Offences Against Vaishnavas: Most Dangerous!

We have to avoid all offences against vaishnavas. When we offend a vaishnava… Krishna, He can tolerate some offence, He can forgive someone for offending Him. But He can’t forgive someone who offends a vaishnava. Durvasa muni offended Maharaj Ambarish, he went all the way to Vishnu loka but He said, “No I’m sorry, I can’t help you. You have to go back to My devotee and request his forgiveness. If My devotee forgives you, then your slate is clean. But I cannot forgive you, you have offended My devotee.” And again Durvasa had to go all the way back… Falling down at maharaj Ambarish’s feet, he said, “Even the most fallen dog-eaters, the untouchables, they are chanting the names of Lord Hari, how their life is transformed. What to speak of someone who is constantly worshipping.” He was realizing what is the potency of someone who is rendering pure devotional service. Maharaj Ambarish appeared to be a king, he was doing his worship every day, he was washing the temple floor, so he did not look like a great powerful Yogi. He[Durvasa] come in there with his power and said, “seek him” and sent his demon after maharaj Ambarish ; the demon was destroyed by Sudarshan chakra and Durvasa muni was chased all over the universe by Sudarshan chakra. Because devotees don’t put on, they don’t know even their own power. Because they are protected by divine energy. So Prabhupada said, we should be very careful not to offend other vaishnavas. Even a little, big, medium, is very hard to see, (relatively) where a vaishnava is situated. Someone who is serving the spiritual master, who is serving Krishna, he (or she) is a vaishnava and to offend a vaishnava is very bad. It should be completely avoided. HH Jayapataka Swami Lecture – Srimad Bhagavatam New Orleans October 2nd, 1980