16 The Nectar of Devotion

Srimad-Bhagavatam, 12th Chapter, lst verse, where He says: “My
dear Uddhava, you may know it from Me that the attraction I feel
for devotional service rendered by My devotees is not to be attained
even by the performance of mystic yoga, philosophical speculation,
ritualistic sacrifices, the study of Vedanta, the practice of severe
austerities or the giving of everything in charity. These are, of course,
very nice activities, but they are not as attractive to Me as the tran-
scendental loving service rendered by My devotees.”

How Krsna becomes attracted by the devotional service of His
devotees is described by Narada in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Seventh
Canto, 10th Chapter, 37th verse. There Narada addresses King
Yudhisthira while the King is appreciating the glories of the character
of Prahlada Maharaj. A devotee always appreciates the activities of
other devotees. Yudhisthira Maharaj was appreciating the qualities
of Prahlada, and that is one symptom of a pure devotee. A pure
devotee never thinks himself as great; he always thinks that other
devotees are greater than himself. The King was thinking, ‘“‘Prahlada
Maharaj is actually a devotee of the Lord, while I am nothing,”
and while thinking this he was addressed by Narada as follows:
“My dear King Yudhisthira, in this world you [the Pandava brothers |
are the only fortunate people. The Supreme Personality of Godhead
has appeared on this planet and is presenting Himself to you as an
ordinary human being. He is always with you in all circumstances.
He is living with you and covering Himself from the eyes of others.
Others cannot understand that He is the Supreme Lord, but He is still
living with you as your cousin, as your friend and even as your mes-
senger. Therefore you must know that nobody in this world is more
fortunate than you.”

In the Bhagavad-gita, when Krsna appeared in His universal form,
Arjuna prayed: “My dear Krsna, I thought of You as my cousin-
brother, and so I have shown disrespect to You in so many ways,
calling You Krsna, or friend. But You are so great that I could not
understand.” So that was the position of the Pandavas; although
Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the greatest among all
greats, still He remained with those royal brothers, being attracted
by their devotion, by their friendship and by their love. That is the
