Sadhu is...

Expressions researched:
"Sadhu is My heart" |"Sadhu is above" |"Sadhu is considered" |"Sadhu is equally" |"Sadhu is kind" |"Sadhu is titiksava" |"Sadhu is transcendental" |"sadhu (holy man) is a man in Krsna consciousness" |"sadhu is a great personality" |"sadhu is a pure devotee" |"sadhu is a strict follower" |"sadhu is advised" |"sadhu is already" |"sadhu is always" |"sadhu is calm" |"sadhu is described" |"sadhu is equipoised" |"sadhu is friend" |"sadhu is he who" |"sadhu is leader" |"sadhu is one who" |"sadhu is pleased" |"sadhu is representative" |"sadhu is sadhu-bhusanah" |"sadhu is speaking" |"sadhu is suhrdah" |"sadhu is suhrdam" |"sadhu is to speak" |"sadhu is trying"

SB Canto 1

Sādhu is to speak to the householders about the naked truth of life.

SB 1.13.23, Purport:

A sādhu should never flatter kings or rich men to live comfortably at their cost. A sādhu is to speak to the householders about the naked truth of life so that they may come to their senses about the precarious life in material existence.

SB Canto 3

A sādhu is a strict follower of devotional service.

SB 3.25.20, Purport:

A sādhu is not just an ordinary man with a saffron robe or long beard. A sādhu is described in Bhagavad-gītā as one who unflinchingly engages in devotional service. Even though one is found not to be following the strict rules and regulations of devotional service, if one simply has unflinching faith in Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Person, he is understood to be a sādhu. Sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ (BG 9.30). A sādhu is a strict follower of devotional service.

A sādhu is calm, and he quietly and peacefully follows the principles of scripture.

SB 3.25.21, Purport:

A sādhu is calm, and he quietly and peacefully follows the principles of scripture. A sādhu means one who follows the principles of scripture and at the same time is a devotee of the Lord. One who actually follows the principles of scripture must be a devotee of God because all the śāstras instruct us to obey the orders of the Personality of Godhead. Sādhu, therefore, means a follower of the scriptural injunctions and a devotee of the Lord.

A sādhu is one who has given up all responsibility to society, family, and worldly humanitarianism, simply for the service of the Lord.

SB 3.25.22, Purport:

A sādhu is one who has given up all responsibility to society, family, and worldly humanitarianism, simply for the service of the Lord. As soon as he takes his birth in the world, a person has so many responsibilities and obligations—to the public, to the demigods, to the great sages, to the general living beings, to his parents, to the family forefathers and to many others. When he gives up all such obligations for the sake of the service of the Supreme Lord, he is not punished for such renunciation of obligation.

SB Canto 4

A sādhu is described as titikṣavaḥ kāruṇikāḥ.

SB 4.22.24, Purport:

The first qualification of a sādhu, or devotee, is ahiṁsā, or nonviolence. Persons interested in the path of devotional service, or in going back home, back to Godhead, must first practice ahiṁsā, or nonviolence. A sādhu is described as titikṣavaḥ kāruṇikāḥ (SB 3.25.21). A devotee should be tolerant and should be very much compassionate toward others.

A perfect sādhu is one who is always engaged in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

SB 4.24.19, Purport:

A perfect sādhu is one who is always engaged in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Prācīnabarhi's sons are described as sādhavaḥ because of their complete obedience to their father. The father, king and spiritual master are supposed to be representatives of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and as such they have to be respected as the Supreme Lord. It is the duty of the father, the spiritual master and the king to regulate their subordinates in such a way that they ultimately become fully unalloyed devotees of the Supreme Lord.

SB Canto 5

A sādhu is a pure devotee of the Lord.

SB 5.13.25, Purport:

It is a fact that if one takes shelter of a pure devotee, one attains all perfection, even if the association is a short one. A sādhu is a pure devotee of the Lord.

SB Canto 10.1 to 10.13

A sādhu is one who is fully devoted to Kṛṣṇa.

SB 10.7.31, Purport:

Kṛṣṇa conscious life means innocent devotional life, and a sādhu is one who is fully devoted to Kṛṣṇa. As confirmed by Kṛṣṇa in Bhagavad-gītā (9.30), bhajate māṁ ananya-bhāk sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ: anyone fully attached to Kṛṣṇa is a sādhu.

A sādhu is one who is engaged in devotional service to the Lord without deviation.

