"Mercy of the Spiritual Master"
Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.16
Honolulu, May 16, 1976
download flash player
Take a testHonolulu, May 16, 1976
download flash player
Prabhupada: (devotees repeat) Om namo
bhagavate vasudevaya. Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya. Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto
Six, chapter one, verse number sixteen.
na tatha hy aghavan rajan
puyeta tapa-adibhih
yatha krsnarpita-pranas
tat-purusa-nisevaya
[SB 6.1.16]
So Sukadeva Gosvami said already that kecit kevalaya bhaktya [SB 6.1.15], "Simply by devotional service," vasudeva-parayanah, "one has become attached to Vasudeva." This stage is very difficult but very easy also. For the simple person it is very easy, and those who are crooked, demons, for them it is very difficult. So in another place it is stated in the First Canto,
vasudeve bhagavati
bhakti-yoga prayojitah
janayaty asu vairagyam
jnanam ca yad ahaitukam
[SB 1.2.7]
The whole idea is that we are in this material world. That is miserable. Under the spell of illusion, we are thinking we are very happy. They do not know is actually happiness. What is happiness? But there is no argument for these rascals. They are thinking they are very happy. That is maya's praksepatmika-sakti, covering energy. Just like you are seeing a hog eating stool, but he is thinking that he's very happy. But you are seeing, "Oh, what abominable life. He's eating stool." So this is the position. Those who are advanced in civilization, for them eating of stool is unthinkable. But for the hogs and dogs, it is very palatable. This is the difference. Just like we are recommending, "No illicit sex, no meat-eating, no intoxication, no gambling." So somebody is thinking, "Then what remains to enjoy? Everything is finished. Life is finished."
So according to different grades of person, the taste is also different. You cannot expect that the taste will be the same. "One man's food, another man's poison." This is an English proverb. One man's food is another man's poison. Therefore the society is divided. That is scientific method, class. Catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg. 4.13]. That is God's creation, four classes, men. And the fifth class is almost rejected. Up to fourth class. First class, second class, third class, fourth class. And below fourth class, from fifth class, they are not human being. So taste of different classes are different. But one thing is that in whichever class we may belong, if you take to Krsna consciousness, then you'll become one. People are wanting unity. There is United Nation organization, but so long we keep ourself on the material platform there cannot be unity. That is not possible. Only in the spiritual platform there can be unity.
So here it is said that aghavan. Aghavan means sinful. Agha means sin and van means... Just like Bhagavan. Bhagavan means one who has bhaga, or opulence, or fortune. That is called bhagavat. And just the opposite is called aghavat. This is Sanskrit language. Bhagavan means the most opulent, topmost place, Bhagavan. And aghavan means lowest place. So here it is said that one has to become aghavan to the stage of Bhagavan. This is Krsna consciousness: not to remain aghavan, but to become Bhagavan. Bhagavan, of course, means the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But those who are very, very advanced, recognized by Bhagavan, they are also sometimes called Bhagavan. Just like Lord Siva, Lord Brahma, Narada Muni, on their status, sometimes they are called Bhagavan. Nowadays it has become a fashion to become Bhagavan. So Bhagavan is not so cheap. Everyone is aghavan. But if he wants to become Bhagavan or in the higher status, higher level, then it is recommended, "Let him take to the devotional service." Vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yoga-prayojitah, janayaty asu vairagyam. To become Bhagavan, not Bhagavan but on the level, means highest stage, two things required. One thing is jnana and one thing is vairagya. Jnana and vairagya. Because we are in this material world, miserable condition, but we have no knowledge that we are in a very miserable condition. That is ajnana. As soon as one understands that this is miserable condition of life... That was presented by Sanatana Gosvami before Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He said... He was minister and very opulent position, very good associates. Because he was minister, so his associates were also very big men. But he resigned. He resigned. That is vairagya. So why? To understand what is the aim of life. Tad vijnanartham sa gurum eva abhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. Therefore he came to Caitanya Mahaprabhu for understanding the value of life. So he presented himself that gramya vyavahare kaha ei pandita: "So in this ordinary behavior they call me pandita, learned. But..." Satya kari mani: "I also accept it that I am pandita or learned. But actually, my position is, I do not know what I am. I am such a pandita, such a learned man."
