Devotee:
krsnaya vasudevaya
devaki-nandanaya ca
nanda-gopa-kumaraya
govindaya namo namah
"Let me therefore offer my respectful obeisances unto the Lord, who has become the son of Vasudeva, the pleasure of Devaki, the boy of Nanda and the other cowherd men of Vrndavana, and the enlivener of the cows and senses."
Prabhupada: So in the beginning Kuntidevi said that namasye purusam tvadyam isvaram prakrteh param: "I offer my obeisances unto the person, purusam, who is prakrteh param, who is beyond this material manifestation." Krsna is complete spirit soul, Supersoul. He has no material body. So in the beginning Kuntidevi gave us this understanding that God, the supreme purusa... Purusa means person. He's not imperson. Purusa. But He's not a purusa of this material world, not a personality of this material creation. That is to be understood. The impersonalists cannot accommodate in their poor fund of knowledge how the Supreme Absolute Truth can become a person, because whenever they think of person they think of a person of this material world. That is their defect. So they have poor fund of knowledge. Why God should be a person of this material world? So that was cleared in the beginning. Prakrteh param, beyond this material creation, but He is a person.
So now that personality, although alaksyam, invisible, now, by the grace of Kunti, we can understand that although the Supreme Person is invisible, now He has appeared to be visible, Krsna. Therefore she says: krsnaya vasudevaya. Vasudeva conception. Sometimes the impersonalists, they have vasudeva conception, means all-pervading. So Kuntidevi is pointing out, "That Vasudeva is Krsna, all-pervading." Krsna, by His Vasudeva feature, He is all-pervading. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61]. This feature of Krsna... Krsna, the original person, has got three features: as the Supreme Personality of Godhead; as all-pervading Paramatma, Supersoul; and impersonal Brahman effulgence. So those who are interested in bhakti-yoga, they have no business with the impersonal Brahman effulgence. That is for common men. Common men. Just like you can try to understand: those who are inhabitants of the sun planet, what they have got to do with the sunshine? That is a most insignificant thing for them, sunshine. Similarly, those who are advanced in spiritual life, they are interested in the person, purusam, Vasudeva. Purusam. That realization takes place, as it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, after many, many births. Bahunam janmanam ante: [Bg. 7.19] at the end of many, many births. These impersonalists who are very much attached to the Brahman effulgence, such persons, they are called jnanis. They are trying to understand the Absolute Truth by dint of their knowledge, but they do not know that their knowledge is very imperfect and limited. And Krsna, the Absolute Truth, is unlimited. You cannot approach the unlimited by your limited knowledge. That is not possible. So, by the grace of devotees like Kuntidevi, we can understand that here is Vasudeva. The all-pervading Absolute Truth, Paramatma, Vasudeva, is here. Krsnaya vasudevaya. So this vasudeva realization is possible by the impersonalists after many, many births. Not very easily.
bahunam janmanam ante
jnanavan mam prapadyate
vasudevah sarvam iti
sa mahatma sudurlabhah
[Bg. 7.19]
Sudurlabhah, "very rare," mahatma, "broad-minded." But one who cannot understand Krsna, they are cripple-minded. They are not broad-minded. If one becomes broad-minded, then, by the grace of Krsna, he can understand Krsna.
Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. The process is sevonmukha, service. Service, beginning with the tongue, vasudeva realization is possible. The service, the first service is sravanam kirtanam. Chant Hare Krsna mantra and hear repeatedly and take prasada. These are two business of the tongue. So you'll realize. Very simple method. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam... Krsna will reveal, not that by your endeavor you can understand Krsna, but your endeavor in the loving service, that will make you qualified. Krsna will reveal. Svayam eva sphuraty adah. Krsna is very much anxious to take you back home, back to Godhead. But we are stubborn. We do not wish. So He's always finding out the opportunity how you can be taken back home, back to Godhead. Just like affectionate father. Rascal son left his father, loitering in the street and have no shelter, no food, suffering so much. The father is more anxious to take the boy home. Similarly, Krsna is the supreme father. All these living entities within this material world, they're exactly like the misled child of a big, rich man, loitering in the street. Therefore the greatest benefit to the human society is to give him Krsna consciousness. Greatest... You cannot give any benefit; any kind of material profit will not satisfy the living entity. If he's given this Krsna consciousness... Just like the same process. A bewildered boy is loitering in the street. If he's reminded, "My dear boy, why you are suffering so much? You are the son of such and such very rich man. Your father has got so much property. Why you are loitering in the street?" And if he comes to his consciousness: "Yes, I am the son of such and such big man. Why shall I loiter in the street?" He goes back home. Yad gatva na nivartante [Bg. 15.6].
