ABOUT THE TWENTY-SIX GOOD QUALITIES OF A VAISNAVA THE TEACHINGS OF SRILA PRABHUPADA ABOUT THE ISSUE OF THE TWENTY-SIX QUALITIES OF A PURE DEVOTEE OF THE LORD. ACCORDING TO SADHU,SASTRA AND GURU THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ARE INCORRECT,NOT CORRECT: SOMEONE SAID, now, may 2014: “Our acharyas say, krsnaika-sarana—one should take exclusive shelter of Krishna. If one has THAT ONE QUALIFICATION , even if he is LACKING IN THE OTHER TWENTY-FIVE, he is to be considered A DEVOTEE,OR SADHU. Conversely, if one has all the other twenty-five qualifications but is lacking the one qualification of krsnaika-sarana, then he is not considered a devotee.” ------------------------------------------- Seven years before,2007, THE SAME PERSON said the same thing: “Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, which is based on Srimad-Bhagavatam and Srimad Bhagavad-gita, lists twenty-six qualities of a devotee,one of which is krsna-eka-sarana, exclusively surrendered to Krsna. *If one has the one qualification of krsna-eka-sarana, even if he does not have the other twenty-five, he is still considered A DEVOTEE . *And if someone has the other twenty-five but not the one of being wholly and solely engaged in devotional service, he is not considered A DEVOTEE , even if he has all the other qualities. “ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The above wrong statements are a new definition: the only one quality of the sadhu,pure devotee.... Sastra says: the twenty-six qualities of the devotee,all the good qualities are visible in the devotee. AUTOMATICALLY DEVELOPS ALL GODLY QUALITIES. The new different definition says:the only one quality of the sadhu,pure devotee. The sastra give a different definition:the twenty-six qualities of the sadhu,pure devotee. ----------------------------------------------------------------- WHAT IS THE DIRECT AND CLEAR EXPLANATION OF SRILA PRABHUPADA ABOUT THESE STATEMENTS? 1-MEANING OF THE TERM “SADHU” IN THIS ISSUE: In this context talking about the twenty-six good, godly, noble qualties of a devotee, Srila Prabhupada use the term SADHU meaning the PURE DEVOTEE, PARAMAHAMSA. There are countless quotes confirming that which we list at the end of this writing SB 2.3.13, Purport A PURE DEVOTEE OF THE LORD automatically develops ALL GODLY QUALITIES, SB 2.3.14: THE TOPMOST TRANSCENDENTALIST.PURE DEVOTEES of the Lord are ALL PARAMAHAMSAS,and they are like the swans, who know the art of sucking milk out of a mixture of milk and water. According with CC Madhya 20.120, Lecture on CC Madhya 20.119-121 -New York, November 24, 1966, SB 3.25.21,…etc: sādhu-śāstra-kṛpāya yadi kṛṣṇonmukha haya (CC Madhya 20.120) titikṣavaḥ kāruṇikāḥ sādhavaḥ sādhu-bhūṣaṇāḥ(SB 3.25.21) SADHU = SAINTLY PERSON=SAINTLY DEVOTEES=VAISNAVA DEVOTEES OF THE LORD=DEVOTEE=PURE DEVOTEE=THE REPRESENTATIVE OF KRSNA=GURU,SPIRITUAL MASTER=PIOUS MAN=COMPLETELY KRSNA CONSCIOUS PERSON. ---------------------------------- 2-SRILA PRABHUPADA TEACHINGS ABOUT THIS ISSUE: Can a sadhu, a pure devotee of the Lord, be a sadhu having only ONE quality,krsnaika-sarana, and LACKING the other twenty-five qualities, and still be a sadhu?. What are the explanations,teachings, of Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, founder and acharya of ISKCON, about such statements? --------------- Lecture on CC Madhya 20.119-121 -New York, November 24, 1966: https://prabhupadavani.org/main/Caitanya_Caritamrta/CC040.htm https://prabhupadavani.org/audio/CCaudio/CC40.MP3 vanisource.org/wiki/Lecture_on_CC_Madhya-lila_20.119-121_--_New_York,_November_24,_1966 -“SADHU means SAINTLY PERSON, those who have got ALL THOSE QUALITIES.” -“THE QUALIFICATIONS OF DEVOTEES.” -“how you can become SAINTLY PERSON? So THOSE QUALITIES,TWENTY-SIX QUALITIES,THEY ARE CALLED SAINTLY PERSON. “ -“DEVOTEE means to become FULLY QUALIFIED with ALL THE NOBLE QUALITIES . “ -“Devotee does not mean a rascal, at the same time, a devotee. No. “AS SOON AS YOU BECOME DEVOTEE,THE TEST IS THAT ALL THOSE TWENTY-SIX QUALITIES WILL DEVELOP.” -“YOU HAVE TO TEST YOURSELF, OUT OF THE TWENTY-SIX QUALITIES,HOW MUCH I HAVE DEVELOPED?” IF YOU ARE LACKING, THEN YOU MUST KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT DEVELOPING. THIS IS THE TEST.” What are the qualities? Paul: 1-Kind to everyone. 2-Does not quarrel with anyone. 3-Fixed up in the Absolute Truth. 4-Equal to everyone. 5-Spotless, faultless, 6-charitable, 7-mild, 8-clean, 9-simple, 10-benevolent, 11-peaceful, 12-completely attached to Krsna, 13-no material hankerings, 14-meek, 15-steady, 16-self-controlled, 17-does not eat more than required... 18-sane, 19-respectful, 20-humble, 21-grave, 22-compassionate, 23-friendly, 24-poetic, 25-expert... Prabhupada: Poetic, expert and 26-silent. -“So THESE ARE THE QUALITIES.Here, HE´S CALLED SADHU.” -“SADHU MEANS THESE ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS. Of course, not that we may develop ALL THESE qualities immediately, but SADHU MEANS THIS. Sadhu means, what is called, pious man. THESE ARE THE QUALITIES OF PIOUS MAN,SADHU.” ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As a logical conclusion WHAT SRILA PRABHUPADA SAYS ABOUT IF A DEVOTEE LACKS,HAS NOT ANY OF THESE QUALITIES? * CC Madhya-lila 21.62-67 -- New York, January 6, 1966: IF THOSE QUALITIES ARE NOT PRESENT,THAT MEANS THERE IS STILL,I MEAN TO SAY,A TOUCH OF CONTAMINATION OF MATERIAL NATURE. *Lecture on CC Madhya 20.119-121 -New York, November 24, 1966: -“YOU HAVE TO TEST YOURSELF, OUT OF THE TWENTY-SIX QUALITIES,HOW MUCH I HAVE DEVELOPED?” IF YOU ARE LACKING,THEN YOU MUST KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT DEVELOPING.THIS IS THE TEST.” *Morning Walk -- March 25, 1974, Bombay: Prabhupāda: WITHOUT BEING KAVI,ONE CANNOT BECOME DEVOTEE. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: WE SHOULD REMEMBER THAT HERE DEVOTEE,SADHU, MEANS PURE DEVOTEE. We should understand what is a definition,what is the GENERAL inner meaning of characteristic,qualities,qualifications,qualified,symptoms, atributes,feature,constitution,nature,constitutional position,dharma, ,natural characteristic,good,not good,bad,…etc. Without understanding these basic terms it is not possible to actually understand the issue about the twenty-six godly qualities of the pure devotee. In other words,if someone makes the fatal mistake of considering that only one quality, however important it may be, is the only distinguishing feature of the devotee sadhu, and makes the above statements of the beginning, this only means that such a person does not really understand the meaning of the basic terms above mentioned. Therefore he is not well conversant and therefore should not be in the position of teacher amd master. One should try to learn the meaning of these and other terms from the sublime master,Srila Prabhupada. THE TWENTY-SIX QUALITIES OF THE DEVOTEE (THE PURE DEVOTEE) IS A DEFINITION,MEANS A PERSON IS A DEVOTEE (PURE DEVOTEE) IF AND ONLY IF HE HAVE THESE TWENTY-SIX QUALITIES. The above wrong statements are a different definition: the only one quality of the devotee. Sastra says: the twenty-six qualities of the devotee,all the good qualities are visible in the devotee. AUTOMATICALLY DEVELOPS ALL GODLY QUALITIES, THESE QUALITIES ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS,THE SYMPTOMS,THE NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DEVOTEE,PURE DEVOTEE, SADHU. THESE SYMPTOMS,CHARACTERISTICS,ARE THE NATURE OR CONSTITUTIONAL POSITION,DHARMA(natural characteristic),OF THE DEVOTEE( PURE DEVOTEE). If the sugar is not sweet then it is not sugar, is a different substance. Everything is recognized by their different natural characteristics. This means the existence of the variety, the existence of different characteristics in different entities. “ SADHUS ARE MERCIFUL,BY NATURE. THE SADHU´S QUALIFICATION IS HE´S MERCIFUL,FRIENDLY…” ONLY BY THE PRESENCE OF THESE GOOD QUALITIES CAN ONE DISTINGUISH A VAISNAVA FROM A NON-VAISNAVA.” (SB 5.18.12) --------------------------------- LECTURE ABOUT THE NATURE OF SADHU. Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.119-121 -- New York, November 24, 1966: These are the things. So Lord Caitanya said, sādhu-śāstra-kṛpāya yadi kṛṣṇonmukha haya. Now, THE SADHU´S QUALIFICATION IS HE´S MERCIFUL,FRIENDLY… So THE SADHUS, they take the risk of becoming friendly and merciful to the fallen, conditioned souls, and they preach the message of Godhead. Therefore their mercy is required. THEY ARE MERCIFUL,BY NATURE. BY NATURE,THEY ARE MERCIFUL. One who is sādhu, one who is devotee, BY NATURE,he has developed that merciful quality, friendly quality.” ----------------------------------------- OTHER QUOTES ABOUT THIS ISSUE ALL THE GOOD QUALITIES AND NOT ONLY ONE MEANS SADHU: CC Madhya-lila 21.62-67 -- New York, January 6, 1966 GENERALLY,THOSE WHO ARE IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS FULLY, THEY HAVE-I HAVE ALREADY EXPLAINED TO YOU- THEY HAVE GOT ALL THESE TWENTY-SIX QUALIFICATIONS. THAT IS THE PERFECTION OF KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS. WHEN WE SEE THE TWENTY-SIX QUALIFICATION IN FULL PRESENT,THAT MEANS HE IS PERFECT IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS. IF THOSE QUALITIES ARE NOT PRESENT,THAT MEANS THERE IS STILL,I MEAN TO SAY,A TOUCH OF CONTAMINATION OF MATERIAL NATURE. IF THOSE QUALITIES ARE NOT PRESENT,THAT MEANS THERE IS STILL,I MEAN TO SAY,A TOUCH OF CONTAMINATION OF MATERIAL NATURE. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.124-125 -- New York, November 26, 1966: So CENTRAL POINT MUST BE THERE. So IF YOU CAN LOVE GOD, THEN EVERYTHING IN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD,THEN YOU CAN LOVE. You can love every man. You can love your country. You can love your society. You can love your friend. Everyone. That is the point. They are thinking in a different way, Why shall I love God only? Why shall I love God? I shall love my family. I shall love my country. I shall love my... Oh, no, you cannot love. It is not possible. Because YOU ARE MISSING THE CENTRAL POINT. These are facts. Harāv abhaktasya kuto mahad-guṇā (SB 5.18.12). ONE WHO DOES NOT LOVE GOD, HE CANNOT HAVE ANY GOOD QUALIFICATION. Why? Mano-rathena asato dhāvato bahiḥ. Because hell simply speculate on