Kali Began With Animal Killing

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.4
Los Angeles, January 1, 1974

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Pradyumna: Translation: "Once when Maharaja Pariksit was on his way to conquer the world, he saw the master of Kali-yuga, who was lower than a sudra, disguised as a king and hurting a cow and a bull by his leg. The King at once caught hold of him to deal sufficient punishment."

Prabhupada: So it was the duty of the king to go on tour and see persons who are actually not abiding by the laws of Vedic principles. This is the duty of the king. Just like in the Bhagavad-gita it is said that catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah: [Bg. 4.13] "In the human society I have divided four classes of men." Catur-varnyam maya srstam [Bg. 4.13]. Krsna says, "I have done it."

So by nature, there are four classes of men. First-class, intelligent men. In whichever you take, you'll find not all of them of the same category. First class, second class, third class and fourth class. First class means the most intelligent class, scientists, philosophers, like that; mathematicians, great religionists. They're first-class men. The second class, administrator, to see that the government is going nicely, people are not unhappy, people are not suffering from thieves and rogues. This is the first business. Good government means that people will think that they're secure, their property and person is secure. There will be no harm. Not very many years ago, say about hundred years ago, in India the native states, the rule was that if something is lying on the streets, valuable or invaluable, so nobody should touch it. The person who has lost or who has left that thing there, he would come and pick it up. You cannot touch. That was the law. And if one was caught, a thief, his hands will be cut off. In Kashmir state this was the rule. As soon as a thief is arrested and if he's proved that he has stolen, the only punishment is cut his throat, ah, cut his hands. Bas. Exemplary punishment so that nobody will dare to steal. So this is second class, administrators. And the third class are to produce money -- businessmen, mercantile. Money is also required. So without money nothing can be done, so that is not... But that is the occupation of..., the third class take. And the fourth class, sudra. They cannot take any post as intelligent class or administrator class or money-producing class. They are simply servant, help others, sudra. The sudra was not meant for taking the political part.

Therefore it is said here nrpa-linga-dharam sudram. Nrpa-linga-dharam. Linga means, real meaning is gender. Just the masculine gender, feminine gender. And the other meaning is sign. Just like there are signs, certain signs, we can understand here is a male, here is a female. By the signs. So lingam means "signs," "symptom." So nrpa-linga-dharam. Sudra, actually he was a sudra, but he dressed like a king. Just like if a woman dresses like a man, that is artificial. Or a man dresses like woman, that is also artificial. So everyone has his original dress and position. There, because a sudra took the dress of a king, therefore it is called nrpa-linga-dharam. Artificially, he was dressed like a king. That is the position of Kali-yuga. Now the government men, they are elected by votes. People do not consider whether he's a brahmana or ksatriya or vaisya or sudra. As he likes... People are sudras. Kalau sudra-sambhavah. In the Kali-yuga everyone is a sudra. Therefore naturally he will elect one sudra. The sudra is not fit for government management. As such we find so many difficulties in the government because the head or the head man, they are all sudras. They have dressed like administrator, but they are sudras. This is the symptom of Kali-yuga. There is no brahmana, there is no ksatriya, there is no vaisyas. Maybe a few vaisyas, and all sudras. A brahmana means the good quality, first-class quality. That is very, very rare to be found.

So it was the business of the king to see that things are going on. First of all, there is classification: intelligent class or brahmana; and the administrator class or ksatriya; and the mercantile class, money-producing class. So everyone is engaged, and he's doing his own business. But this division must be there. Without division the society will be in chaos. The example is given... I have several times mentioned that, that just like in this body, there is division: the head division, the arms division, the belly division, and the leg division. They are all required. You cannot say that simply legs will do. What about the head and arms? "I don't require." That is not... That is dead body. That is dead body. Any part of the body, you cannot miss. They must be all in order; then your body is fit. Similarly, in the human society, the social body, there must be these classes: the head class, the arm class, the belly class and the leg class. Very scientific. You cannot simply... If you have got intelligent class of men, but nobody is helping him, then what, what will be the use of intelligence? The intelligent class must be there, but to help him the less intelligent class men also required. Just like if there are only intelligent class, that will be chaos. Nobody will care for anyone. Sometimes we'll find in our society, all intelligent class, and they fight each other. That's all. Everyone is thinking, "I am intelligent. I am boss. I must order you." And the other is thinking, "Why you shall be boss? I am also boss." So (laughs) fighting will go on. So this is going on. At the present moment there is no intelligent class of men. But kalau sudra-sambhavah. Therefore things are all in chaos. Everywhere you go, any part of the world, nobody is happy, either in family or community and society, nationwide, you take. Everyone is distrust, unhappiness, godlessness. Because the intelligent class of men is finished.

So the king, his duty was that if you are professing yourself as a brahmana, then it is the king's duty to see that you are acting as a brahmana. Brahmana is not by birth but guna-karma-vibhagasah. Guna means quality. And karma, and work also. Simply "I have got now sacred thread, I have become brahmana, doubly initiated; now my business is finished. I can work, I can do whatever we like, like less than sudra, candala." No, sir. If you are initiated as a brahmana, you must act as a brahmana. Truthfulness -- satyam samo damas titiksa arjavam jnanam vijnanam astikyam brahma-karma -- everything is there. A brahmana must be truthful. That is the first business of a brahmana -- truthful. He'll speak truth even before an enemy. Nobody speaks truth before an enemy because he wants to hide something. But brahmana's business is to become truthful even before an enemy. That is stated.

There are many instances. Just like Satyakama-jabala, a boy, Satyakama, he went to Gautama Muni: "Sir, I want to become your disciple." "Oh, very good. Are you brahmana or brahmana's son?" Formerly, in Vedic ways, nobody could be accepted as a disciple unless he's born in high class family, brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya -- especially brahmana. So this question was asked, "Which family you belong to?" So he said, "I do not know what is my classification." "Now, who is your father?" "That I do not know." "Ask your mother." Then he went to his mother, "Who is my father?" "My dear boy, I do not know." So actually his mother was maidservant. So maidservants have so many men, and by whom she was pregnant she cannot remember. She also told the truth. And this Satyakama, he also came to Gautama Muni, he said, "Sir, my father, my mother also do not know who is my father." "Oh, that's all right. You are a brahmana, because you are truthful. You do not hide yourself, that ‘I am a prostitute's son.' You say this is the position. ‘I am plainly speaking that my mother does not know who is my father. I do not know!' " So because he was truthful... That is the symptom of brahmana. He accepted, "Yes, I'll accept you as my disciple."

Indian: Prabhupada, how did Kama...?

Prabhupada: You do... Don't disturb. So this is the process, that the four castes -- brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya... They were caste system when they actually things were going on. Just like a carpenter. His son naturally becomes a carpenter by seeing the father's work. So he can be very easily classified as a carpenter. Similarly, formerly, the brahmana family, ksatriya family, vaisya family, they were following the rules and regulations in such a way that naturally a brahmana's son became a brahmana. Because he has learned already the brahmana principle from the parent. So naturally little touch will make him... That is initiation. Even though one is born in a brahmana family, why does he required initiation and sacred thread ceremony? Because simply by taking birth in a brahmana family one does not become a brahmana. He has to be raised to the brahmana standard. Otherwise, there was no initiation, there was no necessity of initiation or offering the sacred thread. That is called samskara. Otherwise, by birth everyone is sudra. Janmana jayate sudrah samskarad bhaved dvijah. So it is very good that one has taken his birth in a brahmana family, but provided he has learned the brahmana's activities nicely from the parent, he is brahmana. Kim punar brahmanah punyah(?).

But if he deviates from the family principle... Just like in the sastra it is said that in a higher class family, brahmana, ksatriya, especially brahmana, if the garbhadhana-samskara is not accepted, the whole family becomes sudra. Garbhadhana-samskara. That means begetting the child, there is a ceremony which is called garbhadhana-samskara. So in the Kali-yuga practically no samskara is performed. Therefore in the sastra it is said kalau sudra-sambhavah. So Vedic process, Vedic principles of accepting. It is not possible in this Kali-yuga. Because the garbhadhana-samskara is not there. In nobody's family there garbhadhana-samskara is taken. Sex life is also regulated by garbhadhana-samskara. Therefore in the Bhagavad-gita it is said, dharmaviruddhah kamo 'smi. Aviruddha, "Sex life which is not against the religious principles, that I am. That sex life I am," Krsna says. "I am that sex life." That is godly. But sex life for sense gratification or for prostitution, that is not Krsna. That is Kali. So this is the process.

So it was the duty of the king to see that if a man is professing himself as a brahmana, he must act as a brahmana. That was the duty. Otherwise, he should be punished. Just like here. This sudra, he was presenting himself as a ksatriya, nrpa-linga-dharam. Therefore he was punished. Not that the king is callous: "Let him do whatever he likes." Just like now our, everywhere, the government, it doesn't care whether you are acting as a brahmana, sudra, or whatever nonsense you are doing. Doesn't care. "You pay me tax, that's all." Bring your tax, income tax, and everything, then you are free, whatever you are doing. That was not the duty of the king. The king's duty is to see that actually one who is presenting himself as brahmana, he's acting as a brahmana, he has acquired the qualities of a brahmana. Guna-karma-vibhagasah. He has got the quality and acting. Similarly, a ksatriya also, he must act as a ksatriya. Similarly, vaisyas. These are all, statements are there in the Bhagavad-gita, you know. Krsi-goraksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhava-jam [Bg 18.44]. Sauryam tejo yuddhe capy apalayanam isvara-bhavas ca ksatram karma svabhava-jam. Everything is given. Paricaryatmakam karma sudrasyapi svabhava-jam. Everything is given there. So it is the duty of the government, that this man is professing as a brahmana, as a ksatriya or a vaisya, whether he is acting, or whether he's cheating others. No cheating will be allowed. That is government's duty.

So here, this man was cheating. Because here it is said: nrpa-linga-dharam. He was dressed like a king. Just like king is very gorgeously dressed. But his bodily feature, he was a black man. The black man means sudra. The brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, they were not black. But the sudras were black. From external point of view, these things are there. Sudras, another name is krsna. Krsna means black. So this black man was dressed like a king, and what was he, was he going to do? Ghnantam go-mithunam pada. He was trying to kill a pair of cow and bull. So naturally he could understand. Pariksit Maharaja was going on tour, and on his way he saw that this rascal is dressed like a king and he's trying to kill cows and bulls. Oh, he immediately chastised him. Nrpa -- he has dressed like a king, but his business is like sudra or less than sudra. Butchers, butchers cannot be intelligent class of men, brahmana. A brahmana is not butcher. Neither a ksatriya. Ksatriya fights, kills, but in regular religious fight. Not that by whimsically he'll fight and kill men. No. So, here it is said, nijagrahaujasa virah. A ksatriya must be vira, hero. Whenever there is injustice, he must immediately come forward. "Why injustice? These poor animals, they are also my subject. How you can kill them? He's also born in this land." "National" means one is born in that particular land. So they are also born in this land. Why he should be treated differently? Just like in your country, even one Indian gets his child here, the child is counted as USA-born, US citizen, eh? Immediately. So if that is the law, that anyone born in this land should be treated as national, what is this law that the cows and the bulls born in that land, they are to be slaughtered? What is this law?

