True Guru

"True Guru"

Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.21
Honolulu, May 21, 1976

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Prabhupada: (leads chanting, etc.)

kanyakubje dvijah kascid
dasi-patir ajamilah
namna nasta-sadacaro
dasyah samsarga-dusitah
 [SB 6.1.21]

So yesterday Sukadeva Gosvami said, "In this connection I shall cite the example, historical example, of Ajamila." So historical reference. It is not fiction because Kanyakubja is still there. The city of Kanyakubja is still existing there, and the Bhagavata was written five thousand years ago. So that means the city existed before five thousand... Kanyakubje. Kanyakubje dvijah. Dvija means twice-born. First-born by the father and mother, and the next birth is dvijah, means by the father, spiritual master, and the mother, Vedic knowledge. This is called second birth. Samskarad bhaved dvijah. Samkara means purificatory process. So that is human life, not that to beget a child. That begetting is going on by the cats and dogs. That is not... That is first birth. Janmana jayate sudrah. So that kind of birth is accepted as sudra. Then he can be trained up.

A sudra, actually those who are by qualification sudra... Sudra means lamentation, simply changing. They accept something, and then they find it useless, and they lament. The so-called scientists, philosophers, they're all sudras because they say, "We have discovered something," and after few years, "Oh, it is now useless." Another theory. Sudra. So sudra cannot give you any education. That is not possible. Education has to be taken from brahmana. That is the Vedic system. Brahmana is the teacher because they are trained up -- satya sama damo titiksa arjavam, jnanam vijnanam astikyam brahma-karma-svabhava-jam [Bg. 18.42]. Therefore in India still, not in the city but in the village, the brahmana is accepted as teacher, natural teacher. And there was... (aside:) You sit down properly. Yes. Brahmana, they are teachers, natural teachers, and there is no fees. No fees. Just like we started this Krsna consciousness movement, teaching, but there was no fees. This is the teaching, real teaching. So brahmana should not charge anything, but they can take charity. So the students, they would bring charities naturally. This was brahmana's profession. They would not charge anything, but his disciples, students, would beg from door to door and bring. That is gurukula. Gurukula. Gurukula means every student should go to gurukula and learn to become very simple and obedient and self-controlled and learn how to address every woman as mother. This is guru..., from the very beginning. They would go every home. Small children or big children, they will address, "Mother, give us some alms." So every woman will give, and they would bring it to guru. And that is guru's property, not because he has begged this thing from somebody, it has become his property. No. It is guru's property. This is called brahmacari gurukula, to gives one the training.

So when he's trained up nicely, humble, self-controlled, educated, then his second birth, second birth by Vedic knowledge. Janmana jayate sudrah samskarad bhaved dvijah. Samskara, reformatory. He has become humble, meek, well-versed in sastra. When these all qualifications are there, then guru says, "Now I recognize you." Upanayana. Upa means near, and nayana means bringing. So gradually the spiritual master brings him nearer. Then, when he's actually trained up, then it is called... The sacred ceremony, upanayana, means he has now come nearer to understand Vedic knowledge. Then he studies Vedas, dvija. When he is initiated, then his studying of the Vedas... Veda-pathad bhaved viprah. So after this dvija, second birth, he studies Vedas. And when he's well versed in Vedas he is called vipra. Then, by studying Vedas, when he understands Krsna... Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyam [Bg. 15.15]. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said what is Vedic study. Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyam [Bg. 15.15]. Vedic study means to understand Krsna. That is Vedic study. If he does not understand what is Krsna, then he's useless. Srama eva hi kevalam.

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

Svanusthitasya dharmasya. Everyone is executing his occupational duty. I give this meaning, "Dharma means occupational duty." It is not a sentiment, faith. Occupational duty. That is called dharma. Brahmacari's dharma, grhastha's dharma, vanaprastha's dharma, occupational duty. So by discharging one's occupational duties very nicely -- not as a machine regulation, no -- the result will be dharmah svanusthitah pumsam visvaksena kathasu yah: [SB 1.2.8] he will gradually be interested to understand Krsna. Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyam [Bg. 15.15]. That is Vedic study. Not that after studying Vedas he becomes nirvisesavadi, impersonalist, or sunyavadi. Then useless. Srama eva hi kevalam. Vedas means knowledge, and Vedanta... Anta means last status or the end, end of. Everything has got some end, that "This is final, end." End means final. So Vedas means knowledge, and anta means end. So what is that end? That Vedanta is Srimad-Bhagavatam. Therefore you'll find in every, at the end of every chapter of Srimad-Bhagavatam, brahma-sutra-bhasye. Brahma-sutra means Vedanta.

So it is the natural comment by Vyasadeva. Vyasadeva is the writer of Vedanta philosophy, and he has written a comment personally so that in future, rascals may not misrepresent Vedanta. There are so many bhasyas, but that is not commentary. Real commentary... The author knows what he wants to speak. So Vedanta is the compilation by Vyasadeva. So he knows what he wants to speak. What others have got the right? Just like Bhagavad-gita. The purpose of Bhagavad-gita is known by Krsna. Why the rascals comment in different way? They may write their rascal philosophy other... Why they touch Bhagavad-gita and give different interpretation? They have no right. I have written a book; I have got my purpose. Why you should poke your nose and make it a different purpose? This is very mischievous rascaldom. So we want to stop this. We present Bhagavad-gita as it is, as Krsna says. We don't allow any rascal to comment upon Bhagavad-gita in a different way. That is our Krsna consciousness movement. This is very natural. If you have got a different type of philosophy, you can write. Why you should touch Bhagavad-gita and misrepresent it? So because they are sudras -- their business is to cheat -- they do that. But a brahmana will not do that. Yathanugitanam. Yathanugitanam. Brahmana means as it is, they will describe. That is brahmana. And if one has got some motive, that "Bhagavad-gita is popular book. Let me utilize it and make my rascal philosophy popular..." This is going on. Big, big politician, big, big mental speculator... No. That is wrong. That is... A brahmana should present as it is. Yathanugitanam. This word is used.

So this dvijah, brahmana. Brahmana means one who has acquired these qualifications. Satya sama damo titiksa. The first qualification of brahmana is to become truthful. He'll never speak lies. That is the first qualification. Satya sama, then controlling the senses; dama, controlling the mind. Sama means controlling the mind, and dama is controlling the senses. Sama dama titiksa [Bg. 18.42]. Titiksa means tolerance. Titiksa arjava, simplicity; and full knowledge, jnanam; vijnanam, practical. Simply theoretical knowledge, no practical application -- he is not brahmana. Therefore Krsna said, guna-karma. Only guna is not good. Guna and karma. Karma means some act. Suppose you are initiated as a brahmana. That is not finish, that "Now I am initiated. I have got sacred thread. I can do all nonsense thing." No. You must act as a brahmana. Then you are brahmana. You always remember that. They are criticizing in India that I am giving a brahmana's position to these mlecchas and yavanas. You should be very careful so that we may not be subjected to criticism. If there are so many foreign brahmanas in India and I am making brahmana in the Western countries, if they are still fallen, then what is this attempt? My attempt is futile. So kindly be responsible, those who are second initiated. If you fall down, then the whole movement becomes false. That is happening. So kindly rectify if that is happening, that guna-karma. You must acquire the qualities and must act accordingly. That is practical. Suppose one man is educated as medical man, but after taking his degrees he is playing football. So will anybody call him a medical man? He might have the qualification, medical qualification, but because he is not practicing as medical man he is useless. That is the sastra injunction. Yady anyatrapi drsyeta tat tenaiva vinirdiset [SB 7.11.35]. If one has acquired some quality but he practices differently, then he should be called by the name of that practice. A medical man, after passing medical examination -- I am giving you crude example -- if he is, he becomes a football player, then he will be called a football player, not a medical man. These are the sastric injunction.

But there is no culture. There is no attention. Therefore the whole world is in chaotic condition. But if we accept the Vedic civilization which is in nutshell -- everything is there in the Bhagavad-gita -- then the whole world will be Vaikuntha. You haven't got to go in the Vaikuntha. Here you'll have Vaikuntha. And next life will be Vaikuntha. Janma karma ca divyam me yo janati tattvatah. Krsna is giving the civilization, Vedic civilization. And if we thoroughly understand it, then we are fit for going back to home. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti [Bg. 4.9]. So this Vedic civilization is so nice, and it is given in nutshell in simple words by the Supreme Lord Himself. If we take it, then immediately the face of the world will change, immediately. They have got this United Nation organization. If they take up Bhagavad-gita and introduce the teachings all over the world, then it is successful, United Nation. Otherwise where is unity? All false.

So these are the duties of the brahmana. To give proper education, he himself should be properly educated. That is called brahminical culture. And we offer our respect to Krsna because He gives the brahminical culture. Namo brahmanya-devaya. Because He is giving the brahminical culture. Without brahminical culture, useless. That is not civilization. Therefore Krsna is offered obeisance, namo brahmanya-devaya go-brahmana-hitaya ca. He is first concerned for the cows and the brahmana. Go-brahmana-hitaya ca. Then jagad-hitaya. Then He's concerned for the whole, other things. The first concern means cows and brahmana. Many times He has repeated, go-raksya. Why He did not say "pig-raksya"? No. He said, go-raksya, because without cows' milk there is no civilization. You will not have nice brain to understand things, simply speculate. We are discussing the philosophy of so many speculators, simply talking nonsense. Simply... Why? This speculator to another, he says, "I think, I..." What you are? You can think? First of all you become brahmana; then you can think properly. Where is your education as brahmana? Where is that brain? Eating all nasty things and you become a brahmana? Therefore Krsna's is go-brahmana-hitaya ca.

