106 Teachings of Lord Chaitanya

the association of unholy non-devotees of the Lord. Those who are pure
devotees of Krishna are very careful to keep aloof from these two kinds of
unholy non-devotees.

The result of unholy association with non-devotees is described in the
Srimad Bhagwatam, Third Canto, Thirty-first Chapter. It is said there that
one should simply give up association with a person who is a playmate for
women; because, in association with such an unholy person, one becomes
bereft of all good qualities, such as truthfulness, cleanliness, mercifulness,
gravity, intelligence, shyness, beauty, fame, forgiveness, control of the mind,
control of the senses, and all opulences that are automatically achieved by the
devotee. A man is never so degraded as when he is degraded by association
with persons who are too attached to women.

Regarding this matter of disassociation from unholy persons, Lord
Chaitanya quoted a verse from Katyayani Samhita: “One should rather tolerate
the miseries of being locked in a cage full of fire than tolerate the miseries of
associating with those who are not devotees of the Lord.” It is also advised
that one should not see the faces of persons who are irreligious, or without
any devotion for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is recommended
by the Lord that one should scrupulously renounce the association of unwanted
persons, and completely take shelter of the Supreme Lord Krishna. The same
instruction is also given to Arjuna by Krishna in the last pages of Bhagavad
Gita: “You give up everything and just surrender unto Me, and I shall take
care of you, and protect you from all the reactions to sinful activities.”

The Lord is very kind to His devotees. He is very grateful. He is able and
magnanimous. Therefore, it is our duty to believe in the words of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. And if we are intelligent enough and educated
enough, we shall follow this principle without any hesitation. As said by
Aukrur in addressing Krishna, in the Srimad Bhagwatam, Tenth Canto, Eighty-
fourth Chapter: “Who can become a surrendered soul to any other than
Yourself? Who is so dear, Who is so truthful, Who is so friendly, and Who
is so grateful? You are so perfect and complete that even though You give
Yourself to Your devotee, still You are full and perfect. You can therefore
satisfy all the desires of the devotee, even to delivering Yourself to Your
devotee.”

A person who is intelligent and able to understand the philosophy of
Krishna Consciousness, therefore, naturally gives up everything and takes to
the shelter of Krishna only. In this connection, Lord Chaitanya recited a verse
spoken by Uddhava in the Srimad Bhagwatam, Third Canto, Second Chapter:
