In the Samvat Year 1876 on the second day of the dark half of the month of Paush in the evening. Shreeji Maharaj was seated on a thick mattress and bolster laid in the veranda in front of the hall facing the east in His own residence. He had put on all white garments.
Then Yoganand Swami asked. “Maharaj there are two types of devotees of God. One leads a detached passive life and never hurts anybody by words. The other serves God and His devotees by offering food, garments, flowers, etc. But he may hurt others by words. Which of the two is superior ?”
Shreeji Maharaj did not reply to this question, but called for Muktanand Swami and Brahmanand Swami and asked the same question and waited for their reply. Thereupon the two saints said. “One may hurt others by words, but he is the superior of the two because he serves God and His saints. Of course the other leads a detached secluded life and never hurts any body by words. But thereby he does not serve God and His saints. He must be considered powerless. One who serves God and his saints is the true devotee. and therefore he is superior”.
Then Shreeji Maharaj said, ” You have given the correct reply. If a person is a true devotee and strictly obeys the commands of God. it would be very improper to point out any minor fault of his that may be found in him. If one looks to minor faults of a devotee, it is very likely that he will find faults even in God when He assumes a human form for the good of the souls. He will find faults in great devotees also. If someone finds faults in God and His great saints like this, does it mean that the various incarnations of God and His great saints are not benevolent ? They are always benevolent. But a person
with a perverted mind will always see with a vicious eye. Shishupal used to say that Pandav brothers were bastards and they were immoral because they had a common wife and Lord Krishna was an imposter because as soon as He was born He killed a woman. then killed a crane and then a calf, and then uprooted honeycombs. People used to call Krishna. as Madhusoodan because He uprooted honeycombs and not because He killed a demon named Madhu. He doubted whether Lord Krishna could be called God simply because He was worshipped by Pandav brothers who were bastards. Shishupal was a man of evil intelligence so he abused even God and His devotees. True devotees of God did not find faults with Krishna and His devotees. One who abuses God and His devotees must be considered a man of evil intelligence.” Thereupon the saints said. “Maharaj, we know that it is not good to find faults in the great devotees of God but it is possible that one may find fault in an ordinary devotee?‘.
Shreeji Maharaj replied, “Greatness and smallness are not to be measured as you understand. Greatness of a devotee lies in his firm faith in God. and in his obedience to God’s commands. If a person does not possess these two qualities: firm faith and obedience, he is definitely small though he may be considered great in his worldly affairs. The greatness which I described above is a quality possessed by all the devotees of God in our holy fellowship. They understand that Bhagavan Purushottam who is beyond Akshar has himself revealed to us His image, and therefore these devotees consider themselves to have achieved everything. With this understanding, they remain in the service of God and obey His commands and worship Him. Hence one must not find faults in any devotee simply because he is prone to the limitations of this mortal body. If a person finds faults in others because of his nature, he will turn into a man of evil intelligence.”