the mental plane and he will fall down under the spell of this material energy. He has no standing. However materially, academically qualification he may be, it is clearly stated in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam that yasyāsti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcanā. We have given you the list, TWENTY-SIX QUALIFICATIONS. AS WE BECOME ADVANCED IN DEVOTIONAL SERVICE, ALL THESE GOOD QUALITIES WILL DEVELOP AUTOMATICALLY. There is no need of legislation. There is no need of, but, anything, but ALL THOSE GOOD QUALITIES WILL DEVELOP. Otherwise, what is the meaning of Kṛṣṇa consciousness? Is it a sentiment or fanaticism? No. IT IS A SCIENCE. IF YOU FOLLOW THE RULES AND REGULATION AND SYSTEMATICALLY, THEN ALL THESE QUALITIES WILL DEVELOP. YOU´LL PRACTICALLY SEE IT. And AS SOON AS THESE QUALITIES ARE THERE,THEN you become actually lover of your country, you become a lover of your fellow man. You become friend, God, everything. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CC Madhya-lila 20.298 -- New York, December 20, 1966: You have got the list, TWENTY-SIX QUALITIES OF THE DEVOTEE. Those are transcendental qualities. Those transcendental qualities are in God as well as in the living entity. But when the living entity comes in contact with material nature, those transcendental qualities are covered by the material qualities. So they are not manifested. BUT AS SOON AS ONE BECOMES KRSNA CONSCIOUS, THOSE TRANSCENDENTAL QUALITIES AUTOMATICALLY DEVELOP. BECAUSE THEY ARE ALREADY THERE. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lecture on SB 1.7.40 -- Vrndavana, October 1, 1976: Arjuna... This is devotee. Devotee means hes not blind. Yasyāsti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcanā sarvair guṇais tatra samāsate surāḥ (SB 5.18.12). Bhagavad-bhakta means he will act in such a way that ALL QUALIFIED,NOBODY CAN CRITICIZE HIM. That is bhagavad-bhakta. Sarvair guṇais tatra samāsate surāḥ. VAISNAVA,TWENTY-SIX QUALIFICATIONS. One of the qualifications is dakṣa: he must be very expert in doing things very nicely. So THE IDEA IS THAT IF ONE IS ADVANCED DEVOTEE, THEN ALL THE GOOD QUALITIES WILL BE VISIBLE IN HIM. Yasyāsti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcanā (SB 5.18.12). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lecture on SB 2.3.13-14 -- Los Angeles, May 30, 1972: As you know, THERE ARE TWENTY-SIX QUALIFICATIONS mentioned in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, and one of the qualifications is kavi, poet. EVERY VAISNAVA IN OUR DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION,ALL THE VAISNAVAS… In the later ages, within 200 years... During Caitanya Mahāprabhus time, there were Vṛndāvana dāsa Ṭhākura, Vaiṣṇava, Locana dāsa Ṭhākura, Kavi-karṇapūra. They were all big poets. So A VAISNAVA DEVOTEE OF THE LORD IS EXPECTED TO HAVE ALL GOOD QUALITIES. THE MORE YOU BECOME ADVANCED IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, ALL THE GOOD QUALITIES THAT WERE COVERED BY THE CLOUD OF MAYA WILL COME OUT. GOOD QUALITIES ARE ALREADY THERE. JUST LIKE KRSNA HAS GOT SIXTY-FOUR QUALITIES IN FULL,AND WE ARE MINUTE PARTICLES OF KRSNA;THEREFORE WE HAVE GOT ALSO THOSE GOOD QUALITIES IN MINUTE PARTICLES.BUT ALL THESE GOOD QUALITIES ARE NOW COVERED. So when we are in the process of going back to home, back to Godhead, OUT OF SO MANY QUALITIES,TWENTY-SIX QUALITIES BECOMES VERY… At least, THEY BECOME MANIFEST. And out of the twenty-six qualities, one quality is to become a poet. Poet is. Nobody can become poet unless he is poet. So kavi. And ṛṣi. Ṛṣi, muni, ṛṣi, those who are philosophers, learned scholars, they are called muni, ṛṣi. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lecture on BG 1.6-7 -- London, July 11, 1973: A Vaiṣṇavas one qualification is... OUT OF THE TWENTY-SIX QUALIFICATIONS, ONE QUALIFICATION IS DAKSA,EXPERT. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -Lecture on BG 7.18 -- New York, October 12, 1966: There are six, TWENTY-SIX QUALIFICATIONS OF A FACTUAL DEVOTEE OF THE LORD. -They are very kind. -They are very obedient. -They are sober, - economic, -everything, ALL GOOD QUALIFICATIONS. Yasyāsti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcanā sarvair guṇais tatra samāsate surāḥ (SB 5.18.12). ONE, IF HE BECOMES THE DEVOTEE OF THE LORD, ALL GOOD QUALITIES AUTOMATICALLY WILL DEVELOP BECAUSE HE IS GOOD BY NATURE A LIVING ENTITY IS THE PERFECT GOOD, BUT DUE TO THE CONTAMINATION OF THE LUST,HE HAS BECOME VICIOUS. HE HAS BECOME VICIOUS. BY NATURE HE´S NOT VICIOUS;HE´S PERFECT. BECAUSE HE´S PART AND PARCEL OF THE GOLD,HE´S GOLD. BY OUTWARD COVERING HE HAS BECOME SOMETHING NONSENSE. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Letter to Joy Fulcher -- Los Angeles 21 November, 1968: All devotees are more or less poets. OUT OF 26 QUALIFICATIONS OF A PERFECT DEVOTEE,ONE IS POETIC SENSE. So we can write so many poetries in praise of the Lord, or about His pastimes. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Room Conversation -- April 27, 1969, Boston: Everyone should be expert in every respect, TWENTY SIX QUALIFICATIONS. