Pradyumna (leads chanting, etc.):
utsanna-kula-dharmanam
manusyanam janardana
narake niyatam vaso
bhavatity anususruma
[Bg. 1.43]
Translation: "O Krsna, maintainer of the people, I have heard by disciplic succession that those who destroy family traditions dwell always in hell."
Prabhupada: So family tradition, whose family tradition? Manusyanam. Family... Manusyanam, those who are human being, they have got family and family rituals, kula-dharma, jati-dharma. Just like catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg. 4.13]. This is meant for the human being, manusyanam, not for the animals. So unless the human society accepts this principle of varnasrama-dharma ordained by Krsna, the Supreme Lord, he is not considered amongst the human being. They are as good as animals because there is no regular, systematic principles of how to live, a human being. Therefore in the Visnu Purana... When Caitanya Mahaprabhu was talking with Ramananda Raya, so Caitanya Mahaprabhu inquired, "What is the actual aim of life?" Sadhya-sadhana. Sadhya and sadhana. "What is the aim?" Sadhya means what for this human form of life we have got. That is called sadhya, the goal, the goal of life. And sadhana. Sadhana means the activity by which we can attain, we can achieve that goal of life. This is called sadhya-sadhana. The Darwin theory, although they are giving some idea of progressive evolution, but he does not know what is the goal of life, why this progress is there. That these rascals they do not know. Simply just imagining, taking some whims from the Padma Purana, Brahma Vaivarta Purana. Asitims catvarams caiva, jiva-jatisu, laksams tan jiva-jatisu. There are 8,400,000 types of jiva-jatis. Asitims catvarams caiva laksams tan jiva-jatisu. So this is already there. Brahmadbhih. In this way the living entity is wandering in the cycle of transmigration of the soul. So from this, Mr. Darwin might have taken some hints, but he could not explain properly. He could not catch up that brahmadbhih, who is wandering. So it is a chaos.
So anyway, why this living entity is wandering, not fixed up? So there must be some goal. He is hankering after that. There must be some goal of life. To achieve that goal of life that is called sadhya. Why we are struggling here for happiness or something else? We are struggling. So this question was raised by Caitanya Mahaprabhu, that "What is the goal of life?" Unless there is goal of life, why there is struggle? Why... There must be some goal of life, sadhya. And sadhana. Sadhana means the means by which we can achieve that goal of life. That is called sadhana, sadhana. So Ramananda Raya quoted... Because when there is talk between two learned persons, they... Just like nowadays it has become a fashion: "In my opinion," "I think in this way." What, nonsense, what you can think? What is your knowledge? But he is very proud. Everyone like that. The other day, that Sir Alistair? Alistair Hardy came. He also said, "It is my opinion." Nobody thinks that he is a nonsense number one; what is the value of his opinion? Nobody thinks. But this is the Vedic principle. Even Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He, when He was asked by Prakasananda Sarasvati that "You are a sannyasi. You do not engage Yourself in the study of Vedanta. You are simply chanting Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna." So... Because a sannyasi is supposed to be always reading Vedanta philosophy especially and all other philosophy. So "What is this, that you are chanting like a sentimental person?" So Caitanya Mahaprabhu replied, "Yes, My Guru Maharaja, spiritual master, saw Me a fool number one." So Caitanya Mahaprabhu, it was known to Prakasananda Sarasvati, He was a great learned scholar in His student life. So He is posing Himself as a fool number one. So this is the way. Caitanya-caritamrta the author of Caitanya-caritamrta, he is presenting himself: purisera kita haite muni sei laghistha: "I am lower than the worm of the stool." Purisera kita haite muni sei laghistha. Laghistha means lower, lowest. Jagai madhai haite muni sei papistha. Jagai and Madhai was taken, they were drunkards, woman hunters. Therefore they were sinful. So Caitanya-caritamrta kahe, says that jagai madhai haite muni sei papistha. This is the way, nobody think himself as one has become very big man and he has his own opinion to give. This is rascaldom. So everyone should think that "What is my value?" That is really learned, humble and meek. Nobody should think that "Now I have learned everything. I can surpass everyone. I have become above all rules and regulation. Now I have become paramahamsa." This is rascaldom. Everyone should always think, "I am fool number one." Therefore the endeavor will go on, to become perfect. If we think that "Now I have become perfect, paramahamsa," then the spiritual regulative principles will never be followed, and you will fall down.
