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TEXT 30 api cet su-duracaro
SYNONYMS  api--in
spite of; cet--although; su-duracarah--one committing the
most abominable actions; bhajate--engaged in devotional service;
mam--unto Me; ananya-bhak--without deviation; sadhuh--saint;
eva--certainly; sah--he; mantavyah--to be considered;
samyak--completely; vyavasitah--situated; hi--certainly;
sah--he.
TRANSLATION Even if one
commits the most abominable actions, if he is engaged in devotional service,
he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated.
PURPORT The word suduracaro
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, beautifies 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 is
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 fallen down accidentally. And the word mantavyah
is still more emphatic. If one does not follow this rule, and derides a
devotee for his accidental falldown, then he is disobeying the order of
the Supreme Lord. The only qualification of a devotee is to be unflinchingly
and exclusively engaged in devotional service.
The mark
of a spot which may be seen on the moon does not become an impediment to
the moonlight. Similarly, the accidental falldown of a devotee from the
path of a 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.
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