First, second...Class Rascals

73/07/17 London, Bhagavad-gita 1.20

download  Players

 

Take a test

---

Pradyumna (leads chanting, etc.):

atha vyavasthitan drstva
dhartarastran kapi-dhvajah
pravrtte sastra-sampate
dhanur udyamya pandavah
hrsikesam tada vakyam
idam aha mahi-pate
 [Bg. 1.20]

Translation: "O King, at that time Arjuna, the son of Pandu, who was seated in his chariot, his flag marked with Hanuman, took up his bow and prepared to shoot his arrows, looking at the sons of Dhrtarastra. O King, Arjuna then spoke to Hrsikesa, Krsna, these words:"

Prabhupada: So again the word hrsikesa is used here. In the beginning also, hrsikesah pancajanyam. Krsna is again designated as Hrsikesa. As we have explained several times, bhakti means hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. Bhakti, the whole devotional service program, means hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam. So Arjuna was meant for serving Krsna, because he is bhakta. Krsna has already addressed him, bhakto 'si, priyo 'si, rahasyam hy etad uttamam: "My dear Arjuna, I am speaking to you the mystery of Bhagavad-gita." It is a mystery. Mystery means very complicated; no ordinary man can understand. Therefore it is called mystery, rahasyam. But not ordinary rahasyam, uttamam. Uttamam means transcendental, not covered with darkness of material science. But it is brilliant, daivam, divyam. Rahasyam.

So ordinary man cannot understand. Therefore they interpret foolishly, speculate, and demonstrate their rascaldom. That's all. Even big, big scholars. So they cannot understand because they are not devotee. It is meant for the devotee. This whole Bhagavad-gita is a transaction between God and His devotee. There is nothing more. Just like if you go to the market and two mercantile men talking. So it should be understood that he is also businessman, he is also businessman, so they must be talking something about business. It is natural conclusion. Two businessmen are talking seriously, not that they are discussing Bhagavad-gita. You cannot say that. They must be talking about business, something about profit.

Just like all the businessmen, they assemble in exchange, like stock exchange. So there is howling, great sound, talking with each other, tumultuous sound. That tumultuous sound means one businessman is talking, "What is your rate? This is my rate. What is your rate?" That's all. You cannot expect that a stock exchange, the people gathered there, they are talking something about Bhagavata and Bhagavad-gita. No.

Similarly, when there is talk between the Supreme Lord Krsna and His devotee, so this whole talk is bhakti. It is nothing else. They derive some meaning, jnana, jnanatmaka-vyakhya. They describe on the understanding of the jnanis, philosophical speculators. They are also candidate. Those who are jnanis actually, they are also interested to know what is Krsna. Jnani ca bharatarsabha, jijnasur. Arto artharthi jijnasur jnani ca bharatarsabha. These four classes of men, provided their background is pious life....

Impious life cannot inquire about God or can understand about God. We have several times repeated the verse,

yesam tv anta-gatam papam
jananam punya-karmanam
te dvandva-moha-nirmukta
bhajante mam drdha-vratah [Bg. 7.28]

Papis, sinful men, they cannot understand. They understand, only think that "Krsna is Bhagavan; so I am also Bhagavan. He's an ordinary man, maybe little powerful, historically very famous man. So He is, after all, a man. So I am also man. So why not I am God?" This is the conclusion of the abhaktas, non-devotees and sinful men.

So anyone who is declaring himself God, immediately you should know he is the greatest sinful man. And if you study his private life, you will see that he is number one sinful man. This is the test. Otherwise nobody will say that I am God, this false representation. Nobody. Any pious man will not do it. He knows, "What I am? I am ordinary human being. How can I claim to take the position of God?" And they become famous among rascals.

As it is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, sva-vid-varahostra kharaih [SB 2.3.19]. What is that verse? Ustra-kharaih, samstutah purusah pasuh. They.... in this world we see there are many great men, so-called great men, and they are very much praised by the general people. So Bhagavata says, that anyone who is not a devotee, who never chants the Hare Krsna mantra, he may be very great man in the estimation of rascals, but he is nothing but an animal. Sva-vid-varaha-ustra-kharaih. "So how you can say such a great man. You are saying that animal." Our business is very thankless task. We say any man who is not a devotee, he is rascal. We say generally. It is very harsh word, but we have to use it. As soon as we see that he is not a devotee of Krsna, then he's a rascal. How do we say? He is not my enemy, but we have to say because it is stated by Krsna.

If we are really Krsna conscious, then our business is to repeat the words of Krsna. That's all. What is the difference between a Krsna's representative and non-representative? The representative of Krsna will simply repeat what Krsna says. That's all. He becomes representative. It doesn't require much qualification. You simply repeat with firm conviction. As Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. So one who has accepted this fact, that, "If I surrender to Krsna, my all business is successful," he is Krsna's representative. That's all.

You don't require to be very highly educated or advanced. Simply if you simply accept that what Krsna says... Just like Arjuna said, sarvam etam rtam manye yad vadasi kesava: "My dear Krsna, Kesava, whatever You are saying, I accept it, without any change." That is bhakta. Therefore Arjuna is addressed, bhakto 'si. This is the bhakta's business. Why shall I think of Krsna as like me, ordinary man? This is the difference between a bhakta and not bhakta. A bhakta knows that "I am insignificant, a small spark of Krsna. Krsna is individual person. I am also individual person. But when we consider about His power and my power, I am most insignificant." This is understanding of Krsna.

