46 The Nectar of Instruction

Indeed, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has forbidden devotees to
associate even with ordinary men who are too addicted to
material sense gratification.

The conclusion is that we should always keep company
with devotees, observe the regulative devotional principles,
follow in the footsteps of the dcdryas and in full obedience
carry out the orders of the spiritual master. In this way we
shall be able to develop our devotional service and dormant
Krsna consciousness. The devotee who is neither a neophyte
nor a maha-bhagavata (a greatly advanced devotee) but is
within the middle status of devotional service is expected to
love the Supreme Personality of Godhead, make friends
with the devotees, show favor to the ignorant and reject the
jealous and demoniac. In this verse there is brief mention of
the process of making loving transactions with the Supreme
Personality of Godhead and making friends with the devo-
tees. According to the dadati principle, an advanced devotee
is supposed to spend at least fifty percent of his income on
the service of the Lord and His devotees. Srila Ripa Gosvami
has set such an example in his life. When he decided to
retire, he distributed fifty percent of his life’s earnings to
Krsna’s service and twenty-five percent to his relatives and
kept twenty-five percent for personal emergencies. This ex-
ample should be followed by all devotees. Whatever one’s
income, fifty percent should be spent on behalf of Krsna and
His devotees, and this will fulfill the demands of dadati.

In the next verse, Srila Ripa Gosvami informs us what
kind of Vaisnava should be selected as a friend and how
Vaisnavas should be served.
