Chapter 9 Text 30-31

1. Chapter 9Text 30-31 Power of Devotional service. Devotees never perish.

2. Text 30 api cet su-duräcäro bhajate mäm ananya-bhäk sädhur eva sa mantavyaù samyag vyavasito hi saù 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.

3. Abominable action • Conditioned soul has two kinds of activities: one is conditional, and the other is constitutional. • Neglecting conditional duties one may be called su-duräcäraù. • Such a temporary falldown does not disqualify him. • In the Çrémad-Bhägavatam 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.

4. Glory of Krsna Consciousness • The material contamination is so strong that even a yogé fully engaged in the service of the Lord sometimes becomes ensnared; but Kåñëa consciousness is so strong that such an occasional falldown is at once rectified. • 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 Kåñëa consciousness.

5. Warning to non devotees • The words sädhur eva, "he is saintly," are very emphatic. They are a warning to the non devotees 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 mantavyaù 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.E.g. Brahma’s bewilderment and six sons of Marici laughing at him and becoming demons.

6. Text 31 kñipraà bhavati dharmätmä çaçvac-chäntià nigacchati kaunteya pratijänéhi na me bhaktaù praëaçyati He quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace. O son of Kunté, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.

7. Devotee becomes righteous • One who is not a devotee of the Lord has no good qualifications whatsoever. • How can a person engaged in abominable activities—either by accident or by intention—be a pure devotee? • Because the purifying process is already there in the heart of the devotee, due to his remembering the Supreme Personality of Godhead constantly.

8. Devotee never perishes • kaunteya pratijänéhi na me bhaktaù praëaçyati “O son of Kunté, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.”e.g. Krsna protecting Arjuna on battlefield of Kurukshetra from Bhisma. • No one should take advantage of these verses 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.