There is no difficulty. Simply one must be sincere, not sinful. But a sinful man cannot understand Him. The sinful man, he will say, "Oh, Krsna is also man. I am also man. Why I am not God? He is simply God? No, I am also. I am God. You are God, you are God, every God." Just like Vivekananda said, "Why you are searching after God? Don't you see so many gods are loitering in the street?" You see. This is his God realization. This is his God realization. And he became a big man: "Oh, he is seeing everyone God."

This foolishness, this rascaldom, is going on all over the world. One does not know what is God, what is power of God, what is meant by God. They are accepting some rascal as God. As nowadays, that is going on. Another rascal has come. He is also declaring himself God. So it has become very cheap thing. But they have no brain to think that "I am claiming God; what power I have got?"

So this is the mystery. This is the mystery. Without becoming devotee, the mystery of understanding God is not possible. And Krsna has said in the Bhagavad-gita how one can know Him. Bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah [Bg. 18.55]. Only by devotion, simply. He could have said, "By high, topmost knowledge" or "By yogic process" or "By acting, becoming a very great karmi, worker, one can understand Me." No, he has never said, never said. So the karmis, jnanis, yogis, they are all rascals. They cannot understand Krsna. All rascals. Karmis are third-class rascals, the jnanis are second-class rascal, and the yogis are first-class rascal. That's all.

You should understand, the so-called yogis, they are first-class rascal because they do not understand Krsna. The jnanis they are also second-class rascal. Even a big scholar like Dr. Radhakrishnan, he is how, I mean to say, deforming the meaning of Bhagavad-gita. Krsna says man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru: [Bg. 18.65] "You always think..." This is Krsna consciousness, man-mana: "Always think of Krsna, Me, about Me," Krsna says. And they will make meaning that you can say also. "Krsna says that you always think of Him; you can say also, Think of me." This meaning, they are distorting. So Krsna says man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65], and this Dr. Radhakrishnan says, "It is not to the Krsna person." Just see. Just a big scholar, doctor of philosophy, he cannot understand Krsna. Krsna says directly, man-mana bhava mad-bhaktah. He is interpreting in a different way.

Therefore this word is used here, hrsikesa. Hrsikesam idam vakyam, hrsikesam tada vakyam idam aha mahi-pate [Bg. 1.20]. Mahi-pate, "O King..." Sanjaya was addressing Dhrtarastra. He's a king. So mahi-pate. Hrsikesam kapi-dhvajah. Kapi-dhvajah is nominative. So "He said..." Kapi-dhvajah. Kapi-dhvajah is also significant. Kapi-dhvajah, Arjuna, on his... Just like nowadays also, every nation has different types of flags, so Arjuna also had his flag on the... Dhvajah. Dhvajah means the flag. The flag was on the top of his chariot. And it was marked with Hanuman, Vajrangaji, Vajrangaji, Hanuman, who fought for Lord Ramacandra. He is fighting for Krsna. So he is also following the footsteps of Vajrangaji.

Vaisnavism is like that. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah. Vaisnava should follow his previous mahajana, authority. That is Vaisnavism. We don't manufacture ideas. We don't commit such rascaldom. We simply accept the behavior or the activities of previous acaryas. There is no difficulty. There is no difficulty.

So in the fighting principle, Arjuna is fighting for Krsna. He is following the previous fighting acarya, Hanumanji. Therefore he has depicted his flag with Hanuman, that "Hanumanji, Vajrangaji, kindly help me." This is Vaisnavism. "I have come here to fight for Lord Krsna. You fought also for the Lord. Kindly help me." This is the idea. Kapi-dhvajah. So any activities of the Vaisnava, they should always pray to the previous acarya, "Kindly help me. Kindly..." This is, Vaisnava is always thinking himself helpless, helpless. And begging help from the previous acarya.

Just like in Caitanya-caritamrta you will find, the author, at the end of every chapter:

sri rupa-raghunatha-pade yara asa
caitanya-caritamrta kahe krsnadasa

His every line, he is thinking of Rupa-Raghunatha, previous acaryas. "So let me surrender to the gosvamis and they will help me how to write." You cannot write. That is not possible.

So this is Vaisnava's policy. Vaisnava thakura, tomara kukkura, baliya janaha more. Bhaktivinoda Thakura has sung, "My dear vaisnava thakura, you just accept me as your dog, as the dog works by the indication of the master." He will give his life. Dog has a good qualification. However a strong dog may be, when the master orders, he will give his life. This is dog, faithful, so faithful to the master. So vaisnava thakura... So Bhaktivinoda Thakura is praying, vaisnava thakura, tomara kukkura, baliya janaha more: "My dear vaisnava thakura..." Vaisnava thakura means guru. "Kindly accept me as your dog." And he describes, I forget the exact language, that "I will always try to protect you. As dog keeps watch, so I will watch so nobody will come to disturb you. And whatever little prasadam you'll give me, I'll be satisfied." That dog's qualification. The master is eating, but the dog will never come, unless the master gives little morsel. He is satisfied. He is satisfied.

So this is Vaisnavism, to follow the previous acarya. This is Vaisnavism. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186], dharmasya tattvam nihitam guhayam mahajano yena gatah.... Tarko 'pratisthah srutayo vibhinna. Tarko, if you are very great logician, you can argue, "Oh why Krsna can be God? I can be God," by logic you may defeat an ignorant devotee, but sastra says by becoming a big logician, you cannot understand transcendental knowledge. Transcendental knowledge you have to understand by submitting, pranipatena, tad viddhi pranipatena [Bg. 4.34]. First of all surrender. Tad viddhi. If you want to know this transcendental science, then you must fully surrender. This is first qualification. Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya. Three things. First surrender; then if you cannot understand, then you question. Otherwise you have no right to question from a Vaisnava.

