"Spiritual Aesthetics"

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.11
June 10, 1969, New Vrndavana

Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Prabhupada:

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave-namah

sri-caitanya-mano-'bhistam sthapitam yena bhu-tale
svayam rupah kada mahyam dadati sva-padantikam

he krsna karuna-sindho dina-bandho jagat-pate
gopesa gopika-kanta radha-kanta namo 'stu te

tapta-kancana-gaurangi radhe vrndavanesvari
vrsabhanu-sute devi pranamami hari-priye

vancha-kalpatarubhyas ca krpa-sindhubhya eva ca
patitanam pavanebhyo vaisnavebhyo namo namah

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

The other day we discussed about literature which is very nicely composed from literary point of view, or poetic, or rhetoric. Maybe nicely... But if there is no description of the Absolute Truth or the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that sort of literature is enjoyed by a class of men who are compared with the crows. That we have discussed. It is simply wasting time, valuable time in the human life, to divert our attention to such ordinary literature. They are called gramya-katha. In Sanskrit language it is called gramya-katha. Gramya-katha means any book, any poetry, or any novel, or any drama... There is some hero and heroine, a man or woman, about their loving affairs, tragedy, comic, like that. Actually, it is gramya-katha. The same thing as we are experiencing daily, ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunam, this eating, sleeping, mating, that's all. What is the value of such literature? What do you gain by that? No. Simply mental agitation. And if it is sex literature, then it is very appealing. So that means it is something like havisya krta(?)... Just like if you offer fuel on the fire, the fire will go on and it will, I mean to say, consume as much as you go on giving fuel. But there is no santi. The fire will never be extinguished. Actually, what we want? What is the mission of our life? What is the aim of our life? We are hankering after santi, or peace. So that sort of literature will not give us any peace. It will simply agitate the mind.

Therefore those who are paramahamsas, those who have understood the essence of this cosmic manifestation, they are not interested in such literature. On the other hand it is said that tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavah. (commentary) Vinapi pada-caturyam bhagavad-yasah-pradhanam vacah.(?) Sridhara Svami gives note that there may not be any poetic, metaphorical, or analogical, ornamental language, but vinapi pada-caturyam. Pada-caturyam. Pada means composition. In every language there are rules and regulations for composing poetry or prose, grammatical, rhetorical. So even such knowledge, even without such knowledge, pada-caturyam bhagavad-yasah-pradhanam. Just like we chant Hare Krsna. So we are not training our students any way about musical science, that "We have to chant in this way or that way, we have to dance in this way or that way." Without any musical knowledge, without any poetic understanding, even a child can take part in it, and he becomes immediately absorbed in ecstasy. Why? This is because we are chanting the glories of the Lord.

So it does not require any artificial musical knowledge or dancing knowledge. Out of your own ecstasy, you will dance, you'll chant. You don't require to study. Just like our playing of mrdanga. Nobody has gone to an expert mrdanga player to learn it. Whatever I play, I sing, I never studied under some expert teacher. But by practice, chanting, it may be melodious, it may be very nice or not. That doesn't matter. We are not concerned about that, whether it is appealing to the people or not. It will appeal; there is no doubt about it. But we don't require to divert our attention on these things. Simply because there is glorification of the Lord, it will be palatable. Just like Pariksit Maharaja said, bhavausadhac chrotra-mano-'bhiramat ka uttama-sloka-gunanuvadat virajyeta vina pasughnat [SB 10.1.4].

Pariksit Maharaja, when he was hearing about Bhagavata from Sukadeva Gosvami, he expressed his experience. Oh, what is that? Now, nivrtta-tarsair upagiyamanat. This chanting or understanding of the pastimes of Krsna, Uttama-sloka... Uttama-sloka-gunanuvadat. Whatever we are reading in the Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam or we are chanting, the subject matter is glorifying the Lord, who is called Uttama-sloka. Uttama-sloka. Sloka means verse, and uttama means transcendental or very nice. So whenever we offer some prayer, read some literature, Bhagavata, the verses are composed in very nice words and systematically. In Srimad-Bhagavatam you'll find every sloka, the topmost literary composition. Topmost, full of meaning, full of philosophy. In every line you'll find. So Pariksit Maharaja says that this transcendental vibration, uttama-sloka-gunanuvadat... Gunanuvadat means glorifying the transcendental quality. When we say that Krsna, or God, is nirguna... Nirguna means quality. So when we say... That is explained in Bhagavad-gita. Nirguna guna-bhoktr ca.(?) He's nirguna, but He is also enjoyer of qualities. What does it mean? That Krsna is not within the material qualities of goodness, passion, or ignorance. All His qualities are transcendental, nondifferent from Him. Therefore His glorification of the transcendental qualities can be chanted who are already in the transcendental platform. Others cannot.