Therefore this is the best service, to inform him that "You are part and parcel of Krsna. You are son of Krsna. Krsna is opulent, six kind of opulence. Why you are traveling, why you are rotting in this material world?" This is the greatest service, Krsna consciousness. But maya is very strong. Still, it is the duty of every krsna-bhakta to try to enlighten everyone to Krsna consciousness. Just like Kuntidevi is pointing out. First of all she said, alaksyam sarva-bhutanam antar bahir avasthi... Although Krsna, the Supreme Person, is without and within, still, to the rascals and fools, He is invisible. Therefore she is pointing out: "Here is the Lord, krsnaya vasudevaya." He is the all-pervading Supreme Personality of Godhead, but He's very much pleased to become the son of Devaki. Devaki-nandanaya. Devaki-nandanaya is mentioned in Atharva-Veda also. Krsna comes as Devaki-nandana, and His foster father is Nanda-gopa, Nanda Maharaja.
So Krsna likes to be related with His devotee as father and mother. Here, in this material world, we try to make our relationship with the Supreme as father, but Krsna wants to become the son. Therefore nanda-gopa-kumaraya. He takes pleasure to become a devotee's son. Ordinary men, they want God as father, but that is not very pleasing to Krsna. Father means... To become father means always botheration: "Give me this, give me this, give me this." You see. Of course, Krsna has got immense potencies to supply. Eko yo bahunam vidadhati kaman. He can supply everyone as much he wants. He's supplying food to the elephant. He's supplying food to the ant. Why not to the human being? But these rascals, they do not know. They're working day and night like ass to find out bread. And if he goes to church, there also: "Give me bread." They are only bread problem. That's all. Although the living entity is the son of the richest opulent person, but he has created his bread problem. This is called ignorance. He thinks that "If I do not solve my bread problem, if I do not drive my trucks day and night..."Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. whoosh. Such a nonsense civilization. You see. Bread problem. Where is bread problem? Krsna can supply. If He can supply food to the elephant in Africa... There are millions and millions of African elephants, you know, and they are supplied food.
The Bhagavata says don't waste your time for this bread problem. Don't waste your time. Tasyaiva hetoh prayateta kovido na labhyate yad bhramatam upary adhah. Don't waste your time how to solve your economic problems. This is nonsense. Of course, it is very revolutionary. People will hate me. "What Swamiji's speaking?" But actually this is the fact. This is another madness. Suppose you have got your rich father, enough food. Where is your economic problem? This is madness. There is no economic problem. If you are, if you know that "My father is the richest man of the city," then where is my economic problem? Actually, that is the position. We have no economic problem. Everything is there, complete. Purnam adah purnam idam purnat purnam udacyate [Isopanisad, Invocation]. Everything is complete there. You want water. Just see: there are oceans of water. You want purified water. You cannot. Although the ocean water's so much, when there is scarcity of water, you have take help of Krsna. He'll evaporate the water, He'll make it cloud. Then when it falls down, then it becomes sweet. Otherwise you cannot touch. Everything under control. Everything is full -- water, light, heat. Everything is complete. Purnat purnam udacyate, purnasya purnam adaya purnam evavasisyate. His stock is never finished. Simply you become obedient and the supply is there. You can understand.
