UNIT 4 NECTAR OF DEVOTION

Q.1. For who is Nectar of Devotion specifically presented?

Ans. The Nectar of Devotion is specifically presented for persons who are now engaged in
the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement.

Q.2. Give the English meaning of the words: rūpānugas, rasa, capala-sukha, bhoga-tyāga and
amṛta
. Ans. rūpānugas -- followers in the footsteps of Śrīla Rūpa Goswāmī Prabhupāda Rasa --
That force which drives the philanthropist, the householder and the nationalist is called rasa,
or a kind of mellow (relationship) whose taste is very sweet. capala-sukha -- Sense
gratification does not endure for long, and it is therefore called capala-sukha, or flickering
happiness. bhoga-tyāga -- a position of alternating sense enjoyment and renunciation amṛta --
Bhakti-rasa, however, the mellow relished in the transcendental loving service of the Lord,
does not finish with the end of life. It continues perpetually and is therefore called amåta, that
which does not die but exists eternally.

Q.3. What is Lord Caitanya’s universal principle?

Ans. Anyone who knows the science of Kṛṣṇa and is engaged in the service of the Lord is
accepted as being in a higher position than a person born in the family of a brāhmaṇa.

Q.4. What is the example Śrīla Rūpa Goswāmī set for devotees and for humanity in general?
Ans. He divided the money in a very exemplary manner, which should be followed by
devotees in particular and by humanity in general. Fifty percent of his accumulated wealth
was distributed to the Kṛṣṇa conscious persons, namely the brāhmaṇas and the Vaiṣṇavas;
twenty-five percent was distributed to relatives; and twenty-five percent was kept against
emergency expenditures and personal difficulties.

Q.5. Where did Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī first meet Lord Caitanya?
Ans. Prayāga (Allahabad, India)

Q.6. List the twelve rasas in Sanskrit or English.

Ans. Neutrality (passive adoration), servitorship, friendship, parenthood, conjugal love,
comedy, compassion, fear, chivalry, ghastliness, wonder and devastation.

Q.7. Give the English meaning of the terms pravṛtti and nirvṛtti. Ans. pravṛtti -- positive
action – Activities to achieve a certain goal nirvṛtti -- negative action – Activities to avoid
unfavourable circumstance
Q.8. Give the English meaning of the word anuśīlana
. Ans. anu means following and Constantly Çélanaà means Cultivation/ Activity anuśīlana --
cultivation by following the predecessor teachers (ācāryas)

Q.9. What does the term jïäna-karmädi refer to?

Ans. jïäna – Knowledge obtained by monistic philosophy karmädi -- activities which are
unable to help one attain to pure devotional service

Q.10. List, in Sanskrit or English, the six characteristics of pure devotional service.
Ans. 1. Kleçaghné - Pure devotional service brings immediate relief from all kinds of
material distress. 2. Çubhadä - Pure devotional service is the beginning of all auspiciousness.
3. Mokña-laghutäkåt - Those in pure devotional service deride even the conception of
liberation. 4. Sudurlabhä - Pure devotional service is rarely achieved. 5. Sandränanda-
viçeñätmä - Pure devotional service automatically puts one in transcendental pleasure. 6. Çré-
kåñëäkarñiëé - Pure devotional service is the only means to attract Kṛṣṇa.

Q.11. List, in Sanskrit or English, the four effects that are due to sinful activities.
Ans. (1) the effect which is not yet fructified (2) the effect which is lying as seed (3) the
effect which is already mature (4) the effect which is almost mature.

Q.12. List four examples Prabhupāda gives of ‘mature’ sinful reactions.

Ans. Mature sinful activities are exhibited if one is suffering from some chronic disease, if
one is suffering from some legal implication, if one is born in a low and degraded family or if
one is uneducated or very ugly.

Q.13. What does the comparison between mystic perfections and modern scientific
improvements indicate?
Ans. After comparing all mystic yoga-siddhis to materialistic perfections, we find that the
materialistic scientists try for the same perfections. So actually there is no difference between
mystic perfection and materialistic perfection.

