10 verses proving the unique and special position of Srila Prabhupāda

 “I do not know what is illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating or gambling. So far, my present
life is concerned, I do not remember any part of my life when I was forgetful of Kṛṣṇa.”

10 verses proving the unique and special position of Srila Prabhupāda –
Compiled by Damaghosa dasa

1) Śrī Chaitanya-charitamrita, Madhya-līlā 22.14-15:  The Process of Devotional Service
Generally ever-liberated personalities live in the spiritual world as associates of Lord Kṛṣṇa, and they are known as kṛṣṇa-pāriṣada, associates of the Lord. Their only business is enjoying Lord Kṛṣṇa’s company, and even though such ternally liberated persons come within this material world to serve the Lord’s purpose, they enjoy Lord Kṛṣṇa’s company without stoppage.

2) Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.25.24 Purport: The Glories of Devotional Service   
Similarly, those who are sādhavaḥ, or devotees engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness in the transcendental service of the Lord, do not feel the contamination of material miseries, whereas those who are not devotees in Kṛṣṇa consciousness actually feel the miseries of material existence.

3) Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.13.55 Purport: Dhṛtarāṣṭra Quits Home   
A pure devotee of the Lord does not live on any planet of the material sky, nor does he feel any contact with material elements. His so-called material body does not exist, being surcharged with the spiritual current of the Lord’s identical interest, and thus he is permanently freed from all contaminations of the sum total of the mahat-tattva. He is always in the spiritual sky, which he attains by being transcendental to the sevenfold material covering by the effect of his devotional service.

4) Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.4.31 Purport: Vidura Approaches Maitreya    
The specific qualification for becoming the representative of the Lord is to be unaffected by the material modes of nature. The highest qualification of a person in the material world is to be a brāhmaṇa. But since a brāhmaṇa is in the mode of goodness, to be a brāhmaṇa is not sufficient for becoming a representative of the Lord. One has to transcend the mode of goodness also and be situated in unalloyed goodness, unaffected by any of the qualities of material nature. This stage of transcendental qualification is called śuddha-sattva, or vāsudeva, and in this stage the science of God can be realized. As the Lord is not affected by the modes of material nature, so a pure devotee of the Lord is also not affected by the modes of nature. That is the primary qualification for being one with the Lord. A person who is able to attain this transcendental qualification is called jīvan-mukta, or liberated, even though he is apparently in material conditions. This liberation is achieved by one who constantly engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

5) Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.11.38: Lord Kṛṣṇa’ s Entrance into Dvārakā.
This is the divinity of the Personality of Godhead: He is not affected by the qualities of material nature, even though He is in contact with them. Similarly, the devotees who have taken shelter of the Lord do not become influenced by the material qualities.

6) Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.6.29 Purport: Conversation Between Nārada and Vyāsadeva   
Nārada is known as the son of Brahmā, as Lord Kṛṣṇa is known as the son of Vāsudeva. The Personality of Godhead and His liberated devotees like Nārada appear in the material world by the same process. As it is said in the Bhagavad-gītā, the birth and activities of the Lord are all transcendental. Therefore, according to authorized opinion, the birth of Nārada as the son of Brahmā is also a transcendental pastime. His appearance and disappearance are practically on the same level as that of the Lord. The Lord and His devotees are therefore simultaneously one and different as spiritual entities. They belong to the same category of transcendence.

7) Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.1.35 Purport: The Supreme Lord Is Equal to Everyone   
The Lord comes to this material world through the agency of His internal potency, and similarly, when a devotee or associate of the Lord descends to this material world, he does so through the action of the spiritual energy. Any pastime conducted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead is an arrangement by yogamāyā, not mahāmāyā.

8) Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.13.55 Purport: Dhṛtarāṣṭra Quits Home  
A pure devotee of the Lord does not live on any planet of the material sky, nor does he feel any contact with material elements. His so-called material body does not exist, being surcharged with the spiritual current of the Lord’s identical interest, and thus he is permanently freed from all contaminations of the sum total of the mahat-tattva. He is always in the spiritual sky, which he attains by being transcendental to the sevenfold material covering by the effect of his devotional service.

9) Śrīla Prabhupāda’s letter: Los Angeles, 21 June, 1970
A Spiritual Master is always liberated. In any condition of His life He should not be mistaken as ordinary human being. This position of a Spiritual Master is achieved by three processes. One is called sādhana siddha. That means one who is liberated by executing the regulative principle of devotional service. Another is kṛpā siddha, one who is liberated by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa or His devotee. And another is nitya siddha who is never forgetful of Kṛṣṇa throughout his whole life. These are the three features of the perfection of life.

So far Nārada Muni is concerned, in His previous life He was a maidservant’s son, but by the mercy of the devotees He later on became siddha and next life He appeared as Nārada with complete freedom to move anywhere by the grace of the Lord. So even though He was in his previous life a maidservant’s son there was no impediment in the achievement of His perfect spiritual life. Similarly, any living entity who is conditioned can achieve the perfectional stage of life by the above mentioned processes and the vivid example is Nārada Muni.

So, I do not know why you have asked about my previous life. Whether I was subjected to the laws of material nature? So, even though accepting that I was subjected to the laws of material nature, does it hamper in my becoming Spiritual Master? What is your opinion? From the life of Nārada Muni it is distinct that although He was a conditioned soul in His previous life, there was no impediment of His becoming the Spiritual Master. This law is applicable not only to the Spiritual Master, but to every living entity.

So far, I am concerned, I cannot say what I was in my previous life, but one great astrologer calculated that I was previously a physician and my life was sinless. Although I had immense opportunities to indulge in the four principles of sinful life because I was connected with a very aristocratic family, Kṛṣṇa always saved me, and throughout my whole life I do not know what is illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating or gambling. So far, my present life is concerned, I do not remember any part of my life when I was forgetful of Kṛṣṇa.

10) Nectar of Instruction, Chapter 6    
Such neophytes, unable to appreciate the exalted service of the advanced devotee, try to bring the mahā-bhāgavata to their platform. We experience such difficulty in propagating this Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world. Unfortunately, we are surrounded by neophyte Godbrothers who do not appreciate the extraordinary activities of spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world. They simply try to bring us to their platform, and they try to criticize us in every respect. We very much regret their naive activities and poor fund of knowledge. An empowered person who is actually engaged in the confidential service of the Lord should not be treated as an ordinary human being, for it is stated that unless one is empowered by Kṛṣṇa, one cannot spread the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement all over the world.

Damaghosa dasa