The Vedic civilization, the brahmanas, they used to live in the forest, and the king would offer them some cows. So they will draw some milk. And in the forest there are fruits, so they will eat fruits and milk. And if the disciples go to the village, beg some food grain, then sometimes they cook some food grains. Otherwise the brahmanas used to live in the forest, drink milk and take fruit. That is sufficient. There was no need of jumping here and there. Anywhere you keep cows. And what cows to maintain? No expenditure. The fruits? The skin thrown away, and the cow will eat. And in exchange it will give you nice foodstuff, milk. Or it will eat in the grazing ground, some grass. So there is no expenditure of keeping cows, but you get the best food in the world. The proof is that the child born simply can live on milk. That is the proof. So anyone can live only on milk. If you have got the opportunity to drink one pound milk maximum, not very much -- half-pound is sufficient; suppose one pound -- then you don't require any other foodstuff. Only this cow's milk will help you. It is so nice. And it gives very nice brain, not pig's brain. So it is so important thing. Other..., why Krsna says go-raksya? He did not say that "pig-raksya." No. "Dog-raksya." No. Now they are interested in dog-raksya instead of cow-raksya. This is the civilization. They'll spend millions of dollars for dog, not for cow.

So this kind of civilization will not bring any peace and prosperity. You have to take Krsna's civilization if you want actually... That is human civilization. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita:

bhoktaram yajna-tapasam
sarva-loka-mahesvaram
suhrdam sarva-bhutanam
jnatva mam santim rcchati
 [Bg. 5.29]

If you actually want santi, peace, then you try to understand only three things. What is that? Sarva-loka-mahesvaram: Krsna is the proprietor of everything. Just like we ask every day, "Who is the proprietor of the sea?" They do not know. Theories. But Krsna said, "I am the proprietor," sarva-loka-mahesvaram, "not only of this sea." This Pacific Ocean is only one, insignificant. There are millions of Pacific Ocean flying in the sky. So who is the proprietor? Sarva-loka-mahesvaram. Krsna says, "I am." You are not proprietor. There must be some proprietor. So who is that proprietor? Krsna says, "I am the proprietor." You have to know it, whether Krsna is not proprietor. He says, "I am proprietor," but if you are doubtful, prove that He is not proprietor. But that you cannot do. Or bring another person who can claim like that, that "I am the proprietor." Therefore you have to accept Krsna as the proprietor. And it is accepted by all great personalities. Vyasadeva, Narada, Asita, Devala, all the acaryas, Nimbarka, then Madhvacarya, Ramanujacarya, and our worshipable Deity, Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Everyone has accepted. So unless we are grand fool, we can't deny this. It is not possible. Evam parampara-praptam [Bg. 4.2]. We have to take knowledge by the disciplic succession.

So let us get admission by Caitanya Mahaprabhu: krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28]. Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. Caitanya Mahaprabhu's, this Krsna consciousness movement propagana, what is this propaganda? He says that "Every one of you become guru." He wants not rascal imitation guru but real guru. That He wants. Because people are in darkness, we require many millions of gurus to enlighten them. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission is, He said, that "Every one of you become guru." Amara ajnaya guru haya tara ei desa. You haven't got to go foreign countries. Wherever you are, you teach; become guru. It doesn't matter. Ei desa. He says, ei desa. If you have got power, you can go other country, but it doesn't require. In whichever village, whichever country or town you are, you become a guru. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission. Amara ajnaya guru haya tara ei desa. "This country, this place." So, "But I have no qualification. How can I become guru?" There is no need of qualification. "Still I can become guru?" Yes. "How?" Yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa: [Cc. Madhya 7.128] "Whomever you meet, you simply instruct what Krsna has said. That's all. You become guru." Everyone is very anxious to become guru, but rascal does not know how to become guru, a simple thing. So many gurus come from India in this country, all rascal, but they will not speak what Krsna has instructed. Maybe for the first time this has begun in Krsna consciousness. Otherwise all rascals, they instructed something else, some meditation, this, that, all cheating.

Real guru is he who instructs what Krsna has said. It is not that you maufacture your teaching. No. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu. There is no need of manufacturing. The instruction is already there. You have simply to say, "This is this." That's all. Is it very difficult task? Father said, "This is microphone." A child can say that "Father said this is microphone." He becomes guru. Where is the difficulty? The authority, father, has said, "This is microphone." A child only can say, "This is microphone." So similarly, Krsna says that "I am the Supreme." So if I say, "Krsna is the Supreme," where is my difficulty, unless I cheat others to become the Krsna or the Supreme? That is cheating. But if I say the simple truth, that "Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is the proprietor of everything. He is to be worshiped," then where is my difficulty?

So that is our mission. All of you who have come to Krsna consciousness movement, that is our request, that you, all of you, become guru but don't speak nonsense. That is request. Simply speak what Krsna has said. Then you become brahmana. You'll be guru, and everything.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.21 -- Honolulu, May 21, 1976

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How to Prevent Crime

"How to Prevent Crime"

Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.21
Chicago, July 5, 1975

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Nitai: "In the country known as Kanyakubja there was a brahmana of the name Ajamila. Later on, he married a kept maidservant, a prostitute. On account of the association with the low-class woman, he lost all his brahminical qualities."

Prabhupada: This is the history. Yesterday we talked, itihasam udaharanti, atra codaharanti imam itihasam puratanam. This Kanyakubja...

kanyakubje dvijah kascid
dasi-patir ajamilah
namna nasta-sadacaro
dasyah samsarga-dusitah
 [SB 6.1.21]

This Kanyakubja is still there. It is now known as Kanauj, within the division of Kanpur. It is very old city resided by brahmanas especially. Still, in that city the most inhabitants are brahmanas. Just like Nadia, Navadvipa. It was formerly, even in Caitanya Mahaprabhu's time, inhabited by brahmanas, learned scholars. So similarly, in northern India this place, Kanauj, since very long, long time, it is a very celebrated place. Now this place is very much famous for manufacturing perfumes, rosewater, scented attars, like that.

So anyway, it is history. Long, long ago there was a brahmana, dvija. Dvija means twice-born: first birth by the father and mother... That kind of birth is obtainable by any person, man or animal. As soon as you take birth, there must be father and mother. Without father-mother, there is no question of birth. Therefore, in the human society they do not take this birth as very important. We are very much proud of becoming American or Indian on account of birth, but according to the Vedic civilization, simply the birth by father-mother is not very important. There must be second birth, dvija. Dvi means second, and ja means birth. So according to the Vedic civilization, a human being must be trained up to become dvija, or take his birth second time. This is human civilization. Samskarad bhaved dvijah. Janmana jayate sudrah. Simply by ordinary birth by father and mother, it is sudra. But the civilization is how a sudra or less than sudra can be elevated to the position of a brahmana. That is civilization.

So, as I was explaining yesterday, that if you keep people fourth-class man, then that is not advancement of civilization. Attempt should be made how a fourth-class man can be raised to the first-class position by culture and education. So this Ajamila, he was trained up by his parents to be a qualified brahmana. What is that qualified brahmana? You have heard many times: samo damah satyam saucam arjavam titiksa, jnanam vijnanam astikyam brahma-karma svabhava-jam [Bg. 18.42]. These qualities should be developed. First of all, sama. Sama means equilibrium in the mental position. Mind is never disturbed. There are so many causes of the mind being disturbed. When the mind is not disturbed, that is called samah. Gurunapi duhkhena na vicalyate. That is perfection of yoga.

yam labdhva caparam labham
manyate nadhikam tatah
yasmin sthito na duhkhena
gurunapi na vicalyate
 [Bg. 6.20-23]

This is training. Mind is very flickering. Even five thousand years ago, when Arjuna was advised by Krsna that "You make your restless mind fixed up," he frankly said, "Krsna, it is not possible." Cancalam hi manah krsna pramathi balavad drdham: [Bg. 6.34] "I see my mind is always very much agitated, and to control the mind is exactly an attempt to stop the wind. So it is not possible." But actually his mind was fixed up in Krsna. So those who mind have been fixed up at the lotus feet of Krsna, they have conquered. Their mind is fixed up. That is wanted. Sa vai manah krsna-padaravindayor vacamsi vaikuntha-gunanuvarnane [SB 9.4.18]. These are the qualifications of Maharaja Ambarisa. He was very responsible emperor, but his mind was fixed up at the lotus feet of Krsna. That is wanted.