Q.14. Why does Kṛṣṇa rarely agree to offer a soul devotional service?
Ans. Kṛṣṇa rarely agrees to offer a soul devotional service because by devotional service the
Lord Himself becomes purchased by the devotee.

Q.15. List the three sources of happiness according to the analysis of Śrīla Rūpa Goswāmī.
Ans. (1) happiness derived from material enjoyment (2) happiness derived by identifying
oneself with the Supreme Brahman (3) happiness derived from Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Q.16. What is the meaning of the words madana-mohana-mohinī

. Ans. madana-mohana-mohinī -- the attractor of the attractor of Cupid

Q.17. Name the three main categories of devotional service. Ans. 1. devotional service in
practice 2. devotional service in ecstasy 3. devotional service in pure love of Godhead.

Q.18. List the two types of sādhana-bhakti in both English and Sanskrit.
Ans. 1. vaidhi-bhakti (regulative) 2. Rāgānugā-bhakti (spontaneous) Vaidhi-sädhana-bhakti -
The first part is called service according to regulative principles: one has to follow these
different regulative principles by the order of the spiritual master or on the strength of
authoritative scriptures. Rägänugä-sädhana-bhakti - Another part of sädhana-bhakti is called
rägänugä. Rägänugä refers to the point at which, by following the regulative principles, one
becomes a little more attached to Kåñëa and executes devotional service out of natural love.

Q.19. What is the most basic of all regulative principles?

Ans. Somehow or other always think of Viṣṇu, without forgetting Him under any
circumstances is the most basic of all regulative principles.

Q.20. What is the benefit of feeding one who preaches the message of the Bhagavad-gītā?
Ans. One who preaches the message of the Gītā is very dear to Kṛṣṇa and thus by feeding
him one feeds the Supreme Lord directly.
Q.21. List the four examples given of the neophyte devotees who begin devotional service for
relief in the matter of their respective self-satisfaction.
Ans. Mahārāja Dhruva -- Need of kingdom (arthärthé) Gajendra -- distressed (ärtaù) Sanaka,
Sanātana, Sananda and Sanat-kumāra -- wise (jïäné) Śaunaka – Inquisitive (jijïäsu)

Q.22. Without being elevated to what position can one stick to the principle of worshiping the
Supreme Personality of Godhead?
Ans. Without being elevated to the position of a jïäné, or wise man, one cannot stick to the
principle of worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Q.23. List, in Sanskrit or English, the five kinds of liberation.

Ans. (1) to become one with the Lord (säyujya) (2) to live on the same planet as the Lord
(sälokya) (3) to obtain the same bodily features as the Lord (särüpya) (4) to have the same
opulences as the Lord (särñöi) (5) to have constant association with the Lord (sämépya)

Q.24. Liberated persons who have achieved these four stages of liberation may also be
promoted where?
Ans. Liberated persons who have achieved these four stages of liberation may also be
promoted to Goloka Vṛndāvana or Kṛṣṇaloka.

Q.25. What is the mystery of the Vaiṣṇava (devotional) cult?

Ans. If someone falls down from the principles of devotional service, he need not take to the
prāyaścitta performances for reformation. He simply has to execute the rules and regulations
for discharging devotional service, and this is sufficient for his reinstatement. This is the
mystery of the Vaiṣṇava (devotional) cult.

Q.26. List the first 10 of the 64 items of sādhana in English or Sanskrit.

Ans. (1) Accepting the shelter of the lotus feet of a bona fide spiritual master (2) becoming
initiated by the spiritual master and learning how to discharge devotional service from him
(3) obeying the orders of the spiritual master with faith and devotion (4) following in the
footsteps of great ācāryas (teachers) under the direction of the spiritual master (5) inquiring
from the spiritual master how to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness (6) being prepared to give
up anything material for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa
(this means that when we are engaged in the devotional service of Kṛṣṇa, we must be
prepared to give up something which we may not like to give up, and also we have to accept
something which we may not like to accept) (7) residing in a sacred place of pilgrimage like
Dvārakā or Vṛndāvana (8) accepting only what is necessary, or dealing with the material
world only as far as necessary (9) observing the fasting day on Ekādaśī (10) worshiping
sacred trees like the banyan tree.

