Evidence Regarding Devotional Principles
67
A devotee should not be subjected to lamentation or illusion. There is the following statement in the  Padma Purāṇa : “Within the heart of a person who is overpowered by lamentation or anger, there is no possibility of Kṛṣṇa being manifested.”
The Demigods
One should not become neglectful to offer due respect to the demigods. One may not be a devotee of demigods, but that does not mean that he should be disrespectful to them. For example, a  Vaiṣṇava  is not a devotee of Lord Śiva or Lord Brahmā, but he is duty-bound to offer all respects to such highly-positioned demigods. According to  Vaiṣṇava  philosophy, one should offer respect even to an ant, so then what need is there to speak of such exalted persons like Lord Śiva and Lord Brahmā?
In the  Padma Purāṇa  it is said, “Kṛṣṇa, or Hari, is the master of all demigods, and therefore He is always worshipable. But this does not mean that one should not offer respect to the demigods.”
Not Giving Pain to Any Living Entity
This is the statement of  Mahābhārata : “A person who does not disturb or cause painful action in the mind of any living entity, who treats everyone just like a loving father does his children, whose heart is so pure, certainly very soon becomes favored by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
In so-called civilized society there is sometimes agitation against cruelty to animals, but at the same time regular slaughterhouses are always maintained. A  Vaiṣṇava  is not like that. A  Vaiṣṇava  can never support animal slaughter nor even give pain to any living entity.