Even if we have got material desires... Generally, a devotee
has no material desires, a pure devotee. Anyabhilasita-sunyam [Brs. 1.1.11]. But
even one has got some material desires to be fulfilled, if he worships Krsna,
that desires will be fulfilled. At the same time, he'll get shelter under the
lotus feet of the Lord. This is the advantage. Go on.
Pradyumna: "Devotional service can in fact be attained only through the mercy of a pure devotee. In the Caitanya-caritamrta it is said, 'By the mercy of the spiritual master who is a pure devotee and by the mercy of Krsna, one can achieve the platform of devotional service. There is no other way.' The rarity of devotional service is also confirmed in the tantra-sastra, where Lord Siva says to Sati, 'My dear Sati, if one is a very fine philosopher, analyzing the different processes of knowledge, he can achieve liberation from the material entanglement. By performance of the ritualistic sacrifices recommended in the Vedas, one can be elevated to the platform of pious activities and thereby enjoy the material comforts of life to the fullest extent. But all such endeavors can hardly offer anyone devotional service to the Lord, not even if one tries for it by such processes for many, many thousands of births.' "
Prabhupada: You cannot achieve the platform of devotional service by karma-kanda and jnana-kanda processes. Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura sings,
karma-kanda jnana-kanda sakali visera bhanda
amrta baliya yeba khaya
nana yoni brahman kare, kadarya bhaksana kare
tara janma adho pate yaya
So jnana-karmady-anavrtam: [Cc. Madhya 19.167] "Devotional service should not be contaminated by jnana-kanda, karma-kanda, by fruitive activities or mental speculation." Devotional service should be taken exactly in the line of the great authorities. Just like our sampradaya, Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya, they are following... Rupanuga.
sri-rupa sanatana bhatta-raghunatha
sri-jiva gopala-bhatta dasa-raghunatha
Ei chaya gosai yara tara mui dasa. We have to follow the principles of these six Gosvamis. That will make us happy. Otherwise, if we adopt the ritualistic ceremonies, subha-karma... Sama-subha-kriya matir pramadah. If we take devotional service as one of the pious activities, subha-kriya, that is offense. We should not take devotional service, or chanting of Hare Krsna mantra, equal to some Vedic pious activities, ritualistic ceremonies. It is offense. We should simply follow the path... That is also Vedic. But because we cannot select... Vedesu adurlabha. If we study Vedas independently, without going through the lines chalked out by the six Gosvamis, then we'll be misled. Vedesu durlabham adurlabham atma-bhaktau [Bs. 5.33]. These Gosvamis, they were personal devotees of Lord Krsna. They are eternal associates of the Lord. Therefore if we follow their principle, our success if guaranteed. But if we take to the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies without any reference to the path chalked out by the Gosvamis, it will not be possible to be successful.
Devotional service is not dependent on subhasubha-karma. It is simply dependent on the mercy of Krsna and His devotees. Krsna de... Sadhu. Guru-krsna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. Guru-krsna-krpaya. Naisam matis tavad urukramanghrim [SB 7.5.32], mahiyasam pada-rajo-'bhisekam niskincananam na vrnita ya... Unless we surrender to the lotus feet of a pure devotee, it is not possible to come to the platform of devotional service. That is the way. We cannot taste the honey within the bottle. The bottle must be opened by the expert. If you simply lick up the bottle, if we think, "Now we are tasting honey," that is not the proper way. We should get the bottle opened by the expert, and when we taste within the bottle, then actually... Similarly, devotional service, without being opened by the..., open, without the door being opened by the devotee, we cannot enter into the region. Guru-krsna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. Therefore the process is, as recommended by Srila Rupa Gosvami, adau gurvasrayam. You must select, you must accept the guru who's coming in parampara system. Evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh [Bg. 4.2]. Sampradaya. That is recommended. We have got Vaisnava-sampradaya, four sampradaya: Ramanuja-sampradaya, Madhva-sampradaya, Nimbarka-sampradaya. So intelligent persons should select guru from these sampradayas and follow his instruction. Then the path of devotional service will be very easily opened. This is the way. Yes? Go on.