Therefore Pariksit Maharaja says, nivrtta-tarsaih. Nivrtta means already finished, completely finished. What is that finished? Trsna. Trsna means hankering. One who has finished his material hankering, they can chant this transcendental glorification of the Lord. Others cannot. Just like in our sankirtana movement, you are taking so much ecstasy, pleasure. So others will say, "What these people are doing? Crazy fellow, they're trancing, dancing and beating some drum." They'll feel like that because their hankering for material enjoyment is not finished. Therefore nivrtta.

Actually, this transcendental name of Krsna, or God, can be chanted in liberated stage. Therefore we prescribe, while chanting, there are three stages. The offensive stage, liberated stage, and actually on the platform of love of Godhead stage. That is the perfectional stage by chanting. In the beginning we chant in offensive stage -- the ten kinds of offenses. But that does not mean that we shall not chant. Even there are offenses, we shall go on chanting. That chanting will help me to get out of all offenses. Of course, we must take care that we may not commit offenses. Therefore this list of ten kinds of offenses are given. We should try to avoid. And as soon as it is offenseless chanting, then it is liberated stage. That is liberated stage. And after liberated stage, the chanting will be so pleasing because that is on the transcendental platform that actual love of Krsna and God will be relished. But the same thing... The chanting... In the offensive stage, the chanting, and the liberated stage is chanting... But in the mature stage... Just like Rupa Gosvami, he used to say that "What shall I chant with one tongue and what shall I hear with two ears? If millions of ears I had, if millions of tongue I had, then I could chant and hear." Because they are in liberated stage.

But we should not be dejected for that purpose. We should continue with perseverance. Utsahad dhairyat. Utsahat means with enthusiasm, and dhairyat, dhairyat means perseverance, patience. Utsahat. Niscayat. Niscayat means with firm determination: "Yes, I have begun chanting. Maybe there are offenses, but if I continue, Krsna will be pleased to place me on the transcendental platform when I shall relish what is this chanting Hare Krsna." Just like Visvanatha Cakravarti has given that the mango in the ripe stage and unripe stage. Unripe stage, it is bitter, but the same mango, when it is fully ripe, it is sweet, the sweetness. We shall have to wait for this stage, and we shall have to be careful that we may not commit offenses. Then we, surely, we shall come. Just like a diseased patient, if he follows the regulations given by the physician and takes the medicine, then surely he'll be cured.

Therefore Pariksit Maharaja said that the chanting is for the persons who are liberated. Nivrtta-tarsair upagiyamanat. Actually, chanting can be perfectly done by persons who are already liberated. But those who are not liberated? Then he says, bhavausadhi. But it is the medicine of this material entanglement for becoming liberated. That is also, it is also medicine. When we are liberated, we'll chant and relish what is actually love of God. That is liberated. But even if we are not liberated, this will act as medicine to become liberated. So any stage, nivrtta-tarsair upagiyamanad bhavausadhac [SB 10.1.4]. Those who are chanting, they'll be liberated. And another thing is: for the common men who are not serious, srotra-mano-'bhiramat. They will hear and they will enjoy: "Oh, it is very nice."

