It lies in a very simple devotional principle that most people miss.

By Vraja Bihari Dasa

One of the characteristics of pure devotional service is that it brings relief from suffering—known in the scriptures as klesaghni. This happens naturally when a devotee offers everything to Krishna with a sincere heart, praying:

manasa deho geho

jo kichu mora,

arpilun tuwa pade

nanda-kisora

“Whatever I have—my mind, body, and home—I offer at Your lotus feet, O son of Nanda.”

This heartfelt offering transforms Krishna consciousness into something beautiful and peaceful. When we truly surrender everything to Krishna, our hearts find rest and relief.

The logic is simple: when a powerful person assures you that he will take care of everything and that you need not worry, you feel relieved. Similarly, when we offer ourselves to Krishna and remember His promise, He takes charge of our lives. As He declares in Bhagavad-gita (18.66):

sarva-dharman parityajya

mam ekam saranam vraja

aham tvam sarva-papebhyo

mokshayishyami ma sucah

“Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.” When Krishna takes care of us, we naturally feel peace and happiness because we ultimately belong to Him; we are after all His parts and parcels (Bhagavad Gita 15.7) and He is our eternal father (Bhagavad-gita 14.4).

The Rarity of Pure Devotion

Despite these wonderful benefits, most people struggle to embrace Krishna consciousness. Why? Because another quality of pure devotional service is that it is sudurlabha—very rare to attain.

This difficulty arises because our minds are conditioned by material habits. We have spent our entire lives trying to satisfy our senses. But in Krishna consciousness, the focus shifts: we strive to make Krishna happy, not ourselves. This is a completely opposite paradigm from what we have grown up believing.

Yet, if we can grasp and live by this principle—even if it is a small attempt, our happiness multiplies a thousandfold. The scriptures compare this with decorating our face. When we beautify our appearance, the reflection on the mirror is also enhanced. In the same manner, when we serve and please Krishna, we get benefit, because the Lord does not need service from anyone. He is like the face and we are the reflection in this analogy that Prahlada Maharaja offers in His prayers to Lord Narasimhadev. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.11).

The Divine Competition of Love

A beautiful example of this principle in action is in Vrindavan. When Krishna was served by the gopis, they felt immense joy. Seeing their happiness, Krishna’s joy increased. Witnessing Krishna’s greater happiness, the gopis’ joy deepened even more. This created a beautiful, endless competition of love—each trying to make the other happier.

This is the secret of happiness in Krishna consciousness: finding joy in making Krishna happy. And because few are inclined to live this way, the path of pure devotion is rare and precious.

Accessing the Mercy of Pure devotees

How, then, can we attain this rare treasure of Krishna’s pure devotional service? The answer lies in receiving the mercy of Krishna’s pure devotees.

Prahlada Maharaja says in the Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.5.32):

naisham matis tavad urukramanghrim

sprisaty anarthapagamo yad-arthah

mahiyasam pada-rajo-’bhishekam

nishkincananam na vrinita yavat

“As long as one does not bathe in the dust of the feet of pure devotees who are completely freed from material contamination, one cannot touch the Lord’s lotus feet, which alone can free one from material miseries.”

Dhruva Maharaja is a perfect example. Initially seeking a kingdom, he met Narada Muni, who directed him toward devotional service. In time, Dhruva no longer desired any kingdom—he only wanted Krishna’s love.

Thus, the surest way to attain Krishna’s mercy is to take shelter of a bona fide spiritual master and associate with sincere devotees and chant the holy names of the Lord: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare.

Simple process and Complicated minds

The process is simple: allow pure devotees—those free from material desires—to influence your life. In their association, we receive Krishna’s love naturally. And then, serving Krishna becomes spontaneous and joyful.

We often complicate spiritual life unnecessarily. Srila Prabhupada gave the example that we may dismiss homeopathic medicine because it appears too simple whereas complicated herbs and pills, where we boil pungent-smelling medicines, impress us. Likewise, Krishna consciousness seems too simple to be effective, so we seek complex paths—pressing the nose, twisting the body, or performing austerities. But the truth is spiritual life is simple: chant sincerely, serve wholeheartedly, and remember Krishna constantly. Yet this simplicity is precisely why the path is rare, and very few walk this path—the mind cheats us, making us overlook the very practices that liberate us. It tricks us into resisting what is straightforward and pure, and it convinces us that something so direct cannot be enough.

