Devotional Qualifications
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by all authentic scriptures. Mental speculators neglect the process of devotional service, and by simply trying to defeat others in philosophical research they fail to develop the ecstasy of devotion.
In the Eleventh Canto, 20th Chapter, 31st verse, of the  Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam , Kṛṣṇa says, “My dear Uddhava, for persons who are seriously engaged in My service, the cultivation of philosophical speculation and artificial renunciation are not very favorable. When a person becomes My devotee he automatically attains the fruits of the renunciation of material enjoyment, and he gets sufficient knowledge to understand the absolute truth.” That is the test of advancement in devotional service. A devotee cannot be in darkness because the Lord shows him special favor and enlightens him from within.
In the Eleventh Canto, 20th Chapter, 32nd and 33rd verses, of the  Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam  the Lord further instructs Uddhava: “My dear friend, the profits derived from fruitive activities, austerities, the culture of philosophical knowledge, renouncement, the practice of mystic  yoga , charity and all similar auspicious activities are automatically achieved by My devotees—those who are simply attached to Me by loving service. These devotees have everything at their disposal, but they desire nothing outside of My devotional service. If ever a devotee should desire some material profit—to be promoted to the heavenly planets—or some spiritual profit—to go to the Vaikuṇṭhas—by My causeless mercy their desires are very easily fulfilled.”
Actually a person who is developing Krṣṇa consciousness and still has some attachment to material enjoyment will soon be freed from such a tendency by regularly discharging devotional service under the instruction of a bona fide spiritual master.
Šrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, then, recommends that one should not be attached to material sense enjoyment, but accept everything enjoyable which is in relationship to Krṣṇa. For example, eating is necessary, and one wants some palatable dishes to satisfy his sense of taste. So in that case, for the satisfaction of Krṣṇa rather than for the satisfaction of the tongue, some palatable dishes may be prepared and offered to Krṣṇa. Then it is renunciation. Let the palatable dishes be prepared, but unless they are offered to Krṣṇa one should not accept them for eating. This vow of rejecting anything which is