SB 10.10.18, Purport:

A sādhu is one who is engaged in devotional service to the Lord without deviation (bhajate mām ananya-bhāk).

titikṣavaḥ kāruṇikāḥ

suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām

ajāta-śatravaḥ śāntāḥ

sādhavaḥ sādhu-bhūṣaṇāḥ

"The symptoms of a sādhu are that he is tolerant, merciful and friendly to all living entities. He has no enemies, he is peaceful, he abides by the scriptures, and all his characteristics are sublime." (SB 3.25.21) A sādhu is suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām, the friend of everyone.

A sādhu is always ready to deliver Kṛṣṇa consciousness without discrimination.

SB 10.10.41, Purport:

A sādhu, however, is always equipoised toward everyone. Because of being a pure devotee, a sādhu is always ready to deliver Kṛṣṇa consciousness without discrimination.

CC Madhya-lila

A sādhu is a great personality like Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

CC Madhya 17.185, Purport:

A sādhu is a great personality like Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the śāstras are the injunctions of revealed scriptures, and the guru, or spiritual master, is one who confirms the scriptural injunctions. Accepting the guidance of these three is the actual way of following the great personalities (mahājanas) for real advancement in life (mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ (CC Madhya 17.186)).

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

Sādhu tolerates all kinds of miserable conditions.

Lecture on BG 1.21-22 -- London, July 18, 1973:

Sādhu is titikṣava, tolerates all kinds of miserable conditions. He is sādhu. Because this is a place of miserable condition. A sādhu learns how to tolerate. Sādhu is never disturbed. Yasmin sthito guruṇāpi duḥkhena na vicālyate (Bg. 6.20-23). A sādhu, who has got the shelter of Kṛṣṇa, if he is placed in the severest type of dangerous condition, he is never disturbed.

Sādhu is suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānām. Why he should allow animal killing?

Lecture on BG 1.21-22 -- London, July 18, 1973:

It is very difficult to find out a Christian, although they are claiming, I am "Christian." It is very difficult. Because their business is killing. And Lord Jesus Christ ordered, first order is, "Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not covet." Who is following? So sādhu is suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānām. Why he should allow animal killing?

Sādhu is kind to all living entities.

Lecture on BG 1.21-22 -- London, July 18, 1973:

These Christian people, they are making some amendment, "Thou shalt not murder." Because murder will apply to the killing of human beings. But Lord Jesus Christ never said like that. "Thou shalt not kill." It is applicable both for human being and for animal or even for trees. Unnecessarily you cannot kill. That is sādhu. Suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānām (BG 5.29). "Don't kill my brother, but you can kill my neighbors." Not like that. He is not sādhu. Sādhu is kind to all living entities.

A sādhu is friend of all living entities.

Lecture on BG 3.21-25 -- New York, May 30, 1966:

A sādhu is friend of all living entities. He is not only friend of the human kind. He is friend of the animals. He is friend of the trees. He is friend of the ants, worms, reptiles, serpents—everyone. Titikṣavaḥ kāruṇikāḥ suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām. And ajāta-śatru. And because he is friend of everyone, he has no enemy. But unfortunately the world is so infidel, even to such a sādhu there is enemy.

Sādhu is sādhu-bhūṣaṇaḥ. You cannot find fault in him.

Lecture on BG 4.8 -- Bombay, March 28, 1974:

Who is that man? Api cet su-durācāro bhajate mām ananya-bhāk sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ. One who is fully engaged. Bhajate mām ananya-bhāk. He has no other engagement. Not partial, some percentage for this purpose, some percentage for that purpose. No. Samyak, wholeheartedly, twenty-four hours engaged in the service of the Lord. He is sādhu. He is sādhu. Api cet su-durācāraḥ. Even if you find some fault in him. Because sādhu is sādhu-bhūṣaṇaḥ. You cannot find fault in him. Cannot find fault, but even though if you find some fault, but if you find that he is strictly, he's engaged in the service of the Lord, Kṛṣṇa says, he is sādhu.

Sādhu is always engaged, dedicated to the service of the Lord, he has no other business.

Lecture on BG 4.8 -- Bombay, March 28, 1974:

Sādhu is always engaged, dedicated to the service of the Lord, he has no other business.... That is sādhu. So Kṛṣṇa also is always anxious to give them protection. Just like a child is adherent to the parents. He does not know anything else except his father, mother. Similarly, the parents are also very much anxious to give protection to the child. This is reciprocal. If you depend on Kṛṣṇa fully and simply engage yourself in His service, then you are sādhu. And Kṛṣṇa is always very much anxious to give you protection.

