Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
Six qualities that enhance Bhakti
The endeavor for food and clothing must always remain, either in household life or in renounced life. Therefore there is a need of generosity in such dealings. According to the Padma Purana:
alabdhe va vinaste va bhaksyacchadana-sadhane
aviklava-matir bhutva harim eva dhiya smaret
"The mind of one who has taken shelter of the holy name is undisturbed even if food and clothes are not easily obtained or if they are obtained but then lost. Leaving behind all material attachments, he takes complete shelter of Govinda." The purport is that whether a sadhaka stays at home or in the forest, he will have to endeavor for food and clothing. A householder should find out his food and clothing through agriculture or business, protecting the citizens, or by serving others. A renunciate should accomplish this by begging alms. In those activities a devotee should not be agitated if food and clothing are not obtained or if they are obtained and then lost. He should peacefully remember Krsna.
Householders lament if they lose their wife, children, etc. But a practitioner of devotional service should not maintain this lamentation very long. They should quickly give up their lamentation and engage in the cultivation of Krsna consciousness. A renunciate should not lament if he does not possess a quilt, a waterpot, or other alms, or if these things are stolen by man or animal. A practicing Vaisnava should give up all urges like lamentation and anger, otherwise there will be obstacles in his constant remembrance of Krsna. It is explained in the Padma Purana:
sokamarsadibhir bhavair akrantam yasya manasam
katham tasya mukundasya sphurttih sambhavana bhavet
"Within the heart of one who is full of anger or pride, or lamentation on the state of his wife or sons, there is no possibility of Krsna being manifest."
Those who endeavor for devotional service should only worship Krsna. They should not worship various demigods. But they should not also disrespect the demigods or the scriptures. When coming before a demigod, one should offer respect, knowing them to be Krsna's servant. In the Padma Purana it is said:
harir eva sadaradhyah sarva-devesvaresvarah
itare brahma-rudradya navajneyah kadacana
"Krsna, or Hari, is the master of all demigods, and therefore He is always worshipable. But this does not mean that one should not offer respect to the demigods headed by Brahma and Siva." The purport is that the Supreme Lord is one, and others (Brahma and Siva) are His qualitative incarnations (gunavataras). Particular demigods are worshiped by people according to their qualifications. But Lord Visnu is the only worshipable Lord for people who are in the mode of goodness. After worshiping various demigods for many lifetimes, one's life becomes auspicious when he comes to the point of accepting Visnu as the only Supreme Lord. Lord Sri Krsna is the topmost manifestation of visnu-tattva. When a living entity transcends the three modes by worshiping in the mode of goodness, he attains the service of Lord Krsna.