Text 9] Explanation of Devotional Service 1235

TRANSLATION

Devotional service executed by a person who is envious, proud, violent
and angry, and who is a separatist, is considered to be in the mode of
darkness.

PURPORT

It has already been stated in the Srimad-Bhdgavatam, First Canto,
Second Chapter, that the highest, most glorious religion is the attainment
of causeless, unmotivated devotional service. In pure devotional service,
the only motive should be to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
That is not actually a motive; that is the pure condition of the living entity.
In the conditioned stage, when one engages in devotional service, he should
follow the instruction of the bona fide spiritual master in full surrender.
The spiritual master is the manifested representation of the Supreme Lord
because he receives and presents the instructions of the Lord, as they are,
by disciplic succession. It is described in Bhagavad-gita that the teachings
therein should be received by disciplic succession, otherwise there is
adulteration. To act under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master
with a motive to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead is pure
devotional service. But if one has a motive for personal sense gratification,
his devotional service is manifested differently. Such a man may be
violent, proud, envious and angry, and his interests are separate from the
Lord’s.

One who approaches the Supreme Lord to render devotional service,
but who is proud of his personality, envious of others, or vengeful, is in the
mode of anger. He thinks that he is the best devotee. Devotional service
executed in this way is not pure; it is mixed and is of the lowest grade,
tamasah. Srila Vigvanatha Cakravarfi Thakura advises that a Vaisnava who is
not of good character should be avoided. A Vaisnava is one who has taken
the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the ultimate goal of life, but if
one is not pure and still has motives, then he is not a Vaisnava of the first
order of good character. One may offer his respects to such a Vaisnava
because he has accepted the Supreme Lord as the ultimate goal of life,
but one should not keep company with a Vaisnava who is in the mode of
ignorance.

TEXT 9
frenafieanrd ay era al
HAA A WATT A TA: 18 I
