Inevitable Death And A Way Out

Inevitable Death And A Way Out

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.7
Los Angeles, January 4, 1974

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Pradyumna: Translation: "O Suta Gosvami, there are those amongst men who desire freedom from death and get eternal life. They escape the slaughtering process by calling the controller of death, Yamaraja."

Prabhupada: Ksudrayusam nrnam. Ksudra, means very small, ayusam, duration of life. As we can compare that an ant's life or a germ's life... They are also living entities. Their duration of life is very small. There are many flies, they take their birth at night, in the evening, and the whole night they are busy, the same way: eating, sleeping, begetting children and being afraid of. All the qualities are there. In India we have got experience. They are called diwali germs or insects. In the evening before the light -- one, two, three -- in this way, by midnight, it increases to thousands and millions. And in the morning, at the end of the night, you will find heaps of insects or dead body. Heaps. Millions.

So there are different grades of life. It is called mrtyu-loka. This material world is called mrtyu-loka: "where everyone dies." But there are grades of duration of life. One living entity has got four minutes life, another, ten minutes, another, hundred minutes. Then days. One day, hundred days. Then year. One year, or four year, or five year, or utmost, hundred years, on this planet. So the human being can live up to utmost hundred years, but in other planets there are other living entities, demigods. And the highest, the topmost planet is Brahmaloka. And you have learned from Bhagavad-gita, in the Brahmaloka, the duration of life, to our calculation, is very, very long. Sahasra-yuga-paryantam ahar yad brahmano viduh [Bg. 8.17]. In the Brahmaloka, the duration of twelve hours, our twelve hours, morning to evening, that is many millions of years to our calculation. So even if you go to that planet Brahmaloka, as you are trying to go to the moon planet... From sastra we understand in the moon planet, they live up to ten thousands of years according to heavenly calculation. In each planet, in each society, the calculation is different. So it is calculated that in the moon planet you can live for ten thousands of years, and that calculation is compared: our six months equal to one day in that planet. So just imagine how many years of our calculation they can live.

But Bhagavan Sri Krsna informs us that wherever you may go, the Yamaraja is ready, the representative of Krsna as Yamaraja. Just like the magistrate is also the representative of the government. So he is ready to come exactly as you finish your terms of duration of life. That is the way. Abrahma-bhuvanal lokah punar avartino 'rjuna [Bg. 8.16]. So at the end of life, everyone becomes disgusted. Therefore there is some release interval. At the end of life, mostly, people, those who are..., especially ordinary human being, they do not wish to live anymore. Even from the point of view, this bodily, old body, always diseased, rheumatic pains, so... And there is no life. For old man there is no enjoyment, material enjoyment. He wants to enjoy, but he cannot enjoy. Therefore generally, they become disgusted.

There was a question, very nice question, by Akbar Vasar, the Muhammadan emperor, Mogul emperor of India, Akbar Vasar. He was in the fifteenth century, five hundred years ago. So he kept very intelligent ministers. They would reply. Whatever inquiries are made by the emperor, the particular minister will inform, "This is this, sir." So he inquired one minister. His name was... I forget now. So "How long the lusty desires continue, sex desire?" So he replied, "Up to the point of death." So the emperor said, "No, no, how it can be?" "No, he has got the desire, but he cannot use it. His instruments become dull or useless. Therefore... But the desire is there." And, "I don't believe. I cannot...I am not satisfied with this answer." "All right, sir, I will satisfy you."

So one day, all of a sudden the minister came to Akbar Vasar, "Sir, you will have to come with me immediately, and take your young daughter with you." So Akbar Vasar could understand there is some meaning, so immediately he prepared and took his young daughter with him. So he asked, "Where you are going?" "You will come to know." So he entered a house where an old man was on the death bed, a very old man. So the minister requested the emperor that "While entering the room, you kindly try to see the face of the lying man who is going to die." So Akbar was very intelligent. So he was seeing the face. So he marked it that the man was looking towards the young girl, not to the emperor. So he said, "Yes, I have got your answer."

So these desires... This is the root cause of our coming to this material world, to enjoy. Enjoyment is there in the spiritual world, but there, in the spiritual world, the enjoyer is Krsna, and everyone is enjoyed. That is the position. Just like in the Western countries, the women declare that "Why we should not have equal rights with the man?" But by nature it is different. The man is the enjoyer, and the woman is the enjoyed. That is the position. Bhokta and bhogya. There are many social problems in your country -- I do not wish to discuss -- but it is very grave problems. But they do not know how to systematize the human form of life because they do not know what is the aim of life. That they do not know. So aim of life is to stop this repetition of birth and death. That is the aim of life. The so-called scientists, they do not know it, and neither they work for it. They do not know it.

So here it is said, ksudrayusam: "those who have got small duration of life." Although this small duration of life, human life, in comparison to the duration of life of other planets, it is very, very small, so but they do not know how to fulfill the mission of living condition during this life. In the animal life, the consciousness is not developed, but in the human form of life, although it is perishable, adhruvam... Prahlada Maharaja said, adhruvam. Dhruva. Dhruva means certain. So he advised,

kaumara acaret prajno
dharman bhagavatan iha
durlabham manusam janma
tad apy adhruvam arthadam
 [SB 7.6.1]

That is his advice, Prahlada Maharaja. He was talking with his classfriend, five years old. So he was teaching them that "Just become Krsna conscious. Chant Hare Krsna." Narada taught him. He listened from Narada. So he was convinced that this is the only business, how to make advancement in Krsna consciousness by chanting Hare Krsna mantra.

So he was Hiranyakasipu's son. He did not appoint any teacher to teach him about Krsna consciousness. But when he was in the womb of his mother, Narada Muni advised the mother about Krsna consciousness. She had to live for some time at the care of Narada Muni when her husband was out being defeated by the demigods, the Hiranyakasipu. So the woman's anxiety was when her husband will come back. And at that time the child was within the womb, and she begged a benediction from Narada, "Sir, kindly arrange in that way, that as long as my husband does not come back, I may not give birth to this child." Narada Muni said, "All right, it will be." So Narada Muni was giving her advice about Krsna consciousness. But her mind was absent, but the child within the womb, he was hearing. He was hearing. This is stated in the Bhagavatam. You will find that when Prahlada Maharaja was asked this question by his friend, "My dear Prahlada, we are also being taught by the same teacher. You are also being taught by the same teacher. You are a prince. You cannot go out. Wherefrom you have learned all this nice instruction?" So he replied that "This instruction was given by Narada. So it was given to my mother, but as woman she has forgotten, and I remember."