So it is the duty of the king, emperor... Immediately detected that "Why these poor animals are being killed? They are also subject to the laws of the state. As the human being requires protection, similarly, the cows... Not only cows, everyone requires protection by the government. Why they should be not protected? Therefore because the protection was not given to the cows and the bulls, he immediately took him, that "This rascal is not a ksatriya; he's a sudra. In the dress of a king, he's doing mischievous activities." Immediately punished him. This is government's duty. If anyone... Just like, anyone is breaking law, it is the duty of the government to chastise him, similarly, the law should be... Exact good government law means that anyone who kills an animal without sanction... Of course, they now give sanction, that "Yes, you can kill as many animals in the slaughterhouse as you like." Because the government is sudra. Government is not ksatriya. So therefore is no protection. Why animal? Even a human being, if he's being killed on the street, on the Broadway, nobody cares for him. So this is the position. But Pariksit Maharaja was not such a king or such a head of the executive... He immediately punished. Therefore it is mentioned specially: ojasa virah kalim. Kali is to be punished.

The Kali begins with this animal killing. That is Kali-yuga. Meat-eating. Therefore, to avoid the influence of Kali we have to give up this habit. The four things are Kali's disciple, friends. We have already discussed this. So one friend is this meat-eating problem, the butchers, Kali's friends. And the liquor distiller, he's also Kali's friend. And the gamblers or the gambling house maintainer. And prostitute house maintainer. These are friends of Kali. Now you will find all over the world these things are very prominent -- clubs and butcherhouse and liquor house and gambling house. Therefore the whole atmosphere is Kali.

So because it is now Kali age, just like winter season, everywhere is cold, chillest, so similarly because this is the age of Kali therefore even in India... This king, Maharaja Pariksit, was in India. He wanted to chastise this rascal in the dress of a king and attempting (to) kill cows. So this was in India. Maybe in other place also, because the king was touring. So not only in India, all over the world the Vedic civilization was there. Five thousand years ago, everywhere the... All people used to follow the Vedic principles. That is the proof. Because the king was following the Vedic principles. So this cow-killing by the Kali, it is said it was done on the border of India, somewhere near Sindhu Pradesh, Afghanistan, like that. So anyway, it was on this planet and he wanted to prohibit. But India is the center. This king, Maharaja Pariksit, his headquarters also Hastinapura, near New Delhi at the present moment. Hastinapura. There is a place still, Hastinapura. There is one broken fort also. They say this fort belonged to the Pandavas. People go there to see. Anyway, now the king was so strict that even outside India some cow was being attempted to be killed, he immediately took his sword to punish him. Now in India they are killing ten thousand cows daily. This is Kali-yuga. That... Still, they have got some sentiment about cow-killing. There was about say five or six years ago, there was good agitation. But who cares for that? Because the government is sudra: nrpa-linga. They have taken the position of government, but they are all full of sudras. Now in India not only killing cows... We had never seen... In Bombay this time I saw in our Juhu -- big, big signboards: Beef shop. Beef shop. So Hindus are there also now taking. I asked one lady, she was meat-eater. So I asked her, "Do you eat cow's meat, cow's flesh?" "Yes, sometimes." So this is Kali-yuga. Now government is encouraging drinking and meat-eating. And illicit sex, that is, that has become now a common affair, anywhere you go. Why should you should have to go to brothel? Even big, big, other places. I don't wish to mention. You see.

So this is the age of Kali. So simply full of sinful activities, that's all. That is Kali-yuga. But sinful activities will not help us. That they have no brain to understand. You have to purify yourself. Sinful activities will involve you more and more in the cycle of birth and death. You will take sometimes birth as a king or as a demigod, and sometimes as the worm of the stool. Because according to your karma, you will get next body. Karmana daiva-netrena. Therefore the process is at least don't act sinfully. Then you will get higher-class birth. Urdhvam gacchanti sattva-sthah. You will get chance of taking your birth in higher planetary system where the standard of living is many, many thousands better than this planet. Just like Svargaloka, Janaloka. From our sastra we understand that the inhabitants of Candraloka, moon planet, they live for ten thousands of years, but these rascals are going there. They do not find any living entity. So that is the contradiction. But we believe that in the moon planet... And why we shall not believe? If the living entities are found everywhere, so why, what moon planet has done that there should be no living entity? From our experience we can see living entity is there on the land, in the air, in the water, even in the fire. So every planet is made of these five elements: earth, water, fire, air, sky. So we find by practical experience that in the water there is living entity, on the land there is living entity, within the land there is living entity. So why in the moon planet or other planet there should be no living entities? That's a wrong theory.

Long, long ago, sometimes in 1930, I had a talk in Allahabad with a great scientist Dr. Shah. He said that there is no reason to disbelieve that in other planets there is no living entity. And recently one Russian scientist also said that there are many planets where very, very intelligent class of men are there. So that is our theory, that the... if you go to the higher planet system, you will find more comfortable standard of life, the duration of life is very long, and the people are very, very intelligent. They are called demigods. So whatever it may be, we have to follow our own principles, and there is no reason to disbelieve that in other planets there are no living entities. We cannot accept it.

So anyway, in every planet there is kingdom or there is government. Because in the Bhagavad-gita we understand, Krsna says,

imam vivasvate yogam
proktavan aham avyayam
vivasvan manave praha
manur iksvakave 'bravit
 [Bg. 4.1]

Krsna said that "This philosophy, this Bhagavad-gita yoga system, I first of all explained to the sun-god, whose name is Vivasvan." He spoke the same principle to his son Manu, and Manu also spoke the same principle to his son, Iksvaku. So Iksvaku came from the sun planet. He happens to be the grandson of Vivasvan. So how you can say that in the sun planet there is no possibility of life? We get the history. And if you say that "In fire how one can live?" No. As we see that in water some other living entities can live, similarly, I may not be able to live in the fire, but there are other living entities who can live there. That should be the right conclusion. Because fire is as good another material element as the water is. As water is also one of the material elements, fire is also one of the eight material elements. So if we can see by our practical experience, there are living entities in the water, so why not living entities in the fire? And in the Bhagavad-gita it is said that living entity, this spiritual spark, is not affected by material influence. In the Vedas also it is..., asango 'yam purusah. It has nothing to do with this material condition. Adahya. This special word is used that it cannot burned by the fire. Asosya, it cannot be dried up by air. Acchedya, it cannot be cut into pieces. These things are there. So we are firmly convinced that in the sun planet there is also living entity, and the king or the president there is called Vivasvan, his name is Vivasvan. And our gayatri-mantra is worshiping the sun planet. Om bhur bhuvah svah tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi. So this is the Vedic conception. Every planet there is king, and the king's duty is to see that everyone is executing his professional occupational duty.

So Maharaja Pariksit also, he used to go for examining. Therefore it is said, digvijaye kvacit. Not that at a particular time he went out to, for touring. But he was going, say, yearly, or six-monthly. And one of his tour he found that a person dressed like a king was attempting to kill cows, and he punished him. So this is the statement.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

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You Can See And Talk With God

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.3
Los Angeles, December 31, 1973

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Pradyumna: Translation: "Maharaja Pariksit, after having selected Krpacarya for guidance as his spiritual master, performed three horse sacrifices on the banks of the Ganges. These were executed with sufficient rewards for the attendants. And at these sacrifices, even the common man could see demigods."

Prabhupada: Now, people say that "Why we do not see the demigods?" So the answer should be, "Where is your sacrifice, horse sacrifice?" The demigods, they are not so cheap. Just like the king or the president. Does he come anywhere, who is a cheap common man? No. Where the kings or the demigods or a great sage like Narada Muni will come, that place also must be worth coming there.

So there were interplanetary system. Just like Arjuna went to the heavenly planet, similarly, in such sacrifices, if it was arranged by great kings like Maharaja Pariksit and others, Maharaja Yudhisthira, then the demigods, invited, they would come. Not only they would come, but all common men could see. Therefore it is said here, yatraksi-gocarah, deva yatraksi-gocarah. We are much proud of seeing everything, but we should wait for being qualified to see. Not that whimsically I want to see, "O God, please come before me. I want to see." God... God is there just suitable for your seeing power. God is very kind. Here He is present in the temple. And you go on seeing. Then you will realize that He is God.

So God or demigod, everyone can be aksi-gocarah, within the purview of your vision, provided you are qualified. This is the process. These rascals say, "Can you show me God?" But what power you have got to see? First of all gain that qualification. Then you will see. God is everywhere. Andantara-stha-paramanu-cayan... Even He is within the atom. Therefore one who is not competent to see God, he is advised to see God in different way in the Bhagavad-gita. Just like Krsna says, raso 'ham apsu kaunteya prabhasmi sasi-suryayoh: "My dear Kaunteya, Arjuna, I am the taste of the water." So you try to see God there in the taste of water. At the present moment, we have got many senses. You want to see God with the eyes. So begin with your tongue. This is also another sense. Just like if there is nice foodstuff, if I say, "Let me see how it is," "Let me see" means... You are already seeing. What do you want? "No, I want to touch in the tongue." That is "Let me see." Not by the eyes. If there is good sweetmeat, halava, then "Let me see" means "Let me taste." So first of all taste God. It is within your reach of the sensual perception, but try to practice. Then sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adah. Then you will realize. God will reveal to..., Himself. When you become submitted, devoted to God, by tasting the prasadam, you will see God personally. He will talk with you. That is possible.

So at the present moment, we want to see God, but we do not acknowledge that we are not qualified. How we can see? If I cannot see even an ordinary president... By my whims I want to see the president or the such and such big officer. You cannot see unless you are qualified. So how you can see God? That is not possible. You have to qualify yourself. Then you will see God. Aksi-gocarah. Aksi-gocarah means, just we are seeing -- you are seeing me, I am seeing you -- similarly, you will see the demigods or God, provided you are qualified.

