Prabhupāda Instructs His Disciples on Their Only True Business in Life
For sincere practitioners of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the path is defined by a singular, unwavering focus. Throughout his teachings, Śrīla Prabhupāda constantly reminds his followers that their ultimate duty is to satisfy the Supreme Lord through dedicated devotional service. By stripping away material distractions, he reveals how pure service becomes the absolute foundation of a successful spiritual life.
Serving Kṛṣṇa as the Eternal Duty
Recognizing one's original identity as an eternal servant of the Lord is the true essence of the renounced order of life, or sannyāsa. Instead of adopting many scattered material occupations, the sincere devotee accepts that there is actually no other business for the living entity than to act for the pleasure of the Supreme. Śrīla Prabhupāda establishes that when one fully embraces this mentality, all success naturally follows because the soul is finally acting in its constitutional position.
- We living entities, we being part and parcel of God, Krsna, our only business is to serve Krsna. We have no other business.
- If we remain in that position, that our only protector is Krsna and our only duty is to serve Krsna, then our life is successful.
- Actually that mentality is sannyasa. It doesn't matter whether we have changed the dress or not, but if we decide it, that "I am eternal servant of Krsna; my only duty is to serve Krsna," that is sannyasa.
- Our life is service to Krishna and how we may serve Him more and more that is our only desire.
Satisfying the Lord Through Preaching
The most direct way to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead is to broadcast His glories and distribute transcendental knowledge to suffering humanity. Under the explicit direction of Lord Caitanya, this distribution of knowledge becomes the primary objective of the entire Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that writing books, publishing magazines, and traveling to preach are not just activities, but the very lifeline of a devotee whose sole aim is to glorify the Lord.
- Our only business is as advised by Caitanya Maha..., yare dekha, tare kaha krsna-upadesa. This is our business. We are carrying this Bhagavad-gita as it is, and we are trying to educate people that "Here is real knowledge. Take it." This is our business.
- Our only business is how to satisfy Krsna. So Krsna in His original status as Krsna, and in His other status as Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and in both ways, He's insisting to preach. That is a very important business.
- That is our process. Our only objective is how to glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We are writing books, we are publishing magazines, we are preaching, we are going everywhere - just to glorify Krsna.
- The formula of sannyasa is given - karyam: "Bas this is my only duty. That's all. Krsna consciousness movement should be pushed. This is my only duty."
The Power of Chanting and Principles
Spiritual purity is not achieved through whimsical endeavors, but through strict adherence to the standards given by the great ācāryas. By chanting the mahā-mantra and following the four regulative principles, a practitioner maintains the necessary strength to overcome material illusion. Śrīla Prabhupāda assures his disciples that even if unintentional mistakes occur, this simple yet profound daily business of chanting and following rules will automatically rectify their consciousness.
- Your only business is to follow the four principles of regulative life and chant Hare Krsna sixteen rounds. So there may be sometimes mistake. That will be corrected automatically.
- If you simply practice the regulative principles which I have introduced you will remain pure. Factually this is our only strength.
- Our only request is that anyone who has got little taste for spiritual life, you chant this maha-mantra, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
- We shall stick only to the Vaisnava standard set for us by the great acaryas and saintly persons, namely, the Hare Krishna Mantra and other mantras which I have taught to you.
Books, Literature, and the Scientific Movement
To establish the movement as an authoritative and scientific presentation of spiritual reality, literature is essential. Publishing and distributing transcendental books provides both the financial means and the intellectual foundation to propagate the mission globally. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is not a mere sectarian religion, but an educational institution of the soul based on pristine Vedic authority.
- Our only hope is books and literature. So we have to start press, and for that purpose, and publish varieties of books and literature for getting some financial help as well as propagating our mission.
- Our only request is that do not take this movement as a religious movement. It is the movement of the soul. It is very scientific, based on authority. And practically we are seeing, we are getting good response all over the world.
- It is best to keep faith in Sukadeva Goswami, because actually our only business is to go back to home, back to Godhead. So whether Sukadeva Goswami or the modern scientists are right or wrong, it is nothing interesting to us.
- You speak, you preach your own philosophy. There are so many philosophies. But our only objection is that "Why should you preach your nonsense philosophy through Bhagavad-gita?" Do you think it is right?
Humility, Grace, and the Vaiṣṇava Tradition
True spiritual advancement relies entirely on the mercy of the Lord rather than one's own independent capabilities. By keeping a humble disposition and recognizing that Kṛṣṇa needs nothing from anyone, a devotee attracts His divine grace. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the only real tradition a Vaiṣṇava follows is the desire to satisfy Viṣṇu, and through this humble service, all of life's necessities are automatically fulfilled.
- Krishna does not require anyone's help or service, but if we serve Him, even in a very small capacity, He will accept it. So that is our only hope.
- Whatever you do, you should always be humble: "Krsna, I am quite unfit. So whatever I could collect with my capacity, kindly accept." This is our only plea.
- Our only means of subsistence is Krishna's grace, and all our needs are fulfilled by the Lord.
- Everywhere, you take politically or socially or spiritually, for human beings, if you want to make your life successful, then you must keep the tradition of brahmana-vaisnava. So our, we are Vaisnava. Our only tradition is how to satisfy Visnu.
Conclusion
The journey back to Godhead requires a unified purpose devoid of material distractions. Through these potent instructions, Śrīla Prabhupāda equips his disciples with the understanding that their only real business is to please the Supreme Lord through preaching, chanting, and strict adherence to regulative principles. By remaining humble and deeply dependent on Kṛṣṇa's grace, devotees find that this single-minded dedication is their greatest strength and their only true asset.
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 Our Only (Disciples of SP). We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.