So we are in ignorance. We do not know. We are accepting this body as "I am." So many animal propensities, animal condition. So if we remain in animal condition of life, then that is aghavan. When one is in animal condition, that means more sinful. So we have to become sinless. That requires jnana-vairagya. Jnana-vairagya. So jnana, vairagya can be attained very easily if one becomes a devotee of Krsna. Vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yoga-prayo... This is the verdict of all Vedic literatures, that if one becomes devotee, then he'll develop his original good qualities. Because we are part and parcel of God, so we have got good qualities. It is covered now by material contamination. That gold, gold is gold, but it is covered by mud, dirty things, one cannot understand whether is it gold or something else. So our position is like that. So when we are free from these dirty things, then our original life becomes manifest. That is called mukti. Mukti hitva anyatha rupam svarupea avasthiti. Mukti means now we are differently contaminated situation. Roga-mukti. There is a verse, roga-mukti. One is suffering from fever, and when there is no more fever it is called mukti. Similarly, we are suffering on account of this diseased condition. This material life means diseased condition. It is not our real, but they do not know. They do not know. They are thinking this is life. But this is not life. They have no information. So this sinful life, suffering. Sinful means, when we are sinful, then we suffer.
So by bhakti-yoga, as it is stated in the previous verse, kevalaya bhaktya... So the same again being stressed. Na tatha hy aghavan rajan puyeta tapa-adibhih [SB 6.1.16]. Before explaining bhakti-yoga, Sukadeva Gosvami said that to become purified, general process is,
tapasa brahmacaryena
samena damena va
tyagena satya-saucabhyam
yamena niyamena va
[SB 6.1.13]
These are the general process. But to overcome this general process if one... That is already explained, that kartsnyena. Just like fog is immediately driven away if there is sunrise, bhakti is so strong. Then he is again saying that puyeta tapa-adibhih. If we practice tapa, especially in this age, it is very, very difficult. Tapah. Tapasya, austerities. But if we take to Krsna consciousness it becomes very soon available. Yatha krsnarpita-pranah. Prana means life and arpita means dedicated. Krsnarpita. If one dedicates his life for Krsna, yatha krsnarpita pranas tat-purusa-nisevaya. Tat-purusa, you... It is impossible to dedicate our life to Krsna unless we serve the devotee of Krsna. Tat-purusa-nisevaya. You cannot approach Krsna directly. That is not possible. You have to go through His devotee. Therefore Krsna sends His devotee, "Go and deliver them." Just like Dhruva Maharaja. He did not know how to achieve the favor of Supreme Personality of Godhead, but on account of his eagerness... He wanted to see God. Because he was ksatriya... His mother said that "God can only help you, my dear son. If you want to become king on the throne of your father, better position, then only God can help you. I cannot help you. It is not..." So he was determined, "I must see God." So he went to the forest but he did not know how to approach God. A boy of five years old only, he has got the determination. So Krsna saw that "This boy is very determined." Therefore He sent His representative, Narada: "Go and train him. He is very eager."
Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, guru-krsna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. You can enter into the devotional service by double mercy. One mercy is Krsna; another mercy is the spiritual master. Therefore here it is said, the same thing, krsnarpita-pranas tat-purusa nisevaya. One cannot be krsnarpita pranah, one cannot dedicate his life to Krsna, unless he has gotten the mercy of spiritual master. This is the way. You cannot get directly. That is not possible. Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura said in many of his songs, chadiya vaisnava-seva, nistara payeche keba: "Without serving Vaisnava, who has got liberation?" Nobody has.
tandera carana-sevi bhakta-sane vas
janame janame mora ei abhilas
Narottama dasa Thakura says that "I have to serve the gurus, Sanatana Gosvami, Rupa Gosvami, and live in the association of devotees." Tandera carana-sevi bhakta-sane vas. Narottama dasa Thakura said, janame janame mora, ei abhilas. Our... We are... Ambition should be how to serve Krsna through the disciplic succession, guru, and live in the association of devotees. This is the process. So we are opening so many centers all over the world. This is the policy, that people may take chance of associating with devotees and the chance of serving the Vaisnava. Then it will be successful.
Therefore here it is said, bhakti-yoga means not only dedicating life to Krsna but also to serve the Vaisnava, tat-purusa. Tat-purusa means to serve a person who has dedicate his life to Krsna. Two things: dedication to Krsna and dedication to the devotee of Krsna. So in this way if we advance, then it is very easy to become free from this material contamination. That is stated. Na tatha hy aghavan rajan puyeta tapa-adibhih [SB 6.1.16]. Tapa-adibhih, it is general process, but it is very, very difficult, especially in this age. So if we simply take this course, that dedicate life to Krsna and dedicate life to Vaisnava, then our life will be successful.
Thank you very much. (end)
No comments:
Post a Comment