So here Arjuna also says that narake niyatam vaso bhavati iti anususruma:."Krsna, I have heard it from authorative sources." He never says, "Krsna, in my opinion, if it is done like that, then people will go to hell." He does not give his own opinion. He says iti, "Thus," anususruma, "I have heard." This is called parampara system. Nobody should give his own opinion. He must quote the authoritative statement to support his proposition. So similarly, when Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked that "What is the aim of life and how to achieve it?" so Ramananda Raya, he did not give his own opinion, that "In my opinion, like this." Here also Arjuna says, ity anususruma, "I have heard it." He heard it means... Susruma means "heard from authority." So Ramananda Raya said that "Real purpose of life, goal of life, is to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead." Just like as we are citizens, what is our duty? We want to satisfy the authority, the government. When one serves the government nicely, in this country he is recognized as knight. He is recognized as earl, as lord, as... So many, they have got titles. Every country, when a person is very exalted citizen, then he is recognized by the government. So if this is the system in our ordinary life, then the aim of life should be to satisfy the supreme governor, or supreme government. It is very common sense. But they have no supreme government. They think, "Whatever government we make, that is final." No. There are so many kingdoms, so many planets. In each planet there is government, there is authority, and above all of them, there is the supreme authority, Krsna. Isvarah paramah krsnah sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah [Bs. 5.1]. This is the sastric injunction. There are many controller. In this planet there is controller. There is another planet, another planet. Even Brahma is the controller of the whole universe. Just like in our government there is system. One department... Several departments is being managed by another director. Several directors is being managed by another secretary. As... The same system. Krsna is the supreme proprietor, sarva-loka-mahesvara, and He has got many secretaries, assistants. They are called Brahma. So Brahma means the manager of one brahmanda, universe. And there are millions of Brahmas, millions, trillions. They are numberless. Ananta-koti. Yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-kotih [Bs. 5.40]. Koti. Koti means unlimited. Jagad-anda. Jagad-anda means universe. Brahmanda or jagad-anda. Anda. Anda means it is egg-shaped, round, egg-shaped. Therefore it is called anda, brahmanda. Bhu-gola. Gola means round. I have heard that before the science, the people were under the impression that this world is square. Is it not?
Devotees: Flat.
Prabhupada: Flat. Flat, yes. But in the Vedic sastra, millions of years ago it is mentioned: bhu-gola. Gola means round. Just see. And these rascals say that formerly people were not so intelligent. They are intelligent because they are thinking that this world is flat. And those who have spoken millions of years ago, "It is round," they will have less intelligence. Just see. Bhu, gola. Gola means round. Bhu-gola. Similarly, jagad-anda. Abda means round, just like egg. Anda means egg. Jagad-anda. This universe is egg-shaped. And we can see also, the sky is round. This is the wall of this universe.
So anyway, so as we are here, in this small government, our business is to satisfy the governor... Suppose if you decry the queen. If you say publicly in a meeting that "Queen is a prostitute." Then what will be? Immediately you will be arrested and punished. In your private house you can say. Nobody will hear. But if you say such thing nonsense in public, immediately you will be criminal. Therefore your duty is to respect the queen, to abide by the orders of the government. That is your aim of good citizenship. What is the difference between good citizen and outlaws? The difference is a good citizen is always trying to satisfy the government by abiding the laws given by the government. So therefore our ultimate goal is to satisfy the supreme government, Krsna. Because Krsna is the supreme. These universes, they are Krsna's kingdom. There are many kingdoms. Just like we have got many universes within this material world, similarly, there are many spiritual planets in the spiritual world. These are common-sense affairs. Why people will not understand? Therefore our business is to satisfy Krsna, to become perfect, satisfy Krsna. Visnur aradhyate. So how visnur aradhyate? This is the philosophy. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31]. Suppose in an office your immediate boss, some superintendent of the office, you follow his orders, although he is not final. Above the superintendent of the office, there is another secretary. Above the secretary, there is one other director. Above the director, there is managing director. These are common-sense things. Similarly there are many, many controllers, but the supreme controller is Krsna, or Visnu. So it is common-sense affair that our aim of life is to satisfy the Supreme Lord, Visnu, or Krsna. This is common sense. Is there any other reasoning that "Why He should be satisfied?"? No. You have to satisfy.