So this is brahminical qualification, to practice how to fix up the mind at the lotus feet of Krsna, and that is the perfection of yoga. Yoga means not to show some magical feats. No. Real perfection of yoga means to fix up the mind at the lotus feet of Krsna. Therefore in the Bhagavad-gita you will find the last conclusion of this yoga chapter, Sixth Chapter,

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

That was encouraging to Arjuna because Arjuna thought, "Then I am useless. I cannot fix up." But his mind was already fixed up. Therefore Krsna encouraged him, "Don't be discouraged. Anyone whose mind is already fixed up in Me always, he is the first-class, topmost yogi." Therefore we should be always thinking of Krsna. That is Hare Krsna mantra. If you chant Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, that means your mind is fixed up in Krsna. That is the perfection of yoga. So to become a brahmana, this is the first qualification, to keep the mind fixed up, not being agitated, sama. And when your mind is fixed up, then your senses will be controlled. If you fix up your mind that "I shall simply chant Hare Krsna and take prasadam, no more business," then the senses will be controlled automatically. Ta'ra madhye jihwa ati, lobhamoy sudurmati.

So these are the different stages, how to become a brahmana. Samah damah, then satyam, truthful. Truthful means in one sense ordinary truthful. But real truthful means to know the Absolute Truth. Absolute Truth. So that Absolute Truth, who is Absolute Truth? Krsna. We are searching after truth, what is the truth, what is the relative truth. But when you come to Krsna, that is Absolute Truth. Sarva-karana-karanam [Bs. 5.1]. This is truth. Then what is the cause of this truth? This is the... This is the... Neti, neti. So when you come to Krsna, so above Him there is no more truth. Krsna has no cause, but He is the cause of everything, sarva-karana-karanam. Isvarah paramah krsnah sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah, anadih [Bs. 5.1]. He has no... People ask generally that "Everything has cause. What is the cause of Krsna?" The answer is anadi: "He has no cause." That is God. Anadir adih: "He is the cause of everyone." Anadir adir govindah sarva-karana-karanam [Bs. 5.1].

So if our mind is fixed up in Krsna, then naturally the senses will be controlled. If we fix up our mind that we shall not do anything, drdha-vratah... Bhajante mam drdha-vratah. This is determination, that "I shall have nothing to do without Krsna." Then you are first-class yogi -- dvija, brahmana, everything. Everything. So this is..., these are the qualification of not dvija... Dvija is primary qualification of becoming a brahmana. Samskarad bhaved dvijah. By samskara, by the reformatory process, one is initiated -- that is called dvija, dvitiya-janma. The spiritual master is the father, and the Vedic knowledge is the mother. This is called dvija, dvitiya-janma, second birth. So after being dvija, when the spiritual master sees that he is acquired sadacara... Sadacara means these four things: no illicit sex, no intoxication, no meat-eating, no gambling; taking bath thrice, rising early in the... These are called sadacara. These are brahminical qualification.

So this Ajamila was very nicely trained up, born of a brahmana father, and his father trained up. But unfortunately, when he was young man, he was passing through the road, he saw one sudra is embracing another sudrani, or prostitute. Now it is very common affair all over the world: a man is embracing, kissing. But this was not allowed in gentlemen's society. The sudras, the fourth-class man, they used to do that. Sometimes, not always. So he was young man. Naturally, when he saw that a young sudra is embracing another young girl, sudrani, and she is not properly dressed, he became attracted. He became attracted. And they were drunk. So in this way he fell a victim of that prostitute. He liked that prostitute, and later on, he remained with her, and he had very good wife, very respectable family, brahmana, but he forgot everything. Therefore it is said, nasta-sadacarah: "He lost all brahminical qualification." So he was so much trained up, and still, by seeing the sex behavior of a sudra and sudrani, he fell down long, long years ago. Now these things are very common affair. How the young man can be saved? It is very difficult. Therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has given one panacea: "Chant Hare Krsna." That can save you. Otherwise it is very difficult. Harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam, kalau nasty eva nasty eva... [Cc. Adi 17.21]. By practicing the tapasya and yoga and... Nothing will help you, because the age is very fallen. He especially mentioned, kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha. Otherwise one cannot...

So he lost all sadacara. Kanyakubje dvijah kascit. Kascit, kascit means "some are..." Every brahmana was very elevated. One, somebody, kascit. Kascid dasi-patih. And why he fell down? Because he married one maidservant, prostitute. The prostitute class, you will find in the history of India, but they are a class, a low-class woman. Otherwise, in gentleman class or higher class, namely the brahmana, ksatriya, and vaisya, it is not possible to mix freely. That is not possible. They still, in respectable families, the young girls, they are not allowed to go out, not to mix with any... The first young man, this, her husband, when the father-mother selects, then... This is the process. So prostitution was existent. Now I do not know what is the position. But in the low class, dasi-pati, maidservant, sweeper, maidservant. One could mix and have the advantage of prostitution in the lower class, not in the higher class. So therefore it is stated that kascid dasi-patih, dasi-pati. Not the married wife, but dasi-pati, a maidservant. And his name was Ajamila. Dasi-patir ajamilah namna. So what was his condition? Nasta-sadacarah. He had no..., he lost all the sadacara. Sadacara, these are the sadacara: to rise early in the morning, to take bath, attend mangala-aratrika, and chant Hare Krsna mantra, read books, Vedic literature, and then prasadam -- always some prescribed duty for Krsna consciousness. That is called sadacara. So Ajamila, on account of this association of this prostitute, he lost all good qualities, sadacara, and then he took all abominable professional for earning money. That will be described next verse.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.21 -- Chicago, July 5, 1975

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Wasting Human Form of Life

Wasting Human Form of Life

Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.20
Honolulu, May 20, 1976

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Prabhupada: Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto Six, Chapter One, verse number twenty? Is that the number, twenty? (devotees repeat)

atra codaharantimam
itihasam puratanam
dutanam visnu-yamayoh
samvadas tam nibodha me
 [SB 6.1.20]

"In this regard, learned scholars and saintly persons describe a very old historical incident involving a discussion between the order carriers of Lord Visnu and those of Yamaraja. Please hear of this from me."

So Yamaraja is the superintendent or the judge for considering what kind of punishment should be given to a certain sinful person. After death, those who are sinful, they are taken to Yamaraja for judgment, what kind of punishment one has to be given. And those who are pious devotees, they are taken charge by the Visnuduta. I think the Christian doctrine, that in this life either you go to hell or go to heaven. Is it not?

Devotee: Yes.

Prabhupada: That is nice. The same thing. This human form of life is a chance. Actually, in this material world we are all suffering. Duhkhalayam asasvatam [Bg. 8.15]. You cannot make it a happy place. That is not possible. Krsna says, who has created this material world, He says, duhkhalayam asasvatam [Bg. 8.15]. Duhkha means unhappiness; alayam means place. Duhkhalayam asasvatam. That is also temporary. Duhkhalayam asasvatam, napnuvanti mahatmanam samsiddhim paramam gatah [Bg. 8.15]. So this is place of duhkhalayam. Any commonsense man can understand that Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita... You may challenge, "Where is the unhappiness? We are very happy." Madmen. Krsna points out, "No, it is not place of happiness." Why it is not place of happiness? Now, janma-mrtyu-jara vyadhi-duhkha-dosanudarsanam [Bg. 13.9]. Why don't you see the real unhappiness? This is real duhkha, or unhappiness. What is that? Janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi. You have to die. You have to take birth within the womb with so much risk that even your mother can kill you. Is it very happiness? At the present moment the mother... When the child sleeps very peacefully, that "I am on the lap of my mother," now the time has come when the mother is killing the child. So is it very happiness place? That you cannot trust even your mother, what to speak of others. The time has come, degraded, that... Naturally a child, he thinks, "I am safe now with my mother." But the Kali-yuga is so cruel that even with mother you are not safe. And still you say it is a place of happiness? This is called illusion. It is not place.

So this is going on. Not only in the human form of life, in the animal form of life, in trees and so on, so on, it is going on. Eight million, four hundred... So this is a chance given, human form of life. Just like after imprisonment you are again given little freedom. You cannot be completely free; however, you may declare that "I belong to free nation..." Free nation means you are free, certainly, but not absolutely free. You are dependent on the state laws. Similarly, nobody can be free. That is not possible.

prakrteh kriyamanani
gunaih karmani sarvasah
ahankara-vimudhatma
kartaham iti manyate
 [Bg. 3.27]

These rascals, they are thinking, "I am free." No. Nobody is free. But because we are not free, that does not mean there is no freedom. There is freedom. That is not in this world. That is in the spiritual world. Just like mirage, the desert: the animal does not know that there is no water; it is simply reflection by the sunshine. There is some reflection. There is no water. So a man does not run after such false water, but animal runs, and they lost in the running after. Similarly, this material world is reflection of the spiritual world. There is no happiness. Happiness is there in the spiritual world, but we are running after it, being ignorant. But that does not mean... Although we are running after false water, it does not mean there is no water. Water is there, but not in the desert. That is intelligence. So happiness is there, but not in this material world. It is in the spiritual world.

