9 / Further Consideration
of Devotional Principles

Blasphemy

One should not tolerate blaspheming of the Lord or His devotees.
In this connection, in the Tenth Canto, 70th Chapter, 25th verse, of
Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sukadeva Gosvami tells Partksit Maharaj: “My
dear King, if a person, after hearing blasphemous propaganda against
the Lord and His devotees, does not go away from that place, he
becomes bereft of the effect of all pious activities.”

In one of Lord Caitanya’s Siksdstaka verses it is stated: “The
devotee should be more tolerant than the tree and more submissive
than the grass. He should offer all honor to others, but may not
accept any honor for himself.” In spite of Lord Caitanya’s being so
humble and meek as a devotee, when He was informed about injuries
inflicted on the body of Sri Nityananda, He immediately ran to the
spot and wanted to kill the offenders, Jagai and Madhai. This behav-
ior of Lord Caitanya is very significant. It shows that a Vaisnava may
be very tolerant and meek, foregoing everything for his personal
honor, but when it is a question of the honor of Krsna or His devotee,
he will not tolerate any insult.

There are three ways of dealing with such insults. If someone is
heard blaspheming by words, one should be so expert that he can
defeat the opposing party by argument. If he is unable to defeat the
opposing party, then the next step is that he should not just stand
there meekly, but should give up his life. The third process is followed
if he is unable to execute the above-mentioned two processes, and
this is that one must leave the place and go away. If a devotee does

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