Not that "Can you show me God?" What qualification you have got? You want to see God. Another rascal will say "Yes, I will show you God. Come to me. I shall show you God." This is going on. One rascal inquires, "Can you show me God?" and the big rascal says, "Yes, come to me alone. I shall show you God." This business is going on. God's seeing is so cheap thing that any rascal comes, "Can you show me God," and another rascal says, "Yes, come to me. In the evening I shall show you." That means if he is a foolish rascal, then he will show him something magic, and he will understand, "Oh I have seen God." That's all, finished. God-seeing business is finished. And he comes... After God-seeing, he is the same, the same rascal. What improvement you have... You have seen God. What improvement you have made? God seeing is so cheap thing. No.

So we should be very careful. If we actually are interested in understanding... Manusyanam. It is not so easy. In the Bhagavad-gita you will find. Manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye [Bg. 7.3]. Out of many millions of persons, kascid yatati siddhaye, one person becomes interested how to make his life successful. Because they do not know what is successful life. They simply know who to work like hogs and dogs, day and night working. And what is the goal of life? Now, sense gratification. Just like the hogs. Hogs, you will find, day and night finding out where is stool. And he will eat. And as soon as the hogs become very fatty, because they eat actually very substantial... Stool is chemically very substantial food. It contains hydro-phosphytes. The doctors said. I do not know whether they have tasted. (laughter). But they taste it actually. When they test in laboratory, they taste. I know that. They taste it. They have to taste it. Because their laboratory, chemical examination means the symptoms has to be written, the characteristics. Just like potassium cyanide, they have not tasted. Because as soon as you taste, you will die. (laughter)

So chemical analysis means one has to test to find out the characteristic. So this I have seen, one doctor friend, he was keeping one dysentery stool in a plate, on his table, I saw. "What is this doctor?" He said, "Oh, it is to be tasted... It is dysentery stool". So they taste it. They have to. They take fish... Everyone, medical men know. So this hog's business is to eat stool, and as soon as he gets fatty, then sex. And that sex has no discrimination. You will see, a hogs, he does not care whether mother, sister or anyone, daughter. It doesn't matter. So this is hog civilization. Simply eating and getting strength of the senses and enjoy it.

This human life is not meant for that purpose. Therefore it is said that a person without God consciousness, Krsna consciousness, he is no better than these dogs and hogs. That's all. This is our conclusion. We don't give any formal respect. Of course, we have to give because we are in this world. But at heart we cannot give respect to a person who has not any sense of Krsna consciousness. We cannot give. Because who is going to give any respect to the dogs and hogs? Sva-vid-varahostra-kharaih samstutah purusah pasuh [SB 2.3.19]. Therefore Jiva Gosvami has commented on this verse... If somebody says that "This Mr. such and such, this Dr. such and such, he is respected by so many people, and you are saying that he's a rascal? What is this?" So Jiva Gosvami says that "This man, who is respected, but he is respected by whom? He is respected by this class of men: dogs, hogs, camel and asses. So he is a big pasuh."

Just like the lion. Lion is respected in the forest by dogs, hogs, camel and asses and other animals. Because lion is the king of the animals. But does it mean, because he is designated as the king of animals, it has got any use? Has it got any use for any purpose? Similarly, these political leaders, they may be lion, but who respects them? These dogs, hogs, camels and asses, that's all. He may be a big animal, but he is animal, no better than a big animal. That's all. And other animals praises, dogs, hogs, camels.

Every word in the Srimad-Bhagavata we have to... We have described why especially these animals have been selected, dogs, hogs, camels and asses. A dog is very faithful to his master. He will commit so many offenses for the sake of the master. Because he knows, "The master gives me food." So in your country, if you pass through one's house, from within the house they will bark, "Bark! Bark! Bark! Ba! Ba! Why you are going in front of my house?" This is committing offense, committing offense unnecessarily. So the dog's business: one side, he is very faithful, and one side, he is simply committing offense, unnecessarily frightening other people, unnecessarily, without any offense. And dog's another business is that he is seeking always master. Unless he finds out a good master, it is a street dog and it has no place. It has no place. It will not get sufficient food, become lean and thin, and loiter in the street. Because dog must find out... Sudra-like. Sudra, unless he finds out a master to provide him, his all education is useless.

Nowadays they are educated, but they must have a good service. That means he's a sudra. Without finding a master, his education has no value. So therefore in the sastra it is said, kalau sudra sambhavah. Kalau, "In this age, Kali-yuga, everyone is sudra." Because he cannot even live without having a master. He must have a master to provide him. But the Vedic culture is that brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, they will not accept any service. No. They will die of starvation. Especially brahmana. That is enjoined in the sastras, that a brahmana, if he is in bad position some way or other, economically, he may accept the position of a ksatriya or a vaisya, but he should not accept the position of a sudra. That is doggish. This is so injunction.

Therefore formerly a brahmana, when he accepts a service from anywhere, he was rejected from the brahmana society. You know, Sanatana Gosvami. Sanatana Gosvami, Rupa Gosvami, they belonged to a very high-class brahmana, Sarasvata Brahmana, very rich men. But both the brothers accepted service in Mohammedan government as ministers, and they were immediately rejected from the brahmana society. It is not very long ago, say, about five hundred years ago. The brahmana society was so strong. As soon as they will accept service. You know, the Tagore family of Calcutta, Rabindranatha Tagore, they are also brahmanas. But we know, in our childhood, they were also excommunicated from the brahmana family because they also accepted service.

