# Six Principles for Success *On the six principles that guarantee success in devotional service* --- ### Follow These Six Principles > So you follow the advice, as given by Rūpa Gosvāmī, *utsāhāt.* The first thing is enthusiasm, that "I must see Kṛṣṇa." You are seeing Kṛṣṇa. The Deity of Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa is not different. But even personally you can see. Simply we have to continue the enthusiasm. Enthusiasm means to take things very seriously, *utsāhād dhairyāt,* and patiently. Although we are determined to go back to home, back to Godhead, so we should patiently follow the rules and regulations. So these are the six principles: endeavor..., mean, enthusiasm, and firm determination, and patience, and executing the regulative principles, *tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt,* and *sato vṛtteḥ,* means behavior must be very honest, no duplicity, and... *Utsāhād dhairyāt niścayāt tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt,* and *sato vṛtteḥ,* dealing must be very honestly, no hypocrisy, *tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt, sādhu-saṅga,* and in the association of devotees. If you follow these six principles, namely enthusiasm, determination, patience, and executing the regulative principle and keep yourself honest and in the association of devotee, if you follow these six principle, then your success is sure. — [[spoken/1975/750225dp.car|Departure Lecture, Caracas, February 25, 1975]] --- ### Opposite Principles to Avoid > So these are the six principle, positive. *Ṣaḍbhir bhaktiḥ prasidhyati.* By following these six principle, success is assured. Similarly, there are opposite number. What is that? *Atyāhāraḥ,* eating too much. *Atyāhāraḥ* means eating too much or unnecessarily collecting too much. And *prayāsaḥ. Prayāsaḥ* means too much endeavoring for a thing, mean, unnecessarily taking some anxiety. Don't do that. *Atyāhāraḥ prayāsas prajalpaḥ,* and talking nonsense, gossiping some subject matter which has no concern with Kṛṣṇa consciousness. We are accustomed to do that. We should avoid it. *Atyāhāraḥ prayāsaś ca prajalpo niyamāgrahaḥ* [NoI 2]. *Niyamāgrahaḥ* means the positive rules and regulation, simply make a show but not actually realize it. *Niyamāgrahaḥ, laulyam,* and to become very greedy, and *jana-saṅgaś ca,* and mixing with persons who are not devotee. These six things should be avoided, and the first things should be followed. Then your success in devotional service is sure. — [[spoken/1975/750225dp.car|Departure Lecture, Caracas, February 25, 1975]] --- ### Unnecessary Gossiping > *Prajalpaḥ,* unnecessary gossiping. Just like people are wasting time taking one newspaper and talking for hours. These things should be avoided. And to associate with nondevotees. And greediness. These things should be avoided. — [[spoken/1975/750225dp.car|Departure Lecture, Caracas, February 25, 1975]] --- ### Eat Sufficiently, Not More > [break] ...our field or some other field, but food must be there. If you don't eat sufficiently, how you'll be able to work? *Yuktāhāra-vihārasya*. We are not after dry speculation. Practical. Eat sufficiently. Work sufficiently. Don't be lazy. But the danger is if you eat more than sufficient, then you'll sleep sufficient. Therefore *yuktāhāra,* as much as you require, take it. Don't take more; don't take less. This is the law of nature. Just like salt. You salt require. But if you take more, it is useless, and if you take less, it is useless. If in the vegetable the salt is more, then it is uneatable; if it is less, uneatable. Take as it is. It is not that "Because there is ocean of salt, let me eat three pounds' salt." That is going on. "Oh, it is available? Now let me eat." And then he becomes sick. — [[spoken/1976/760226mw.may|Morning Walk, Māyāpur, February 26, 1976]] --- ### Faith That Success Will Come > Whatever little success I have got, it is only for this reason. My Guru Mahārāja said that "You go and preach whatever you learned in English language." That's all. So I came here with this faith, that "My Guru Mahārāja said. I must be successful." I did not show any jugglery to you, gold-making jugglery. Where is my gold? I came with forty rupees first. [chuckles] So these are Vedic instruction, *guru-mukha-padma-vākya,* and *śrī-guru-caraṇe rati, ei se uttama-gati.* That is real progress. So this is Vedic instruction. We have to follow the Vedic injunction. Then you will be successful. Not these rascals' theory. It is useless. — [[spoken/1975/750228r1.atl|Room Conversation with Svarūpa Dāmodara, Atlanta, February 28, 1975]] --- *5 verified verbatim quotes from Śrīla Prabhupāda on the six principles for success*