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Myth: “Bg. 9.30 verse proves that despite falldowns diksa gurus remain saintly and properly situated”

17. January 2026 By Prabhupada News Leave a Comment

Anti Ritvik Myths debunked (#29)

Myth: “B.g. 9.30 verse proves that despite falldowns diksa gurus remain saintly and properly situated”

Truth: This verse doesn’t refer to “guru” falldowns, and “guru” usurpers are not at all saintly.

Anti-ritviks cite the following verse of Bhagavad-gita As It Is trying to justify numerous gross and subtle falldowns of their unauthorized “gurus”:

api cet su-durācāro bhajate mām ananya-bhāk
sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ samyag vyavasito hi saḥ

“Even if one commits the most abominable actions, if he is engaged in devotional service, he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated.” (B.g. 9.30)

However, Srila Prabhupada writes in the purport that Lord Krishna talks here about “accidental falldowns” of immature devotees who are not “strong enough”, not yet “completely situated in Kṛṣṇa consciousness”:

“No one should deride a devotee for some accidental falldown from the ideal path, for, as is explained in the next verse, such occasional falldowns will be stopped in due course, as soon as a devotee is completely situated in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. […] The mark of a spot which may be seen on the moon does not become an impediment to the moonlight. Similarly, the accidental falldown of a devotee from the path of a saintly character does not make him abominable. On the other hand, one should not misunderstand that a devotee in transcendental devotional service can act in all kinds of abominable ways; this verse only refers to an accident due to the strong power of material connections. Devotional service is more or less a declaration of war against the illusory energy. As long as one is not strong enough to fight the illusory energy, there may be accidental falldowns. But when one is strong enough, he is no longer subjected to such falldowns, as previously explained. No one should take advantage of this verse and commit nonsense and think that he is still a devotee. If he does not improve in his character by devotional service, then it is to be understood that he is not a high devotee.” (B.g. 9.30 purport)

A Vaisnava spiritual master is supposed to be a “high devotee”, a self-realized soul already fully Krishna conscious, and he does not deviate from the instructions of the Supreme Lord. Therefore, attempts to use this verse as justification of deviations and crimes of “gurus” in maya-ISKCON or elsewhere, are groundless. Sivarama Swami (a maya-ISKCON “guru”) wrote about their another “guru” and “swami” Bhakti Vidya Purna, who was officially convicted as child molester in 2022: [Read More…]

Myth: “Falldowns of diksa gurus in ISKCON after 1977 it’s not a big deal it’s normal”

10. January 2026 By Prabhupada News 5 Comments

Anti Ritvik Myths debunked (#28)

Myth: “Numerous falldowns of diksa gurus in ISKCON after 1977 is not a big deal, it’s normal ”

Truth: Genuine spiritual masters do not fall from the spiritual path into maya, therefore such deviations expose those “gurus” as bogus.

When you look at the history of the guru system introduced into ISKCON since 1978, contrary to Srila Prabhupada’s instructions to continue the ritvik initiations on his behalf, and when you see the list of more than 55 (as of 2023 AD or 537 year of Caitanya era) “diksa gurus” who were officially suspended, removed or otherwise officially punished for deviations, including the most serious crimes, up to pedophilia and child beating, active homosexuality, drug addiction, sex with disciples, murder, financial fraud, mental disorder, philosophical deviations, neglecting sadhana, concealment of crimes (beginning with poisoning Srila Prabhupada’s body), which have deeply affected modern maya-ISKCON, then it should immediately become clear to any normal person that this guru system is fundamentally wrong, unauthorized, not spiritual. [Read More…]