310 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 6, Ch. 5
wear the dress of a devotee, you create enmity with people who are
not your enemies, or you break friendship and create enmity
between friends. Are you not ashamed of posing as a devotee while
performing these abominable actions?
PURPORT
Such are the criticisms that must be borne by the servants of Narada
Muni in the disciplic succession. Through the Krsna consciousness
movement, we are trying to train young people to become devotees and
return home, back to Godhead, by following rigid regulative principles,
but our service is appreciated neither in India nor abroad in the Western
countries where we are endeavoring to spread this Krsna consciousness
movement. In India the caste brahmanas have become enemies of the
Krsna consciousness movement because we elevate foreigners, who are
supposed to be mlecchas and yavanas, to the position of brahmanas. We
train them in austerities and penances and recognize them as brahmanas
by awarding them sacred threads. Thus the caste brahmanas of India are
very displeased by our activities in the Western world. In the West also,
the parents of the young people who join this movement have also
become enemies. We have no business creating enemies, but the process
is such that nondevotees will always be inimical toward us. Nevertheless,
as stated in the Sdstras, a devotee should be both tolerant and merciful.
Devotees engaged in preaching should be prepared to be accused by
ignorant persons, and yet they must be very merciful to the fallen
conditioned souls. If one can execute his duty in the disciplic succession
of Narada Muni, his service will surely be recognized. As the Lord says in
Bhagavad-gita (18.68-69):
ya idam paramam guhyam
mad-bhaktesv abhidhasyati
bhaktim mayi param krtva
mam evaisyaty asarhsayah
na ca tasman manusyesu
kascin me priya-krttamah
bhavité na ca me tasmad
anyah priyataro bhuvi