So these are Vedic principles. If we follow... The brahmana will not accept anyone's service. That is against. Similarly, ksatriya. Ksatriya... Why this fight between Arjuna? They made them bereft of the kingdom. So they appealed to Duryodhana, that "My dear Duryodhana, you are my brother, you have taken all our properties. So we are ksatriya. We are not going to become vaisya or brahmana. We must live. Give us at least five villages, five brothers. We shall be satisfied. There is no question of war." "No, sir, not even the land which can hold the point of needle. I cannot spare." There is no way. Therefore there was fight. There was fight.

So these are the some of the glorious points of this fight. But he depended on Krsna, Arjuna. Therefore he was successful, victorious. You do, act as ksatriya. Not that as ksatriya he should become a brahmana beggar, no. A ksatriya cannot be beggar, neither a brahmana cannot be vaisya. This is real caste system. But you work as a cobbler, and at the same time you claim to become a brahmana, this is not allowed. Formerly the king used to see whether a brahmana is acting like a brahmana. Otherwise he will be stopped. Then he will be designated as he is working. This was the duty of the king to see that everyone is employed according to his profession. It was the duty of the king to see. Everyone must be employed. A brahmana must be working like a brahmana. A ksatriya must be working like a ksatriya. A vaisya must be working as a... Otherwise he cannot say.

Not like at the present moment, a brahmana is working, a servant, a sudra, and he is brahmana. No. This is called asuric varnasrama. Varnasrama. Varnasrama is very good institution. But still varnasrama, perfect varnasrama, cannot be possible in this age. Therefore when there was talk between Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Ramananda Raya that how perfection of life can be attained, so Ramananada Raya first of all quoted a verse from Visnu Purana,

varnasramacaravata
purusena parah puman
visnur aradhyate pumsam
nanyat tat-tosa-karanam

That "When human society accepts this varnasrama institution, brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra, brahmacari, grhastha, vana... This is Vedic civilization. Without this division, there is no civilization. They are animals." So therefore he quoted this verse, varnasramacaravata purusena parah puman: "If anyone is following the principles of varnasrama, then he is worshiping Lord Visnu." Because the whole life is meant for worshiping Visnu. The present civilization, they do not know that. Na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31]. They do not know, rascals, that what is the aim of life. Aim of life is to become Vaisnava, servant of Visnu. Therefore the very word is used, hrsikesa. Hrsikesa, He is the guide. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61].

So Arjuna was strictly following the Vaisnava principles, and therefore he inquired from Hrsikesa because he knows, "The Hrsikesa will guide me." Sarvasya caham hrdi sannivisto [Bg. 15.15]. Hrdi sannivisto. Mattah smrtir jnanam apohanam ca. So Arjuna knew it. Therefore this very word is used. The other day, also hrsikesa word was there. And bhakti means to satisfy Hrsikesa. This is bhakti. Hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. Bhakti, this is the simple definition of bhakti. Hrsikena. Hrsika means the senses. As you have got hands, legs, eyes, ears.... These are different senses. When you engage your senses only for the service of Krsna, then you become devotee. That's all. Your life is perfect.

You simply see Krsna nicely decorated in the temple. That is bhakti. You simply prepare foodstuff for Krsna. That is bhakti. You simply chant the holy name of Krsna. That is bhakti. In this way we can utilize all the senses. We can utilize our hands in collecting flowers, in cleansing the temple. If we haven't got education, ignorant, it doesn't require. Simply engage your senses, hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. Then you become perfect. You have got your senses. Engage the senses for the service of Krsna. Then you become perfect. Very nice thing. You don't require to become a very big philosopher, very rich man, very nicely educated, nothing of the sort. Simply you have got your senses. Engage the senses in the service of Krsna, your life is perfect. Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 1.20 -- London, July 17, 1973

HOME

© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

See Illumination Of God

See Illumination Of God

Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 20.110
New York, July 17, 1976

download  flash player

 

Take a test

---

Pusta Krsna: (chants verse, etc.) "Translation: Just as the illumination of a fire, which is situated in one place, is spread all over, the energies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Parabrahman, are spread all over this universe."

Prabhupada:

eka-desa-sthitasyagner
jyotsna vistarini yatha
parasya brahmanah saktis
tathedam akhilam jagat

Akhilam, entire; jagat, universe. So this is the manifestation of the potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Just like we read in the Bhagavad-gita, Krsna says that imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam: [Bg. 4.1] "I first of all spoke this yoga system to Vivasvan, the sun-god." The sun-god, the present sun-god, predominating Deity of the sun planet, is named as Vivasvan, and his son is called Vaivasvata Manu. This is the age of Vaivasvata Manu we are passing through. So Krsna is person, and Vivasvan the sun-god is also person. Otherwise how Krsna could speak to him? Imam vivasvate yogam. How He instructed him? Just like exactly Arjuna was instructed by Krsna. Krsna is person and Arjuna is person. Person-to-person talk. Similarly, that predominating deity in the sun planet is also a person, and there are many other persons. Just like when Krsna and Arjuna talked, there were many, many others, individual persons. Similarly, in the sun planet, not only the sun-god himself is a person, but all the population there, they are like sun-god, made of fire, their body is made of fire, they can stay in the fire. Just like the fish, their body is so made that they can live within the water. Similarly, there also there are many, many living entities. The sun planet is very, very big, fourteen hundred thousand times bigger than this earth. So it is all congested with population. And because they are all fiery, everything made there fiery, therefore it is a blazing fire, and the illumination is coming all over the universe. But they cannot understand this, the so-called scientists. It is not... Beyond their conception. But this is a fact. And the moon planet is also fiery, exactly like the sun. Therefore that illumination is distributed. But the difference is, so far I can remember, that the moon planet fire is surrounded by cool atmosphere. Because the heat is coming through some cool atmosphere, it is at night so pleasing. It is not vacant. There is also living entities. This is one of the heavenly planets. Heavenly planet begins from the sun, then moon, then Mars, Jupiter, like that. We have challenged this, that moon planet is beyond the sun planet. The moon planet is not the first planet. The sun is first, moon is second. So we have to learn from Vedic literature all this information. Many, many millions of years ago this Vedic literature was given to us. So about these planetary systems, everything is there, described. It is not unknown.