The Test of Spiritual Advancement

How can we tell if this simple and rare process is actually purifying us, rather than just flattering our own ego with spiritual pep talks? The measure is simple: observe your heart when others rejoice or suffer.

If we feel joy when others suffer, or discomfort when others prosper, we are still seeking material happiness. But if we rejoice in others’ happiness, it means we are tasting spiritual joy. One who is sincerely chanting, serving and hearing about Krishna, he or she would feel deep compassion at others’ suffering and great joy in others’ growth. Krishna confirms this in the Bhagavad-gita (12.13) that one who is free from malice towards other living beings and is friendly and compassionate, is very dear to the Lord. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam we find that while describing the glories of devotional service, Lord Kapiladev explains to His mother Devahuti a profound spiritual principle. Devahuti, after suffering material distress and witnessing her own limitations, approaches her son Kapiladeva (an incarnation of the Lord) for spiritual instruction. Kapila responds by describing the nature and qualities of pure devotees and then explains the process of bhakti-yoga. He then explains the natural qualities that arise in devotees who take shelter of Him:

titikshavah karunikah

suhridah sarva-dehinam

ajata-satravah santah

sadhavah sadhu-bhushanah

“The symptoms of a devotee is that they are tolerant, merciful and friendly to all living entities. They have no enemies, are peaceful, and they abide by the scriptures, and all their characteristics are sublime.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.25.21)

What do we need to do?

If you are concerned that you are not displaying these symptoms, that means the material conditioning is deep-rooted. Therefore, you need to do two things:

• 1.  Take regular association of advanced devotees.
  
  
• 2.  Continue chanting the holy names with sincerity.
  

Gradually, our hearts will soften, and our happiness will become aligned with Krishna’s happiness.

The Supreme Joy Beyond Liberation

One who tastes this happiness in Krishna consciousness, he or she would find even the happiness of this world, which is essentially “relief from suffering” or also known as “liberation” unattractive. As Prabodhananda Sarasvati writes in Caitanya-candramrita (5):

kaivalyam narakayate

tri-dasa-pur akasa-pushpayate

durdantendriya-kala-sarpa-patali

protkhata-damshtrayate

“For one who has received Lord Caitanya’s mercy, liberation appears like hell, heavenly enjoyment seems like a flower in the sky, and the venomous senses become like serpents whose fangs have been removed.”

Further, Prabodhananda Sarasvati says that when Krishna bestows His mercy, this very world becomes joyful, and the devotee experiences profound peace, even amidst his or her life in this bizarre material world.

Pleasing Krishna—the Root of All Auspiciousness

Just as watering the root nourishes every part of a tree, pleasing Krishna satisfies everyone. When we engage in His service, our lives become auspicious and deeply fulfilling.

Krishna does not need our service—He is atmarama, fully self-satisfied. Yet He kindly accepts our offerings for our purification and benefit. Therefore, our goal should not be to see Krishna, but to serve Him in such a way that He desires to see us. As Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said, “Don’t try to see Krishna; act in such a way that Krishna wants to see you.”

When we serve Krishna with this mood—offering our mind, body, and heart—we taste the true joy of pure devotion. That joy is the essence of life itself, the happiness that never fades, the peace that needs no relief.

Relief from suffering for Hare Krishna devotees comes not from escape, but from offering everything to Krishna. And for a sincere bhakti-yoga practitioner, happiness deepens when we live to make Krishna happy. And for a devotee, perfection in life is to love and serve Him under the shelter of His pure devotees.

That is the secret of true happiness in Krishna consciousness.

Vraja Bihari Dasa holds a post-graduate degree in International Finance and an MBA from Mumbai University. He is a resident monk at ISKCON Chowpatty and an active teacher of bhakti-yoga. Visit his website: www.yogaformodernage.com