30 The Nectar of Devotion

or to satisfy their inquisitiveness. And a wise man who simply realizes
the greatness of God is also counted amongst the neophytes. Such
beginners can be elevated to the second-class or first-class platform
if they associate with pure devotees.

An example of the neophyte class is Maharaj Dhruva. He was in
need of his father’s kingdom and therefore engaged himself in devo-
tional service to the Lord. Then in the end when he was completely
purified he declined to accept any material benediction from the
Lord. Similarly, Gajendra was also distressed and prayed to Krsna
for protection, after which he became a pure devotee. Similarly,
Sanaka, Sanatana, Sananda and Sanat-kumara were all in the category
of wise, saintly persons, and they were also attracted by devo-
tional service. A similar thing happened to the assemblage in the
Naimisaranya forest, headed by the sage Saunaka. They were inquisi-
tive and were always asking Stita Gosvami about Krsna. Thus they
achieved the association of a pure devotee and became pure devotees
themselves. So that is the way of elevating oneself. In whatever con-
dition one may be, if he is fortunate enough to associate with pure
devotees, then very quickly he is elevated to the second-class or first-
class platform.

These four types of devotees have been described in the Seventh
Chapter of the Bhagavad-gita, and they have all been accepted as
pious. Without becoming pious no one can come to devotional ser-
vice. It is explained in the Bhagavad-gita that only one who has con-
tinually executed pious activities and whose sinful reactions in life
have completely stopped can take to Krsna consciousness. Others
cannot. The neophyte devotees are classified into four groups—the
distressed, those in need of money, the inquisitive and the wise—ac-
cording to their gradations of pious activities. Without pious activi-
ties, if a man is in a distressed condition he becomes an agnostic,
communist or something like that. Because he does not firmly believe
in God, he thinks that he can adjust his distressed condition by
totally disbelieving in Him.

Lord Krsna, however, has explained in the Gita that out of these
four types of neophytes, the one who is wise is very dear to Him be-
cause a wise man, if he is attached to Krsna, is not seeking an ex-