So Maharaja Pariksit was so exalted king that by his invitation, the demigods would come and public could see. That was possible. That is stated here. He was so, I mean to say, exalted king, he could invite. And the kings also were invited. Just like Maharaja Yudhisthira went. That was interplanetary exchange. That is now not... You cannot go by the sputniks to the heavenly planet. The moon planet is also one of the heavenly planet. Or the other planets. They are all heavenly planets. Urdhvam. Urdhvam gacchanti sattva-sthah. When you are competent, fit, for going there, then you can go there. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita. Yanti deva-vrata devan pitrn yanti pitr-vratah, bhutejya yanti.. [Bg. 9.25]. You can go, but you must be qualified, pitr-vratah, deva-vratah. Similarly, you can go to Krsna also if you are krsna-vratah. Mad-yajino 'pi yanti mam. What to speak of going to other planets, if one is qualified, if one is pure devotee, Krsna says, "He also comes to Me." So this exchange of going and coming is not difficult, provided a person is qualified. Not a cat and dog can go. That is not possible.

So another important point is... Ajaharasva-medhams trin, three times. The asvamedha-yajna is so expensive that the king of heaven, Indra, he executed the asvamedha-yajna seven times. So Maharaja Prthu was also going to complete seven times. So there was some, I mean to say, competition. The Indra would not allow him to complete seven times. Otherwise he would become equal with him. So amongst the kings, not only in this planet, but in other planets also, the asvamedha-yajna was performed by very, very powerful rich kings, not ordinary kings. It is very expensive job. Because it is stated, bhuri-daksinan, and vast amount of money required for distribution in charity. Then you can perform asvamedha-yajna. Similarly, there is gomedha-yajna. Asvamedha-yajna was to send the horse with flag, that "Such and such king is the emperor of the whole world." So if some king in some state, he does not agree that "He is emperor," he will capture the horse, "I don't agree, I don't accept." Then there will be fight, "You have to accept." In this way there will be sacrifice.

So Maharaja Pariksit was the emperor of the whole world, whole this planet. So he performed three times. Now, that means three times he challenged, "If there is any dispute, any objection of my becoming emperor?" This is asvamedha-yajna. "If you have got any objection, then I will make you obliged to accept me. Otherwise, if you accept, that's all right. You remain in your state. Give me tax." This is the... So this is very expensive job. Formerly one king performed this asvamedha-yajna, and bhuri-daksinan. He gave in daksina... Daksina means in charity. Just like you give daksina to your spiritual master for initiation, similarly, here also, it is said, saradvatam gurum krtva. Everything must be executed under the guidance of a guru, not whimsically, "Oh, I have got my own idea, I have got my own God. I can do whatever I like." This is simply waste of time. Yah sastra-vidhim utsrjya vartate kama-karatah. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said that "Anyone who does not follow the instruction of the sastra, how things should be done," sastra-vidhim utsrjya vartate kama-karatah, "does things whimsically," na sukham savapnoti, "he will never get happiness." Yah sastra-vidhim utsrjya vartate kama-karatah, na sukham sa...

So everything should be done according to sastra. And the sastra should be guided by acarya, guru. Acarya means one who knows what is there in the sastra. He practices in his life and teaches the disciple. He is called acarya. Acarya is not a whimsical thing. He must know. Therefore Pariksit Maharaja appointed acarya, saradvatam. He is the brother of Dronacarya. Dronacarya was also acarya, but he was military acarya. And here he was acarya for Vedic rituals, acarya. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum eva [MU 1.2.12]. Gurum krtva. In order to do things very rightly, you must appoint... Just like if you are going to the court to file some suit, do it very nicely. You have to appoint a very good lawyer. Similarly, these Vedic principles, the Vedic rituals, they should be performed under the direction of acarya, guru, not whimsically. So therefore this kind of sacrifices are forbidden in this age, in this age.

That was discussed between Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Chand Kazi, the Muhammadan magistrate of Nadia. He, Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu, challenged the Kazi, Muhammadan, that "What is your religion, that you eat your father and mother?" This was the challenge by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. What is that, father, mother? Now, mother, your cow is your mother. You drink milk of cow. And the bull is your father. Because without bull, without the cow and bull being united, there is no milk. So how is that you are eating your father and mother? It is a great challenge. Actually those who are meat-eater, beef-eater, they are killing their father and mother and become implicated in sinful life. Therefore we say no meat-eating. No meat-eating. If you become implicated in sinful life, how you can be happy? There must be nature's punishment. Just like if you infect some disease, nature must punish you. You must suffer from the disease. You cannot get out. It is not possible. Karanam guna-sango 'sya. Why there are so many varieties of life? Why not one class of men, all President Nixon? (laughter) Why not? Why there is bum in the Bowery Street? In your country I am saying. Why there are arrangement of first-class, second-class, third-class, fourth-class, fifth-class men? Or animals, or trees? Everything is there. Why?

That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Karanam guna-sango 'sya. As you have infected yourself with a particular type of modes of nature, you will get a body. That's all. If you have infected to get the body of a dog, you must be infected. People who are keeping dog, that means he is being infected by the germs of dog. Next life he will become a dog. He is infected. What he will think at the time of death? If he has got a beloved dog, he will think of... Somebody... In your country, they bequeath great, I mean to say, wealth, for the dog. That means at the time of death, at the time of death he is thinking of his beloved dog. So he must be a dog. So all his wealth goes to the dog and he goes to become a dog. This science is unknown to the rascals. Yam yam vapi smaran bhavam tyajaty ante kalevaram [Bg. 8.6]. At the time of death, your position of the mind will create the next body. This is the science. So if you create your the position of the mind, Krsna conscious, then you will get a body like Krsna, sac-cid-ananda-vigraha [Bs. 5.1]. This is Krsna consciousness movement, that "Why you shall love dog and cats? Love God, Krsna, and you get the next body like Krsna." Sac-cid-ananda-vigraha. Anadir adir govindah sarva-karana-karanam [Bs. 5.1]. This is Krsna consciousness movement, how to think of Krsna at the time of death. Then your life is successful.

So that has to be practiced. Sada tad-bhava-bhavitah [Bg. 8.6]. If you always chant Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, that means you remember Krsna always. So there is chance, ninety-nine percent chance, that at the time of your death you will think of Krsna and your life is successful. Very simple method. Make always your mind absorbed in Krsna. Naturally at the time of death you will think of Krsna. Mad-yajino 'pi yanti mam. That is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam iti kaunteya [Bg. 4.9]. Such person, Krsna conscious person, who knows Krsna... If you think of Krsna, naturally you know of Krsna. You know of Krsna. Krsna is within your heart. So if you think of Krsna, then gradually you become Krsna-ized. Just like you put the iron rod in the fire. Gradually it becomes fire. Warm, warmer, warmer, then red-hot. When it is red-hot it is fire. Whenever you touch, it will burn immediately. Similarly, if you think of Krsna, the same example... Touching fire. So Krsna will purify you. Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah [SB 1.2.17]. Just like you are being purified by hearing about Krsna daily. Otherwise why you are coming here? We have no money to bribe you to come here. You are feeling, becoming Krsna-ized; therefore you are coming.

So this is the process, simple process. You simply be engaged in Krsna consciousness. Then you become Krsna-ized, purified. And as soon as you become purified, you understand Krsna. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam. "You understand Krsna" means Krsna becomes revealed. Just like something is covered, you try to move the covering. You see the goal. Similarly, by your constant endeavor to become Krsna conscious, Krsna will reveal to you, "Yes. You are so anxious to see Me? Here I am. Here I am. Yes." You will see Krsna. So how this is possible? Premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti [Bs. 5.38]. By thinking of Krsna, naturally you become attached. Just like materialists. They are always thinking of woman and money. So they become attached to woman and money, the materialists. So similarly, if you think of Krsna, you become attached to Krsna. It is not a difficult job.

So the asvamedham gavalambham sannyasam pala-paitrkam [Cc. Adi 17.164]. This was explained by..., why asvamedha-yajna is forbidden in this age. In this age no sacrifice is possible. There is no money. There is no guru. Guru means who can conduct the sacrifices. First of all there is no means. Even one can conduct, there is no means. It requires huge amount of money. Here it is said that bhuri-daksinan. Bhuri means an unlimited amount. Bhuri means very great. So there is no money. Neither there is expert brahmana also who can conduct such sacrifices, because they must chant the Vedic mantra so perfectly that even a horse or a cow is put into the fire, he will come out with a new life. That is the test. This Chand Kazi, Muslim magistrate, he also challenged Caitanya Mahaprabhu. When Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "What is your this religion? You are eating your father and mother?" Directly. Not that He was talking with a magistrate, He should be a little respectful. No. In spiritual matter, everything spoken frankly, no compromise. Just like we say, "You are not a Krsna conscious person. Then you are a rascal. That's all." You may be the president. That doesn't matter. But because you are not Krsna conscious, you are rascal. There is no compromise, "Oh, here is a big man. How he is speaking." We see everywhere. So many scientists come. I say, "You are rascal. You are demon." (laughter) I say it. And they tolerate. I prove that he is a rascal. I prove that he is a rascal, he is a demon. Then he tolerates, "Yes." We have got sufficient strength to prove, any materialistic man, to prove that he is a rascal. That is possible. Vidhi-mahendradis ca kitayate: "If one is practically a devotee of Lord, he doesn't care even personalities like Vidhi." Vidhi means Lord Brahma. Vidhi-mahendradis ca kitayate. Kitayate means such great personalities are taken by perfect devotee as ordinary insect. As ordinary insect has no value, similarly, anyone, however great he may be in this material world, if he is not God conscious, he is no better than the insect. Because it has no value. Because he does not know that he is going to become a dog next life. He loved a dog very much, and he bequeathed his all property to the dog, but he is going to become himself a dog. Therefore he's a rascal. What is his intelligence? He got some money. There are many instances in (your) country. They bequeath the whole wealth to the dog. Is it not?

Devotees: Yes.

Prabhupada: So how much rascal he is, that? And if you go that "Give us some money for advancing Krsna consciousness," "No, no, we are not interested in religion. I am interested in dog." So how much rascal he is, that. Just imagine.