Pradyumna: "In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is also confirmed by Prahlada Maharaja that merely by personal efforts or by the instructions of higher authorities one cannot attain to the stage of devotional service. One must become blessed by the dust of the lotus feet of a pure devotee who is completely freed from the contamination of material desires."
Prabhupada: Yes. Niskincanam, the devotee, the... You have to select a guru who is niskincana. Niskincana means who has no more anything materially desires. He has finished. The, another verse:
tasmad gurum prapadyeta
jijnasuh sreya uttamam
sabde pare ca nisnatam
brahmany upasamasrayam
[SB 11.3.21]
One who has accept..., accepted the lotus feet of the Lord, brahmany upasama, he has finished the material desires -- no more material desires. Niskin... That is called niskincana. Caitanya Mahaprabhu also said, niskincanasya bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya. Bhagavad-bhajanonmukha, those who are actually desiring to be entered into the path of devotional service, must be niskincana. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said. Niskincanasya bhagavad-bhajanonmukhasya param param jigamisor bhava-sagarasya. Bhagavad-bhajana means to go on the other side of the ocean of nescience, not in this material world. Anyone who is desiring to be promoted to the heavenly planet, Svargaloka, Janaloka, Maharloka, Tapoloka, Brahmaloka... There are so many higher planetary systems. But a bhagavad-bhakta, devotee, knows that they are unnecessary. A-brahma-bhuvanal lokah punar avartino 'rjuna [Bg. 8.16]. Again we have to come back. Ksine ksine punye martya-lokam visanti [Bg. 9.21]. So this botheration is not very much liked by the pure devotee. Pure devotee does not... Even if he's offered such... Of course, a pure devotee (is) never offered such material benefits. Because Krsna says, "The pure devotee, after giving up this body..." Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9]. Punar janma means to take birth in one of the planets, or in one of the species of, out of eight million four hundred thousand species of life. That is called punar janma. But the devotees who are following Caitanya Mahaprabhu's instruction, they do not mind, even there is birth again. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, janmani janmani bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi. So even there is birth... Just like Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, kita janma hao yatha tuya dasa. "My dear Lord, if You like that I shall take birth again, so kindly give my birth in a place where there is Your devotee." That is wanted. Bahir-mukha-brahma-janma nahi mora asa. "And if I become nondevotee and take my birth as Lord Brahma, I don't want it. Let me become an insect in the house of a devotee." This is the aspiration... The same thing is explained here. Because without the benediction of a pure devotee, it is not possible to enter into the path of devotional service.
Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. (end)
>>> Ref. VedaBase => The Nectar of Devotion --
Vrndavana, November 10, 1972
The Nectar of Devotion
--
Vrndavana, November 11, 1972
--
Vrndavana, November 11, 1972
Pradyumna: (reading:) "In the Srimad Bhagavatam..." Uh. "In the Fifth Canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, Sixth Chapter, 18th verse, Narada also says to Yudhisthira, 'My dear King, it is Lord Krsna, known as Mukunda, who is the eternal protector of the Pandavas and the Yadus. He is also your spiritual master and instructor in every respect. He is the only worshipable God for you. He is very dear and affectionate, and He is the director of all your activities, both individual and familial. And what's more, He sometimes carries out your orders as if He were your messenger! My dear King, how very fortunate you are because for others all these favors given to you by the Supreme Lord would not even be dreamt of.' The purport of this verse is that the Lord easily offers liberation, but He rarely agrees to offer a soul devotional service, because by devotional service the Lord Himself becomes purchased by the devotee."
Prabhupada: Hmm. Go on.
Pradyumna: " 'The Happiness of Becoming One with the Supreme.' Srila Rupa Gosvami says that if brahmananda, or the happiness of becoming one with the Supreme, is multiplied by one trillionfold, still, it cannot be compared with an atomic fraction of the happiness derived from the ocean of devotional service. In the Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya... Prahlada Maharaja, while satisfying Lord Nrsimha by his prayers, says, 'My dear Lord of the universe, I am feeling transcendental pleasure in Your presence and have become merged in the ocean of happiness. I now consider the happiness of brahmananda to be no more than the water in the impression left by a cow's hoof in the earth, compared to this ocean of bliss.' Similarly, it is confirmed in the Bhavartha-dipika, Sridhara Swami's commentary on the Srimad-Bhagavatam: 'My dear Lord, some of the fortunate persons who are swimming in the ocean of Your nectar of devotion, and who are relishing the nectar of the narration of Your pastimes, certainly know ecstasies which immediately minimize the value of the happiness derived from religiousness, economic development, sense gratification and liberation. Such a transcendental devotee regards any kind of happiness other than devotional service as no better than straw in the street.' "
Prabhupada: Go on.
