Showing posts with label July 20. Show all posts
Showing posts with label July 20. Show all posts

Sunday, March 1, 2015

If You Stay with Krsna

73/07/20 London, Bhagavad-gita 1.24-25

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Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami PrabhupadaSrila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada 

Pradyumna (leads chanting, etc.):

sanjaya uvaca
evam ukto hrsikeso
gudakesena bharata
senayor ubhayor madhye
sthapayitva rathottamam
 [Bg. 1.24]

Translation: "Sanjaya said: O descendant of Bharata, being thus addressed by Arjuna, Lord Krsna drew up the fine chariot in the midst of the armies of both parties."

bhisma-drona-pramukhatah
sarvesam ca mahiksitam
uvaca partha pasyaitan
samavetan kurun iti

 [Bg. 1.25]

Translation: "In the presence of Bhisma, Drona and all other chieftains of the world, Hrsikesa, the Lord, said, Just behold, Partha, all the Kurus who are assembled here."

Prabhupada: So sanjaya uvaca. Actually Sanjaya, the secretary of Dhrtarastra, he is relating the activities in the battlefield. Dhrtarastra is blind. How in the battlefield the fighting was going on, Sanjaya was observing, either by television or a similar method. Otherwise, how he could explain things are going on in the battlefield in the room? This Bhagavad-gita, Sanjaya explained, all activities in the battlefield, to Dhrtarastra, within the room. So there must have been something like television or higher than the television, he was seeing within himself everything.

So scientific improvement is coming, but still on the material platform. Material means gross material and subtle material. That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita:

bhumir apo 'nalo vayuh
kham mano buddhir eva ca
ahankara itiyam me
bhinna prakrtir astadha

 [Bg. 7.4]

Earth, water, fire, air, sky, these five elements are gross material, everyone can see, gross. We can see earth, we can see water. We can see fire, air, or we can perceive the sky also. But there is subtle matter also. Mind, intelligence, ego. We cannot see the mind. We cannot see intelligence. I understand that you have got intelligence, or everyone knows we have got mind, but we cannot see. This is subtle. They are also matter, subtle matter. So the television is a machine made of gross matter, but there is possibility of making another machine of subtle matter. There is possibility. Because matter, they are also matter. That subtle matter machine is not yet discovered. But here we can see the subtle matter discovery was there. Otherwise, how Sanjaya could see the activities in the battlefield? This is to be understood. They are very much proud of material advancement of science, but still, they have to make advancement, subtle matter. And above that subtle matter, within that subtle matter, there is spiritual identity. Indriyani parany ahur indriyebhyah param manah, manasas tu para buddhih [Bg. 3.42].

First of all we can see a person. A person we see, what do we see? The senses. But we cannot see the director of the senses. The director of the senses is the mind. And the director of the mind is intelligence. And the owner of the intelligence is the soul. This is understanding. The soul is there. Whose intelligence? As soon as we shall say intelligence, whose intelligence? That is the soul's intelligence. Wherefrom the intelligence is coming? From Paramatma, Hrsikesa. Therefore this word is used here, hrs ikesa. The intelligence will come from Paramatma. Otherwise we cannot act, just like a child has got intelligence, but it is guided by the parent's intelligence: "My dear son, do like this." And he does it. Similarly, we have got all this mind, intelligence, everything, but that is being guided by the super-intelligence, Krsna. Therefore He is called Hrsikesa. Once we have explained Hrsikesa. So we have to reach that platform where we can talk with Hrsikesa. That is spiritual platform. That is possible. The more you become purified, you can talk with Hrsikesa, who is within yourself. He is not outside. Although He in Goloka Vrndavana, Krsna is always in Vrndavana, in the spiritual world, but because He is Krsna, He can remain with you also at the same time, simultaneously. This is Krsna. Goloka eva nivasaty akhilatma-bhutah [Bs. 5.37].

goloka-namni nija-dhamni tale ca tasya
devi-mahesa-hari-dhamasu tesu tesu
te te prabhava-nicaya vihitas ca yena
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

It is proposed, our Mayapura temple will be on this plan. Goloka-namni nija-dhamni tale ca tasya [Bs. 5.43]. The highest planetary system, spiritual, that is spiritual planet, that is named goloka-namni, Goloka Vrndavana. We have given that picture in the Bhagavata cover. Perhaps you know. The topmost original planet is the Goloka. Goloka-namni nija-dhamni. That is the abode of Krsna. Krsna-dhama. Krsna-dhama. People are searching after God. But actually there is the planet where God lives, Krsna lives. But you have got your machine, aeroplane, sputnik. You can reach there, but you cannot reach even the highest planet, even on this material planet, material universe. Everyone sees. We see the stars or planets. Now you have got the machine; you go there. No. You cannot go. You are so limited. Even you cannot go to the moon planet, which is so nearest. You cannot go. But still, we are proud of our these airplanes, sputniks. We are thinking, "Now we have become God." These rascals they do not know what is God. They are all rascals. They have no idea what is God. Therefore they have accepted another rascal as God. This is going on. You cannot reach. Panthas tu koti-sata-vatsara-sampragamyo vayor athapi manaso muni-pungavanam, so 'pyasti yat prapada-simny avicintya-tattve [Bs. 5.34]. Sastra gives you. Just like your material science also gives you information that there is one planet, highest planet, and one can go there by sputnik in forty thousands of years. So who is going to live forty thousand years to reach there? But they have got theoretically all these things. The highest planet. Material. That is not spiritual.

So after finishing this material world, there is covering of the universe, stock matter, mahat-tattva, wherefrom all these material comings. There is stock. So you have to penetrate through that stock material. And each layer of stock is ten times more than the other. So you have to pierce through the stock, material stock; then you reach the spiritual world. And the spiritual world, there are many... "Many" means three times more than these universes. This universe, this material universe, is only one-fourth manifestation of Krsna's creation. Ekamsena sthito jagat. When Arjuna inquired from Krsna, "So would you kindly explain little of your opulence." "Yes." So He said, "I am this. Out of this, I am this." He summarized,

athava bahunaitena
kim jnatena tavarjuna
vistabhyaham idam krtsnam
ekamsena sthito jagat
 [Bg. 10.42]