Just like Jagai-Madhai. Jagai-Madhai, they were rogues. Rogues. And Nityananda Maha... Nityananda Prabhu delivered them. But when they were rogues... The Vaisnavas were chanting Hare Krsna, and these two brothers, one of them were appreciating, "Oh, these rascals chant very nicely." (chuckles) They were copying, these rascals, but appreciating. So we get some appreciation from the common man. They also give some contribution and they call us, they invite us. Because there is appreciation also. The three stages. Actually, chanting is possible in the liberated stage. But even if we are not liberated stage, it will act as medicine to bring us to the liberated platform. Nivrtta-tarsair upagiyamanad bhavausadhac chrotra-mano-'bhiramat [SB 10.1.4]. And for the common man it is very pleasant, pleasing also. "Oh, Hare Krsna." They also sometimes imitate, sometimes join because it is nice also. Just like sometimes on the street, some boys greet us, "Hare Krsna." They have no interest, but still, they are taking interest. It is so nice. You see? So three stages, liberated stage, and offensive stage, and beginning stage.

So Pariksit Maharaja said there are three stages. Bhavausadhac chrotra-mano... In three ways it is so nice, palatable. So why one should be aloof from this chanting? Ka uttama-sloka-gunanu... Who can be aloof from this chanting or hearing about the activities, pastimes of the uttama-sloka, Supreme Personality of Godhead? Vina pasughnat [SB 10.1.4]. The only person: who is pasughnat. Pasughnat means animal-killer. A person who is animal-killer, he'll not be interested. The animal-killer, you can, I mean to say, analyze the meaning in two ways. Animal killer means not exactly those who are butchers, or ordinary man who kills animal and eat. But even a person who does not take care of his self-realization, he is also animal-killer. He is killing himself. He is also animal-killer. Because this life is meant for self-realization, but he's not taking interest in self-realization. He is taking pleasure only just like animal. So I am also an animal. I am killing myself. If I don't take interest in self-realization and if I glide down again into the cycle of birth and death, then I am killing myself. Suiciding. That is our willing, killing ourself willingly. If I know that "If I do this, I will be punished like this," and if I still do this, then I am killing myself.

So the laws of nature is working. I am under, completely under the laws of nature. I may declare independence falsely. That doesn't matter. Nature's work will go on. And what is that nature's work? Daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya [Bg. 7.14]. Nature is also Krsna's nature. This material nature is Krsna's nature. So material nature is not bad itself. She is also engaged in service of Krsna. Just like the police force. Police force, as the department of government, is not bad. It is doing faithfully service to the government. It is bad to me because I am criminal. Otherwise police force as it is, department, is not bad. Do you think that government is maintaining a nonsense bad department? No. It is serving the government. But it is bad for the criminals. Similarly, this maya, the external energy, the maya, it is bad for those who are godless, who are rascals. For them, maya is there. Otherwise, for devotee, there is no influence of maya.

Daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. In the Bhagavad-gita you'll find that maya is strong only, it is very difficult to surpass the laws of nature, for whom? Who is not surrendered soul to Krsna. Maya. Mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam... If you are not criminal, what business you have got with the police department? Nothing. Let the police department remain. You have nothing to do. Neither police department has any jurisdiction to come and disturb you. No. You live peacefully, lawfully. There is no... Similarly, if we do not become Krsna conscious while we have got this opportunity, this human form of life, we can understand what is Krsna, and if we willfully do not take to this consciousness, then the maya will act. Therefore... Just like a person knows that "I am committing these sinful activities. I'll be arrested by the police and maybe I'll be hanged. I'll have to give my life." He knows it, but he does it. That means willfully he's killing. He is making suicide. Similarly, if we know that "So long we do not become Krsna conscious, the maya will punish me in so many ways," knowing, if I do not take care, that means I am committing suicide.

So Caitanya... Here... Pariksit Maharaja said,

nivrtta-tarsair upagiyamanad
bhavausadhac chrotra-mano-'bhiramat
ka uttama-sloka-gunanuvadat...
[SB 10.1.4]

Who will not take interest in the matter of understanding Krsna consciousness, vina pasughnat, except persons who are animal killer, or committing suicide? Therefore this verse said that even though there is no any poetic, I mean to say, rhetorical arrangement or grammatical arrangement, or nice words arrangement, if simply there is glorification of the Lord, Hare Krsna... So Hare Krsna, these two words or sixteen words or three words, it will be appealed. It will appeal to the devotees, to the great souls. But if you organize a great political meeting, they'll not go there. Just like in our country we have seen the Mahatma Gandhi was given the title mahatma. You can give your, any title. Nobody objects. Just like in Bengali we say kana-locana nyaya padma-locana(?). Padma-locana means very beautiful, lotus-eyed. But one mother has got a child who is born blind. Out of her love she has given the name Padma-locana, "lotus-eyed." You see? So that she can give because she loves the child. Even he is blind, that's her whim. "My boy, my child is padma-locana." Similarly, this "mahatma," this title you can give to any person you like, but it has a meaning, "mahatma."