Pradyumna: " 'Attracting Krsna.' Srila Rupa Gosvami has stated that devotional service at..."
Prabhupada: Any, any question arises, you can ask.
Pradyumna: "Srila Rupa Gosvami has stated that devotional service attracts even Krsna. Krsna attracts everyone, but devotional service attracts Krsna. The symbol of devotional service in the highest degree is Radharani. Krsna is called Madana-mohana, which means that He is so attractive that He can defeat the attraction of thousands of Cupids. But Radharani is still more attractive, for She can even attract Krsna. Therefore devotees call Her Madana-mohana-mohini, the attractor of the attractor of Cupid. To perform devotional service means to follow in the footsteps of Radharani..."
Prabhupada: Madana-mohana, Madana-mohana. Madana means sex attraction. Madana, sex attraction, Cupid, and Krsna is called Madana-mohana. One can, I mean, neglect even sex attraction if one is attracted to Krsna. That is the test. Madana (is) attracting in this material world. Everyone is attracted by sex life. The whole material world is existing on sex life. This is the fact. Yan maithunadi-grhamedhi-suhkham hi tuccham. Here, the happiness, the so-called happiness is maithuna, maithunadi. Maithunadi means here happiness begins from maithuna, sex intercourse. Generally, people..., a man marries. The purpose is to satisfy sex desire. Then he begets children. Then again, when the children are grown up, they, the daughter is married with another boy and the boy is married with another daughter, another girl. That is also the same purpose: sex. Then again, grandchildren. In this way, this material happiness -- sriyaisvarya-prajepsavah. The other day we discussed. Sri means beauty, aisvarya means wealth, and praja means generation. So generally, people, they like it -- good family, good bank balance and good wife, good daughter, daughter-in-law. If one family is consisting of beautiful women and riches and grea..., many children, he is supposed to be successful. He's supposed to be most successful man. So sastra says, "What is this success? This success is beginning with sex intercourse. That's all. And maintaining them." So yan maithunadi-grhamedhi-sukham hi tuccham [SB 7.9.45]. Here the happiness begins from sex life, maithunadi. We may polish it in a different way, but this maithuna, sex life happiness, is there in the hogs. The hogs also, they are eating whole day, here and there: "Where is stool? Where is stool?" and having sex life without any discrimination. The hogs do not discriminate whether mother, sister or daughter. So therefore sastra says, "Here, this material world, we are entangled, we are encaged in this material world only for this sex life." That is Cupid. Cupid is the god of sex life, Madana. Unless one is, what is called, induced by Madana, the Cupid, he cannot be, I mean to say, engladdened in sex life. And Krsna's name is Madana-mohana. Madana-mohana means that one who is attracted to Krsna, he'll forget the pleasure derived from sex life. This is the test. Therefore His name is Madana-mohana. Here is Madana-mohana. Sanatana Gosvami worshiped Madana-mohana. Madana or Madana. Madana means to become mad. And Madana, the Cupid.