So that is the difference between a child in the womb and a grown-up woman. You see? That is by nature. They forget. Stri-sudra-dvijabandhunam trayi na sruti-gocara. Therefore Mahabharata was created by Vyasadeva, Vedic instruction through history, to battle of Kuruksetra. Because stri, sudra, woman, sudra and dvija-bandhu... Men born in high-class family, but behavior is different, they are called dvija-bandhu. So they cannot understand the Vedic lessons directly. It is not possible. They have no such intelligence. Stri, sudra and dvija-bandhu. So Vedanta-sutra says, janmady asya yatah anvayad itaratas carthesu [SB 1.1.1]. They cannot understand. Therefore through Mahabharata they are instructed. History. History they can hear. So Prahlada Maharaja says, "It is the duty of a human being, even from childhood, kaumara..." Kaumara means from the age of fifth year up to tenth year. This is called kaumara. So people should be educated about this, that the problem is how to stop janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi. This education. This is called Bhagavata instruction. You are noting. We are talking on the Srimad-Bhagavatam. The subject matter is how one shall transfer himself from this material world to the spiritual world and thereby stop birth, death, old age and disease. This is the whole subject matter.

So martyanam rtam icchatam. Martyanam. They should be conscious that "I do not wish to die. Why death is forced upon me?" This is intelligent question. This is the most intelligent man's question. "I do not want death." Just like if there is immediately some natural disturbance... I have got experience. Sometimes there was little trembling in the front house. People were crying, especially ladies, screaming. And that I have seen many times. As soon as there is a big trembling, everyone becomes afraid, "Now we are going to die. We have to die." So everyone is afraid of death, but nobody thinks how to make a solution of this problem. But there is solution. Therefore here it is said, martyanam. Martyanam means those who are destined to die. Rtam icchatam. If they are willing to live, if they want to stop calling the Yamaraja... Yamaraja means he will take you or take me, every one of us, after this body is finished, according to our karma. Yamaraja is there when we are sinful. Yamaraja is not for the devotees.

That is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. The Ajamila upakhyana, Ajamila. Ajamila was a great sinful man. So at the time of death, somehow or other, he remembered Narayana, Narayana. So he was fond of his youngest child, and the Yamaraja, not directly, by sending his men, Yamaduta... So they are very fierceful. So at the time of death this Ajamila saw fierceful creatures, very odd-looking. So he was very much afraid, "Who are they?" So he thought, because he was very much affectionate to his youngest child... So his name was Narayana. He called him, "Narayana, please come here. I am very much afraid." But just see the power of chanting the name of Narayana. He immediately become eligible to go to Vaikuntha. He did not mean Narayana also. But Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, he gives his commentation that he remembered real Narayana after reference to the context. When he called for his child Narayana, he remembered real Narayana. Because in his boyhood, when he was... Up to his youthhood, he was very sincere devotee of Narayana, a son of a brahmana. But he fell under the clutches of a prostitute. Therefore, after mixing with the prostitute, his all spiritual activities stopped. That is natural. So he became too much inclined to the prostitute, and he became a drunkard, he became a thief, he became a gambler, meat-eater, and debauch. All these qualifications he acquired, by the association of one prostitute. And in this age our only business is to mix with prostitute. Just see our position. How much fallen they should be. There is open market for prostitution. This is modern civilization. By the association of one prostitute... Ajamila was a brahmana's son, very regulated, following all the rules and regulation. But as soon as he associated with a prostitute, he became fallen down. So this man remembered Narayana. According to Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, he supports that simply calling the name of his son was not sufficient. He remembered Narayana. But according to sastra, that Narayana, the holy name of the Lord, if one chants even neglectfully, he also gets the chance of being liberated. That's a fact.

There is one statement in the Nrsimha-Purana that a Muhammadan was attacked by a white boar. They kill by the tusk of the nose. So while the boar was killing that Muhammadan, he uttered, "Harama, harama." Harama is an Urdu word, but this word is found in Puranas also, ha rama. Harama means condemned, condemned. So the Muhammadans, they do not eat, I mean, the flesh of pig. Just like the Hindus, they do not eat the flesh of cow, similarly, this flesh of pig is harama. So he did not mean Rama. He wanted to say, "Condemned. This boar is condemned, harama." But he got the result of chanting ha rama, ha rama, "O my Lord Ramacandra." He got the result.

So the holy name of Krsna, Narayana... There are hundreds and thousands of names of Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So any name, if you chant, you get the result. That is the instruction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-saktis tatrarpita niyamitah smarane na kalah. The person, Supreme Personality of Godhead, and His name, they are identical. Caitanya Mahaprabhu's, this is instruction. If we chant the holy name of Krsna, Krsna, the Supreme Person, that is not different. That is Krsna absolutism. Krsna and Krsna's form here, they are not different. Krsna's form can give you the same result as He can do being personally present. That is Krsna's absolutism. So namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-saktih. So in the name of Krsna, there is complete potency, as it is in Krsna personally. Therefore it is so important. In this age, we are so fallen. It is not possible to understand Krsna as He is. But if we associate with Krsna's name, then that is also association with Krsna. This is the advantage. Namnam akari. So as you associate with Krsna in His sound form, so you become purified. Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah [SB 1.2.17]. This is the advantage.

So everyone's duty is to stop this birth and death problem by chanting Hare Krsna mantra. That is the only duty. And this should be taught from the very beginning of life. Just like these pious children, those who are dancing here, taking part in this meeting. You see? And one side you can see that this is the only path of Krsna realization that even a child can take part in it. He has no education, he has no knowledge, but the method is so nice that they can also take part. They can enjoy with their father and mother. There is no other yoga system... There are many yoga system, but this bhakti-yoga system is so perfect that the great-grandfather of the child and the child himself -- anyone can take part in it. That is practical. They are dancing here. Sometimes they are chanting. These things are going to their credit of spiritual advancement. The Deity worship is introduced for the general public, that anyone who will come, who will see the Deity, who will chant the Hare Krsna mantra, dance little or play the karatala, some way or other, if somebody is engaged in Krsna's service, that will be credited to his account. "Yes. This living entity has advanced so much." Therefore in the Bhagavad-gita it is said, svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat. Even you do very little of this process of bhakti-yoga, it can save you from the greatest danger of life. Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat.