So that meaning, "mahatma," is explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim prakrtim asritah [Bg. 9.13]. Mahatma means who is not under the material energy, but he is under the spiritual energy. And what is the symptom that one is under the spiritual energy? That he has no other business except executing Krsna consciousness. That's all. That is the symptom.

mahatmanas tu mam partha
daivim prakrtim asritah
bhajanty ananya-manaso
jnatva bhutadim avyayam
[Bg. 9.13]

He has no other business except Krsna. That is mahatma. That is explained in the Bhagavad... So we, the people gave a title, this Gandhi, a politician. His business was how to get independence politically. He was given the title mahatma. So this mahatma, when there was meeting, hundreds of thousand people gathered. But no... Actually, there are persons in India who are called sadhus, sadhu-samaja. A great number. Not, I mean to say, a small number. They are three million in India still. There is statistics. Three millions persons who are in renounced order of... Sadhu, they are called sadhu. They do not come. So these three millions mahatmas, those who are engaged, they may be, some of them may be impersonalists, some of them may be yogis, some of them are devotees. That doesn't matter, because they are also engaged in understanding the Absolute Truth. The impersonalist, they're in the beginning stage, but they are not materialists. They are not materialists. They are trying to understand the Absolute Truth. They cannot accommodate the Absolute Truth, the Supreme, can be a person. That is their less intelligence. But they are engaged in searching out. Similarly, yogis... Real yogis, not these fat-reducing yogis. I mean to say... (laughter) Real yogis. They are concerned with understanding the Supersoul, Paramatma. And devotees, they are engaged in serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

So all of them are searching about the... Devotees, they have finished their searching. They have found out the real truth. Isvarah paramah krsnah [Bs. 5.1], the Supreme. So it is a question of degrees of spiritual understanding. So there are three million serious sadhus in India. None of them ever attended such Mahatma Gandhi's meeting, neither they invited Mahatma Gandhi. No. They never never recognized, recognized. Because what they have got to do with these political affairs? Just like... They know, this is the business of the crows. The crows will take interest in such meeting. Punah punas carvita-carvananam [SB 7.5.30]. What these politicians will do? They'll simply make plan. That's all. Hitler will make one plan, Mussolini will make one plan, Churchill will make another plan. Your Roosevelt will make another plan, Gandhi will make another. Simply planmaking business. They will never be able to bring any peace and prosperity in the world. That is not possible. Because it is under the grip of maya. They do not know. The peace and prosperity means surrender to Krsna. Then you become out of the clutches of maya. That secret they do not know. They're simply making plans. That's all. So planmaking, will always be frustrated. So simply agitation; it has no meaning. Therefore those who are transcendentalists, they know, this is crow's meeting. Sometimes, you have not seen, crows meeting. Kaw kaw kaw kaw kaw kaw kaw. They are passing resolution. You see? (laughter) You have seen crow's meeting?

Kirtanananda: Yes.

Prabhupada: They have also meeting, crow's meeting. If you kill one crow, you'll see thousands of crows will come and hold their meeting: "Oh, one crow is dead by the human being. We shall..." And if the man is detected, this man has killed, these crows will, I mean to say, hurt the head of that man. They'll come in flocks. Yes. I have seen in India. Yes. They sometimes attack. So they have got also their own defensive measure. The crow's meeting.

So they are not interested (in) all these political affairs or so-called social affairs and resolution because they know this is not the method of becoming peaceful or prosperous. This is not the method. Without... Harim vina na mrtim taranti. Without God consciousness, nobody can be happy. Therefore if we write something, if a devotee writes something about Krsna consciousness, God consciousness... Here Srimad-Bhagavatam says that tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavah. Such kind of creative energy which is trying to put something for understanding of Krsna consciousness, janatagha-viplavah, that brings a revolution to the people for killing their effect of sinful activities. Janata agha. Janata means people in general, and agha, agha means sins. And that will... That can be... By such literature, spreading such literature, Krsna consciousness literature, there will be a revolution in the sinful activities of the people in general. Janatagha-viplavah.

