(7/11) Power of Genuine Devotion

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Adhivas of Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's tirobhav
Sri Nrisingha Palli, 12 August 2018, morning, part 7
Translated from Bengali

It is necessary to always follow Sri Gurupadpadma's words and to have faith in him. When Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya's son-in-law criticised Mahaprabhu when he saw what Mahaprabhu was eating, Mahaprabhu said very sadly, 'What am I to say? What he is saying is right...' Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya's wife considered Mahaprabhu the Lord Himself, so she cooked for Him as she would cook for the Lord (opulently). Mahaprabhu did not so easily accept food from a lady, but He did take prasad at very few houses. When Mahaprabhu had just taken sannyas, He stayed for a few days at the house of Advaita Acharya Prabhu, and Sita Devi (Advaita Acharya Prabhu's wife) cooked and served prasad to Him. Before taking sannyas, He also often took prasad from the hand of Malini Devi, Srivas Pandit's wife. And He also took prasad from Sachi Mata's hand, naturally, because she was His mother. When Mahaprabhu stayed in Puri, He took prasad from the hand of Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya's wife.

One time, to teach one person, Mahaprabhu said, 'A brahman's heart cannot understand why separation from the Lord is so unbearable.'

When Chapal Gopal made an offence at Srivas Pandit's holy feet, Mahaprabhu cursed him, 'You have made an offence at the holy feet of Srivas, so you will be food for insects birth after birth! I will not spare you!' If anybody said something about Mahaprabhu, He did not care, but if He saw some disrespect towards a devotee, He would not tolerate it. When Madhai beat Nityananda Prabhu, Mahaprabhu ran there with His Sudarshan Chakra. It is written in the scriptures that the Lord's incarnation in Kali-yuga will not take up arms but will instead distribute transcendental love and affection – these were Mahaprabhu's weapons. But when He saw a devotee's pain, when He saw a devotee's blood fall, He forgot about His promise and called Sudarshan. You all know understand what happens when Sudarshan comes. Then, Nityananda Prabhu clasped Mahaprabhu's feet and made Him withdraw Sudarshan.

Do you remember when else did the Lord call His sudarshan? To protect Ambharish Maharaj. When Durvasa Muni spoke harshly with Ambharish Maharaj, but Ambharish Maharaj was such a great Vaishnav that the Lord sent His Sudarshan Chakra to protect him. Durvasa was a sannyasi, a muni, and he felt that he was superior to Ambharish Maharaj, who was a householder, not even a brahmachari. So, he became angry, 'I am a sannyasi, but he is just some householder, and he has eaten before me!' What did Ambharish Maharaj actually do? He had fasted on an ekadasi, not eating or drinking anything, and when the time of paran came, he took some charanamrita of the Lord to break the fast. Because of that, Durvasa Muni told him so many things because of that. The Lord cannot tolerate when His devotees are abused or when His devotees have to suffer, that is why Lord Krishna personally came down with Sudarshan out of love for Ambharish Maharaj and to punish Durvasa Muni. What did Durvana Muni do then? Out of fear, He ran all over the universe – to Brahma-loka, Siva-loka, heaven, earth and hell. But wherever he ran, Sudarshan followed him everywhere. No matter where he went, Durvasa Muni could not escape him. Finally, Durvana Muni came to Ambharish Maharaj and prayed, 'Prabhu, please save me. I have been to so many places, I am so tired, please rescue me!' It is true – devotees can save us, but if we start thinking, 'I am a devotee,' then we are in danger.

'"Ami ta vaisnava"' e buddhi haile amani na ha'ba ami ('আমি ত বৈষ্ণব' এ বুদ্ধি হইলে অমানী না হ'ব আমি): If I think, "I am a Vaishnav," then I will never stop expecting honour from others.' If I get the idea that I am a Vaishnav, I will not be able to give honour to others. Srila Prabhupad said also, 'Dusta mana! tumi kisera Vaisnava? (দুষ্ঠ মন ! তুমি কিসের বৈষ্ণব ?) My dear mind, what kind of Vaishnav do you think you are?' We must always remember this and keep this in our hearts. If we become proud that we are acharyas, that we are Vaishnavs, then we will never get anything.

Therefore, it is my prayer to you all who have come here. Please do not show any ego, do not be proud. We do not know anything, we do not have quality or qualification. 'Yogyata vichare kichhu nahi pai—tomara koruna-sara (যোগ্যতা বিচারে কিছু নাহি পাই তোমার করুণা সার)! If you judge my qualifications, you will find I have none. Your mercy is everything.' We pray to Gurudev, 'If I do not get your mercy, I cannot do anything.' No matter how much you may know, no matter how many good qualities you may have, you will not get anywhere and you will not be able to do anything unless you have your guru's mercy. 'If you judge my qualifications, you will find I have none. Your mercy is everything.'

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READ OTHER PARTS:

1) Genuine Relation with Sri Guru
2) Pleasing Gurudev
3) Giving Gurudev Place In Your Heart
4) Gurudev's Transcendental Care
5) Live In the World of Faith
6) Value Your Service Life
7) Power of Genuine Devotion
8) Give Wholesale Attention
9) Harmonising Wisely
10) Seva-Sprha
11) My Humble Prayer to You