Page 5 - Powerful Feminine Qualities
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4- One should not be anxious for personal maintenance. Lord Krishna will always provide for the minimum needs of
His sincere devotee. There is no need to think how one should keep his body and soul together. One should be
satisfied with whatever he receives for maintenance as Krishna’s mercy. (Goptrtve varanam tatha)
5- One should always consider himself helpless and should consider Krishna the only basis for his progress in life.
(atma niksepa)
6- The devotee accepts everything that happens to him as the Lord’s mercy. He does not have any interest separate
from Krishna. (karpanye)
The prostitute gradually manifested all the six symptoms of full surrender. She transformed into a wonderful devotee
by the mercy of Haridas Thakur and attained the stage of pure devotional service by virtue of her full dedication to
hearing and chanting the Holy Mahamantra. She experienced the transcendental benefits of regularly chanting Hare
Krishna with full attention. They are:
1-Pure devotional service brings immediate relief from all kinds of material distress.
2-Pure devotional service is the beginning of all auspiciousness.
3-Pure devotional service automatically puts one in transcendental pleasure.
4-Pure devotional service is rarely achieved and one feels exceptionally fortunate.
5-Those in pure devotional service deride even the conception of liberation.
6-Pure devotional service is the only means to attract Krishna.
Krishna is the Supreme all-attractive Personality of Godhead. Pure devotional service rendered by a sincere devotee is
so powerful that Krishna Himself is attracted. It is transcendentally stronger than Krishna because pure love and
devotion to the Lord is His internal potency. Srimati Radharani is the epitome of pure love and devotion. She favors
any devotee who serves Krishna with pure intentions to please the Lord.
Another example is Lord Ramachandra. He strictly followed the principals of dharma. His father gave Him the order to
leave the kingdom of Ayodhya without being crowned the king, and to stay in exile for fourteen years as if He were a
criminal! However, He was not a criminal. He did not commit any mistake.
Sage Narada tells his disciple Valmiki Muni that the Lord went to the forest to please His Mother Kaikeyi and to obey
His father’s command (VR 1.1.24). Bharat, Rama’s brother, and the entire population of Ayodhya came to see Him in
the forest exile. They begged Him to come back. Even Vasistha Muni, Rama’s guru, ordered Him to come back.
However, He refused. He said, “No. If I do that, then I would turn my father into a liar.” Dasarath, Rama’s father,
promised his wife Kaikeyi that he would send Rama into exile for fourteen years. A son has to respect His parents.
Rama chose not to do anything that would tarnish the reputation of His father. He was following the principles of
dharma (spiritual duty). Even when His Guru told Him, “You go back. You do not have to follow your father’s order,”
He refused respectfully and explained why He should continue the exile. Rama is famous for His unparalleled
adherence to righteousness according to the codes of behavior given in the Vedas.
Uncle Dhritarastra asked his nephew King Yudhisthira to gamble. Yudhisthira lost the first time because Sakuni
cheated in the game of dice. His submissive attitude resulted in a drastic loss because the Kauravas disrespected
Draupadi, his wife. Dhritarastra annulled the Pandavas’ loss. Nevertheless, Duryodhana convinced his father to invite
the Pandavas a second round of gambling. Yudhistira knew very well that he would be cheated again. Yet he went
back because of his determination to follow the path of dharma. He did not want to disrespect his uncle’s request. He
honored his uncle as if he were his own father. All the Pandavas were forced to go into exile for 12 years and to
remain incognito for one additional year. Yudhisthira became famous and is known as Dharmaraja or the example of a
sincere follower of dharma.
Adhering to the righteous codes of Vaishnava behavior may be inconvenient. However, if one gives up all material
goals and takes complete shelter of Lord Krishna, there is no loss in any way. A devotee abandons material acts by
engaging in activities that help him advance spiritually on the path of Krishna consciousness. There is never any loss
for a sincere follower of Krishna consciousness. Krishna confirms this, “The Supreme Personality of Godhead said, ‘Oh
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