48 The Nectar of Instruction
initiation [diksa] and is engaged in worshiping the
Deity, and one should associate with and faithfully
serve that pure devotee who is advanced in undeviated
devotional service and whose heart is completely
devoid of the propensity to criticize others.
PURPORT

In order to intelligently apply the sixfold loving re-
ciprocations mentioned in the previous verse, one must
select proper persons with careful discrimination. Srila Rapa
Gosvami therefore advises that we should meet with the
Vaisnavas in an appropriate way, according to their particu-
lar status. In this verse he tells us how to deal with three
types of devotees—the kanistha-adhikari, madhyama-
adhikdri and uttama-adhikari. The kanistha-adhikdri is a
neophyte who has received the hari-nama initiation from
the spiritual master and is trying to chant the holy name of
Krsna. One should respect such a person within his mind as
a kanistha-vaisnava. A madhyama-adhikdri has received
spiritual initiation from the spiritual master and has been
fully engaged by him in the transcendental loving service of
the Lord. The madhyama-adhikari should be considered to
be situated midway in devotional service. The uttama-
adhikari, or highest devotee, is one who is very advanced in
devotional service. An uttama-adhikari is not interested in
blaspheming others, his heart is completely clean, and he
has attained the realized state of unalloyed Krsna conscious-
ness. According to Srila Ripa Gosvami, the association and
service of such a maha-bhagavata, or perfect Vaisnava, are
most desirable.
