Devotee: "Glory to the all-merciful Radha and
Madana-mohana! I am lame and ill-advised, yet They are my directors, and Their
lotus feet are everything to me."
Prabhupada:
jayatam suratau pangor
mama manda-mater gati
mat-sarvasva-padambhojau
radha-madana-mohanau
[Cc. Adi 1.15]
That is sambandha. Sambandha, abhidheya, prayojana. At the present moment, in our conditioned stage of life, we have forgotten our relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is our conditional life. Just like a son has forgotten his father, rich father, opulent father, and loitering in the street, that is our condition. We are all sons of Krsna, part and parcel, and Krsna is full of six opulences. Richness, strength, influence, beauty, knowledge, renunciation -- Krsna is complete. If my father is complete, and I am his son, beloved son, why shall I loiter in the street? This is maya. We are thinking that we are made of something of these material elements: "I am this body. The body is made of this material element," bhumir apo 'nalo vayuh kham mano buddhir eva ca [Bg. 7.4]. So this is our manda-mati. Manda means bad. This conception, bodily conception of life, is the cause of our conditional life, subjected to the stringent laws of material nature. This is our position.
So Krsna begins, therefore, His instructions that "Don't think you are this body. This is your covering. You are within this body." That is the beginning of Krsna's instructions. And at last He, as a father, advises sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. So when we do that, giving up everything, we surrender to Krsna, at that time we revive our relationship with Krsna. This is wanted. Therefore the author is instructing us, jayatam suratau pangor mama manda-mater. Manda means one who cannot go very fast, or bad, manda means bad. Manda means slow. In this age especially, in Kali-yuga we become very, very slow in spiritual progress, although that is our main business. But on account of this Kali-yuga, we are all very, very slow. We think that "Spiritual cultivation is meant for old age. Now let us enjoy our life in this material world." That is our wrong conception of life. What do you mean by old age? Nearing death. So who can guarantee that he is not nearing death? Everyone is nearing death at every moment. Why should you wait for old age? That is manda-mater, bad intelligence. We should know that death may take place at any moment. Therefore every one of us are already old. (We) generally understand that old age means nearing death, but who can guarantee that there is no death immediately? At any moment. Therefore sastra says turnam yateta anu-mrtyu pateta yavad, Before meeting your next death, you should endeavor so dexterously that you complete your Krsna consciousness before your death comes. That is intelligence. Not that "I am now young man, let me enjoy. And in old age, after passing sixty years, when there will be no other engagement, at that time I shall chant Hare Krsna mantra." No. Immediately, turnam yate.
Prahlada Maharaja advises,
kaumaram acaret prajno
dharman bhagavatan iha
durlabham manusam janma
tad apy adhruvam arthadam
He advises from childhood. Just like we are trying to teach even the small child to chant and dance with us, and they are learning. There is not difficulty. The small children, they are also taking part. Now somebody may say that "These children do not understand English. What they are hearing? Simply they are wasting their time." No, they are not wasting their time. The vibration is surcharged with Krsna consciousness. So even they simply hear, even though (they) do not understand English language, by simply hearing the vibration uttered by a Vaisnava to a Vaisnava, that will be effective. Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah [SB 1.2.17]. Simply hearing will do. Simply by hearing they will become pious. And the chanting of Hare Krsna mantra, somehow or other, if one takes part in these discourses, he will be pious. Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah. Param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam. Ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12], simply by hearing it is effective. So from the very beginning of our life, we should try to become Krsna conscious. Not try, but we must. It is not, what is called, optional. It is compulsory. If you want to make your life successful, then this is compulsory, from the very beginning to become Krsna conscious.
So especially in India, the atmosphere is very good. It is especially meant, within this universe, this plot of land known as Bharatavarsa, India, is the most sacred place within this universe. And of the whole land Bharatavarsa, in Bengal, it is very sacred. And the whole of Bengal, this Nadia is very sacred. And in the whole Nadia, this part is very sacred, Mayapura Candradoya Temple. So by Krsna's grace, you have got this opportunity to live here. Take advantage, full advantage of this opportunity, spiritually fortunate. This is the statement of Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Not that I am manufacturing. We cannot manufacture anything, but we can repeat the words of our predecessors. Bhaktivinoda Thakura, in his Jaiva-Dharma, or in Caitanya-siksamrta, he has stated like that. In the Bharatavarsa, Bengal is the most important place, and in Bengal, the district Nadia is most important place, because Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared. Don't take it leniently. It is very serious thing that Bharatavarsa is meant for cultivation of Krsna consciousness. Unfortunately, the present leaders, they are misleading them. Anyway, you are fortunate. You take advantage of this cult of Krsna consciousness which was spoken by Krsna Himself, in this land of Bharatavarsa, dharma-ksetre kuru-ksetre samaveta yuyutsavah [Bg. 1.1].