So we have forgotten. There is no education. So anyway, nature gives us the chance. So either you take the Biblical truth or Vedic truth... So this is... The human form is given to us. Now you make your choice: whether you are going to hell or you are going to heaven. That's a fact. If you want, you can go to back to home, back to Godhead, or if you want to remain in this material world and go under the rules and regulation of birth and death, then make your choice. That is also explained in the Bhagavad-gita.

yanti deva-vrata devan
pitrn yanti pitr-vratah
bhutejya yanti bhutani
mad-yajino 'pi yanti mam
 [Bg. 9.25]

So generally the karmis, they want happiness in this life, and if he is intelligent enough, if he believes in the next life, then he makes some provision for next life. Next life is there. Only the rascals, they cannot understand. It is very simple. Next life is there. Tatha dehantara-praptih [Bg. 2.13]. There is no doubt about it. So next life you can prepare in this life, where you want to go. If you go, want to go to the higher planetary systems, you can go. Yanti deva-vrata devan pitrn yanti... [Bg. 9.25]. If you want to go to the Pitrloka... Don't think like the so-called scientists that only this planet is full of living beings and other all vacant. No, that is not the fact. Every planet, it is congested with living entities. That information given there. That is... The whole bunch of universe is just like a tree. At night you have seen, it is rotating. On each and every planet there is life, full of life. Don't think there is no life. There is life. Why not there life? If this planet contains so many living entities, why not in other planets? So from Vedic scripture we understand.

So we can go anywhere. There are three divisions: urdhva, madhya, and adhah -- upper planetary system, middle planetary system, and lower planetary system. So urdhvam gacchanti sattva-sthah [Bg. 14.18]. If you practice here how to remain in the modes of goodness... Goodness means brahminical qualification: satya samo damo titiksa arjava, to become truthful, controlling the senses, controlling the mind, satya sama titiksa, tolerant; satya samo damo titiksa arjava, simple, no duplicity; jnanam, full knowledge of everything; vijnanam, practical application; jnanam vijnanam astikyam... Astikyam means to accept Vedic literature as fact, not imagination. That is called astikyam, or theistic. Astikyam brahma-karma svabhava-jam [Bg. 18.42]. This is called to live in the modes of goodness. So our Krsna consciousness movement is to bring every person to the platform of goodness, not even on the platform of passion, no, because urdhvam gacchanti sattva-stha [Bg. 14.18]. At least, if you remain on the platform of goodness, then you can be promoted to the higher planetary system. Svarga, begins... Higher planetary system begins from the sun, moon, and there are others, Janaloka, Tapoloka, Maharloka, like that, up to Satyaloka, Brahmaloka. So this is the chance. So now you make your selection. Either you go in the upper planetary system or remain where you are or go down in animal life also.

So this is the chance. We should not neglect. So if we misuse this human form of life like animals, then we are punishable. Then you have to go to the Yamaraja and he'll judge what kind of body you'll get. Karmana daiva-netrena [SB 3.31.1]. Just like if you are criminal, then you are put into the magistrate's court and the magistrate decides what kind of punishment you must be given. So don't think you are, we are, every one of us, independent. No. No independent. And after death you are completely under the grip of material nature. That time you cannot say, "I don't care for anyone." No, you have to care. You can falsely become proud so long this body is there. You can talk all nonsense. But when the body is finished, now you are completely under the control of nature. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani. Then your quality will be judged. Gunaih karmani. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]. Everyone is under the control of this prakrti, but rascals, ahankara-vimudhatma, too much bodily concept of life, bewildered, vimudha... Visesa mudha, first-class rascal, vimudha. Vimudhatma kartaham iti manyate. He says that "Whatever I like, I can do," karta. No. That is not possible. So this life is preparation for the next life. You can prepare. It is in your hand. It is in your hand. God has given you the superior intelligence better than the animals. The animals are simply interested eating, sleeping, mating and fearing. So we have got better intelligence, so we must utilize it. Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura sings, you know, those who are, the song, hari hari biphale janama gonainu: "My Lord, I have simply wasted my life." Why? Manusya-janama paiya, radha-krsna na bhajiya, janiya suniya visa-khainu. "I got this nice human form of body for understanding, worshiping Radha-Krsna. Now I did not do anything, that means knowingly I have taken poison."

So if we misuse this human form of life only like animals, eating, sleeping, sex and fearing, then we are spoiling our life. We must prepare next life. If we don't, then after death we have to go to the Yamaraja, and he will decide what kind of next body... Body will change. Krsna says in the Bhagavad... Tatha dehantara-praptih [Bg. 2.13]. After death you have to change the body. As you are changing from childhood to boyhood, boyhood to youthhood, similarly this old body, when it is no more usable, that means death. But the subtle body, mind, intelligence, that is... We have got proof. At night this body is silent, but your mind, intelligence and ego takes you somewhere. You dream that "I have come to here." Sometimes we dream, "I am flying in the sky," or gone to some forest or some friend's house or so many things. "I am talking with a beautiful girl or beautiful man." So this dream we every day see. So that means when this body stops, the gross body, the subtle body is there. Why don't you believe it? Unless the subtle body is working, how do you dream? The dreaming means subtle body is working. So transmigration of the soul means the soul is twice covered -- subtle body and gross body -- just like shirt and coat. So when this gross body is finished, the subtle body is there. It takes you to another body. The subtle body with the semina of the father, it is injected in the mother's womb, and then again you will develop another body. This is the process of transmigration. So this body, how you'll be transferred to another body, that will be judged by the Yamaraja. Daiva-netrena. Karmana daiva-netrena [SB 3.31.1]. By our activities we shall be judged. Those who are criminal, they will be judged, not that everyone will be judged. So, and because those who are devotees, they are... Mad-yajino 'pi yanti mam [Bg. 9.25]. Those who have devoted their life, dedicated their life only in Krsna consciousness, they are sure. Krsna says, tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti [Bg. 4.9]. That is sure. They are going back to home, back to Godhead. And those who are not dedicated or taken to Krsna consciousness, they are criminals. They will be taken to the Yamaraja's court, and Yamaraja will decide what kind of body. There are 8,400,000 different forms of body, and he will be given a certain type of body. This is called transmigration of the soul.

And so Sukadeva Gosvami is going to give example from the history about the Ajamila, how he was in the beginning very good boy, brahmana, and then, under the influence of a prostitute, he fell down and became most degraded, and then again, because in the past he had some good asset of spiritual life... That is described in the Bhagavata, svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat. Spiritual life is so nice, Krsna consciousness. If one has executed even for a short time, it may help to deliver him from the greatest dangerous way of life, and that history will be recited by Sukadeva Gosvami. Kanyakubje dvijah kascid dasi-patir ajamilah. Dasi patir ajamilah, namna nasta-sadacaro dasyah samsarga-dusitah. This is the beginning of the story, that in Kanyakubja... Kanyakubja is... Still the place is there in India. Kanyakubja is a very famous place. It is near Kanpur. There is a place, Kanpur. So there... Kanyakubje dvijah kascid. He was a brahmana, but he became under the clutches of a prostitute. And how nasta-sadacara, how he lost his brahminical qualification, samsarga-dusitah, by the association of prostitute, so this history will be recited. So tomorrow we shall speak of this.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.20 -- Honolulu, May 20, 1976

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Crime, Why and What to Do

Crime, Why and What to Do

Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.20
Chicago, July 4, 1975

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Nitai: Translation. "In this connection, the learned scholars and saintly persons give as an example the description of one very old historical incident, wherein a discussion takes place between the order-carriers of Lord Visnu and the order-carriers of Yamaraja. Please try and understand it as I describe it to you."

Prabhupada:

atra codaharantimam
itihasam puratanam
dutanam visnu-yamayoh
samvadas tam nibodha me
 [SB 6.1.20]

So here is, one example is given, itihasa. Itihasa means history. The Vedic system of itihasa, it is not the modern history. Modern... Itihasa means some incidence which took place long, long ago, and such incidence is very beneficial to hear so that we can follow. That is called itihasa. It is not chronological record of all incidences. Only important things. Puratanam. Puratanam means old and important. So Sukadeva Gosvami is explaining to Pariksit Maharaja how important is Krsna consciousness. Now he is giving one incidence of history -- example is better than precept -- how Ajamila was saved simply by chanting once..., not once, many times, Narayana. That is the itihasam puratanam. In the Vedic literatures there are itihasas, or histories. Just like Mahabharata. Mahabharata is the history. Bharata means India, and Maha means greater. Greater India. Just like modern age they use "Greater Britain," "Greater this," so many, same thing. Mahabharata means "Greater..." Maha means great, and Bharata means India. "The history of Greater India." Although India is very small now in comparison to... Although it is called subcontinent, still, in comparison to your America or Africa, it is very small. But formerly it was not so small. Greater India means India and outside also. And so far we collect records from the Mahabharata, part of Europe, also India. Up to Greek and Rome. Therefore it is called Mahabharata. And when there was the Battle of Kuruksetra, all kings and rulers from different parts of the world, they joined either this party or that party. The Kaurava, the dynasty of the Kurus, they were ruling all over the world. The capital was Hastinapura, which is now known as New Delhi. It is very old. And the emperor, up to Maharaja Pariksit, they were ruling all over the world. There was one flag, not many flags. Therefore it is called Mahabharata.