Ekamsena. You are seeing this universe. This universe -- only a fragment of the material creation, a fragment. Caitanya Mahaprabhu informed us... One of His devotees requested Caitanya Mahaprabhu, "My dear Lord, You have come personally. You kindly take all the living entities to the spiritual world. Be kind enough upon them. And if you think that they are so sinful they cannot be taken, then transfer all their sins unto me. You take them. You take them." So Caitanya Mahaprabhu began to smile that "Even if I take the all the living entities of the universe, but do you know, this universe is only one fragmental part of other, all other universes. There are many other universes." And He compared that "In a bag where, bag full of mustard seeds..." Just imagine, a big bag of mustard seeds. "And this universe is just like one mustard seed." There are so many universes, so many universes. And it is confirmed in the Brahma-samhita: yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti [Bs. 5.40]. Jagad-anda. Jagad-anda means this universe. Brahmanda, jagad-anda. Koti, innumerable. Jagad-anda-koti. Yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti-kotisv asesa-vasudhadi-vibhuti-bhinnam [Bs. 5.40]. And each universe there are innumerable planets. And each planet is different from others. This is God's creation. And these rascals are manufacturing God. And there is other description also. Yasyaika-nisvasita-kalam athavalambya jivanti loma-vilaja jagad-anda-nathah [Bs. 5.48]. This jagad-anda, the universe. And there, in each universe, there is a controller of the universe, Brahma. He is called jagad-anda-natha, master of this universe. Because it is controlled by Brahma, therefore each universe is called brahmanda. It is controlled by Brahma. So in the Brahma-samhita we get information: jagad-anda-nathah, plural number. There are many, many thousands jagad-anda... Not only one Brahma. Many millions of Brahmas, many millions of Siva, many millions of Visnu, many millions of sun. Because there are many millions of universes. Now, just imagine. This is material creation. And that material creation, Krsna says, ekamsena sthito jagat [Bg. 10.42]. Taking all the material universes, it is only one-fourth creation of the Lord. And the three fourths creation is the spiritual world. Just imagine what is spiritual world. And in that spiritual, the topmost planet is Goloka.

So you cannot go even in the moon planet. How you can go to that spiritual planet penetrating the material coverings coming to the spiritual effulgence, Brahman, and after all these universes, then...? Therefore it is said, panthas tu koti-sata-vatsara-sampragamyah. Koti-sata-vatsara, millions of years, if you go with your sputnik with full force... Panthas tu koti-sata-vatsara. Not this sputnik, but make your planes of mind speed. This is material speed. What is this speed? A few thousands, twenty thousand, fifty thousand. But do you know mind speed? You are sitting here, and immediately, within a second, you can go to India. This is mind speed. Immediately. So panthas tu koti-sata-vatsara sampragamyo vayor athapi [Bs. 5.34]. By the air speed or mind speed. Vayor athapi manaso muni-pungavanam. And driven by great scientists, muni-pungava. Pungava means very expert, nara-pungava. So big, big scientists, expert scientists, if they can discover airplane which is running on mind speed or air speed... They are not, they cannot go by the air speed. They fly on the air, but not with the air speed. So in this way, still, avicintya-tattve, after going many, many millions of years in that speed, still you will find, "Oh, Goloka Vrndavana is far, far away." This is the position.

And we are explaining what is Krsna. Don't consider Krsna is ordinary human being. Avajananti mam mudha manusim tanum asritam [Bg. 9.11]. Because He kindly appears before us just like ordinary human being, don't think that He is like us. It is the conclusion. Just like these rascals, they think that "Because Krsna appeared as a human being, I am also God. I am also God. Why Krsna shall be alone God?" So we are trying to explain what is Krsna, Hrsikesa. Hrsikesa. Then goloka-namni. Goloka eva nivasaty akhilatma-bhutah. Goloka eva nivasati.

ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhavitabhis
tabhir ya eva nija-rupataya kalabhih
goloka eva nivasaty akhilatma-bhuto
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

 [Bs. 5.37]

So our worship is very simple. Tam aham bhajami. We worship that Govinda, adi-purusam. Govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami **. We don't worship ordinary so-called rascals. We worship Govinda. How Govinda is? The Govinda's description is Brahma-samhita. That Govinda, ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhavitabhih: "He is always in the spiritual world, which is ananda-cinmaya-rasa." Not this kind of ananda -- cinmayananda, spiritual bliss. Spiritual bliss means it is continually going on; still, nobody is fed up. Here you can accept any ananda in this material world, so many things. It cannot go on very long time. Suppose if I give you rasagulla, one rasagulla, you can take: "Oh, very nice." Another, "Very nice." Another, "Nice." Then next four or five, "No, I do not want." Finished. Similarly, any ananda you can take. Sex life. It cannot be continued. Finished. So try to understand what is cinmayananda. Ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibha... It, they'll never ends. It goes, nava-nava-yauvana, one after another, new, new, new, new. Just try to understand what is spiritual bliss. You do not... The sahajiyas, they accept this material bliss as spiritual bliss. That is called sahajiya. Don't be sahajiyas. Try to understand according to sastra.

So Krsna is described, this how He becomes Hrsikesa, that goloka eva nivasati. He is enjoying with His associates, the cowherds boys, the gopis, in goloka-namni nija-dhamni. He is enjoying there. At the same time, He is within your heart. This is Krsna, Hrsikesa. He's come simultaneously, not only within your heart, within the atom. Andantara-stha-paramanu-cayantara-stham govindam adi-purusam tam aham... [Bs. 5.35]. Not only within your heart, but within the atom. Just imagine. How many atoms there are. So Krsna is everywhere. These are..., we have to take information of Krsna from the sastra. Sastram eva caksusa (?). Vedanta-sutra. Your eyes should be sastra, not your so-called imagination. sastra-caksusa. Yah sastra-vidhim utsrjya vartate kama... If you give up the direction of the sastra and manufacture your own way, yah sastra-vidhim utsrjya vartate kama-karatah, as you like, then na sa siddhim avapnoti: you will never get siddhi, perfection, never get. Na sa siddhim avap..., na sukham, neither happiness. And what to speak of param gatim, going back to home, back to Godhead. So sastra-caksusa. Everything we have to take from the sastra. Because we are blind now. sastra-caksusa. Our, the sastra-jnana, because the spiritual master enlightens the disciple with sastra-jnana, therefore he is spiritual master. If the spiritual master bluffs the disciple, then he is not spiritual master. Bluffing. No.

om ajnana-timirandhasya
jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena
tasmai sri-guruve namah

[I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who with the torchlight of knowledge has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance.]

This is guru. Guru means he'll always enlighten the disciple with the light of sastra. Not that he will say, "There is no need of sastra. I am incarnation. I, whatever speak, you take it." No. This is rascal. You should immediately, who has no reference to the sastra, immediately take him as a rascal number one. This is the conclusion.