That kuruksetre is still existing. It is not a myth or mythology. The nonsense people, they may say like that, but Krsna is the supermost person both in history... Purana means history, itihasa purana. Saram saram samuddhrtam. Vyasadeva compiled the Srimad-Bhagavatam by collecting the most important news from history. Purana means old history. It is not mythology. The foolish people, they say like that, "Mythology means something created." No. Don't take it that way. It is the essence of important historical incidences, record. Mahabharata is also history. Maha means great, and bharata means this land. Actually it is a history. But foolish people, without understanding through the guru-parampara system, they manufacture their own way of understanding; therefore they are misled. They cannot take full advantage of this Vedic literature because they are misled. We should not be misled. We should know always that we are lame, pangoh. Just like a lame man cannot go very fast. But by the grace of Krsna, even a lame man can go fast -- not only go fast, but cross over the mountain.
mukam karoti vacalam
pangum langhayate girim
yat krpa tam aham vande
sri gurum dina-taranam
It is possible if we become obedient student of guru, then even though we may be dumb, deaf and dumb, still, we can become good lecturer. Mukam karoti vacalam, talk very much about Krsna. This is Krsna's grace, mukam karoti... Pangum langhayate girim, if one is lame man, he is made to cross over the hill, mountain. This is the mercy of guru.
So bhakti, or cultivation of spiritual knowledge, is never subjected by any material things. Ahaituky apratihata. No material thing can check us in our progress in Krsna consciousness. It is not possible. Never think like that. Simply follow the instruction of Krsna consciousness, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. Follow the rules and regulations and everything will be clear, very crystal clear. There will be no impediment. Always chant, hear; don't waste time. Canakya Pandita, he is a moral instructor. He says about wasting time, he says, ayusah ksana eko 'pi na labhya svarna-kotibhih, "Even one moment of your life cannot be returned, even if you are prepared to pay millions of dollars." It is so valuable, time. One moment past. What is this month? April, now seven of April, 1975, past. If you ask one to return seven of April 1975, it is not possible even if you are prepared to pay millions of dollars. So just imagine what is the value of our time. So this time should not be wasted. We should always remain... You Western people, you know the value of time from material point of view. Material point of view. That is also good. Don't waste your time; engage always yourself in some good activities. But for spiritual advancement also, we should be more accurate and strict, avyartha-kalatvam [Cc. Madhya 23.18-19]. Srila Rupa Gosvami has recommended that one who is always anxious to see that not a moment is spoiled, that is advancement of Krsna consciousness, avyartha-kalatvam nama-gane sada rucih, vivikta deva desa sevitam, like that. Upadesamrta, you will find: "A devotee should always think, 'Whether my time is passed uselessly?' " Then he will make advancement. Don't be slow. We should be always very expertly alert not a single moment is wasted. Jayatam suratau pangor mama manda-mater gati. We are very slow, especially in the spiritual matter. Practically there is no intention all over the world. They do not know that the real business is spiritual advancement of life. They are so in darkness. Very unfortunate time, this Kali-yuga. Mandah sumanda-matayo [SB 1.1.10]. Now if they want to utilize, they manufacture some new ways of spiritual advancement. This is another difficulty. So many rascals, yogis, swamis, Transcendental Meditation, this, that, avataras. Always ready to mislead you, always. If one is little inclined that "Let me do something, spiritually advance," this rascal will mislead. Very difficult position. Therefore, the best thing is to surrender to Madana-mohana, Krsna. Sambandha-adhideva, Madana-mohana.
Our most difficult position is sex. Maya has given such a -- they call it nice -- such propensity, sex, that it will create disturbances. Even though you are rigid, avowed, you are doing nicely, at sometimes, especially at night, it will disturb. It will disturb. Therefore suratau. Krsna is the most expert in this conjugal love. Krsna... Therefore we have to submit, surrender to Krsna. Suratau pangoh. We are very much feeble and very slow. And so far our sex impulse is concerned, here is especially mentioned, Madana-mohana. Sex impulse is called Cupid, Madana. But if we become staunch devotee of Krsna, this material sex impulse will vanish. Because Cupid becomes, I mean to say, attracted. Even Cupid becomes attracted by Krsna. We are attracted by Cupid, but Cupid is attracted by Krsna. Therefore His name is Madana-mohana. That is the only remedy.
yad-avadhi mama cetah krsna-padaravinde
nava-nava-rasa-dhamany udyatam rantum asit
tad-avadhi bata nari-sangame smaryamane
bhavati mukha-vikarah susthu nisthivanam ca
If you stick to the lotus feet of Krsna, "Krsna save me," then this disturbing material thing, sex agitation, will not disturb you. This is the only way. Therefore it is said Madana-mohana. Our spiritual life is hampered very strongly by this sex impulse. But it is material, the sex impulse is material, so we should try to tolerate, (indistinct) kanduyanena karayor iva duhkha-duhkham kandutivan manasijam visaheta-dhirah. Just (try) to tolerate little and chant Hare Krsna, pray to Krsna, "Please save me from these disturbances." And we should materially also control. Control means atyaharah prayasas ca prajalpo niyamagrahah [NoI 2]. Atyaharah, too much eating, that is also agitating.
So everything can be controlled by Krsna's grace. He is Madana-mohana. Therefore, our first business is to surrender to Madana-mohana and establish our relationship with Him. "My Lord Krsna, I have so long forgotten..." That song is sung by Bhaktivinoda Thakura,
manasa, deho, geho, yo kicho mora
arpilun tuya pade, nanda-kisora
This is full surrender. Then Krsna assures, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah [Bg. 18.66], He will protect. So tams titiksasva bharata. There are so many disturbances. So Krsna says tolerate, and do your business faithfully. Chant Hare Krsna, follow the rules and regulations, and remain fully surrendered at the lotus feet of Madana-mohana. There will be no more disturbance.
Thank you very much. (end)
© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.
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