140 The Nectar of Devotion

youthful life he gave up all kinds of attachments to family, children,
friends, kingdom, etc., as though they were untouchable stools.”

Emperor Bharata is a typical example of detachment. He had ev-
erything enjoyable in the material world, but he left it. This means
that detachment does not mean artificially keeping oneself aloof and
apart from the allurements of attachment. Even in the presence of
such allurements, if one can remain unattracted by material attach-
ments, that is called detachment. In the beginning, of course, a neo-
phyte devotee must try to keep himself apart from all kinds of al-
luring attachments, but the real position of a mature devotee is that
even in the presence of all allurements, he is not at all attracted. This
is the actual criterion of detachment.

Pridelessness

When a devotee, in spite of possessing all the qualities of pure
realization, is not proud of his position, that is called pridelessness.
In the Padma Purana it is stated that King Bhagiratha was the emper-
or above all other kings, yet he developed such ecstatic love for Krsna
that he became a mendicant and went out begging even to the homes
of his political enemies and untouchables. He was so humble that he
respectfully bowed down before them.

There are many similar instances in the history of India. Even very
recently, about 200 years ago or less, one big landlord known as
Lalababu, a Calcutta landholder, became a Vaisnava and lived in
Vrndavana. He was also begging from door to door, even at the homes
of his political enemies. Begging involves being ready to be insulted
by persons at whose home one has come. That is natural. But one has
to tolerate such insults for the sake of Krsna. The devotee of Krsna
can accept any position in the service of Krsna.

Greal Hope

The strong conviction that one will certainly receive the favor of