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Room Conversation with Allen Ginsberg -- May 13, 1969, Columbus, Ohio: For the Vaiṣṇava, to become poet is another qualification. VAISNAVA HAS TWENTY-SIX QUALIFICATIONS. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Walk -- March 25, 1974, Bombay: Prabhupāda: Everyone is poet. (laughter) (break) WITHOUT BEING KAVI,ONE CANNOT BECOME DEVOTEE. There are twenty-six qualifications of a devotee. One of them is to become kavi. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Room Conversation With Radha-Damodara Sankirtana Party -- March 16, 1976, Mayapur: A devotees one qualification is dakṣa, dakṣa, expert. Out of the twenty-six qualifications, a devotee is always very expert in dealing. It is not that because they have left anything material, they do not know how to deal with material things. Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī did it. Perhaps you know the story. Political. Although he had nothing to do with material things, when there was a political game (gain?) he tackled it very nicely when he was young man. But devotee, although not interested in material things, but for Kṛṣṇas sake they deal with material things very expertly. That should be the qualification of a devotee, expert. Not that I have nothing to do with these material things. No. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BOOKS: SB 2.3.13, TRANSLATION Śaunaka said: The son of Vyāsadeva, Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī, -was a highly learned sage and -was able to describe things in a poetic manner. What did Mahārāja Parīkṣit again inquire from him after hearing all that he had said? PURPORT A PURE DEVOTEE OF THE LORD AUTOMATICALLY DEVELOPS ALL GODLY QUALITIES, and SOME OF THE PROMINENT FEATURES OF THOSE QUALITIES are as follows: 1 -kind, 2-peaceful, 3-truthful, 4-equable, 5-faultless, 6-magnanimous, 7-mild, 8-clean, 9-nonpossessive, 10-a well-wisher to all, 11-satisfied, 12-surrendered to Kṛṣṇa, 13-without hankering, 14-simple, 15-fixed, 16-self-controlled, 17-a balanced eater, 18-sane, 19-mannerly, 20-prideless, 21-grave, 22-sympathetic, 23-friendly, 24-poetic, 25-expert and 26-silent. Out of THESE TWENTY-SIX PROMINENT FEATURES OF A DEVOTEE, as described by Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja in his Caitanya-caritāmṛta, THE QUALIFICATION OF BEING POETIC is especially mentioned herein in relation to ŚUKADEVA GOSVAMI. The presentation of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam by his recitation is the highest poetic contribution. He was A SELF-REALIZED LEARNED SAGE. In other words, he was a poet amongst the sages. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SB 3.15.25, Translation and Purport: ONE CAN ENTER THE KINGDOM OF THE SUPREME LORD ONLY WHEN ONE IS HIGHLY DEVELOPED IN DESIRABLE QUALITIES. ALL GOOD QUALITIES DEVELOP IN THE PERSON OF A DEVOTEE. It is stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Fifth Canto, Eighteenth Chapter, verse 12, (SB 5.18.12) that ANYONE WHO IS KRSNA CONSCIOUS IS ENDOWED WITH ALL GOOD QUALITIES OF THE DEMIGODS. Brahmājī confirms herewith that ONLY PERSONS WHO HAVE DEVELOPED THE DESIRABLE QUALITIES CAN ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, THE DEVOTEE´S DESIRABLE QUALITIES ARE DESCRIBED TO BE TWENTY-SIX IN NUMBER. They are stated as follows: (1)-He is very kind; (2)-he does not quarrel with anyone; (3)-he accepts Kṛṣṇa consciousness as the highest goal of life; (4)-he is equal to everyone; (5)-no one can find fault in his character; (6)-he is magnanimous, (7)-mild and (8)-always clean, internally and externally; (9)-he does not profess to possess anything in this material world; (10)-he is a benefactor to all living entities; (11)-he is peaceful and (12)-is a soul completely surrendered to Kṛṣṇa; (13)-he has no material desire to fulfill; (14)-he is meek and humble, (15)-always steady, and (16)-has conquered the sensual activities; (17)-he does not eat more than required to maintain body and soul together; (18)-he is never mad after material identity; (19)-he is respectful to all others and (20)-does not demand respect for himself; (21)-he is very grave, (22)-very compassionate and (23)-very friendly; (24)-he is poetic; (25)-he is expert in all activities, and (26)-he is silent in nonsense. Similarly, in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Third Canto, Twenty-fifth Chapter, verse 21,-SB 3.25.21 THE QUALIFICATIONS OF A SAINTLY PERSON ARE MENTIONED. IT IS SAID THERE THAT A SAINTLY PERSON ELIGIBLE TO ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS -very tolerant and -very kind to all living entities. -He is not partial; -he is kind both to human beings and to animals. He is not such a fool that he will kill a goat Nārāyaṇa to feed a human Nārāyaṇa, or daridra-nārāyaṇa. -He is very kind to all living entities; - therefore he has no enemy. -He is very peaceful. THESE ARE THE QUALITIES OF PERSONS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SB 3.16.5, Purport: A VAISNAVA,THEREFORE,SHOULD BE FULLY QUALIFIED. As stated in the Bhāgavatam, ANYONE WHO HAS BECOME A VAISNAVA HAS