(Click to enlarge photo of Srila Prabhupada offering arotika to Radha Gokulananda, 1973.)
"So everyone can serve Kṛṣṇa. Prāṇair arthair dhiyā vācā śreya-ācaraṇaṁ sadā (SB 10.22.35). Either with your life, either with your money, either with your intelligence, either with your..., with your words you can serve Kṛṣṇa. Any way. Kṛṣṇa service is not checked. Ahaituky apratihatā. It cannot be checked. In any condition of life you can serve Kṛṣṇa. The first thing is that if you can dedicate your life, that is very good. Just like you have done. You have dedicated your life for spreading this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. That is first class, prāṇaiḥ.
If you cannot dedicate your life immediately, then spend fifty percent of your income for Kṛṣṇa. Prāṇair arthaiḥ. If you think you have no money, then prāṇair arthair dhiyā, by your intelligence. If you have got some knowledge, write some books and spread it, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. And if you have no education, no money and you cannot dedicate your life, then you can spend your vacana. Vācā. Prāṇair arthair dhiyā vācā. What is the vācā? Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and tell everyone, 'Please chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.' Where is the difficulty?
You can serve Kṛṣṇa in any condition of life. But don't be miser. If you think that you have got one crores of rupees, so Kṛṣṇa says vācā. 'Let the bank balance remain for my children, and I go to Vṛndāvana and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.' No. That is called vitta-sārtha. If you have got money, you must spend money. Not that 'Money is for my children and wife, and I come to Vṛndāvana and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.' There are many such retired persons here. They leave the money for their relatives, and come here with a... Of course, that is good. But Kṛṣṇa is very intelligent. Kṛṣṇa wants to know where you have kept your money. (laughter) He inquires, 'You kept your money for your children and you have come to love Me with your beads.' No. (laughter) Kṛṣṇa is very intelligent. Kṛṣṇa wants that 'Whatever you have got, you have to utilize for Me.'
Just like Arjuna. Arjuna was a warrior, and he utilized his energy for fighting the demons. Because He came to kill the demons. Paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām (BG 4.8). So Kṛṣṇa wants to utilize your energy for His satisfaction. That is devotion. Everyone has got his energy, and he can spare it for Kṛṣṇa's service. That is real devotion."
(Srila Prabhupada Lecture, Vrindavan, October 20, 1972)
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