The example is this Ajamila. This Ajamila, in the beginning of his life, he executed some service to the Lord under the instruction of his father. That was in his credit. So when he became first-class sinful man and was dying, so somehow or other, he chanted the name of Narayana, and he became saved. He became saved. Even though it is taken as a chance, but the chance also gives him the benefit. So as soon as he uttered the name of Narayana, he became eligible to be transported to Vaikuntha, and immediately Narayana sent his men, Narayana-duta, "Just go and save this man. He is being harassed by the Yamaduta." So Yamaduta, they were taking away him. In the meantime the messenger from Vaikuntha, Narayana-duta came, stopped, "No, you cannot take this." So they were surprised. "Oh, who are these, so good-looking?" Because they were very odd-looking, and they did not see any good-looking men, especially from Vaikuntha. They were coming with four hands, very nice. In the Vaikuntha, the people are also exactly looking like Narayana. Just like in this planet, the president is there. So far bodily features are concerned, there is no difference. The president has also two hands; we have also got two hands. Similarly, in the Vaikunthaloka, the president is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So He has got four hands, so the devotees or the inhabitants there, they have also the similar feature of the body, four hands. So these Yamaduta were surprised, that "You are looking so gentle, so nice. Why you are stopping in our duty? This man is sinful. It is our duty to take to Yamaraja, Mrtyu."

So there was argument, and their attempt was foiled by these Narayana-duta. So when they came to their master Yamaraja, that "This is our first experience, that somebody else took away from our hand the person who was to be brought here. So is there any greater personality like you, er, more than you?" So he explained, "Yes, I am servant of Narayana." So in that time Yamaraja advised that "To a devotee, you shall never go. It is not your jurisdiction." Just like the police jurisdiction is for the criminals, not for the gentlemen, similarly, Yamaraja's duty and his servant's duty, to take away to the Yamaraja only these sinful men. And those who are devotees, they are supposed to be not sinful. Naturally, they should be sinless. That is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita. Without becoming sinless, one cannot completely devote himself in Krsna consciousness.

yesam tv anta-gatam papam
jananam punya-karmanam
 te dvandva-moha-nirmukta
bhajante mam drdha-vratah
 [Bg. 7.28]

A person can be completely engaged in Krsna consciousness business if he is completely sinless. Of course, by becoming Krsna conscious, even there is little tinge of sin, it is evaded gradually. But one should be very alert. It is not that "Because I am Krsna conscious, and by becoming Krsna conscious or chanting Hare Krsna mantra, I am getting out of the jurisdiction of sinful activities..." This should never be thought of. We should be very much alert, because maya is very strong. As soon as she gets the opportunity, immediately captures. So we should be... Therefore it is said, rtam icchatam. Rtam icchatam. So they should try to avoid sinful activities if they actually want relief from this cycle of birth and death. This is the program.

So Krsna consciousness movement is in support of this desire. One must be serious and execute Krsna consciousness. Follow the rules and regulation, very simple, and chant Hare Krsna mantra, and they will be saved from Mrtyu, Yamaraja.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

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The Medicine For Death

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.6
Los Angeles, January 3, 1974

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Pradyumna: Translation: "The devotees of the Lord are accustomed to licking up the honey available from the lotus feet of the Lord. What is the use of topics which simply waste one's valuable life?"

Prabhupada: The same last paragraph. The... Yadi krsna-kathasrayam. So the proposal was that "We are interested to hear about Kali's being punished by Maharaja Pariksit if there is some connection of Krsna consciousness." That is the principle of Krsna consciousness, that we shall not do anything which has no connection with Krsna. This is Krsna consciousness. One should be very alert: "I am going to do this. Whether it has got any connection with Krsna? I am going to eat this. Whether there is any connection with Krsna?" In this way, we have got always some activities, some action of the senses, but if we test every moment, "Whether this has got any connection with Krsna?" then you will remain safe. I am going to talk with you or somebody else. Whether that talk has got any connection with Krsna? If it has no, then I am not going to talk. Nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe yuktam vairagyam ucyate. That is really renunciation.

Renunciation does not mean I change this cloth to another shape of cloth and another color of cloth. Renunciation means I will not associate with anything which has no connection with Krsna. This is renunciation. Because for a Krsna conscious person, to waste even a moment of life without Krsna consciousness is a great dangerous action. Not only anyone who is interested (?) or higher level of position. He should be very careful of using every moment of life. Canakya Pandita's advice, moral instruction of Canakya Pandita, he says, practical proposition,

ayusah ksana eko 'pi
na labhyah svarna-kotibhih
sa cen nirarthakam nitah
ka nu hanis tato 'dhikah

He is advising that our duration of life, that is limited. That is, by destiny, limited. Therefore in the horoscope it is said that "So many years this man will live." That's fact.

So any big scientist, big philosopher, they may be very, very big, big men, but the so-called scientist cannot increase even one day's life. That is not possible. You have to die. The moment you are destined to die, you must die. So not only day, even a moment you cannot increase. A moment you cannot increase. Therefore Canakya Pandita says, ayusah ksana eko 'pi. We have got a certain duration of life. Now, what is gone in this life... Suppose yesterday was 2nd January, 1974. This morning it is finished. Now it is 3rd January, 1974. Can you bring 1973, 1974, 2nd January, again? No, that is not possible. It is gone forever. It is gone forever. Similarly, every moment of our life is going, forever, never to come back. Canakya Pandita says na labhyah svarna-kotibhih. If you request that "Now my age is, say, seventy-eight years." If I request somebody that "I will give you millions of dollars, make my life seventy-seven years," that is not possible. Not seventy-seven years, even a moment. Therefore Canakya Pandita says that every moment of life is so valuable that you cannot get back it even offering hundreds and thousands and millions of dollars. That is not possible.

So if that moment is wasted for nothing, just imagine what is your loss. A thing which you cannot get back by paying millions of dollars, if that is lost unnecessarily, so how much loss you are suffering just imagine. This is material calculation. Why we keep some valuable things, some jewel, very carefully? Because we know, "If I lose this jewel, I will lose so much money." Similarly, we should always consider that. The modern civilization, rascal civilization, they do not know how to utilize life. So many days, so many hours, they are simply wasting, simply wasting. It is said that the sunrise and sunset, during this period, the sun's business is to take away the duration of our life, sunrise and sunset. That means twelve hours or thirteen hours which is gone between the sunrise and sunset...This sun's business is to take away the portion, the fixed up duration of life which I have been given. That is, some of it, is taken away. The same example. Just like you have got a fixed balance in the bank. If you draw even ten pence, ten shillings, that means it is taken away. You have to replace it. But replacing is not possible. Bank balance you can replace. But the balance... Suppose you have passed... I have passed... Suppose if I live for eighty years or ninety years or hundred years. So this seventy-eight years is already taken away. It cannot be replaced. You cannot make the bank balance or the duration of..., again complete. That is not possible. This is plain fact.

