liberation. [microphone feedback] 6) Pure devotional service is the only means to attract Kṛṣṅa. Kṛṣṅa is all-attractive, but pure devotional service attracts even Him. This means that pure devotional service is even transcendentally stronger than Kṛṣṅa Himself, because it is Kṛṣṅa's internal potency."

Prabhupāda: Hmm. So six advantages. These are the immediate result of taking to Kṛṣṅa consciousness. Pure devotional service brings immediate relief from all kinds of material distress. There is a song of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura: mānasa deha geha yo kichu mora, arpilūn tuyā pade nanda-kiśora [Śaraṅāgati]. The purport of this song is when we surrender to Kṛṣṅa, prāṅair arthair dhiyā vācā [SB 10.22.35], then we get relief from all kinds of anxieties. This is very simple to understand.

Everyone is, in the material world, here, everyone is full of anxiety. That is the nature of material existence. One after another, problems. So if somebody says, assures, that "You just depend on me. I take charge of all your problems," how much relief you will feel, just imagine. So a ordinary man, if some ordinary human being says a friend that "Don't worry. I shall take charge of your all affairs. Don't worry," so we may doubt an ordinary man, because we know the capacity of an ordinary man.

But when Kṛṣṅa says that "I take charge of you," then how much relief you should feel. Kṛṣṅa is not ordinary man. Kṛṣṅa is all-powerful, the Supreme Personalty of Godhead. He's Yogeśvara. He's the Absolute Truth. So when He assures that "I take charge of you...," ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi [Bg 18.66],

[Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.]

gives assurance that "I shall get you liberated, delivered, from the reaction of all sinful activities..."

We suffer due to our sinful activities. That is the general meaning of suffering. For pious activities we enjoy. But in this material world, either we enjoy or suffer, the common factor is suffering. Suppose if for my pious activities I get good birth, janmaiśvarya-śruta-śrī [SB 1.8.26].

[My Lord, Your Lordship can easily be approached, but only by those who are materially exhausted, because one who is on the path of [material] progress, trying to improve himself with respectable parentage, great opulence, high education and bodily beauty, cannot address You with sincere feeling.]

By pious activities, we get birth in good family, janma; aiśvarya, we get sufficient riches, wealthy family, wealthy parents; janmaiśvarya-śruta, good education; and śrī, beauty. These are the result of pious activities.

But to take birth in the family of a king or very rich man, the sufferings of taking birth is the same. As the poor man suffers within the womb of his mother, similarly the rich man also suffers within the womb of his mother. The sufferings of taking birth is equal to the poor man and rich man. There is no difference. When there is disease, fever, it is not it is less painful to the rich man and very painful to the poor man. The pain is the same.

So actually, so long there is material existence, the so-called suffering and enjoying, they're on the same level. There is no difference. But if we take to Kṛṣṅa consciousness, as Kṛṣṅa assures, ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi [Bg 18.66], "I shall get you relieved, released from all kinds of sinful activities..." That is real auspiciousness. Means when Kṛṣṅa takes charge, He gradually educates the devotee buddhi-yogam, in devotion service, so that he may go back home, back to Godhead, Kṛṣṅa. That is real auspicity.

In the material world, so-called auspicity—to become very rich, to become very educated, to become very beautiful, high parentage—they are also, in material consideration, they are auspicity, undoubtedly. But they are also adulterated with so many sufferings, threefold miseries: ādhyātmika, ādhibhautika, ādhidaivika. So actually such position is not auspicity. Real auspicity is go back to home, back to Godhead. Therefore it is said, pure devotional service... Pure devotional service means without any material motive. Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam [Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.1.11].

[One should render transcendental loving service to the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṅa favorably and without desire for material profit or gain through fruitive activities or philosophical speculation. That is called pure devotional service.]

So pure devotional service is the beginning of all auspiciousness. All-auspiciousness means go back to home, back to Godhead. So if we stick to pure devotional service, follow the rules and regulation, chant sixteen rounds, be engaged always in the service of the Lord, then ultimate gain is that tyaktvā dehaṁ punar naiti mām eti kaunteya [Bg 4.9].