 

So Mahabharata, the Battle of Kuruksetra was executed by two section of brothers of the same family. It was the one empire, one king, but Dhrtarastra and his younger brother... They were two brothers. So Dhrtarastra being blind, he was not qualified to occupy the throne, so his younger brother, Pandu, he was given the throne. And Pandu died untimely, keeping his children, these five brothers, Pandavas. Because they were son of Pandu, they were known as Pandavas. So Pandu also belonged to the Kuru family, and Dhrtarastra's son also belonged to the Kuru family. Actually they are Kauravas. But when there was fight between the two brothers' son, one party was known as Kaurava, and the other party was known as Pandava. Therefore Dhrtarastra says in the Bhagavad-gita beginning, mamakah pandavas caiva [Bg. 1.1]. Mamakah means "my sons," and... Because both of them are Kurus, now they are divided, mamakah, "my sons," and Pandavas, "the Pandu's sons." Kim akurvata sanjaya [Bg. 1.1].

And this Kuruksetra is dharma-ksetra. Not because the fight was there and Krsna was on the battlefield, therefore it is called dharma-ksetra. Sometimes it is interpreted like that. But actually Kuruksetra was dharma-ksetra since very, very long time. In the Vedas it is stated, kuru-ksetre dharmam acaret: "If one wants to execute ritualistic ceremony, he should go to Kuruksetra." And it is the system still now in India, if there is some disagreement or quarrel between two parties, so still they would go to the temple -- temple is dharma-ksetra -- so that one may not dare to speak lie in front of the Deity. This was still going on. Even one is very low in mentality, still, if he is challenged that "You are talking this false. Now speak before the Deity," he will hesitate, "No." This is India still. You cannot speak lies before the Deity. That is offense. Don't consider that Deity is a marble statue. No. Svayam bhagavan. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu. As soon as He saw Jagannatha Deity, He immediately fainted. "Oh, here is My Lord." Not like us: "Oh, here is some statue." No. It is the question of appreciation. So you appreciate or not appreciate, the Deity is the Supreme Personality of Godhead personally. We should always remember. So we shall be very careful before the Deity, not to commit offense. In serving Him, in offering Him prasadam, in dressing Him, we should always think, "Here is personally Krsna." He is personally, but due to our lack of knowledge, we cannot understand it.

So everything in the sastra we should follow. This is called brahminical culture. This Krsna consciousness movement means brahminical culture -- the cultural exhibition of the first-class men, first-class men. The brahmana is to be understood as the first-class man within the human society. Therefore Krsna says, catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg. 4.13]. Itihasa, history, history means to understand the activities of the first-class man. That is history. They pick up the most important incidences. Therefore the example is given here that udaharanti imam itihasam puratanam. Because it is a first-class incidence... Otherwise, if you record the history of the whole period, then where..., who will read that, and who will appreciate that, and where you will keep that? Daily so many things are happening. Therefore, according to Vedic system, the only important incidences are recorded in the history. Therefore it is called Purana. Purana means old history. Puratanam. Puratanam means very, very old. That are recorded. So this Srimad-Bhagavatam is the collection of very old history, historical incidence. Itihasa purananam saram saram samuddhrtya(?). Saram means essence. Not that all nonsense records have to be taken. No. Saram saram, only the important, essence, that are to be recorded. This is called Indian history. Mahabharata... Maha means Greater India. Greater India, there were so many incidences were there, but the most important incidence, the Battle of Kuruksetra, is there. Not that all the battles should be recorded.

So long the human history is there, there must be war. You cannot avoid it. Because it is material world, disagreement, misunderstanding must be there. You cannot avoid it. Because everyone is not of the same standard. That is not possible. Somebody is in the lower standard, somebody is in the middle standard, and somebody in the highest standard. That is division: goodness, passion, and ignorance. You cannot avoid it. So out of these three qualities, goodness, passion and ignorance, the ignorance and passion are base quality, and goodness is first-class quality. So the human life means we are born either in the base qualities... Nobody is born in the first-class quality. One who is born in this material world... May be somebody has taken his birth in the mode of goodness, but very rare. But maybe. Mostly they are born in the base qualities, ignorance and passion. But the sastras are there. Anyone can be raised to the first-class quality by training. That is human civilization.

janmana jayate sudrah
samskarad bhaved divjah
veda-pathad bhaved vipro
brahma janatiti brahmanah

This is the process. When you take your birth, that birth is not significant -- a sudra, fourth-class man. Everyone is born fourth-class man. So if you keep them fourth class and degrade them into fifth class, sixth class, then how there will be peace? How there will be peace? Therefore in your country, in America, they are now perplexed, "Crime, Why and What to Do?" Because you kept them fourth class, and they are going down to be fifth class, sixth class, how you can expect peace? It is not possible. If you do not elevate them... He is already born sudra, janmana jayate sudrah. Now you have to reform him. Samskarat. Samskara means reforming. You are born sudra. You are inclined to do something, so many things -- intoxication, illicit sex and drinking and gambling and meat-eating. These are all sudra qualities or less than that. Sudras also, they abide by the Vedic orders. Sudras also do not do whimsically whatever he likes. Sudras, they are taken among the, in the Vedic society... Because sudras also, they are last class, fourth class, they are eager to follow the orders or the orderly things as given by the brahmanas. Therefore sudras, up to sudras, accepted as bona fide classification. And below the sudras, they are called candalas, candalas, fifth grade. They are also mentioned, kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasah. Everything is analyzed.

So human civilization should be to raise the fourth-class man to the first-class man. That is human civilization. But there is no idea who is first-class man. Everyone is a drunkard, everyone is illicit sex hunter, and everyone is gambler, and everyone is meat-eater. Where is first-class man? There is no first-class man. All fourth-class man. And they are being taught simply how to manufacture big, big skyscraper, and every year, new model of car. Is that civilization? That is not civilization. You may be advanced in technology. So technology means technician. Suppose a man knows how to work in electricity, in so many things. Does it mean he is a learned man? No. Learned, first-class man, that is given in the Bhagavad-gita: samo damah satyam sucis titiksa arjavam jnanam, vijnanam astikyam brahma-karma svabhava-jam [Bg. 18.42]. These are the first class. There is nothing mentioned that "electrician" or a "motor mechanics" and a... (laughter) So you are misled. Therefore you are facing this crisis, that "Crimes, and Why and What to Do?" So unless you take to Krsna consciousness, how to create first-class man, you are doomed. You must know this. Therefore, those who have taken to Krsna consciousness, it is my request that you help your countrymen how to become... At least, there must be a section of men first-class so that people will see. They are appreciating. I know that. When I was going from Los Angeles to Hawaii, one priest in plain dress came to see me. He came to..., "Oh, Swamiji, can I speak with you?" "Yes, come here." So his first question was that "How your disciples look so bright?" They are appreciating that "Here is a first-class man." So I replied, "The process is so nice. Face is the index of mind. If you become purified within, then your faces will be bright. If you dirty within his heart, how you can be brightened? No, that is not possible. Face is the index of mind."

So this Hare Krsna mantra means to purify inside. Purify inside. Ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. So, of course, we are trying our best. Now, you American boys and girls, try to understand more and more and help your countrymen how to become first-class men. That I have requested every time, that from material point of view, you are already first class because you are not poverty-stricken. You have got enough everything. But in spite of materially first class, bigger or stronger than other nations, because there is no training spiritual, therefore there is crime. Therefore there is crime. And it is very difficult to solve. So this is the problem. I am talking since yesterday when as soon as I saw the Times magazine and the heading, "Crime: Why and What to Do?" Yes, this is a problem. It is a problem. But the solution is here, Krsna consciousness. Solution is here. And it is very easy to become first-class men. You know by practical experience: simply by chanting Hare Krsna mantra. That's all. It is not difficult. Anyone, even a child can do it. So increase this chanting of Hare Krsna mantra and give them nice prasadam.

So one Ajamila was delivered by chanting Narayana's name, you can deliver many millions of Ajamila. The process is the same. The process has not changed. Therefore he is quoting that itihasam atra codaharanti imam itihasam puratanam. It is spiritual. It is not that now the mode has changed. No. What was potent millions of years ago, that is potent still. That is spiritual. It does not change. Therefore it is said, itihasam puratanam. Although it is very old, but the effect is the same, effect is the same. In the old times people used to eat and get satisfaction; the same satisfaction is now also. You eat; you feel satisfaction. Eating, sleeping, mating and defending -- this is the material necessities. So the such necessities were in the old, millions of years ago, and those necessities are still there. It is no change actually. So this is the process how to... They are now thinking, "Why there is crime, and why, what is the remedy?" They are think in the material way. They are thinking that "We have got enough everything. Why there should be crime?" But they do not know that unless you make first-class men by training, the fourth-class man will degrade more and more. Just like a child, if you don't send him to school to get education, he will be street boy and degrade more and more. So this is the problem. So how to train first-class man, that method is here, Krsna consciousness movement. And take it seriously, and if you actually love your countrymen, raise them to the standard of first-class man.

Thank you very much. [break] Not in this way. This is not the process. The process is you must be free. Don't manufacture something. That is the way of dancing. You have seen all the Panca-tattva. They are dancing like this. So you should follow them. Hare Krsna. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.20 -- Chicago, July 4, 1975

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Barking Like a Dog

Barking Like a Dog

Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.19
Honolulu, May 19, 1976

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Prabhupada: Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sixth Canto, Chapter One, verse number nineteen. Is that verse number right?