So anyway, our point is, either the sun or the moon, they are localized. They are situated in one place, we can see. But the illumination, the heat or the cool illumination... Sun illumination is hot, and moon illumination is cold, very soothing. Krsna is so kind that both things are there, and both things are required. It is not that unnecessarily. No. Krsna says, raso 'ham apsu kaunteya prabhasmi sasi-surayoh [Bg. 7.8]. This prabha, this illumination, the light coming from the moon, from the sun, sasi-surayoh... Sasi means the moon, and surya means the sun. So those foolish persons who are challenging, "Can you show me God?" rascal, why don't you see God here, sasi-surayoh? You do not see the sunshine, the moonshine? Why do you say that "I did not see God"? Huh? What is this argument? If Krsna said, God said, "Here I am. I am the moonshine, I am the sunshine," why don't you see Him? Huh? You have to see according to your capacity. You cannot see with your, these present eyes the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is not possible. Now see the illumination of God. Just like, practical, we can experience the sunshine. Everyone knows what is sunshine, but everyone is not aware of the temperature of the sun or the person within the sun. But that's a fact. Otherwise, Krsna is liar. Krsna said, "I spoke this philosophy to the sun-god." So sun-god is there, that's a fact. And then if the sun-god is there, his devotees or his associates are also there.

So far we get information, all the planets, they are full of living entities. Janakirna. It is stated in the Vedic literatures, janakirna. Janakirna means congested with living entities. Therefore we see New York City is congested with so many living entities. But if you go higher, then you cannot appreciate how New York City is so congested, or other cities are congested. So similarly, we have no knowledge of these planets, but each and every planet, millions and trillions, they are all congested, full with living entities. This is Vedic information. It is not imagination, imperfect imagination. No. It is fact. So we learn from the sastra that on account of illumination of the moon, the vegetation in every planet is, I mean to say, flourishing condition, due to the moon. Still we find reaction of the moon on the waves of the seas and ocean. So everything has got its necessity. Parasya brahmanah saktir. They are all acting as potency of the Supreme Lord. Parasya brahmanah saktir. They are sakti; they are not saktiman. Saktiman means one who possesses the potency. And we are all saktis.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu is going to explain the potency of the Lord -- three potencies: spiritual potency and material potency and the marginal potency. How they are acting, throughout the whole cosmic manifestation, beyond that also, that very simple word, everyone can understand. The light is here, the bulb is here, localized, but the illumination is spread. And we can take advantage of the illumination. By the sun's illumination we see practically how trees are growing their leaves, their color. Everything is due to the sunshine, we have got practical experience. Where there is no sunshine, especially in these countries, all the leaves fall down, and as soon as there is sunshine, immediately millions and trillions of leaves come out. Immediately. Not that waiting. Immediately. At least in this way you have to understand how Krsna's potency is working. That is the Vedic information, parasya brahmanah saktir. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate svabhaviki jnana-bala-kriya ca [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. Just like the sunshine is the potency of the sun and how it is acting wonderfully. Everything is perfectly -- the flowers, the leaves -- perfectly done. Svabhaviki jnana-bala-kriya ca. It doesn't require any research work how this leaf has come out. It is coming out automatically. They cannot understand. They say, "Automatically." No automatically. There is the working of the potency, but it is so perfect that svabhaviki, as if natural, coming out. Everywhere you'll find, in your body also, potencies. You shave your head, immediately next day again coming out, again coming out. But you do not know. Let the scientist say how it is coming out, his own hair, what to speak of others.

So everywhere the potency of the Supreme Lord is working. Very good example, exactly like the illumination, sunshine, moonshine, they are influencing the creation and they are situated in their own place, and they are all different potencies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So this is the potency of Krsna. Krsna is engaged in Vrndavana, Goloka Vrndavana. Goloka eva nivasaty akhilatma-bhutah [Bs. 5.37]. Although He is in the Goloka Vrndavana, He is playing with His cowherd boyfriends and the gopis and His father and mother, but still He's expanded all over the creation. That is Krsna. That is Krsna. Goloka eva nivasaty akhilatma-bhutah. Just like we live in some apartment. Now we are here, we are absent from that apartment. God is not like that. God is in His apartment, at the same time universally present. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna... [Bg. 18.61]. He's everywhere present. That is God. He's not limited; unlimited. That is God. Param bhavam ajanantah. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said, avajananti mam mudha, manusim tanum asritam, param bhavam ajananto [Bg. 9.11]. The rascals, they do not know what kind of... Krsna, He appears like a human being with two hands and two legs. They do not understand what are the quality of these two hands, two legs. They think that He has got two hands, two legs like us; therefore they are called mudha. Param bhavam ajananto. Mudha nabhijanati, mam ebhyah param avyayam. Sarvato pani-padah. Not only two hands, but He has got many, many millions and trillions of hands and legs all over the universe. This is Krsna. So don't take it as ordinary human being. Then you'll be calculated as one of the rascals. Don't be rascal; be intelligent to understand Krsna. And if you understand Krsna, then you become liberated, immediately.

janma karma ca me divyam
evam yo vetti tattvatah
tyaktva deham punar janma
naitimam eti so 'rjuna
 [Bg. 4.9]

That is the qualification. As soon as you understand Krsna -- not thoroughly; at least partial, what is the nature of Krsna -- then immediately you become liberated. That is, Krsna says personally. Nasta prayesu abhadresu. Prayesu. Prayesu means almost. We cannot become perfect in this material world, but to some extent if we become perfect, then our life becomes successful. To some extent. Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat. These things are there.

