"Kamsa's And Ravana's State"

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.28-29
November 8, 1972, Vrndavana



Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada


Pradyumna: (leads chanting, etc.)

vasudeva-para veda
vasudeva-para makhah
vasudeva-para yoga
vasudeva-parah kriyah

vasudeva-param jnanam
vasudeva-param tapah
vasudeva-paro dharmo
vasudeva-para gatih

Translation: "In the revealed scriptures, the ultimate object of knowledge is Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead. The purpose of performing sacrifice is to please Him. Yoga is for realizing Him. All fruitive activities are ultimately rewarded by Him only. He is supreme knowledge, and all severe austerities are performed to know Him. Religion [dharma] is rendering loving service unto Him. He is the supreme goal of life."

Prabhupada: Vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma sudurlabhah [Bg. 7.19]. The same verse, in the Bhagavad-gita, is explained here in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. As it is said in the Bhagavad-gita:

bahunam janmanam ante
jnanavan mam prapadyate
vasudevah sarvam iti
sa mahatma sudurlabhah
[Bg. 7.19]

There are many mahatmas, many yogis, jnanis, karmis. They're all good. But if they do not approach the ultimate goal of life -- means approaching Vasudeva -- then srama eva hi kevalam.

dharmah svanusthitah pumsam
visvaksena-kathasu yah
notpadayed yadi ratim
srama eva hi kevalam
[SB 1.2.8]

You can execute your religious principles, you can execute dharma-dana-tapah-kriyah. Charity. Dharma, dana. You can execute severe austerities, penances. But if you do not approach Vasudeva, Sri Krsna, then the sastra says, srama eva hi kevalam. In another place it is said, aradhito yadi haris tapasa tatah kim. If you can approach Vasudeva, Hari... Vasudeva, Hari, Narayana, Krsna, Visnu -- the same. Rama, Nrsimha, Varaha. Advaitam acyutam anadim ananta-rupam [Bs 5.33]. Vasudeva has got ananta-rupam. Ananta-rupam means... This is described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Just like if you sit down by the side of a river and the, the waves are flowing, you cannot count how many waves are going on in your front, similarly, how many forms are there of Vasudeva, that is very difficult to count.

advaitam acyutam anadim ananta-rupam
adyam purana-purusam nava-yauvanam ca
vedesu durlabham adurlabham atma-bhaktau
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
[Bs 5.33]

Absolute Truth is one, advaita. Advaita is one. Brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate. Absolute Truth is one, but He's realized in three phases: Brahman, impersonal Brahman; localized Paramatma; and the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They are one.

vadanti tat tattva-vidas
tattvam yaj jnanam advayam
brahmeti paramatmeti
bhagavan iti sabdyate
[SB 1.2.11]

The Absolute Truth is one. One who knows the Absolute Truth, he knows that Brahman, Paramatma, Bhagavan, the same objective, but they are realized by different devotees or different knower in different features. The example is given in this connection: Just like if you see from a very distant place one hill, you'll find just like a cloud, hazy cloud. If you push forward further you'll find something green. But when you actually approach the hill, you'll find there are many houses, many animals, many trees, varieties. So the Absolute Truth, when it is realized by our limited understanding, the Absolute Truth appears as nirvisesa, impersonal Brahman. Similarly, when we try to meditate upon the Absolute Truth within our heart, He appears as Paramatma. Yogis... Dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa pasyanti yam yoginah [SB 12.13.1]. But at the ultimate issue, He's Vasudeva, Krsna, origin. Advaitam acyutam anadim. Anadi: Krsna has no source. He's the original source of everything. Janmady asya yatah. Aham sarvasya prabhavah [SB 1.1.1]. These things are there.

