"Offering Everything To Krishna"

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.3.19
September 24, 1972, Los Angeles

Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Pradyumna: (leads chanting, etc.)

pancadasam vamanakam
krtvagad adhvaram baleh
pada-trayam yacamanah
pratyaditsus tri-pistapam

Translation: "In the fifteenth incarnation, the Lord assumed the form of a dwarf-brahmana, Vamana, and visited the arena of sacrifice arranged by Maharaja Bali. Although at heart He was willing to regain the kingdom of the three planetary systems, He simply asked for a donation of three steps of land."

Prabhupada: So Vamanadeva.

chalayasi vikramane balim adbhuta-vamana
pada-nakha-nira-janita-jana-pavana
kesava dhrta-vamana-rupa jaya jagadisa hare

So Bali Maharaja, he was the grandson of Prahlada Maharaja. They were in the demon's family. But in the demon's family also, there is sometimes Prahlada Maharaja, Bali Maharaja. Prahlada and Bali, they are our acaryas. There are twelve bona fide acaryas. Balir vaiyasakir vayam. The acaryas are mentioned. Dvadasa-mahajanah. Svayambhu. Svayambhu means Lord Brahma. (aside:) Don't make sound. Svayambhu, Narada. Narada is also one of the authorities. They have been accepted at (as) authority for understanding religious principles. Religious principle is not to be understood by from a rascal. No, that anyone comes and says religious topics. No. We have to receive it from the authority.

So Bali Maharaja is one of the authorities. Out of the twelve authorities, first is Lord Brahma; the next, Narada; the next, Lord Siva; then next, the Kumaras; then Kapiladeva; then Manu, Vaivasvata Manu; then Prahlada Maharaja; then Janaka Maharaja; then Bhismadeva; then Bali Maharaja; then Sukadeva Gosvami; and then Yamaraja. It is stated in the sastra that mahajano yena gatah sa panthah. You cannot understand transcendental subject matter simply by dry speculation and argument. You cannot understand. Neither by reading Vedic literature. The conclusion is that you have to follow those who are authorities. Mahajano yena. Dharmasya tattvam nihitam guhayam mahajano yena gatah sa panthah. Guha. Guha means the cave, mountain cave, and guha means the heart. So suppose something is very valuable is there in the cave of the mountain, and you do not know how to search it out. But if you know somebody who knows it, if you follow him, that "He is going there so I may also follow..."

So religious principles cannot be manufactured, neither it can be made by speculation. So actually, there cannot be many religions. The rascal theory that "There are as many religious system as I can believe... You believe something, that's all right. I believe something, that's all right. He believes something, that's all right." No. It is not like that. Then everyone will believe like any nonsense thing, that becomes religion? No. Religion means dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam [SB 6.3.19]. Religion means the codes, the laws, given by God. That is religion. Man cannot manufacture. I have several times explained. Just like law, state law. The state law can be given by the government. You cannot manufacture law. Nobody will care for your law. The state law is that "You must keep right your car. As soon as there is red light, you must stop." If you violate, you will be punished, although it is very simple thing. Similarly, religion means the law of God. You cannot violate it. If you violate, then you will be punished. If you think that "This religious system is very stiff. Let me manufacture my own religion," so that kind of religion is not accepted by the Vedic culture. And when actually the real religion is violated... Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati... [Bg. 4.7]. Glanih means violation. Tadatmanam srjamy aham. At that time the Supreme Lord or His representative comes to establish real religion.

That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita.

...dharma-samsthapanarthaya
sambhavami yuge yuge.

Dharma-samstha... Real religious principle. Real religious principle means to abide by the laws of the Supreme Lord, God. But they do not believe in God. "Everyone is God. I am God, you are God, he is God, everyone is God. So whatever law you give yourself, that becomes your religion." This is going on. So God is not so cheap that you become God, I become God, he becomes God. The sastra says, krsnas tu bhagavan svayam. Isvarah paramah krsnah [Bs. 5.1]. God is Krsna, the Supreme Lord, the original God. Isvarah paramah krsnah sac-cid-ananda [Bs. 5.1]. God, Krsna also says in the Bhagavad-gita, mattah parataram nanyat: [Bg. 7.7] "There is no superior authority than Me." The Vedanta-sutra also says, janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1]. The original source of everything. Who is that original source? God. Who is that God? Krsna. Krsna says, aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate [Bg. 10.8]. "I am the origin of everything." Iti matva bhajante mam budha bhava-samanvitah. "Those who are budha..." Budha means one who knows, one who is in the knowledge. Bhava-samanvitah. Bhava-samanvitah, knowing everything in ecstasy, "Oh, here is God." Budha bhava-samanvitah.