So this expansion of energy, that is impersonal. But Krsna is not impersonal. These foolish people, they do not understand Him. We see daily that the sunshine is so expansive, all over the universe, but it is..., the source of sunshine is the sun globe. That we see. So which is important? The sunshine or the sun globe? That we can see practically. And which is important, the sun globe or the sun-god? We can see every day. So similarly, God the person is important. God person is important. God... Just like the sun-god is important, and because he has his place, residential quarter, in the sun globe -- the next important. And because his effulgence is distributed all over the universe, next important. Parasya brahmanah sakti. Actually, the illumination is coming from the sun-god. It is a material thing, and what to speak of spiritual body of Krsna? That is stated in the Brahma-samhita: yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti [Bs. 5.40]. Yasya prabha. You can study Krsna's position from the sun. It is stated here that eka-desa-sthitasyagner jyotsna vistarini yatha. So His potencies are working. What is the sun and the sunshine different? The sunshine is combination of illuminating molecules, that's all, but each of them particle. Not that it is homogeneous. Each and every that particle, kana-kana means atomic (indistinct) -- they are all individual. Similarly, in the impersonal Brahman effulgence, these living entities are small particles. This smallness is also described in the sastra: one ten-thousandth part of the tip of the hair, such a small particle. They are congested. That is called Brahman effulgence.

So if you want to merge into the Brahman effulgence, it is not difficult, because you are a small particle of spiritual identity. If you don't want your individuality, you can stay in the Brahman effulgence. That is not very difficult for Krsna, if you want to merge into the Brahman effulgence. But what is the profit? There is no profit. Suppose if you are placed in the sky, in the sunshine, and if somebody asks, "Now, you remain in the sky," would you agree? Huh? Will anyone agree that "Let me remain in the sky as a small particle of the sunshine"? No. You can agree out of some sentiment, but you cannot stay there. That is not possible. Therefore, those who merge into the existence of Brahman, impersonal Brahman, they again fall down. Just like they are going moon excursion, Mars excursion. "Stay there." They cannot stay. Because, actually, whether they are going or not -- that's another thing -- but there is no staying place. Simply rotating in the sky is not very pleasant thing. We have got experience in the airplane. If we go five or six hours in the planes, we become suffocated. So it is not possible. Therefore those who merge into the Brahman effulgence, they again fall down, because they have no engagement in Krsna's business. They never cultivated such knowledge. Aruhya krcchrena param padam tatah patanty adho 'nadrta-yusmad-anghrayah [SB 10.2.32]. Because the Mayavadis, they think, "What is this nonsense, serving Krsna? Krsna is maya. We are not going to serve maya. We are going to become one with God, with effulgence." That oneness, you can stay within sunshine and be burnt up, but you cannot stay there. After your whims are fulfilled or you become disgusted... But because you have no information of serving Krsna, then come down again to this material world and serve maya -- so-called hospitals and other things, philanthropic work. Because they have no information to serve Krsna, the result is aruhya krcchrena param padam [SB 10.2.32]. The Brahman is also param padam. It is not material; it is spiritual world. But because they have no shelter at the lotus feet of Krsna, they fall down again at the shelter of the maya.

So this whole cosmic manifestation is nothing but expansion of the potency or energy of Krsna. This is the conclusion. This expansion of the energy, that is impersonal. Krsna is not impersonal: the original source, brahmano 'ham pratistha. The sunshine is coming from the sun globe, but the sun globe is more important than the sunshine. Similarly, Krsna's personality is more important than His impersonal feature, expansion of His energy. In this way, if we understand, then it is very easy, what is the difference between impersonal and personal understanding of the Absolute Truth.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.110 -- New York, July 17, 1976

HOME

© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

Universal Government

Universal Government

Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.32
San Francisco, July 17, 1975

download  flash player

 

Take a test

---

Nitai: "Being forbidden in this way, the order carriers of the son of the sun-god, Yamaraja, immediately replied: Who are all of you who have the audacity to oppose the ruling jurisdiction of Yamaraja, the king of religious principles?"

Prabhupada:

ucur nisedhitas tams te
vaivasvata-purahsarah
ke yuyam pratiseddharo
dharma-rajasya sasanam
 [SB 6.1.32]

Dharma-rajasya sasanam. There is a ruling all over the universe under the jurisdiction of Dharmaraja, or the supreme judge, for considering sinful and pious activities. There is a big government within this universe. But those who are thinking very poorly, without any advanced knowledge, atheist, they think that everything is coming automatically. Anisva, anisvara rahuh.(?) They say there is no isvara, supreme ruler, and everything is happening by nature. But they cannot explain what is nature. At least, they have to admit nature is a power which is controlling him. We are not independent of the laws of nature. That is not possible. Even if you accept nature, then you are under the control of nature. That is a fact. Who is controlling nature, that you may not know because your knowledge is very poor. But nature is controlling you, that you can understand, everyone can understand. You cannot supersede the laws of nature. Daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. Just like ordinary criminal, thief. The police is chastising him. He does not think that there is any other power over the police. He thinks the police is the father and mother, and he is poor class. He does not know that police is not the supreme power. The supreme power is the president or the minister of law and order. He thinks, "This constable is everything." So poor-class thinking, they think nature is everything. But any way, everyone is under the control of nature.

