It’s said that phalena parichayate. we can know the quality of endeavors by the result. but then we say Krishna doesn’t care about results but our endeavors. Is this not contradictory?

From: Sri Chaitanya Chandra Prabhu

Transcript

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Question from Sri Chaitanya Chandra Prabhu It is said फलेन परिचयते we can know the quality of endeavours by the result but then we say Krishna doesn’t care about results but our endeavours is this not contradicting? Answer No if we understand what फल is being referred to the फल that Krishna doesn’t care for is to some extent the material fruits that come from our endeavours in devotional service but the फल that Krishna does care for is the transformation of our consciousness and the transformation of others consciousness so if some people have a very external understanding of फल in terms of say the number of books that a person has distributed or the number of life members the person has made or the amount of funds that somebody has raised and if somebody starts thinking that these are the symptoms of one’s spiritual advancement then that is a mistake in understanding if somebody is doing that with a proud attitude with a attitude that I am going to demonstrate to the world how great I am then Krishna is put off why? such an attitude and Krishna doesn’t really care for the fruits which are offered to him with this sort of arrogant attitude at the same time Krishna does care for our consciousness and if we are developing a prayerful consciousness absorbed in the remembrance of Krishna and filled with the desire to serve Krishna over and over then that फल is something which is indicative of genuine spiritual advancement so actually deep service or rather service done with right attitude will deepen our internal connection with Krishna and that will lead to a external expression to share that Krishna consciousness with others so in that case when a devotee is himself happy in Krishna consciousness and is then sharing that happiness with others and so we see the fruit both in the consciousness of that devotee in terms of that devotee’s committed practice of the principles of Krishna consciousness and in terms of the devotee’s capacity to transform others and bring them closer to Krishna then we understand that this is an authentic symptom or authentic application of the principle फलेन परिच्यति so the फल is complete, internal and external now when we talk about Krishna not caring for the results and the quality of endeavours being known by the results we have to understand that sometimes Krishna may care for us more than the results and that’s why if the results are going to make us proud and take us away from Krishna Krishna may in spite of our sincere endeavours not give the results so that’s why if a devotee does not become very reputed for bringing wonderful results, if the devotee keeps the devotional consciousness and is humble tolerant, attached to Krishna committed to practicing the regulative principles of devotional service then even if such a devotee doesn’t get fruits, still that will be pleasing to Krishna and in some cases a devotee is talented enough to get the fruits but that devotee may become proud because of getting those fruits and Krishna may keep those fruits away from that devotee intentionally for some time, till that devotee becomes free from the doership mentality and then Krishna may give the fruits that’s why the whole business of judging is something which is very dangerous and it has to be done very carefully so in general this phalena paricharita applies to both internal and external.
The internal increase of our attachment to Krishna which is manifested through the development of Vaishnava qualities and the external success of our service, not just in terms of the material results produced but in terms of the transformation of the hearts of people and their becoming attracted and committed to Krishna consciousness so when we see both the internal and the external and we see the right thing in the internal and the right thing in the external then we will know that this phalena paricharita is actually applicable that yes this devotee is sincere and advanced because he is attached to Krishna he is also getting other people to become attached to Krishna Thank you