Page 98 - Defending Prabhupada Words - By Harivlas Das

be non-devotees.” Radharani explains further: “If a gopi
envious of Me satisfies Krishna and Krishna desires her,
I shall not hesitate to go to her house and become her
maidservant, for then My happiness will be awakened.”
(CC Antya 20. 56)

The above verses were Lord Chaitanya’s reflections on
Radharani’s earnest feeling of complete sacrifice for Her
Lord Krishna. These thoughts were in the context of the
thoughts one should cultivate when chanting the Hare
Krishna Mahamantra: “One who thinks himself lower
than the grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who
does not expect personal honor but is always prepared to
give all respect to others can very easily always chant the
holy name of the Lord.” (Siksastakam #3)

Then Lord Chaitanya mentions the par excellent example
of Silavati: “The wife of a Brahmana suffering from leprosy
manifested herself as the topmost of all chaste women by
serving a prostitute to satisfy her husband. She thus stopped
the movement of the sun, brought her dead husband back
to life and satisfied the three principle demigods (Brahma,
Vishnu, and Mahesvara).” (CC Antya 20.57)

Although Silavati’s example is one of a woman in the
material world attached to her fallen husband. What is
exemplary is her absolute chastity and faithfulness to her
husband. Her example is exceptional, but it indicates the
transformative power of a chaste woman who serves her
husband unconditionally without personal motives other

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