Pusta Krsna: Nineteen. Yes. Sakrn.

Prabhupada: (devotees repeat)

sakrn manah krsna-padaravindayor
nivesitam tad-guna-ragi yair iha
na te yamam pasa-bhrtas ca tad-bhatan
svapne 'pi pasyanti hi cirna-niskrtah
 [SB 6.1.19]

So sakrn manah. Sakrt means even in once in ecstasy, mind, krsna padaravindayoh, the lotus feet of Krsna, if one thinks, nivesitam, with full ecstasy and absorption, if one thinks very nicely about the lotus feet of Krsna, tad-anuragi, being attached, anuragi, yaih, anyone, iha, in this material world... Then what happens? Na te yamam pasa-bhrtas ca tad-bhatan. Yama-pasa... Yamaraja, the superintendent of death... After death one goes to Yamaraja. Not the devotees, but the nondevotees. Na te yamam pasa-bhrtas ca tad-bhatan svapne: "Even in dream they do not see Yamaraja." Svapne 'pi pasyanti cirna-niskrtah. And completely freed from all reaction of sinful activities simply by once thinking of Krsna. We are chanting Hare Krsna maha-mantra, but if we become at least once in life in ecstasy in chanting Hare Krsna, then all our sinful reaction of life is finished. Unfortunately, we again commit sinful life. Otherwise, by chanting once Hare Krsna mantra, one becomes immediately free from the reaction.

But the maya is so powerful that it induces again to commit sinful life. So we have to promise... Just like Jagai Madhai. They were delivered by Caitanya Mahaprabhu. They were very sinful, their activities. Sinful means that has become ordinary things nowadays in Kali-yuga. They... What is that sinful? They were drunkards, illicit sex, meat-eater, and gambling. These four things, they were very much addicted, so they were rejected from the society. The society was so pure. Five thousand years before, Pariksit Maharaja gave the Kali-yuga four places. First of all he wanted to kill Kali. Then he begged pardon, "Sir, I am also your praja, a citizen in your kingdom. So it is my business to kill these animals. So why you are punishing me? So give me protection. What can I do?" So Pariksit Maharaja allowed, "No, you cannot do in my kingdom. You have to go out." So Pariksit Maharaja was the emperor of the whole world, so the Kali, he said, "Sir, you say go out of your kingdom, but where is not your kingdom? Everywhere, throughout the whole world, where shall I go?" Then he designated that "You stay in these four places." "What are those places?" "Now, where illicit sex, brothel, prostitutes are going on. You can live there. And where unnecessary animal killing is going on, you can stay here. And where drinking, intoxication, is encouraged, you can stay there. And where gambling is there, you can stay there." So he could not find any place throughout the whole world where these things were going on. That is the kingdom of Maharaja Pariksit. There was no chance. So it is the government's duty to see that people are very nicely ruled so that they become all pious. That is the duty of the government. Imam rajarsayo viduh [Bg. 4.2]. Because if the king, monarch, is properly instructed, and if he orders that "My subject, my citizens, should follow this order," then it will be automatically followed out. By king's order...

So in the Kali-yuga, this age, there is no such king. There is no such government. Therefore people are becoming polluted. It is the duty of the guru, the duty of the parents, duty of the government to train people in such a way that they may become pious, sinless. But they do not believe, even in the next life, that "If we act impiously, then we have to suffer next life." They avoid to believe that there is next life. But there is next life. In the morning we were talking about this. How you can say there is no next life? The child has got next life: a boy. The boy has got next life: a young man. And the young man has next life, to become old man. Similarly, the old man has got next life. It is very common logic. And it is spoken by Krsna, the supreme authority. Even if you do not understand, your dull brain, but we have to accept the words of Krsna. That is the critical point. If we take Krsna's instruction, everything will be solved. There will be no problem.

Therefore we are presenting Bhagavad-gita As It Is to induce people to take as it is. Don't make any amendment, interpretation. As Krsna says, you do it; then your life is successful. The instruction is there. It is not that we are manufacturing some ideas. No. That is not our business. We are following the same principle as Krsna said to the sun-god:

imam vivasvate yogam
proktavan aham avyayam
vivasvan manave prahur
manur iksvakave 'bravit
 [Bg. 4.1]

evam parampara praptam
imam rajarsayo...
 [Bg. 4.2]

The same thing. We have no difficulty. If you say, "How can I take instruction from Krsna? Krsna is not present." No, Krsna is present by His instruction. The Bhagavad-gita is there. Not that it is necessary... Krsna is always present, but you have no eyes to see. That is another thing. Krsna is present everywhere. Andantara-stham paramanu cayantara-stham. Krsna is present everywhere, even within the atom. But we cannot see. That is another thing. I have no eyes to see. But if I develop Krsna consciousness, then I'll see constantly Krsna. This is the effect. Premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti [Bs. 5.38]. Krsna consciousness means to develop love for Krsna. So one who has developed this love for Krsna, he can see Krsna every moment. There is no difficulty. Krsna is present. So even though you think that Krsna is not present, but He is present by words, Bhagavad-gita. He is absolute. Krsna, the person, and Krsna's words, Bhagavad-gita, there is no difference. Advaya-jnana, no duality. Everything is one, absolute. Krsna is absolute, Krsna's instruction is also absolute, Krsna's pastimes absolute. Everything. That is Absolute Truth. There is no difference. In the material world the name and the thing is different. Suppose here is mango, so mango is the thing and mango is the name. So if I simply say "Mango, mango, mango," there is no mango. There must be the thing, mango. That is duality. This is the world of duality. Absolute means the name mango and the mango thing is the same. Otherwise what is the... If they're different, then what is the use of chanting Krsna? Krsna chanting means Krsna, this word, and Krsna the person, the same. Therefore by constant chanting means constantly associating with Krsna. Then we are becoming purified. Purified. There is no difference.

So we have to understand this philosophy. Everything is there in the book. So we have to read it carefully, understand it through the teacher's or guru's instruction. So in this way, if our mind becomes fixed up in Krsna the person or the Krsna, Hare Krsna word, sakrt, once only... Sakrt means once only, yes. Krsna padaravindayoh, pandaro(?), nivesitam, fully absorbed. This practice, Krsna consciousness, means to practice this, how to fix up the mind always at the lotus feet of Krsna. Krsna also advised the same thing: man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. Mayy asakta-manah partha yogam yunjan mad-asrayah. This is yoga, meditation. If you simply sit down in a place and you... It is recommended that in a solitary place and sitting straight, right angle, and not closing the eyes but half open -- this is yoga practice -- and looking over this point of nose, and observing celibacy, brahmacarya, following the rules and regulations, in this way you can practice yoga. Not that you can do whatever nonsense you like and you have become a yogi. This bluff is going on. The yoga system -- first yoga indriya-samyamah, to control the senses. And now it is going on, transcendental meditation, that "After practicing yoga you will increase your sex power." This is going on. And that is accepted as yoga, and they are paying for it, thousands, yes. This is going on. Yoga-indriya... Just the opposite. People want sense gratification. If somebody encourages, "Yes, you take this mantra and you'll be very powerful sex enjoyer," so people will pay for that: "Yes, give me that." This rascaldom is going on. You see? So what we can do? We can simply explain, but people want to be cheated. That is the thing. Satya bole to mare lata(?) There is a Hindi proverb that "If somebody speaks the truth, it is received in loggerhead, and if he speaks lies, all bluffing, then it is relieved and payment is there."

One scientist in Delhi, our Delhi festival, he said very nicely that "We scientists, we are just like learning how to bark like dog." Yes. He said very plainly. Because a dog is barking, everyone knows. But if there is a tent and advertisement, yes, that "Mr. such and such will bark like a dog," and people will come and pay ten dollars' fee: "A man is barking. Very wonderful. Let us see." So these rascals, the chemists, they are trying to manufacture living being within test tube, and they are becoming very famous: "Oh, now they are making life in the..." Rascal, there are so many hundreds and millions of life are there, every day being created. What credit you'll get if you manufacture a life within test tube? But the rascals, they are: "Oh, scientists. He is now going to manufacture life." "No, show me how made..." "Yes, we are trying. It will be in future." Yes. Our Svarupa Damodara... There was one professor. He came to California. He was speaking how from matter life can be there. He has written one volume, book, and he has got Nobel Prize, and the book's name is Evolution of Chemicals and Life. So he is also doctor in chemistry, our Svarupa Damodara. He was also present there. As soon as he asked, "Sir, if I give you the chemicals, can you manufacture life?" at that time he said, "That I cannot say." "Why you cannot say? You are speaking that 'Combination of chemical brings in life.' " We are writing one book that life is from life, not from matter. That is not possible. These rascals are simply bluffing that "From chemicals life can be manufactured." No. We challenge.