So this is Vaisnavism. One who wants to satisfy Visnu, he is called Vaisnava. That is Vaisnavism. Visnu means the Supreme Lord. So everything is arranged to satisfy the Lord Visnu. So where from it begins? The cats and dogs, they can be trained up for satisfying Visnu? No, there is no possibility. They are dogs, animals. They are simply busy with four principles of life: eating, sleeping, sex-life and defending. That's all. They cannot be trained up that "You become very obedient to Lord Visnu. Become a devotee." Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. "You become the devotee of Krsna." No, that is not possible. Therefore it is said that manusyanam. Manusyanam. It is the duty of the manusya, not of the dog. Manusyanam. Utsanna-kula-dharmanam manusyanam janardana.
So human life has got a great responsibility. If you become like cats and dog, the hippies, then utsanna, everything is destroyed. Utsanna-kula-dharma. They have no family. They don't care for any rules and regulation. Utsanna, everything destroyed. Jaghanya-guna-vrtti-sthah. No family life, no taking bath, no worship, nothing of... All irresponsible. I have seen it in Amsterdam. What is that park?
Hamsaduta: Vondal Park.
Prabhupada: Horrible. Actually this, this, what was spoken by Arjuna five thousand years ago, it is now happening. Utsanna, all destroyed, finished. Kula-dharmanam. No family life. So therefore for human being, it is the duty to understand his position, and it is his duty to satisfy the Supreme Lord. This is the whole plan. Therefore Ramananda Raya quoted the verse from Visnu Purana that varnasramacaravata purusena parah puman, visnur aradhyate. Because the aim is to satisfy Visnu, to become Vaisnava. To become brahmana is also lower status. You will hear from the Caitanya-caritamrta that our Madhavendra Puri, he was installing Deities. So there are many brahmanas, caste brahmana, born in... So in order to give charge of worship to those brahmanas, he initiated them to become Vaisnava. Because without becoming Vaisnava, nobody has got right to worship Visnu. Visnu will not accept anything from anyone unless he is devotee. And Visnu is poverty-stricken that He has come to take from you? He cannot eat? He has no eating means? No. He agrees to accept our offering just on the basis of love. The Vaisnava loves Visnu, and Visnu agrees to accept any foodstuff. Patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati [Bg. 9.26]. That bhakti is main thing, not your palatable dish. Visnu is quite competent to prepare thousand times better palatable dishes than you can offer. But the real thing is bhakti.
So visnur aradhanam means visnur ar..., that should be the aim of human life. Visnur aradhana means one must become a Vaisnava, and Vaisnava means regulated life, not destroyed everything, finished, to become hogs. That is not Vaisnava. Vaisnava means regulated, end -- to, how to satisfy Visnu. So whole Vedic scheme is there, how to satisfy Visnu. Therefore it is said that utsanna kula-dharmanam manusyanam. In the human life, if they do not follow the regulative principles of family life, family tradition and systematic arrangement of four divisions of the society, brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra... In this way we can satisfy the Supreme Lord. Our aim is to satisfy the Supreme Lord, and this can be done perfectly if we follow the regulative principles of jati-dharma, kula-dharma. Jati-dharma means if you are born in the family of a brahmana you have got particular duties. Simply if you think yourself that "I am born in a brahmana family; my duty is all finished. Now I can do whatever nonsense..." They think like that. I have spoken. They are very much proud of taking birth in brahmana family. So when others are engaged in devotional service, they say, "Oh, you are born in lower family. You have got to do this. We are born in brahmana... We have nothing to do." You see? But they do not know that jati-dharma kula-ghnanam, utsanna-kula-dharmanam. If you are actually brahmana, you must keep your family tradition. That is brahmana. Otherwise if you sacrifice everything of your family tradition... Just like in your country, the Lord family. The Lord family is maintained. The government, the Lord family has got money deposited with the government, and government gives the interest so that the family tradition may be maintained, the aristocratic style. Or if they spoil, they no more cares for them. Then their house will be sold and they will be street-beggar. That's all. No more Lord family.
