"God had first commanded the Vedic religion, work, _yog_, and knowledge. After these had been observed, He finally commanded _bhakti_, which must, therefore, be superior [to the former]. If, in accordance with this [latest] dispensation, a devotee feels _shraddhá_, he leaves all works and adores Krishna. _Vide Bhágabat_, XI. xx. 9. The term _shraddhá_ means firm and unquestioning faith. If one adores Krishna, it is equivalent to his doing all the prescribed ceremonies [of religion]. _Vide Bhágabat_, IV. xxxi. 12. "Men who have _shraddhá_ are qualified for bhakti, and are ranked as superior, average, and inferior, according to the quality of their _shraddhá_. He whose _shraddhá_ is confirmed by listening to the reasoning contained in the _Shástras_ is a superior 'entitled to _bhakti_', and he is liberated from the world. He whose _shraddhá_ is strong in spite of his ignorance of _shástric_ arguments, is an average 'entitled to _bhakti_'; he, too, is very fortunate. He whose _shraddhá_ requires a visible object [of adoration] is an inferior 'entitled to _bhakti_'; in time he will advance to the stage of a superior _bhakta_. There are different grades of _bhakti_, according to differences of ardour and passion, as has been described in the eleventh _skanda_ of the _Bhágabat_, (XI. ii. 43-45). "All the high attributes are found in the person of a Vaishnav, because Krishna's attributes spread to His _bhaktas_. (_Ibid_, V. xviii. 12). The following qualities mark a Vaishnav; they cannot be exhaustively named, I only take a rapid view: he is compassionate, spiteless, essentially true, saintly, innocent, charitable, gentle, pure, humble, a universal benefactor, tranquil, solely dependent on Krishna, free from desire, quiet, equable, a victor over the six passions (_sharguna_), temperate in diet, self-controlled, honouring others and yet not proud himself, grave, tender, friendly, learned, skilful and silent. _Vide Bhágabat_, III. xxv. 20, V. v. 2. The society of holy men is the root of the birth of devotion to Krishna (_Bhágabat_, X. li. 35, XI. ii. 28, xxv. 22). The principal limb that springs up from it is love of Krishna. It is proper conduct for a Vaishnav to abjure the society of the wicked. The man who consorts with women is one kind of sinner, while the man lacking in faith in Krishna belongs to another kind. (_Bhágabat_ III. xxxi. 35, 33 & 34). Leaving these [temptations] and the religious system based on caste, [the true Vaishnav] helplessly takes refuge with Krishna. _Vide_ the _Gitá_, xviii. 66; _Bhágabat_, X. xlviii.