Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.7.7
—
Vṛndāvana, September 6, 1976
Therefore kṛṣṇe parama. The life, success of life means how you can awaken your love for Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇe parama-pūruṣe. Parama-pūruṣe, that is explained in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta. Nitya-siddha kṛṣṇa-bhakti sādhya kabhu naya. It is not artificially awakened. There is, already nitya-siddha. As we are nitya-siddha... Nityo nityānāṁ cetanaś cetanānām (Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.2.13). We are nitya; similarly kṛṣṇa-bhakti is also nitya. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is there along with the living entity; it is not an artificial thing. Just like sugar-sweetness is already there. It is the nature of sugar. It is not an artificial thing. Sugar means sweetness. Living entity means kṛṣṇa-bhakta. If he's not kṛṣṇa-bhakta, he's a rascal. Therefore Kṛṣṇa said na māṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ prapadyante narādhamāḥ [Bg. 7.15]. Those who are narādhamas, lowest of the mankind, they do not become kṛṣṇa-bhakta. They become other. Therefore they are duṣkṛtina. Why they are not kṛṣṇa-bhakta? Duṣkṛtina, full of sinful activity.
So you cannot become kṛṣṇa-bhakta and indulge at the same time in sinful activities. Then it will be spoiled. You must be very careful. We have selected, summarized the essence of sinful activities is illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication, and gambling. This is the essence. If you save yourself from these four principles, then you become sinless. And unless you become sinless, there is no question of kṛṣṇa-bhakta. Rest assured.
yeṣāṁ tv anta-gataṁ pāpaṁ
janānāṁ puṇya-karmaṇām
te dvandva-moha-nirmuktā
bhajante māṁ dṛḍha-vratāḥ
[Bg. 7.28]
One can be strictly engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness when he's free from all sinful activity. Otherwise not possible. Of course, Kṛṣṇa is very kind. If you are engaged in kṛṣṇa-bhakti sincerely, if by mistake you commit some sin, that can be excused. But if you purposefully commit sinful activities, you'll never get Kṛṣṇa's approach. That is a great... Nāmno balād yasya hi pāpa-buddhiḥ. That is very great offense, that I am a devotee of Kṛṣṇa, and... Just like the Christian people go to church, that "I am a devotee of Christ. I can do any nonsense, and on Sunday I shall go, I shall admit, 'Yes, my Lord, I have done this.' " "All right. Excused." Then? Then I'll do again tomorrow." This is not wanted. That is pāpa-buddhiḥ, that "Somehow or other let me be atoned today, and from tomorrow I shall begin my business. And again I shall come Sunday." This is pāpa-buddhiḥ. Such persons are never excused, but they do not know. But by mistake or by chance, unknowingly if we commit some mistake, that is excused. Sapada-mūlaṁ bhajatāṁ priyasya. Because he is engaged in the service of the Lord. Not only that, one who is engaged, if you simply admit, "Sir, from today I shall be Your servant," immediately, immediately you become free from all... Kṛṣṇa said, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja: [Bg. 18.66] "You just surrender to Me." And you do it, and immediately ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi. Immediately. But don't commit again. He can excuse immediately. Api cet su-durācāro bhajate mām ananya-bhāk sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ [Bg. 9.30]. Not that you take advantage of Him. Don't take advantage of Him, and "Because I have become so-called sādhu I can do all nonsense and Kṛṣṇa will excuse." No. That is nāma-aparādha. If by mistake or by chance you do something wrong, that can be excused. That is natural. Suppose you are servant, you have committed some mistake. The master immediately does not dismiss. He warns you: "Why you have done this thing? Do not do it again." That is natural.