So everyone is a rascal. Everyone is rascal. How we so boldly say that everyone is? Because Krsna says. We are Krsna-ite. We have to follow. Just like a small child follows the talkings of his father and mother, so similarly, we learn from Krsna. Krsna says,

na mam duskrtino mudhah
prapadyante naradhamah
mayayapahrta-jnana
asuram bhavam asritah
 [Bg. 7.15]

Krsna says. So we have learned from Krsna. So we test. What is the test? Na mam prapadyante. He does not surrender to Krsna. So such person, what he is? Now, duskrtina, sinful. Meritorious sinful, that when merit is applied for sinful activities, you can do it very nicely than the ordinary man. A scientist discovers some method of stealing, how to break the treasury of the bank. So that does not mean... Because he is doing scientifically, stealing, that does not mean he is not a thief. He is a thief. How you can say, "Oh, he has done it very scientifically"? (laughing) The law will say, "You are rascal. You are thief. You must be punished." So these so-called educated scientists, philosophers, what they are doing? They are simply doing mischief. Therefore they are duskrtina. Duskrtina. Mudha. Mudha means rascal. Ass. Because nobody knows what is the aim of life. They're exactly like the ass. He does not know what is his interest. Unnecessarily he is carrying three tons of cloth of the washerman. Therefore he is called ass. His gain is a little morsel of grass. He can get grass anywhere. Still, he is thinking, "I am obliged to this washerman. Because he is supplying me grass, therefore I must have three tons of cloth on my back." This is ass. This is ass. He has no interest. Not a single cloth belongs to him, and he is carrying, oh, three tons of cloth. Therefore the ass. Ass means one who does not do know his interest, and he works unnecessarily and wastes his time.

So everyone in this material world, he does not know what is the aim of life. Unnecessarily he is making plan, this plan, that plan, this plan, that plan. And all plan is being frustrated by the laws of nature. Daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. Every plan will fail. And those who are plan-making persons, they are all rascals. They do not know that what kind of plan should be made. The plan should be made that everyone should be God conscious. Then every plan will be successful. Otherwise all, everything will fail.

So these sacrifices are forbidden in this age, Kali-yuga, because there is no expert brahmana who can conduct the sacrifices, neither people have got any means. Now, so far bhuri-daksinan, so there was one king. He performed this sacrifice, and by the grace of Lord Siva, he got the information of a golden mountain. So golden mountain, he collected enough gold from that mountain, and in the sacrifice he made everything made of gold, everything. So he distributed utensils. That is the system, that to the brahmana who attends the sacrifice, they are given money, utensils, cloth, bedding. Because brahmanas, they do not care for material possessions. They are simply engaged in Brahman consciousness, God consciousness. Therefore it is the duty of the ksatriyas and the vaisyas to give them in charity so many things, so that they may not feel any want of material necessities. They do not beg. So this king, he arranged for distributing to the brahmanas so many golden utensils that when they were given to the brahmana, each and every brahmana, some of them thought, "What is the use of such load?" This is brahmana. So after coming out from the sacrificial arena, they threw away. "Throw! Who will carry such a load?" Just see. This is brahmana. A big load of gold they neglected. They threw it away. "I don't want it. This king has given. All right, take. But I will throw away." (laughing) This is brahmana, yes. He doesn't care for all these things. Brahmana's another par..., is yajana yajana dana pratigraha. He accept charity, huge quantity, and next moment he spends or throw it away. That's all. Again poor man. That is brahmana. Again collect money. Spend it for Krsna consciousness. That is brahmana. That is brahmana. So bhuri-daksinan. Those... In very long, long years ago this was done.

So when Maharaja Yudhisthira was in need of money for performing this asvamedha sacrifice, so he asked his brothers, assistants, "Now we have spent all our money in this Battle of Kuruksetra. You know the expenditure of battle. So I require money. So where is the money?" So when Krsna saw that Arjuna and Maharaja Yudhisthira is is very much perplexed to secure money, so he asked his friend Arjuna, "You can go there, near Himalaya. There is huge stock of gold utensils, and formerly they threw it away. You can go and collect. Bring it." So immediately he went, and he collected all the thrown utensils of gold, and enough money was collected. Therefore Arjuna's another name is Dhananjaya. Dhananjaya means "who has conquered, securing wealth." Dhana means wealth. Dhananjaya.

So this is sacrifice. This is sacrifice. But it is not possible. Asvamedham gavalambham [Cc. Adi 17.164]. This is forbidden. Here, at the present moment, the yajna is sankirtana. Yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah. Here at the present moment this yajna is recommended. This is recommended in the sastra, not manufactured.

krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam
sangopangastra-parsadam
yajnaih sankirtana-prayair
yajanti hi su-medhasah
 [SB 11.5.32]

This is the process of yajna in this age. What is that? Now, krsna-varnam tvisa akrsnam. The God's incarnation, that is incarnation, not a manufactured incarnation. There must be reference to the sastra. So what is the incarnation? Pracchanna-avatara. In this Kali-yuga the incarnation is Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It is stated in the sastra, krsna-varnam, krsna

varnayati: "He is simply chanting ‘Krsna,' although He is Krsna Himself." Krsnam-varnam tvisakrsnam. Therefore He has hidden Himself. His bodily color is more Krsna, but golden. That is also stated. Krsna has got four colors. Suklo raktas tatha pita idanim krsnatam gatah. When Gargamuni made the horoscope of Krsna, that "This child has three other colors, suklo raktas tatha pitah. He had His color. Red color and white color and now..., and yellow color. Now He has assumed black color." Suklo raktas tatha pita idanim krsnatam gatah. So therefore His name was Krsna. So Krsna has another color. Pita. Pita-varna-gaurah. That is Lord Caitanya. Therefore tvisa akrsna: "Bodily complexion, not krsna." Such Krsna, chanting Krsna... Krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam sangopangastra-parsadam [SB 11.5.32]. Followed by many devotees, Caitanya Mahaprabhu. At least followed by Nityananda Prabhu, Advaita Prabhu, Gadadhara Prabhu, like that. So this is the description of the incarnation of God in Kali-yuga. Pracchanna-avatara. There is another avatara, Kalki.

So krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam sangopangastra-parsadam. To such God the method is to sacrifice. The sacrificing method is yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah. Su-medhasah. Medha means brain substance. Those who have got good brain substance, such persons worship this Lord by the yajnaih sankirtanaih. So that we are doing here. Here is krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam [SB 11.5.32], Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu. Therefore our first obeisance is to Him, then Krsna. This is the process of Krsna consciousness.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.3 -- Los Angeles, December 31, 1973

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The Best Form Of Government

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.1
Los Angeles, December 29, 1973

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Pradyumna: Translation: "Suta Gosvami said: O learned brahmanas, Maharaja Pariksit then began to rule over the world as a great devotee of the Lord under the instructions of the best of the twice-born brahmanas. He ruled by those great qualities which were foretold by expert astrologers at the time of his birth."

Prabhupada: So there are many important words in this verse. The first is dvija-varya-siksaya, "trained by the best of the brahmanas." Dvija. Dvija means twice-born: first birth by the father and mother, and second birth by the spiritual master. That is Vedic civilization, dvija-varya. One must take twice birth. Once birth, father and mother, that is done by the cats and dogs. Any birth, either you take birth as a cat or dog or human being or anything, there requires father and mother. So that birth is not sufficient. Therefore a Vaisnava kavi says, janame janame saba pita-mata paya, krsna guru nahe mile bhaja hari ei.(?) In any birth you will get father and mother. It is natural. Without father, mother, how can you get a body? So therefore it is said, janame janame, in any birth. Either human being, or cats, dog, snake, or tree or insect, you will get father and mother. But in every birth you cannot get Krsna and guru. That is not possible.

So this birth you can get. This human form of birth you can get. That is the special significance. Father, mother, you can get anywhere. It doesn't matter. But you cannot get Krsna and guru. That you can get in this birth. Therefore twice-born. You must get another birth, through the initiation of the spiritual master, diksa. Diksa means initiation. Di means divya jnanam, and ksa means ksapayati. From the day of initiation, you simply get spiritual knowledge, transcendental knowledge. That is the special significance of human form of body. Therefore in the Vedic civilization, the classification is made: first-class, second-class, third-class, four-class men.

There are three gunas. The material world is conducted by three gunas, means the quality of goodness, the quality of passion, the quality of ignorance, and mixed. So first, second, third, and the mixed is called fourth. That is called varnasrama. Catur-varnyam. Guna-karma-vibhagasah. According to quality and karma. So the first, second, and third-class division, they are all dvijas, twice-born. Brahmana, ksatriya and vaisya. Dvija means samskara, reformation, to mold the character. That is called samskara. Just like you can train even a tiger, even an animal, to dance according to your desire. That is practical. So you cannot train a human being to become a brahmana? With such intelligence? But there is no such training. They are simply training all cats and dogs. But the Vedic civilization takes this opportunity of human being, to make him perfect in his life. What is that perfection? That perfection is to understand God and become His devotee. That is perfection, not that to become very stout and strong, as strong as the tiger, or as cunning as the jackal. Not that. That is not training.

So according to division, the training was there. The first-class training is brahmana. Brahmana means they must be truthful first. Satyam samo damas titiksa. They must be able to control the senses, control the mind. Satyam samo damas titiksa. Must be tolerant, titiksa; arjava, very simple; jnanam, full knowledge; vijnanam, practical application in life. Satyam samo damas titiksa. Sucih, cleanliness. Brahma-karma svabhava-jam. So they should be trained. A class of men should be trained for these qualities. They are called brahmana. Similarly, another class, second class, they should be trained up as ksatriya, very powerful, never goes away from the challenge of fighting. Yuddhe capy apalayanam. Not that the fighting is going on, and the so-called president is sitting in his parlor and smoking cigarette. No. Yuddhe capy apalayanam: "Oh, everyone is fighting there? I must go in the front." He will fight. Otherwise how people will be encouraged? The chief man is in the background, and poor men, they are fighting? No. Yuddhe capy apalayanam. That is ksatriya.

So similarly, vaisya. Vaisya, they should be trained in three things, productive -- krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhava-jam [Bg. 18.44] -- krsi, agriculture; go-raksya, cow protection. Go-raksya. That is essential, agricultural and cow protection. And vanijyam. Vanijyam means trade. If there is excess milk product, if there is excess grain product, then you can sell to others. Nowadays the trade is that you take as much milk as you can, and then kill the animal and sell the flesh to other countries. That is going on. No. Go-raksya. Go-raksya. Cow protection is very, very essential in human society because it gives the milk, the miracle food. You can prepare hundreds and thousands of preparation, all not only delicious, but brain-maintaining. You can get good brain. Therefore go-raksya, cow protection is especially recommended, not that animal protection. If you want to eat meat, you can eat many other animals. There are. But don't eat the cows. This is Vedic civilization. Krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhava-jam [Bg. 18.44]. Paricaryatmakam karyam sudra-karma svabhava-jam. And those who are neither brahmana... They have no brain to become brahmana or to become ksatriya or vaisya, they are called sudras. And sudra's business is to serve the other upper three classes, laborer, worker classes, and satisfied with some service.