Sādhu is titikṣava. He has to tolerate so many things, criticism, opposing elements.

Lecture on BG 4.10 -- Bombay, March 30, 1974:

Who is sādhu? Sādhu... Bhajate mām ananya-bhāk. That is sādhu. Api cet su-durācāro bhajate mām ananya-bhāk. It doesn't matter if he has got some bodily faults. He's accustomed in a different atmosphere. Even though he has got some habituated faults. But if his only qualification is firmly fixed up in devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, he's sādhu. Sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ (BG 9.30). Kṛṣṇa says. Sādhavaḥ sādhu-bhūṣaṇāḥ. Sādhavaḥ sādhu-bhūṣaṇāḥ. Titikṣava. Sādhu is titikṣava. He has to tolerate so many things, criticism, opposing elements. Because sādhu cannot sit down idly. Bhajate mām ananya-bhāk. He is engaged fully in Kṛṣṇa's service. So Kṛṣṇa's service is not sitting idly. Kṛṣṇa wants to spread the philosophy of Bhagavad-gītā everywhere.

In another place in the Bhāgavata the sādhu is described: A sādhu, the first qualification is he must be a staunch devotee of Kṛṣṇa or God.

Lecture on BG 6.47 -- Ahmedabad, December 12, 1972:

Sādhu means very tolerant. In another place, sādhu is described in the Bhagavad-gītā: bhajate mām ananya-bhāk sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ (BG 9.30). Api cet su-durācāro bhajate mām ananya-bhāk sādhur eva... In another place in the Bhāgavata the sādhu is described:

titikṣavaḥ kāruṇikāḥ

suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām

ajāta-śatravaḥ śāntāḥ

sādhavaḥ sādhu-bhūṣaṇāḥ

(SB 3.25.21)

A sādhu, the first qualification is he must be a staunch devotee of Kṛṣṇa or God. Whatever you say. That is sādhu. That is the basic definition.

Sādhu is described in the Bhagavad-gītā by the Lord Himself.

Lecture on BG 10.8 -- New York, January 7, 1967:

Sādhu is described in the Bhagavad-gītā by the Lord Himself, who is sādhu. He said api cet su-durācāro bhajate mām ananya-bhāk, sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ (BG 9.30). Sādhu is one who is unflinchingly engaged in loving service of the Lord. He is a sādhu. That is the test, who is a sādhu.

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

Sādhu is described in the Bhagavad-gītā, who has no other business than to serve Kṛṣṇa.

Lecture on SB 1.2.9-10 -- Delhi, November 14, 1973:

Sādhu means Kṛṣṇa conscious person. Sādhu does not mean having a big beard and nice dress or saffron-colored dress. That is not sādhu. Sādhu is described in the Bhagavad-gītā, api cet su-durācāro bhajate mām ananya-bhāk, sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ (BG 9.30). That is sādhu, who has no other business than to serve Kṛṣṇa. He is sādhu.

Even a sādhu is pleased when a snake is killed or a scorpion is killed.

Lecture on SB 1.8.27 -- Los Angeles, April 19, 1973:

A sādhu is never satisfied seeing another living entity being killed, but Prahlāda Mahārāja says "Even a sādhu is pleased when a snake is killed or a scorpion is killed. So my father is just like snake and scorpion. So he's killed. Therefore everyone is happy." Everyone was... Such demon, who simply troubles the devotees, such demon, a very dangerous demon. So when such demon is killed, even saintly persons are satisfied.

Sādhu is transcendental to the material qualities.

Lecture on SB 1.8.29 -- Los Angeles, April 21, 1973:

Sādhu does not mean the worldly honesty or dishonesty, morality or immorality. It has nothing to do with material activities. It is simply spiritual, sādhu. But sometimes we derive, "sādhu," a person's material goodness, morality. but actually "sādhu" means in the transcendental platform. Those who are engaged in devotional service. Sa guṇān samatītyaitān (BG 14.26). Sādhu is transcendental to the material qualities.

If a sādhu is already delivered, he is on the transcendental platform, then where is the necessity of delivering him?