So here is sastra, Bhagavad-gita. Hrsikesa. We have already explained one day. Here also, again we are explaining. Hrsikesa. Krsna. Krsna is there. He never leaves from Vrndavana. He is there. Why? Here also. Just like we see, a very rich man, a very influential man, the president, he lives in his... The Queen, she is in the Buckingham Palace. But she cannot go at the same time anywhere and everywhere. No. She is in, packed up in Buckingham Palace. Krsna is not like that. Therefore He is Hrsikesa. Try to understand the distinction between Krsna and others. Krsna is goloka eva nivasaty akhilatma-bhutah [Bs. 5.37]. Atma-bhuta. This atma-bhuta is Hrsikesa. He is giving intelligence. The more you become purified, the more you get direct instruction from Hrsikesa. This is the point. So how you can become purified? Purified means no more influenced by the modes of material nature. That is explained: gudakesa. Gudaka isa. Gudaka means darkness, and isa. When you become master of this material world, or material senses. This material world means material senses. That's all. So if you become master of the material senses, then you become gudakesa. Therefore Arjuna is described here as gudakesa. Arjuna... Don't take Arjuna that he was mistaken. No, he cannot be. How he can be? He is constantly with Krsna. How he can be misdirected? No. That is not possible. In the Caitanya-caritamrta it is said that krsna surya-sama maya andhakara. So gudaka means darkness, maya. So krsna surya-sama maya andhakara. The darkness and light is there always, side by side. We have got experience. Here is sunlight, here is darkness. So these two things are there. So krsna surya-sama maya andhakara, yahan krsna tahan nahi mayara adhikara. Wherever there is Krsna, there is no jurisdiction of darkness or maya.

daivi hy esa gunamayi
mama maya duratyaya
mam eva ye prapadyante
mayam etam taranti te

 [Bg. 7.14]

You can become immediately out of the scope of maya if you always remain surrendered to Krsna. Maya will not touch you. Just like if you remain always in the sunshine, there is no question of night. Nowadays it is very easy. If you simply drive your plane on the western side, you'll never get night. You just round about. Yes. Just like it is materially possible. You drive your plane simply on the western side. Start your plane in the morning and go to the western side and don't stop it. You go on for three, four, as many days as you like. You'll never get night. This is practical. Similarly, if you keep always with Krsna, you are gudakesa, you will never get darkness. Or maya will not touch you. This is Krsna consciousness. So try to become Gudakesa.

The next verse. Krsna Hrsikesa. So He knew the sarvasya caham hrdi sannivistah. Krsna is there. Krsna knows what is your purpose, what you want to do, what is your past, future. Everything Krsna knows. Everything Krsna knows. That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Vedaham samatitani; "I know everything." So Krsna, sthapayitva, rathottamam sthapayitva. As soon as Arjuna asked Him, senayor ubhayor madhye ratham sthapaya me 'cyuta [Bg. 1.21], immediately He carried out the order and He knew why he wants. He wanted to see, "With whom I have to fight, my friends and relatives." He's hesitating. So why this ignorance of Arjuna, the question may be. Arjuna is gudakesa. He is above this material world. How he is being affected by his so-called relatives and kinsmen? He was hesitating to fight on this principle, that "They are my relatives. They are my kinsmen. They are my family members." He was always thinking. Therefore Krsna knew it. So he has become so family-wise infected. But he is gudakesa. How it is possible? He is above all these things. Yes, he is above all these things. By Krsna's desire, he is playing like that, ordinary man. Otherwise, how Bhagavad-gita will come? Krsna cannot talk with ordinary person. Krsna cannot fight with ordinary person. Even the demons, when they come, just like Hiranyaksa, Hiranyakasipu. They were Jaya-Vijaya in the Vaikuntha world. So they came here, and Krsna asked them, that "If you become My enemy, then within three births you will come back. And if you remain friend, then seven births." So they preferred, "Oh, I shall become Your enemy, Sir, so that I can come back again after three births." So why? That Krsna has all the propensities. Just like we sometimes want to fight, mock fight. So in the Vaikuntha world there cannot be any fight. So because Krsna wanted to exercise His fighting spirit, He sent His devotee. He became enemy and He fought. So you have to understand Krsna in that way, as Hrsikesa. He knows that unless Arjuna becomes affected family-wise, how Bhagavad-gita will be there? Therefore although Gudakesa, Arjuna, is above darkness, still, by the will of Krsna, Hrsikesa, he played just like ordinary man, affected with his family affection. Therefore Krsna in the next verse says... Uvaca. Krsna said, "My dear Partha, now you wanted to see with whom you have to fight. Now, here is Bhisma, Drona, and many other kings. All the descendants of Kuru dynasty, your Dhrtarastra's sons. Now you see very nicely and be prepared to fight with them." So this is the explanation of Hrsikesa and Gudakesa.

Thank you very much. (end)
 
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 1.24-25 -- London, July 20, 1973
© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International

Monday, June 24, 2013

Everywhere His Mystic Potency

Everywhere His Mystic Potency
Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 20.112
New York, July 20, 1976

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Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
 

Pradyumna: (chants verse, etc.)

visnu-saktih para prokta
ksetrajnakhya tatha para
avidya-karma-samjnanya
trtiya saktir isyate
 [Cc. Madhya 6.154]

"Translation: Originally, Krsna's energy is spiritual, and the energy known as the living entity is also spiritual. However, there is another energy, called illusion, which consists of fruitive activity. That is the Lord's third potency." [break]

Prabhupada: ...Bhagavan, the Supreme Absolute Truth, Visnu, all-pervading Personality of Godhead. So His potency... So His potency must be also spiritual. Just like the sun globe is reservoir of heat and light. Everyone will know. So His potency... The sun globe potency, sunshine, is also heat and light. It is not different from the sun. Sakti means potency. Sakti saktimat abheda. The potency of a certain person is nondifferent; there is no difference in quality. The same example, the sun and the sunshine. Sunshine is the potency of the sun, but the quality of the sun and the quality of the sunshine is the same, heat and light. So visnu-sakti, there are... According to the Vedic information, He has got many multifarious potencies. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. Different types of sakti. We can see different types of agency, er, what is called, energy, is working within this creation. Take for example the leaves of the tree. Some of them are green; some of them are red; some of them are yellow; some of them are mixed. Similarly fruits -- different tastes; flowers -- different flavor. Varieties. But wherefrom it is coming? The sunshine. The sunshine is the same, but it is acting in different way, so we see different manifestation. This is crude material example. Similarly, if we take the spiritual original, then the original is Krsna. Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, aham sarvasya prabhavah [Bg. 10.8]. It is not different from Krsna. Aham sarvasya. All these colored manifestation, it is coming from Krsna. Mattah sarvam pravartate: "Everything is coming from Me." So this understanding is real Krsna consciousness, when you understand that there is one only. Eka brahma dvitiya nasti. And Krsna is above Brahman. We have got a slight idea of Brahman, generally, but Krsna is Parambrahman. There are many millions of Brahmans, and above them, the Supreme Brahman is Krsna. Param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan [Bg. 10.12]. Arjuna admitted.

