(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 17 August 2017, Radhadesh, Belgium, Srimad Bhagavatam 8.4.5-6)
We read about Vasudeva Datta who was such a great devotee. He wanted to deliver the entire universe by taking on the sinful reactions of everyone in the universe – he was ready to do that. Lord Caitanya was so impressed by Vasudeva Datta that he had said, “He has purchased me. He can sell me in the marketplace,” and then he said, “Whoever touches the body of Vasudeva Datta will go back to Godhead. Not only that, even the wind that has touched the body of Vasudeva Datta, if that wind now touches our body we will be purified.”
In this way, we see how a devotee carries the qualities of Krsna. It is said that the devotee gradually develops the qualities of Krsna by being focused on service to Krsna. The devotee becomes purified and whatever is important to Krsna becomes important to him; we see this in Vasudeva Datta.
We see it also in Srila Prabhupada. We see the places that he touched became transformed. Prabhupada transformed places and transformed the world. He transformed the tree in Tompkins Square. What a place Matchless Gifts is – the walls are vibrating. What can we say? It is just surcharged with this transcendental energy; completely spiritualised by Prabhupada. A very intense presence of all the Krsna consciousness that was within Srila Prabhupada is within that one little storefront. That was where it was all happening and one can still experience that it is not an ordinary place. It does not take much to appreciate that. So yes, Krsna transforms his devotees.
