366
Šrū Caitanya-caritāmrta
[[Madhva-lilā Ch 22
TRANSLATION
“A devotee is considered superlative and superior according to his attachment and love. In the Eleventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the following symptoms have been ascertained.
PURPORT
Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has stated that if one has developed faith in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he is to be considered an eligible candidate for further advancement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Those who have faith are divided into three categories— uttama ,  madhyama  and  kaniṣṭha  (first-class, second-class and neophyte). A first-class devotee has firm conviction in the revealed scriptures and is expert in arguing according to the  śāstras . He is firmly convinced of the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The  madhyama-adhikārī , or second-class devotee, has firm conviction in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, but he cannot support his conviction by citing  śāstric  references. The neophyte devotee does not yet have firm faith. In this way the devotees are typed.
The standard of devotion is also categorized in the same way. A neophyte believes that only love of Krṣṇa or Krṣṇa consciousness is very good, but he may not know the basis of pure Krṣṇa consciousness or how one can become a perfect devotee. Sometimes in the heart of a neophyte there is attraction for  karma ,  jñāna  or  yoga . When he is free and transcendental to mixed devotional activity, he becomes a second-class devotee. When he becomes expert in logic and can refer to the  śāstras , he becomes a first-class devotee. The devotees are also described as positive, comparative and superlative, in terms of their love and attachment for Krṣṇa.
It should be understood that a  madhyama-adhikārī , a second-class devotee, is fully convinced of Kṛṣṇa consciousness but cannot support his convictions with śāstric reference. A neophyte may fall down by associating with nondevotees because he is not firmly convinced and strongly situated. The second-class devotee, even though he cannot support his position with śāstric reference, can gradually become a first-class devotee by studying the  śāstras  and associating with a first-class devotee. However, if the second-class devotee does not advance himself by associating with a first-class devotee, he makes no progress. There is no possibility that a first-class devotee will fall down, even though he may mix with nondevotees to preach. Conviction and faith gradually increase to make one an  uttama-adhikārī , a first-class devotee.
Text 72
সর্বভূতেযু যং পশ্চৈঙ্ডগবঙাবমাত্মনং ।।
ভুঁতানি ভগবত্যাত্মস্বেষ ভাগবতোত্তমঃ ॥ ৭২ ॥।