[One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.]

[reads:] "Pure devotional service automatically puts one in transcendental pleasure." Transcendental pleasure and material pleasure, there is difference. Material pleasure means sense gratification, and transcendental pleasure means satisfaction of Kṛṣṅa. A devotee is satisfied seeing Kṛṣṅa is pleased. That is their satisfaction—through Kṛṣṅa. Material pleasure means direct sense perception, and spiritual pleasure means by..., through Kṛṣṅa. If Kṛṣṅa is satisfied, then the devotee is satisfied.

Just like a tree: the leaves and twigs become satisfied through the root of the tree. So Kṛṣṅa is the root. Kṛṣṅa is the origin of everything. Ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate [Bg 10.8].

[I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who know this perfectly engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts.]

So transcendental pleasure means feeling of pleasure through Kṛṣṅa. Just like the gopīs and Kṛṣṅa. Gopīs, when they saw Kṛṣṅa is pleased, they became happy, and Kṛṣṅa, when He saw that the gopīs are happy, He became happier. Again the gopīs sees that Kṛṣṅa is happier, they, again they become more happy. In this way, there is competition of happiness. The gopīs sees Kṛṣṅa happier; they feel happiness, and Kṛṣṅa sees gopīs happier; Kṛṣṅa feels happiness. This word is described in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta: dui lagi huḍāhuḍi. This is spiritual competition.

So, "Pure devotional service automatically puts one in transcendental pleasure." In the material pleasure, if I see you happy, I am unhappy. If I see you unhappy, I become happy. This is nature. I may say otherwise, but material nature is, if one is put into difficulty, then I become very happy, and if I am happy, others become envious. This is material pleasure. Whereas spiritual pleasure means that when one sees Kṛṣṅa is happy, a devotee's happy, the other devotee becomes happier. That is spiritual pleasure.

In the spiritual world there is competition, but when one is advanced, the competitor become happy: "Oh, he's so advanced. I could not do so." There is no enviousness. In the material world, if one is advanced, other, who is not advanced, he's envious. This is the difference between spiritual pleasure and material pleasure. It is not difficult to understand. Material pleasure means if you are happy, I become unhappy; if you are unhappy, then I become happy. This is material pleasure. And spiritual pleasure means by seeing your happiness, I become happy. By seeing... But there is no distress in the spiritual world. Simply by seeing the happiness of other devotee, another devotee becomes happier.

"Pure devotional service is rarely achieved." That is the criterion. Pure devotional service has got so many advantages, but it is very difficult. It is very difficult. Na janma-koṭi-sukṛtibhiḥ na labhyate [Cc Madhya 8.70]. Pure devotional service, even after endeavoring for millions and millions of births, it is very difficult to achieve. Pure devotional service can be achieved only through the mercy of a pure devotee. Otherwise, it is not possible.

mahīyasāṁ pāda-rajo 'bhiṣekaṁ niṣkiñcanānāṁ na vṛṅīta yāvat naiṣāṁ matis tāvad urukramāṅghriṁ spṛśata..., spṛśata... [SB 7.5.32]

What is that? The purpose is that unless one takes the dust of the lotus feet of a pure devotee, it is not possible to become a pure devotee. Mahīyasāṁ pāda-rajaḥ. Mahīyasām, great personality, great devotee. Pāda-rajaḥ means the dust of the lotus feet; abhiṣekam, taking to the..., on the head. Mahīyasāṁ pāda-rajo 'bhiṣekaṁ niṣkiñcanānām. Mahīyasām, great personality, means niṣkiñcana. Bhagavad-bhakta is niṣkiñcana. He has no more material obligation. That is bhagavad-bhakta.

Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, niskin..., niskin..., bhagavad, niṣkiñcanasya bhagavad bhajanon mukhasya. Bhagavad-bhajanomukha means niṣkiñcana: no material obligation, no material duty. Nāyam ṛṅī na kiṅkara rājan sarvātmanā ye śaraṅaṁ śaraṅyaṁ gato mukundam [SB 11.5.41].

[O King, one who has given up all material duties and has taken full shelter of the lotus feet of Mukunda, who offers shelter to all, is not indebted to the demigods, great sages, ordinary living beings, relatives, friends, mankind or even one's forefathers who have passed away. Since all such classes of living entities are part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, one who has surrendered to the Lord's service has no need to serve such persons separately.]

Anyone who has completely taken shelter of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṅa, śaraṅaṁ śaraṅyaṁ gato mukundaṁ parihṛtya kartam, giving up all other duties... Tyaktvā sva-dharmaṁ caraṅāmbujaṁ harer [SB 1.5.17],

[One who has forsaken his material occupations to engage in the devotional service of the Lord may sometimes fall down while in an immature stage, yet there is no danger of his being unsuccessful. On the other hand, a nondevotee, though fully engaged in occupational duties, does not gain anything.]

if one takes shelter of Kṛṣṅa's lotus feet, giving up all other duties...

There are so many duties. You have got duty towards your family, towards your kinsmen, towards your country, towards the animals, other living entities, your obligation to the demigods, great saintly persons, ṛṣis. We are reading Vedas, but it is given by Vyāsadeva, so we are indebted to him. Similarly, many other śāstras we read.

So we are indebted. Devarṣi, ṛṣi, devatā, the demigods. We are taking sunshine; we are obliged to sun-god. We are taking moonshine; we are obliged to moonshine, uh, moon-god, the air-god, Varuṅa. Everyone, they are helping us. We cannot do without this. You cannot live without water. You cannot live without light. You cannot live without heat. So who is supplying? Of course, Kṛṣṅa is supplying, but we cannot see Kṛṣṅa directly. They are being supplied by different demigods. Therefore deva-yajña is recommended. Deva-yajña means ultimately to satisfy Kṛṣṅa.

So these are the processes. But if one takes to Kṛṣṅa consciousness, he has no more obligation to all these devatās. Devaṛsi-bhūtāpta-nṛṅāṁ pitṝṅām [SB 11.5.41]. We have got so many obligations, but if you take to Kṛṣṅa consciousness, everyone will be pleased, and you haven't got to oblige them by your service to them. Otherwise, you are bound to give them obeisances for their beneficial contribution.

So devotional service is rarely achieved. Rarely achieved means if you achieve, then you become free from all obligation. Na janma-koṭibhiḥ sukṛtibhiḥ. Tatra laulyam eka-mūlyaṁ na labhyate yad janmabhiḥ sukṛtibhiḥ [Cc Madhya 8.70]. Kṛṣṅa consciousness can be achieved simply by your intense desire that "This life I shall try to achieve favor of Kṛṣṅa." Kṛṣṅa will help you. Teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam, buddhi-yogaṁ dadāmi tam [Bg 10.10].

[To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.]

If you are actually seriously engaged in Kṛṣṅa consciousness, then Kṛṣṅa gives us intelligence how to approach Him.

So pure devotional service is rarely achieved. But by chance, guru-kṛṣṅa-kṛpāya pāya bhakti-latā-bīja [Cc Madhya 19.151],

[According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout the entire universe. Some of them are being elevated to the upper planetary systems, and some are going down into the lower planetary systems. Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Kṛṣṅa. By the mercy of both Kṛṣṅa and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.]

if we somehow or other come in contact with bona fide guru and Kṛṣṅa... Kṛṣṅa is already there. We are already in touch. And if we are serious, then by grace of Kṛṣṅa, we get niṣkiñcana, devotee, and by his grace we achieve to the platform of devotional service. Otherwise it is very difficult. Not by executing karma, jñāna, yoga. No. Bhaktyā mām abhijānāti [Bg 18.55].

[One can understand the Supreme Personality as He is only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of the Supreme Lord by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God.]

