The following is a transcription of a discourse delivered by Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Mahārāja in Malaysia on February 11, 2000

Worldly qualifications are not needed for a disciple. They cannot help. When Rāmacandra was to cross a bridge and go to Laṅkā, Hanumān, Sugrīva, and all began to bring so many big, enormous stones. They used to bring even mountains. But there was also a tiny squirrel there. She was looking, and she was so tiny. She used to jump in the sea and get wet. Then she used to roll in the sand, and taking some sand, she would come on the bridge and shake so that all the sand would go down. Like this, she smoothed the whole bridge. She desired, “I will make it very smooth so that Rāmacandra and Lakṣmaṇa will smoothly go there.”

Because all the rocks were very round and pointed perhaps, not smooth. Rāmacandra saw that a squirrel was bringing so much sand. She was doing this again and again, again and again, the whole day. Then Rāma became very happy and called her, oh, very sweetly, “O my dear.” And He was doing like this, stroking her, “I am very happy, so I am giving you this symptom, this line on your back.” In India, we can see squirrels like this with a line on their back. He was so satisfied with her.

So, a disciple may not be so qualified as Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī or Sanātana Gosvāmī or like Gopāla-guru and others. But we can serve Caitanya Mahāprabhu like Govinda, no harm. How did Govinda used to serve? He would prepare so many things, always doing service. So we should do manobhīṣṭa-sevā, always chanting and remembering Kṛṣṇa. What service did Haridāsa Ṭhākura used to give to Caitanya Mahāprabhu? Did Mahāprabhu used to be massaged by him? Did he used to prepare anything for Him, to make his bed for Him? Did he used to preach like Rūpa Gosvāmī, writing so many books? No.

But what did he do? He chanted three lakhs of holy names, and Caitanya Mahāprabhu said to him, “Oh, you are Nāmācārya. You are doing two things: chanting and remembering Kṛṣṇa’s names and preaching.” If anyone thinks, “I want to always be at home, alone, chanting the holy name, not see anyone else.” What is this? It is somewhat better. Then, if anyone thinks, “I don’t want to do anything but preach. I don’t want to chant the holy name, nothing. I only want to always preach, always preaching, always preaching.” Then what is this? This is like karma, fruitive karma, nothing else. He will fall down very soon, very soon, in a moment.

Those who are chanting and remembering the whole day are better. But something is still lacking. What is lacking? Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “O Haridāsa Ṭhākura, I like you so much because you are chanting, remembering, and preaching. By your preaching, Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī came to Me.” How did Raghunātha dāsa come? He was the only son of a viṣayī, a sense enjoyer. But anyhow, he became the disciple of Yadunandana Ācārya, and quickly, he had the association of Haridāsa Ṭhākura. This inspired him so much that he went to Nityānanda Prabhu, and then, by the mercy of Nityānanda Prabhu, he left his home and went to Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Source: Transcribed and edited by the Bhakta Bandhav Team (Bhakta.org)

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Unless indicated differently, all verse translations and quotes are from the books by Śrīla Prabhupāda (Vedabase.com)