 

So here it is said that tatah pariksid dvija-varya-siksaya: "He was educated and trained up by the best class of the brahmanas," not by the sudras. Sudra's training, what he can become? He can become a rascal, that's all. The training was entrusted to the first-class brahmana, who is himself trained up to speak truth, satyam samo damah, to remain clean, to become very simple in habit, to become master of knowledge, and practical application. Such person should be the trainer, should be the teacher. Not a third-class rascal becomes a teacher and professor. He has no idea how to speak truth. He is speaking all lies, theories, and getting Nobel Prize. Such a sudra is honored at the present moment. You see? Who has no knowledge. So many so-called philosophers and scientists, simply speaking lies and untruth. They have no knowledge. As soon as you challenge them, they will say, "Yes, we are trying. In future we shall do it." But if you are trying, then where is your knowledge? Why you are taking the post of a teacher? You are a cheater. You have no full knowledge, and still, you are putting some theory to mislead the people.

For example... Just like they are putting on this theory that matter, from matter, life has come. "All right, matter, life has come from matter. Just prove it. Take matter, whatever materials you want, take, and produce life." "That we shall see in future." Then why you are talking this nonsense? Science means observation and experiment. There must be experiment also. But without experiment, they are putting on this theory and getting Nobel Prize. Although it is not a fact. We know. We. We are followers of Vedic principles. We know that matter or life, everything comes from life, not from matter. We know it certain. How do you know? Krsna says. Mattah sarvam pravartate: "Everything comes from Me." And Krsna is the supreme life. So we have no difficulty, because we know, mattah sarvam prava... Sarvam means matter and life both, everything. There are two things: matter and life. There is no third thing. So Krsna says, aham sarvasya prabhavah: "I am the original source of everything." "Everything" means matter and... There are two things: matter and life. That is not very difficult to understand. So sarvam...

aham sarvasya prabhavo
mattah sarvam pravartate
iti matva bhajante mam
budha bhava-samanvitah
 [Bg. 10.8]

Iti matva. When one understands this, that Krsna is the source of both matter and life... So the devotees are not rascals. They are in full knowledge. Iti matva. "When they are confident that Krsna is the source of everything," iti matva bhajante mam, "oh, they become My devotee." Iti matva bhajante mam budhah. Budha means highly elevated in knowledge, budha. Just like Lord Buddha, elevated knowledge. So budhah.

So how this knowledge can be gotten unless one is trained by dvija-varya-siksaya, first-class learned brahmanas? One has to learn from him, not from the rascals, fools, cats and dogs, No. That is not learning. Dvija-varya-siksaya. So Pariksit Maharaja, his first qualification is... Not only Pariksit Maharaja, but all the kings during the monarchy. Monarchy does not mean because he is the son of king, therefore he should be king. No. He should be fully trained up by the dvija-varya, by the best class of brahmanas. That is monarchy. So Pariksit Maharaja... Tatah... Tatah means "thereafter." After his fathers -- means panca-pandava, his father and uncles -- retired and left kingdom, entrusting everything to the grandchild... Because their sons all died in the Battle of Kuruksetra. Pariksit Maharaja, only he was saved because he was a posthumous child. After the death of his father in the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, he was in the womb of his mother. He took birth. And these grandfathers took care of him. This is Pariksit Maharaja's life. He did not see his father from birth. So these grandfathers... So grandfathers, they retired and entrusted the whole kingdom, was entrusted to the grand-child, Maharaja Pariksit. So he was trained up by the first-class brahmanas. Tatah pariksid dvija-varya-siksaya mahim maha-bhagavatah sasasa ha.

Mahim. Mahim means this earthly planet. Up to Maharaja Pariksit, five thousand years ago, the whole world was being ruled over by one king, one emperor. There were no so many nations or no so many presidents or... No. Simply one king. Mahim, this world. Mahim means the earthly planet. This is the history. From Maha-bhagavata, er, Mahabharata we understand that, that the whole world was under one flag, these Pandavas. Now United Nations means three thousand flags, three thousand nations. So that is not democracy, or that is not good ruling. The best ruling is monarchy, and monarch means he must be a perfectly trained-up person by the best brahmanas. That is perfect government. Not that this democracy, some rascals and fools they are voting another rascal and fool, and by hook and crook he comes to the post. He does not like to give it up, and makes things very miserable. This kind of government... Now your Senate is proposing, "Let us pray to God how we can get good government." They are coming down to again. But why not train? Now you are going to pray to God, "Please give us good government." Why don't you elect a person maha-bhagavata?

Maha-bhagavata. That is Krsna consciousness movement, that "People, you become devotees, bhagavata, and you select one maha-bhagavata to be your ruler. Then you will be happy. Not only bhagavata. Not of your caliber, but still further." There are bhagavata... There are three kinds of devotees. Three kinds of devotees means neophyte, middle class and maha-bhagavata. Maha-bhagavata. Maha-bhagavata means one who can see God in everything and everything in God. That is maha-bhagavata. That is explained in Bhagavad-gita, sarva-bhutesu yah pasyed atma: "He does not see anything except God, everything in God and God in everything." That is the qualification of maha-bhagavata. So just see how elevated Maharaja Pariksit, that he was maha-bhagavata. In another place, he has written... I forget that word. That is also maha-bhagavata.

So Pariksit Maharaja was not an ordinary person. He was maha-bhagavata. Mahim maha-bhagavatah sasasa, ruled over, a great devotee. It does not mean a great devotee is simply engaged in chanting Hare Krsna mantra. No. A great devotee may be the chief of the executive function of the state. He can become. That is required. Not that only maha-bhagavata required in church or temples. No. Maha-bhagavata required also as the head of the chief executive function. That is also required. Otherwise how people will be happy? Every field, there must be maha-bhagavata. So my Guru Maharaja used to say that when we shall see that the high-court judges are devotees of Krsna, then our preaching will be somewhat forward. So that is the aim of Krsna consciousness movement, that everyone, at least those who are ruling, those who are on the executive function, they must be all maha-bhagavata. Under them everything should be ruled. Then people will be happy. Because they will never do anything unjustly. Their only desire is... Maha-bhagavata is how to give relief to the suffering humanity. That is maha-bhagavata. So Pariksit Maharaja was maha-bhagavata, and therefore he was entrusted to rule over, not an ordinary man.

Yatha hi sutyam abhijata-kovidah. Here is another important word. So yatha, as he was foretold, sutya. Sutya means in the maternity condition, maternity home or maternity room, sutya. Still, the system is current in India that when a lady is going to give birth to a child, she is offered a separate room where the child will take birth and all taken care. Nowadays they are sending in the hospital. That is another thing. But the system is when the delivery is imminent, then one room is selected. That is called sutika-ghara, or sutika room. That is referred here, sutya, means, sutya, as soon as the child is born, sutya, in that maternity room, immediately, abhijata-kovidah... Abhijata-kovidah means... Kovidah means expert learned scholars, and abhijata, they will immediately make horoscope and tell about this newly born child, what is going to happen in his life in future. That is called astrologer. It is called jata-karma, reformation.

There are ten kinds of reformation. The first reformation is garbhadhana-samskara. Garbhadhana-samskara means when the father is going to give birth to a child, it is not a secret affair. It is open affair. "Now this is the good, auspicious day, and today the father will implant the seed of the son in the womb of the mother." There is great function. That is called garbhadhana-samskara. And there are witnesses, all the brahmanas, that "This day, such and such time, this king or this person has begotten this child." Just like when the child is born, it is recorded in the government book, similarly, when one is going to give birth to a child, that is also recorded. That is called garbhadhana-samskara. Not that like cats and dogs in secrecy we have sexual intercourse, and if there is pregnancy, give some contraceptive pill or kill the child. Oh, how rascal and animals have been introduced in the human society. Just see. Here the garbhadhana-samskara, a child has to be born. How it will be nice? When the mentality of the father and mother is completely Krsna consciousness, so that when there will be sexual intercourse, the mentality of the child will be Krsna conscious. This is the garbhadhana-samskara.

So as before giving birth there is a reformation ceremony, similarly, immediately child is born, there is another reformation ceremony that is called jata-karma. Jata-karma means immediately learned scholar, brahmanas, astrologer, will come and they will make the horoscope of the child. So here it is said, yatha hi sutyam abhijata-kovidah samadisan. As they foretold, that "This child will be hero like this, he will be like this, like this..." That are described in the Bhagavatam. And it was also said at that time that "This child will die, being cursed by a brahmana." That was also foretold. It is still, such kind of astrology there in India. They will speak what you were in your last birth and what you are now, and what you will be in your next birth. That is astrology. So still there are Bhrgu-samhita. Anyone go, and you simply give them your exact time of birth, then they will make immediately horoscope, immediately. Still there is. As I told you that in my horoscope it was declared that after seventieth year, I shall go to foreign countries and I shall establish many temples. In my horoscope that is. Now I see it is coming practically. You see? So that is horoscope.

So these abhijata-kovidah, expert astrologers, whatever they predicted, everything was performed by Maharaja Pariksit. Samadisan vipra mahad-gunas tatha. So all the high qualities... Maharaja Pariksit was in his childhood play, he was worshiping Radha-Krsna Deity. Childhood play. Just like our children, some of them they are worshiping Jagannatha. This is required. From the very childhood. Our Prahlada Maharaja therefore says, kaumara acaret prajno dharman bhagavatan iha, durlabham manusam janma [SB 7.6.1]. Just like I began that this human form of life is the only opportunity to become free from this material entanglement, to become perfect. So it is the duty of the father, it is the duty of the guru, it is the duty of the king, government, to give all opportunities, that "No more birth. This is the last birth. Now you go back to home, back to Godhead." That is government. No more again coming as cats and dogs and trees. And if we do not do that, then again we enter into the cycle of birth and death. This is the risk.

So this civilization is so risky that people are not being given the real right that human being has the right to understand God and to make his relationship reestablished and go to home, back to Godhead, back to home. That is the real facility to the people. The program should be made like that, that the human life may not be missed. That is government. Therefore a maha-bhagavata, a great devotee, advanced devotee, should be on the head of the executive function. That is the idea of Vedic civilization.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.1 -- Los Angeles, December 29, 1973

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How To Become Very Dear To God

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.51
Los Angeles, December 28, 1973

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Pradyumna: Translation: "The subject of the departure of the sons of Pandu for the ultimate goal of life, back to Godhead, is fully auspicious and is perfectly pure. Therefore anyone who hears this narration with devotional faith certainly gains the devotional service of the Lord, the highest perfection of life."