So Krsna sakti... Everything is Krsna's sakti, potency. There is no doubt about it. Aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate iti matva [Bg. 10.8]. Vasudevah sarvam iti [Bg. 7.19]. Vasudeva is everything. That is Krsna. But He's working in so many ways. So many ways. How it is working? That is stated in the Vedas: svabhaviki jnana-bala-kriya ca. He has got so unlimited potency that things are being done as if naturally, without any endeavor. But the background is Krsna. Just like we see one flower growing, very small flower. The stem is very fine, and the flower is decorated even in their different colors. But it is not ordinary thing. If you are a painter, if you paint such a flower, it will take so many days. But it is coming. But don't think simply that it has come automatically. No. There is no such thing as automatically. Same as you, when you paint a flower, you have to employ so much energy, so Krsna has also do that, the same energy. But it is because it is so natural for Krsna, svabhaviki jnana-bala-kriya ca. Simply by His willing, it is happening. So He hasn't got to endeavor for it. That is the difference between Krsna's activities and our activity, although we have got the tendency at least. Because we are part and parcel of Krsna, we have got the same quality. Ksetrajnakhya tatha para. Ksetrajna means living entities. They are also of the same potency. So then what is the difference? The difference is that the ksetrajna, the living entities, are prone to become under illusion. That is the difference. We are small, very small; therefore we are prone to be extinguished. Just like the fire and the fire spark. The spark, when it is out of the fire, it is extinguished. No more fiery quality. But so long it is playing with the fire, you'll find the nice brilliant sparks coming, now dancing. The quality is the same. Fire can burn, and the small spark, it falls down, it will burn your cloth. It is very small, but it will... It has become off, illusion. This is avidya. The same spark, when he's out of Krsna's touch, it is extinguished, avidya. Immediately he is covered by darkness, extinguished, his spiritual quality. Not finished -- at least stopped for the time. Spiritual quality cannot be finished because it is spiritual. Na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20]. The spiritual quality cannot be finished. It goes on. And on account of avidya, ignorance, it goes through another body, another body, transmigration of the soul. And unless he is again revived to his original consciousness, he has to go through that. He has to struggle for existence. He's trying to get his original position like Krsna's brilliant position, like the fire.

So this is called struggle for existence. Avidya-karma-samjnanya. They are trying to be happy. You'll find in the New York City, they are simply struggling. What is the aim? The aim is how to become happy. Somebody is drinking, somebody is gambling, somebody is going to the restaurant, somebody is going to the Times Square, and somebody is going here, there. Their real aim is how to become happy. But because in avidya, ignorant, they are unable to become happy. That is the position. Avidya-karma-samjna anya trtiya saktir. This avidya is illusion, illusion. Just like we are now enwrapped, covered with this body, and I am thinking I am this body. This is avidya. I am not this body. So again he has to brought to this knowledge, that "You are not this body. Because you wanted to dominate over the material nature, therefore you have got this material body. Because you wanted to eat stool, you have got this hog's body. Because you wanted this, jump over unnecessarily, creating trouble, you have become monkey. Because you wanted to drink fresh blood, you have got the body of a tiger." This is called avidya. He's not either tiger nor pig nor monkey nor this so-called human being, nor American, nor Indian. He's spirit soul. That knowledge one has to come. From that avidya, from ignorance, one has to come to the knowledge. Then his life will be successful.

So our Krsna consciousness movement is trying to bring back the human society, because it is not possible to bring back the monkeys and cats and dogs to Krsna consciousness. That is not possible. So those who are of the dog's mentality, cat's mentality, monkey mentality, it is difficult for them. They have to change their mentality by sat-sanga. This is called sat-sanga. Just like you are hearing from the sastra, and we are speaking from the sastra. This is called sat-sanga. Satam prasangan mama virya-samvido bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah kathah [SB 3.25.25]. By sat-sanga, by real spiritual association, by talking with them, by mixing with them-satam prasangan mama virya-samvido -- then we can learn about the unlimited potencies of Krsna. Mama virya-samvido bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah kathah. Then it becomes very pleasing to the heart and to the ear, by satam-prasangan. Otherwise it is not possible. If you go to a professional reciter, it will enter in this ear and go out this ear, that's all. Because there is no life; it is business. So you cannot do business with Krsna. Krsna is not agreeable to this proposal. He's master. You cannot utilize Him for your service. You must engage yourself to His service. That is wanted. Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. Then if we be in that attitude, that "Krsna is my master; I must serve Krsna. I shall not take Krsna an instrument to become my servant..." That is not possible, although it is said that catur-vidha bhajante mam sukrtino 'rjuna: "Four kinds of men," sukrtina, "whose background is pious, they come to Krsna." One who is impious, he cannot come.

na mam duskrtino mudhah
prapadyante naradhamah
mayayapahrta-jnana
asuram bhavam...
 [Bg. 7.15]

Why a few selected persons come here? Because it requires background of pious activities. Otherwise it is not possible. We do not expect that cent percent of people will become Krsna conscious. That is not possible. But if there is one ideal Krsna conscious person, he can do benefit to many thousands. Ekas candras tamo hanti na ca tarah sahasrasah. If there is one moon in the sky, he can illuminate the whole universe, na ca tarah sahasrasah, not these twinkling stars. It is not possible.

So people are suffering. Avidya-karma-samjnanya. Being enwrapped by avidya, illusion, they are struggling for existence. So Krsna personally comes Himself to deliver them. Paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam [Bg. 4.8]. That is His two businesses. So the Krsna conscious, Krsna's devotee, also take up the business of Krsna by this Krsna consciousness movement, and it will do good to him and as well as to the persons amongst whom he will preach. But preach. Don't manufacture preaching. Preach as it is in the sastra. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's instruction: yare dekha tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. You do not become a rascal guru yourself by manufacturing some imagination, "You do this. Give me some money and you become God, you become this, you become..." This rascaldom don't do. One thing you do. What is that? What is said by Krsna, you say. That's all. What is the difficulty? What Krsna has said, you say. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. These four things, that you just become a devotee of Krsna... How can I become devotee? Come to the temple, offer little obeisances, take prasadam. So what is the difficulty? If you say there is no difficulty... And if one comes, there is no difficulty. But they are so rascals, they will not come. We are giving so much facilities that "Come here, live in this nice building and hear about Krsna. Take prasadam, chant and dance, very happy life." But they'll become hog. They are preparing their life for that purpose. They'll become a dog next life. They prefer like that.

So therefore the Krsna consciousness movement is the topmost welfare activities in the world. People should try to understand it and join it and take advantage of it.

Thank you very much. (end)
 
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila 20.112 -- New York, July 20, 1976
© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

Monday, January 28, 2013

Who Is Punishable?

Who Is Punishable?
Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.39
San Francisco, July 20, 1975

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Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
 
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Nitai: What is the process of punishing others? Who are the actual candidates for punishment? Are all karmis engaged in fruitive activities punishable, or only some of them?