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

The so-called scientists, thinker, they are thinking that "We are everything. We can create, and we can control over the nature." These are all mad thinking. It is not possible. Nobody has ever been able to control over the nature, what to speak of understanding God. God is the controller of nature. Mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sa-caracaram [Bg. 9.10]. Nature is not independent.

So anyway, we are dependent on the laws of nature. That nobody can deny, even the greatest scientist, he cannot also deny. And because we are under the control of the laws of nature, we must admit, if we are sane man, that there is a system of ruling. If we deny the supreme ruler, we may do it madly, but there must be a systematic action, reaction. So here is Dharmaraja. Just like we have got magistrate. So magistrate's duty is, when a criminal is brought before him, to judge what kind of punishment he should be allowed. Justice there is. Similarly, this Dharmaraja means the criminals are brought before him. Dharmaraja is appointed magistrate by the Supreme Lord. So everyone, after death, he is brought before Dharmaraja, the Yamaraja, and he judges what kind of next body this criminal will have. That is Dharmaraja. He is judged by his work. Karmana daiva-netrena jantur deha-upapattaye [SB 3.31.1]. Just like the magistrate punishes the criminal, what kind of punishment he should be awarded, how he will be allowed to live within the prison house. Just like a political prisoner. In our country just now they have... So many big, big leaders have been arrested. But they are not put in the same level of ordinary criminals. They are given all facilities. They are given nice house, servants and newspaper. They are given all facilities of indepen..., outside life, according to the position. They are called first-class prisoners. And there are similarly second-class prisoners, third-class prisoners. So this is judged by a person.

So here we are all prisoners within the material world, and some of us are first-class prisoners, and some of us second class, and some of us third class. Therefore, we see the higher class of men in the society, middle class of men in the society, either in human society or even animal society... There is first-class animal, second-class animal, third-class animal. In the trees also, the same work is going on by nature. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]. One tree is supplying mango, so this mango tree is respect, and another tree, which is producing nothing, they are cut and made into fuel, because useless, no use. So amongst the trees, also you will find first class, second class, third class. Amongst the birds, beasts, animals, there is... Just like lion. He is also animal, and dog is also animal. They are not on the same level. Amongst the birds there are swans and there are crows. The crow is different from the swan although they are birds. The standard of enjoyment by the crows is different from the standard of enjoyment of the swan, white swan.

tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavo
yasmin prati-slokam abaddhavaty api
namany anantasya yaso 'nkitani yat
srnvanti gayanti grnanti sadhavah
[SB 1.5.11]

Now here we are studying Srimad-Bhagavatam or Bhagavad-gita. This is... This literature is meant for the swans, not for the crows. That is the division. And other literatures, sex literatures and these criminal literatures -- there are so many literatures -- they are meant for the crows, crow-class men. And this literature is meant for swan-class of men, swan, paramahamsa. We are also reading... We are not interested with the lump of newspaper. We are interested in Srimad-Bhagavatam. Why? Because within this literature there is glorification of the Supreme Lord, how He is conducting the whole universal affair, how the sun is rising exactly in time by His order, the moon is rising exactly by His order, not a minute's deviation. The big, big ocean, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, very big, powerful, but still within the limit. The Pacific Ocean cannot come beyond the jurisdiction. So who is managing this? Yasyajnaya bhramati sambhrta-kala-cakrah. Even the biggest planet within this universe, the sun, it is also rotating in his orbit by the supreme order. So there is supreme order everywhere. There is government. There is ruling. But the rascals, they cannot see. They simply believe in the direct experience. Direct experience is not first-class experience. The first-class experience is to receive knowledge from the person who knows. That is first-class experience.

There are there types of experience. One kind of experience is direct experience. That is third-class. And another experience is by history, by books. And another experience is by hearing from the Supreme. So we are gathering experience by hearing from the Supreme. Just like here Sukadeva Gosvami is narrating Srimad-Bhagavatam. He has heard it from his father, Vyasadeva. His father has heard it from Narada Muni, his spiritual master. Narada Muni has heard it from Brahma, the first living creature within this universe. And Brahma has heard it from Krsna. This is called parampara system. So this kind of knowledge is perfect knowledge. Evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh [Bg. 4.2]. This Vivasvan... Evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh. Imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam [Bg. 4.1]. Krsna said, "I first of all narrated this yoga system to Vivasvan, Vivasvan, the sun-god." Vivasvan manave praha: "So Vivasvan, the sun-god, from him, Manu heard it." Here also it is said, vaivasvata-purahsarah. The vaivasvata, this word, comes from Vivasvan. The Yamaraja is authorized because he also heard everything about truth from Vivasvan. Therefore his name is vaivasvata-purahsarah. And his servants, they heard it from their master. This is the way. This is the way of understanding.

So ucur nisedhitas tams te. They are the servants of Yamaraja, vaivasvata. So therefore they are vaivasvata-purahsarah. The important assistants of Vaivasvata, Yamaraja, they heard that somebody is warning, "Don't touch." In the previous verse we have learned, varayam asuh, forbidden, "Don't touch," ojasa, very strongly. So they became surprised, "Who are these persons? They are interfering with our business. We have come from supreme authority, magistrate." Just like police comes with his warrant of magistrate -- nobody can check it. If somebody wants to check it, then he will be punished. The whole government force is behind the warrant of the police. Nobody can check it. If there is riot, then government will bring military forces to accept. So this is called ruling. So we are under these rulings. However foolishly we may declare we are independent, that is our completely foolishness. When the warrant is there, you cannot check it. The whole power is behind. Either you become the great scientist or philosopher, when the warrant of death will come from Yamaraja, there is no power to check it. Therefore they were surprised, that "Who is this foolish?" But they saw that the persons, they are coming from Vaikuntha. They had different features, so beautiful, four handed, nicely decorated. So they were surprised.

