Category:Achievements of a Devotee of God
Theme Analysis
Śrīla Prabhupāda consistently illuminates the supremacy of devotional service over all other paths of self-realization. In analyzing the ultimate achievements of a devotee, a clear hierarchy of values emerges: while materialists seek wealth and mystics seek powers or liberation, the devotee automatically attains all these as by-products of their service. However, the unique position of the Vaisnava is that they assign no value to these incidental gains, cherishing only the opportunity to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The analysis below synthesizes how the devotee's achievements differ qualitatively from those of karmis, jnanis, and yogis.
- Automatic Acquisition of Opulence and Power: A devotee need not strive separately for material wealth or mystic yogic perfections (siddhis). By the grace of the Supreme Lord, a pure devotee may be awarded extraordinary material opulence or the ability to achieve the impossible, yet they remain detached, knowing these facilities are not for their own sense gratification but for the service of the Lord.
- The Insignificance of Liberation (Mukti): While jnanis struggle for lifetimes to merge into the Brahman effulgence, this status is considered hellish by a pure devotee. Liberation is automatically achieved by one engaged in devotional service, but the devotee prefers the eternal individuality of serving the Lord in the spiritual planets over the spiritual suicide of merging.
- Perpetuity of Spiritual Assets: Unlike material achievements or incomplete yogic practices which can be lost at death, the achievements of a devotee are eternal. Even if a devotee fails to complete the process in one life, they begin their next life exactly where they left off, often guaranteed birth in a fortunate family to facilitate further progress.
- Purification of Desire: The process of bhakti is so potent that even if one approaches the Lord with material motivations—like Dhruva Maharaja seeking a kingdom—the association of the Lord purifies the heart. The ultimate achievement transforms from fulfilling personal desires to the refusal of material benedictions in favor of unalloyed service.
- The Supreme Destination: The crowning achievement for a devotee is not merely relief from material misery, but the positive attainment of the spiritual world (Vaikuntha or Krsnaloka). There, the soul regains its constitutional position in an eternal relationship with God, characterized by bliss and knowledge, far surpassing the temporary results of karma or the neutral peace of brahma-nirvana.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Ultimate Achievements of a Devotee of God.
Subcategories
This category has the following 10 subcategories, out of 10 total.
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B
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Pages in category "Achievements of a Devotee of God"
The following 98 pages are in this category, out of 98 total.
A
- A devotee does not have to exhibit such magical wonders (by manufacturing gold). Without practicing the mystic yogic process, he achieves even greater opulence all over the world
- A devotee need not practice yoga, karma or jnana to achieve a successful result. Devotional service alone is competent to award a devotee all material power
- A devotee who does not achieve complete perfection is guaranteed to take his birth in a learned and well-to-do family
- A devotee's achievement, however, is never lost by the influence of time. Even if a devotee cannot completely execute devotional service, in his next life he begins from the point where he left off
- A devotee's ultimate achievement is to take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord in any one of the planets in the spiritual sky
- A mahatma has firm determination to achieve at the ultimate end the association of the Supreme Lord in any one of the five transcendental rasas. BG 1972 purports
- A pure devotee, who worships the Supreme Personality of Godhead only, achieves the planets of Vaikuntha and Krsnaloka without a doubt. BG 1972 purports
- After achieving perfection by self-realization and seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face, Dhruva Maharaja was completely freed from all contamination of material desire
- Although karmis and bhaktas may work in the same place, at the same time, with the same energy and with the same ambition, they achieve different results
- Anyone who is a pure Vaisnava is situated transcendentally, and therefore the highest qualification in the material world, namely to be in the mode of goodness, has already been achieved by such a person
- As far as the devotees are concerned, their assets - the achievement of devotional service and the consequent opulence of Vaikuntha, even on this planet - are never destroyed
B
- Because the pure devotee engaged in Krsna consciousness in devotional service of the Supreme Lord achieves eternal blissful existence that is full of knowledge, his achievements and those of the common worshiper of the demigods are different. BG 1972 pur
