Madhusūdana: How is the lotus a weapon? They're all weapons. All the symbols in Viṣṇu's hand are . . . all the symbols in Viṣṇu's hand are weapons. How is the lotus a weapon?
Prabhupāda: Lotus is blessing. And that disc and club is for punishing. Viṣṇu has to see two ways, because He's the Lord. So, as it is said in the Bhagavad-gītā, paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām (BG 4.8).
Just like the state. State is meant for punishing the criminals and giving protection to the law-abiding citizen. Wherefrom this idea is taken? It is taken from Viṣṇu, everything, because He is the supreme maintainer. So everything is required for maintaining. So this gada, the club, and the disc is for punishing the disobedient, the demons, or those who are harassing devotees. To punish them, the viṣṇu-cakra is there.
Just like Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, he was harassed by Durvāsā Muni, and viṣṇu-cakra punished him sufficiently. Mahārāja Durvāsā . . . Mahārāja Ambarīṣa was a great king, but a great devotee at the same time. Because he was kṣatriya and householder, Durvāsā Muni, he was envious. Durvāsā Muni was brahmin and a great yogī.
So he could not tolerate that a householder king . . . king is supposed to be dealing in politics, economics. Therefore, according to social position, he is lesser than the brahmin, because they are simply engaged in the matter of transcendental advancement of life. But a devotee is above the brahmins. That is the position of devotee.
Here, the highest qualitative position is to be situated in the modes of goodness or to acquire the qualities of brahmin, in this material world. Truthfulness, controlling the senses, controlling the mind, simplicity and knowledge, faith in God—there are so many qualifications which makes a person as recognized brahmin. But a devotee, never mind whether he's brahmin or a caṇḍāla, he automatically develop all these qualities. Yasyāsti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcanā (SB 5.18.12).
Anyone who has unflinching devotional faith in God, he has all the good qualities.
I've several times narrated the story of that hunter. He was animal killer, and he used to enjoy by killing the animal half. But when he became a devotee, he was not prepared to kill even an ant. Who taught him? Nobody taught him, but he was simply chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. That's all. So if you actually making progress in devotional service, you are constantly in touch with the purest.