So these things are going on. We want to be cheated, and there are so many cheaters. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanas te 'pisa-tantryam uru-damni baddhah. The Bhagavata has discussed everything. These rascals are andha, blind, and one blind man is promising to lead other blind men. So what will be the result? If one man is not blind, he can lead hundreds of blind men. That is fact. But if the leader is also blind, then what is the use of leading such blind men? So that is discussed in the Srimad-Bhagavatam:

na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum
durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah
andha yathandhair upaniyamanas
te 'pisa-tantryam uru-damni baddhah
 [SB 7.5.31]

Isa tantra, by the laws of nature or laws of God... Laws of nature means laws of God. They accept, "By nature it is..." But they do not know who is behind this nature. That is intelligence. Nature is dead matter. It cannot... Just like this microphone. This is matter, material. What is that? Some iron, some other thing, some wood, some... But this iron-wood combination cannot take place and become a microphone. No. There is a life behind this iron and wood, and he has manufactured. Therefore it is working. But these rascals, they are thinking that combination of this iron and wood and something else, it has become microphone. No. It is a machine, but machine is manipulated and manufactured by life, not that automatically the iron-wood becomes a machine. No. So these rascals, they cannot understand that... The nature is working, that's all right, but how it is working? What is the background? That they do not know. That answer is in the Bhagavad-gita. Mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sa-caracaram: [Bg. 9.10] "Under My superintendence it is working," Krsna says. That's a fact. You might have manufactured a very big machine. That is all manufactured by some light. Not that the iron and wood has come together, a skyscraper building -- the bricks have come all together automatically. They say, "By chance." What is this nonsense? By chance these bricks have come and piled and become rooms? Just see. These things are going on, rascals. Therefore andha yathandhair upaniyamanah [SB 7.5.31]. (aside:) Let him sleep somewhere.

So this is going on. Don't be misled. Isa-tantrya, by the laws of nature, we are bound up tight, hands and legs. We are not independent. You cannot do anything independently. You are completely under the clutches of material nature. And behind the material nature is Krsna. Therefore our business is to surrender to Krsna and take knowledge from Him, and then you become perfect. That is explained here, sakrn manah krsna-padaravindayor nivesitam tad-guna-ragi yair iha. Who will take instruction from Krsna? Tad-guna-ragi. When you understand that "Krsna is the Supreme. We have to take instruction from Him." Nobody is perfect except Krsna. Or one who follows Krsna, he is perfect. Krsna is perfect; one who follows Krsna, he is perfect. Just like a child. He does not know what it is, but if he takes instruction from his father or teacher that "This is microphone," so when he says, "This is microphone," this is perfect. He may be child, but because he has learned from his father or teacher, "This is microphone," and he says, "This is microphone. This is this," then it is perfect. So the instruction of Krsna is perfect, and the teacher or guru who speaks the same thing as Krsna says, that is perfect. And if he manufacture his own ideas and becomes more than Krsna, then he's a rascal number one. There is no benefit.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.19 -- Honolulu, May 19, 1976

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Pure Profit

Pure Profit

Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.19
Denver, July 2, 1975

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Nitai: "Those who have given up all varieties of religiosity and who have surrendered to Krsna alone by fixing their minds on His lotus feet may not have fully realized Him. But due to their simply surrendering unto Him they have become attached to His name, fame, quality, and pastimes. By such surrender they have become completely purified of all sinful reactions, although they may not have accepted the principles of atonement. Even in dreams such a surrendered soul does not see Yamaraja or his order carriers equipped with ropes for binding sinful men."

Prabhupada:

sakrn manah krsna-padaravindayor
nivesitam tad-guna-ragi yair iha
na te yamam pasa-bhrtas ca tad-bhatan
svapne 'pi pasyanti hi cirna-niskrtah
 [SB 6.1.19]

So this is the profit of Krsna conscious person. Krsna is so attractive that if anyone only once has fully applied his mind in thinking of Krsna and surrendering, then he becomes immediately saved from all miserable condition of this material life. So that is our perfection of life. Somehow or other, we surrender to the lotus feet of Krsna. So here it is stressed, sakrt. Sakrt means "only once." So if so much profit is there simply once thinking of Krsna, then we can imagine, those who are always engaged in thinking of Krsna by chanting the Hare Krsna mantra, what is their position. They are very safe. So much so that it is said, na te yamam pasa-bhrtas ca tad-bhatan svapne 'pi pasyanti. Svapna means dreaming. Dreaming is false. To see the Yamadutas, or the carriers of order of Yamaraja, superintendent of death, to see face to face... At the time of death, when one very sinful man is dying, he sees the Yamaraja or the order carriers of Yamaraja. They are very fierce looking. Sometimes the man on the deathbed becomes very much fearful, cries, "Save me, save me." This also happened to Ajamila. And that is the story we shall narrate later on. But he was saved. For his past activities in Krsna consciousness, he was saved. That story we shall get later on.

So this is the safest position. Otherwise this material world is full of danger. It is dangerous place. It is said in the Bhagavad-gita, duhkhalayam. It is the place of miseries. You cannot become happy in a place which is meant for miseries. That we have to understand. Krsna says, the Supreme Personality, that duhkhalayam asasvatam: [Bg. 8.15] this material world is place of miserable condition. And that also asasvatam, not permanent. You cannot stay. Even if you make a compromise that "Never mind it is place of misery. I shall make adjustment and I shall stay here..." People are so much attached in this material world, I have got practical experience. In 1958 or '57, when I first published this book, Easy Journey to Other Planets, so I met one gentleman. He was very enthusiastic, "So we can go to other planet? You are giving such information?" "Yes. And if you go, you will not come back." "No, no, then I don't want to go." (laughter) He said the whole idea is that we shall go another planet just like they are making the fun. They are going to moon planet, but they could not stay there. They're coming back. That is scientific advancement. And if you go there, why don't you stay there? And I read the newspaper that when the Russian aeronautics went, they were looking down, "Where is Moscow?" (laughter)

So our attachment is so strong. That even it is duhkhalayam... Just like some hogs, they are living in filthy place and eating stool. And if you say that "I will take you somewhere else, a good place," then they will not go there. This happened. It is stated in the Bhagavata that once the king of heaven, he was cursed to become hog. And he was living amongst the hog society. And when Lord Brahma came to call him back, that "Mr. such and such, for your bad behavior you became hog. Now come back to heaven," so he refused, "No, I have got so much responsibility. I cannot go." You see? This is material... It is called maya, illusion. Even you are in the most abominable condition of life, we will feel, "Now we are very happy." So that is our position. We do not want to leave this place. Therefore we create nationalism, Communism, this "ism," that "ism," because we want to stay here permanently. But unfortunately nobody will be allowed to stay even if you want to stay. That is the miserable condition of material life. Duhkhalayam asasvatam [Bg. 8.15]. So we have to leave this place. And when we leave, then, according to our proportion of sinful or pious activities, we get next body. So those who are very, very sinful, they go to the hellish condition of life, the planets. They are down this universe. There is the kingdom of Pluto, or Yamaraja. And he comes at the time of death, and the sinful man... Is very, very fierceful, odd looking, and they come to take. So here it is said that one who has once surrendered to Krsna, for them there is no such fear. Even in dream they will not see the order-carriers of Yamaraja.

So the Krsna consciousness movement is giving this benefit to the human society. It is very easy, not difficult. Without any condition. You simply chant and remember Krsna. It is not at all difficult. Everyone can... Here you are seeing the Deity of Krsna. So while chanting, if you remember this Deity, is it very difficult? We are opening these centers, giving this education, and from sastras, all information we are giving. So you take advantage of it. Don't spoil life. Labdhva sudurlabham idam bahu-sambhavante [SB 11.9.29]. This human form of life is obtained after many, many millions of years. We have to come through the evolutionary process from aquatics to plants, trees, insects, serpents, birds, beasts. In this way we have come to this human form of life. And in this life we can hear about Krsna, think about Krsna, see Krsna's Deity, so many opportunities. And if you take this opportunity, be accustomed to think of Krsna... When we speak of Krsna, means God. Krsna is the God, Supreme. Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28]. Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So Krsna has very kindly agreed to come to your city, Denver city, this temple. Take advantage of it. Come daily, see Krsna, think of Krsna, chant Hare Krsna, take Krsna's prasadam, and be happy. This is our movement. We want to see that everyone is happy. That is the Vedic vision. Sarve sukhino bhavantu. This is human life. Human life means paropakara. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission, to do others something auspicious. That is human life. The animal life means do..., "For my good, I will do harm to many others." That is animal life. So this is not life, the human life, that for our sense gratification, we are killing so many animals, we are doing so many mischievous things, we are cheating others. We can do that, but we are becoming more and more implicated. At the time of death the Yamaraja will come and take us to the hellish condition. Therefore foolish people they want to forget that there is next life. No, there is next life. We are discussing every day. Next life is there. We are every moment getting a different body. This is the scientific study. I do not know why they cannot understand. This is biology. Biology means we are, every moment we are getting a new body. This is biology.

So we have to give up this body and we have to accept another body. So labor or work for such body which will no more be material body. This is intelligence. Mad-yajino 'pi yanti mam [Bg. 9.25]. Next body means as we are acting, according to the resultant action of our activities, we get next body. Karmana daiva-netrena jantur deha upapattaye [SB 3.31.1]. How you get next life? In this life we are acting in a certain way, and by nature we shall get a similar body. Nature's law is so perfect that the law you... Just like infection. I have several times explained. You infect some disease, the disease will come out. Not that somebody will come to award you the disease. By nature's way, it will come out. If you say that "Somebody will come," no. The nature's law is so perfect. Just like if you touch fire, immediately it will burn, not that you have to wait. Similarly, nature's law. It is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]. As you are associating with different modes of material nature, you are creating your future.

