Service to Krishna is the prime necessity, it is the prime purpose and it is the prime destination of every living entity. What does service mean?

bhaja ity esa vai dhātuh sevāyām parikirtitah |

tasmat seva budhaih prokta bhaktih sadhana-bhūyasi l.

The word bhakti comes from the root bhaj which means service. Thus the wise say bhakti, service to the Lord is the best sadhana. Garuda Purâna

Bhakti and seva are non-different. When one is worshipping Krishna, that worship is incomplete without adding the element of seva. Rather, that worship has no meaning without the service attitude. 

When one starts practicing devotional service, naturally the bhakti is imbedded in the form of obtaining instructions from superiors and trying to fulfill those instructions. Also, one more facet of devotional service is utilizing body, mind and words everything in the service of Krishna. 

When a devotee comes new to KC, he or she is not expected to do something very great. The only thing that is expected is that the service happens nicely. Mainly, the use of body is there. Using the MIND in the service of Krishna is a very advanced stage.

We have the example of Nrsimhananda brahmacari who made a beautiful road bedecked with jewels, water reservoirs, rose petals for the pleasure of Lord Caitanya. We have the example of Pratisthanapura brahmana who made sweet rice for the Lord, and wanted to check how hot it was, and in the process he burned his hands. Vishnu took him to Vaikuntha immediately. How qualified are we to use our mind in Krishna’s service? BG 12.8 mentions, 

Mayy eva mana adhatsva – this stage is smaranatmika bhakti, which comes only at the level of bhava and prema. Ambarisha also says – sa vai manah krishna padaravindayor – but we all realize how difficult it is when we are chanting. 

What about words? In the initial days and also later, we are expected not to indulge in fault finding and prajalpa. That is what we don’t have to do. What we are expected to do is to tell our friends and other people about devotional service. When we grow more in devotional service, we are expected to give classes and use our words in spreading the glories of Krishna.

And yes, we are expected to utter each and every word in the right sense so as people are enlivened, encouraged, not agitated, not hurt. In fact, one of our acaryas mentions in the verse SB 10.14.8 that a devotee gives mukti to others just by making decisions. That is the power of a devotee’s words! Prabhupada’s words, first let us go to his guru – His guru’s words were ringing in his heart for the whole life – Preach in the West, and if you get money, print books. How he took those words of his guru! Few words make up a sentence – and guru puja says the same – guru mukha padma vakya – those words are also divine. Because they are not a product of the figment of imagination of some person. So, those words are absolute! They are valid even now!!

And what we need to do with those words – cittete koriya aikya. We need to absorb them in our heart. And desire nothing else. Prabhupada’s words were so prophetic for his disciples. They took his words as their life and soul, just as SP did for his spiritual master. And how long will we keep on saying this? When will we start applying in our life? When will we start surrendering ourselves to the instructions of our spiritual master?

Along with hearing the words in the right manner, one faculty that also needs to be used is one’s intelligence. Intelligence, viveka is a very important facet in the life of a devotee. Obviously, the amount of intelligence may differ, and the nature of that intelligence may also differ. When one is under Krishna’s svarupa sakti, the samvit sakti helps the jiva to go closer to Krishna.

Of the vidya potency, understanding our true nature is one part, and realizing the same is the second part. If this intelligence is not used properly, it can direct the body and words to serve in a different way itself, not desired by our spiritual preceptors. So, till the time we are not under the internal potency, we need to keep this material intelligence under survellience by referring always to the words of guru, sadhu and sastra. 

Another facet of this intelligence is that in KC also, the intelligence of different devotees may work in different ways. For instance, someone’s intelligence may always work for serving the devotees, someone else’s for preaching, for deity worship and dressing and so on. But Krishna being Absolute, all His services are also absolute. So it doesn’t matter in any way how one is serving. What matters is:

Are we utilizing our intelligence to the fullest capacity? QUANTITY

Are we utilizing our intelligence in areas where our gurus are expecting us to use it? PLACE

Are we utilizing our intelligence in the way and manner pleasing to our gurus? INTENTION

PIQ – Place, intention and quantity…

And as we grow in KC, we are expected to use everything – our body, our words, our intelligence, and when we do that, then naturally Krishna empowers us and He then withdraws our mind from material engagements and engages that in His lotus feet. 

Prabhupada oversaw the whole management of ISKCON, but his Mind was also totally absorbed in Krishna. 

And sometimes, Krishna will want us NOT to use our intelligence in His service also, but just simply surrender to the will of guru. Our intelligence may also not be able to fathom what is happening in that area, but He knows. And then, we have to give up the support of everything and simply surrender. 

Initially, surrender means Krishna wants us to use everything in His service. We might be using body, words, but Krishna wants us to use intelligence also. And in ahead stages, Krishna may want us to give up everything and simply surrender!

jñāne prayāsam udapāsya namanta eva

jīvanti san-mukharitāṁ bhavadīya-vārtām

sthāne sthitāḥ śruti-gatāṁ tanu-vāṅ-manobhir

ye prāyaśo ‘jita jito ‘py asi tais tri-lokyām

Those who, even while remaining situated in their established social positions, throw away the process of speculative knowledge and with their body, words and mind offer all respects to descriptions of Your personality and activities, dedicating their lives to these narrations, which are vibrated by You personally and by Your pure devotees, certainly conquer Your Lordship, although You are otherwise unconquerable by anyone within the three worlds.