Q.27. Out of the first 20 items of sādhana, which are considered the most important?
Ans. Out of the twenty, the first three—namely accepting the shelter of a bona fide spiritual
master, taking initiation from him and serving him with respect and reverence— are the most
important.
Q.28. List the five most potent items of sadhana
. Ans. 1) Worshiping the Deity of the Lord 2) Reciting Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3) Serving the
devotees 4) Chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra 5) Residing or living in Mathurā

Q.29. What is the crucial point for advancement in spiritual life?

Ans. To accept a bonafied spiritual master is the crucial point for advancement in spiritual
life

. Q.30. Why can the followers of Buddha not be accepted as devotees?

Ans. Rüpa Gosvämé says that the followers of Buddha cannot be accepted as devotees.
Although Lord Buddha is accepted as an incarnation of Kåñëa, the followers of such
incarnations are not very advanced in their knowledge of the Vedas. To study the Vedas
means to come to the conclusion of the supremacy of the Personality of Godhead. Therefore
any religious principle which denies the supremacy of the Personality of Godhead is not
accepted and is called atheism

.Q.31. What is the real reason for observing fasting on Ekādaśī?

Ans. The real reason for observing fasting on Ekādaśī is to minimize the demands of the body
and to engage our time in the service of the Lord by chanting or performing similar service.

Q.32. List the two kinds of nondevotees whose association should be avoided.
Ans. 1) Those who are after material enjoyment 2) Those who are against the supremacy of
the Lord

Q.33. Define sevāparādhaḥ and nāmāparādhaḥ.

Ans. nāmāparādhaḥ - The offenses against the chanting of the holy name is called as
namaaparadha and there are 10 such offenses. sevāparādhaḥ - The offences in the matter of
serving the Deity of the Lord

Q.34. How can an offender unto the Lord Himself be delivered?

Ans. An offender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, he can still be delivered
simply by taking shelter of the holy names of the Lord: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa
Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.

Q.35. What is the result of decorating one’s body with sandalwood pulp?
Ans. One who decorates one’s body with sandalwood pulp for him there is no question of
being conquered by the spell of material energy. At the time of death, there is no question of
such a person's being called by the constables of Yamarāja.

Q.36. Who are the impersonalists who became devotees after smelling the remnants of
flowers and incense in the temple?
Ans. Four Kumāras

Q.37. Define laulyam and lālasāmayī.

Ans. laulyam -- excessive eagerness for meeting and serving the Lord in a particular way
lālasāmayī -- very eagerly desiring to go to one's natural position.

Q.38. What is the result of drinking caraṇāmṛta, even for sinful people?
Ans. By drinking caraṇāmṛta, even sinful people will become eligible to enter into the
kingdom of God

Q.39. Define dāya-bhāk.

Ans. dāya-bhāk refers to a son's becoming the lawful inheritor of the property of the father.

Q.40. Which two of the nine types of devotional service are rarely seen?
Ans. 1) devotional service in friendship 2) devotional service in self-surrender

Q.41. A person who keeps Vaiṣṇava literature at home always has what?
Ans. A person who keeps Vaiṣṇava literature at home has Lord Nārāyaṇa always residing in
his house.

Q.42. What is even higher than the worship of the Lord?

Ans. Worship of Lord’s devotees is even higher than the worship of the Lord.

Q.43. A small attachment for any one of the five potent items can arouse what, even in a
neophyte?
Ans. A small attachment for any one of the five potent items can arouse devotional ecstasy,
even in a neophyte.