So everyone is infuriated by the force of sex life. There are many places... In Bhagavatam it is said, pumsah striya mithuni-bhavam etat tayor mitho hrdaya-granthim ahur. The whole material world is going on: the man is attracted by woman, the woman is attracted by man. And, seeking this attraction, when they are united, their attachment for this material world becomes more and more. And in this way, after being united, or after being married, one woman and man, they seek nice home, grha; ksetra, activities, business, factory, or agricultural field. Because one has to earn money. So get food. Grha-ksetra; suta, children; and apta, friends; vitta, wealth... Atah grha-ksetra-sutapta-vittair janasya moho 'yam [SB 5.5.8]. The attraction for this material world becomes more and more tight. This is called madana, attraction by madana. But our business is not to be attracted by the glimmer of this material world, but to be attracted by Krsna. That is Krsna consciousness movement. Unless you become attracted by the beauty of Krsna, we must have to be satisfied by beauty of this false beauty of this material world. Therefore Sri Yamunacarya said that yadavadhi mama cetah krsna-padaravindayor nava-nava-dhama rantum asit: "So long I have been attracted by the beauty of Krsna and I have begun to serve at His lotus feet, and I am getting newer, newer energy, since then, as soon as I think of sex intercourse, I want to spite on it." That is vitrsna, no more attraction... The central point of attraction of this material world is sex life, and one, when one gets detached from sex life... Tadavadhi mama cetah...,
yadavadhi mama cetah krsna-padaravindayor
nava-nava-(rasa-)dham(
tadavadhi bata nari-sangame smaryamane
bhavati mukha-vikarah sustu nisthivanam ca
"As soon as I think of sex intercourse, immediately my mouth becomes turned aside and I want to spite on it." So therefore Krsna is Madana-mohana. Madana is attracting everyone, sex life, and Krsna, when one is attracted by Krsna, then madana also becomes defeated. So as soon as madana becomes defeated, we conquer over this material world. Otherwise it is very difficult. The... Daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. Duratyaya means very, very difficult. Mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti. But if anyone surrenders unto Krsna, catches His lotus feet very strongly, "Krsna, save me," Krsna promises, "Yes, I'll save you." Aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah [Bg. 18.66]. "Don't worry. I shall save you." Kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah pranasyati [Bg. 9.31]. "My dear Arjuna, you can declare to the world, My devotee, pure devotee, anyabhilasita-sunyam [Brs. 1.1.11], who has no other desire, he'll be protected by Me."
So people do not know that our only business is to take shelter of the lotus feet of Krsna. That is the only business. We have no other business. Any other business means we are becoming entangled in this material world. And the aim of human life is to get out of these clutches of material world. People do not know it. They do not know. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31]. So it is very difficult; still, Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered to distribute this knowledge all over the world. So let us try. Even the people do not take our instruction, that is not our disqualification. Our qualification is let us try our best. The maya is very strong. To take the living entities out of the clutches of maya is not very easy thing. My Guru Maharaja used to say... He had so many temples all over India, and he used to say sometimes that "If by selling all these properties, temples, if I could turn one man to Krsna consciousness, then my mission will be successful." He used to say that. So our purpose is not to construct big, big buildings. That is required for propaganda work, for giving shelter to people. But our main business is how to turn the face of the bewildered conditioned souls towards Krsna. That is our method. That is our main purpose. Therefore, Bhaktivinoda Thakura and other Vaisnavas, they did not advise to give much attention for constructing big, big temples and mathas. Because if our attention is diverted towards these material things... Material things means, as I have repeatedly explained, forgetful of Krsna. Otherwise there is no, nothing material. It is illusion. Illusion means actually there is nothing material. How it can be material? If the Supreme Lord is Supreme Spirit, everything is coming from Him, so what we call the material energy, that is also coming from the Supreme.
But the difficulty is that in this inferior energy... Inferior energy means where there is possibility of forgetting Krsna. Actually, that is the fact. People are engaged in so many activities. We can see it very nicely in the Western countries. They are inventing so many modern facilities. But the result is they're forgetting Krsna. That is material. Material means forgetfulness of Krsna. Otherwise, there is nothing except Krsna. Idam hi visvam bhagavan ivetarah. Prahlada Maharaja, yes, Narada Maharaja said that "This world is Krsna." Idam hi visvam bhagavan ivetarah. "But it appears like that it is different from Bhagavan." Actually, there is... For a maha-bhagavata, he has no such conception, material conception, because he sees everywhere Krsna. Sthavara-jangama dekhe na dekhe tara murti [Cc. Madhya 8.274]. He's seeing one tree, but he is, he's forgetful of the tree. He's seeing energy of Krsna. As soon as he sees the energy of Krsna, he sees Krsna. Therefore instead of seeing the tree, he sees Krsna. Because one after, after, coming, reference to the context. As soon as he sees anything we call material, he sees this is the conversion of the energy. Parinama-vada. Sarvedam akhilam jagat. Parasya brahmanah saktih. Parasya bra... Just like as soon as you see the sunshine, you see immediately sun. Is it not? In the morning, as soon as you see within your window the sunshine, immediately you remember sun and you are confident sun is there. Without sun, how there can be sunshine? Similarly, whatever we see, if we immediately see Krsna, with reference to that particular thing... Because that particular thing is the manifestation of the energy of Krsna. So those who have understood Krsna along with His energies, he sees the energy, because energy is not different from the energetic, he sees immediately Krsna. Therefore, he does not see anything except Krsna. So therefore, for him, there is no material world. There is no material world. To a perfect devotee, there is no material world. Everything is spiritual. Sarvam khalv idam brahma. He sees everything Brahman.
