Devotees of Krsna 210
transcendental mellows in relationship with Krsna, the devotee is
called perfect. This perfectional stage can be achieved in two ways:
one may achieve this stage of perfection by gradual progress in de-
votional service, or one may become perfect by the causeless mercy
of Krsna, even though he has not executed all the details of devotional
service. There is the following nice statement in the Third Canto,
15th Chapter, 25th verse, of Srimad-Bhagavatam describing a devotee
who achieves perfection by regularly executing devotional service: A
person who is freed from the false egotism of material existence, or
an advanced mystic, is eligible to enter into the kingdom of God
known as Vaikuntha. Such a mystic becomes so joyful by constant
execution of the regulative principles of devotional service that he
thereby achieves the special favor of the Supreme Lord. Yamaraja,
the mighty superintendent of death, is afraid to go near such a devo-
tee; so we can imagine the potency of advanced devotional service,
especially when devotees sit together and engage in talking of the
pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Those devotees ex-
press their feelings in such a way that they automatically melt with
ecstasy, and many transcendental symptoms become manifested in
their bodies. Anyone desiring advancement in devotional service must
follow in the footsteps of such devotees.

Prahlad Maharaj said that no one can attain the perfectional stage
of devotional service without bowing down before exalted devotees.
Learned sages like Markandeya Rsi attained perfection in devotional
service simply by executing such regulative principles of service.

A person’s achieving perfection in devotional service simply by the
causeless mercy of the Lord is explained in the Srimad-Bhagavatam
in connection with the brahmanas and their wives who were engaged
in performing yajfia, or sacrifice. When the wives of the brahmanas
were favored by Lord Krsna and immediately attained the ecstasy of
love of Godhead, their husbands began to say, “How wonderful it is
that although these women have undertaken no reformatory per-
formances such as accepting the sacred thread, have not resided in
the monastaries of the spiritual master, have not observed the strict
principles of celibacy, have not undergone any austerities, nor philoso-
phized upon the observance of all ritualistic ceremonies—they still
