The Nectar of Devotion - 1970 ISKCON press edition ... - Prabhupada

Characteristics of Pure Devotional Service 3There are many results of past sinful activities for which we aresuffering at the present moment, and we may be suffering in the futuredue to our present sinful activities. But all of these reactions tosinful deeds can immediately be stopped if we take to Kns!laconsciousness. As evidence for this, Riipa Gosvami quotes from theSrimad-Bhiigavatam, Eleventh Canto, 14th Chapter, 18th verse. Thisverse is in connection with Lord Krpa's instruction to Uddhava,where He says, "My dear Uddhava, devotional service unto Me isjust like a blazing fire which can burn into ashes unlimited fuelsupplied to it." The purport is that as the blazing fire can burn anyamount of fuel to ashes, so devotional service to the Lord in Krpaconsciousness can burn up all the fuel of sinful activities. Forexample, in the Gitii Arjuna thought that fighting was a sinful activity,but Krwa engaged him on the battlefield under His order, andso the fighting became devotional service. Therefore, Arjuna wasnot subjected to any sinful reaction.Srila Riipa Gosvami quotes another verse from the Third Canto ofSrimad-Bhiigavatam, 33rd Chapter, 6th verse, in which Devahiitiaddresses her son, Kapiladeva and says, "My deG\r Lord, there arenine different kinds of devotional service, beginning from hearingand chanting. Anyone who hears about Your pastimes, who chantsabout Your glories, who offers You obeisances, who thinks of Youand, in this way, executes any of the nine kinds of devotional service-even if he is born in a family of dog-eaters [the lowest grade ofmankind] -becomes immediately qualified to perform sacrifices."As such, for anyone who is actually engaged in devotional service infull Kg;pa consciousness, how is it possible that he has not becomepurified? It is not possible. One who is engaged in Krpa consciousnessand devotional service has without doubt become freed from allcontaminations of material sinful activities. Devotional service thereforehas the power to actually nullify all kinds of reactions to sinfuldeeds. A -devotee is nevertheless always alert not to commit any sinfulactivities; this is his specific qualification as a. devotee. Thus theSrimad-Bhiigavatam states that by performing devotional service aperson who was born even in a family of dog-eaters may becomeeligible to take part in the performance of the ritualistic ceremonies