Lecture on SB 1.8.29 -- Los Angeles, April 21, 1973:

If a sādhu is already delivered, he is on the transcendental platform, then where is the necessity of delivering him? This is the question. Therefore this word is used, viḍambanam. It is bewildering. It is contradictory. It appears to be contradictory. If a sādhu is already delivered... Transcendental position means he's no longer under the control of the three material modes of nature, goodness, passion and ignorance. Because it is clearly stated in the Bhagavad-gītā: sa guṇān samatītyaitān (BG 14.26). He transcends the material qualities. A sādhu, devotee, Then where is the question of deliverance? The deliverance... He does not require deliverance, a sādhu, but because he is very much anxious to see the Supreme Lord eye to eye, that is his inner desire, therefore Kṛṣṇa comes. Not for deliverance. He's already delivered.

The sādhu is always thinking of Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa is always thinking of His devotee, sādhu.

Lecture on SB 1.8.29 -- Los Angeles, April 21, 1973:

Just like a devotee wants to satisfy the Lord in all respects, similarly more than the devotee, the Lord wants to satisfy the devotee. This is the exchange of loving affairs. Just like in your, in our ordinary dealings also, if you love somebody, you want to satisfy him or her. Similarly, she or he also wants to reciprocate. So if that reciprocation of loving affairs is there in this material world, how much it is greatly elevated in the spiritual world? So there is a verse that: "Sādhu is My heart, and I am also the sādhu's heart." The sādhu is always thinking of Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa is always thinking of His devotee, sādhu.

A sādhu is advised tolerate! Tolerate all this nonsense!

Lecture on SB 3.25.21 -- Bombay, November 21, 1974:

Here there is no other thing because here all the boys and girls and devotees, they are concerned with Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. That's all. The whole business, whole day's business, whole night's business, is Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. From early morning at three o'clock to night, ten o'clock, they have only business of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. That's all. Therefore they are sādhu. Therefore they are sādhu. This is the symptom of sādhu. And so many people are criticizing. So many enemies we have got. We are not getting the sanction because there are so many enemies. We are creating "nuisance." We are chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra—that is nuisance. This complaint is going to the police. So that is very difficult. Therefore a sādhu is advised, titikṣavaḥ, tolerate! Tolerate all this nonsense! What can be done? We have no other alternative, to tolerate.

Sādhu is representative of Kṛṣṇa.

Lecture on SB 3.25.22 -- Bombay, November 22, 1974:

Sādhu is representative of Kṛṣṇa. Or Kṛṣṇa directly... Sādhu will never say that "You serve me." Sādhu will say, "Serve Kṛṣṇa." Therefore we have to approach Kṛṣṇa through sādhu. Not directly.

Sādhu is suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām. Sarva-dehinām means all living entities in all forms of life.

Lecture on SB 3.26.16 -- Bombay, December 25, 1974:

Sādhu is suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām. Sarva-dehinām means all living entities in all forms of life. That is called sarva-dehinām. "I am for Indians and not for the Englishmen or Americans," or "I am for the human being. I am not for the cows and goats. They should be sent to the slaughterhouse"—these things are happening on account of no Kṛṣṇa consciousness, limited, crippled ideas. And it is going on in the name of philanthropism, nationalism, communism, this "ism" and that "ism." These "isms" will not help us unless you come to the platform of Kṛṣṇa-ism, that "Everything belongs to Kṛṣṇa."

Sādhu is equally disposed to all living entities—not only human society.

Lecture on SB 6.3.27-28 -- Gorakhpur, February 20, 1971:

Sādhu is equally disposed to all living entities—not only human society; animal society. In the material atmosphere... Because the material atmosphere is envious to one another. I am envious to you, you are envious to me. That is the position of the material world. So these so-called philanthropists or altruists, they take a section only, do good to them, but neglect others. Neglect others. Or others are enemies. But a sādhu is equipoised. He takes compassion for all kinds of living entities.

Sādhu is leader for all living entities.

Lecture on SB 6.3.27-28 -- Gorakhpur, February 20, 1971:

Politicians, they are friends only to the countrymen or to the party. But still, they are so much eulogized: "Oh, he is our leader." But this sort of leader cannot be compared with a sādhu because a sādhu is leader for all living entities. They are thinking of the ant also, how it will be helped. Not only human society or own society, family members. There cannot be broader-minded than a sādhu. That is real sādhu. Suhṛdaḥ sarva-dehinām. Friend of all living entities. Never mind whether it is an ant or whether he is Brahmā—he's friend of everyone. Ajāta-śatravaḥ. And because a sādhu is friend of everyone, there cannot be any conceivable enemy. But still, there are enemies. That is the nature of the world.

Why a sādhu is pleased when a sarpa, a scorpion, or snake is killed?

