Devotee: Prabhupāda, Mahārāja Parīkṣit was a great devotee of Kṛṣṇa from his birth. So is he actually in need of these talks by Śukadeva, or is this for the benefit of others?
Prabhupāda: Yes. You never think that you have become very stalwart, you do not need any spiritual master's instruction. Don't think that. Then you are spoiled. You should always think that you are nothing, even you are very much advanced. Just like Caitanya Mahāprabhu said that, "My spiritual master saw Me a great fool." You see?
So we should remain always a fool. We should never think that we have advanced. Then we can advance. Then we can advance. And as soon as we think, "Oh, I have advanced now. Nobody has to instruct me. Now I shall . . ." That's not good.
Devotee: Wasn't that the case with Arjuna?
Prabhupāda: Everyone. We should always be prepared to gain instruction from the authorities. We should never think that we have become perfect—although you are perfect.
Tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā (CC Adi 17.31).
One should be very humble, meek, and always think that, "I am nothing." Just like the author of Caitanya-caritāmṛta, such a great, stalwart man, such a great devotee. Nobody has produced such literature as Caitanya-caritāmṛta. He is presenting himself that, "I am lighter than the worm in the stool." Purīṣera kīṭa haite muñi se laghiṣṭha (CC Adi 5.205).
Purīṣ means stool, and kīṭa means worm. So "I am lower than the worm in the stool. Anyone who takes my name, all his pious activities immediately becomes lost." In this way he is presenting himself. That does not mean that he's actually so, but that is the attitude of a devotee. He's always very meek and humble. And the opposite side is, "I am God. Now finish all business."
So this māyā is very strong. He's (She's) always enticing me, "Oh, you are so great, so big, so . . . you have nothing to learn. Finish all . . ." That is māyā's instruction. But we should be always very humble, meek, and we should know always that "What I know? I do not know anything."
The knowledge is unlimited. God is unlimited. And my position is very minute, fractional, infinitesimal. What I can accommodate? I shall go on. I shall go on. Remain. Gopī-bhartuḥ pada-kamalayor dāsa-dāsānudāsaḥ (CC Madhya 13.80).
We shall always try to remain servant of the servant of the servant of the servant of the . . . hundred times servant. Then it will be all right. The more you become humble, meek, the more you advance. That is real advancement.
Jayadvaita: If we're so much puffed up by our previous practice, how can we develop . . .
Prabhupāda: That is material life. We are falsely puffed up. Don't you see? Every . . . majority of the persons, they'll say, "Oh, what is God? What is God?" The scientists, as soon as you say . . . any foundation you approach, "Sir, can you give us some money for spreading this Kṛṣṇa . . .?" "No. What is this?" You see? They have practically forgotten what is God.