Q.44. List the examples of devotees who achieved perfection by practicing simply one
process of nava-vidhā-bhakti.
Ans. 1) King Parīkṣit achieved the desired goal of life simply by hearing ŚrīmadBhāgavatam.
2) Śukadeva Gosvāmī achieved the desired goal of life simply by reciting
ŚrīmadBhāgavatam. 3) Prahlāda Mahārāja became successful in his devotional service by
always remembering the Lord. 4) Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune, was successful by engaging
herself in massaging the lotus feet of the Lord. 5) King Pṛthu became successful by
worshiping in the temple. 6) Akrūra became successful by offering prayers. 7) Hanumān
became successful by rendering personal service to Lord Rāmacandra. 8) Arjuna became
successful by being a friend of Kṛṣṇa. 9) Bali Mahārāja became successful simply by offering
all of his possessions to Kṛṣṇa.

Q.45. Where can spontaneous devotional service easily be seen?

Ans. Spontaneous devotional service can be easily seen in Kṛṣṇa's direct associates in
Vṛndāvana.

Q.46. What is the meaning rāgā?

Ans. Spontaneous absorption in one’s object of love is called rāgā.

Q.47. Define rāgātmikā-bhakti and rāgānuga-bhakti

. Ans. rāgātmikā-bhakti - When one becomes attached to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, his natural inclination to love is fully absorbed in thoughts of the Lord. That is
called transcendental attachment (räga), and devotional service according to that attachment
is called rägätmikä, or spontaneous devotional service. rāgānuga-bhakti - Devotional service
in spontaneous love is vividly expressed and manifested by the inhabitants of Våndävana.
Devotional service that accords with their devotional service is called rägänugä-bhakti, or
devotional service following in the wake of spontaneous loving service.

Q.48. At what stage is it possible to achieve eagerness to follow in the footsteps of the
denizens of Vraja?
Ans. Only after the stage of liberation from material contamination can one actually aspire to
follow in the footsteps of the denizens of Vraja.

Q.49. Define prākṛta-sahajiyā. A

ns. prākṛta-sahajiyā -- one who takes everything very cheaply They imagine that they have
become associates of the Lord simply by thinking of themselves like that. This external
behavior is not at all according to the regulative principles. The so-called siddha-praëälé
process is followed by the präkåta-sahajiyä, a pseudosect of so-called Vaiñëavas.

Q.50. Briefly describe the two categories of conjugal love.

Ans. conjugal love as husband and wife and conjugal love as lover and beloved. One who
develops conjugal love for Kṛṣṇa as a wife is promoted to Dvārakā, where the devotee
becomes the queen of the Lord. One who develops conjugal love for Kṛṣṇa as a lover is
promoted to Goloka Vṛndāvana, to associate with the gopīs and enjoy loving affairs with
Kṛṣṇa there.

Q.51. What is the first symptom of pure love for the Personality of Godhead?
Ans. Ecstasy is the first symptom of pure love for the Personality of Godhead.

Q.52. List the nine characteristics of a person who has developed ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa.
Ans. Avyärtha-kälatvam Utilization of time Kñanti Perseverance Virakti Detachment Mäna-
çünyatä Pridelessness Aça-bandha Great Hope Samutkaëöhä Eagerness for Achieving
Desired Success Näma-gäne sadä ruci Attachment to Chanting Hare Kåñëa Äsaktis tad-
guëäkhyäne Eagerness to glorify Kåñëa's qualities Prétis tad-vasati sthale Attraction for
living in the Dhäma

Q.53. List in Sanskrit or English the two types of prema-bhakti.

Ans. 1) Mähätmya-jïäna-prema (Vaikuëöha) 2) Kevala-prema (Våndävan)

Q.54. List in Sanskrit or English the nine stages from śraddhā to prema.
Ans. śraddhā  sadhu-saṅga  bhajana-kriyā  Anartha-nivṛttiḥ  niṣṭhā  rucis 
āsakti  bhava  prem

Submitted by
Samriti
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