Highest Ambitions of a Devotee of God
In the material world, ambition is the driving force of ego, propelling one to seek prestige and dominance. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that for a devotee, however, this same force is sublimated into a spiritual longing that transcends the boundaries of birth, death, and liberation. This article examines the unique nature of devotional ambition as described by His Divine Grace, where the desire for personal comfort is replaced by an exclusive, burning determination to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead under any circumstance.
The Exclusive Desire to Serve
Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the hallmark of a pure devotee is a singular, unwavering focus on the service of the Lord. Unlike those engaged in fruitive activities who work for personal gain, he notes that a devotee utilizes the same energy but with a radically different intent—the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa. This purity of purpose, according to Śrīla Prabhupāda, separates the devotee from all other classes of transcendentalists and workers.
- A devotee has no other ambition than to serve Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- Although karmis and bhaktas may work in the same place, at the same time, with the same energy and with the same ambition, they achieve different results.
- For a servant of Krsna, there is no distinction of hell and heaven. Our only ambition should be to serve the Lord.
Transcending Birth and Death
Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that a devotee's ambition is not motivated by the fear of suffering or the desire for liberation (mokṣa). He states that whether situated in a material body or a spiritual one, or wandering through various species of life, the devotee's only prayer is to remain absorbed in thoughts of the Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda points to Bhīṣmadeva as the examplar of this perfection, desiring only to fix his mind on Kṛṣṇa at the moment of death.
- A pure devotee does not even want to stop the repetition of birth and death. To a pure devotee, it does not matter whether he has to take birth again in the various species of life. His only ambition is that he not forget the lotus feet of the Lord.
- Bhismadeva wanted this much only: that his mind be absorbed in thinking of the Lord and that he pass away thus. That is the highest ambition of a pure devotee.
- It doesn't matter whether we accept a material body or a spiritual body; our only ambition should be to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
The Lord's Reciprocation
According to Śrīla Prabhupāda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is responsive to the desires of His devotees. He describes the Lord as being anxious to satisfy their ambitions. His Divine Grace explains that even when a devotee approaches Him with mixed motives or childish desires for material prominence—like Dhruva Mahārāja—the Lord mercifully fulfills them in a way that ultimately purifies the devotee and grants them supreme shelter.
- The demigods and devotees, however, always surrender to the lotus feet of the Lord, and thus the Lord is always anxious to satisfy their ambitions.
- When merciful Lord Krsna understands that a foolish devotee desires material prosperity, He gratefully gives him the shelter of His lotus feet. In this way, the Lord covers the devotee's undesirable ambitions.
- The Lord knew Dhruva Maharaja's childish ambition, but how was it possible to offer Dhruva a position more exalted than Lord Brahma's?
Proper vs. Improper Ambition
Śrīla Prabhupāda warns that while ambition to serve is glorious, it must be guided by humility and etiquette. He emphasizes that a devotee is eager to return back to Godhead to associate with the Lord, but they must never become ambitious to usurp the position of the spiritual master. Śrīla Prabhupāda cautions that such arrogance leads to an immediate fall from the path of devotion.
- A devotee is always eager to return home, back to Godhead, and remain there as the Lord's associate. This ambition becomes increasingly fervent in his heart, and therefore he does not care about material changes in his life.
- As soon as a foolish disciple tries to overtake his spiritual master and becomes ambitious to occupy his post, he immediately falls down.
- Because all his (Maharaja Ambarisa's) desires and ambitions were engaged in the devotional service of the Lord, He is considered the leader in discharging devotional service in all kinds of ways.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that the highest ambitions of a devotee of God are not for personal aggrandizement but for the pleasure of the Supreme Lord. By engaging all desires in the service of Kṛṣṇa, as exemplified by Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, he shows how one transforms the very nature of ambition. True success is achieved when the devotee no longer cares for the external circumstances of life—be it heaven, hell, or liberation—but seeks only the eternal remembrance and service of Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Ambitions of a Devotee of God. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.