Text 16] Pṛthu Mahārāja's Meeting with the Four Kumāras
905
Indeed, not only is he convinced himself, but he can convince others on the strength of Vedic evidence. The advanced devotee can also see all other living entities as part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, without discrimination. The  madhyama-adhikārī  (preacher) is also well-versed in the  śāstras  and can convince others also, but he discriminates between the favorable and the unfavorable. In other words, the  madhyama-adhikārī  does not care for the demoniac living entities, and the neophyte  kaṇiṣṭha-adhikārī  does not know much about  śāstra  but has full faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Kumāras were, however,  mahā-bhāgavatas  because after scrutinizingly studying the Absolute Truth, they became devotees. In other words, they were in full knowledge of the Vedic conclusion. In the  Bhagavad-gītā  it is confirmed by the Lord that there are many devotees, but a devotee who is fully conversant in the Vedic conclusion is very dear to Him. Everyone is trying to elevate himself to the highest position according to his mentality. The  karmīs , who have a bodily concept of life, try to enjoy sense gratification to the utmost. The  jñānīs ' idea of the highest position is merging into the effulgence of the Lord. But a devotee's highest position is in preaching all over the world the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore the devotees are actually the representatives of the Supreme Lord, and as such they travel all over the world directly as Nārāyaṇa because they carry Nārāyaṇa within their hearts and preach His glories. The representative of Nārāyaṇa is as good as Nārāyaṇa, but he is not to conclude, like the Māyāvādīs, that he has become Nārāyaṇa. Generally, a  sannyāsī  is addressed as Nārāyaṇa by the Māyāvādīs. Their idea is that simply by taking  sannyāsa  one becomes equal to Nārāyaṇa or becomes Nārāyaṇa Himself. The Vaiṣṇava conclusion is different, as stated by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Thākura:
sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair
uktas tathā bhāvyata eva sadbhiḥ
kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam
According to the Vaiṣṇava philosophy, a devotee is as good as Nārāyaṇa not by becoming Nārāyaṇa but by becoming the most confidential servant of Nārāyaṇa. Such great personalities act as spiritual masters for the benefit of the people in general, and as such, a spiritual master who is preaching the glories of Nārāyaṇa should be accepted as Nārāyaṇa and be given all respects due Him.