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

So everything is there. God is there. His name is there. His address is there. His law is there. Everything is there. But the rascals will not accept it. That is the position. Therefore we have to follow the mahajana. So Bali Maharaja is one of the mahajana. How he became mahajana? Because he's surrendering fully unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This Vamanadeva, incarnation of... Kesava dhrta-vamana-rupa. So the incident is that Bali Maharaja was very powerful, and he conquered the whole universe, even the demigods all. So Visnu is always in favor of the demigods because demigods, they are also devotees. The difference between sura and asura... Asura means envious of the demigods. That is called asura. Sura-dvisa. The another name of the asura, "those who are envious of devotees." That is the only business. There, two classes of men are always there. Sometimes one class in more in number, and other class is more in number. But two classes. Dvau bhuta-sargau loke. "There are two classes of men, living entities." Daiva asura eva ca. "One is called daiva, demigods, and the other is called asura." So who is daiva? Visnu-bhakto bhaved daiva. "Those who are devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Visnu, they are called demigods, or Vaisnava." All Vaisnavas are demigods. And those who are not... Asuras tad viparyayah. "Anyone opposite number, against Visnu, they are all called asuras."

So sometimes in asura's family also, there are Vaisnavas. By the grace of Narada. Narada makes... Just like Prahlada Maharaja became a great devotee by the grace of Narada, although he was born of a father, atheist father, Hiranyakasipu. So Narada Muni's business is to travel all over the universe and make Vaisnava. So this Bali Maharaja, he conquered all over the universe, and the demigods were defeated. So Vamanadeva, He also one of the considered demigods, Upendra. So He went to Bali Maharaja by a trick. Because Bali Maharaja... Krsna knows that Bali Maharaja was the grandson of Prahlada Maharaja and he was a great devotee at heart. He knew that. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61]. Lord is situated in everyone's heart. He knows everyone. So therefore, in order to return back the kingdoms taken from the demigods, He made a trick. He went there. Bali Maharaja was performing a great sacrifice, Bali-dhare.(?) So He went there and asked Bali Maharaja, "Bali Maharaja, you are performing such a great sacrifice. I am at your door. I am brahmana. Will you kindly give Me some donation?" "Yes, why not? That is my... I will give you. Whatever You want, I will give You."

So immediately his spiritual master, the demon's spiritual master Sukracarya... Sukracarya means... Sukra means semina. Seminal acarya. Means... You do not know. In India, there is a class of men, they are called gurus. The professional guru, rather. So Sukracarya. Sukracarya, he was very learned scholar. He knew everything, that "Here Vamanadeva, He is incarnation of Visnu. He has come to cheat Bali. He will ask something and then He will take everything from Bali." He knew it. So sometimes cheating also done by the Supreme Lord for the sake of the devotee. So this is not cheating. Just like father sometimes cheats a son. Suppose something is there, and two brothers, small children, they are fighting. One has taken, another is crying. So the one will not deliver to the other. So father says, "My dear child, will you kindly give me this." So he gives to the father and he delivers to the other child. (laughter) You see? So sometimes God has to do such cheating of affection. That is not cheating actually. But the cheating propensity is there in God. Otherwise where we get it? (laughter) But we use cheating for our personal sense gratification. But if you use that cheating propensity for Krsna's satisfaction, then it is all right. Manimiti krtam papam punyayaiva kalpate.(?)

So the Bali Maharaja was cheated by... But he, being cheated, he became conqueror. So this Sukracarya said to Bali Maharaja, "Don't promise to this Vamana anything. He is Lord Visnu. He has come to cheat you." Bali Maharaja became more enlightened. "Oh, He is Lord Visnu? But you have taught me that everything should be given to Visnu. So if Visnu has come at my door, why you are asking not to make any promise?" So that means Sukracarya were playing duplicity. He taught something, and now he's saying another thing. Therefore Bali Maharaja said that "I cannot accept. I give up your company from this day, that you are checking me to offer everything to Visnu. Oh, I do not want such spiritual master"

So that means... That is the shastric injunction, that anyone who is not a Visnu devotee, or Vaisnava, he cannot become guru. That is the injunction of the sastra. Sat-karma-nipuno vipro mantra-tantra-visaradah. A brahmana, very learned, he knows his duties, brahminical duties very well... Just like Sukracarya. Sat-karma-nipunah. Sat-karma-nipunah. Brahmana have got six kinds of occupation: pathana-pathana yajana-yajana dana-pratigraha. Brahmana should be very learned, he should teach others also Vedic knowledge, pathana-pathana. Yajana-yajana. He must be devotee or great worshiper, and he should teach others also how to worship. Yajana-yajana. Dana-pratigraha. He will accept charity from others, and he will give in charity again to others. These are the six occupation of a brahmana. So sastra says, sat-karma-nipuno viprah, "A brahmana, well conversed with these duties of brahminical duties," and mantra-tantra-visaradah, "and expert in studying the mantras, Vedic mantras, and tantra, other Vedic literature," avaisnavo gurur na sa syat, "but if he is avaisnava," means he does not worship Lord Visnu but other demigods, "then he cannot become guru." That is not allowed. You cannot become guru. Sat-karma-nipuno vipro mantra...