So we have to make our eyes to see Krsna. Tat-paratvena nirmalam.
sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam
tat-paratvena nirmalam
hrsikena hrsikesa-
sevanam bhaktir ucyate
[Cc. Madhya 19.170]
Tat-paratvena. As soon as we are in Krsna consciousness, our seeing, touching, smelling -- everything become nirmala, purified. Then we can immediately see Krsna. These eyes, so long it is not purified, we cannot see Krsna. As soon as it is purified, you see Krsna. As soon as it is purified, you see Krsna, nothing but Krsna. So this is the process. So devotional service means purification.
sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam
tat-paratvena nirmalam
hrsikena hrsikesa-
sevanam bhaktir ucyate
[Cc. Madhya 19.170]
anyabhilasita-sunyam
jnana-karmady-anavrtam
anukulyena krsnanu-
silanam bhaktir uttama
[Brs. 1.1.11]
So Cupid, Cupid is one of the agents of this material, illusory energy, but if we are perfectly in Krsna consciousness, this Cupid cannot pierce with our arrows, with his arrows. That is not possible. As Yamunacarya says, that tadavadhi mama cetah krsna-pa..., yadavadhi mama cetah krsna-padaravindo... So to a devotee... Just like Haridasa Thakura. You know the story of Haridasa Thakura. Haridasa Thakura was young man, and the Maya, and a prostitute, they came, young prostitute, nicely dressed, and proposed her desire. Haridasa Thakura said, "Yes, please sit down. I shall fulfill your desire. Let me finish my chanting." Just see. At dead of night, a young man, Haridasa Thakura; in front, there is a beautiful young girl; there is nobody else; and she's proposing. But still, he's steady, chanting Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. So Cupid cannot pierce. This is the example. There may be thousands of beautiful women before a devotee, but that does not disturb his mind. He sees they're all energies of Krsna. "They are gopis of Krsna. They are enjoyable by Krsna. I have to serve them. They're gopis. Because I am servant of the servant." Gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayoh dasa-dasa-dasanudasah [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. So a devotee should try to engage all beautiful women in the service of Krsna. That is his duty. Not to enjoy them. That is sense gratification. This is the position of a devotee. He's not pierced by the arrows of Cupid, but he sees everything, nirbandhe krsna-sambandhe. He sees everything in relationship with Krsna. Yukta-vairagyam ucyate. That is vairagyam. He does not accept anything for his sense gratification, but he engages everyone in the service of Krsna. Then we can get out of the influence of the arrow of Cupid. This is the process. Go on.
Pradyumna: "To perform devotional service means to follow in the footsteps of Radharani, and devotees in Vrndavana put themselves under the care of Radharani in order to achieve perfection in their devotional service. In other words, devotional service is not an activity of the material world; it is directly under the control of Radharani. In the Bhagavad-gita it is confirmed that the mahatmas, or great souls, are under the protection of daivi prakrti, the internal energy -- Radharani. So, being directly under the control of the internal potency of Krsna, devotional service attracts even Krsna Himself."
Prabhupada: Yes. Mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim prakrtim asritah, bhajanty ananya-manaso [Bg. 9.13]. Here we are under the influence of this material energy, but those who are devotee of Krsna, they are under the influence of internal energy. The internal energy of Krsna, it has got three different functions. One of the function is hladini sakti. That is Radharani. That is Radharani. Radharani is the pleasure potency of Krsna.
radha krsna-pranaya-vikrtir hladini saktir asmad
ekatmanav api (bhuvi pura) deha-bhedam gatau tau
sri-caitanyakhyam prakatam adhuna tad-dvayam caikyam aptam...