(commentary) Vinapi pada-caturyam bhagavad-yasah-pradhanam vacah pavitram ity aha tad vag pavitra iti.(?) It is so pure. What is called? Disinfectant. The whole world is infected with the maya's influence, and this Krsna consciousness movement, Hare Krsna mantra, is disinfectant. It is sure. Disinfectant. Tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavah. (commentary) Bhagavad-yasah-pradhanam vacah pavitram ity aha tad vag iti, tad vag-visarga sa casau vag-visargo vacah prayogah. Jananam samuho janata, tasya agham viplavati nasayati.(?) Viplava means it kills. Because disinfectant. For example, we can give, now how this Krsna consciousness movement is disinfectant, that those who have seriously taken to it, they immediately stop the sinful infections, the four principles, regulative principles, illicit sex life, intoxication, gambling and meat-eating. How disinfectant it is. These four principles increases sinful activities. All other sinful activities will come one after another, one after another. Stealing, then cheating, then... So many other things will come if we follow these four principles. And if we stop these four principles, then the switch is off of committing further sinful activities. You must know that. It is... And how it can be maintained? By this disinfectant method, chanting Hare Krsna. Otherwise, it will not, simply by theoretical knowledge will not do.

So it is disinfectant, actually. Janatagha-viplavah. It stops further sinful activities of that person. And if we continue, that "Well, I have got a disinfectant method, chanting Hare Krsna. Therefore I can go on committing these four principles of sin, and I'll be (dis)infected." Just like in the Christian church they go, confess. That's all right. Confessing is disinfectant. But how is that you again do it? What is the meaning? You go to church, confess. That's very nice. Now your sinful activities is neutralized. That's all right. But why you are committing again? What is the answer? Hm? What will be the possible answer if I ask any Christian gentleman that "You are committing sinful activities, all right, confessing in the church before Lord Jesus Christ, he's representative, or his representative, or God. Your sinful activities all neutralized, excused. That's all right. But why you are committing again?" What will be the answer?

Nara-narayana: They will confess again.

Prabhupada: They will confess again. That means it has become a business. You see? That "I commit..." That is not the idea. Our, this offensive list you have noted, the offensive list, that prohibits that... Namno balad yasya hi papa-buddhih. Anyone who thinks like that, that "Because I have got this disinfectant method, so I shall commit sinful activities and I'll chant Hare Krsna, and it will be neutralized," so that is the greatest sin. Similarly... [break]

So my manager supplied morphine preparation to an unlicensed doctor, medical practitioner. In India there are many so-called medical practitioners. They are compounders, and after... Because there is scarcity of medical man. So there was one compounder. Some way or other, he took supply of morphine preparation from my manager. But the license was in my name. I am the proprietor. So I was called by the magistrate. So he asked my explanation: "Why you have done this?" So I gave my explanation, that "I am, of course, I am proprietor. The license is my name. But actually the business is done by my assistants, manager. So they have done it. In future I shall be strict. There will be no such mistake." So I was excused. But that does not mean that I shall again do that and again ask excuse. Because I confess, that does not mean... I'll never be excused. It is a common sense.

So persons who are trying to commit sinful activities on the strength of some spiritual activity, they're the greatest sinners. Namno balad yasya hi papa-buddhih. That is not allowed. You can neutralize your sinful activities by some spiritual a... But that does not mean... This is called hasti-snana. That is also explained. Hasti-snana. Hasti-snana means bathing of the elephant. The elephant goes into the reservoir of water, takes bath very nicely, and, as soon as come on the land, again takes some dust and throws over the body. Immediately. You see? So, that sort of purification is not required. Once purified, don't commit again. The harer nama [Adi 17.21], Hare Krsna mantra has got power to purify, but that does not mean that we shall commit again and purify it. That process is not this Hare Krsna mantra.

