Chapter 3 – Eligibility of the Candidate

1. How does one get devotional service? Association —

2. 3 levels of devotees
3. Elaborate description of 4 types of kanisthas, or pre-kanisthas
4. There are dangers for these people, and they are the main dangers in devotional
service

1. How does one get devotional service?

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Srimad Bhagavatam 11 Canto explains:

yadåcchayä mat-kathädau
jäta-çraddhas tu yaù pumän
na nirviëëo näti-sakto
bhakti-yogo 'sya siddhi-daù

yadåcchayä—somehow or other by good fortune; mat-kathä-ädau—in the narrations,

songs, philosophy, dramatical performances, etc., that describe My glories; jäta—
awakened; çraddhaù—faith; tu—indeed; yaù-one who; pumän—a person; na—not;
nirviëëaù—disgusted; na—not; ati-saktaù—very attached; bhakti-yogaù—the path of
loving devotion; asya—his; siddhi-daù—will award perfection.

If somehow or other by good fortune one develops faith in hearing and chanting My
glories, such a person, being neither very disgusted with nor attached to material life,
should achieve perfection through the path of loving devotion to Me.

This appears also in Caitanya Caritamrita Madhya 22.50. The “somehow or other”
means association. Around that verse in Caitanya Caritamrita are many verses making
this point clear. For example:

kona bhägye käro saàsära kñayonmukha haya

sädhu-saìge tabe kåñëe rati upajaya

“By good fortune, one becomes eligible to cross the ocean of nescience, and when
one’s term of material existence decreases, one may get an opportunity to associate
with pure devotees. By such association, one’s attraction to Kåñëa is awakened.
(Madhya 22.46)

2. 3 Levels of devotees

a) Uttama (highest)
b) Madhyama
c) Kanistha

Defined in terms of knowledge and faith.

Defined in terms of knowledge and faith.

3. Elaborate description of 4 types of kanisthas, or pre-kanisthas

Based on Bhagavad-gita 7..16:

catur-vidhä bhajante mäà

janäù sukåtino ’rjuna

ärto jijïäsur arthärthé
jïäné ca bharatarñabha
“O best among the Bhäratas, four kinds of pious men begin to render devotional
service unto Me — the distressed, the desirer of wealth, the inquisitive, and he who is
searching for knowledge of the Absolute.”

Examples are given at the bottom of page 30 of each type.

1. Dhruva (materially desirous)
2. Gajendra (distressed)
3. Saunaka and sages of Naimisaranya (inquisitive)
4. 4 Kumaras (wise)

4. There are dangers for these people, and they are the main dangers in
devotional service – bhukti and mukti

bhukti-mukti-spåhä yävat
piçäcé hådi vartate
tävad bhakti-sukhasyätra
katham abhyudayo bhavet

“The material desire to enjoy the material world and the desire to become liberated
from material bondage are considered to be two witches, and they haunt one like
ghosts. As long as these witches remain within the heart, how can one feel
transcendental bliss? As long as these two witches remain in the heart, there is no
possibility of enjoying the transcendental bliss of devotional service.” (Madhya 19.176)

This verse is paraphrased at the top of page 33.

The final paragraphs of this chapter explain that if the devotee is attracted to Krishna
in His Deity form etc, then he or she can be protected from bhakti and mukti.