Therefore here it is said that those who are Krsna conscious, they must weigh, measure every moment, "Whether this moment has been spent without Krsna consciousness?" That is the criterion. Avyartha-kalatvam [Cc.Madhya 23.18-19], nama-gane sada rucih. This is the test of advanced Krsna consciousness. Rupa Gosvami gives, avyartha-kalatvam. Avyartha-kalatvam means "Whether my time has been spent uselessly?" One should be alert. "Whether my time has been used, has been uselessly spent by talking nonsense?" In another place Rupa Gosvami says,

atyaharah prayasas ca
prajalpo niyamagrahah
jana-sangas ca laulyam ca
sadbhir bhaktir vinasyati

By six kinds of activities, you will lose your holding in Krsna consciousness. What is that? Atyaharah, too much eating. Ahara means collection or eating. So either too much collection. Our society, international society, we must collect thousands and thousands of dollars, but for spending it for Krsna, not for keeping in the bank. That is not our business. We must collect as much. Suppose for doing some business... We are constructing our temple in Vrndavana. We require fifty lakhs. That is required. But I shall not collect more than fifty lakhs even one cent. This is atyahara. Similarly, if your body can consume foodstuff one kilo or half kilo, you can eat. But not even an ounce or even a, what is called, grain more than that. That is atyahara. You eat. It is not forbidden to eating. But you must eat as much as you can digest very nicely, not more than that. This is against bhakti principle. Eating too much or collecting too much. Atyahara. And prayasa. Prayasa means do something with extraordinary endeavor. So, of course, we have to do sometime, but it is the general principle. We shall accept... Suppose you are constructing a temple. If it is..., suppose two millions of dollars required, or, say, five millions of dollars. If we cannot do that, we shall not attempt. That is prayasa, unnecessarily endeavor. Which is within your control, you should act. Atyaharah prayasah. And prajalpa. Prajalpa means talking all nonsense. Suppose politics. "What Mr. Nixon did yesterday, or what did he say?" So what interest we have got in Mr. Nixon? We shall not waste our time talking this politics, that politics, this sociology, this cinema, this affair, no. We have nothing to do with that. That is called prajalpa, unnecessary talking. Talking means decreasing your duration of life. Talking. So why should you decrease your life unnecessarily? Every moment you have to utilize, "Whether it is used for Krsna?" This is sadhana. This is sadhana, practice. Unnecessary talking, unnecessary making enemies. Unnecessarily, "You are my subordinate; I am your master." Who is master? Everyone is subordinate to Krsna. Nobody is master. Why you talk unnecessarily?

So therefore it is said that kim anyair asad-alapaih. Asat. Asat means that will not exist, and sat means which will exist. That we do not know, which will exist. But we know that this body will not exist. That everyone, we know. And what is that thing which will exist? That we do not know. The soul. That we do not know. We know what will not exist. That everyone knows. And in Bhagavad-gita it is said,

avinasi tu tad viddhi
yena sarvam idam tatam
antavanta ime deha
nityasyoktah saririnah
 [Bg. 2.18]

Everything is there. We know that this body is asat, antavanta. Antavanta means "which has got an end." Antavanta ime dehah. This body has got an end at a certain date. Everyone knows. But the, the other is... Nityasyoktah saririnah. But within the body, which is the living force of this body, which is moving this body, that is nitya. Two things are there: my body and the force within the body. Everyone knows as soon as the force is withdrawn or gone away that this body has no more movement, it has no value. That everyone knows. But they will explain in different way. But according to our Vedic knowledge, that which is moving this body, that is eternal. That is not finished. "After the end of this body, the body is burnt into ashes or into, buried into the earth, and still?" Yes. Na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20].

In this way, every step, Svayam Bhagavan is personally..., Krsna is instructing us, and we are so fool, we cannot understand. We cannot understand. Big, big politicians, they read Bhagavad-gita, in our country. But by their action it is seen they did not understand even a word of Bhagavad-gita. Even a word of Bhagavad-gita. Big, big politician. They became very big, big mahatmas or great men, but they tried for this body, which is to be finished. Antavanta ime dehah. Nobody tried for that thing which will never be finished, that is eternal. You find from their life, they never instructed about the soul. They dealt with politics very nicely, to give bluff that "Within one year I shall give you liberation and this and that," about the... What is the value of this liberation? Because they did not know the thing which is not perishable, they are after this body, which is, liberated or not liberated, will perish. They are busy. They are busy with the activities of this body, which is surely perishable.

What is the value of your independence? Can you avoid death? Suppose you are independent. What is the meaning of this independence? When death will come, will catch you by your neck and throw you away, your independence, nonsense independence... What is the value of this independence? Be independent from the clutches of maya. No more death -- that is independence. That is independence. No more birth -- oh, that is independence. No more death. Otherwise what is the meaning of independence? You are not independent. You are under the clutches of maya. You are struggling. You are struggling to get out of the clutches of maya or the material nature, external energy of God. You are trying to make nice medicine to get out of the attack of disease. But you can manufacture a better medicine, but you cannot get out of disease. That is not possible. This is struggle. Now we have manufactured such a nice medicine that cancer or any other disease will not attack us. That is very nice. But find out some medicine that death will not attack you. "Oh, that is not possible." Then where is the meaning of your advancement?

So this Krsna consciousness movement is that medicine by which you can conquer over death. Therefore this is the best medicine. Bhavausadhi. It is said in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, bhavausadhi. Nivrtta-tarsair upagiyamanat... (aside:) You can stand on the wall, not in the middle. Nivrtta-tarsair upagiyamanad bhavausadhat [SB 10.1.4]. This word bhavausadhi means the panacea for all material diseases. Bhavausadhac chrotra-mano-'bhiramat. Pariksit Maharaja says that this chanting of Hare Krsna mantra, it is chanted by whom? Nivrtta-tarsaih, one who has finished his hankering after material pleasure. Nivrtti. Nivrtti means finished, no more. There are two ways: pravrtti and nivrtti. I want to smoke -- that is called pravrtti. And when I give up, that is called nivrtti. Pravrtti and nivrtti.