Seven... You have got that list? You have now... Ten kinds offenses? In this, is it written there that you cannot commit offense on the strength of Hare Krsna mantra? Yes, that's... So tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavah. Viplavati. It vanquishes, it nullifies, it neutralizes. That's a fact. Nasayati. Yasmin vag-visarge, vag-visarge abaddha, abaddhavaty api apasabdadi-yukto 'pi prati slokam anantasya yasasah ankitani namani bhavanti.(?) So such kind of Hare Krsna mantra, or sometime... Just like you are chanting, you are, the mantras, because it is not your language. So sometime it appears broken. Just like guru. Sometimes you say "goru." "Goru" means cow, and "guru" means spiritual master. So the difference of meaning is vast. (chuckling) The spiritual master is not a cow. Or a bull. (laughs) But sometimes they... Because it is not your language... But that doesn't matter. Because bhavagrahi janardana. Krsna is within you. He knows what you want to chant. Therefore He takes the meaning of guru and not goru, even it is spoken as goru. That doesn't matter. Bhavagrahi janardana. He, Krsna, knows that what you are actually... Just like I know that although you are speaking guru as goru, I, I, I, I don't take offense because I know that your desire is something else. I do not protest. (laughter) That "You are addressing me goru. I am not goru." (laughter) So that is not a fault. Similarly, it is said that yasmin prati-slokam abaddhavati. If somebody does not know how to spell, how to say, but his idea is there, abaddhavaty api, because he wants to chant the holy name of the Supreme Lord, namany anantasya, ananta... Ananta means the unlimited. His name is being chanted. Namany anantasya yaso 'nkitani. And His glorification is being done. The effect is srnvanti gayanti grnanti sadha... Those who are actually advanced transcendentalists, they'll appreciate: "Oh, how nicely they are doing. How nicely." Although there is broken language of goru instead of guru, that will be appreciated.

But, on the other hand, where there is no such intention, very, I mean to say, nice composition, but there is no... Just like there are so many poets; they'll give you nice ideas, hallucination. You'll be in the poetic idea. As soon as... Just like our Ginsberg. Ginsberg gives so many poetic ideas. People throng: "Oh, Ginsberg is speaking." But there is... Now he's chanting, of course, Hare Krsna. But in his poetry there is very rarely we can find about here. So anyway these things are not appealing to the persons who are really transcendentalists. But a, a, a composition which is even in broken language, if it is meant for glorifying the Supreme Lord, that is appreciated... Srnvanti gayanti grnanti. Srnvanti means they very attentively hear. Srnvanti. Srnvanti means hearing. Srnvanti gayanti. Also repeats the chanting. Repeats. Gayanti and grnanti. Grnanti means they take also. "It is very nice. It is very nice composition." Srnvanti gayanti. This is the distinction. One side, however nice it may be, poetically, rhetorically, but if there is no glorification of the unlimited Supreme Lord, it is rejected by the hamsas. The... Just like the play, pleasure hunting place for the crows is never accepted by the swans, similarly these kinds of literature...

Now you try to understand how Narada Muni is chastising his disciple like Vyasadeva, that "You have created some literature which will be enjoyed by the crow class men." You see. Just see. He compiled Vedanta-sutra. Still, Narada Muni chastised him that "Your composition will be liked by the crow class men, not the swan class men." You see. Yes. Actually, you will find... So many so-called Vedanta philosophers. The Mayavadis, they are called Vedantists. The Ramakrishna Mission here, they are also preaching Vedanta philosophy. They are called... Vedanta Church there is in Los Angeles. And in New York there is a Vedanta... What is that?

Disciple: Vedanta Society.

Prabhupada: Vedanta Society. But we, actually we find they are enjoyed by a crow class men. Because they do not know what was the intention of writing Vedanta philosophy. That Vedanta philosophy explanation is Srimad-Bhagavatam. Vyasadeva actually did it. Bhasyam brahma-sutranam **. This is... Therefore Bhagavata, it begins with the first aphorism of Vedanta-sutra: janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1]. The author himself explains because he knew under, after the instruction of Narada Muni he could understand that "What fault I have done by writing this Vedanta-sutra because that will (be) misinterpreted by the crow class men. Therefore I must write my own commentary of the Vedanta-sutra so that swan class men will enjoy it." That is the Srimad-Bhagavatam.