Lecture on SB 7.9.13-14 -- Montreal, August 22, 1968:

Why a sādhu is pleased when a sarpa, a scorpion, or snake is killed? The reason is that these two kinds of creatures, they bite innocent persons without any fault. Without any fault. Or for little fault. The venomous snake. Immediately. By nature they are so angry and so envious that they feel pleasure if somebody is bitten and immediately die. That is their nature. Therefore killing a snake and scorpion means to save it from so many sinful activities.

Nectar of Devotion Lectures

If somebody's sādhu is speaking against śāstra, then he's not sādhu.

The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, November 13, 1972:

We cannot follow an upstart, manufacturing some song, manufacturing some ideas. We cannot follow that. What is authorized song, we shall sing. What is authorized method, we shall follow. Sādhu-guru-śāstra-vākya. Sādhu and guru means on the basis of śāstra. And śāstra means the statements of sādhu and guru. Therefore sādhu and guru and śāstra, they are identical. So they must be corroborated. If somebody's sādhu is speaking against śāstra, then he's not sādhu. If somebody's guru, if he's going against śāstra, then he's not guru. And śāstra means the original guru and sādhu.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Lectures

Sādhu is considered to be honest and saintly because he follows scripture.

Lecture on CC Madhya-lila 20.353-354 -- New York, December 26, 1966:

Guru is considered to be liberated because he follows the scripture. Sādhu is considered to be honest and saintly because he follows scripture. Sādhu-śāstra-guru-vākya. Nobody can become a sādhu if he does not accept the principles of scripture. Nobody can be accepted as guru, or spiritual master, if he does not follow the principles of scripture. This is the test.

General Lectures

Sādhu is described by Kṛṣṇa in the Bhagavad-gītā: sādhu means unalloyed devotee of Kṛṣṇa.

Lecture with Translator -- Sanand, December 25, 1975:

Sādhu is described by Kṛṣṇa in the Bhagavad-gītā:

api cet sudurācāro

bhajate mām ananya-bhāk

sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ...

(BG 9.30)

He is sādhu who is... So the fact is, sādhu means unalloyed devotee of Kṛṣṇa. He is sādhu.

Philosophy Discussions

A sādhu is he who talks in terms of scripture.

Philosophy Discussion on Soren Aabye Kierkegaard:

Prabhupāda: We can approach God by understanding a saintly person, by studying the Vedic scriptures, and explained directly by the bona fide spiritual master. So sādhu means saintly person, and śāstra means scriptures, and guru means spiritual master—and that they should be corroborated. A sādhu is he who talks in terms of scripture. Similarly, guru is he who talks in terms of scripture. Guru cannot manufacture words which is not in the scriptures. And that is not scripture which does not tally with the words of guru and sādhu. So these three items should be corroborated, and then we can understand who is guru, who is sādhu, and who is, what is scripture. Then we take instruction from them, and we can perfectly make progress towards understanding of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

Sādhu is above all this vṛtti, but still, you keep pace with the material world, otherwise your activities will be hampered.

Room Conversation With Radha-Damodara Sankirtana Party -- March 16, 1976, Mayapur:

Prabhupāda: Who is sādhu? Bhajate mām ananya-bhāk. One who has no other business than to serve Kṛṣṇa, he is sādhu. So the association of such sādhu.... Sādhu, sato vṛtteḥ sādhu-saṅge. Whatever a sādhu does, there is no fault. Everything is right. But still, because we are in this material world, we shall act in such a way that nobody can accuse us. Sato vṛtteḥ. Sādhu is above all this vṛtti, but still, you keep pace with the material world, otherwise your activities will be hampered.

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

Sādhu is always in good habit.

Evening Darsana -- May 15, 1977, Hrishikesh:

Prabhupāda: "One who has no other business than to execute Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he is sādhu." "Well, he is a foreigner. He is not brāhmaṇa. He is accustomed to so many habits." Sādhu is always in good habit. But due to past practice, sometimes we may see some discrepancy. You can find out some fault. But Kṛṣṇa says that "Never mind there is some fault. Still, he is sādhu." "Why?" Now bhajate mām ananya-bhāk: "He has taken Me as everything."

BG Chapters 1 - 6

According to Bhagavad-gītā, a sādhu (holy man) is a man in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

BG 4.8, Purport:

According to Bhagavad-gītā, a sādhu (holy man) is a man in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. A person may appear to be irreligious, but if he has the qualifications of Kṛṣṇa consciousness wholly and fully, he is to be understood to be a sādhu.