So Krsna is the original cause of everything, cause of all causes. But He is independent, svarat. That is described in the beginning of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Janmady asya yatah anvayat itaratas ca arthesu abhijnah svarat [SB 1.1.1]. Svarat means completely independent. He's not caused by any, anyone. And He says also in the Bhagavad-gita: mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya [Bg. 7.7]. So He's the origin, Vasudeva. Therefore all activities should be targeted to Vasudeva. Vasudevah sarvam iti [Bg. 7.19]. This is the aim of life. Unfortunately, they do not know it. People in general, they do not know it. That is ignorance. This material world is full of ignorance. Therefore it is called tamas. Tamas means darkness. We do not know. The human civilization, at the present moment at least, it is always... At the present moment, it is completely in darkness that they do not know what is the aim of life. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31]. Everyone is very intelligent. At least, he thinks like that, that "I am attaining my interest of life in different ways." But actually one does not know what is his actual interest. Na te viduh svartha-gatim. Svartha-gatim, satisfaction of our interest. Everyone is interested, but they do not know what is actual interest.

The actual interest is to search out Visnu, or Vasudeva. Therefore, here it is said: vasudeva-para vedah. You are studying Vedas. That's all right. But do you know what is the end of the Vedas? That is, that is answered by Krsna Himself: vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah [Bg. 15.15]. This is the end of... You are very nice student, great student of Vedas, but do you know where to end, where is Vedanta, know? Veda-anta. Veda means knowledge. Do you know what is the end of knowledge? They'll talk of Vedanta, but minus Krsna. This is going on. They are known as Vedanti minus Krsna. What is the use? Srama eva hi kevalam, simple wasting time, simply wasting time. Here it is clearly said, vasudeva-para vedah. If you are a student of Vedas, then you must know that ultimately you have to know who is Vasudeva. In the Vedas there are prescription of sacrifice, so many different types of sacrifices, yajna. So yajna is the name of Visnu. Another name of Visnu is Yajna. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said, yajnarthe karma. Karma-kandiya, rituals, religious rituals, this is meant for yajnarthe, sacrifice, or Visnu. In every sacrifice there must be Visnu. Those who are Hindus, following the Vedic principles, any yajna, any sacrifice, any religious ceremony you perform, there must be yajne vara(?), salagrama-sila. Without salagrama-sila, no yajna sacrifice can be performed.

Here it is said, vasudeva-para makhah. In the Visnu Purana it is said,

varnasramacaravata
purusena parah puman
visnur aradhyate pantha
nanyat tat-tosa-karanam

The whole aim of varnasrama-dharma... Catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg. 4.13]. The brahmanas, the ksatriyas, the vaisyas, the sudras, the brahmacari, the grhastha, the vanaprastha, and the sannyasi -- this is called varnasrama. This is the form of human civilization. Unless one comes to this point of executing the varnasrama-dharma, he's animal. Dharmena hinah pasubhih samanah. This is dharma, to execute varnasrama-dharma. That is dharma. So if anyone is not executing this varnasrama-dharma, he's animal. Pasubhih samanah. That is not accepted as human civilization.

When Ramananda Raya was questioned by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu: "What is sadhya and sadhana, what is human duty, sadhya, and what is the end of sadhana...?" Sadhana, sadhana means cultivating something with a aim of objective. So this question was put to Ramananda Raya by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu: "What is the aim of human life and what is the process of executing that will?" So immediately Ramananda Raya said that varnasramacaravata. The beginning of human life is to execute the varnasrama-dharma. Varnasramacaravata purusena parah puman. Why varnasrama? Now visnur aradhyate. If you properly execute your varnasrama-dharma... Actually, it is now pervertedly spoken as Hindu dharma. Hindu dharma is a vague term. Real dharma is varnasrama-dharma. Hindu dharma we don't find, any Vedic literature. Neither in the Bhagavad-gita. It is a, a nomenclature given by the Muhammadans -- "Hindus." From Sindhu, "Hindu." Anyway, now we are known as Hindus. The "Hindu" is a vague term. Real term is varnasrama, varnasrama, four varnas and four asramas. This is dharma and this is given by God Himself. Just like Krsna says, catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg. 4.13]. It is given by God. You cannot manufacture dharma, religion. No. Dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam: [SB 6.3.19] "Dharma means the codes, the regulations given by God." That is dharma. That is dharma. Otherwise, it is not dharma.