So there are two things: pravrtti and nivrtti. But asuras, demons, they do not know "In which way I shall guide my pravrtti and which way I shall guide my nivrtti." This is the pasu. "In which way I will..." Pravrtti and nivrtti, these two things are there, but the difference between a demon and demigod is that a demon does not know how to direct these two propensities, pravrtti and nivrtti. And a demigod knows how to guide these two things, pravrtti and nivrtti. These two...One who does not know... Pravrttir esa bhutanam nivrttis tu maha-phala. Sastra says that these things... Just like, loke vyavayamisa-madya-seva nitya hi jantor na hi tatra codana. This eating, sleeping, mating and defending, every animal, every small animal, knows it very well, how to eat, how to sleep, how to have sex intercourse and how to defend. These four things, everyone knows by nature. So this is called pravrtti. Pravrtti. But it has to be made nivrtti, stop. They do not know what is the perfection. The perfection is... The pravrtti, propensity is eating, sleeping, mating, defending. And when you make it just the opposite -- no more eating, no more sleeping, no more mating, no more defending -- oh, that is perfection of life. Who knows this? Ask any scientist, philosopher, of this world, that "Can you show me any way, no more eating, no more sleeping, no more mating and no more defending?" That is spiritual life. Therefore we have to reduce it. It is not possible, but there is possibility. Just like Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, he made it in his life, during Caitanya Mahaprabhu's... Even after departure of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, about four hundred years ago. He was a very rich man's son. Very good wife, very good state. He left everything, and ultimately, he made these things, even eating, nil. He was eating every third day a small quantity of butter, nominal, little. Otherwise he gave up eating. So it is possible. It is not that "How one can give up eating and live at the same time?" That is possible. By the life of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami we see.

So actual civilization means to deny material conveniences. That is actual civilization. That is perfection of civilization. Otherwise the cats and dogs, they are also after food, after sleeping, after sexual intercourse, after defense. Then what is the difference? The difference is the animals after it and the human beings should be not after it. Negation. That is perfection of life. So how we can negate? The Mayavadi philosophers, they want to negate. Or the Buddhist philosopher. "Make it zero. Make it zero." Sunyavadi. Sunyavadi. Nirvisesavadi. Nirvisesavadi and sunyavadi, almost the same. So they are after negation. But that is not possible. Artificially, if you negate, "I shall not eat," you cannot continue it for very many days. That is not possible. That is not possible. Similarly, eating, sleeping, mating -- everything -- artificially you cannot do. But you can do it as perfectly, as much possible, simply by Krsna consciousness. Therefore it is said here that kim anyair asad-alapaih. If we stop hear Krsna talking, then that is negation. If we stop artificially these mundane talks, that will be artificial. You cannot sit down. If I say that the so-called meditation... So meditation is artificially stopping mundane activities. That is meditation. But how long you will do that? He is becoming suffocated, "When I shall talk? When I shall talk? I am meditating, meditating, meditating." But how will it stop? That is not possible. Just like these Mayavadi philosophers, they say, "Become desireless, no more desire." That is not possible. I am a living entity. How can I be desireless? It is not possible.

So this negative process will not help us, sunyavadi. Sunyavadi. Nirvisesavadi. It will not be helpful. Therefore in the sastra it is said that aruhya krcchrena param padam tatah patanty adhah anadrta-yusmad-anghrayah [SB 10.2.32]. The same example I have given several times, that these rascals, they are going to the moon planet and sun planet, but they do not get any shelter, and they come down again. Their advancement means go to some extent and again come back again, earthly planet. When the Russian aeronauts was flying, he was seeing, "Where is my Moscow? Where is my Moscow?" The anchor is there. The attraction is there in the national, in the country, in the city, in the home, in the wife, in the cats, in the dogs. And he is trying to go up. So that is not possible. Just like a vulture. He goes three miles up or more than that, but his aim of life is to find out a dead body. That's all. He is finding. He has gone so up. You can see that advancement of going up, but the business is to see where is a dead body so that he can eat.

So this kind of artificial going up and making things negation will not help us. That is not possible. Therefore they are failure. Aruhya krcchrena param padam tatah [SB 10.2.32]. These Mayavadi philosophers, they may go very high by knowledge, by speculation, but they will again fall down. Why? Anadrta-yusmad-anghrayah: "Because they could not get the shelter of Your lotus feet, therefore they will fall down." That is not secure. Because a man cannot remain without any activity, without any desire. That is not possible. A man, animal, any, even insect, he must be doing something. I have got practical experience. One of my sons in child..., when I was young man, he was very naughty. So sometimes we used to put him on the rack. He could not get down. So he was feeling so uncomfortable because his activities stopped on the rack. So you cannot stop activity. That is not possible. You must give better activity. Then you will stop. Param drstva nivartate.

So this Krsna consciousness movement is that you get better activity. Therefore you can give up the inferior activities. Otherwise, simply by negation, it is not possible. We must work. We must work for Krsna's sake. We shall go to the Krsna's temple, or we shall go for selling Krsna's books, or meeting some Krsna devotee. That is nice. But you cannot stop working. That is not possible. Then your idle brain will be devil's workshop. Yes. Then you will fall down, "How to go to that woman? How to go to that man?" If you stop working, then you have to work again to sense gratification. That's all. Similarly, you take any sense; you cannot stop it, but you have to engage it. That is Krsna consciousness. You engage your hand and engage your legs, you engage your eyes, you engage your ears, engage your tongue -- simply in Krsna. You can engage everything. For eyes, instead of hankering after some beautiful man or beautiful woman, just see Krsna, how nicely dressed. Then you will forget these other seeing. For tongue, you engage your tongue simply for chanting. Then your nonsense talking will automatically stop. You engage your tongue eating very nice prasadam of Krsna, offered to Krsna. Then you forget to go to restaurant. In this way our time should be utilized. As it is said that kim anyair asad-alapaih. We should not allow our senses to be engaged in such thing which will never exist. That is the criterion. Simply engage yourself in such things which will continue, will exist forever.

