Success in life varies – some value wealth, others fame, and some prioritize fulfilling relationships. In spiritual life, success is recognizing oneself as a servant of Krishna and devotees.

Lord Caitanya reveals his inner heart in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta. He states the true identification that one must have in order to clear off all bewilderments of the mind and heart.

He says, ‘I am not a brāhmaṇa, I am not a kṣatriya, I am not a vaiśya or a śūdra. Nor am I a brahmacārī, a householder, a vānaprastha or a sannyāsī. I identify Myself only as the servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the maintainer of the gopīs. He is like an ocean of nectar, and He is the cause of universal transcendental bliss. He is always existing with brilliance.’ CC Madhya 13.80

Lord Caitanya, through his life and teachings, and also through his disciples, showed how to be the servant of servant is the topmost achievement in all the three worlds.

Lord Caitanya heartily appreciated Rūpa Gosvāmī, Sanātana Gosvāmī for their humility. When Rupa came to Jagannatha Puri, Lord Caitanya was once walking with his two servants Rāmānanda Rāya and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya. On the way, he was describing the glories of Rūpa Gosvāmī to them. And he was carefully observing their faces to see if they are having any kind of envy in their hearts. When he saw they were pleased, He was pleased to see them taking happiness in the achievements of Rūpa Gosvāmī.

Lord Caitanya got conquered even by the king of Orrisa named Pratap Rudra just by the king taking a humble and menial position of sweeping the street before Lord Jagannatha. He was totally defiant of meeting the king even after being requested by the other devotees to do so. But the menial service of the king attracted Lord’s grace.

Pratap Rudra was also desperate to get an audience of Mahāprabhu. After being repeatedly denied the same, he was even ready to forgo his kingdom and become a beggar. Finally, due to the grace of Rāmānanda Rāya and Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Pratap Rudra got the opportunity to massage the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya during the Ratha Yatra festival. By the grace of devotees one gets the grace of the Lord. And by the grace of the Lord, one gets the opportunity to serve the devotees.

Pratap Rudra began singing the gopi gita prayers from the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam for Mahāprabhu. When he recited the verse beginning with tava kathamrtam, Mahāprabhu immediately got up and embraced the king. He asked the king, “Who are you? You have done so much for me. You have all of a sudden come here and made me drink the nectar of pastimes of Krishna.”

The King replied, “My Lord, I am the most obedient servant of Your servants. It is my ambition that You will accept me as the servant of Your servants.” CC Madhya 14.18
rājā kahe,—āmi tomāra dāsera anudāsa
bhṛtyera bhṛtya kara,-ei mora āśa

Śrīla Prabhupāda writes a very beautiful purport to this verse.
He says,
“The greatest achievement for a devotee is to become a servant of the servants of the Lord. Actually, no one should desire to become the direct servant of the Lord. That is not a very good idea.”

“When Prahlāda Mahārāja was offered a benediction by Nṛsiṁha-deva, Prahlāda rejected all kinds of material benedictions, but he prayed to become the servant of the servants of the Lord.”

“When Dhruva Mahārāja was offered a benediction by Kuvera, the treasurer of the demigods, Dhruva could have asked for unlimited material opulence, but he simply asked for the benediction of becoming the servant of the servants of the Lord.”

“Kholāvecā Śrīdhara was a very poor man, but when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to give him a benediction, he also prayed to the Lord to be allowed to remain a servant of the servants of the Lord.”

The conclusion is that being the servant of the servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the highest benediction one can desire.”

At that time, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu displayed some of His divine opulences to the King, and He forbade him to disclose this to anyone.

The lower one considers oneself, the higher one can go in spiritual life. In material life, one needs to show one’s resume even for getting a small job. In spiritual circles, a little pride can make one lose the association of Lord Himself. Even Krishna left the gopis when He sensed them becoming proud of their exclusive association with Him.

Mahāprabhu is very easily pleased by one who tries to be a servant.
In fact, to be a servant is easier. How much hard work, power, strength, energy it takes to become someone big!! But to be small, it doesn’t require much endeavor.
To attain great name, fame, prestige, a lot of endeavors are needed. But to become a menial servant, any person can easily do it.

This is one of the major aspects of the teachings of Lord Caitanya.

And therefore, in the purport to the verse SB 6.11.24 wherein Citraketu reveals his aspirations of wanting to be the servant of the servant, Śrīla Prabhupāda writes, “This verse gives the sum and substance of devotional life. One must first become a servant of the servant of the servant of the Lord (dāsānudāsa).”

This is the greatest achievement in life. Even Krsna is ever eager to take the position of serving His own devotees. He mentions to Durvasa,
ahaṁ bhakta-parādhīno
hy asvatantra iva dvija
“I am completely under the control of My devotees. Indeed, I am not at all independent.”