Simply you have to take pure devotional service.

Therefore it is very difficult. People do not wish to come to the pure devotional service. They want hodgepodge: something this, something that, something that. No. Sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekam... [Bg 18.66].

[Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.]

That is the beginning of pure devotional service. No other engagement. Simply Kṛṣṅa. That is pure devotional service. But that is very difficult to achieve.

People will not accept the simple thing. You give them big, big formulas, yoga system, aṣṭāṅga-yoga, they'll like it: "It is something." Just like in homeopathic medicine, because it has no taste, there is no trouble to drink, people do not believe in it. But if you give them some very bitter, pungent medicine, "Oh, it is something."

Similarly, if you give the simple process, as Caitanya Mahāprabhu has given us, harer nāma harer nāma harer nāma eva kevalam, kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā [Cc Ādi 17.21],

[In this Age of Kali there is no other means, no other means, no other means for self-realization than chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name of Lord Hari.]

they'll not take it very seriously. "Oh, simply by chanting Hare Kṛṣṅa mantra, one will be liberated, and he'll to go back...? Oh, this is exaggeration," they will say. But if you give them some difficult job, that "You press your nose in this way, you make your head downwards, and you exercise in this way, do...," they'll think, "Yes, it is something."

So things are very easy, and one can achieve very easily, but they are reluctant to take the easiest process given by Kṛṣṅa, given by Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Kṛṣṅa is giving the easiest process, that "You surrender unto Me. I give you all possible help." We are not prepared to do that. Caitanya Mahāprabhu says that "You simply chant Hare Kṛṣṅa. You'll achieve the highest perfection." Not we are prepared. Therefore it is said, "Pure devotional service is rarely achieved." People will not accept the simple thing. They want to make something very difficult; then it is all right.

"Those in pure devotional service deride even the conception of liberation." Yes. Muktiḥ mukulitāñjali sevate asmān [Kṛṣṅa-karṅāmṛta 107].

[If I am engaged in devotional service unto You, my dear Lord, then very easily can I perceive Your presence everywhere. And as far as liberation is concerned, I think that liberation stands at my door with folded hands, waiting to serve me-and all material conveniences of dharma [religiosity], artha [economic development] and kāma [sense gratification] stand with her.]

A devotee does not care for mukti. Mukti... Why they will care for mukti? As soon as he's a pure devotee, mukti is on his leg. Why he should try for mukti? Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura says, muktiḥ mukulitāñjali sevate asmān. There is no need of separate endeavor for getting liberation. It is already there. Muktiḥ mukulitāñjali sevate asmān dharmārtha-kāma-mokṣa samaya-pratīkṣāḥ [SB 4.8.41].

[Any person who desires the fruits of the four principles religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and, at the end, liberation, should engage himself in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for worship of His lotus feet yields the fulfillment of all of these.]

[indistinct remark by devotee] Eh?

Devotee: It's broken.

Prabhupāda: Eh? So don't try it. It is working? [taps microphone]

Śyāmasundara: The fixture is broken. [conversation about light or something in background: "It doesn't have anything to do with the bulb"]

Prabhupāda: Yes. So "Pure devotional service is the only means to attract..." "Those in pure devotional service deride even the conception of liberation." Mukti. Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī... Kaivalyam. Mukti's another name is kaivalya. "Everything is one. One, knowledge." That's all. So Prabodhananda Sarasvatī says, kaivalyaṁ narakāyate [Caitanya-candrāmṛta 5]. This conception of liberation, that "I have become one with the Supreme," it is, to a devotee, just like hell. Kaivalyaṁ narakāyate. They do not give very much value to such conception, to become one with the Supreme, or liberation, mukti.

