What are the qualities of a true Vaishnava?

Question

According to the Chaitanya Charitamrita, a true Vaishnava has to have the following 26 qualities:

1. He is very kind to everyone
2. He does not make anyone his enemy
3. He is truthful
4. He is equal to everyone
5. No one can find any fault in him
6. He is magnanimous
7. He is mild
8. He is always clean
9. He is without possessions
10. He works for everyone's benefit
11. He is very peaceful
12. He is always surrendered to Krishna/Vishnu
13. He has no material desires
14. He is very meek
15. He is steady
16. He controls his senses
17. He does not eat more than required
18. He is not influenced by the Lord's illusory energy
19. He offers respect to everyone
20. He does not desire any respect for himself
21. He is very grave
22. He is merciful
23. He is friendly
24. He is poetic
25. He is expert
26. He is silent

Are there any other scriptures that talk about the qualities of a true Vaishnava? What about Vaishnava saints and acharyas? What do they say regarding this?

Answer 1

Qualities of a Vaishnava is described by Lord Vishnu himself in Padma Purana, Part 10, Section 7 (KRIYAYOGASARAKHANDA), Chapter 2 as below:

83-103. Those who are without lust and anger, who are free from harmfulness and hypocrisy, who are free from'greed and folly, should be known to be Visnu's devotees. Those who are not jealous, who are kind, who desire the good of all beings, who speak the truth, should be known to be Visnu's devotees. Those who advise pious acts, who practise pious acts, who serve their preceptors (and elders), should be known to be Visnu's devotees. Those who look upon you, me and Sankara as equal, and who honour a guest, should be known to be Visnu's devotees. Those who have expounded the Vedic learning, who are always devoted to brahmanas, who are impotent to other women (i.e. women who are not their wives), should be known to be Visriu's devo- tees. Those who devoutly observe the Ekadasi-vow, who sing my names, should be known to be Visnu's devotees. Those who put up temples of deities, who wear tulasi-garlands, who wear lo- tuses and aksa-seeds, should be known to be Visnu's devotees. O Brahman, those whose bodies are marked with (the signs of) my weapons like the conch, the disc, the mace, the lotus, should be known to be Visnu's devotees. O Lotus-seated (Brahman), those around whose necks are (worn) the garlands of dhatrl-fruits, and who worship me with the leaves of dhatrl, should be known as Visnu's devotees. Those who put marks (on their body) with the clay from the root of the tulasi-tree and with the mud of tulasi- wood, should be known to be Visnu's devotees. Those who are devoted to a bath in Ganga, to (repeating) the name of Ganga, and describe the greatness of Ganga, should be known to be Visnu's devotees. Those in whose house the iSalagrama-stone always remains, so also remains the holy text of Bhagavata, should be known to be Visnu's devotees. O best one, those who everyday clean my places, who offer me lamps, should be known to be Visnu's devotees. Those who again make new (i.e. repair) my shattered temple, and put there decorations, should be known as Visnu's devotees. O you Four-faced (Brahma), those who grant secu- rity to the timid, who give knowledge to the brahmanas, should be known to be Visnu's devotees. Those whose heads are sprink- led with the water (flowing) from my feet, and who eat the offer- ings of eatables presented to me, should be known to be Visnu's devotees. Those who offer food and water to those oppressed by hunger and thirst, and those who take to devout deeds, should be known to be Visnu's devotees. Those who construct gardens and plant the pippala-trees, those who serve cows, should be known to be Vaisnavas. O Brahman, those great devotees who make offering of libations of water everyday to the deceased ancestors, who serve the distressed, should be known to be Vaisnavas. Those who construct lakes and put up villages, who are engaged in offering their daughters (in marriage), who serve their parents-in-law, should be known to be Vaisnavas. Those who wait upon their eldest sister and eldest brother and who do not censure others, should be known to be Vaisnavas.

104-111- All virtues are present in Visnu's devotees. (Even) a particle of blemish is not present in them. Therefore, O Four- faced (Brahman), you now be a Vaisnava. O lord of the beings, always propitiate me with the employment of devout deeds. Un- doubtedly everything will be good for you. O four-faced (Brah- man), those who look upon the wealth of a deity, the wealth of a brahmana, and the wealth of others as poison, should be known to be Vaisnavas. Those who are free from devotion to heretics, who are highly devoted to Siva, who are engaged in (observing) the vow of Caturdasi, should be known to be Vais- navas.

Answer 2

Shree Krishna in the Bhagavad-Gita has listed out the qualities of true Vaishnavas in the twelfth chapter:

He who has no hatred towards anybody, who is friendly and compassionate, who is free from the sense of possession and egotism, who looks upon all pain and pleasure the same as and who is enduring; He who is content, who ever meditates and is self-restrained and who is firm in his convictions, who has the mind and reason dedicated to Me-he is very dear to me. He from whom the world has no cause to be frightened, who is not frightened by the world, who is free from joy and impatience, fear and repulsion-he is very dear to Me. He who is free from desires, who is pure, expert, indifferent from agony, who has renounced every undertaking-he is very dear to Me. He who rejoices not, nor hates, nor grieves, nor desires, who renounces good and evil, who is full of devotion to Me-dear to Me is such a devotee. He who is same to foe and friend, honour and dishonour, who is alike to both cold and heat, pleasure and pain, and who is free from all attachments; He who regards alike both blame and praise, who is silent and content with any lot, who has no home, who is firm of mind, and who is devoted to Me-dear to Me is such a man. But those devotees who follow this nectar of virtuous duty as taught above, who are full of faith and who regard Me as supreme-they are exceedingly dear to Me. (Bhagavad-Gita, Chapter 12, Verses 13-20)

Narsinh Mehta, a Vaishnava saint in the fifteenth century has listed the qualities of a true Vaishnava in his famous poem "Vaishnava Jana To"

vaiṣṇava jana to tene kahiye je pīḍa parāyī jāṇe re, para duḥkhe upakāra kare to ye mana abhimāna na āṇe re

sakaḷa loka māṁ sahune vande, nindā na kare kenī re, vāca kācha mana nischala raakhe, dhana dhana jananī tenī re

sama-dṛṣṭi ne tṛṣṇā tyāgī, para-strī jene māta re, jihvā thakī asatya na bole, para-dhana nava jhāle hātha re

moha māyā vyāpe nahi jene, dhruda-vairāgya jenā manamāṁ re, rāma-nāma shu tāḷī lāgī, sakaḷa tīratha tenā tanamāṁ re

vaṇa-lobhī ne kapaṭa-rahita che, kāma krodha nivāryā re, bhaṇe narasaiyo tenuṁ darasana karatāṁ, kuḷa ekotera tāryā re

English Translation: Him we call a Vaishnava who realises the pain of others. Who helps those who are in misery, without letting pride enter his mind!

One who respects the entire world, who doesn't disparage anyone. Who keeps his speech, deeds and thoughts pure, blessed indeed is the mother of such a being!

One who sees all equally and relinquishes cravings, who reveres other women as his own mother. His tongue may tire, but never utter untruth, and his hands never touch others' wealth!

One who doesn't succumb to worldly attachments, who's mind is deeply rooted in staunch renunciation. He is immersed in chanting Sri Rama's praises and all holy pilgrimage sites are embodied within him!

One who is devoid of greed and deceit, and has forsaken lust and anger. Narsinh says, "I'll be grateful to meet such a soul, whose virtue liberates the entire lineage."