Prabhupada:

katham svid dhriyate dandah
kim vasya sthanam ipsitam
dandyah kim karinah sarve
aho svit katicin nrnam
 [SB 6.1.39]

So first question was, bruta dharmasya nas tattvam yac ca adharmasya laksanam. When there is some vicara, judgment, it must be done very nicely. A criminal is judged before the magistrate. He is taken just to make proper judgment, "Whether this man is punishable? He committed some criminal activities." The circumstances, the condition of the mind -- everything should be judged. This is called judgment. So who is punishable? Desa-kala-patra. There is consideration, desa-kala-patra. Desa means situation, and kala, time, and patra, and the subject. Just like a child, he takes one fruit here. So he is not punishable. According to Vedic system, a child, a woman, a brahmana, a cow and a saintly person, they are not punishable. Cow, woman, saintly person, brahmana and child -- they are beyond all laws. Even they commit some... They do not do. They have no criminal purpose. Formerly the women were trained up in such a way, very chaste and obedient. So they had no chance to commit any offense. And brahmanas, they are also trained up. Samo damah satyam saucam... (children making noise)

Sudama: Take the children out.

Bahulasva: All the children should go out.

Prabhupada: No, that's all right. (some devotees say "Jaya!" and applaud) So, children are not punishable. (laughter, more applause) Neither the women. (more applause, laughter) Hm. But don't take advantage. (laughter) And here we have got these brahmanas, saintly persons, women and children. So who is to be punished? (laughter) Yes. Katham svid dhriyate dandah. So the judge must know who is to be punished. That is judgment. Katham svid dhriyate dandah sthanam. Desa-kala-patra: according to time, according to circumstances, according to the subject, everything scrutinizingly judged, not whimsically. Nowadays it is the time for emergency. Anyone can be punished without any judgment. But this is not good position.

Then dandyah kim karinah sarve. Karinah means fruitive actors, those who are working for getting some profit. So sometimes with getting profit we make some undesirable activities which is called black market. So that is punishable. There are system... Of course, I cannot quote from where, but it is the system that a merchant, highest profit he can take for exchanging -- not more than twenty-five percent. That is the highest. If one merchant takes more than twenty-five percent profit, then he is punishable. This was the system. So the karinah... So we are all workers. So somebody is working for his personal profit, and somebody is working for the profit of Krsna. It appears almost similar. A ordinary man is selling some newspaper, and our man selling the magazine. It looks the similar thing, but it is not similar; it is different. Therefore, if a newspaper seller creates some disturbance on the street, the police can punish, but when one is selling Back to Godhead, he is not punishable. (laughter) This is the difference. But nowadays these rascals, they do not know whom to punish, whom not to punish. They take, "All right, you are selling Back to Godhead. You must come police custody." So our are not punishable although doing the same thing. This is judgment.

Then the animals, they are also working hard day and night for their necessities of life. But if an animal steals something from your house or takes some eatables, he is not punishable. India you will find in the bazaars. There is crowd, and the cows enter there, and they eat the vegetables to their heart's content. But he is not punishable. Still the cow is not punishable. But if a man takes one potato without the permission, he is punishable. So the animals are not punishable. All the lawbooks are meant for the men, for the human being, not for the animals. Just like in your country the police law is: "Keep to the right your car." But if a animal goes, keep to the left, it is not punishable. So everyone not punishable. Then again, human being, all of them, not punishable. Those who are criminals, those who have violated laws, they are punishable. So therefore this question is "Whether and how they are punishable? What is dharma, and what is adharma? So if you are representative of Yamaraja, then you explain to us first of all whether you are actually representative."

So the Yamaduta, they are also servant of very exalted personality, one of the authority. So they are not lacking in knowledge by the grace of their master. So the first thing they said, veda-pranihito dharmo hy adharmas tad-viparyayah. Dharma and adharma, religious principle and not religious principle, nonreligious principle -- how to discern. The book is there, Veda. We have to consult the Vedas. There are so many Vedic literatures: four Vedas, then Upanisad, 108 Upanisad, then philosophy, Vedanta-sutra, all summarized. Then explanation of Vedanta-sutra, or Srimad-Bhagavatam. Bhasyam brahma-sutranam **. Then there is Ramayana, there is Mahabharata, immense literature, full of Vedic literature. So one should try to understand this literature. They are meant for the human being. Veda-pranihito dharmah. If one wants to be religious... Religious means that is the beginning of human life. If one is not religious, then he is animal. Dharmena hinah pasubhih samanah. So in order to make a person perfectly religious, there are so many Vedic literatures. So who is taking care of it? Nobody is taking care of. Therefore, at the present moment, kalau sudra-sambhavah. Sudra means equal to the animal. Tulasi dasa has classified, dhol gunar sudra pasu nari, ihe sab sasan ke adhikari.(?) So women will be sorry, but he has classified in that way. Anyway... So nobody is taking care of the Vedic literature. Therefore they do not know what is right, what is wrong. Dharma, dharma means right and wrong.

But Bhagavad-gita is the essence of all Vedic literature. Sarva-gavopanisadam.(?) It is the essence of all Vedic literature. Therefore Krsna says... What is the purpose of Vedas? You may be very learned scholar in Vedas, then what you have learned, Vedanta? Vedanta means the last knowledge of Vedas. So Vedanta is, Krsna is explaining in the Bhagavad-gita, vedanta-krd vedanta-vid eva caham.

sarvasya caham hrdi sannivisto
mattah smrtir jnanam apohanam ca
vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyo
vedanta-krd veda-vid eva caham
 [Bg. 15.15]

So the summary is there. Krsna is sitting, sarvasya ca aham, hrdi, within the heart, sannivistah, "I am seated there." Isvarah sarva-bhutanam [Bg. 18.61]. And He is giving intelligence and forgetfulness. Why one is forgetful of Krsna, and why one is conscious of Krsna? That is also due to Krsna. One who has tried to forget Krsna -- then Krsna is giving him opportunity to forget Krsna. One who is trying to know Krsna, then Krsna is giving intelligence to know Krsna. This is the process. Krsna is there. If you want to know Krsna, then Krsna will give you intelligence how to know Him. If you want to forget Krsna, then He will give you, mislead you in such a way that you will forever forget Krsna. Sarvasya caham hrdi sannivistah [Bg. 15.15].

