Answer
In this material world, we inevitably come across things like money, position, recognition, and awards. These are part of the environment we live in. But a devotee learns to relate to them very differently.
First and foremost, a devotee understands:
“The only recognition that truly matters is whether my Guru, the Guru Paramparā, and Krishna are pleased.”
That is the real goal. Even if one is not fully sure whether they are pleased, the sincere effort is always there—to try to please them. And there is faith in their instructions: “If you do this, I am pleased.”
For example, chanting the holy name—if one chants sincerely, the Lord is pleased. Whether it is completely pure or free from offenses is another matter, but the Lord accepts the sincere attempt to follow His instruction.
So the devotee’s focus is:
To please the Lord,
To please the pure devotees,
To please the Vaiṣṇavas who represent their desires.
That is the only reward he seeks.
As for worldly rewards—money, fame, recognition—these are not of real value in themselves. They are not inherently spiritual. A devotee does not become absorbed in them. Rather, the mood is:
“Whatever comes in my service is due to the mercy of Guru and Krishna. How can I use it back in their service?”
So if wealth comes, the question becomes:
“How can this be engaged in Krishna’s service?”
If recognition comes:
“How can this be used to further service?”
Everything is seen from a utility perspective—not as something to enjoy, but something to reinvest in service.
Within the devotee community also, there is appreciation—but it is of a particular kind. Devotees appreciate one another’s service to Krishna. However, they do not glorify someone as the independent doer.
Krishna Himself says that He is the ability in man. So when devotees glorify someone, they are actually appreciating that person as an instrument in the hands of the Lord.
Now, an important caution:
External measures—big service, small service, recognition, impact—can be misleading.
Sometimes, even a beginner may be empowered to do something big. That does not necessarily mean it is pure devotional service. The Lord may allow such things for many reasons—to encourage, to engage, or even to gradually purify underlying tendencies.
On the other hand, there are rare, empowered personalities like A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who are specially empowered (śaktyāveśa) by the Lord to carry out a divine mission. The greatness there is not merely in “doing big things,” but in doing everything as pure devotional service for Krishna’s purpose.
Many people in the world have started with nothing and built great material success. That is not unique. The uniqueness of Śrīla Prabhupāda is that whatever he did was completely for Krishna and the saṅkīrtana movement, powered by Krishna’s energy—not personal ambition.
So we must be careful. There are two ways of “doing big things”:
One in Krishna consciousness,
Another in subtle māyā, driven by ego.
Not everything that appears big is spiritually significant.
A neophyte may get inspired—“I will also do something big for Krishna.” But without proper understanding, this can become personal ambition in disguise. True following does not mean imitating external achievements.
To follow a pure devotee means to imbibe his heart—not to copy his external scale.
To be like A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada means:
To have his mood of service,
His dependence on Krishna,
His purity of intention.
Not simply to replicate what appears externally as “great accomplishment.”
So the essence is:
Focus on pleasing Krishna. Use everything in His service. Appreciate others as instruments. And strive to imbibe the inner consciousness of pure devotion—not the external show of achievement.
