56 Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers

er than Me,” and Krsna cannot refuse him. That is the

better than Me,” and K: t refuse him. That is th
est devotee. But it is not to be imitated: ave become
best devotee. But it t to b tated: “I have b

the best devotee.”

isvare tad-adhinesu
balisesu dvisatsu ca
prema-maitri-krpopeksa
yah karoti sa madhyamah
[Bhag. 11.2.46]

A second-class devotee has the vision that some are envious
of God, but this is not the vision of the best devotee. The
best devotee sees, ‘‘Nobody is envious of God. Everyone is
better than me.” Just like Caitanya-caritamrta’s author,
Krsnadasa Kaviraja. He says, “I am lower than the worm in
the stool.”

BOB: Who is saying this?

SRILA PRABHUPADA: Krsnadasa Kaviraja, the author of
Caitanya-caritamrta: purisera kita haite muni se laghistha. He is
not making a show. He is feeling like that. “I am the lowest.
Everyone is best, but Iam the lowest. Everyone is engaged
in Krsna’s service. I am not engaged.’ Caitanya Maha-
prabhu said, “Oh, I have not a pinch of devotion to Krsna. I
cry to make a show. If I had been a devotee of Krsna, I
would have died long ago. But I am living. That is the proof
that I do not love Krsna”’ That is the vision of the best
devotee. He is so much absorbed in Krsna’s love that he
says, “Everything is going on, but I am the lowest.
Therefore I cannot see God.” That is the best devotee.
BOB: So a devotee must work for everybody’s liberation?
SRILA PRABHUPADA: Yes. A devotee must work under the
direction of a bona fide spiritual master, not imitate the best
devotee.