That is also explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Tan aham dvisatah kruran ksipamy ajasram andha-yonisu [Bg. 16.19]. Those who are asuras, demons, trying to defy the existence of God, Krsna, Krsna is putting him in such circumstances, in such family, in such society, in such community, in such country, that he will have no opportunity to know Krsna. Tan aham dvisa... Because he is envious of Krsna, wants to forget Krsna, so Krsna is putting him in such circumstances. And one who is little eager to know Krsna, then Krsna is giving the intelligence.

tesam satata-yuktanam
bhajatam priti-purvakam
dadami buddhi-yogam tam
yena mam upayanti te
 [Bg. 10.10]

Everything is said there. Tesam satata-yuktanam. Anyone who is twenty-four hours engaged in... How he is engaged? Bhajatam, simply for bhajana. Bhajana means worshiping, "How to worship Krsna?" Satata-yuktanam, and twenty-four hours anxious, "How to serve Krsna? How to serve Krsna?" To become mad after Krsna, such person... Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, sunyayitam jagat sarvam govinda-virahena me: "I see everything vacant being separated from Govinda." This is called love. So, of course, it is not possible to come to that position like Caitanya Mahaprabhu. That is maha-bhava, maha-bhava. It is not for any human being to come to that stage. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu has shown how to become mad after Krsna by His life when He was in Jagannatha Puri, Caitanya. At night He would go out and fall down on the sea or somewhere. Nobody knows. The door was closed, and still, He would get out and go, and, "Where is Krsna? Where is Krsna?" Then His assistants, secretaries, would go out and find out Him. So for eighteen years He was in that way in Jagannatha Puri. That is called maha-bhava.

So it is not possible for human being. But at least, not maha-bhava but bhava, that we can... Bhava. Tato bhavah. Adau sraddha tatah sadhu-sango 'tha bhajana-kriya tato 'nartha-nivrttih syat tato nistha rucis tatah, athasaktis tato bhavah [Cc. Madhya 23.14-15]. One can increase gradually to the stage of bhava. This bhava stage, that separation... Just like the Gosvamis, when they were in Vrndavana, they were feeling this bhava. He radhe vraja-devike ca lalite he nanda-suno kutah. And they were simply searching after in the Vrndavana forest. He radhe, "Radharani," vraja-devike, "all the gopis," he radhe vraja-devike ca lalite he nanda-suno: "O the son of Nanda Maharaja, Krsna." Kutah, "Where you are all?" This is bhava. "Where you are all?" Sri-govardhana-kalpa-padapa-tale kalindi-vane kutah: "Where you are? Are you near the Govardhana Hill or some forest on the bank of the Yamuna? Please let me know." Ghosantav iti sarvato vraja-pure khedair maha-vihvalau. In this way they were searching after Krsna, "Where is Krsna? Where is Krsna?" and crying, ghosantav iti maha-vihvalau, just like madmen. This is Krsna consciousness. This is the highest perfection of Krsna consciousness, when one will be mad after Krsna, "Where is Krsna? Where is Krsna? Where is Krsna?" That is... Caitanya Mahaprabhu also showed us that way. The Gosvamis also showed us that way.

Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura says that we must follow the Gosvamis and their servant. Ei chay gosai janr -- tanr mui das: "I am not going to be a servant of anyone. But a person who has taken the six Gosvamis as his master, I become his servant." Ei chay gosai janr -- tanr mui das. "Why I shall become anyone's dasa? But if somebody is the servant of the Gosvamis, then I become his servant." Ei chay gosai janr -- tanr mui das, tan-sabara pada-renu mora panca-gras: "Their dust of lotus feet, that is my food." This is... Narottama dasa Thakura says. Ei chay gosai jabe braje koila bas, radha-krsna-nitya-lila korila prakas. What is the business of Gosvamis? From Vrndavana they tried to broadcast the pastimes of Lord Krsna, Krsna and Radha. Ei chay gosai jabe braje koila bas. So we should follow that principle, that we should not be packed up. Sometimes we find in Vrndavana they say, "No, no, I have taken vow. I am not going out of Vrndavana." Of course, the Gosvamis did not get out of Vrndavana, but they preached. Nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma-samsthapakau. They were always engaged in writing books, nana-sastra, various sastra, scripture always studying, and taking essence of the sastra and presenting to the world people. Why? Sad-dharma-samsthapakau: just to establish real religious principle, nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau, with scrutinizing thinking over and giving to the people. This is Gosvamis' business. Nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma-samsthapakau. Why? Lokanam hita-karinau: for the benefit of the whole human society. Lokanam hita-karinau manyau saranyakarau. Therefore one should take shelter of the Gosvamis. That is Gosvami.

So here, veda-pranihita, the Veda. The Vedic literature, that is dharma, no manufacturing. Nowadays it has become a fashion. So Vedas, that is beginning. Millions, nobody can give any description, since when the Vedas are coming down by the parampara system. But after this Vedic period, so many religious system has come out. Up to five thousand years before, the Vedas were accepted all over the world, Vedic civilization. Then later on, gradually, they, the Christianity has come, the Muhammadanism, Islamism has come, Buddhism come, and now there are so many other, this samaja, that samaja, this religion, this religion, this religion. Because that means people are getting out of the touch of the Vedic civilization. So this Krsna consciousness movement means we are trying again to bring them to this Vedic civilization. Here it is stated, veda-pranihito dharmah. If you take to the Vedic principles of life, then you become religious. And what is that Vedic principle? Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah [Bg. 15.15]. Krsna says, "Vedic principle means to know Me, Krsna." Vedais ca sarvaih. Veda-pranihito dharmah. And what is Veda? Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah. So... "But there is Vedanta?" Yes. Vedanta-krd vedanta-vid aham: "I am the compiler of Vedanta, and I know what is Vedanta." So whatever Krsna says, that is Vedanta. And other so-called Vedantists, they are nonsense. They do not know what is Vedanta. Here is. Krsna says, vedanta-vit: "I know what is Vedanta." "Why You know?" Vedanta-krt: "I have compiled Vedanta." In the incarnation of Vyasadeva, Vyasadeva incarnation, Krsna-dvaipayana Vyasa... Maha-muni-krte. Maha-muni, the great sage, Vyasadeva, is incarnation of Krsna. So he has compiled Vedanta-sutra. Therefore he knows what is Vedanta. And because Vedanta is being misinterpreted by the rascals, therefore Vyasadeva personally has commented on Vedanta-sutra by writing Srimad-Bhagavatam. Therefore he begins Srimad-Bhagavatam with the first aphorism of Vedanta, janmady asya yatah anvayad itaratas ca arthesu abhijnah sva-rat [SB 1.1.1].

So this Krsna consciousness movement is Vedic movement, authorized. Veda-pranihito dharmah. If one becomes Krsna conscious, then he knows what is dharma and what is adharma. He knows who is punishable, who is not punishable. In this way, if you follow the principles of Krsna consciousness... It is in a different way. Not different way; Krsna name is there. When I registered this association, many friends requested me that "Why you are, nomenclature, this 'Krsna'? Make it 'God consciousness.' " And "No." As soon as I give "God consciousness," all the rascals will bring so many false God. Therefore it must be definitely stated, "Krsna consciousness." So try to follow Krsna consciousness movement. Then you will be situated in the Vedic civilization, and you will know everything properly. Kasmin tu bhagavo vijnate sarvam idam vijnatam bhavati. If you understand Krsna, then you understand everything. This is Krsna consciousness.