These Krsna consciousness persons, they have no problem, economic problem. Everything is sufficiently supplied by Krsna. In Los Angeles, the neighbors, they are very envious, that "You do not work. You have no anxiety. You have got four cars. You are eating so nicely. How is that?" They inquire from our devotees. That is the actually the fact. We are spending so much money, we have got so many centers. The calculation is about $70,000 we are spending. Who is supplying? Somehow or other, we are getting. So there is no problem. You simply become sincere servant of Krsna. Everything is there. This is the test. They are envious of us that we do not work. Still, we have got so much. "So why don't you come and join us?" That they will not do. "You come with us, chant Hare Krsna." "No, no, no. That I cannot do." All right, then work with your trucks: whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. They have made their own position dangerous and others' position also. They say... At any moment, there may be accident. This is the civilization. Nonsense. This is not civilization. Civilization means calmness, peace, prosperity, santi. In peace and prosperity one should be Krsna conscious always. Tasyaiva hetoh prayateta kovido na labhyate yad bhramatam upary adhah. In the animal life, or other than human life, we had worked so much only for morsel of food, day and night, working. But still the food is there. Simply avidya-karma-samjnanya trtiya saktir isyate. Avidya. This material world is full of ignorance. So therefore our endeavor should be how to come out of this ignorance. Tasyaiva hetoh. For that reason, we should work only. How to come out of this ignorance, that "I am this material body. I have to work day and night, and then I shall get my food, and I shall live." This is ignorance. Tasyaiva hetoh pra...
So this ignorance, this life of ignorance we have passed in the, I mean to say, the forms other than the human being. Animal life, bird's life, beast's life. Now this life should be peaceful, calm and quiet. And jivasya tattva-jijnasa, simply for inquiring about the Absolute Truth. That should be the business. Simply. Jivasya tattva-jijnasa. Athato brahma jijnasa. Simply sit down. Just like we are sit down. We are sitting down and inquiring about Krsna. This is life. And what is this life? Working day and night like the ass? No. That is not life. Therefore Bhagavata says your life should be engaged for this purpose: tasyaiva hetoh prayateta kovidah. Kovida means intelligent. Then: "How my economic problem will be solved?" The answer is: tal labhyate duhkhavad anyatah sukham. You are after happiness. Are you after distress? "No, sir." Why distress comes upon you? You are not anxious for distress, calamities. Why do they come upon you? Similarly, so far your happiness is also concerned, that will also come upon you. Because your life, according to your karma, is mixed up with some portion of happiness, some portion of distress. If the distress comes without any invitation, the happiness also will come without invitation. Without any invitation. Because you are destined already that so much happiness, so much distress you will have. Destined.
So you cannot change it. Try to change your lord, this material condition of life. That is your only business. Tasyaiva hetoh prayateta kovido na labhyate yad bhramatam upary adhah...Bhramatam upary adhah. You have tried. bhramatam upary adh... Upari means higher planetary systems. Sometimes we get our birth in higher planetary system as demigods, and sometimes, adhah, as animals, as cats and dogs, germ of the stool. This is going on. This is going on according to our karma. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said: ei rupe brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. Only fortunate living entity gets this opportunity of association of Krsna and Krsna's devotee. Then his life becomes sublime.
ei rupe brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva
guru-krsna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija
[Cc. Madhya 19.151]
This bhakti-lata-bija, the seed of devotional service, chanting Hare Krsna mantra.
So Kuntidevi is pointed that "Who is the person, alaksya, invisible?" Here, Krsna. "Krsna? There are so many Krsnas." Vasudevaya, the son of Vasudeva. "There are many Vasudevas." No, nanda-gopa-kumaraya, nanda-gopa-kumaraya, the foster son of Maharaja Nanda. Three times she's pointing: "Here is Krsna." Krsna who officially takes His birth as son of Devaki and Vasudeva, but He enjoys the company of mother Yasoda and Nanda Maharaja -- the childhood company. This is Krsna's pastime.