And the, this is.. Mokṣa-kāmi, those who are aspiring after... Nirbheda-brahmānu-sandhana, without any difference with the Supreme Brahman. That is called mukti, liberation. And tridaśa-pūr ākāśa-puṣpāyate. And the karmīs, they're aspiring after heavenly planets, tri-daśa-pūr. Tri-daśa means thirty. So there are more than thirty millions of demigods in different planetary system. They are called heavenly planets. So they are ākāśa-puṣpa. Ākāśa-puṣpa means a flower does not grow in the sky; it is something imaginary, phantasmagoria. Tri-daśa-pūr ākāśa-puṣpāyate. So karmīs are interested in the ākāśa-puṣpa, heavenly planet. And the jñānīs are interested in mukti. Karmī, jñānī... And yogīs are interested how to control the senses.

So tri... Prabodhananda Sarasvatī Mahārāja says that durdānta indriya-kāla-sarpa-paṭalī-protkhāta-daṁṣṭrāyate. The senses are our enemies. That's all right. We also admit. The yogīs try to control the senses and mind because they think of the senses just like serpent. Serpent, little touch by the lip, I mean, the tongue, immediately it causes death. So it is very dangerous. But Prabodhananda Sarasvatī says that "We are not afraid of these serpents, because protkhāta daṁṣṭrāyate, the serpent is so long dangerous as long as it has got the poison teeth." Poison teeth. Protkhāta-daṁṣṭrāyate. So if you take away the poison teeth, then, however big serpent it may be, nobody will be afraid.

In the Bengali it is said, visnai kulapana cakra. If a serpent is known that his poison teeth has been taken away, so his big hood, phans-phans, nobody will be afraid, one who knows that he has no poison teeth. A child may be afraid, but anyone knows... So for a devotee, the senses are there, but it is not like serpent. The dangerous point of sense, for sense gratification, that is taken away. That poison teeth is taken away.

So therefore a devotee's not afraid of the senses. They can easily handle the senses, because the senses are engaged in the service of the Lord, which means the poison teeth of the serpent of sense is taken away. Durdānta indriya-kāla-sarpa-paṭalī protkhāta-daṁṣṭrāyate [Caitanya-candrāmṛta 5].

So pure devotional service... In this way, the point is that pure devotee does not give very much value to so-called liberation. Because so-called liberation, so-called... It is in this sense, that we have seen many so-called liberated person, muk..., vimukta-māninaḥ. They considered that... Vimukta-māninaḥ [SB 10.2.32].

[[Someone may say that aside from devotees, who always seek shelter at the Lord's lotus feet, there are those who are not devotees but who have accepted different processes for attaining salvation. What happens to them? In answer to this question, Lord Brahmā and the other demigods said:] O lotus-eyed Lord, although nondevotees who accept severe austerities and penances to achieve the highest position may think themselves liberated, their intelligence is impure. They fall down from their position of imagined superiority because they have no regard for Your lotus feet.]

Now, you'll be pleased to hear that one of the Māyāvādī sannyāsīs in India, very well known, his disciples came to me to invite me because they are now seeing that their Māyāvāda philosophy has not been so much effective as devotional service. Practically. So they are now taking gradually to devotional service. They are trying to read Bhāgavata, although they are habituated to malinterpret. But they have no other. They have finished their job. Now they are gradually coming to bhakti-mārga. That is natural. If one is actually sincere, after suffering the distress of impersonalism, gradually they'll come to surrender to the person. Bahūnāṁ janmanāṁ ante jñānavān māṁ prapadyate [Bg 7.19].

[After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.]

So when one becomes devotee... Jñānīs, they give too much value to liberation, mokṣa, nirbheda-brahmānusandhana. But yogīs, they give too much value for controlling the senses. Karmīs, they give too much value to, to the acts of promotion to the heavenly planets. But for a devotee, these things are very teeny. They don't care for these things. Neither for the karmīs or for the jñānīs or for the yogīs.

They... Yaṁ labdhvā cāparaṁ manyate nādhikaṁ tataḥ [Bg 6.22].