- Being so encouraged, the devotee can never forget, at any moment, the Personality of Godhead. He always feels obliged to Him for having achieved increased power in devotional service by His grace
- By serving her devotee husband, Kardama Muni, Devahuti shared in his achievements. Similarly, a sincere disciple, simply by serving a bona fide spiritual master, can achieve all the mercy of the Lord and the spiritual master simultaneously
- By the grace of the Lord, a devotee can achieve wonderful success simply by willing, but a real devotee does not like that
- By thinking of Me (Krsna) constantly with love and affection, you (Devaki and Vasudeva) will achieve the highest perfection: returning home, back to Godhead - SB 10.3.45
- By worshiping the lotus feet of the Lord in devotional service as instructed by Narada Muni, Dhruva Maharaja achieved the desired result. His desire was to get a very exalted position, excelling that of his father, grandfather and great-grandfather
D
- Devarsi Narada also glorified Maharaja Sibi for his great achievements, specifically in charity and protection
- Devotees in the Vaikuntha world, or even in this material world, cannot be poverty-stricken, as is sometimes supposed. They have ample opulences for enjoyment, but they need not labor to achieve them
- Devotees like Prahlada and Dhruva Maharaja achieved extraordinary material opulences, but such opulences were not maya-sukha
- Devotional service is so powerful. When a devotee achieves what he wants to accomplish, it is not by his own mystic power but by the grace of the master of mystic power
- Devotional service of God involves 9 transcendental processes, such as hearing and chanting, by performing such easy and natural devotional services the devotees achieve the highest perfectional results, superior to merging into the existence of Brahman
- Dhruva Maharaja at first wanted to achieve the greatest material kingdom and greater material possessions than his father, but when he was actually favored by the Lord, who appeared before him to give him the benediction he desired, he refused it
- Dhruva Maharaja wanted a position greater than that of Brahma. This was practically an impossible proposition, but by pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead a devotee can achieve even the impossible
- Dhruva Maharaja was determined to achieve the benediction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore Narada advised him to go back home for the time being, and in mature time he could try to practice devotional service
- Dhruva Maharaja was in this category (a paramahamsa), and due to his determination he achieved, the result he desired, but still when he returned home he was not very pleased
F
- For a devotee who enjoys the transcendental bliss of devotional service, liberation is most insignificant. Therefore pure devotees never desire to achieve liberation
- For a devotee, mukti is not a very great achievement. Mukti means being situated in one's constitutional position
- For a devotee, the process of merging into the Brahman effulgence is considered to be hellish, and yogic power or the preliminary perfection of yogic power, to be able to control the senses, is automatically achieved
- For such a devotee (who is constantly engaged in service) there is nothing valuable to be achieved but the Lord's service. If one serves faithfully, there is no possibility of frustration because the Lord Himself takes charge of the devotee's advancement
- From the description of his chastisement by a Muslim magistrate, which is found in the Sixteenth Chapter of the Adi-khanda of Caitanya-bhagavata, we can understand how humble & meek Haridasa Thakura was and how he achieved the causeless mercy of the Lord
- From the results achieved by the karmis and devotees, one can understand the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who acts differently for the karmis and jnanis than for the devotees
H
- Having heard of the great fortune of mother Yasoda, Pariksit Maharaja inquired from Sukadeva Gosvami What past auspicious activities did she and Nanda Maharaja perform to achieve such perfection in ecstatic love? - SB 10.8.46
- He (a devotee) does not endeavor much to achieve something with great difficulty; therefore he is always joyful. BG 1972 purports
- He (Pariksit) took full advantage of the awkward situation, and by the great will of the Lord, Maharaja Pariksit achieved the highest perfection of life through the grace of Srila Sukadeva Gosvami
- He (the brahmana friend of Lord Krsna) was very peaceful and had achieved supreme control over his senses. This means that the brahmana was a perfect devotee, because unless one is a perfect devotee he cannot achieve the highest standard of knowledge
- How liberation is imperceptibly achieved by a pure devotee and what the symptoms are have been explained - in SB 3.25.39-40
- How was the great emperor Pariksit, who was a highly intelligent and great devotee, born in that womb? How did his death take place, and what did he achieve after his death?