Prabhupada: Yah sraddhayaitad bhagavat-priyanam. Bhagavat-priyanam. There is a common word in English, "If you love me, love my dog." That is very important. So bhagavat-priyanam, one who is very dear to Krsna, if you love such person, then Krsna is more pleased. Krsna is more pleased. Bhagavat-priyanam.

There is a version in the Puranas, Devi Purana. Parvati was asking questions to Lord Siva, and Lord Siva was replying. This is the process at home. The wife is supposed to inquire from the husband about spiritual advancement of life, and the husband must be competent to reply all the questions of wife. That will keep relation very nice. Sravanam kirtanam. That is bhakti. So Parvati was asking... Because according to Vedas, there are so many demigods. Visnu is sometimes taken, but Visnu is not... Brahma, Visnu, Mahesvara. They are the principal deities. So the inquiry was "Which worship is the best? Visnu, or Lord Siva, or Brahma or Candra?" There are so many demigods. Sometimes they are misunderstood that all of them are Gods. No. They are called demigods. God is one. That is... Originally, God is Krsna. Isvarah paramah krsnah [Bs. 5.1].

So the inquiry was, "There are so many gods. So which worship is the best?" So Lord Siva replied,

aradhananam sarvesam
visnor aradhanam param
tasmat parataram devi
tadiyanam samarcanam

Means "My dear wife, Devi..." Wife is addressed "Devi," not by name. The husband should address the wife, "Devi." They must be like devi. Devi means goddess. And the wife must address the husband as "lord." This is the system. So he replied, "Devi, aradhananam sarvesam. There are many kinds of recommendation. ‘If you want this, you worship this God. If you want this, you worship...' " These are described in the Bhagavatam. "So of all different types of worship, the worshiping of Lord Visnu is the best," he said. Aradhananam sarvesam visnor aradhanam param. And again he said, tasmat parataram devi: "There is still better worship." What is called? What is that? Tadiyanam samarcanam: "To worship the devotee of Visnu, Vaisnava." Tadiyanam samarcanam. That is the best. First of all he said, visnor aradhanam param: "That is the supreme." Then again he said, tasmat, "From that," tasmat parataram, "still better," tadiyanam samarcanam, "to worship the devotee of God." So this is very simple method. You cannot approach God. It is not very easy thing. But God's representative, God's devotee, on behalf of God, who is canvassing, tadiyanam -- that worship is better. Tadiyanam samarcanam.

Therefore here it is said that bhagavat-priyanam. These Pandavas... Why one should be interested in the Pandavas' activities, Arjuna's fight with his brothers? There are so many other people, they are fighting with their brother, with their enemies. Why we are not recommended to hear about that thing? Why the Battle of Kuruksetra? Because Arjuna is there, tadiyanam. We are not interested in any battlefield stories. Why we should be interested? There are so many cats and dogs fighting. So we are not interested. But why we are interested in the Bhagavad-gita, Battlefield of Kuruksetra? Tadiyanam samarcanam. Because there is Arjuna. He is fighting. So to worship God is very good, but to worship the devotee of God is still very good. This is the... That is also admitted in the Bhagavad-gita, na ca tasman manusyesu kascin me priya-krttamah [Bg. 18.69]. Krsna says, yo mam mad-bhaktesu. "Now, this Bhagavad-gita... Anyone who is preaching this Bhagavad-gita..." Na ca tasman manusyesu kascin me priya-krttamah. Bhagavat-priyanam. Priya-krt. Priya means dear, very dear. So Krsna said that na ca tasman manusyesu: [Bg. 18.69] "Anyone who is preaching the message of Bhagavad-gita to the suffering people of the world," Krsna says, na ca tasmat priya-krt "nobody is dearer to Me than him."

So how to become very dear to God? Don't try to see God. Even if you see... You can find God everywhere if you have got eyes to see. But the real business is not to see. God wants to see you, what you are working for God. That He wants to see. To see God is not very difficult business. Anyone with eyes to see, he can see God. But to be seen by God, do something by which you can draw the attention of God and He can see you, "Oh, here is My devotee," that is wanted. Let God see you! Don't try to see God. That is foolishness. Let God see you. This is our philosophy. My Guru Maharaja used to say that, that "Don't try to see God, but try to do something so that God can see you." This is the philosophy. And whom God will see? As soon as... Just like any business firm, any man who is working very sincerely, it comes to the notice of the master, "Oh, this man is doing very nice." That is wanted. That is wanted. So a devotee is not very much anxious to see God. God is there. Simply... And one who has become devotee, he always sees God. Premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah sadaiva [Bs. 5.38]. Sadaiva, twenty-four hours he sees. That is not very difficult job. But do something so that God will see you, "Oh, here is... Here is My devotee."

So He... Therefore here it is called, yah sraddhayaitad bhagavat-priyanam. The Pandavas were so dear to Krsna. So it is better to hear about the Pandavas than to hear about Krsna. To hear about Krsna, people may be very much inclined, but the sastra says, "To hear about the devotees of Krsna is still better." Therefore in the...You chant daily, yasya prasadat. Saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair uktah **. The spiritual master, it is said that "He is directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead." Saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastraih. Ukta, "said." Saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair uktas tatha bhavyata eva sadbhih: ** "It is not only said, but it is accepted by sadbhih, those who are actually advanced in spiritual life, sadbhih." Why? Why the spiritual master should be accepted as directly as the Supreme God? Kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya. This priya, again, priyanam: "Because he is very, very dear to Krsna." Not that because he is worshiped as Krsna, therefore he thinks himself Krsna and declares, "Now I am Krsna." No. Kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya. This priya. Priya is word. So therefore try to become priya of Krsna. Do, act in such a way that Krsna can understand that you are very dear to Him.

And the very simple thing is that ya idam guhyam mad-bhaktesv abhidhasyati. This confidential service, preaching of Bhagavad-gita... What is that? Bhagavad-gita preaching essence: sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. Simply go and preach. This very thing. Krsna says, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. This is Krsna's desire. Preach to the world, "Just be Krsna conscious." Man-manah. "Just become Krsna's devotee." Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji. "Just worship Krsna." Mad-yaji mam... "Just offer your obeisances to Krsna." Four words. Then you become a preacher. It is not very difficult to become a preacher and to become a spiritual master. How? Very simple thing. Go and speak what Krsna says. That's all. You have nothing to manufacture, Dr. Frog. There is no need of manufacturing. We are very safe because we don't manufacture. We simply repeat, parrotlike, what Krsna has said. That's all, finished. Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja: [Bg. 18.66] "Let aside everything. Just become My devotee, surrendered soul." So we are preaching that. We don't make compromise. Therefore all people are against me. Because "This man simply says, ‘Krsna.' " But I cannot say anything more. That's all.

So to become priya, very dear to Krsna, is very easy. That is siddhi, perfection. Labdhva harau bhaktim upaiti siddhim. Perfection, highest perfection: to become dear to Krsna. That's all. You become dear to Krsna. That is your perfection, highest perfection, supreme perfection. So such easy thing, and such highest perfection. Why people should not accept this? And it is practical. It is... Just last night I was talking with Srutakirti that this church, nobody was coming. Therefore they were obliged to sell it off, and we purchased. So the church is the same, building is the same, and you are all Americans. But you did not come before, so that it was to be sold. Now everywhere it is packed up. Why? Because Krsna is there. This is practical. This is practical. There is no question of enviousness. It is practical. In Boston one Christian priest said frankly that "These boys, girls, they are our boys, our girls. Either coming from Christian group or Jew's group, they are, after all, Americans. So they did not care for anything about God. Now they are mad after God. What is this?" This is practical. There is no question of competition. It is practical. Because they are trying. They are trying. Our only business is, "Just become dear to Krsna." That's all. Krsna consciousness movement means "You are trying to be dear to so many things." Somebody is trying to be dear to his father, to his mother, or to his family, children, or country, community, society, nation. Everyone is trying to be dear. "I will do such and such thing for you. Please give me vote. Please make me president." They are trying. And after all, the president also is not dear, neither people is not dear. The real fact becomes disclosed after a few days when the, what is called, face covering, ah, mask, is over. That's all.

So this kind of trying to become dear is no use. It is simply waste of time. So if you try to become dear to Krsna, that is siddhi. That is perfection. You are trying to become dear to so many objectives. At last, to become dear to a dog, ferocious dog. He does not say anything to the master. That means the master has become dear to him. So we are trying to become dear to somebody. That is our desire, dormant desire. But that is being misplaced. We do not know where to become dear. That we do not know. That is Krsna. If you become dear to Krsna, that is the highest perfection. That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye [Bg. 7.3]. Siddhi, this siddhi, perfection. Out of millions and millions of persons, one is interested to become perfect. Because this world is imperfect. So everyone is imperfect, all of us. So neither they do know what is perfection.

But here is described, here is perfection. What is that perfection? Yah sraddhaya etad bhagavat-priyanam pandoh sutanam iti samprayanam srnoti. Srnoti. You simply hear about the Pandavas. Practically the whole Vedic literature, the Puranas, the Mahabharata especially, those were narrations... The Vedic knowledge... Vedic knowledge, directly, it is very difficult to understand. Just like in the Vedanta-sutra. The sutra, the code words are there. Athato brahma jijnasa: "Now it is the time for inquiring about the Absolute Truth." This is sutra, code word. But that is described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam: in narration. This is brahma-jijnasa. The whole Srimad-Bhagavatam is brahma-jijnasa. Athato brahma jijnasa. Only this code is being... Therefore Bhagavata begins, janmady asya yatah anvayad itaratas carthesv abhijnah sva-rat [SB 1.1.1]. Because Vedanta-sutra says, "The Absolute Truth is that supreme source of everything." So Bhagavata begins from that word, janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1], explaining, explaining.

So Purana means supplementary to the Vedas, to explain the knowledge. That is Purana. Mahabharata. Mahabharata is also explanation of the Vedic knowledge, but through history. Because Vyasadeva found it that directly to understand Vedic knowledge will be difficult for three classes of men. Trayi na sruti-gocara. Stri-sudra-dvija-bandhunam trayi na sruti-gocara. Trayi. Trayi means Vedas, dealing with the three gunas. Traigunya-visaya vedah. In the Bhagavad-gita, traigunya-visaya vedah. Trayi. There are three subject matters in the Vedas. The first subject matter is to know God and what is my relationship with God. This is the first subject matter. Then second subject matter is that what is the ultimate goal of life, and the third subject matter is how to attain it. To know God, my relationship with God, and what is my ultimate goal of life, and how to attain it -- these three subject matters are Vedic knowledge. That is everywhere. Another subject matter is... Trayi, means Veda is dealing with this material world. There is spiritual knowledge in glance.