So this Sukracarya, he was against Visnu. So Bali Maharaja immediately rejected him. Therefore he became a mahajana, exemplary. Because you cannot give up your spiritual master. That is a great sin. Once accepted, the spiritual master takes responsibility for the disciple. And disciple also must be obedient to the spiritual master for life, for good. That is the relationship. So if one rejects spiritual master, he becomes a great sinner, most sinful. So Bali Maharaja rejected his spiritual master. That's a great sin. But he rejected on shastric ground, because he objected for Visnu worship. Therefore such spiritual master should be rejected. Should be rejected. Therefore he became mahajana, authority. Anyone who is obstruction to worship the Supreme Lord, he should be rejected immediately. That is bhakti. Anukulyasya grahanam pratikulyasya varjanam. Anything favorable for advancement of Krsna consciousness should be accepted; anything unfavorable, that should be rejected. This is saranagati. Anukulyena krsnanusilanam. We have to worship Krsna, whatever is favorable. It is not that because the microphone is material, therefore I cannot use it. There are some so-called transcendentalists... Why not? If I speak through the microphone, I can serve better Krsna. Why shall I not accept it? So anukulyena krsnanusilanam. Anything which is favorable for serving Krsna, we shall accept. After all, everything belongs to Krsna. Isavasyam idam sarvam. Nothing belongs to you. Simply we are thieves. We are using Krsna's property for our own sense gratification. Stena eva sa ucyate. All thieves.

So just like this Bali Maharaja, he conquered. So actually nothing belongs to Bali Maharaja, but he thought So Krsna, to save him from this theft criminality, He approached him, "My dear Bali Maharaja, will you kindly give Me three feet land." So after rejecting his spiritual master, who opposed, he promised, "Yes, I shall give." So by one feet the whole lower portion of the universe was covered. The other feet, the upper portion of the universe was covered. Still, the third feet remained. So Vamanadeva asked, "Now, Bali Maharaja, all your possession is now covered by My two feet. Where is to keep the other feet?" Bali Maharaja said, "Yes, there is place. You just put Your feet, foot on my head." So in this way Bali Maharaja surrendered everything. Sarvatma-svapateyam. He, personal property and the personal body, everything dedicated to Krsna. He became mahajana. There are nine processes of bhakti:

sravanam kirtanam visnoh
smaranam pada-sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyam
sakhyam atma-nivedanam
[SB 7.5.23]

So Bali Maharaja dedicated atma-nivedana, everything: his property, his personal body, everything. So in exchange, Vamana, Lord Vamana became his doorkeeper. So Vamanadeva said, "My dear Bali Maharaja, you are so great a devotee. So in return for your service, I shall remain always your doorkeeper."

So by offering everything to Krsna, nobody is loser. You must always remem... They are gainer, the best gainer. Because after all, everything belongs to Krsna. Why should we foolishly say, "It is mine, it is mine?" Aham mameti [SB 5.5.8]. Janasya moho 'yam. This is called illusion. Nothing belongs to me, but I think that "This is mine, this is mine, this is mine." The whole world is going on (like) that. Aham mameti [SB 5.5.8]. "We are Americans," "We are Indians," "This belongs to me," "That belongs to you." We make such, I mean to say, shareholder. But shareholder for other's property. Everything belongs to God. Not only this world -- there are many millions and millions of planet. Sarva-loka-mahesvaram. Loka means planet. Krsna says, sarva-loka-mahesvaram. Bhoktaram yajna-tapasam sarva-loka... [Bg. 5.29]. He is the proprietor. But we are dividing: "This is American," "This is Indian." But how long you will remain American and Indian? Say, fifty years. Then if you are going to be a dog, then who is saving your country? This is going on. Nothing belongs to us, except everything belongs to Krsna, and we are all offspring of Krsna. Everyone has got the right to father's property, but not to encroach others' property. Tena tyaktena bhunjitha ma grdhah kasya svid dhanam. If people accept this philosophy, then the whole world becomes Vaikuntha. There is no quarrel. There is no... Everything becomes happy.

Thank you very much. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.3.19 -- Los Angeles, September 24, 1972