[Cc. Adi 1.5]
Radha-krsna..., that Caitanya Mahaprabhu is... That is the version of Sri Svarupa Damodara, that "Radha and Krsna, They are one, Krsna." When Krsna wants to enjoy, He manifests His energy. That is Radharani. Krsna cannot enjoy the material energy; He enjoys the internal energy. Krsna has got many energies. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate, svabhavaki-jnana-bala-kriya ca [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. That is the Vedic version, that the Supreme Absolute Truth has got multi-energies, and by utilizing, manipulating that energy, He is manifesting Himself in so many ways. The same example: just like the sun, by expanding its energy, heat and light, is perceived. The sun is ninety-three million miles away from us. So how we can understand the sun? By his heat and energy. By his heat, we can calculate what is the actual temperature. The scientists are calculating the actual temperature of the sun. So similarly, although Krsna is far, far away from us... Goloka eva nivasati. He's residing in His abode, Goloka, Vrndavana. This is the replica of that Vrndavana. So akhilatma-bhutah. How He's akhilatma-bhutah [Bs. 5.37]? How He's all-pervading? By His energy. By His energy. Just like Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita: maya tatam idam sarvam jagat avyakta-murtina [Bg. 9.4]. That energy is avyakta, impersonal. But Krsna is not impersonal. Krsna is person. Just like the sun-god, he's a person, but his energy, sunshine and heat, that is impersonal. To reach impersonal feature of the sun or the sunshine is not approaching the sun. It is approaching and not approaching. It is approaching in the sense that directly in touch with his energy, but still, the sun globe and the sun-god is far away. Similarly, brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate [SB 1.2.11]. To approach the impersonal feature of Brahman is not sufficient. We have to approach Krsna. So the Radharani, the personal,... His energy's also personal. So mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim prakrtim asritah [Bg. 9.13]. If we take shelter of His external energy, where forgetfulness, Krsna, is very prominent, then we become far and far away from Krsna. But if we take shelter of the internal energy of Krsna, Radharani, because She's directly serving Krsna... Just like in Vrndavana, they always speak of Radharani because they have taken shelter of Radharani to approach Krsna very easily. Daivim prakrtim asritah. The facility of Vrndavana is that you take shelter of Radharani directly and She will help you to approach Krsna very soon. This is the idea of coming to Vrndavana. Go on.
Pradyumna: "This fact is corroborated by Krsna in the Eleventh Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Twelfth Chapter, 1st verse, where He says, 'My dear Uddhava, you may know it from Me that the attraction I feel for devotional service rendered by My devotees is not to be attained even by the performance of mystic yoga, philosophical speculation, ritualistic sacrifices, the study of Vedanta, the practice of severe austerities or the giving of everything in charity. These are, of course, very nice activities, but they are not as attractive to Me as the transcendental loving service rendered to My devotees.' How Krsna becomes attracted by the devotional service of His devotees is described by Narada in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Seventh Canto, Tenth Chapter, 37th verse. There Narada addresses King Yudhisthira while the King is appreciating the glories of the character of Prahlada Maharaja. A devotee always appreciates the qualities of other devotees."
Prabhupada: Yes. That is the sign of devotee: appreciation (of) the activities of devotee. This appreciation means a devotee who is actually freed from all contamination, he does not find any fault with other devotee. That is the sign. He does not think himself that he is bigger devotee or greater devotee than others. He thinks himself as the lowest of all. As Caitanya, as Caitanya-caritamrta author, Kaviraja Gosvami, says, purisera kita haite muni se lagistha: [Cc. Adi 5.205] "I am lower than the insect within the stool." Jagai-madhai haite se muni papistha: "I am greater sinner than Jagai and Madhai." Mora nama yei laya tara punya ksaya: "Anyone who takes my name, immediately, all the result of his pious activities becomes vanquished." He's placing like that. Because it is not imitation or any bluff. He's... Any devotee who's actually advanced, he feels like that. Just like great scientist, Sir Isaac Newton, he used to say that "I have simply collected a few grains of sand in the ocean of knowledge." Yes. He used to say. And actually, that is the fact. Everything is unlimited. So nobody should be proud falsely that he has become a great devotee. Everyone should be very humble.
trnad api sunicena
taror api sahisnuna
amanina manadena
kirtaniyah sada harih
[Cc. Adi 17.31]
If one thinks that he has become very advanced in devotion, then that is very dangerous. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, guru more murkha dekhi' karila sasana: [Cc. Adi 7.71] "My spiritual master saw Me a great fool. Therefore he has chastised Me, that 'Don't try to read the Vedanta. Chant Hare Krsna.' " He presented Himself like that. Is Caitanya Mahaprabhu murkha? But that is the conception, advanced devotee. They never think that they are very highly advanced devotees. What is advanced devotee? What devotion we can offer to Krsna? He's unlimited. He's kindly accepting our little service. That's all. Don't be proud of becoming a great devotee. That is the cause of falldown.
