Evidence Regarding Devotional Principles 67

A devotee should not be subjected to lamentation or illusion.
There is the following statement in the Padma Purana: “Within the
heart of a person who is overpowered by lamentation or anger, there
is no possibility of Krsna being manifested.”

The Demigods

One should not become neglectful to offer due respect to the
demigods. One may not be a devotee of demigods, but that does not
mean that he should be disrespectful to them. For example, a Vais-
nava is not a devotee of Lord Siva or Lord Brahma, but he is duty-
bound to offer all respects to such highly-positioned demigods. Ac-
cording to Vaisnava philosophy, one should offer respect even to an
ant, so then what need is there to speak of such exalted persons like
Lord Siva and Lord Brahma?

In the Padma Purana it is said, “Krsna, or Hari, is the master of all
demigods, and therefore He is always worshipable. But this does not
mean that one should not offer respect to the demigods.”’

Not Giving Pain to Any Living Entity

This is the statement of Mahabharata: “A person who does not
disturb or cause painful action in the mind of any living entity, who
treats everyone just like a loving father does his children, whose heart
is so pure, certainly very soon becomes favored by the Supreme Per-
sonality of Godhead.”

In so-called civilized society there is sometimes agitation against
cruelty to animals, but at the same time regular slaughterhouses are
always maintained. A Vaisnava is not like that. A Vaisnava can never
support animal slaughter nor even give pain to any living entity.
