SB 1.11.19 (1964)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT No. 19
Baramakhyas cha sataso yanais taddarsana utsukah Lasat kundala nirbhat kapola vadanasriah.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS
Baramukhyas—well known prostitutes, Cha—and, Sataso—hundreds of, Yanais—by vehicles, Taddarsana—for meeting Him (Lord Sri Krishna), Utsukah—very much anxious, Lasat—hanging, Kundala—earrings, Nirbhata—dazzling, Kapola—forehead, Vadana—face, Sriah—beauty.
TRANSLATION
At the same time many hundreds of well known prostitutes who were very much eager to meet the Lord and whose beautiful faces were decorated with dazzling earrings increasing the beauty of their foreheads,-all began to proceed on different vehicles.
PURPORT
We may not hate even the prostitutes if they are devotees of the Lord. Even upto date there are many prostitutes in great cities of India who are sincerely devotees of the Lord. By flicks of chance one may be obliged to adopt a profession which is not very adorable in the society, but that does not hamper one in the matter of executing devotional service of the Lord. Devotional service of the Lord is uncheckable at all circumstances. It is understood, herewith, that even in those days about 5000 thousands of years before, there were prostitutes in a city like Dwarka where Lord Krishna resided. This means that prostitutes are necessary citizens for proper upkeep of the society. The Government opens wine shops but it does not mean that Government encourages drinking of wine. The idea is that there is a class of men who will drink at any cost and it has been experimented that prohibition in great cities encouraged illicit smuggling of wine by different venues. Similarly for a class of men who are not satisfied at home do require such concessions and if there is no prostitute then such low class of men will induce others for prostitution. It is better that prostitutes may be available in the market place so that sanctity of the society may be maintained. It is better to maintain a class of prostitutes than to encourage prostitution within the society. The real reformation is to enlighten all people to become devotee of the Lord and that will check all kinds of deteriorating factors of life.
Sri Vilwamangal Thakur great Acharya of the Vishnuswami Vaishnava sect in his householder life was too much attached to a prostitute who happened to be a devotee of the Lord. One night when the Thakur came to Chintamoni's house in torrents of rain and thunder, Chintamani was astonished to see how the Thakur could come in such dreadful night after crossing a foaming river which was full of waves and water. She said to Thakur Vilwamangal that his attraction for the flesh and bone of an insignificant woman like her would have been properly utilised if it could be diverted to devotional service of the Lord to achieve such attraction for the transcendental beauty of the Lord. It was a momentous hour for the Thakur and he took a turn towards spiritual realisation by the words of a prostitute. Later on the Thakur accepted Chintamani prostitute as his spiritual master and at several places of his literary works he has glorified the name of Chintamani who showed him the right path.
In the Bhagwat Geeta (B.G. 9/32) the Lord says as follows "Oh the son of Pritha, even the low born Chandalas and those who are born in the family of unbelievers or even the prostitutes, shall attain perfection of life, if they take shelter of unalloyed devotional service of Me. Because in the path of devotional service there is no impediments on account of degraded birth and occupation. The path is open for everyone who agrees to follow it."
It appears that the prostitutes of Dwarka who were so much eager to meet the Lord were all His unalloyed devotees; and as such they were all on the path of salvation according to the above version of the Bhagwat Geeta. Therefore, the only reformation that is necessary in the society is to make organised effort to turn the citizens to be devotees of the Lord and thus all good qualities of the denizens of heaven will overtake them in their own way. On the other hand those who are unbeliever-non-devotees, they have no good qualification whatsoever, however, they may be materially advanced. The difference is that the devotees of the Lord are on the path of liberation whereas the nondevotee-unbelievers are on the path of further entanglement of material bondage. The criterion of advancement of civilization is to see whether the people are educated and advanced on the path of salvation,