Thank you very much. (end)
>>> Ref. VedaBase => The Nectar of Devotion --
Vrndavana, November 11, 1972
The Nectar of Devotion
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Vrndavana, November 12, 1972
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Vrndavana, November 12, 1972
Pradyumna: (reading:) "How Krsna becomes attracted by the devotional service of His devotees is described by Narada in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Seventh Canto, Tenth Chapter, 37th verse. There Narada addresses King Yudhisthira while the King is appreciating the glories of the character of Prahlada Maharaja. A devotee always appreciates the activities of other devotees. Yudhisthira Maharaja was appreciating the qualities of Prahlada, and that is one symptom of a pure devotee. A pure devotee never thinks himself as great; he always thinks that other devotees are greater than himself. The King was thinking, 'Prahlada Maharaja is actually a devotee of the Lord, while I am nothing,' and while thinking this, he was addressed by Narada as follows: 'My dear King Yudhisthira, in this world you, the Pandava brothers, are the only fortunate people. The Supreme Personality of Godhead has appeared on this planet and is presenting Himself to you as an ordinary human being. He is always with you in all circumstances. He is living with you and covering Himself from the eyes of others. Others cannot understand that He is the Supreme Lord, but He is still living with you as your cousin, as your friend and even as your messenger. Therefore you must know that nobody in this world is more fortunate than you.'
In the Bhagavad-gita when Krsna appeared in His universal form, Arjuna prayed, 'My dear Krsna, I thought of You as my cousin-brother, and so I have shown disrespect to You in so many ways, calling You Krsna, or friend, but You are so great that I could not understand.' So that was the position of the Pandavas; although Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the greatest among all greats, still He remained with those royal brothers, being attracted by their devotion, by their friendship and by their love. That is the proof of how great this process of devotional service is. It can attract even the Supreme Personality of Godhead. God is great, but devotional service is greater than God because it attracts Him. People who are not in devotional service can never understand what great value there is in rendering service to the Lord.
'The First Stages of Devotion.' The three categories of devotional service which Srila Rupa Gosvami describes in Bhakti-Rasamrta-Sindhu are listed as devotional service in practice, devotional service in ecstasy and devotional service in pure love of Godhead. There are many subheadings in each of these categories. Generally, it is understood that in the category of devotional service in practice there are two different qualities; devotional service in ecstasy has four qualities; and devotional service in pure love of Godhead has six qualities. These qualities will be explained by Srila Rupa Gosvami later on. In this connection, Srila Rupa Gosvami suggest that the person..., that the person eligible for Krsna consciousness or devotional service can be classified by his particular taste. He says that devotional service is a continual process from one's previous life. No one can take to devotional service unless he has had some previous connection with it. For example, suppose in this life I practice some devotional service to some extent. Even though it is not one hundred percent perfectly performed, still, whatever I have done will not be lost. In my next life, from the very point where I stopped in this life, I shall begin again. In this way there is always a continuity. But even if there is no continuity, if only by chance a person takes interest in a pure devotee's instruction, he can be accepted and advance in devotional service. Anyway, for persons who have a natural taste for understanding books like the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, devotional service is easier than for those who are simply accustomed to mental speculation and argumentative processes."