I
- If one is engaged in pure transcendental loving service to the Lord, it is understood that he has already achieved the five kinds of liberation
- If, by the grace of the Supreme Lord, a devotee achieves extraordinary opulence, he utilizes the opportunity for the Lord's service. He is not disturbed by the opulence
- In the beginning, Dhruva Maharaja was interested in the kingdom of his father, but later he became a great devotee, maha-bhagavata, and had no interest in material enjoyment. The perfection of life can be achieved only by devotees
- In the previous verse (in SB 7.10.10) Prahlada Maharaja has explained that a devotee can achieve the platform of bhagavattva, being as good as the Supreme Person, but this does not mean that the devotee loses his position as a servant
- It is advised that a devotee follow the past acaryas and saintly persons, because by such following one can achieve the desired results, with no chance of lamenting or being baffled in his progress
- It is very easy to understand through this important verse (BG 9.25) that if by practicing the black arts achieve the ghostly planets, why can the pure devotee not achieve the planet of Krsna or Visnu? BG 1972 purports
K
- Kardama Muni, by his perfect devotional knowledge and service, achieved this ultimate goal, which is known as bhagavati gatih
- Ksema refers to the merciful protection of the Lord. The Lord helps the devotee to achieve Krsna consciousness by yoga, and when he becomes fully Krsna conscious the Lord protects him from falling down to a miserable conditioned life. BG 1972 purports
L
- Liberated souls are disinterested in the affairs of this material world because they are self-satisfied by the great achievements of devotional service
- Liberation is not a very great achievement for a devotee, to say nothing of the results of ritualistic performances in religion, economic development or the materialistic life of sense gratification. Devotees do not care for these
M
- Maharaja Khatvanga accepted the shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and because of his full surrender he achieved perfection
- Mayavadis certainly realize Brahman in certain aspects, but realization of Brahman in the aspects of wine, women and meat is not the same realization of Brahman that devotees achieve by chanting, dancing and eating prasadam
- My dear mother, O daughter of Manu, a devotee who applies the science of devotional service and mystic yoga in this way can achieve the abode of the Supreme Person simply by that devotional service
O
- O learned brahmana (Sukadeva Gosvami), mother Yasoda's breast milk was sucked by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. What past auspicious activities did she and Nanda Maharaja perform to achieve such perfection in ecstatic love - SB 10.8.46
- Offering their minds unto You and enjoying transcendental bliss, they are expert in achieving the real goal of life. O Lord, You are the soul and dear friend of such devotees, who never need return to this material world
P
- Persons who have achieved eternal, blissful life exactly on the level of Sri Krsna, and who are able to attract Lord Krsna by their transcendental loving service, are called eternally perfect. The technical name is nitya-siddha
- Prince Dhruva, after achieving success in his undertakings, saw the Lord face to face, and he was satisfied that all his needs were fulfilled
- Pure devotees or great saintly persons who desire to achieve the highest goal in life and who are completely free from all material desires for sense gratification engage constantly in the transcendental service of Your lotus feet
S
- Sakama devotees, of course, achieve from the Lord the results they desire from their prayers, but they do not immediately become fit to return to Godhead
- Siva speaks to Sati, "He (a person who has develop pure krsna consciousness) can enjoy the happiness achieved by the pure devotees"
- Sridhara Swami said in his verse, "It is possible for great devotees who have already achieved love for You and are engaged in transcendental loving service"
- Srivatsa, for example, the hair on the chest of the Lord, particularly distinguishes Him (God) from His devotees - who have achieved sarupya liberation
- Sukadeva Gosvami continued: My dear King, Prince Priyavrata was a great devotee because he sought the lotus feet of Narada, his spiritual master, and thus achieved the highest perfection in transcendental knowledge
T
- The bhakta's achievement is never destroyed, for it goes on perpetually, be it complete or incomplete. This is the verdict of all Vedic literatures
- The child Narada also got the opportunity and simply by association (of devotees) achieved the highest goal of all religions, devotional service. BG 1972 purports
- The criterion is that a devotee must know what Krsna wants him to do. This understanding can be achieved through the medium of a spiritual master who is a bona fide representative of Krsna
- The devotee does not desire any achievement other than pleasing the SP of Godhead. His life's mission is to please Krsna, and he can sacrifice everything for Krsna's satisfaction, just as Arjuna did in the Battle of Kuruksetra. BG 1972 purports
- The devotee is already liberated. There is no need for him to aspire for different types of liberation. The pure devotee automatically achieves liberation, even without desiring it
- The devotees can achieve not only liberation but any success in the realm of religiosity, economic development or sense gratification up to the standard of the demigods in the heavenly planets
