Preaching - A Great Austerity for Kṛṣṇa
The performance of tapasya, or austerity, is the foundation of spiritual advancement, but its value is determined by its direction. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the highest form of austerity is not performed for personal liberation or mystic power, but for the pleasure of Kṛṣṇa. Whether it manifests as the extreme penance of great sages or the selfless risks taken by a preacher in the saṅkīrtana movement, austerity for Kṛṣṇa is the price paid to achieve His favor and enter His eternal association.
The Divine Command: Offer All to Kṛṣṇa
The fundamental principle of devotional service is to center every action around the Supreme Lord. In the Bhagavad-gītā (9.27), Kṛṣṇa provides a direct instruction to the conditioned soul regarding the purpose of their efforts. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that whatever a person does, eats, offers in sacrifice, or gives in charity should be done as an offering to Kṛṣṇa. This specifically includes whatever austerities or penances one might perform. By understanding that Kṛṣṇa is the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and penances throughout the entire universe, a person immediately becomes peaceful and free from material desire.
- As the Lord advises in the Bhagavad-gita, "Whatever you do, do it for Me; whatever you eat, first offer it to Me; whatever charity you want to give, first give it to Me; and whatever austerities and penances you want to perform, perform them for Me."
- My dear son of Kunti, whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer in sacrifice, whatever you give in charity, and whatever austerities you perform, all the results of such activities should be offered to Me, Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- O son of Kunti, all that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, should be done as an offering unto Me.
- One who simply understands that throughout the entire universe Krsna is the supreme enjoyer and beneficiary of all kinds of sacrifices, penances and austerities, immediately becomes desireless (niskama) and therefore peaceful.
Preaching as a Great Austerity on Behalf of Kṛṣṇa
While traditional austerity often involves retirement to a secluded place, the austerity of a preacher is active and compassionate. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights that a preacher in Kṛṣṇa consciousness may have to suffer bodily injuries or even face death while spreading the Lord's message. Such sacrifices are recognized as a great austerity performed on behalf of Kṛṣṇa. Because of this selfless service, Kṛṣṇa has declared that such a preacher is very dear to Him. This form of tapasya is far superior to those motivated by a desire for material results, which cannot truly be called the path of a yogī or a mystic.
- Sometimes he (a preacher in Krsna Conciousness) has to suffer bodily injuries, and sometimes he has to meet death also. All this is taken as a great austerity on behalf of Krsna. Krsna therefore has said that such a preacher is very, very dear to Him.
- Bahulasva said, "You (Krsna) have sent Your incarnation Nara-Narayana, who is engaged in severe austerities and penances at Badarinarayana."
- One who renders loving service to Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, with devotion and austerity, is the greatest of all mystics. Men who undertake austerities motivated by a desire for material results cannot be called yogis or mystics.
- He is supreme knowledge, and all severe austerities are performed to know Him. Religion (dharma) is rendering loving service unto Him. He is the supreme goal of life.
The Contrast Between Love and Penance
The limitations of mechanical austerity are revealed when compared to the power of pure affection. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that yogīs and jñānīs cannot enter the Lord's effulgence even after many years of severe austerities, yet a devotee can capture Kṛṣṇa simply through love. This is demonstrated by mother Yasoda, who caught the Lord despite His running away in fear—a feat that great mystics fail to achieve through their meditations. While sages seek Kṛṣṇa through perseverance, the simple affection of the bhakta proves more effective than millions of years of physical labor or mental speculation.
- In that effulgence (of Krsna) there are millions of universes, but yogis and jnanis cannot enter that effulgence even after many, many years of austerities, whereas bhaktas can capture Krsna simply by love and affection.
- This is the example shown here (in SB 10.9.10) by mother Yasoda - that the yogis and jnanis cannot enter that effulgence of Krsna even after many, many years of austerities, whereas bhaktas can capture Krsna simply by love and affection.
- Yogis cannot capture Krsna by severe penances and austerities, but mother Yasoda, despite all obstacles, was finally able to catch Krsna without difficulty. This is the difference between a yogi and a bhakta.
- Yogis, mystics, want to catch Krsna as Paramatma, and with great austerities and penances they try to approach Him, yet they cannot. Here (in SB 10.9.9) we see, however, that Krsna is going to be caught by Yasoda and is running away in fear.
The Price of Personal Association
Obtaining the personal companionship of Kṛṣṇa is the fruit of immense spiritual labor. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that getting Kṛṣṇa as a son, as Devaki did, required twelve thousand celestial years of constant contemplation and austerity. Similarly, the women who became the wives of the Lord attained that position only after many millions of births of tapasya. Even the goddess of fortune, Laksmi, underwent severe austerities just to desire the dust of Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet and the association of the gopīs. This highlights that Kṛṣṇa's favor is not cheap; it is sought after by the greatest souls through severe and dedicated penance.
- O sinless mother Devaki, after the expiry of twelve thousand celestial years, in which you constantly contemplated Me (Krsna) within the core of your heart with great faith, devotion and austerity, I was very much satisfied with you - SB 10.3.37-38.
- The women who became the wives of the Lord are certainly not ordinary women, because to get the Lord as one's husband is the result of many, many millions of births' tapasya (austerity).
- The Nagapatnis said, "Even the goddess of fortune underwent severe austerities just to have the blessing of the dust of Your (Krsna's lotus feet, so how is it that Kaliya is so easily getting this dust on his head?"
- For a long time she (Satya) had cherished the idea of marrying Krsna and was following the principles of austerities to obtain her desired husband.
Conclusion
Austerity for Kṛṣṇa is the highest form of spiritual discipline, transforming mechanical penance into an act of transcendental love. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that while the world may see the preacher's risks or the sage's seclusion as mere hardship, these are actually offerings made to the Supreme Enjoyer. The command of the Bhagavad-gītā is simple: center all efforts, including the results of one's austerities, on Kṛṣṇa. This personal focus is what distinguishes the devotee from the impersonal yogī who remains outside the Lord's effulgence despite years of labor. Whether manifest as Mother Yasoda's simple affection, the queens' millions of births of tapasya, or the modern preacher's selfless risk, the goal is the same—to know and please Kṛṣṇa. Preaching, in particular, stands as a supreme austerity because it involves the sacrifice of one's own comfort for the Lord's mission, making the practitioner extraordinarily dear to Him. Ultimately, Kṛṣṇa is not captured by the strength of one's penance, but by the sincerity of the heart that undergoes that penance for His sake. By offering all to Kṛṣṇa, the living entity achieves the peace and association that even the goddess of fortune sought through her divine meditations.
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 Austerities for Krsna. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.