Thank you very much. (end)
 
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.39 -- San Francisco, July 20, 1975
© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

"Why The Lord And His Representative Descend"

66/07/20 New York, Bhagavad-gita 4.6-8


Prabhupada:

ajo 'pi sann avyayatma
bhutanam isvaro 'pi san
prakrtim svam adhisthaya
sambhavamy atma-mayaya
[Bg. 4.6]

Now, Lord Sri Krsna is describing how He incarnates Himself for the benefit of conditioned souls in the material world. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, He descends. The Sanskrit word is avatara. Avatara. Avatara, avatara. Avatara means who comes from higher plane down to this material world. He's called avatara. So sometimes Lord Sri Krsna comes Himself and sometimes He sends His representative also, for deliverance of the conditioned souls.

Now, now the principal religions of the world -- Hindu religion, Muslim religion, Christian religion, and Buddha religion -- most of them believes some supreme authority or personality coming down from the kingdom of God. Just like in your Christian religion Lord Jesus Christ, he claimed to be the son of God and coming from the kingdom of God to reclaim you. So this claim of Lord Jesus Christ, we admit. We, the followers of Bhagavad-gita, we admit this claim. So there is no difference of opinion between the followers of Hindu religion and Christian religion. In details there may be, according to country, climate and people, in details there may be difference, but that does not make any material difference.

So far devotional service is concerned, now, there are several items for offering devotional service to the Lord. They are called

sravanam kirtanam visnoh
smaranam pada-sevanam
arcanam vandanam dasyam
sakhyam atma-nivedanam
[SB 7.5.23]

These are nine. Now, here, in this room, we are performing the process of sravanam and kirtanam. Just like we chanted

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

[My dear Lord, and the spiritual energy of the Lord, kindly engage me in Your service. I am now embarrassed with this material service. Please engage me in Your service.]

This is reciprocation of sravanam and kirtanam, hearing and chanting, that I chanted, you heard, and you chanted, I heard. Reciprocation. So this is, these two methods are the first method in devotional service. Sravanam kirtanam. And, and what about hearing and chanting? Now, Visnu. Visnu means the Supreme Lord. Visnu. Not any other thing. If we make chanting and hearing in some other subject matter, no, that will not do. We have to hear and chant about Visnu, the Supreme Lord.

Similarly, sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam. Meditation, if you meditate upon the Supreme Lord, that is also bhakti, devotional service. Smaranam. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam arcanam [SB 7.5.23]. Arcanam, temple worship. You, in your country there is no temple worship. In our India there is temple. There are thousands and thousands of temples in India. And in Vrndavana, where my residential quarter is, Vrndavana... It is a small city, about fifty thousand people living there. But you'll be surprised to know, there are five thousand temples. For fifty thousand people, there are five thousand temples, in one small city. And out of that, there are about dozen very big temples. Very... Just like fort. Very big temples. So temple worship is very popular in India. Similarly, you have got your churches here.

That is vandanam. Vandanam. Vandanam means offering prayers. You also offer prayer to the Supreme Lord. So that is also accepted as devotional service. Muslims also, they go to the Mosque and offer prayers to Allah. So practically... And in Buddhism... Lord Buddha is accepted as incarnation of Krsna in Srimad-Bhagavatam. So we also, Hindus, we worship Lord Buddha as incarnation of God. There is a very nice verse recited by one great poet, Vaisnava poet. You'll be glad to hear. I'll recite it.

nindasi yajna-vidher ahaha sruti-jatam
sadaya-hrdaya darsita-pasu-ghatam
kesava dhrta-buddha-sarira
jaya jagadisa hare jaya jagadisa hare

The purport of this verse is "O Lord Krsna, You have assumed the form of Lord Buddha, taking compassion on the poor animals." Because Lord Buddha's preaching was to stop animal killing. Ahimsa, nonviolence. His main objective was to stop animal killing.

So similarly, the, from higher kingdom, I mean to say, kingdom of God... There is a, exactly the kingdom of God. We have got this information from this Bhagavad-gita. Paras tasmat tu bhavo 'nyah [Bg. 8.20]. Anya. There is another nature, another nature. Just like you have got a vision of this nature. You find this wall in the sky, blue. Beyond this sky, millions and millions miles away, there is another sky. Paras tasmat, anya. Anya, there is another nature, which is called sanatana. You'll find in this Bhagavad-gita, as you make progress. That is called sanatana nature. Sanatana means that nature never annihilates. This nature, this material nature, it is manifested at a certain time, and it remains for a certain period, and then the whole thing is dissolved again. Bhutva bhutva praliyate [Bg. 8.19]. It is manifested and again dissolved, and in, in the spiritual sky. That is the function of this material nature, there is another nature, superior nature, which is called the kingdom of God, sanatana, eternal. Yes. So from that eternal nature all these, either God or representative of God, or incarnation of God, they come down. At times. When there is necessity...

Just like the other day I explained to you, just like there is scheduled time of the appearance of the sun. In your America, just like at 4:30 a.m. in the morning, you find the sun rising, scheduled time, and again, twenty-four hours after, you'll find the sun set, sun rising. In every country, there is a scheduled time of the sun rising. Similarly, there are innumerable universes in the sky. This is one of the universe, which we are seeing. There are innumerable universes. So in one of the universes, there is some incarnation or representative of God always there. And there is scheduled time.

Just like the sun appears and disappears at scheduled... Sun disappears means it goes out of our sight. It does not mean sun, sun, I mean to say, stops to exist. No. Sun is always in the sky. It is simply in our vision. Just like so many cars are passing. One car is coming. You do not see which car is coming. When it is in my front, I see the car, and again, when it is gone out of my sight, I don't see it. So my don't seeing, because I do not see the car, that does not mean it is not there.

Similarly, the incarnation of God, God Himself or His representative, son, any... Because... Just like, if we have to do some business seriously, we send our very responsible man to transact, similarly, for the deliverance of the fallen souls here in this material world, sometimes the Supreme Lord Krsna comes, sometimes sends His very confidential and representative to reclaim. The mission is the same. The mission is the same, to reclaim the fallen souls. To reclaim the fallen souls.

God is very compassionate to see our miseries here. We do not know. We do not... We have forgotten what sort... Although we are in miseries, we have, we are trying to adjust the miseries. We are trying to adjust the miseries. But we, we are part and parcel of the Supreme Lord. Therefore we are not meant for all these miseries. We must know it. We are not meant for all these miseries. But we have voluntarily accepted these material miseries.