So ananda-lilamaya-vigraha. Ananda-lila, Krsna's lila, pastimes are all jubilant. Ananda-lilamaya. Anandamayo 'bhyasat. He is by nature anandamaya. Krsna, you'll never find Krsna is very unhappy. Krsna is never unhappy. Krsna is always happy. Therefore nanda-gopa-kumaraya govindaya. He is happy, and whoever, whoever associates with Him, he's also happy. Govindaya. We are after sense gratification. Go means senses. So if you associate with Krsna, you enjoy your senses affluently. Just like the gopis are dancing with Krsna. So there is no scarcity of sense gratification also. But that is not this sense gra..., gross sense gratification. That is spiritual sense. That is spiritual sense. Ananda-cinmaya-sad-ujjvala-
So you have to associate with Govinda. Here is, also, it is said, govindaya namo namah: "I offer my respectful obeisances to Govinda." So this Krsna consciousness movement is so nice -- you become directly in contact with Govinda. This Deity worship is also directly in contact with Govinda. Sri-vigraharadhana-nitya-nana-
So we should take to this Krsna consciousness movement according to the sastra. Sri... I am very pleased that you are doing nicely, dressing the Deity very nicely. More and more, in this way offer Krsna nice prasadam, nice foodstuff, nice dress. Keep the temple very clean. Sri-mandira-marjanadisu. Marjana means cleansing. Either you dress Krsna or cleanse the temple, the effect is the same. Don't think that "I am a cleanser and he is a dresser." No. The dresser and the cleanser are the same. Krsna is Absolute. In any way, be engaged in Krsna's service. Your life will be successful. This is Krsna consciousness movement.
So by the grace of Kuntidevi we can understand that Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva. Vasudeva... Another meaning of vasudeva is that when you come to the platform of vasudeva. Sattvam visuddham vasudeva-sabditam. Sattvam. Sattva, goodness. First of all, we have to come to the platform of goodness. But here, in the material world, the goodness is also sometimes contaminated by other low qualities, ignorance and passion. So by hearing about Krsna, srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah.. [SB 1.2.17]. Just like you are hearing about Krsna. Similarly, try to hear about Krsna always, twenty-four hours chant about Krsna. In this way, the dirty things will be cleansed. Nasta-prayesv abhadresu nityam bhagavata-sevaya [SB 1.2.18]. Nityam means always. Not that bhagavata-saptaha, official. No, not like that. That is another exploitation. In the Bhagavata it is said, nityam bhagavata-sevaya. Nityam means daily, twenty-four hours. Either you read Srimad-Bhagavatam or carry out the order of your spiritual master. This is also order. Bhagavata is spiritual master. Vaisnava, he's also bhagavata. Acaryas, bhagavata. Grantha-bhagavata and person, person bhagavata. So person bhagavata or book bhagavata, you always serve. Nityam bhagavata-sevaya [SB 1.2.18]. Bhagavaty uttama-sloke bhaktir bhavati naisthiki. Then you will be fixed up. Naisthiki. Nobody can move you. Bhagavaty uttama-sloke, unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
So in this way, Krsna consciousness movement should be realized by you by the process prescribed and try to give to the people. This is the greatest welfare activities in the world, to awaken Krsna consciousness, the dormant Krsna consciousness. It is, of course, practically, you can see, four or five years ago, none of you were in Krsna consciousness, but it has been awakened. Now you are Krsna conscious. So others can be awakened also. There is no difficulty. The process is the same. So by following the footprints of devotees like Kunti, we shall be able to understand as she's pointing out: krsnaya vasudevaya devaki-nandanaya ca, nanda-gopa-kumaraya. This is Krsna's identification. Just like we take identification of a person: "What is your father's name?" So here we're giving, presenting God with His father's name, with His mother's name, with His address. We are not impersonalists, vague idea. No. Everything complete. Perfect. The identification. If you take advantage of this propagation of Krsna consciousness, then you are certainly benefited.
Thank you very much. (end)
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