Just like we are learning here Krsna's service. So Krsna's service is here, and if you are perfect, then Krsna's service is there after death also, the same thing. Therefore it is said, mara va jiva va. One saintly person said to a royal prince, raja-putra ciran jiva, ciran jiva: "Oh, you are the son of a king. You will live forever." Muni-putra muni-putra ma jiva ma jiva: "Oh, you are the disciple of a saintly person, brahmacari, you please die immediately." Just see. Raja-putra ciran jiva, blessing raja-putra, "You live forever." And muni-putra, the son of a muni, or the disciple of a muni, he says, ma jiva, ma jiva: "You don't live, you'll die. You die." And that thing... That, what is called? This butcher. Butcher, he is advising the butcher, jiva va mara va: "Either you..." No. He is advising butcher, ma jiva ma mara: "Don't die, don't live." And to a sadhu, saintly person, he is advising, jiva va mara va, two things. So what is the purport? The purport is that this prince, he is enjoying material enjoyment, but next life he will have to become a dog. "So better you live with your enjoyment. Ciran jiva. Because as soon as you die, you are going to be a dog. So better you live. So long you will live it is good for you." And muni-putra, a brahmacari, his business is fasting and go to collect for Guru Maharaja, and then whatever he takes, he offers to the guru. Then the guru says that "You can eat," he can eat. It is hardship, but by this hardship he is now prepared to go back to home, Godhead. So he says, "You immediately die so you can go to Vaikuntha immediately." And the cruel butcher, he is advised, ma jiva ma mara: "You don't live and don't die. Because your living condition is so horrible that every day, morning, you have to kill so many animals and see bloodshed and this. It is a horrible life. Your occupation is very, very horrible. Therefore you should not live. But at the same time, if you die, then you are going to suffer all this suffering yourself. Then you don't die also." So this is the position. And sadhu, those who are saintly person, devotees, he is advised, jiva va mara va: "Either you live or either you die, your business is to serve Krsna. You are serving Krsna now, and after death, you will serve Krsna. So there is no question of your death, neither there is no question of your birth." So these are some moral instructions.

So here it is said that kim anyair asad-alapair yad. What is this? Avyayah, asad-vyayah. What is the meaning of vyayah? Asat, "unnecessary waste of life." So unnecessary waste of life, we should be very careful. That is Krsna consciousness. That is the criterion of Krsna conscious life. We should not waste our time. That is advised by Rupa Gosvami also. Avyartha-kalatvam [Cc.Madhya 23.18-19]. We should be very cautious not to waste a single moment without Krsna consciousness. So we have got so many activities. If we have no activities, then we can polish the floor of the temple? That is not very difficult. If I am illiterate, I have no interest in reading books, I have no interest in chanting or I cannot do it constantly, then take something and mop over the temple and cleanse the temple. That is also service. It is not that one who is engaged in the Deity worship, he is better engaged, and one who is polishing the floor, he is less engaged. No. Both of them will get equal benefit. Krsna consciousness is so nice. So find out some business for Krsna. Don't waste time. That is the perfection of Krsna consciousness.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.6 -- Los Angeles, January 3, 1974

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Fish-But Don't Touch The Water

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.5
Los Angeles, January 2, 1974

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Pradyumna: "Saunaka Rsi inquired: Why did Maharaja Pariksit simply punish him, since he was the lowest of the sudras, having dressed as a king and having struck a cow with his leg? Please describe all these incidences as they relate to the topics of Lord Krsna."

Prabhupada: So here is..., the basic principle is yadi krsna-kathasrayam. Devotees are interested to discuss something if it is helping us how we can become more and more attached to Krsna. That is the... Otherwise, we are not interested in the matter of general principles of morality, social culture, ethics. They are required, but because this material world means it is a contaminated world, infected world. So, here in this material world so-called morality or immorality is the same because it is infected. Just try to understand. If there is an epidemic, infection, so in that condition, first of all what is the necessity? First thing is to disinfect the epidemic. In the infected area you cannot derive any benefit by discussing morality or immorality. The man is dying out of infection. So to a immediately dying person, who is sure to die due to infection, what is the use of giving him instruction of morality or immorality? He's going to die.

Similarly, in this world they have invented so many things -- philanthropism, altruism, nationalism, this "ism," that "ism," but without Krsna. It is the same position. Without Krsna consciousness he's going to hell, however moral he may be, however pious he may be, so-called. If he does not know Krsna, it has no meaning. Therefore, the first condition was that we are interested to hear about Maharaja Pariksit's punishing the Kali provided it helps us to advance in Krsna consciousness. Otherwise we have no interest. This should be the principle of devotees. We can take part in everything -- politics, sociology or philanthropism, altruism, there are so many things they have discovered -- provided by taking part in that department of activities we advance our Krsna consciousness. Otherwise reject. Don't take part. You'll be implicated. There, that, that philosophy, technique: dhari' macha na chonya (?) pani, that we should fish, but don't touch the water. If on the plea of fishing, you become fall down in the water and you are gone, washed away, then what is this?

So sometimes we say that you take part in politics. Our business is not to take part in politics for acquiring big post like president or secretary or attorney general. What you will do that? We have no meaning for this post. Because for a devotee what are these posts? Even the post of Lord Brahma or Indra, the heavenly king, it has no meaning. Vidhi-mahendradis ca kitayate. That is stated by Prabodhananda Sarasvati. He says that kaivalyam narakayate. Kaivalyam, the monism, to merge into the effulgence, the Absolute Truth, to become one, that is called kaivalyam, only spirit, that's all. So for a devotee this kaivalya perfection, monism, is as good as hellish condition of life. Kaivalyam narakayate. And tridasa-pur akasa-puspayate. Tri-dasa-pur means the higher heavenly planets where big, big demigods live. Just like people are trying to go to this planet, that planet. So tri-dasa-pur. Tri-dasa means thirty, three dasa, ten times...ah, three times ten. So there are thirty millions of demigods. And they have got different planets also. So they are promised, "If you come to this demigod's planet, yanti deva-vrata devan [Bg. 9.25], you will get so much happiness, you will live for so many years, you will have better standard of life, thousand times more than in the... These are... They are described in the Vedas. But a devotee says that this tri-dasa-pur, this heavenly planet, is as good as phantasmagoria. They have no value for these things.

So the..., this is the aspiration of the karmis, to elevate life to higher standard of life. As the world is going on... The struggle is going on for having a higher standard of life. But they are becoming implicated. Now, there was bull-drawn cart or horse-drawn carriages. Now they have got nice cars also, but the problem is petrol. So the karmi world is like that. You create one kind of happiness, but side by side you create another kind of unhappiness. This is called karmi-yoga. Just like if you want to raise one big skyscraper building, then you have to dig somewhere to get the earth to make the bricks and the iron. You cannot manufacture without taking help of the nature. So if you raise here, you must dig here. This is karmi-yoga. If you want to enjoy something extraordinarily, you must create another unhappiness extraordinarily. This is called karmi. Therefore they are mudhas. Mudhas means rascals, asses. They do not know that "By increasing every year new motorcars, I am creating another problem. If there is no petrol, then the whole business will be spoiled." That they do not know. And because they do not know, they are called asses, mudha. The effect they do not know. So the tri-dasa-pur, going to the heavenly planet... Just like they are going to the moon planet, but problems after problem, contemplating how to make a platform in the sky to get petrol. The problem is there, not that very easily going. The problematic... Things are problematic.

