13: Twenty-six Qualities of a Devotee
Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja, the author of Caitanya-caritamrta, says that all good qualities become manifest in the body of a Vaisnava and that only by the presence of these good qualities can one distinguish a Vaisnava from a non-Vaisnava. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.18.12 purport)
Brahmaji confirms that only persons who have developed the desirable qualities can enter into the kingdom of God. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.15.25 purport)
When the spirit soul is contaminated by the material modes of nature, one is considered good or bad with reference to the material qualities. But when one is transcendental to all material qualities, all the good qualities come out. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.20.16 purport)
The twenty-six qualities (from Sri Caitanya -caritamrta Madhya-lila 22.78–80)
krpalu: merciful - akrta-droha: humble
- satya-sara: truthful
- sama: equal to all
- nidosa: faultless
- vadanya: magnanimous
- mrdu: mild
- suci: clean
- akincana: without material possessions
- sarva-upakaraka: working for the welfare of everyone
- santa: peaceful
- krsna-eka-sarana: exclusively surrendered to Krishna
- akama: desireless
- aniha: indifferent to material acquisitions
- sthira: fixed in devotional service
- vijita-sat-guna: completely controlling the six bad qualities (lust, anger, greed, etc.)
- mita-bhuk: eating only as much as required
- apramatta: without inebriation
- mana-da: respectful
- amani: without false prestige
- gambhira: grave
- karuna: compassionate
- maitra: a friend
- kavi: a poet
- daksa: expert
- mauni: silent.
A closer look at each of the qualities
Alternative translations are given to provide a better understanding of the various nuances of the Sanskrit words. These variations come from Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.15.25 purport, Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.20.16 purport, Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.13 purport, Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.18.12 purport, Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.11.29–32 purport.
Some qualities (for example, humility) are listed under a couple of different headings. This is because a quality may have various aspects and facets and also because the English language may be limited in conveying the fine distinctions the Sanskrit language makes.
Excellent further reading on this subject matter is: The 26 Qualities of the Devotee by Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami.
- Krpalu
- Merciful (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.80)
- Kind to everyone (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.18.12 purport)
- Unable to tolerate the suffering of others (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.11.29-32 purport)
- Akrta-droha
- Not defiant (Sri Caitanya-caritamrtaMadhya 22.80)
- Humble (Sri Caitanya-caritamrtaMadhya 22.80)
- Does not make anyone an enemy (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.18.12 purport)
- Does not quarrel with anyone (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.15.25 purport)
- Peaceful (Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.13 purport)
- Never injuring others (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.11.29-32 purport)
- Satya-sara
- Truthful (Sri Caitanya-caritamrtaMadhya 22.80)
- Accepts Krishna consciousness as the highest goal in life (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.15.25 purport)
- Fixed in the Absolute Truth (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.20.16 purport)
- Lives by truth and gains strength and firmness from truthfulness (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.11.29-32 purport)
- Attaining strength and meaning in life from the truth itself (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.11.29-32 purport)
- Sama
- Equal to all (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.80)
- Equable
- Equal in both happiness and in distress (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.11.29-32 purport)
- Mental equilibrium
- Nirdosa
- Faultless (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.80) (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.15.25 purport)
- Vadanya
- Magnanimous (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.80)
- Charitable (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.20.16 purport)
- Mrdu
- Mild (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.80)
- Without harsh mentality (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.11.29-32 purport)
- Always pleasing behavior, never harsh (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.11.29-32 purport)
- Suci
- Clean (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.80) (internally and externally) (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.15.25 purport)
- Akincana
- Without material possessions (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.80)
- Never professing to possess anything in this material world (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.15.25 purport)
- Simple (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.20.16 purport)
- Nonpossessive (Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.13 purport)
- Sarva-upakaraka
- Working for the welfare of everyone (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.80)
- Works for everyone's benefit. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.18.12 purport)
- A benefactor to all living entities; (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.15.25 purport)
- Benevolent (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.20.16 purport)
- A well-wisher to all (Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.13 purport)
- Always endeavoring as far as possible for the welfare of all others (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.11.29-32 purport)
- Dedicates his time to work for the welfare of all others (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.11.29-32 purport)
- Santa
- Peaceful (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.80)
- Satisfied (Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.13 purport)
- Controlling the mind (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.11.29-32 purport)
- Krsna-eka-sarana
- Exclusively surrendered to Krishna (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.80)
- Always surrendered to Krishna (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.18.12 purport)
- Completely attached to Krishna (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.20.16 purport)
- Accepting Me as the only shelter (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.11.29-32 purport)
- Akama
- Desireless (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.80)
- Without material desires (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.18.12 purport)
- Free from material hankering (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.20.16 purport)
- Aniha
- Indifferent to material acquisitions (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.80)
- Meek (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.18.12 purport)
- Humble (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.15.25 purport)Simple (Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.13 purport)
- Free from worldly activities (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.11.29-32 purport)
- Never endeavouring in ordinary, worldly activities (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.11.29-32 purport)
- Sthira
- Fixed in devotional service (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.80)
- Steady (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.18.12 purport)
- Remaining steady in one's prescribed duty (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.11.29-32 purport)
- Vijita-sat-guna
- Completely controlling the six bad qualities (lust, anger, greed, etc.) (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.80)
- Controls his senses (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.18.12 purport)
- Has conquered the sensual activities (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.15.25 purport)
- Self-controlled (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.20.16 purport)
- Having conquered the six material qualities, namely hunger, thirst, lamentation, illusion, old age and death (Jita-sad-guna) (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.11.29-32 purport)
- Mita-bhuk
- Eating only as much as required… (Madhya 22.80) to maintain body and soul together (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.15.25 purport)
- A balanced eater (Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.13 purport)
- Eating austerely (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.11.29-32 purport)
- Strictly controls his eating (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.11.29-32 purport)
- Apramatta
- Without inebriation (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.80)
- Not influenced by the Lord's illusory energy (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.18.12 purport)
- Never mad after material identity (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.15.25 purport)
- Sane (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.20.16 purport)
- Cautious and sober (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.11.29-32 purport)
- Mana-da
- Respectful (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.80)
- Offers respect to everyone (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.18.12 purport)
- Mannerly (Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.13 purport)
- Offers honour to others (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.11.29-32 purport)
- Amani
- Without false prestige (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.80)
- Not desiring respect for oneself (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.18.12 purport)
- Humble (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.20.16 purport)
- Prideless (Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.13 purport)
- Without desire for prestige
- Gambhira
- Grave (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.80)
- Karuna
- Compassionate (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.80)
- Merciful (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.18.12 purport)
- Sympathetic (Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.13 purport)
- Acting always due to compassion, not personal ambition (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.11.29-32 purport)
- Maitra
- Friendly (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.18.12 purport)
- Never cheating anyone, and thus a true friend (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.11.29-32 purport)
- Kavi
- Poetic (Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.18.12 purport)
- Learned (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.11.29-32 purport)
- Daksa
- Expert... (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.80) in all activities (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.15.25 purport)
- Mauni
- Silent… (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 22.80) in nonsense (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.15.25 purport)
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