Yasmin, yasasam grnanti atre tu yad yani namani sadhavo mahanto vaktari sati srnvanti srotari sati grnanti, anyatha tu svayam eva gayanti kirtayanti.(?) So indirectly he hinted that: "You should compile one first-class literature which the swan class men will hear, will chant and enjoy. So far, what you have done, that will be enjoyed by the crow class men. But you do something which will be enjoyed by the... Then you will be satisfied. Otherwise, you'll not be satisfied." That was his indirect hint. "You are not satisfied by, even after compiling Vedanta-sutra. That means, that indicates that these literatures will not be satisfactory for the swan class of men, or paramahamsa." Paramahamsa means the topmost transcendentalists. They'll never...

Actually, you'll find that our Kirtanananda Swami was in Vrndavana. There are many devotees. There are many devotees; they're illiterate practically. They do not know what is Vedanta-sutra. But still, by their sincere devotional service they're very much elevated. What to speak of others, Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja. Gaura-kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, he was illiterate. He could not sign even his name. But he was so spiritually elevated that my spiritual master, who was the topmost scholar of his time, he accepted him as spiritual master. What is the reason? The reason is that this transcendental science does not depend on academic qualification. It is, it is not that because one is very, academically very qualified, he'll become a devotee. No. The secret is... That is given in the Vedic literatures: yasyasti bhaktir bhagavaty akincana No:

yasya deve para bhaktir
yatha deve tatha gurau
tasyaite kathita hy arthah
prakasante mahatmanah
[SU 6.23]

The transcendental knowledge becomes revealed. To whom it becomes revealed? It becomes revealed to such person who has got unflinching love for Krsna and for the spiritual master. Caitanya-caritamrta also says: guru-krsna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. One can come to the spiritual perfectional stage, or come to the spiritual platform, by the mercy of Krsna and the spiritual master. The, this is Vedic version: yasya deve para bhaktih. One who has got unflinching faith... Deve. Deve means the Supreme Lord. Para bhakti: transcendental devotional service to the Supreme Lord. Yatha deve tatha gurau. And as he has got unflinching faith in Krsna, similarly he has got unflinching faith to the spiritual master. Tasyaite kathita hy arthah: all these Vedic literatures and their purport and their meaning will be revealed to him. Tasyaite kathita hy arthah prakasante. It becomes revealed. Prakasante mahatmanah.

So that is the secret, not that erudite scholarship. One must be very much sincere. Then Krsna will give you dictation. He is within. Guru-krsna... First of all, if I am sincere and if I want to serve the Supreme Lord... The Supreme Lord is within you. He'll give you direction: "All right. You do this. You do this. You just go to this man, and he'll give you good counsel." He'll give you direction. Therefore first mercy is of Krsna, and then the spiritual master is considered as the mercy-representation of Krsna. Krsna helps us from within and without. From within He's helping us as the Supersoul, and from without, He's helping us as the spiritual master. So Krsna is ready to help us in all, always, in all perfectional stage, if we are simply sincere. Para bhakti. Yasya deve para bhaktih. If you have got transcendental devotional mood, then everything will come. It does not depend on this linguistic, I mean to say, advancement or academically... Simply we have to develop our transcendental love and devotional service to the Supreme Lord, and then gradually He'll give me direction. He'll give me right direction. Everything will be all right.

So Narada Muni is advising that "You do something which will be accepted." Srnvanti gayanti grnanti sadhavah. "Do something for the saintly persons, transcendentalists. What you have done this, literature for the crowlike persons. Do something for the swanlike persons." Na sobhate jnanam alam niranjanam.

naiskarmyam apy acyuta-bhava-varjitam
na sobhate jnanam alam niranjanam
kutah punah sasvad abhadram isvare
na carpitam karma yad apy akaranam

So our problem is that we may not make any more cause for our next material birth. That is called akaranam. Akaranam. Just like I have got this body. The cause is my previous activities, in my past life's activities. Similarly, if I continue my materialistic way of life, then I am causing another material body. This is called karanam. If I have got a doggish mentality, then I am causing myself to get a dog's body. Akaranam.

