Question Bank NOD

Short Questions:

Preface and introduction

01.     What is the concept of mellows or rasa? What is its importance? How is the bhakti
rasa different from mundane rasa?

02.    What is the definition of pure devotional service?

Chapter 1

03.    What are the six characteristics of pure devotional service? Mention the sanskrit
terms along with their meaning.

04.    Explain how devotional service is all-auspicious?

05.    What are the 5 types of liberation?

06.    What does the example of snake of desire explain?

07.    How is Krishna consciousness far better than ritualistic Vedic ceremony with regards
to purification of heart? What does the example of elephant taking bath explain?

08.    What are the 3 types of happiness? Which is the highest and why?

09.    What are the 8 types of mystic siddhis? What does Srila Prabhupada say about
having mystic siddhis and material advancement?

10.     What are the 6 points mentioned by Srila Prabhupada about Srimathi Radharani in
explanation of srikrishna akarsini.

11.     What are the six symptoms of Bhakti? In which of the three levels in Question 4 do
they each appear? What is your level?

12.     Why is Bhakti superior to liberation?

13.     What is the cause of suffering? What are its stages of development?

14.     What are the two results of Papam?

15.     According to Lord Kapiladeva, what is the characteristic of pure devotional service?

16.     List, in Sanskrit or English, the four effects that manifest due to sinful activities.

17.     List four examples that Prabhupada gives about ‘mature’ sinful reactions.
18.     What does the comparison between mystic perfections and modern scientific
improvements indicate?

19.     Why does Krishna rarely agree to offer a soul devotional service?

20.    What is the meaning of the words madana-mohana-mohini?

Chapter 2

21.     Illustrate with example how even the lowest sinful becomes eligible for the highest
spiritual activity by Krishna consciousness.

22.    Define and explain sadhana bhakti.

23.    What are the 3 categories/stages of bhakti? What qualities manifested in each of
these stages?

24.    What is the essence of sadhana bhakti? What is the best means for it? What is the
role of guru in this regard?

25.    Define and explain vaidhi sadhana bhakti. How it differs with raganuga sadhana
bhakti? What is the essence of vaidhi sadhana bhakti?

26.    What are the duties of brahmana, kshatriya, vaishya and sudra? What is the target of
their activities?

Chapter 3

27.    What are the three categories of devotees? List out the characteristics of each of
them

28.    Who are the four types of neophyte devotees? How do they become successful? Give
one example for each. Who is the best among them and why?

29.    What are the 2 obstacles to advance in devotional service? What are they compared
to? Which among the two is the worst and why?

Chapter 4

30.    List, in Sanskrit or English, the five kinds of liberation.

31.     Give 3 or 4 evidences on how devotional service surpasses liberation.

32.    Of all the devotees, who is the topmost devotee and why?

33.    A gopi in Vrindavan is superior to the friend of Krishna and he is superior to a

Chapter 5

35.    Present arguments which validate the purity of devotional service. Who can perform
devotional service?

36.    How does devotional service surpass the stages of karma, jnana and yoga?

37.    Explain how Srila Prabhupada is following in the footsteps of Srila Rupa Gosvami in
establishing the Krishna consciousness movement all over the world.

38.    Why is devotional service open for all without any distinction?

39.    Why is a devotee far better than one simply engaged in philanthropic activity?

Chapter 7

40.    Why is it necessary to accept a spiritual master? What are the qualifications for a
spiritual master?

41.     What are the 3 most important items among the first 20 items of devotional service
and why?

42.    What does it mean to follow Ekadashi?

43.    What does it mean to be straight forward in dealing?

44.    What does it mean to not accept too many disciples and to not build big temples?

45.    What should be the attitude of a devotee towards demigods?

46.    Can we consider the followers of Buddha as devotees? Why did Krishna preach
atheism as Buddha?

47.    What does Srila Prabhupada say in regard to accepting only that which is necessary?

48.    Who are the different non-devotees which one should give up? Mention the
quotations in regard to this and the instruction of Lord Chaitanya.

Chapter 8

49.    List the 10 offences to the holy name.

50.    List out the eight of the seva aparadhas.

51.     How does offence impede in a sadhaka's progress? Define seva aparadha and nama
aparadh. Which is more dangerous and why?
Chapter 9

52.    What are the principles by which we should deal with the blasphemy of lord and his
devotees? What are the 3 ways by which we should deal with them?

