View source for By performing sacrifices and pious activities one can achieve sense gratification in a higher planetary system, but the devotional service of the Lord is so rare that even by executing hundreds and thousands of such sacrifices one cannot obtain it

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{{terms|"by performing sacrifices and pious activities one can achieve sense gratification in a higher planetary system, but the devotional service of the Lord is so rare that even by executing hundreds and thousands of such sacrifices one cannot obtain it"}}
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<div id="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta" class="section" sec_index="2" parent="compilation" text="Sri Caitanya-caritamrta"><h2>Sri Caitanya-caritamrta</h2>
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<div id="CC_Adi-lila" class="sub_section" sec_index="1" parent="Sri_Caitanya-caritamrta" text="CC Adi-lila"><h3>CC Adi-lila</h3>
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<div id="CCAdi817_0" class="quote" parent="CC_Adi-lila" book="CC" index="1133" link="CC Adi 8.17" link_text="CC Adi 8.17">
<div class="heading">By cultivating philosophical knowledge one can understand his spiritual position and thus be liberated, and by performing sacrifices and pious activities one can achieve sense gratification in a higher planetary system, but the devotional service of the Lord is so rare that even by executing hundreds and thousands of such sacrifices one cannot obtain it.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:CC Adi 8.17|CC Adi 8.17, Translation and Purport]]: </span><div class="trans text" style="display: inline; "><p style="display: inline; ">"By cultivating philosophical knowledge one can understand his spiritual position and thus be liberated, and by performing sacrifices and pious activities one can achieve sense gratification in a higher planetary system, but the devotional service of the Lord is so rare that even by executing hundreds and thousands of such sacrifices one cannot obtain it."</p>
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<div class="purport text"><p>Prahlāda Mahārāja instructs:</p>
:matir na kṛṣṇe parataḥ svato vā
:mitho ’bhipadyeta gṛha-vratānām
:([[Vanisource:SB 7.5.30|SB 7.5.30]])
:naiṣāṁ matis tāvad urukramāṅghriṁ
:spṛśaty anarthāpagamo yad-arthaḥ
:mahīyasāṁ pāda-rajo-’bhiṣekaṁ
:niṣkiñcanānāṁ na vṛṇīta yāvat
:([[Vanisource:SB 7.5.32|SB 7.5.32]])
<p>These ślokas are to be discussed. Their purport is that one cannot obtain kṛṣṇa-bhakti, or the devotional service of the Lord, by official execution of the Vedic rituals. One has to approach a pure devotee. Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura sings, chāḍiyā vaiṣṇava-sevā nistāra pāyeche kebā: "Who has been elevated without rendering service to a pure Vaiṣṇava?" It is the statement of Prahlāda Mahārāja that unless one is able to accept the dust from the lotus feet of a pure Vaiṣṇava there is no possibility of achieving the platform of devotional service. That is the secret. The above-mentioned tantra-vacana, quoted from the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.1.36), is our perfect guidance in this connection.</p>
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