So everywhere, you take politically or socially or spiritually, for human beings, if you want to make your life successful, then you must keep the tradition of brahmana-vaisnava. So our, we are Vaisnava. Our only tradition is how to satisfy Visnu. That is the tradition of everyone, but, especially Vaisnavas. They must be very alert, very careful, how to keep Lord Visnu or Krsna satisfied. That is our only business. So you should not neglect it. Then utsanna-kula-dharmanam,... then you will spoil everything. When you have invited Visnu, Krsna, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, to accept your service, you must be very, very careful how to render service. How cleansely, how nicely you have to serve. Otherwise everything will be spoiled. Utsanna-kula-dharmanam. A Vaisnava's kula-dharma is simply to satisfy Krsna. So in the... Manusyanam. Actually, human life begins when he is ready to serve the Supreme Lord Visnu. That is human life; otherwise it is animal life. Therefore the whole world is in chaos. They are not eager to serve Visnu. They are simply eager to serve their senses. Go-dasa. Servant of the senses. So instead of becoming servant of the senses, you have to become master of the senses. That is called gosvami. If you remain servant of the senses, then you are go-dasa. Kamadinam katidha kati na.... That is animal life. But when you become master of the senses... How it is possible, master of the senses? Now, if you employ your senses always in the service of Krsna, your senses are already controlled. Just like your tongue. Your tongue asks you, "Go to the restaurant and eat some nice thing." But if you are a Vaisnava, if you have this vow that "I shall not allow my tongue to eat anything except prasadam," it is already controlled. That means, to control the senses means to engage the senses in the service of the Lord. This is control. Otherwise, by force... Just like the yogis, they try artificially by some gymnastic. That may be possible for some time, but it is... There are many instances, it became... [break] Because by force they cannot control the senses. That is not possible. You must give better engagement. [break] By force, if you think that "I shall control my tongue, I shall control my eyes, I shall control my genital, I shall control my belly." Artificial. That may be possible for some time. But they are so strong, the senses are so strong, artificially it cannot be stopped. Param drstva... [break]... stated in the Bhagavad-gita. You give the senses better engagement. Then you can control. Hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir uttama. Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena... [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. [break] You have to purify the senses. How? By engaging the senses in the ser... [break]... tat paratvena. [break] Then you will be able to purify the senses, and with purified senses, when you are engaged in the service of the Supreme, that is called bhakti.
So if we are actually human beings, manusyanam... [break] Kula-dharma, this family tradition, is not meant for the cats and dogs. If you live like cats... [break] ...there is no question of family tradition. But if you live, want to live like human being, manusyanam, then this system must be... [break] ...purusena parah puman. Catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg. 4.13]. Then society must be divided into four classes... As we have got four divisions in [break] ...brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra must be there. [break] And each one should serve according to his guna-karma, quality and capacity to work. Then the whole society is organized... [break] ...will be perfect, there will be peace... [break] ...no war, nothing of the sort, and gradually making progress back to home, back to Godhead. Otherwise it will be chaos... [break] ...become at the present moment.
So... [break] ...utsanna kula-dharmanam manusyanam. Manusya, janardana. Jana means general public, and "one who controls." Krsna controls every... [break] ...Janaradana. So "My dear Janardana, Krsna, in the human society, if we spoil this traditional process, then what...? It becomes..." Narake niyatam vaso. If you do not... [break] ...if we live like cats and dog, then next life we get cats and dog... [break] But these rascals, they do not know. They do not believe in the next life. So it is horrible condition. Purposefully you put yourself if you do not follow... [break] ...process. The varnasrama-dharma... [break]... society. Utsanna-kula-dharmanam manusyanam janardana, narake niyatam. Niyatam means always. [break] Just like the hog, hellish life... [break] ...eating stool, living in filthy place. maya is dictating, "You are... [ ...more than a king." Yes. Sometimes Indra became a hog, and... By the curse of Brhaspati. So when Brahma again came to recall him,... [break] ...he was Indra. He denied. [break] ...responsibility. Family... [break]... The hog... [break] ...avaranatmika-sakti. [break] ...lowest standard of living. He will think that "I am very happy." This is called avarana... [break] So if the hog thinks that "I am living..." [break] ...Then he will die. in the human mind,... [break] ...hellish condition of life, then he can make progress in spiritual life. And for so long he thinks that "I am living very peacefully, very happily..." [break] ... then athato brahma jijnasa. Unless one comes to that... That sense will come when one follows the tradition of family life. (end)
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 1.43 -- London, July 30,
1973
© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.
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