DEVELOPED ALL THE GOOD QUALITIES OF THE DEMIGODS. THERE ARE TWENTY-SIX QUALIFICATIONS mentioned in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta. A DEVOTEE SHOULD ALWAYS SEE THAT HIS VAISNAVA QUALITIES INCREASE WITH THE ADVANCEMENT OF HIS KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3.25.21 titikṣavaḥ kāruṇikāḥ suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām ajāta-śatravaḥ śāntāḥ sādhavaḥ sādhu-bhūṣaṇāḥ SYNONYMS titikṣavaḥ—tolerant; kāruṇikāḥ—merciful; suhṛdaḥ—friendly; sarva-dehinām—to all living entities; ajāta-śatravaḥ—inimical to none;śāntāḥ—peaceful; sādhavaḥ—abiding by scriptures; sādhu-bhūṣaṇāḥ—adorned with sublime characteristics. TRANSLATION THE SYMPTOMS OF A SADHU are that he is -tolerant, -merciful and -friendly to all living entities. -He has no enemies, -he is peaceful, -he abides by the scriptures, and -ALL HIS CHARACTERISTICS ARE SUBLIME. PURPORT A SADHU, as described above, IS A DEVOTEE OF THE LORD. -------------------- *His concern, therefore, is to enlighten people in devotional service to the Lord. That is his mercy. He knows that without devotional service to the Lord, human life is spoiled. A DEVOTEE travels all over the country, from door to door, preaching, “Be Kṛṣṇa conscious. Be a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Don’t spoil your life in simply fulfilling your animal propensities. Human life is meant for self-realization, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness.” These are the preachings of a SADHU. He is not satisfied with his own liberation. He always thinks about others. He is the most compassionate personality towards all the fallen souls. One of his qualifications, therefore, is kāruṇika, great mercy to the fallen souls. -------------------- *While engaged in preaching work, he has to meet with so many opposing elements, and therefore THE SADHU,OR DEVOTEE OF THE LORD,HAS TO BE VERY TOLERANT. Someone may ill-treat him because the conditioned souls are not prepared to receive the transcendental knowledge of devotional service. They do not like it; that is their disease. THE SADHU has the thankless task of impressing upon them the importance of devotional service. Sometimes DEVOTEES are personally attacked with violence. LORD JESUS CHRIST was crucified, HARIDASA THAKURA was caned in twenty-two marketplaces, and Lord Caitanya’s principal assistant, NITYANANDA, was violently attacked by Jagāi andMādhāi. But still they were tolerant because their mission was to deliver the fallen souls. One of THE QUALIFICATIONS OF A SADHU is that he -is very tolerant and -is merciful to all fallen souls. He is merciful because he is the well-wisher of all living entities. He is not only a well-wisher of human society, but a well-wisher of animal society as well. It is said here, sarva-dehinām, which indicates all living entities who have accepted material bodies. Not only does the human being have a material body, but other living entities, such as cats and dogs, also have material bodies. THE DEVOTEE OF THE LORD is merciful to everyone—the cats, dogs, trees, etc. He treats all living entities in such a way that they can ultimately get salvation from this material entanglement. ŚIVANANDA SENA, one of the disciples of Lord Caitanya, gave liberation to a dog by treating the dog transcendentally. There are many instances where a dog got salvation by association with A SADHU , because A SADHU engages in the highest philanthropic activities for the benediction of all living entities. -------------------- Yet although A SADHU is not inimical towards anyone, the world is so ungrateful that even A SADHU has many enemies. What is the difference between an enemy and a friend? It is a difference in behavior. A SADHU behaves with all conditioned souls for their ultimate relief from material entanglement. Therefore, no one can be more friendly than A SADHU in relieving a conditioned soul. -------------------- A SADHU is calm, and he quietly and peacefully follows the principles of scripture. A SADHU means one who -follows the principles of scripture and at the same time -is a devotee of the Lord. One who actually follows the principles of scripture must be A DEVOTEE OF GOD because all the śāstras instruct us to obey the orders of the Personality of Godhead. SADHU , therefore, means -a follower of the scriptural injunctions and -a devotee of the Lord. ALL THESE CHARACTERISTICS ARE PROMINENT IN A DEVOTEE. A DEVOTEE DEVELOPS ALL THE GOOD QUALITIES OF THE DEMIGODS, WHEREAS A NONDEVOTEE,even though ACADEMICALLY QUALIFIED,has NO ACTUAL -GOOD QUALIFICATIONS OR -GOOD CHARACTERISTICS ACCORDING TO THE STANDARD OF TRANSCENDENTAL REALIZATION. ----------------------------------------------------- A SADHU, as described above, IS A DEVOTEE OF THE LORD. Sometimes DEVOTEES. -LORD JESUS CHRIST was crucified, -HARIDASA THAKURA was caned in twenty-two marketplaces, -NITYANANDA, was violently attacked by Jagāi andMādhāi. -ŚIVANANDA SENA, one of the disciples of Lord Caitanya, gave liberation to a dog by treating the dog transcendentally. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- SB 4.20.16, Translation and Purport: My dear King, I AM VERY CAPTIVATED BY YOUR ELEVATED QUALITIES AND EXCELLENT BEHAVIOR, and thus I am very favorably inclined toward you. You may therefore ask from Me any benediction you like. ONE WHO DOES NOT POSSESS ELEVATED QUALITIES AND BEHAVIOR CANNOT POSSIBLY ACHIEVE MY FAVOR simply by performance of sacrifices, severe austerities or mystic yoga. But I always remain equipoised in the heart of one who is also equipoised in all circumstances. PURPORT: Lord Viṣṇu was very pleased with Mahārāja Pṛthus GOOD CHARACTER AND BEHAVIOR and offered him a benediction. The Lord openly says that performing great sacrifices or undergoing the austerities of mystic yoga practice cannot satisfy Him. HE IS PLEASED ONLY BY ELEVATED CHARACTER AND BEHAVIOR. BUT THESE CANNOT DEVELOP UNLESS ONE BECOMES A PURE DEVOTEE OF THE LORD. ANYONE WHO HAS DEVELOPED UNALLOYED,UNFLINCHING DEVOTIONAL SERVICE UNTO THE LORD DEVELOPS HIS ORIGINAL GOOD QUALITIES AS SPIRIT SOUL. THE SPIRIT SOUL, AS PART AND PARCEL OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, HAS ALL THE GOOD QUALITIES OF THE LORD. WHEN THE SPIRIT SOUL IS CONTAMINATED BY THE MATERIAL MODES OF NATURE,one is considered good or bad with reference to THE MATERIAL QUALITIES. BUT WHEN ONE IS TRANSCENDENTAL TO ALL MATERIAL QUALITIES, ALL THE GOOD QUALITIES COME OUT. THESE QUALITIES OF A DEVOTEE, twenty-six in number, are listed as follows: (1) kind to everyone, (2) does not quarrel with anyone, (3) fixed in the Absolute Truth, (4) equal to everyone, (5) faultless, (6) charitable, (7) mild, (8) clean, (9) simple, (10) benevolent, (11) peaceful, (12) completely attached to Kṛṣṇa, (13) has no material hankering, (14) meek, (15) steady, (16) self-controlled, (17) does not eat more than required, (18) sane, (19) respectful, (20) humble, (21) grave, (22) compassionate, (23) friendly, (24) poetic, (25) expert, (26) silent. THE LORD IS SATISFIED -BY DEVELOPMENT OF THE TRANSCENDENTAL QUALITIES OF THE LIVING ENTITY and -NOT BY artificial performance of sacrifices and mystic yoga. In other words, UNLESS ONE IS FULLY QUALIFIED TO BECOME A PURE DEVOTEE OF THE LORD, ONE CANNOT EXPECT TO BE LIBERATED FROM MATERIAL ENTANGLEMENT. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- SB 5.18.12 yasyāsti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcanā SARVAIR guṇais tatra samāsate surāḥ SYNONYMS SARVAIR—WITH ALL; guṇaiḥ—good qualities; TRANSLATION ALL THE DEMIGODS AND THEIR EXALTED QUALITIES, such as religion, knowledge and renunciation, become manifest in the body of one WHO HAS DEVELOPED UNALLOYED DEVOTION FOR THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD,VASUDEVA. On the other hand, a person DEVOID OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE and engaged in material activities has NO GOOD QUALITIES. Even if he is adept at the practice of mystic yoga or the honest endeavor of maintaining his family and relatives, he must be driven by his own mental speculations and must engage in the service of the Lord’s external energy. How can there be any good qualities in such a man? PURPORT *ALL LIVING ENTITIES ARE PART AND PARCEL OF KRSNA, and THEREFORE *WHEN THEY REVIVE THEIR ORIGINAL KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, *THEY POSSES ALL THE GOOD QUALITIES OF KRSNA IN A SMALL QUANTITY. When one engages himself in the nine processes of devotional service (śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam/ arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ sakhyam ātma-nivedanam[SB 7.5.23]), one’s heart becomes purified, and he immediately understands his relationship with Kṛṣṇa. He then REVIVES HIS ORIGINAL QUALITY OF KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS. In the Ādi-līlā of Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Chapter Eight, THERE IS A DESCRIPTION OF SOME OF THE QUALITIES OF DEVOTEES. For example, Śrī Paṇḍita Haridāsa is described as being -very well-behaved, -tolerant, -peaceful, -magnanimous and -grave. In addition, -he spoke very sweetly, -his endeavors were very pleasing, -he was always patient, -he respected everyone, -he always worked for everyones benefit, -his mind was free of duplicity, and -he was completely devoid of all malicious activities. THESE ARE ALL ORIGINALLY QUALITIES OF KRSNA,AND WHEN ONE BECOMES A DEVOTEE THEY AUTOMATICALLY BECOME MANIFEST. Śrī Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja, the author of Caitanya-caritāmṛta, says that ALL GOOD QUALITIES BECOME MANIFEST IN THE BODY OF A VAISNAVA and that ONLY BY THE PRESENCE OF THESE GOOD QUALITIES CAN ONE DISTINGUISH A VAISNAVA FROM A NON-VAISNAVA. Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja lists the following TWENTY-SIX GOOD QUALITIES OF A VAISNAVA: (1) He is very kind to everyone; (2) He does not make anyone his enemy; (3) He is truthful; (4) He is equal to everyone; (5) No one can find any fault in him; (6) He is magnanimous; (7) He is mild; (8) He is always clean; (9) He is without possessions; (10) He works for everyones benefit; (11) He is very peaceful; (12) He is always surrendered to Kṛṣṇa; (13) He has no material desires; (14) He is very meek; (15) He is steady; (16) He controls his senses; (17) He does not eat more than required; (18) He is not influenced by the Lords illusory energy; (19) He offers respect to everyone; (20) He does not desire any respect for himself; (21) He is very grave; (22) He is merciful; (23) He is friendly; (24) He is poetic; (25) He is expert; (26) He is silent. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SRI CAITANYA CARITAMRTA: SUMMARY,CC MADHYA-LILA CHAPTER 22: IF ONE ENGAGES IN DEVOTIONAL SERVICE, ALL GOOD QUALITIES FOLLOW. ONE DOES NOT HAVE TO CULTIVATE THEM SEPARATELY. ----------------------------------------------------------- CC Madhya 22.75 SARVA mahā-guṇa-gaṇa vaiṣṇava-śarīre kṛṣṇa-bhakte kṛṣṇera guṇa sakali sañcāre SYNONYMS SARVA-ALL; mahā—great; guṇa-gaṇa—transcendental qualities;vaiṣṇava-śarīre—in the bodies of Vaiṣṇavas; kṛṣṇa-bhakte—in the devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa; kṛṣṇera—of Lord Kṛṣṇa; guṇa—the qualities;sakali—all; sañcāre—appear. TRANSLATION A VAISNAVA IS ONE WHO HAS DEVELOPED ALL GOOD TRANSCENDENTAL QUALITIES. ALL THE GOOD QUALITIES OF KRSNA GRADUALLY DEVELOP IN KRSNA´S DEVOTEE. ------------------------------------------------ CC Madhya 22.77 sei saba guṇa haya vaiṣṇava-lakṣaṇa saba kahā nā yāya, kari dig-daraśana SYNONYMS sei SABA guṇa-ALL THOSE transcendental qualities; haya-are; vaiṣṇava-lakṣaṇa-THE SYMPTOMS OF A VAISNAVA; SABA-ALL;kahā nā yāya-cannot be explained; kari-I shall do; dik-daraśana-a general review. TRANSLATION ALL THESE TRANSCENDENTAL QUALITIES ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF PURE VAISNAVAS, and they cannot be fully explained, but I shall try to point out SOME OF THE IMPORTANT QUALITIES. ------------------------------------------------ Cc. Madhya-lila 22.78-80 kṛpālu, akṛta-droha, satya-sāra sama nidoṣa, vadānya, mṛdu, śuci, akiñcana sarvopakāraka, śānta, kṛṣṇaika-śaraṇa akāma, anīha, sthira, vijita-ṣaḍ-guṇa mita-bhuk, apramatta, mānada, amānī gambhīra, karuṇa, maitra, kavi, dakṣa, maunī SYNONYMS kṛpālu—merciful; akṛta-droha—not defiant; satya-sāra—thoroughly true; sama—equal; nidoṣa—faultless; vadānya—magnanimous; mṛdu—mild; śuci—clean; akiñcana—without material possessions; sarva-upakāraka—working for the welfare of everyone; śānta—peaceful;kṛṣṇa-eka-śaraṇa—exclusively surrendered to Kṛṣṇa; akāma—desireless; anīha—indifferent to material acquisitions; sthira—fixed;vijita-ṣaṭ-guṇa—completely controlling the six bad qualities (lust, anger, greed, etc.); mita-bhuk—eating only as much as required;apramatta—without inebriation; māna-da—respectful; amānī—without false prestige; gambhīra—grave; karuṇa—compassionate;maitra—a friend; kavi—a poet; dakṣa—expert; maunī—silent. TRANSLATION DEVOTEES ARE ALWAYS 1.merciful, 2.humble, 3.truthful, 4.equal to all, 5.faultless, 6.magnanimous, 7.mild and 8.clean. 9.They are without material possessions, and 10.they perform welfare work for everyone. 11.They are peaceful, 12.surrendered to Kṛṣṇa and 13.desireless. 14.They are indifferent to material acquisitions and 15are fixed in devotional service. 16.They completely control the six bad qualities-lust, anger, greed and so forth. 17.They eat only as much as required, and 18.they are not inebriated. 19.They are respectful, 20.grave, 21passionate and 22.without false prestige. 23.They are friendly, 24.poetic, 25.expert and 26.silent. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CC Madhya 22.81 titikṣavaḥ kāruṇikāḥ suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām ajāta-śatravaḥ śāntāḥ sādhavaḥ sādhu-bhūṣaṇāḥ SYNONYMS titikṣavaḥ—very forebearing; kāruṇikāḥ—merciful; suhṛdaḥ—who are well-wishers; sarva-dehinām—to all living entities; ajāta-śatravaḥ—without enemies; śāntāḥ—peaceful; sādhavaḥ—following the injunctions of the śāstra; sādhu-bhūṣaṇāḥ—who are decorated with good character. TRANSLATION DEVOTEES ARE ALWAYS -tolerant, -forebearing and -very merciful. -They are the well-wishers of every living entity. -They follow the scriptural injunctions, and -because they have no enemies, they are very peaceful. -These are THE DECORATIONS OF DEVOTEES. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CC Madhya 22.145 jñāna-vairāgyādi--bhaktira kabhu nahe aṅga ahiṁsā-yama-niyamādi bule kṛṣṇa-bhakta-saṅga SYNONYMS jñāna—the path of knowledge; vairāgya-ādi—the path of renunciation and so on; bhaktira—of devotional service; kabhu—at any time; nahe—not; aṅga—a part; ahiṁsā—nonviolence; yama—controlling the senses and the mind; niyama-ādi—restrictions and so on; bule—roam; kṛṣṇa-bhakta-saṅga—in the association of a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa. TRANSLATION The path of speculative knowledge and renunciation is not very essential for devotional service. Indeed, good qualities such as -nonviolence and -mind and sense control automatically accompany a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CC Madhya 22.147 ete na hy adbhutā vyādha tavāhiṁsādayo guṇāḥ hari-bhaktau pravṛttā ye na te syuḥ paratāpinaḥ SYNONYMS ete—all these; na—not; hi—certainly; adbhutāḥ—wonderful; vyādha—O hunter; tava—your; ahiṁsā-ādayaḥ—nonviolence and others;guṇāḥ—qualities; hari-bhaktau—in devotional