[The stage of perfection is called trance, or samādhi, when one's mind is completely restrained from material mental activities by practice of yoga. This is characterized by one's ability to see the self by the pure mind and to relish and rejoice in the self. In that joyous state, one is situated in boundless transcendental happiness and enjoys himself through transcendental senses. Established thus, one never departs from the truth, and upon gaining this he thinks there is no greater gain. Being situated in such a position, one is never shaken, even in the midst of greatest difficulty. This indeed is actual freedom from all miseries arising from material contact.]

A bhakta who has come to Kṛṣṅa consciousness, pure devotional service, he has no more any desire for the resultant action of karmīs, jñānīs and yogīs. He's so fixed up. There are many examples. Just like Dhruva Mahārāja, when he was offered, "Anything you want," he wanted... Actually he wanted the kingdom of his father. But when he actually became fixed up in devotional service, he said, svāmin kṛtārtho 'smi varaṁ na yāce [Cc Madhya 22.42]:

[[When he was being blessed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Dhruva Mahārāja 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.]

"I have no more to ask anything material benediction, varam. No, I don't want." So Kṛṣṅa consciousness is so nice that automatically one feels fulfillment of all desires. Therefore what they'll desire for liberation, for mukti? It is most insignificant thing.

The next is: "Pure devotional service is the only means to attract Kṛṣṅa." You cannot attract Kṛṣṅa. Kṛṣṅa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, with full opulences. So you cannot attract Kṛṣṅa by your richness, by your reputation, by your education, by your beauty or by your strength or renunciation. No. You cannot attract Kṛṣṅa by all these things, because He's already full. You cannot attract by anything, any opulence, Kṛṣṅa, because He's ātmārāma. But if you offer something to Kṛṣṅa, it is for your benefit.

The example is given: just like the original person is decorated, in the mirror the reflection of the person is also decorated. Similarly, if you decorate the Deity gorgeously, you will feel happy. Kṛṣṅa has many devotees, or many things for being decorated. But if you, in the temple, if you offer Kṛṣṅa all nice things, all nice flowers, all nice dress, all nice food, everything all nice, then you will feel happy. That is your interest.

Therefore pure devotional service is the only means to attract Kṛṣṅa. Attract Kṛṣṅa... Kṛṣṅa will be happy in this way, that you are doing so much for Kṛṣṅa. Kṛṣṅa has everything, but your devotional service, that sincerity of purpose, will attract. My Guru Mahārāja used to say that "Do not try to see Kṛṣṅa. Render your service in such a nice way that let Kṛṣṅa see you." When Kṛṣṅa sees you, then your mission is perfect.

We cannot see... Ataḥ śrī-kṛṣṅa-nāmādi na bhaved grāhyam indriyaiḥ [Cc Madhya 17.136].

[Therefore material senses cannot appreciate Kṛṣṅa’s holy name, form, qualities and pastimes. When a conditioned soul is awakened to Kṛṣṅa consciousness and renders service by using his tongue to chant the Lord’s holy name and taste the remnants of the Lord’s food, the tongue is purified, and one gradually comes to understand who Kṛṣṅa really is.]

We cannot perceive Kṛṣṅa by our senses, but when our senses are engaged in satisfying Kṛṣṅa, then Kṛṣṅa sees us. Svayam eva sphuraty adhaḥ [Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.2.234].

[No one can understand the transcendental nature of the name, form, quality and pastimes of Śrī Kṛṣṅa through his materially contaminated senses. Only when one becomes spiritually saturated by transcendental service to the Lord are the transcendental name, form, quality and pastimes of the Lord revealed to him.]

And when Kṛṣṅa sees us, then our life is successful. And how Kṛṣṅa can see us? Simply by our devotional service. Otherwise, you cannot satisfy Kṛṣṅa by opulence, by education, by scholarship, by beauty, by riches. No. These things Kṛṣṅa has all perfectly. He's full with all these opulences. Bhaktyā mām abhijānāti [Bg 18.55].

[One can understand the Supreme Personality as He is only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of the Supreme Lord by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God.]

If you want to attract Kṛṣṅa, then be engaged in pure devotional service.

Thank you very much. Hare Kṛṣṅa. [end]