Bhakta vs. Mayavadi vs. Karmi

(written on November 16, 2019)

(References: Srila Prabhupada Lecture December 6, 1972 on BG 2.1)

The difference between a devotee and a fruitive worker is that a non-devotee aspires to become Krishna, while the devotee, on the other hand, sometimes aspires to be in a position where Krishna is their order carrier. The word fruitive means wanting to keep the results or the fruits of one's actions to oneself. So fruitive workers are basically those who work hard for sense gratification, constantly basking in the glory of the results. Such people wish to become equal to Krishna and try to do so through their body strength, mind power, and verbal expertise, but their efforts are vain, as explained in SB 10.14.3.

The pure devotees, on the other hand, aspire to be in a position where Krishna is the carrier of their orders. This is explained by Srila Prabhupada in his lecture on BG 2.1 December 6, 1972, “But in devotional service it is not the desire of the devotee to become one with Kṛṣṇa, but sometimes to make Kṛṣṇa as the order-carrier of the devotee. To become one with Kṛṣṇa, it may be a very great position. But to become the, I mean to say, command, commander of Kṛṣṇa, that is another thing. That position is greater than to become one with Kṛṣṇa.” A wonderful example of this is Mother Yasoda, the epitome of vatsalya-rasa, or motherly affection towards Sri Krishna. Mother Yashoda had no conceptions of awe or reverence to Krishna. She simply treated Him like her beloved child, catching Him as He tried to run away and tying Him up to a wooden grinding mortar when He broke a pot and fed the monkeys butter. Only the purest devotee is able to conquer Krishna in such a manner.

Another difference between the fruitive workers and the devotees is that the fruitive workers might offer the results to Krishna but only for more material benedictions. The devotees on the other hand offer their results to Krishna, understanding that constitutionally those results belong to Him. The devotees are in the mood of selfless love for Krishna and this is explained in Sri Siksastakam eighth verse, “I know no one but Krsna as my Lord, and He shall remain so even if He handles me roughly by His embrace or makes me brokenhearted by not being present before me. He is completely free to do anything and everything, for He is always my worshipful Lord, unconditionally.” Hence the devotees do everything for Krishna without asking for anything from Him.

The difference between the devotee and the Mayavadi is explained by Srila Prabhupada: “So there are five kinds of liberation. Sāyujya, the first liberation is supposed to be sāyujya, means, to become one with the Supreme. The Māyāvāda philosophers, monists, they aspire after sāyujya-mukti. But the devotees, Vaiṣṇavas, they do not aspire after sāyujya-mukti.” So, the difference is that the mayavadis seek oneness with Krishna or sāyujya-mukti, while the devotees do not. Srila Prabhupada says that the purest devotees do not seek any kind of mukti or material gain. “This is pure devotional prayer. The devotees does not approach the Supreme for any material gain. Pure devotion means without any aspiration of any kind of material gain. Or even spiritual gain.” Even though there are four other kinds of mukti, the purest devotees do not aspire for any of them. They have no other desire except to serve the Lord.

This is what is uttama-bhakti, or pure devotional service.

anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ

jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam

ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu-

śīlanaṁ bhaktir uttamā

[Brs. 1.1.11]

“One should render transcendental loving service to the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa favorably and without desire for material profit or gain through fruitive activities or philosophical speculation. That is called pure devotional service.” It is very important to note that everything done in service must be favorable to Krishna, not favorable to our wants. Hence, we must know what Krishna wants us to do. This is also explained in the purport to CC Madhya-Lila 19.167, “The criterion is that a devotee must know what Kṛṣṇa wants him to do. This can be achieved through the medium of the spiritual master who is a bona fide representative of Kṛṣṇa.” Additionally, another important point is that pure devotional service is free from philosophical speculation. Here is an outline of pure devotional service:

• Loving service that is Favorable to Krishna

• No desire for Material Profit/ fruitive gain

• No philosophical speculation