Prabhupada: So Narada Muni instructed to Vyasadeva under the verse, tyaktva sva-dharmam caranambujam harer: [SB 1.5.17] "Even one takes to devotional service, takes shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Krsna, some way or other..." Kamad lobhad bhayat, as it is stated in the Srimad Bhagavatam. Just like the gopis, they took shelter of Krsna superficially by lusty desire. But it was not lusty desire. It was pure love. But in the material world same thing will be considered as lusty desire. So where is the difference between love of God and lusty desire? Because ordinary men will consider that gopis were attracted by Krsna in lusty desire. So Caitanya-caritamrta Kaja, Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, he says that there is difference between material lusty desire and love of God. He has compared that love of God is just like gold, and lusty desire is just like iron. So the difference between lusty desire and love of God is: in the material world, which is going on as love, that is lusty desire. Because the party, both the parties are interested in individual sense gratification. But here, the gopis, or any devotees, they want to satisfy the senses of Krsna. That is the difference between material lusty desire and love of Godhead. Atmendriya-priti-vancha tara nama kama [Cc. Adi 4.165]. When one desires one's own sense gratification... In the material world, suppose a boy loves a girl and a girl loves a boy. That is personal sense gratification. As soon as the personal sense gratification is not satisfied, immediately the so-called love is divorced. No more love. In the Kali-yuga, it is stated in the sastras, dampatye ratim eva hi. In... Love between husband and wife will be disturbed as soon as there is no satisfaction of sex desires. Dampatye ratim eva hi. And in the Western countries, we find... In our country also, it has already begun; there are so many divorce cases. Mostly the divorce cases take place when there is disturbance in sex, sex satisfaction. So that is lust. But here, in the case of Krsna and gopis, that is different thing. The gopis used to dress themselves so that Krsna will feel satisfied, satisfaction. For Krsna's satisfaction. They used to dress for Krsna's satisfaction. That is, of course, very difficult to understand. But we should learn from the sastras. The gopis had no sense gratification desire. They wanted to satisfy Krsna.
krsnendriya-priti-vancha tara nama prema
atmendriya-priti-vancha dhare, tare nama kama
[Cc. Adi 4.165]
So that is the difference. Love of Krsna means to satisfy Krsna, not satisfy sense gratification. We... The practical example is from Bhagavad-gita. Arjuna, Arjuna, in the beginning, he wanted to satisfy his senses. He declined to fight with his grandfather, with his teacher, with his nephew and brother on the other side. He thought that upon their death, he'll not be satisfied. That means sense, his sense gratification. But at the end, when he understood Bhagavad-gita, the essence of Bhagavad-gita, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66],... Our duty is to satisfy the senses of Krsna. So then he, to satisfy Krsna, he killed his kinsmen, his grandfather, his teacher. So that is required -- satisfaction of Krsna, not satisfaction of personal interest. Go on reading.
Pradyumna: "To support this statement there are many authoritative assertions by the learned scholars of bygone ages. According to their general opinion, a person may become governed by certain convictions derived by his own arguments and decisions. Then another person, who may be a greater logician, will nullify these conclusions and establish another thesis. In this way, the path of argument will never be safe or conclusive. The Srimad-Bhagavatam recommends therefore that one follow in the footsteps of the authorities. Here is the general..."
Prabhupada: Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. You cannot come to the conclusion what is sraddha and sadhana by simply argument. Tarko apratistha. By argument, we cannot establish. Srutayo vibhinna. The scriptures are many varieties. Srutayor vibhinna nasau munir yasya matam na bhinnam. And every philosopher must differ with another philosopher. Therefore, mahajano yena gatah sa panthah: We have to follow the footprints of great authorities. They are also mentioned in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, great authorities:
svayambhur naradah sambhuh
kapilah kumaro manuh
prahlado janako bhismo
balir vaiyasakir vayam
[SB 6.3.20]
Yamaraja said that "These are the eight authorities." Therefore we have got sampradaya: Brahma-sampradaya, Rudra-sampradaya, then Laksmi-sampradaya, Sri-sampradaya, and Kumara-sampradaya. The present acaryas, they are Ramanuja-sampradaya, Sri-sampradaya, Madhva-sampradaya, Brahma-sampradaya. In this way... So we have to follow the footprints of the sampradaya. Just like we are Gaudiya, Madhva-Gaudiya-sampradaya. We are following the footprints of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, as enunciated by the six Gosvamis,
sri-rupa sanatana bhatta-raghunatha
sri-jiva gopala-bhatta dasa-raghunatha
>>> Ref. VedaBase => The Nectar of Devotion --
Vrndavana, November 12, 1972
© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.
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