Therefore in the next verse it is:

kasya va kuta ayatah
kasmad asya nisedhatha
kim deva upadeva ya
yuyam kim siddha-sattamah

"You are so nice." Because they are Yamaraja. Their bodily features already described: twisted face and the hair standing just perpendicularly. So they never saw. Why they? Even... We are supposed to be civilized man. We have not seen how the bodies are there in the Vaikuntha. Here you can understand that in the Vaikuntha planets, as the Lord Visnu is four-handed, similarly, all the inhabitants there, they are also four-handed and equally dressed. Just like here, if your President Ford comes, he also dressed like a nice gentleman. And there are many others also, equally nicely dressed. You cannot distinguish who is President and who is ordinary man. Similarly, in the Vaikunthaloka all the inhabitants are equally in external feature: four-handed with the weapons -- the disc, the club, the conchshell, the lotus flower. All the Vaikuntha's inhabitants: the same dress, same garment, same ornaments, same weapons. But still, there is distinction, that kaustubha jewel. That you will find Him hanging. By that kaustubha jewel, one can understand that "Here is Lord Visnu, and here is ordinary living being." Just like the president has got his confidential plaque. If one challenges his credential, he can show, "Yes." The same principle.

So ruling is there. You can say foolishly that "There is no ruling. I can do whatever I like." That you can do. Just like Ajamila was doing. But now the two classes of messengers have come. The Yamadutas have come to take him away because externally he is the most sinful man. Therefore they are protesting, "How is that? It is already settled up. This man has committed so many sinful activities. So they are under our jurisdiction. Who are you, you are forbidding us?" But the Visnudutas have come there because although he was sinful, although he was most impious, although he was a prostitute-hunter and cheater and so many good qualities, still, he has chanted the holy name of Narayana at the end of his life. Immediately Visnudutas... This is the facility. Whole life sinful, ante narayana-smrtih [SB 2.1.6], but he has remembered Narayana at the end of his life. Very painful life. At the time of death it is very, very painful. We have got experience. Therefore you do not wish to die, because it is very, very painful. Similarly, after death, immediately, by the discrimination of Yamaraja, he gets another body. Karmana daiva-netrena [SB 3.31.1]. Daiva-netrena, by the supervision of superior power, the Yamaraja takes away, and then he gives a body. First of all he is put into the hellish condition of life as he will get. Then, when he is little practiced, then he is given the similar body. Otherwise how it...? It will be... Suppose a person from, coming from very high family or king's royal family, but he has acted just like dogs and dogs. Then next life he is going to have a body of hog or dog. So therefore he is put into such life, subtle life -- that is Yamaraja's business -- to be used in that way of life Then he is given a solid body or gross body so that the same royal prince, he can very easily eat stool. This is the process, nature's process is going on. Prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]. They are simply explaining "nature." How nature is working, these foolish rascals, they do not know. They do not know. Nature is working. That is fact. But how the nature is working, how different forms of body, different activities are going on, by whose judgment, who is looking after, these things they do not know. This is the modern education.

But Krsna conscious person, they know how things are going on, how nature is working, what is the effect. Everything we will find in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, how many different planetary systems are there, what is the situation each and every planet. You will get all this description in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. There are... We have got description. There are many planets. They are simply thousands and millions of miles only gold, thousands and millions of miles only copper. We have got this description from the Srimad-Bhagavatam. There are oceans of milk, oceans of liquor, oceans of oil, oceans of yogurt. These things are there. What information you have got? You do not know fully what is the material nature. Therefore we do not believe that these men went to the moon planet. We have got different description of the moon planet. The moon planet is situated 1,600,000's of miles above the sun. We have got this description: 1,600,000 miles above the... And there is also blazing fire like the sun planet. Sun planet is very hot, and the moon planet is surrounded by very cool atmosphere. Just like when there is cold and heat together, you enjoy it, so moon planet is like that. And those who are in the karma-kandiya, means fruitive activities, those who are actually acting very piously, they are allowed to enter into the moon planet. And there you get life, ten thousands of years' duration of life. And that year is very, very big than our years. Our six months equal to one day in the moon planet. Now, such ten thousands of years you can get your duration of life, and very cold. Therefore you can drink there soma-rasa.

So these are the explanation in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. And it is situated above the sun planet, and above, the distance is also given there: 1,600,000's of miles. And above that, similarly, 1,600,000 miles, there is Mars, there is Jupiter, there is Venus, like that. So universe is not so small that you can ride on your 747 and go. (laughter) It is not so easy. It is not so easy. So therefore, from the circumstances, we can conclude that they could not approach the moon planet. And now they are saying that "It is useless. There is no need of going there. The grapes are sour." (laughter) The jackal jumping, jumping, jumping. When he could not get the grapes, then he is rejecting, "Oh, this is sour. It is no use." So after jumping so many years and spending so much money, they are now rejecting: "The moon planet is not habitable." But we get there. This is one of the heavenly planets, and it is habitable by the most advanced pious men. So these are the difference. Now it is your business to believe the so-called scientist or the sastra, as you like. But we cannot believe. Because we are Krsna conscious, we have to believe what is stated in the sastra.

So there is government. Therefore they were surprised that "Who are you that you are trying to..." Dharma-rajasya sasanam. Sasanam means government. "You are trying to resist us, from the government of Dharmaraja? We have never experienced. How is this? Who are you?" So this is the question. Now we shall discuss next day how this government of Dharmaraja is violated and why it is violated. We will hear next.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.32 -- San Francisco, July 17, 1975

HOME

© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.