service; pravṛttāḥ—engaged; ye—those who; na—not; te—they; syuḥ—are; paratāpinaḥ—envious of other living entities. TRANSLATION O hunter, good qualities like nonviolence, which you have developed, are not very astonishing, for those who are engaged in the Lords devotional service are never inclined to give pain to others because of envy. PURPORT This is a quotation from the Skanda Purāṇa -------------------------------------------------------------------------- CC Adi-lila 8.54 sevāra adhyakṣa--śrī-paṇḍita haridāsa tāṅra yaśaḥ-guṇa sarva-jagate prakāśa SYNONYMS sevāra—of the service; adhyakṣa—commander; śrī-paṇḍita haridāsa—Haridāsa Paṇḍita; tāṅra—of his; yaśaḥ—fame; guṇa—quality; sarva-jagate—all over the world; prakāśa—known. TRANSLATION In that temple the chief servitor was Śrī Haridāsa Paṇḍita. HIS QUALITIES AND FAME are known all over the world. PURPORT Śrī Haridāsa Paṇḍita was a disciple of Śrī Ananta Ācārya, who was a disciple of Gadādhara Paṇḍita. ---------------------------------------------------------------- CC Adi-lil 8.55 suśīla, sahiṣṇu, śānta, vadānya, gambhīra madhura-vacana, madhura-ceṣṭā, mahā-dhīra SYNONYMS suśīla—well behaved; sahiṣṇu—tolerant; śānta—peaceful; vadānya—magnanimous; gambhīra—grave; madhura-vacana—sweet words; madhura-ceṣṭā—sweet endeavor; mahā-dhīra—completely sober. TRANSLATION He was -gentle, -tolerant, -peaceful, -magnanimous, -grave, -sweet in his words and -very sober in his endeavors. ----------------------------- CC Adi-lila 8.56 sabāra sammāna-kartā, karena sabāra hita kauṭilya-mātsarya-hiṁsā nā jāne tāṅra cita SYNONYMS sabāra—of all; sammāna-kartā—respectful; karena—does; sabāra—everyones; hita—benefit; kauṭilya—diplomatic; mātsarya—jealousy;hiṁsā—envy; nā jāne—does not know; tāṅra—his; cita—heart. TRANSLATION -He was respectful to everyone and -worked for the benefit of all. Diplomacy, envy and jealousy were unknown to his heart. ---------------------------------------- CC Adi-lila 8.57 kṛṣṇera ye sādhāraṇa sad-guṇa pañcāśa se saba guṇera tāṅra śarīre nivāsa SYNONYMS kṛṣṇera-of Lord Kṛṣṇa; ye-that; sādhāraṇa-general; sat-guṇa-good qualities; pañcāśa-fifty; se-those; saba-all; guṇera-qualities; tāṅra-his; śarīre-in the body; nivāsa-were always present. TRANSLATION THE FIFTY QUALITIES OF LORD KRSNA WERE ALL PRESENT IN HIS BODY. PURPORT In the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, THE TRANSCENDENTAL QUALITIES OF SRI KRSNA ARE MENTIONED. AMONG THESE,FIFTY ARE PRIMARY (ayaṁ netā su-ramyāṅgaḥ, etc.), and IN MINUTE QUANTITY THEY WERE ALL PRESENT IN THE BODY OF SRI HARIDASA PANDITA. -SINCE EVERY LIVING ENTITY IS A PART OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, -ALL FIFTY OF THESE GOOD QUALITIES OF SRI KRSNA ARE ORIGINALLY MINUTELY PRESENT IN EVERY LIVING BEING. -DUE TO HIS CONTACT WITH MATERIAL NATURE, THESE QUALITIES ARE NOT VISIBLE IN THE CONDITIONED SOUL, -BUT WHEN ONE BECOMES A PURIFIED DEVOTEE, THEY ALL AUTOMATICALLY MANIFEST THEMSELVES. This is stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.18.12), as mentioned in the text below. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CC ADI-LILA 8.58- CC Madhya 22.76 yasyāsti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcanā TRANSLATION *In one who has UNFLINCHING DEVOTIONAL FAITH IN KRSNA, ALL THE GOOD QUALITIES OF KRSNA AND THE DEMIGODS ARE CONSISTENTLY MANIFEST. *However, he who has NO DEVOTION to the Supreme Personality of Godhead has NO GOOD QUALIFICATIONS because he is engaged by mental concoction in material existence, which is the external feature of the Lord. ------------------------------------- CC adi-lila 8.59 paṇḍita-gosāñira śiṣya--ananta ācārya kṛṣṇa-premamaya-tanu, udāra, sarva-ārya SYNONYMS paṇḍita-gosāñira—of Gadādhara Paṇḍita; śiṣya—disciple; ananta ācārya—of the name Ananta Ācārya; kṛṣṇa-premamaya—always overwhelmed by love of God; tanu—body; udāra—magnanimous;sarva—in all respects; ārya—advanced. TRANSLATION Ananta Ācārya was a disciple of Gadādhara Paṇḍita. His body was always absorbed in love of Godhead. He was magnanimous and advanced in all respects. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CC Adi-lila 8.60 tāṅhāra ananta guṇa ke karu prakāśa tāṅra priya śiṣya iṅha--paṇḍita haridāsa SYNONYMS tāṅhāra—his; ananta—unlimited; guṇa—qualities; ke—who; karu—can; prakāśa—display; tāṅra—his; priya—dear; śiṣya—disciple; iṅha—this person; paṇḍita haridāsa—of the name Haridāsa Paṇḍita. TRANSLATION Ananta Ācārya was A RESERVOIR OF ALL GOOD QUALITIES. No one can estimate HOW GREAT HE WAS. Paṇḍita Haridāsa was his beloved disciple. PURPORT Śrī Ananta Ācārya is one of the eternal associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Previously, during the advent of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Ananta Ācārya was Sudevī, one of the eight gopīs. This is stated in the Gaura-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā, verse 165, as follows: anantācārya-gosvāmī yā sudevī purā vraje. Ananta Ācārya Gosvāmī was formerly Sudevī-gopī in Vraja [Vṛndāvana].
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 02:28:42 +0000
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