Devotional Qualifications 119
Gosvami achieved the desired goal of life simply by reciting Srimad-
Bhagavatam. Prahlada Maharaj became successful in his devotional
service by always remembering the Lord. Laksmi, the goddess of for-
tune, was successful by engaging herself in massaging the lotus feet of
the Lord. King Prthu became successful by worshiping in the temple.
Akrira became successful by offering prayers. Hanuman became suc-
cessful by rendering personal service to Lord Ramacandra. Arjuna
became successful by being a friend of Krsna. And Bali Maharaj be-
came successful simply by offering all of his possessions to Krsna.
There are also examples of devotees who discharged all the differ-
ent items together. In the Ninth Canto, 4th Chapter, 15th, 16th and
17th verses, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, there is a statement about
Maharaj Ambarisa, who followed every one of the devotional process-
es. In these verses, Sukadeva Gosvami says, “King Ambarisa first of
all concentrated his mind on the lotus feet of Lord Krsna and then
engaged his speech in describing the pastimes and activities of the
Lord. He engaged his hands in washing the temple of the Lord. He
engaged his ears in hearing of the transcendental glories of the Lord.
He engaged his eyes in seeing the beautiful Deity in the temple. He
engaged his body in associating with the pure devotees of the Lord.
[When you associate with someone you have to sit down together,
eat together, etc.—and in this way the touch of your body with their
body is inevitable. Ambariga Maharaj made his association only with
pure devotees and did not allow his body to be touched by anyone
else.] He engaged his nostrils in smelling the flowers and tulasi which
were offered to Krsna, and he engaged his tongue in tasting Krgna-
prasadam [food prepared specifically for offering to the Lord, the
remnants of which are taken by the devotees]. Maharaj Ambarisa was
able to offer very nice prasadam to Krsna because he was a king and
had no scarcity of finance. He used to offer Krsna the most royal
dishes and would then taste the remnants as Krsna-prasadam. There
was no scarcity in his royal style because he had a very beautiful
temple wherein the Deity of the Lord was decorated with costly
paraphernalia and offered high grade food. So everything was avail-
able, and his engagement was always completely in Krsna conscious-
ness.”