Therefore Vyasadeva, after compiling all Vedic literatures, so many Puranas, so many Upanisads, Vedanta philosophy and four Vedas, but he was not satisfied. He was not satisfied. So when Narada Muni, his spiritual master, came, he inquired that "Why you are not satisfied?" So Vyasadeva said, "My dear sir, yes, as you say, I have done so many activities. I have written so many books. But still, I don't feel any satisfaction. So I do not know why it is. You can direct me. You are my spiritual master." So he said that "You have done, you have labored so hard in writing so many books, but you have not glorified the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Simply ordinary dealings with man to man, how to deal, dharma, artha, kama, moksa, how to make people religious, how to develop economic position, how to satisfy senses, how to go to heavenly planet to enjoy more -- these things you have described. But you have not described about yena atma samprasidati, by which your atma, your soul will be satisfied. That you have done nothing." You have read in the First Canto, jugupsita-dharma. "You are diverting the attention of the people to the dharma, artha, kama, moksa, never to the bhakti. Then in future, if people are advised, ‘Come to the bhakti platform, not on the platform of this dharma, artha, kama, moksa, catur-varnya,' they will not take it. So whatever you have done, it is not very good. Better simply try to explain about Bhagavan." That is Bhagavata. That is Bhagavatam.

Bhagavatam means... Bhagavata. Bhagavata means the Supreme Lord, and Bhagavatam means about Him, or about His devotees. That is bhagavata. Because a devotee is called bhagavata. This is book bhagavata, and a devotee is person bhagavata. So according (to) our Caitanya Mahaprabhu's cult, the Bhagavata should be studied from the person bhagavata, not from the professional reciters. No. Therefore Svarupa Gosvami... One... Because when Caitanya Mahaprabhu was present at Jagannatha Puri, many people used to come, present so many literatures, so many commentaries, but Caitanya Mahaprabhu will not hear them unless it is passed by His secretary Svarupa Damodara. First of all Svarupa Damodara Gosvami will see whether it is written properly, according to siddhanta. Then he will allow. That was the business. So one brahmana came. So there was many discrepancies in his writing. So Svarupa Damodara chastised him that "You do not know how to write. Why you have attempted this?" So he said, bhagavata pada giya bhagavata sthane(?): "If you want to know about Bhagavata, Srimad-Bhagavatam, then you study Srimad-Bhagavatam from a person bhagavatam, whose life is Bhagavatam. From such person, if you read, if you understand Bhagavata, then you will benefit." It is not a scholarship. Because you know, "ungwang,"(?) that is not the qualification. Bhagavata should be studied from the person whose life is Bhagavata. This is the instruction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's personal secretary.

So here it is said, yah sraddhaya. And what is that sraddha?

tac chraddadhana munayo
jnana-vairagya-yuktaya
pasyanty atmani catmanam
bhaktya sruta-grhitaya
 [SB 1.2.12]

Bhaktya sruta-grhitaya. You can realize. God realization is possible by a person who is faithful. Tac chraddadhanah. And what is that faith? That faith is explained in the Caitanya-caritamrta: sraddha-sabde visvasa kahe sudrdha niscaya. One who has been firmly convinced... What is that conviction? Krsna says,

sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami ma sucah
 [Bg. 18.66]

One who has got firm faith in declaration, that "If I become devotee of Krsna, if I fully surrender to Krsna, then all perfection is there," this is called faith. This is called faith. Not flickering faith: "Let me adopt this Krsna consciousness movement, and when there is opportunity, let me go to some rascal who has appeared as Bhagavan." That kind of faith will not help. That will not help. Sraddha-sabde visvasa kahe sudrdha niscaya. That is sraddha, firm faith. It cannot be changed at any cost, at any circumstance. That is called firm faith. If that firm faith is not obtained, then we are still on the imperfection platform. But when there is firm faith, sraddha, sraddhaya...

Now, if anyone accepts that Pandava... These Pandavas, five brothers, son of Maharaja Pandu, they are very, very dear to Krsna. And they are as good, or sometimes better than Krsna. Because Lord Siva, authority... There are twelve authorities. Lord Siva is one of the authorities. Svayambhur naradah sambhuh. Sambhu [SB 6.3.20]. Sambhu is authority. He says that tasmat parataram devi tadiyanam samarcanam: "Better worship... Krsna worship, Visnu worship is good, but still better worship is to worship the krsna-bhaktas." Because he is very dear to Krsna. Kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya. Why spiritual master is very dear to Krsna? Because his only anxiety is how Krsna will be known all over the world. That's all. He has no ambition, pounds, shilling, pence. He only wants to know, only wants to see that everyone is devotee of Krsna and they are happy.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

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Simply Depending On Krishna

Simply Depending On Krishna

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.50
Los Angeles, December 27, 1973

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Pradyumna: Translation: "Draupadi also saw that her husbands, without caring for her, were leaving home. She knew well about Lord Vasudeva, Krsna, the Personality of Godhead. Both she and Subhadra became absorbed in thoughts of Krsna and attained the same results as their husbands."

Prabhupada: So draupadi-patinam. Patinam is plural number. So she had five husbands, all the brothers. We should not imitate that. This is possible by Draupadi, not by others. So although she had five husbands, the Pandavas -- Maharaja Yudhisthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva -- but at the time of retirement, they did not care what will happen to their wife. The same husbands, when they saw that their wife was insulted in the assembly of the Kurus... Draupadi was insulted because they lost Draupadi in gambling. Just see. Gambling is so dangerous. The bet was the wife. The Pandavas and the Kurus were playing on chess. And they lost their kingdom, they lost their wife, then they were ordered to be banished for twelve years and one year incognito. The condition was, "Now the betting is that if you lose the game, then you will be banished for twelve years in the forest. And one year you have to remain incognito. Nobody will know where you are. If you are," I mean to say, "picked up, if somebody knows you, recognizes you, ‘Here are the Pandavas,' then again twelve year." This is the previous condition of the Battle of Kuruksetra. The whole idea was to reject the five Pandavas and enthrone Duryodhana and his brothers. That was the diplomacy.

So when they were living incognito... Nobody could know where the Pandavas were at, they attempted to gain Draupadi in the dress of brahmanas. Draupadi's father made a bet, that "This is the condition of my daughter being given to a boy." The condition was that on a ceiling a fish was hanging, and the boy who will be victorious in piercing the eyes of the fish by arrow... Not directly looking, but there was a waterpot, the reflection. He has to fix up his point by seeing the reflection down, and then he has to pierce the eye. Then Draupadi will accept. All the noted princes in those times, they kept such bet. Even Krsna had to marry Satyabhama... Satyabhama's father also made a bet the, he kept very strong bulls. So condition was that "Any boy who will be able to control these bulls, then I will offer my daughter to him." So all the princes who came to control the bulls, they got their hands and legs fractured by the pushing of the bull. Nobody could... Then Krsna came. And Krsna controlled the five bulls, expanding Himself into five strong boy, and He was offered Satyabhama.

So in ksatriya marriage it was not so easy. The boy had to show how much powerful he is. Then the girl would be offered. Not only that; there will be killing. The opposite party may be killed. When there is fight, there is killing. And by killing, the blood is smeared over here. That is the red sign. That is the red sign, now used with vermillion. Not by killing. Yes, it has become... It is made easier. (laughter) Formerly the red sign was not so easy. There must be blood. That is ksatriya. Ksatriya means the fighting race, fighting caste, king, royal. They must be very chivalrous fighting, not timid. A ksatriya cannot be timid. Brahmanas ksatriyas, vaisyas, sudra, they are trained differently. Brahmana -- for understanding Vedic knowledge and guide the other three subdivisions, namely ksatriyas, vaisyas, not sudras. Sudras were not supposed to understand Vedic knowledge. Especially brahmanas and ksatriyas.

So the ksatriyas were very chivalrous. In every action there is fight. And this gambling was allowed for the ksatriyas. If the opposite party challenges, "I want to play with you gambling," "Yes." The ksatriya cannot deny. If somebody, opposite party comes, "I want to fight with you," "Yes, come on." Just like Jarasandha. Jarasandha was requested by Krsna and Arjuna and Bhima that "We have come to you to fight with you. Any one of us, you can select, and that is our request." Jarasandha, he immediately accepted, "Yes." So he rejected Krsna and Arjuna. He said, "Krsna is a coward. I do not wish to fight. And Arjuna, Arjuna is less strong then me, so I don't wish to fight with him. Now, the only combatant is Bhima. So I shall fight with him." So during daytime they would fight, all day. And after daytime they are friends. All these three gentlemen, Krsna, Arjuna and Bhima, were guests of Jarasandha. From evening, they will eat together, talk together, laugh together, and then in the morning they will fight. This is ksatriya spirit.

So this Draupadi was achieved by Arjuna by piercing the eye of the fish. So when they came home in great jubilation, Arjuna said, "Mother..." No, Yudhisthira said, "Mother, we have got a great boon today." So mother was affectionate. She said, "All right, my dear boys. Just equally share amongst your brothers." So she was only woman. So by the order of Kunti, although Arjuna achieved the hand of Draupadi, by the order of mother, she was divided amongst the five brothers. Therefore patinam. Patinam. And when she was insulted, because she was lost in the gambling... Bet was that "This time if you lose, then your Draupadi should be lost." So she was lost in that way.

So Karna was refused to take part in the sporting, piercing the eyes of the fish, because Draupadi actually knew that "Arjuna is my real husband. So if Karna takes part in this sporting..." Karna was powerful. He would gain. But she did not like Karna. Therefore at that time she said that "This sporting is meant for the ksatriyas, not for the sudras." Karna was known at that time as sudra. You will find all these stories in the Mahabharata. Karna was also Yudhisthira's brother, born of Kunti before her marriage. So Kunti did not disclose that Karna was her son, but he was raised by a sudra. People knew that he was a sudra. So Karna had a grudge against Draupadi. Therefore he planned to place her in the gambling game. And when the Pandavas were lost, now he wanted to retaliate the insult given by Draupadi during her svayamvara. So he advised... He was friendly to Duryodhana and brothers. "Now this lady is lost. Now we can deal with her as we like. She is our property." So she was lost. "So I want to see her naked in this assembly." So vastra-harana. You know. But Krsna saved her. So Draupadi knows very well Krsna. Therefore it is said tadajnaya draupadi ca.

