Text 24] Pṛthu Mahārāja's Meeting with the Four Kumāras
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slaughter of animals. A devotee is the friend not only of human society but of all living entities, for he sees all living entities as sons of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He does not claim himself to be the only son of God and allow all others to be killed, thinking that they have no soul. This kind of philosophy is never advocated by a pure devotee of the Lord.  Suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām : a true devotee is the friend of all living entities. Kṛṣṇa claims in  Bhagavad-gītā  to be the father of all species of living entities; consequently the devotee of Kṛṣṇa is always a friend of all. This is called  ahiṁsā . Such nonviolence can be practiced only when we follow in the footsteps of great  ācāryas . Therefore, according to our Vaiṣṇava philosophy, we have to follow the great  ācāryas  of the four  sampradāyas  or discipline successions.
Trying to advance in spiritual life outside the discipline succession is simply ludicrous. It is said, therefore:  ācāryavān puruṣo veda  ( Chānd. Up.  6.14.2). One who follows the discipline succession of  ācāryas  knows things as they are.  Tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet  ( Mund. Up.  1.2.12). In order to understand the transcendental science, one must approach the bona fide spiritual master. The word  smṛtyā  is very important in spiritual life.  Smṛtyā  means remembering Kṛṣṇa always. Life should be molded in such a way that one cannot remain alone without thinking of Kṛṣṇa. We should live in Kṛṣṇa so that while eating, sleeping, walking and working we remain only in Kṛṣṇa. Our Kṛṣṇa consciousness society recommends that we arrange our living so that we can remember Kṛṣṇa. In our ISKCON society the devotees, while engaged in making Spiritual Sky incense, are also hearing about the glories of Kṛṣṇa or His devotees. The  śāstra  recommends:  smartavyaḥ satataṁ viṣṇuḥ . Lord Viṣṇu should be remembered always, constantly.  Vismartavyo na jātucit : Viṣṇu should never be forgotten. That is the spiritual way of life.  Smṛtyā . This remembrance of the Lord can be continued if we hear about Him constantly. It is therefore recommended in this verse:  mukundācaritāgrya-sīdhunā .  Sīdhu  means nectar. To hear about Kṛṣṇa from  Śrīnud-Bhāgavatam  or  Bhagavad-gītā  or similar authentic literature is to live in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Such concentration in Kṛṣṇa consciousness can be achieved by persons who are strictly following the rules and regulative principles. We have recommended in our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement that a devotee chant sixteen rounds on beads daily and follow the regulative principles. That will help the devotee to spiritually advance in life.
It is also stated in this verse that by controlling the senses one can become a  svāmī  or  gosvāmī . One who is therefore enjoying this super-