1. Deity worship — Krsna doesn’t require our service

    He is present here, Krsna. He has nothing to do. Na tasya karyam karanam ca vidyate. Everything is ready. Either automatically or in order to accept service from the devotee, He is assuming that "I am dependent on you. If you dress Me, then I can be dressed." But actually that is not the fact. He is dressing Himself by giving you intelligence. Buddhi-yogam dadami tam yena mam upayanti te [Bg. 10.10]. Those who are desirous to serve Him, then Krsna gives him intelligence how to serve Him. He does not depend on your service. He's quite self-sufficient. But He assumes that "I am a statue of stone. I cannot dress Myself. Please dress Me." This is Krsna's mercy, to give you chance. He does not depend on you. Na tasya kar… There are many energies. Krsna is worshiped by many, many goddess of fortune. Laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambhrama-sevyamanam [Bs. 5.29]. So He doesn't require our service. But He agrees. He is so kind that He agrees to come here to accept our service. Therefore we must be very careful, that "Krsna has kindly consented to come here to accept our service. Now we may not do something which is not satisfactory to Him." That is devotion. That is Krsna consciousness — always all full veneration. Don't think that "Here is a statue." Here is Krsna.

    Srila Prabhupada, Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.26.41 — January 16, 1975, Bombay