So these kinds of plans... Just like Ravana. He said, "What is the use of becoming devotee? Oh, if you want to go to the heavenly planet, I shall make a solid staircase, reinforced concrete, and you can go there. There is no need of endeavoring for austerities, penances, no." So these people are trying like Ravana, that "We shall take you to the moon planet, Venus planet, this planet, and give us money. Now we spend. You go on spending... In future, in future." So these karmis are just like phantasmagoria, will o' the wisp. And jnani, they are also merging into the effulgence of Brahman. That is also another foolishness, because actually nobody can remain in that. Just like we are feeling happy here because we have got so many friends here, ladies and gentleman, and you are talking. Now, if it was vacant, nobody is here. Sometimes in our temple, That's not very good. Nobody likes to sit. Is it a fact? Every day, because we are so many, it is very pleasing to sit down.

So by nature a living entity wants society. "Society, friendship and love, divinely bestowed upon man." That is required. And if you live in a forlorn place, nobody's there, no society, no friends, then how long can stay there? You cannot stay. Just like if you go on the sky by airplane, after four, five, six hours you, you become disturbed: "When the plane will get down? When the plane will get down?" This is natural. Why...? Why the plane...? You are flying very nicely, huh? There is no turmoil, no noise in the sky. Go nicely. No. Similarly, in the ship also, you travel for many days. So it will be disturbing. People are searching after when we shall land in some place. So living entity by nature, he wants association. Artificially he wants to... Just like some of, some of the devotees, they like that "Now we shall go in a solitary place and chant Hare Krsna." That is a different position. It is not possible for the ordinary man. So going to the Brahman effulgence, simply realizing that "I am a spirit soul, I have nothing to do," that will not be beneficial. You will again come down. Aruhya krcchrena param padam tatah patanty adho 'nadrta-yusmad-anghrayah [SB 10.2.32]. If you do not get shelter, simply to remain in the impersonal Brahman effulgence will not make you happy. Artificially, you can stay there for some time; otherwise, you will again fall down in this material world for varieties of enjoyment.

Because that impersonalist, impersonal person, those who are attached to impersonal philosophy, they do not care to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They say, "It is maya. To become impersonal is perfection." So they cannot remain imper..., in the impersonal feature for very long time because nature... We are part and parcel of Krsna. The only fault is that we have tried to imitate Krsna here in this material world. Otherwise, that instinct is there. Just like Krsna is enjoying with gopis and Radharani. Now, because I am part and parcel of Krsna, that instinct must be in me also, in minute quantity. But that must be in me. Therefore we also want to enjoy with so-called lover or beloved or girls or boys, but we are trying to enjoy in a false platform -- this material world. Therefore we are becoming baffled. The same enjoyment is, Krsna is offering, by His descendance, that "If you want to enjoy like this in the society of beautiful young boys and girls, come to Me. Here it is, reality." But that they will not. That they will make impersonal. Being frustrated in this material platform, they want to make it zero, sunyavadi, sunyavadi, being disgusted... Because you cannot be happy in this material enjoyment. So at time it will be disgusting. That is jnana-bhumika.(?) "So we have tried our best. What is the use of this enjoyment? Brahma satyam jagan mithya. This is all false. Now let us become Brahman, become one with Brahman." But that is also false. That idea, to become one with the Brahman, that is also false.

So real reality is Krsna consciousness. Therefore these sages, big, big great sages, they are hearing Suta Gosvami. So they ask the reason "Why the king Maharaja Pariksit punished that Kali in the dress of a king? ‘So if you..., if possible, kindly describe the reason. And provided it will help our Krsna consciousness." This is the condition. Yadi krsna-kathasrayam: "If there is connection with Krsna." Just like the Bhagavad-gita. It is a topics on the battlefield. Senayor ubhayor madhye ratham sthapaya me 'cyuta. Arjuna is asking Krsna, "Please keep my chariot between the two phalanxes of armies." This is completely military proposal. But why we are interested to hear about Bhagavad-gita? Because krsna-kathasrayam, because there is krsna-katha, there is instruction of Krsna. Therefore we are interested. Otherwise, what is the use of hearing, "Somebody is fighting with somebody, and he's asking his chariot driver, ‘Place my chariot in this position. Let me see who, whom I shall have to fight'?" So what is the use of? There is no use. People are interested in reading, but they are reading all so-called literature, poetry. But we are not interested in such, such kind of literature, because there is no krsna-katha. We are interested in Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita. Why? Because it is krsna-katha. The same propensity. Everyone wants to read something. So we also want to read something. But we read Bhagavad-gita, Bhagavatam, Caitanya-caritamrta, because there is krsna-katha. We are not interested with any other rubbish literature, however nicely it is prepared.

tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavo
yasmin prati-slokam abaddhavaty api
namany anantasya yaso 'nkitani yat
srnvanti gayanti grnanti sadhavah
[ SB 1.5.11]

That kind of literature, where namany anantasya, the holy name of the ananta, the Supreme Unlimited, namany anantasya yaso 'nkitani, His glories are described, such kind of literature, srnvanti gayanti grnanti sadhavah, that is interested, interesting to the sadhavah. They hear, they chant, srnvanti gayanti grnanti, and accept the philosophy. Tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavo yasmin prati-slokam...[ SB 1.5.11]. Even those verses are not very nicely composed from literary point of view, still, a sadhu, who is saintly person, he'll take interest of that kind of literature. And other literatures: tad vayasam tirtham. Other literature, because there is no description of the Supreme Absolute, that is the pleasure place for the crows. Tad vayasam tirtham.

So we are not interested with such kind of literature; however from literary point of view, from poetic point of view, they are very nicely written. If there is no krsna-katha, there is no description of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, no devotee should be interested. Even though... Even we do not touch the daily newspaper. Why? Because there no is krsna-katha. One and the same thing, punah punas carvita-carvananam [SB 7.5.30]. Repeating the same... "This man was stolen of his property. This politician has said like this. That politician has replied like this. There was disaster. There was fire. There was this..." These news are full with newspaper, so many bunch of papers. So who cares for it? Tad vayasam tirtham, crowlike men. Not the swans, white swans. White swans, they go to the very clear water where there is nice garden, nice birds are chirping, nice fruits are there. You will find the white swans will go there, in the park. And the crows will go... Where everything garbage, nasty things are thrown away, they'll enjoy there. Even in the animals, the birds, you'll find this distinction. Why the crow does not go to the nice garden? And why the swan does not go to the crow society?

