By Giriraj Swami
On January 3, 1974, in Los Angeles, Srila Prabhupada spoke on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.6:
athavasya padambhoja-
makaranda-liham satam
kim anyair asad-alapair
ayuso yad asad-vyayah
“Or please speak of topics related to the devotees of the Lord, who are accustomed to licking up the honey available from the lotus feet of the Lord. What is the use of topics which simply waste one’s valuable life?”
I was struck by his explanation of the absolute nature of devotional service:
“Here it is said, kim anyair asad-alapair . . . Avyayah, asad-vyayah. What is the meaning of vyayah? Asat, ‘unnecessary waste of life.’ Unnecessary waste of life—we should be very careful. That is Krishna consciousness. That is the criterion of Krishna conscious life. We should not waste our time. That is advised by Rupa Gosvami also: avyartha-kalatvam. We should be very cautious not to waste a single moment, be without Krishna consciousness. We have got so many activities. If we have no activities, then we can polish the floor of the temple. That is not very difficult. If I am illiterate, have no interest in reading books, or have no interest in chanting or cannot do it constantly, then I should take something and mop the temple and cleanse the temple. That is also service. It is not that one who is engaged in Deity worship is better engaged and one who is polishing the floor is less engaged. No. Both of them will get equal benefit. Krishna consciousness is so nice. So, find out some business for Krishna. Don’t waste time. That is the perfection of Krishna consciousness.”
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