Therefore Krsna said, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. That is dharma, obedience to God. Religion means obedience to God. Nowadays it has become a fashion to drive away God and make a so-called show of religion. Drive away: "No God." Just like our secular state. "Don't think of God. This is botheration. Kill God." Kamsa. Kamsa secular state. "Don't talk of God." Ravana's secular state. Without God, what is life? Without... If you do not follow the codes or the rules or the laws given by God, then what is your religion? That is not religion. Dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam [SB 6.3.19]. Just like the state can give you laws. There is legislative assembly of the state. They can enact laws. You cannot do at home. You cannot do. That will not be accepted as law. Similarly, our Vedic principle is: "Religion means the codes and the rules and regulations given by God." That is religion. Krsna says, God says, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. This is religion. Vasudeva-paro dharmah. Vasudeva-paro dharmah. Dharma, here it is said that it should be given by Vasudeva, or it must be approved by Vasudeva, Krsna. Vasudeva means son of Vasudeva, Krsna. So om namo bhagavate vasudevaya.

So either you perform dharma, either you perform yajna, either you study Vedas, either you work, whatever you do, it must be targeted -- the ultimate goal should be Vasudeva. Then it is perfect. In many places it is explained. Svanusthitasya dharmasya samsiddhir hari-tosanam [SB 1.2.13]. You may accept any kind of dharma. It doesn't matter. Svanusthitasya dharmasya. But the perfection, how you are becoming perfect in executing your dharma, will be tested how far you have satisfied the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Svanusthitasya dharmasya. Atah pumbhir dvija-srestha varnasrama-vibhagasah. Everything is very nicely explained in every sloka, in every chapter of the Vedic literature, especially in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Svanusthitasya dharmasya. Atah pumbhir dvija-sresthah. Atah, "Therefore, after saying so many things," dvija-sresthah... Naimisaranya, Naimisaranya... So still Naimisaranya is there. Naimisaranya. So in that Naimisaranya, all the sages assembled, and the conclusion, the resolution was: atah pumbhir dvija-sresthah. All the great brahmanas, learned brahmanas, dvija-sresthah... Dvija, dvija means brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, but srestha means brahmana. Dvija-sresthah. Atah pumbhir dvija-sresthah. Atah pumbhir dvija-sresthah varnasrama-vibhagasah. Because human civilization means accepting this varna-asrama. There must be classification. Not that everyone is the same, everyone on the same level. Everyone on the same level means sudra, no knowledge. No knowledge, no philosophy, no culture, simply eat, sleep and... Animals' life.

So atah pumbhir dvija-srestha varnasrama... Varnasrama-vibhagasah must be there. The present civilization is suffering because there is no such thing as varnasrama-vibhagasah. There is no selection that there must be the most intelligent class of men, brahmana, the real ksatriya who can give protection to the people, ksatriya. That is real ksatriya. And vaisya who can actually give protection to the cows and produce agriculture, agricultural products and trade. And sudras, ordinary laborer class. There must be divisions. They must be trained up. I have repeatedly said in America that there is draft board. They call, conscription, they call any young man to the military department, but most of the boys, young men, they try to avoid this, this military. Most of them. One of the causes of the hippie movement is due to the government's draft board. They want to avoid it. So I have repeatedly said: "Why do they avoid?" In India still we have got some martial races, the Gerkhas, the Sikhs. They will be very glad to accept military training. Still. Because there is ksatriya spirit. But in other countries they have been made all sudras. How they can take up ksatriya spirit? That is not possible.

