Dignity, Glories & Greatness Of Vaiṣṇava

Dignity, Glories & Greatness Of Vaiṣṇava
Sri Vrindavan Das Thakura
dhana nāhi, jana nāhi, nāhika pāṇḍitya
ke cinibe e sakala caitanyera bhṛtya
He had no wealth, no followers, and no educa¬tion. Who can recognize such servants of Lord Caitanya?
It is impossible to identify the characteristics of a Vaiṣṇava by material sense perception or external symptoms. It is not that one who possesses more wealth is a superior Vaiṣṇava. It is not that one who gathers more followers is a superior Vaiṣṇa¬va. It is not that one who has more knowledge of the scriptures is a superior devotee of Visnu. The servants of Lord Caitanya may not have much wealth, may not gather many followers, and may not have the academic qualification of being expert in argument and counter-argument, but ordinary people have no qualification to understand why they are indifferent to such matters. The devotees consider the service of Sri Caitanya as superior to wealth, followers, and knowledge. Therefore it is impossible for ordinary people to estimate their dignity, glories, and greatness.
– Chaitanya Bhagavata, Madhya-khaṇḍa 9.233,includ¬ing the purport of Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thaku¬ra., Edited and Published by Puṇḍarīka Vidyānidhi dāsa, Vrajraj Press