Answer
If someone derives happiness by engaging power in the service of the Lord, that is perfectly appropriate. Devotees enjoy Krishna consciousness.
For example, when you successfully collect Lakshmi for Krishna's service, you naturally feel satisfaction. You may think, "By Krishna's mercy I was able to engage this wealth in His service." That satisfaction is devotional and should be relished.
Our enjoyment of power is fundamentally different from the enjoyment of power by karmis.
In one sense, devotees also enjoy power, and they also experience pleasure. Even while honoring Krishna prasadam, there is enjoyment—but it is Krishna conscious enjoyment.
The karmi enjoys power by controlling other living entities for personal benefit. For example, the owner of a company engages many employees, profits from their work, and then uses those profits for his own sense gratification. That is material enjoyment of power.
A devotee also uses power, resources, and wealth, but with a completely different purpose—to please Krishna.
We do not enjoy power independently. We engage Krishna's power in Krishna's service.
Just as we honor Krishna prasadam with respect, recognizing that it belongs to Krishna, we should similarly view power as Krishna's energy entrusted to us for His service.
Power itself is not material.
People in the material world misuse power for selfish purposes, but power itself is spiritual in origin.
Both the spiritual and material worlds function through different manifestations of Krishna's energies. Even in the spiritual world, innumerable spiritual potencies are eternally active. Therefore, power should always be respected and used according to Krishna's desire—not for our own gross or subtle sense gratification.
Suppose your desire is:
"I want to liberate more and more Lakshmi from materialistic use and engage it in Krishna's service."
That is a wonderful spiritual desire.
You may collect Lakshmi enthusiastically, offer everything for Krishna's service, and then the next day continue with the same enthusiasm. This is the proper spiritual way to "enjoy" power.
Srila Prabhupada was an empowered personality.
His empowerment was not limited to influence or organizational ability. Krishna bestowed upon him spiritual power, knowledge, bliss, and many other divine qualities.
That is why he was able to fulfill the mission of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu on such a remarkable scale.
Without Krishna's empowerment, such accomplishments are impossible.
If Srila Prabhupada had not possessed Krishna's spiritual potency, he could never have inspired and transformed so many lives.
Similarly, we should not become disturbed if traces of our old desires occasionally surface.
As we perform devotional service, Krishna simultaneously purifies our remaining karmic tendencies.
Do not become overly concerned about this.
While serving Krishna, some material reactions are being exhausted by His arrangement.
Your focus should remain on serving the Lord.
If, in the course of service, you receive respect, recognition, facilities, or even some personal satisfaction, leave all of that to Krishna. He knows how to purify His devotee.
Simply because you experience some happiness does not mean you are seeking sense gratification.
There is an important difference.
Consider honoring Krishna prasadam.
Your tongue experiences pleasure, yet no one says that you should somehow eat prasadam without tasting it.
The pleasant taste of Krishna prasadam is itself Krishna's gift.
Accept it with gratitude.
Similarly, Krishna may bless someone with a sharp intellect for studying the scriptures. Others may appreciate and praise such a devotee for their scriptural understanding.
There is nothing wrong with that.
If that person were not a devotee, the same intelligence might have been used for material pursuits.
Instead, Krishna allows that ability to be engaged in His service.
Likewise, if someone naturally possesses the spirit of a kshatriya, Krishna says, in effect:
"Fight for Me. Use that nature in My service. Enjoy serving Me through your natural qualities."
The principle is always the same: whatever abilities, power, intelligence, influence, or authority Krishna gives should be gratefully accepted and fully engaged in His service. When used in this spirit, power becomes an instrument of devotion rather than an object of personal enjoyment.
