375 The Nectar of Devotion

post of Indra, the heavenly King. They know that the post of the
King of heaven is also fearful, whereas for those who are engaged in
glorifying Your transcendental qualities there is only joyfulness and
freedom from all danger. As such, why should persons with this
knowledge be attracted by a post in the heavenly kingdom?”

One devotee has described his feelings about the charity exhibited
by King Maydradhvaja: “I am faltering even to speak about the
activities of Maharaj) Maytirradhvaja, to whom I offer my respectful
obeisances.” Maytradhvaja was very intelligent, and he could under-
stand why Krsna came to him once, in the garb of a brahmana. Krsna
demanded from him half of his body, to be sawed off by his wife and
son, and King Maytradhvaja agreed to this proposal. On account of
his intense feeling of devotional service, King Mayiiradhvaja was
always thinking of Krsna, and when he understood that Krsna had
come in the garb of a brahmana, he did not hesitate to part with half
of his body. This sacrifice of Maharaj Mayiiradhvaja for Krsna’s sake
is unique in the world, and we should offer our all-respectful obei-
sances to him. He had full knowledge of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead in the garb of a brahmana, and he is known as the perfect
dana-vira, or renouncer.

Any person who is always ready to satisfy Krsna and who is always
dexterous in executing devotional service is called dharma-vira, or
chivalrous in executing religious rituals. Only advanced devotees per-
forming religious ritualistic performances can come to this stage of
dharma-vira. Dharma-viras are produced after going through the au-
thoritative scriptures, following moral principles, being faithful and
tolerant and controlling the senses. Persons who execute religious
rituals for the satisfaction of Krsna are steady in devotional service,
whereas persons who execute religious rituals without intending to
please Krsna are only called pious.

The best example of a dharma-vira is Maharaj Yudhisthira. A devo-
tee once told Krsna: “‘My dear Krsna, O killer of all demons, Maharaj
Yudhisthira, the eldest son of Maharaj Pandu, has performed all kinds
of sacrifices just to please You. He has always invited the heavenly
King, Indra, to take part in the yajrias [sacrifices]. Because King
Indra was thus absent so often from Sacidevi, she had to pass much