So there are different classes of men, crow society and swan society. The swan society is different from the crow society. How you can make equal? The people are making, try to make classless society. It is not possible to make classless society because every living entity is being controlled by a different quality. So the qualitative distinction must be there. You cannot make them classless. It is all imagination. The crow class, the swan class, the pigeon class, the dog class, even in the animals, even in the birds, even in the plants... There is a plant, rose tree, and there are other plants, useless, no fruit, no flower. It is simply meant for becoming fuel. So by nature there are so many distinctions. You cannot make equal everything. This is called variety. But everything is required, provided one knows how to utilize it, and that is possible by Krsna conscious person, not by ordinary person. To accept all varieties of creation and engage them in Krsna's service, that is Krsna consciousness.

So the first condition is yadi, "if," krsna-kathasrayam. That should be the principle of devotees. Anything which has no connection with Krsna, we have no interest. Let it go. We are simply interested if it is related with Krsna. Nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe yuktam vairagyam ucyate. Our principle is to follow the Gosvamis. They have given two formulas, Rupa Gosvami.

prapancikataya buddhya
hari-sambandhi-vastunah
mumuksubhih parityago
vairagyam phalgu kathyate

Where there is connection of Krsna, if you can utilize it for Krsna... Just like we are utilizing everything. This building we are utilizing, the chandelier(?) we are utilizing. We are using this microphone and using paper and press. We are using everything. But why? For Krsna. We are not engaged here for singing cinema songs or like that. No. We can utilize these instruments for singing the glory of Krsna. Therefore we have taken advantage. Otherwise... But people..., there are so-called tyagis: "Oh, these people are using material things. This man is taking material advantage; at the same time, he's condemning material advancement." We don't condemn. We simply teach people that utilize for Krsna. Nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe. We don't condemn. We don't say that don't manufacture this microphone. Yes. Microphone -- use. But use it for declaring glories of the Lord. Then it is fully utilized. That is our process, Krsna consciousness.

So we are not these so-called Mayavadi sannyasis, brahma satyam jagan mithya. Why jagan mithya? Mithya means false. They say that jagan mithya, this whole material world is false. We don't say false. We say it is temporary, and so long it is in use, you utilize it for Krsna. That even this material world will be utilized for Krsna consciousness, this is our proposal. We don't reject anything. Therefore Rupa Gosvami: prapancikataya buddhya hari-sambandhi-vastunah. A thing which can be used for the service of Hari, Krsna, if it is given up as material, that vairagya, that renunciation, is not very good. That renunciation... "I have renounced everything..." Just like amongst the Jains, they will not ride on car, they'll walk. So our principle is not like that. "No, we shall not take advantage of the motorcar or the airplanes. These are all material. I shall walk." Why shall I walk? If I would not have taken the advantage of the airplanes, how I could preach Krsna consciousness all over the world so swiftly? We must take all advantage, but for Krsna. That is Krsna consciousness. We shall encourage people, but the thing is that we may not forget. If by material opulence we forget Krsna, then that is suicidal. That is sui... Therefore we have to be little careful. We may drive the Rolls Royce car, but may not identify with the car: "Oh, now I've become Rolls Royce. You are Chevrolet. I'm Rolls Royce." (laughter) Don't become nonsense like that. Rolls Royce car is different from you, and Chevrolet car is also different from you. You can take advantage of them. Don't identify. They are identifying with the matter. That is the defect. That is called maya. He's not identifying with Krsna, that "I am part and parcel of Krsna. I am not part and parcel of these Rolls Royce cars." If one keeps himself, I mean to say, awakened in this way, so in any condition of life, he is liberated, any condition.

That is also given by Rupa Gosvami, that,

iha yasya harer dasye
karmana manasa gira
nikhilasv apy avasthasu
jivan-muktah sa ucyate

Iha. Iha means "desire." Yasya, anybody's desire. He's always thinking how to serve Krsna. How to serve Krsna with whole world paraphernalia, he's planning, such person. Iha yasya harer dasye. His main aim is how to serve Krsna. Karmana manasa gira. One can serve Krsna by his activities, karmana, by mind, by thinking, by planning how to do it nicely. Mind is also required. Karmana manasa vaca. And by words. How? Preaching. Such person, nikhilasv apy avasthasu, in any condition of life he may be... He may be in Vrndavana or he may be in hell. He has nothing to do with, with anything else, except with Krsna. Jivan-muktah sa ucyate: He's always liberated. That is required. Therefore it is said, yadi krsna-kathasrayam. "If this description which (we) are asking you, what is the reason that Pariksit Maharaja was going on his tour, royal tour, what business he had to punish one man who dressed like a king and trying to kill cows... So why he was interested? Is it for Krsna or for his personal interest? If it is for Krsna, then please..." Kathyatam maha-bhaga. "You are most fortunate. Please describe this."

And another point is nrdeva-cihna-dhrk. Nrdeva. Nr means "human being," and deva means "God." So the king is considered as God in the human society. Just see what should be the position of the king. And how much qualified he must be. Because a king is supposed to be the representative of God to develop Krsna consciousness of the people. That is king's duty. Therefore he's called nrdeva. Anyone who is trying for Krsna, to make people Krsna conscious, he is a representative of Krsna, real representative. Therefore guru is offered the respect exactly like Krsna. Saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair uktas tatha bhavyata **. Because he is kintu prabhor yah priya eva tasya, he's the..., doing the most confidential service, Krsna. Krsna wants everyone to surrender to Him, and the spiritual master is doing the same: "Please surrender to Krsna." Therefore he's the most confidential servant of Krsna. He should be honored as Krsna. That is the duty of the king also. Everyone should come forward. The father, the mother, the king, the spiritual master. Upon whom the instruction of the disciples, of the subordinate wards, is depending, they should be all Krsna conscious. Therefore it is said nrdeva..., nrdeva-cihna-dhrk. And he was punished because, although he dressed himself like a king, but he had no responsibility. Therefore nrdeva-cihna-dhrk sudrakah. He was actually sudra, and he was taking the place of a king. Therefore he should be punished. This is the duty of the government. Nobody can cheat. If you dress like such and such person, you must deal also honestly. Otherwise you will be punished.

Thank you very much. Take this. Chant. (end)

 

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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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