So there is future life. You should take it. You should try to understand it. It is not very difficult, but by the modern education we have become so dull-headed, we cannot understand the simple truth that we have to change this body. Vasamsi jirnani yatha vihaya [Bg. 2.22]. So this is a fact. You take it. So we must have the next life at least without any danger. Not to go to the hellish planet. At least remain in this planet. That we can do. Yanti bhutani bhutejya. If you want to stick to this planet or this world, that also you can get the facility. And if you want to go to the higher planets, that also you can get. And if you go to the hellish planet, that also the possibility is there. And if you want to go to Krsna, that possibility... [break] ...yanti mad-yajino 'pi mam [Bg. 9.25]. So we are creating a situation by our activities, our next life. This is the fact. So why not work for going back to Krsna? This is intelligence. So what is the benefit of going to Krsna? Yad gatva na nivartante tad dhama paramam [Bg. 15.6]. You won't have to again come back and accept this material body. This is benefit.

So sakrd api krsna manah. Mind has to be fixed up to something. The yogis, karmis, the jnanis and the bhaktas. The karmis, their mind is fixed up, "Where to get money? Where to get money?" That's all. This is karmi. Just to live comfortably, enjoy sense gratification, this is karmi. And jnani means they want to... Because they are disgusted. They are better than the karmis. They want to merge into the impersonal Brahman effulgence, jnani. And yogi, they... Actual, their business is, yogi, dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa pasyanti yam yoginah [SB 12.13.1]. The yogis, they are always in meditation and thinking of Krsna. That is real yogi, not to show some gymnastic feats. These things are required to concentrate the mind. But where to concentrate the mind? Concentrate the mind in the Supreme Soul, or Krsna, or Visnu. That is yoga system. So a Krsna conscious person is above all of them because by nature, by chanting Hare Krsna mantra, he cannot think anything else except Krsna. He is worshiping the Deity in the temple, he is going to distribute books, Krsna books, he is talking of Krsna, he is eating krsna-prasadam, and always absorbed in Krsna. So here it is said sakrd api. If once one does like this, he becomes saved. So if we go on with this habit, Krsna consciousness, then our position is very secure, and keep yourself in that secure position rigidly. Then your life is successful.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

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Everything Here Is Punishment

Everything Here Is Punishment

Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.18
Honolulu, May 18, 1976

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Prabhupada: Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sixth Canto, Chapter Three, verse number eighteen. (devotees repeat)

prayascittani cirnani
narayana-paranmukham
na nispunanti rajendra
sura-kumbham ivapagah
 [SB 6.1.18]

So bhakti-yoga, devotional service, is so powerful that simply by taking to the bhakti-yoga according to the rules and regulation one is supposed to be purified. Yesterday we have discussed, sadhricino hy ayam loke panthah ksemo 'kuto-bhayah. First of all we are so ignorant that we do not know what is the aim of life. The modern education, modern civilization, they are so much misled that they do not know what is the aim of... Ask anybody, very learned scholar, scientist, philosopher, or medical man, engineer, lawyer, that "What is the aim of life?" Nobody knows. They think aim of life -- eat, drink, be merry, and enjoy, that's all. This is aim of life. So that is not the aim of life. That eat, drink, be merry and enjoy, that is being done by the cats and dogs and hogs. So do you mean to say that this human form of life is also meant for that purpose? No. Human life is meant for understanding "What I am? What is God? What is relationship with God? Why I am here in this material world? Why I am suffering?" These are the questions for human life. Eating, sleeping, mating, that is wanted because we have got this body. So suppose there is car and a driver. So the petrol and grease, these things are required for the car. But you cannot eat petrol and grease and live. That is not possible. You have to eat something else. So we are thinking that the bodily necessities, petrol and grease, is my food(?). That is the mistake.

So therefore they do not know what is the aim of life, and the nature's law is, unless you come to the point of understanding what is the aim of life, the nature will go on punishing you in so many ways. Little mistake, you'll be punished. Daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. We have come to this material world, disobeying the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So just like police: as soon as you become outlaw, the police will take you and the police will go on punishing you unless you become lawful. This is the... So without understanding "Why I am put into the jail?" if I simply think that "It is all right. Let me remain here and suffer the punishment," jail life is not for happiness. That is, everyone knows. Jail life is for punishment. Similarly, in this material world everything is punishment, but by the illusory energy you are thinking, "This is all right." Every step there is punishment. Just study your life or my life. What is that? That beginning from the womb of my mother, when the body is formed, the soul, spirit soul, is injected in the womb of the woman, and then the formation of the body takes place. So the body grows. And now imagine when we are in the womb of the mother, how much difficult position packed up in a bag, airtight bag. If we, at the present moment, if I put into some airtight condition, within three minutes I shall die. Within three minutes. But similarly, just like packed the child remains within the womb of the mother. It is very, very painful. But by the grace of God he lives. He lives. Otherwise it is suffocating. Just imagine if you are put in a airtight box, tied up, hands and legs. How long you can live? So we remain in that condition, unconscious stage. Then, when the body is formed, we get our consciousness. Therefore at the age when the child is seven years, er, seven months old, it moves because he feels the pains.

So in this way we have to remain within the womb of the mother. And when the body is formed, time is right, then by nature's way the child comes out. But he forgets that "I was in such condition. Now I am relieved." But he forgets. The mother or the father or the relative takes him. Bhaktivinoda Thakura has sung these different conditions. So we forget. That is spell of maya. Then, even in this childhood, there are so many pains. Just like our... Here are children. They are crying. There is some pain. But we cannot understand what is the pain. Suppose some bug is biting. He's crying and mother is thinking that "He is hungry, so he's not stopping. So just..." Our point is: just try to study this life, how much painful it is. This is the human body and what to speak of the dog's body, cat's body? You study very minutely. You'll find, from the beginning of my life in the womb of my mother up to the death point, simply miseries. Simply miseries. Simply. Duhkhalayam asasvatam [Bg. 8.15]. Krsna said that this material life is duhkhalayam, simply full of miseries. But under the spell of maya we are thinking that we are very happy. That's not the fact. Therefore human life is a chance to get out of this miserable condition. That should be the aim of life, how to get out of this miserable condition of life. That requires knowledge how we are suffering, how it can be mitigated. The sufferings will be ended... The same thing: unless you become law-abiding to the laws given by God, you'll suffer. That is nature's way. The same principle: unless you become lawful, the police will give you punishment. Similarly, material nature, that is explained in Bhagavad-gita, purusah prakrti-stho 'pi bhunkte tad-gunan. We are suffering because in the material there are threefold miseries generally: adhyatmika, adhibhautika, adhidaivika. That is permanent. Besides that, extra miserable condition due to the age, due to the climate, due to the condition of life. So we have to study these things. Why... The human life begins when he begins to say "Why?" Kenopanisad. "Why I am suffering?"

So there are different methods how to get out of the suffering condition, karmi, jnani, yogi. But ultimate, very easy process is, if you become a devotee, if you become engaged in Krsna consciousness, then it is very easy. Ksemah akuto-bhayah. Then your prosperity, your auspicity, is guaranteed. Ksemah akuto-bhayah. Akuto-bhayah means "without any fear." You can keep yourself in Krsna consciousness as it is prescribed. Then your life is secure, akuto-bhayah. Therefore no more fear. Because why? Krsna says, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami: [Bg. 18.66] "If you become surrendered unto Me and if you keep yourself under My instruction, then I'll give you protection." Therefore it is said, akuto-bhayam. Then your character will be formed, you'll become... You'll manifest your all good qualities simply by becoming narayana-parayana. And so far atonement... We began this atonement. So atonement is concerned, here it is said, prayascittani cirnani narayana-paranmukham. You can have some atonement, but if you are bereft of Krsna consciousness, so this purification will not be complete. How? Rajendra sura-kumbham ivapagah. According to Vedic civilization, a pot in which wine was kept, it is impure forever. It is impure forever. You cannot use for any other purpose. It is so abominable. If you think that "This bottle contained wine. Now wine is finished. Wash it, then it becomes pure," then according to Vedic civilization wine is so impure that even the pot in which wine was kept, it will never become pure. Sura... These examples outsider cannot understand, but it is said in the sastra.

So we have to understand that what is the aim of life. Aim of life is go back to home, back to Godhead. Unless we understand this, our life is in darkness. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninah [SB 7.5.31]. We are trying to be happy in this place of miserable condition, manufacturing so many ways of life. In the modern age they are thinking that "If we have got a very nice car and nice residential quarter and nice wife..." Oh, people also do not care now for wife and children. They want car, of course. (laughter) That is essential, although at any moment he can meet accident and finish. So this is not the aim of life. The aim of life is described that how to go back to home, back to Godhead. That should be. So if that is our aim of life, then we must engage ourself in devotional service, or Krsna consciousness. Then our life is successful. Otherwise we shall continue and drag the miserable condition of life, means we shall change in different ways, but it will never be successful.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.18 -- Honolulu, May 18, 1976

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