Srila Prabhupada

You will be surprised to know that Lord Caitanya had a very poor friend. In His childhood He had a poor friend. His name was Śrīdhara. His income was daily, in those days, five hundred years before, his income was, say, about five cent daily. And not even that. Suppose five cent. So out of that five cent, he would spend two-half cent for gaṅgā-pūjā, for worshiping mother Ganges.
And with the balance two-half cent, he will maintain his family. So similarly, there are many instances. So it doesn't matter what is your income—five cent or five hundred dollars. You must try to satisfy according to your capacity the Supreme Lord. That should be.
(670326 - Lecture SB 01.02.12-14 and Installation of Jagannatha Deities - San Francisco)

Prabhupāda: Actually devotee’s never in distress. People may see that he is in distress. Just like there is a very good example—you are going to Māyāpur, you’ll find—his name was Śrīdhara, Kolaveca Śrīdhara. His income was very poor. At night he would chant Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra very loudly: “Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa . . .” His neighboring friends would say, “This man has no income, and because he is hungry now he is chanting ‘Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa.’ He’s hungry.” So one day Caitanya Mahāprabhu . . . Caitanya Mahāprabhu used to take away his possession, flowers. He was selling, making business, making some donā, donā. What is called, donā?
Devotee: Cups.
Prabhupāda: Cup, yes, that was his business. So Caitanya Mahāprabhu take away some of his fruits and donā, as a friend. So one day Caitanya Mahāprabhu said that, “Śrīdhara, you take benediction from Me.” So he said, “What benediction, Sir?” “Well, you are so poor that your house is not even properly repaired. There are so many holes in the roof.” He, “Still, I have got a nice house, because it is better than the bird’s nest. They have no roof. (laughter) They have no roof, and they live on the tree. I have got a shelter. What is the difficulty? There is no difficulty.” In this way Caitanya Mahāprabhu wanted to offer him so many thing, and he said that, “No, I have no trouble for this. If You want to benedict me, please give me pure devotion on Your lotus feet.“
Guest: Bhakti.
Prabhupāda: Bhakti. So that is pure devotion. That we should hanker after, how to fix up our mind always in the service of the Lord. That we are trying to teach, that’s all.
(720223 – Lecture SB 01.02.06 – Calcutta)

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