View source for One may attain the topmost platform of devotional service, but somehow or other if he offends a Vaisnava, the whole structure collapses

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{{terms|"One may attain the topmost platform of devotional service, but somehow or other if he offends a Vaisnava, the whole structure collapses"}}
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{{compiler|MadhuGopaldas}}
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[[Category:One May]]
[[Category:Attaining Devotional Service to God]]
[[Category:Topmost Platform of Devotional Service to God]]
[[Category:Devotional Platform]]
[[Category:Somehow]]
[[Category:Somehow or Other]]
[[Category:Offenses Against Devotees of God]]
[[Category:Vaisnava - Devotees of God]]
[[Category:Offenses in Devotional Service to God]]
[[Category:Collapsing the Whole Structure of Devotional Service to God]]
[[Category:Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 05 Chapter 10 Purports - The Discussion Between Jada Bharata and Maharaja Rahugana]]
[[Category:Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 05 Purports]]
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<div id="Srimad-Bhagavatam" class="section" sec_index="1" parent="compilation" text="Srimad-Bhagavatam"><h2>Srimad-Bhagavatam</h2>
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<div id="SB_Canto_5" class="sub_section" sec_index="5" parent="Srimad-Bhagavatam" text="SB Canto 5"><h3>SB Canto 5</h3>
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<div id="SB51024_0" class="quote" parent="SB_Canto_5" book="SB" index="248" link="SB 5.10.24" link_text="SB 5.10.24">
<div class="heading">A mad elephant can destroy an entire garden which has been developed with great labor. One may attain the topmost platform of devotional service, but somehow or other if he offends a Vaiṣṇava, the whole structure collapses.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:SB 5.10.24|SB 5.10.24, Translation and Purport]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="trans text"><p style="display: inline;">Whatever you have spoken appears to me to be contradictory. O best friend of the distressed, I have committed a great offense by insulting you. I was puffed up with false prestige due to possessing the body of a king. For this I have certainly become an offender. Therefore I pray that you kindly glance at me with your causeless mercy. If you do so, I can be relieved from sinful activities brought about by insulting you.</p>
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<div class="purport text"><p>Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has said that by offending a Vaiṣṇava, one finishes all his spiritual activities. Offending a Vaiṣṇava is considered the mad elephant offense. A mad elephant can destroy an entire garden which has been developed with great labor. One may attain the topmost platform of devotional service, but somehow or other if he offends a Vaiṣṇava, the whole structure collapses. Unconsciously, King Rahūgaṇa offended Jaḍa Bharata, but due to his good sense, he asked to be excused. This is the process by which one can be relieved from a vaiṣṇava-aparādha. Kṛṣṇa is always very simple and by nature merciful. When one commits an offense at the feet of a Vaiṣṇava, one must immediately apologize to such a personality so that his spiritual advancement may not be hampered.</p>
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