53.    What are the 3 types of sankirtana?

54.    Explain the 3 types of personal prayers with the examples quoted by Rupa Goswami.

55.     Explain laulyam.

56.    What is the analogy of snake bite being cured by medicinal herbs?

57.     What are the principles involved with regards to touching the deity form of Krishna?
Why was Mahatma Gandhi a failure with regards to this?

Chapter 10

58.    What are the 3 types of sravanam? What does revival of a dead man by snake bite
explain?

59.    Explain the item of ‘expecting the lord's mercy’ with the salient points mentioned by
Srila Prabhupada?

60.    What is the difference between remembrance and meditation and also write the
different types of meditation?

61.     What does the story of bramhana of Pratishanpur explain?

Chapter 11

62.    What are the 2 types of sakhyam? Give examples for each.

63.    What does Srila Rupa Goswami mention about sakhyam and atma nivedanam?

64.    What are the devotional benefits of worshiping tulasi maharani?

Chapter 12

65.    What is the definition of a revealed scripture? How can we serve them?

66.    What does varaha purana and brahmanda purana say in regards to residing in
mathura?

67.    Explain the glories of kartika vrata.

68.    What is the analogy of crystal stone?

70.    Mention 4 points in regards to the item "reciting Srimad Bhagavatam among
devotees".

71.     Mention 4 points in regards to the item "Chanting the holy name of the lord".

Chapter 13

72.    What are the five most potent forms of devotional service? Why are they considered
most potent?

73.    What does Srila Rupa Goswami glorify worship of deity form? What is specialty of
this type of glorification? What is the benefit of deity worship for householder?

74.    Mention at least 4 points in regards to residing in mathura.

75.     Are the statements about the power of devotional service over-estimations? What
does Srila Prabhupada say in this regard? Give some examples.

Chapter 14

76.    Explain how varnashrama, jnana and vairagya are not part of sadhana bhakti. What
is their relation with sadhana bhakti?

77.     Who are the devotees who perfected their lives by perfecting one of the limbs of
navadha bhakti? Name the devotee and the limb of bhakti. Who perfected his life by
practicing all the limbs?

78.    Explain the 2 types of vairagya. How should one execute yukta varigya?

79.    What does Srila Prabhupada say in regards to qualities like ahimsa and
brahmacharya in devotional service?

Chapter 15

80.    Differentiate between love of the gopis and sensual attraction of this world.

81.     What are the five relationships with Krishna by which spontaneous devotional
service is executed?

82.    Srimad Bhagavatam 7.1.30-31 says that Gopis, Pandavas, Yadus,Kamsa and Sisupala
achieved the same destination. Please explain how the devotees like Gopis and demons
like Kamsa can achieve the same destination.

83.    What is the meaning of raga? What is the difference between ragatmika and
raganuga bhakti?
84.    Impersonalists are spiritually inclined, but they have been compared with
materialistic demons like Kamsa or Sisupala. Why?

Chapter 16

85.    What is the qualification for practicing raganuga sadhana bhakti? How does one
achieve this qualification and when does it manifest?

86.    What does Srila Prabhupada say about siddha pranali?

87.    What are the practices of raganuga sadhana bhakti? What are the alternative names
for the paths of vaidhi bhakti and raganuga bhakti?

88.    What are the 2 types of raganuga sadhana bhakti?

89.    At what stage, is it possible to achieve eagerness to follow in the footsteps of the
denizens of Vraja?

90.    Define prakrta-sahajiya.

91.     Briefly describe the two categories of conjugal love.

Chapter 17

92.    Define bhava bhakti. What are the primary and secondary characteristics of a person
in the stage of bhava?

93.    Elaborate two ways of elevation to ecstatic love for Krishna with examples.

94.    What are the 3 categories of a person achieving bhava by mercy? Give examples.

Chapter 18

95.    Describe the reliable characteristics of one in bhava. Why are they considered
reliable?

96.    Explain mana-shunyata or pridelessness with examples given by prabhupada.

97.    Can non-devotees exhibit symptoms of Bhava? Why?

98.    What are the 2 types of semblance of ecstasy? How can one convert semblance of
bhava into real bhava.

99.    How can we explain genuine symptoms of bhava in a person who has not executed
any sadhana?

100.  What is the cause of faults in a person at the stage of bhava? How should one see it?
Chapter 19

101.   What is the definition of love of Godhead or prema as explained by Prabhuapda in

102.  What are the nine stages of progress in devotional service?

103.  How can one recognize pure love for Krishna?

104.  What is the difference between Bhava and Prema-bhakti?

105.   What are the 2 ways by which prema can be awakened? Give examples for each
category.