And another side is that when... At the time of retirement, there is no more responsibility. Here is it said, patinam anapeksatam. They are retiring from home without any consideration, "What will happen to our wife Draupadi?" No. "Now everyone should take care of himself. We are also going alone." This is retirement. Anapeksatam, without waiting for anyone, alone, simply depending on Krsna. This is called renounced order of life. So this is the process of retirement, not that to make arrangement in the family that "I am now retiring. You send me some money, and I shall maintain myself." No. No dependence. Simply dependent on Krsna. Therefore it is said, ekanta-matir apa. Ekanta. Actually, Krsna saves us. Why we should depend on others? Krsna saves. Krsna says that "Anyone who is completely dependent upon Me," yoga-ksemam vahamy aham [Bg. 9.22], "I personally bring whatever his necessity is." That is the promise of Krsna in the Bhagavad-gita. So renounced order means no more dependence on father, mother, husband, daughter. No. Completely dependent on Krsna. Ekanta. That is perfection. One who is fully convinced that "Krsna is with me..." Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61] -- "I will not have to search out Krsna anywhere. He is within me, within my heart." There are so many instances.

So cirani kim pathi na santi disanti bhiksam. Sukadeva Gosvami, he was wandering all over the world alone, naked, even no cloth. Simply while walking on the street early in the morning, he would stand anywhere, because in those days, every house, they had cows, and the time for milking is early in the morning. We are also milking cows in London, in our Letchmore Heath, early in the morning. That is the time. Here also the same system?

Devotee: Oh, yes.

Prabhupada: So any house he would stand before, and those who were milking, they would give him a glass of milk. That's all, finished, for the whole day. That was Sukadeva Gosvami's practice. So in this way one has to depend... In the renounced order of life, one has to depend completely on God. That's all. That is renounced order.

So here all the five husbands, how much responsible they were. Because their one wife was insulted, they declared the war, Battle of Kuruksetra, and killed the whole family. Similarly, Lord Ramacandra, His wife was kidnapped, Sita, by Ravana. So Lord Ramacandra is God. He would create many millions of Sitas. But no. For that one Sita, war was declared against Ravana, and the whole family dynasty, with kingdom, everything was finished. So this is the duty of the husband, that... Not like the modern days' husband: marries for three months. One, the sixth month, they were no more husband. Separate. Not like that. Husband means who takes charge of the girl for life, and wife means the girl who has the resolution to serve the husband throughout life. That is husband and wife. And when the wife is in danger, the husband's duty is to give protection, at any cost. That is husband-wife relationship.

But when one is going to retire, that is another thing. Because life is divided into four parts: brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa. So woman has got three positions. They require protection. Women is never allowed to become renounced order of life. No. They are supposed to be under the care of somebody. So early age under the care of father, young age under the care of husband, and old age under the care of grown-up children, sons. This is woman's position. They remain always under the care of. So Draupadi was being taken care of their husband, but when the husbands were going for renounced order of life, anapeksatam, without caring, she could understand, "Now I will be uncared for. No more... My husbands care no more in duty bound to give me protection." She could understand. Tadajnaya. She could understand. And there is no such obligation. That is the sanction of the sastra.

devarsi-bhutapta-nrnam pitrnam
na kinkaro nayam rni ca rajan
sarvatmana yah saranam saranyam
gato mukundam parihrtya kartam
 [SB 11.5.41]

We have got so many duties. So long we are not fully surrendered to Krsna... It is not that this Krsna consciousness movement is to give shelter to some irresponsible man who does not carry the responsibilities of family life or brahmacari life. But that is now forgotten. Everything is topsy-turvied. So Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that krsna-bhakti, Krsna consciousness movement, may be offered even to the candala. Candala means the lowest of the human society, the dog-eaters. Candala. This is the, mean, the benefit of Krsna consciousness, that this Krsna consciousness movement can be accepted by anyone, and it can be bestowed to anyone, without any discrimination, without any discrimination. And that is happening. We have no discrimination that "This movement is meant for such-and-such class of men or such-and-such nation or such-and-such country." No. It is meant for everyone. And anyone who takes to the shelter of Krsna consciousness, he is happy.

This Krsna consciousness movement means... That is also explained here. Ekanta-matir apa: simply to concentrate one's mind on Krsna. Vasudeve bhagavati hy ekanta-matir apa tam.

vasudeve bhagavati
bhakti-yogah prayojitah
janayaty asu vairagyam
jnanam ca yad ahaitukam
 [SB 1.2.7]

This is the benefit of becoming Krsna conscious. Vasudeve bhagavati. Vasudeva, Krsna, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogah. One who takes shelter of the lotus feet of Krsna by bhakti-yoga process... Vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogah prayojitah... [SB 1.2.7]. When applied... Janayaty asu vairagyam. Because in the human form of life, two things are required. That is perfection: jnanam vairagyam. Jnanam means knowledge, and vairagyam means detachment. When one has full knowledge, then he becomes detached to this material world. We are suffering in this material world because we have got attachment. And the attachment is by nature's law, man's attachment for woman, woman's attachment for man. This is attachment. Pumsah striya mithuni-bhavam etam. The central point is sex, and that is the attachment. Pumsah striya mithuni-bhavam. The whole world, this material world, is moving. What is the central point? Sex attachment. So one has to become free from this attachment. That is called vairagya. Vairagya.

So if one can give up this attachment from very beginning of life, that is brahmacari. A brahmacari is trained that "Don't be attached. You will save so much time and save your life." That is brahmacari life. Because this attachment is the continuation of our material life. We have got different attachment, different varieties of attachment. The central point is sex. Therefore school, college means that to train the students how to become detached. That is the school, college. That is brahmacari system. A brahmacari should live under the guidance of the spiritual master as menial servant, and whatever he collects, he would give to the spiritual master. If the spiritual master says, "Now you can eat," then he will eat; otherwise he will starve. He will not take the things of spiritual master by his own hand. First of all... No. This is the austerity of brahmacari. And no meeting with young girls. Even the wife of the spiritual master is young, the brahmacari is not allowed to go there. There are so many. These are described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam: brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha, sannyasa.

But these things are not now possible. Everything is topsy-turvied. There is no regular training of the human being. They are being trained up like cats' and dogs' life. Cats and dogs, they don't require training. Because what is the modern civilization? Eating, sleeping, sex life, and dying. It does not require any education. Just like these children. When I distribute these cookies, it does not require... Immediately spreads the hand and immediately in the mouth. (laughter) So for eating, there is no necessity of training. Everyone knows. Similarly, sleeping also, everyone knows. And similarly sex intercourse everyone knows. And dying there is no question. (laughter) So where is the education? Where is the necessity of education for these things? Rascals. You are enhancing advancement of knowledge how to eat, how to sleep, how to sex life, and how to die. Where is the necessity of education for these things? There is no necessity. Anyone -- animals, man, birds, beasts, insects -- they know all these thing. Ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunam ca. It does not require any education. If there is education for this purpose, that is for restraining. Just like in human society. There is education for sex life, marriage. What is that marriage? Marriage means restricting sex life to one. That is education. If you are not restricted in that way, then you are animal. That is education. But... Because sex life does not require any college education, but if there is education in sex life, not to increase the propensity of sex life, but to reduce it... To reduce it.

So these four things, primary necessities of the living entity, eating, sleeping, mating, it does not require any education. If there is education... People may say, "Why there is description how to eat, how to sleep, how to have sex life?" It is for decreasing. Just like... In your it is different. At least in our country it was... Just like drinking. Drinking, you can manufacture wine, liquor at home. Anyone can do it. It is not very difficult. In India, the lower class of men, the sanotalas, so they make... They simply moist some rice overnight and boil it, and then ferment it for few days. Then it becomes nice wine. So it is not very difficult. Everyone can manufacture. But why the government restricts, "You cannot manufacture at home. You must purchase from the licensed shop"? The meaning is to restrict. Otherwise everyone will do that.

So when there is sastra sanctioning for this eating, sleeping, mating, that means to restrict. Pravrttir esa bhutanam nivrttes tu maha-phala. This inclination is natural, but when there is regulative principle, that means to restrict. Because the whole human society is supposed to be advanced in the art of detachment, jnana-vairagyam. That is perfection. First of all knowledge, perfect knowledge, that "I am not this body. I am simply wasting my time taking care of this body, but I am different from the body." That is natural. Suppose you are sitting in some place. If you know that place does not belong to you, then why should you take so much care? You ar e sitting there for some business. Finish, and go. Similarly, if one is in knowledge, full knowledge, that "I am not this body," that is called jnana. Then why he should be bothering so much for this body which is going to be, as I explained yesterday, either ash, or stool or earth? This is the last stage of this body.

So the real thing is the soul. Dehino 'smin yatha dehe [Bg. 2.13]. So we should take care. Just like we can take care of this hat and coat by soaping it, but we must take care of myself, the body which is putting on this hat and coat. Similarly, this material body is hat and coat. Real is the spirit soul. So what is the necessity of the spirit soul? The necessity of spirit soul, because it is part and parcel of Krsna, he is hankering to unite with Krsna. That is Krsna consciousness movement. That is Krsna conscious... The soul is hankering after uniting with the supreme soul. That is natural. You study your body. Why do you love your body? Or why do you love your son's body? So long the spirit soul is there. As soon as the spirit soul is off, you do not care for the son's body or daughter's body or your wife's body. Then who is the lovable object? The soul. It is very natural to understand. Why don't you love a dead body? Because the soul is not there. The soul is the object of your love, not this body. And why you take care of the soul? Because it is part and parcel of Krsna. Therefore Krsna is the ultimate object of love. That is Krsna consciousness. But they do not know.

So these Pandavas were trained up very nicely. Therefore vasudeve bhagavati hy ekanta-matir apa tam. They knew that "Ultimately, Krsna is everything." Vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma sudurlabhah: [Bg. 7.19] "Anyone who understands that ultimately Krsna, Vasudeva, is everything," sa mahatma sudurlabhah, "such person is very rare, mahatma, great soul." So all these Pandavas were great soul, and they ultimately... Retirement means no more material affairs. We are active on the platform of this bodily consciousness. That is also required for some time, not for all the time. The aim is to work for the soul. But because now we are covered by this material body, so we have to utilize the best use of a bad bargain. It is a bargain, that we have got this material body. But because... Just like you take care of your car because you, the spirit soul, will utilize it for going here and there. Without a man being interested going by car, nobody takes care. Similarly, this is also a car given by nature.

isvarah sarva-bhutanam
hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati
bhramayan sarva-bhutani
yantrarudhani mayaya
 [Bg. 18.61]

This is a yantra, machine.

So in this way we have to understand the Krsna consciousness movement. Then everyone will be happy, not only in this life, next life also. That is Krsna consciousness movement.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.50 -- Los Angeles, December 27, 1973

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