So according to this varnasrama, there must be training. Some classes of men must be trained as nice brahmanas. Some people must be trained as nice ksatriyas. Some people must be trained as nice vaisyas. And sudra does not require any... Everyone is sudra. Janmana jayate sudrah. By birth, everyone is sudra. Samskarad bhaved dvijah. By training, one becomes vaisya, one becomes ksatriya, one becomes brahmana. Where is that training? All sudras. And how can you expect good government, sudra government? All the sudras are taking vote by hook and crook. And they are occupying government post. Therefore their only business is..., Kali, in this age especially, mleccha rajanya-rupinah, eating and drinking, eating flesh, drinking wine. Mlecchas, yavanas, they are accepting government post. What good government you can expect? Forget, forget good government for millions of years, unless you establish this varnasrama-dharma. There is no question of good government. There must be first-class ksatriya who can take charge of the government. Just like Pariksit Maharaja. He was on his tour, and as soon as he saw that one black man was trying to kill a cow, immediately he took his sword: "Who are you, rascal, here?" That is ksatriya. That is vaisya, who can give protection to the cows. Krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhava-jam [Bg. 18.44]. Everything is there clearly. Where is the culture?

Therefore this Krsna consciousness movement is so important. The leaders of the society, they should take very serious attention how you can improve the social condition of this world. Not only here, everywhere, sir. Simply it is going on in ignorance and illusion, everything. Vague, no clear idea. Here is clear idea: vasudeva-para vedah. You are a... Veda, knowledge, you are educating people, but where is your education to teach people about Vasudeva, about Krsna? Bhagavad-gita is prohibited. Vasudeva speaking about Himself, but that is prohibited. And if somebody's reading, some rascal is reading, he's making minus Vasudeva. That's all. Bhagavad-gita minus Krsna. This is going on. Whole nonsense. You cannot expect human civilization in a nonsense society. Here it is the real purpose of human life: vasudeva-para veda vasudeva-para makhah, vasudeva-para yogah. There are so many yogis. I can clearly say that without Vasudeva, yoga -- simply pressing the nose. That's all. This is not yoga. They say... In Europe and America the yoga principle is very popular because they think by practice of yoga, they'll have very good health and they can use their senses very nicely. That is yoga system. The fatty woman goes to the yoga class for reduce fat. That is yoga system. You see. Somebody is going to practice yoga system for making right the liver action. You see. Here is yoga: vasudeva-para yogah. That is... Krsna also says in the Yoga chapter, Sankhya-yoga chapter, Krsna says,

yoginam api sarvesam
mad-gatenantar-atmana
sraddhavan bhajate yo mam
sa me yuktatamo matah
[Bg. 6.47]

He's yogi. That is yogi. Not for health's sake, or curing the liver disease or reducing fat, yoga system. This is not yoga system. But people are so much absorbed in the bodily concept of life, everything they want with this, in connection with this body. That's all. Instead of vasudeva-para yogah, they, there is sarira-para yogah. Sarira-para yogah. Farce. These are all farce.

So vasudeva-para yoga vasudeva-para kriyah. All the activities should be... The same thing. Kriya means varnasrama-dharma, everyone is engaged in his own work. Brahmana is engaged in his own work. Ksatriya is engaged in his own work. That is all right. But the ultimate goal should be hari-tosanam. Svanusthitasya dharmasya. It doesn't matter whether you are brahmana or a ksatriya or a vaisya and sudra. It doesn't matter. Just try to see by your work whether Krsna or Vasudeva is being satisfied. Vasudeva-para kriyah. Vasudeva-param jnanam. Jnanam, cultivation of knowledge. What is that cultivation of knowledge? To understand Vasudeva. Therefore Krsna says bahunam janmanam ante [Bg. 7.19]. So-called knowledge, speculation, philosophical speculation, without understanding of Vasudeva, means he has to continue such speculation for life after life. Therefore Krsna says, manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye [Bg. 7.3]. Jnanam, jnanam means knowledge. So if you immediately take to Vasudeva... Bhakti-yogah prayojitah [SB 1.2.7]. Vasudeve bhakti-yogah prayojitah, janayaty asu vairagyam jnanam ca. The ultimate goal of knowledge is to know Vasudeva, but if you take to Vasudeva directly, then vairagya and jnana... Janayaty asu vairagyam jnanam. Immediately, very soon, automatically, ahaitukam, without any cause, you understand what is knowledge and what is vairagya.