- The devotees can surpass the reactions of karma and achieve wonderful results, even without effort. It is also said, phalena pariciyate: one's success or defeat in any activity is understood by its result
- The devotees of the Lord who are residents of Vaikuntha have the opportunity to enjoy a transcendental situation of jewels and emeralds. Ornaments made of gold bedecked with jewels are achieved not by working hard but by the benediction of the Lord
- The devotees who have joined the Krsna consciousness movement may live comfortably in our many temples and engage in the devotional service of the Lord. Thus they can control the mind and senses and achieve the highest success in life
- The devotees, therefore, following their constitutional instincts, achieve the desired goal of becoming servitors, friends, fathers, mothers or conjugal lovers of the Lord
- The Gaudiya Vaisnavas who follow strictly in the line of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu worship the Divinity by chanting transcendental sounds meant to ultimately develop the achievement of the desired success in loving service
- The gopis automatically achieved the highest perfection (by serving Krsna with great love). Therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommended the affection of the gopis, either in maternal affection or in conjugal love, as the highest perfection in life
- The gopis were not made happy even by seeing the four-armed form of Narayana. Yet they offered their respects to the SP of Godhead and begged from Him the benediction of achieving the association of Krsna. Such is the ecstatic feeling of the gopis
- The greatest achievement for a devotee is to become a servant of the servants of the Lord
- The internal potency is easily realized by the devotees of the Lord by dint of devotional service. Yuyudhana achieved this stage of life, just as he achieved expert knowledge in military science from Arjuna
- The Lord was worshiped by both the mother (Suniti) and the son (Dhruva), and both were able to achieve the supreme benediction from the Supreme Lord
- The mahatmas, great souls, strictly observe all the rules and regulations (of the devotional service offered by the great acaryas), and therefore they are sure to achieve the desired result. BG 1972 purports
- The Personality of Godhead, being situated in everyone's heart, instructs the devotee regarding pure devotional service so that he may ultimately achieve the association of the Lord. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (BG 10.10)
- Then (after becoming perfect in self-realization) his (devotee's) only desire is to achieve the association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is called yoga. BG 1972 purports
- There are concrete examples of how a devotee discharged one of these services and achieved perfection. King Pariksit achieved the desired goal of life simply by hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam
- This (Krsna) consciousness is the causeless mercy of the Lord, which the devotee can achieve in spite of his being attached to the sensual platform. BG 1972 purports
- This detachment (a devotee naturally hates the association of so-called society, friendship and love) is not dry but is due to achieving a higher status of life by relishing transcendental mellows
- This important verse (SB 4.9.29) has been discussed by many stalwart commentators. Why was Dhruva Maharaja not very pleased, even after achieving the goal of life he desired?
- This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gita and here in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. That third-class devotees can also imperceptibly achieve liberation is accepted in all Vedic literatures
- Those devotees who are constantly engaged in the service of the lotus feet of the Lord achieve not only all material benefits but also all spiritual benefits, for at the end of life they go back home, back to Godhead
- To hear Srimad-Bhagavatam, (4) to see the decorated temple and the Deity and, if possible, (5) to live in a place like Vrndavana or Mathura. These items alone can help a devotee achieve the highest perfectional stage
- To perform devotional service means to follow in the footsteps of Radharani, and devotees in Vrndavana put themselves under the care of Radharani in order to achieve perfection in their devotional service
- Transfer to the spiritual world is the highest perfection of life. In other words, the devotee achieves his constitutional position of immortality and thus becomes completely peaceful
W
- When a devotee has achieved the position of rendering transcendental loving service to the Lord through the mercy of Lord Caitanya, he thinks the impersonal Brahman to be no better than hell
- When Dhruva Maharaja became situated on the vasudeva platform due to seeing the Lord face to face, all his material contamination was cleared. Thus he became ashamed of what his demands were and what he had achieved
- When one becomes a devotee, he achieves the greatest benediction because he completely averts the repetition of birth and death
- When one transcends these various planetary systems (known as Devaloka, Pitrloka and Niraya) and enters Vaikunthaloka, he achieves the ultimate resort of the Vaisnavas. Vaisnavas have nothing to do with the other planetary systems
- When the devotees aurally receive the activities of the SPG as enacted in Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, they immediately achieve a transcendental vision in which they are no longer interested in materialistic activities. Thus they achieve freedom
- With a serious attitude, the devotee throws away all achievements like so much dust, and he accepts only devotional service, the transcendental culmination