BHAGAVAD-GITA 9:30

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 9:30

 

api cet su-duracaro

bhajate mam ananya-bhak

sadhur eva sa mantavyah

samyag vyavasito hi sah

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

api--even; cet--if; su-duracarah--one committing the most abominable

actions; bhajate--is engaged in devotional service; mam--unto Me;

ananya-bhak--without deviation; sadhuh--a saint; eva--certainly;

sah--he; mantavyah--is to be considered; samyak--completely;

vyavasitah--situated in determination; hi--certainly; sah--he.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Even if one commits the most abominable action, if he is engaged in

devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he is

properly situated in his determination.

 

PURPORT

 

The word su-duracarah used in this verse is very significant, and we

should understand it properly. When a living entity is conditioned, he

has two kinds of activities: one is conditional, and the other is

constitutional. As for protecting the body or abiding by the rules of

society and state, certainly there are different activities, even for

the devotees, in connection with the conditional life, and such

activities are called conditional. Besides these, the living entity

who is fully conscious of his spiritual nature and is engaged in Krsna

consciousness, or the devotional service of the Lord, has activities

which are called transcendental. Such activities are performed in his

constitutional position, and they are technically called devotional

service. Now, in the conditioned state, sometimes devotional service

and the conditional service in relation to the body will parallel one

another. But then again, sometimes these activities become opposed to

one another. As far as possible, a devotee is very cautious so that he

does not do anything that could disrupt his wholesome condition. He

knows that perfection in his activities depends on his progressive

realization of Krsna consciousness. Sometimes, however, it may be seen

that a person in Krsna consciousness commits some act which may be

taken as most abominable socially or politically. But such a temporary

falldown does not disqualify him. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is

stated that if a person falls down but is wholeheartedly engaged in

the transcendental service of the Supreme Lord, the Lord, being

situated within his heart, purifies him and excuses him from that

abomination. The material contamination is so strong that even a yogi

fully engaged in the service of the Lord sometimes becomes ensnared;

but Krsna consciousness is so strong that such an occasional falldown

is at once rectified. Therefore the process of devotional service is

always a success. No one should deride a devotee for some accidental

falldown from the ideal path, for, as explained in the next verse,

such occasional falldowns will be stopped in due course, as soon as a

devotee is completely situated in Krsna consciousness.

 

Therefore a person who is situated in Krsna consciousness and is

engaged with determination in the process of chanting Hare Krsna, Hare

Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare

Hare should be considered to be in the transcendental position, even

if by chance or accident he is found to have fallen. The words sadhur

eva, "he is saintly," are very emphatic. They are a warning to the

nondevotees that because of an accidental falldown a devotee should

not be derided; he should still be considered saintly even if he has

accidentally fallen down. And the word mantavyah is still more

emphatic. If one does not follow this rule, and derides a devotee for

his accidental falldown, then one is disobeying the order of the

Supreme Lord. The only qualification of a devotee is to be

unflinchingly and exclusively engaged in devotional service.

 

In the Nrsimha purana the following statement is given:

 

bhagavati ca harav ananya-ceta

bhrsa-malino 'pi virajate manusyah

na hi sasa-kalusa-cchabih kadacit

timira-parabhavatam upaiti candrah

 

The meaning is that even if one fully engaged in the devotional

service of the Lord is sometimes found engaged in abominable

activities, these activities should be considered to be like the spots

that resemble the mark of a rabbit on the moon. Such spots do not

become an impediment to the diffusion of moonlight. Similarly, the

accidental falldown of a devotee from the path of saintly character

does not make him abominable.

 

On the other hand, one should not misunderstand that a devotee in

transcendental devotional service can act in all kinds of abominable

ways; this verse only refers to an accident due to the strong power of

material connections. Devotional service is more or less a declaration

of war against the illusory energy. As long as one is not strong

enough to fight the illusory energy, there may be accidental

falldowns. But when one is strong enough, he is no longer subjected to

such falldowns, as previously explained. No one should take advantage

of this verse and commit nonsense and think that he is still a

devotee. If he does not improve in his character by devotional

service, then it is to be understood that he is not a high devotee.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.