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You don't be disappointed

Today's Srimad-Bhagavatam class was on 7.9.52. Prahlada Maharaja's prayers are now completed, and Lord Nrisimhadeva addressed him. The Lord called him bhadra, which Srila Prabhupada translated as "perfect gentleman" and also asurottama, best of the asuras, or demons. Because of His great satisfaction with his behavior, the Lord offered Prahlada any benediction he wanted. 

Prabhupada said that therefore if we require anything at all, we simply have to please Krishna. It is not necessary to work hard for money and other material gains, because Krishna is bhagavan, the possessor of every opulence. Just by pleasing Him, whatever we need will be supplied. We simply have to become perfect gentlemen. That, he said, is only possible if one becomes a devotee. He gave us some good examples to establish that only a genuine devotee is actually a perfect gentleman; others are not. "A devotee is perfect gentleman. Why? Now, because he has developed all good qualities. That is bhadra. A devotee cannot be abhadra. Therefore a devotee is never rude to anyone. 

"When Rupa Gosvami was here, some very learned scholar came to talk with him on sastra. So when he approached Rupa Gosvami, he asked, 'I want to talk with you about sastra.' "And he said, 'I am not a very learned man. How can I talk with you? You are so learned man.' "So the man said, 'If you think that you are not learned, then you give me in writing that: 'I am not learned.' "So he immediately gave him: 'All right, take it. I am not learned.'" Prabhupada laughed. "So when he was going away, that cheat, he was thinking, 'I am the most learned scholar, and Rupa Gosvami's defeated.' "Then Jiva Gosvami was standing outside. He said, 'What is that paper?' "'No, your uncle has written frankly that he is not learned. I am learned.' "'All right, talk with me.' Then Jiva defeated him. "So sometimes devotees are so gentle. If such foolish person comes to talk, unnecessarily waste of time, 'All right, you take in writing that I am not a learned. Go away.' You see? This is bhadra. Instead of wasting time with a rascal, better give him a paper: 'Go away, sir.'" 

Then as a contrast he described the abhadra from his own practical experience. "I have seen with my own eyes in Calcutta. One hotel man was cutting the throat of a chicken, and it was half-cut, and the half-dead chicken was jumping like this, and the man was laughing. His little son, he was crying. I have seen it. He was crying. Because he's innocent child, he could not tolerate. And the father was saying, 'Why you are crying? It is very nice.' Just see! So without being devotee a man will become cruel, cruel, cruel, cruel, cruel. In this way go to hell. And a devotee cannot tolerate. 

"We have studied in the life of Lord Jesus Christ. When he saw that in the Jewish synagogue the birds were being killed, he became shocked. He therefore left. He inaugurated the Christian religion. Perhaps you know. He was shocked by this animal-killing. Therefore his first commandment is 'Thou shall not kill.' But the foolish Christians, instead of following his instruction, they are opening daily slaughterhouse. So unless one becomes a perfect devotee, he cannot become bhadra, a gentleman. That is not possible. 


"He concluded with an apt and encouraging parallel between Prahlada, the asurottama, best of the demons, and ourselves, also sons and daughters of the demons. "Prahlada was born of a father, Hiranyakasipu, and the most ferocious asura, so he cannot escape the relationship with his father. 'How can I say that I am not son of asura?' But he is uttama. He surpassed that platform. How it is possible? Now, because Krishna is pleased upon him. Prito 'ham. Although he is born in an asura family, low-grade family, but because Krishna is pleased upon him, he becomes immediately bhadra. This is the facility. "So those who speak that these Europeans and Americans cannot become Vaishnava, they are mistaken. If Krishna is pleased upon them, immediately they become the best of the brahmanas. Here it is said, 'Never mind you are born in the family of asura, but because I am pleased, you are all-purified. You don't be disappointed.' It is only that we require to please Krishna. Then everything is all right."


Reference: Transcendental Diary Volume 1 by Hari Sauri Dasa