So vasudeva-param jnanam. All scientific research should be to know Vasudeva. In Boston I was invited in the Massachusetts Technological Institute? Yes. So I, first of all I questioned the students that "You have got technological department. So where is the technology where we can understand the difference between a dead man and a living man? What is the thing is lost that a body's called dead body? What is that technology." So I talked on this point. The students appreciated very much. Actually, there is no technology why a man is dead. What is the machine, what is the component part of the machine is missing? You can replace it. But where is that technology? There is no technology. Because there is no knowledge with reference to Vasudeva. Simply superficial. Bahir-artha-maninah. They do not know what is the purpose of knowledge. They're taking interest, taking care of this bahir-artha, external things. Bahir-artha-maninah. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31]. This is knowledge, svartha-gatim, to approach Vasudeva, Visnu. But without that knowledge, they are simply taking outward. Just like Darwin's theory. He has no knowledge. He's simply studying this body. That's all.

So one who is interested to study this body, he has been described in the Sastra as ass and cow.

yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke
sva-dhih kalatradisu bhauma ijya-dhih
yat-tirtha-buddhih salile na karhicij
janesv abhijnesu sa eva go-kharah
[SB 10.84.13]

The bodily concept of life is meant for the animals. It is not for the human being. Therefore, vasudeva-param jnanam vasudeva-param tapah. People are taking to so much austerities. Just like modern scientists, they have discovered the atomic bomb. That is tapasya, of course. It is tapasya. But that kind of tapasya was done by Hiranyakasipu also. What is the value of such tapasya? Tapasya must be to understand Vasudeva. Vasudeva-param tapah. If one has actually undergone severe austerities of life to understand Vasudeva, that is perfect tapasya. Otherwise it is simply... Hiranyakasipu or the manufacturer of the atomic bomb, they are also undergone severe austerities. It is not manufactured all of a sudden. But it required brain and perseverance. They have manufactured, but what is the value? Killing, killing men. The killing, it is automatically being killed. You discover something that people will not die. People are dying. You have accelerated the death process, that's all. But they want to take credit out of it. "We have discovered this scientific..." That is not knowledge.

Here it is said, vasudeva-param tapah. Vasudeva-paro dharmah. Vasudeva-paro dharmah. Unless we come to that point, dharma, religious principle... Sa vai pumsam paro dharmah. That is paro dharmah. What? Yato bhaktir adhoksaje. Ahaituky apratihata yayatma suprasidati. By executing religion one should be satisfied, but unless he comes to the point of Vasudeva, he'll never be satisfied. That is not... Yayatma suprasidati. If we learn to love Vasudeva, yato bhaktir adhoksaje, then we'll be satisfied by executing religion. Otherwise it is superficial. Dharmah svanusthitah pumsam visvaksena-kathasu yah, notpadayed yadi ratim [SB 1.2.8]. If one is not interested to hear the katha, vasudeva-katha, srama eva hi kevalam. Similarly, only formalities will not help. We must enlighten ourself. We must enhance our propensity to hear about Vasudeva. Sravanam. That is wanted. Simply formalities will help us very slowly. One, one who is interested in hearing about Vasudeva, his progress is very quick. Otherwise, it will be simply formalities. Vasudeva-paro dharmo vasudeva-para gatih. The ultimate goal: go back to home, back to Godhead. Vasudeva-para gatih.

So this verse is very nice, Srimad-Bhagavatam. Essence of knowledge. Vasudeva-para veda vasudeva-para makhah. We should take advantage of the study of Srimad-Bhagavatam, the direction; then our life will be successful, our aim of human life, mission, will be fulfilled. That is the Krsna consciousness movement.

Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. [break] Yes?

Devotee: I've heard of that form, but what is that form?

Prabhupada: That you'll know in due course. Not now. Chant. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.28-29 -- Vrndavana, November 8, 1972