So if we want to stop these causal activities, then, as it is stated: yavan na pritir mayi vasudeve. Unless you develop your love of Godhead, there is no other way to stop this causal, cause and effect. The cause is this and the effect is this. Cause and effect. The whole material world is going on, cause and effect. People do not consider that why there are so many, 8,400,000 species of life. There must be something. Some of them foolishly think that once one gets this human form of life he does not glide down. Is it not? He remains in the human form of life. No. There are many instances. Just like Bharata Maharaja, he got the body of a deer. There are so many instances.

So it is not a permanent settlement that once we have got this human form of body we cannot glide down. We can glide down. Bhagavad-gita says: yam yam vapi smaran loke tyajaty ante kalevaram. At the time of death the mental position will give you another body of the same type as you are mentally absorbed at that time. So therefore we have to prepare, we have to prepare ourselves so that at the time of death we may... Ante narayana-smrtih. At the time of death we can once think of Krsna. Then our life is successful. It is said in Bengali that bhajana kara sadhana kara matijanle haya.(?) What is that? That whatever spiritual advancement you are doing, that's all right. The test will be at the time of your death. Examination. That is the point of examination. What is the mental state at that time. Difficult job.

Therefore we have to practice: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. In this way, unconsciously or consciously, if we simply can remember Hare Krsna, then our life is successful. This is a most scientific method. Simply if we can remember... It doesn't require how far we are educated, how far we are scholar, no. Ante narayana-smrtih. Etavaj janma-saphalyam. Then there is... So Pariksit Maharaja was to die within seven days. Therefore he called for... Not called for. Sukadeva Gosvami, out of his own accord, came, because he knew Pariksit Maharaja was a great king, and great devotee. He's, from his childhood... It is described... Just like this child is playing with Deity, Pariksit Maharaja used to play with Deities. We had also the opportunity from our father to play with Deities. So these are great opportunities, to get ideas, good ideas, and training, training. Really, this is the training, this association. Simply by associating, associating with these members, this chanting, regulative chanting, dancing, and taking prasadam, he's being educated. Highly educated. Tan manye adhitam uttamam. One who has learned about the devotional service, then he's to be understood highly educated. That is the recommendation by Prahlada Maharaja.

So actually we don't require any other education. This association will give anyone who will come, either child or old man. That doesn't matter. He'll be highly educated. But because we are in this material world, therefore we have to give some education. But that is secondary. Real education this. Just like you are doing, all rising early in the morning, mangala-aratrika, kirtana, and then... These regulative principles, this is real education. It does not require any academic education. It is simply practice. Tan manye adhitam uttamam. That is Prahlada Maharaja's recommendation.

So Narada Muni is inducing his disciple, Vyasadeva, to write Srimad-Bhagavatam, will be, which will be heard and, srnvanti, will be accepted, and grnanti, and srnvanti gayanti, and chanted. So those who are actually in the transcen..., they accept Srimad-Bhagavatam... Srimad-bhagavatam amalam puranam, yasmin paramahamsyam giyate. Paramahamsa-samhita. This is paramahamsa-samhita. This Srimad-Bhagavatam is meant for the topmost transcendentalists. It is not for ordinary... Not for the impersonalists, or for the yogis. The topmost transcendentalist means devotees. Because Krsna says... Who is transcendentalist? Who wants to know God, he is transcendentalist. Not ordinary person. No, no, who is topmost transcendentalist? The devotees. Why? Why not the yogis, and the jnanis, impersonalists, and the, the meditators about...? Why they are not? Because Krsna says that bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah [Bg. 18.55], "Only through devotional service one can understand Me."

So transcendental life means to understand the Absolute Truth. The Absolute Truth can be understood perfectly only through devotional service. There is no other way. There is no other way. In every scripture, Vedic scripture, this is announced. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam also, the same thing confirmed: evam prasanna-manaso bhagavad-bhakti-yogatah [SB 1.2.20]. When, by discharging devotional service, one will be prasanna-manasah, very jolly mood, always jolly... Bhagavat-tattva-vijnanam mukta-sangasya jayate... Unless one is freed from material anxiety, unless one is spiritually joyful, he cannot understand what is the science of Krsna. It is not possible. So therefore we have to cultivate this devotional service. Then our ultimate goal of life, to understand the Absolute Truth, our relationship with Him, that will be perfectly done.

Thank you very much. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.11 -- New Vrindaban, June 10, 1969