And what are these miseries? They are called adhyatmika, adhibhautika and adhidaivika. Adhyatmika means miseries pertaining to this body and mind. Just like today we are feeling too hot. Why? Due to this body. And next moment I shall feel not very happy. My mind is disturbed. So there are miseries due to this body and due to the mind. This is called adhyatmika. And then again, adhibhautika. Adhibhautika. Some other living entity. Just like here, you are hearing the barking of the dog, "Gow! Gow!" always. So it is sometimes disturbing. So such kind of miseries offered by other living being is called adhibhautika. We have got so many miseries. And then adhidaivika. Daivika means miseries offered by the supernatural power. Just like there is earthquake, famine, pestilence, war. So we are always... There are three headings of miseries, and we are, either we are suffering either from the three all, or at least one. There must be. This is the nature of our life in this material existence. But we are trying to make a solution of it. That is our struggle for existence. But that solution cannot be made by our teeny brain. That solution can be made only when we take to the shelter of Krsna, the Supreme Lord.

Therefore the Lord comes Himself just to convince us that "This is not your real life. This material existence, you are suffering. Why you should suffer? You are My sons." Just like Lord Jesus Christ, he also told that "I am the son of God." He's happy. So everyone, you can become similarly happy as soon as you are reinstated in your position. The whole Bhagavad-gita is meant for convincing me, I mean to say, conditioned souls. We are conditioned. Just like, just like under awkward circumstances we are always, always conditioned life. We are not free. Some condition is there, either state condition or nature's condition or condition left by other living entity or condition laid down by my own body. So we are always in condition.

So Lord says, Krsna says, ajo 'pi sann avyayatma: "Although I have no business to come down here, and I am eternal..." Both of us are, the Lord and the living ent..., we are, both of us are eternal. Bhutanam isvaro 'pi san. Isvara. Why He comes? When Lord comes, He comes out of His good will. And when we come, we are forced. We have been forced to accept this body under the condition of the material nature. So when Lord comes or His representative comes, they do not accept the condition of the material nature. That is the distinction between ordinary living entity and the Supreme Lord or His representative. Just like Lord Jesus Christ was crucified. So he could not be crucified. It is a, I mean to say, false notion. There was, there was resurrection. Because God or God's representative, they are not under the laws of this material nature. That's a very, I mean to say, wide subject matter. We shall gradually understand as we make progress in the Bhagavad-gita. So Krsna says that "Although I am the Lord of everything, still, I assume this incarnation and I come. I come."

Prakrtim svam adhi... The difference is that prakrtim svam adhisthaya. Prakrti. Prakrti means nature. Now, we have got this body offered by the material nature. In the Seventh Chapter you'll find that God has two kinds of nature. One is called lower nature. One is called the lower nature and the other is called the higher nature. That thing will be very nicely analyzed in the Seventh Chapter, when we go to the Seventh Chapter. Now we are in the beginning of the Fourth Chapter. So the Lord has two kinds of nature. One is called lower nature, another is called higher nature, or superior nature or, I mean to say, inferior nature. This nature, this material nature, is inferior nature. And beyond this inferior nature, there is superior nature. And how superior, inferior is calculated?

Now yayedam dharyate jagat, jiva-bhutam maha-baho [Bg. 7.5]. You'll find. It is analyzed like this, that all this material nature -- I mean to say, earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and ego -- these eight, these eight kinds of material nature, they are, and they have been described as apara. Apara means inferior. And beyond this eight nature, there is another ninth nature. And which is that? Now, jiva-bhutam maha-baho: these living entities. That is the living force. The living force, that is superior nature and this matter is inferior nature. And the whole world is moving due to the superior nature, not the material, inferior nature.

Just like this tape recorder... There was some difficulty in running on. So as soon as some superior nature, some living entity comes and touches it, it goes on. Although the machine is all right, so unless there is touch of the superior nature, it cannot work. You have manufactured many wonderful machines. You have manufactured the sputnik, flying in the outer space, but do you know that, in spite of all wonderful mechanical arrangement of sputnik or any machine, can it go on without any touch of a man? No. Unless the man in the laboratory touches the switch of electronic machine, oh, the sputnik cannot fly in the space. That is not possible. Therefore however wonderful may be the sputnik machine, unless there is touch of the living force, it cannot go on. That is the distinction between superior nature and the inferior nature. You can understand.

Now, we are now in contact with inferior nature. That is our conditional life. We are also su... Actually, as spirit soul, we belong to the superior nature. Just like God is superior nature. Prakrtim svam adhisthaya. The Lord says that "I come down, I incarnate Myself in My superior nature." Svam adhisthaya. But what is our position? Although we belong to the superior nature, we have come to this material world not in superior nature, but we are in contact with the inferior nature. Therefore death takes place. Our birth and death is due to this body. The body is subject to be annihilation at a certain period, and that we accept as death. And similarly, when we accept another body and come out of the mother's womb to work here, then we call it birth. And when we give up that body and go to another to take another body, that we call death. So this birth and death is due to this inferior nature.

So here Lord Krsna says that "When I come, I do not come in this inferior nature." It will be a great mistake if somebody thinks that Krsna, or Krsna's representative... Just like bona fide representative, Jesus Christ or other great, I mean to say, leaders of the religious faiths, they do not come with the inferior nature. They come with the superior nature of God. That we have to accept. If we have to accept the truth explained in the Bhagavad-gita, then we must accept that, that God and His representative, they do not come, who come directly from the kingdom of God, they do not come, accepting this inferior nature.

Now the question may be "Why God and His representative do come? They are in superior nature. They are in the eternal kingdom. Why do they bother themselves to come here? Why do they bother themselves to come here?" This question may be raised. As soon as we hear that God and His representative come, so next question: "Why do they come?" Because we are, we do not know that they come to reclaim us. Therefore our question is "Why do they come?" Now, here the answer is

yada yada hi dharmasya
glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya
tadatmanam srjamy aham
[Bg. 4.7]
paritranaya sadhunam
vinasaya ca duskrtam
dharma-samsthapanarthaya
sambhavami yuge yuge
[Bg. 4.8]

Now, this is the mission, mission of the Lord and His representative. What is that mission? Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati: "Whenever there is decline of the principle of life."

Now, it is, it is here stated, dharma. Dharma is translated in English as religion, but religion is meant just like a kind of faith. Just like "I am Hindu." "I am Hindu" means I have got faith in the Hindu system of religious functions. You are Christian. That means you have faith in the Christian system of religious functions. So religion, so far English dictionary is concerned, it is described as a matter of faith. But the word dharma, it is not exactly the same meaning, faith. Faith you may change. Suppose I am Hindu today. Now I can invest tomorrow in Christian religion. Or you are Christian. You can become a Hindu. There are so many changes. People are free to accept one faith and give up another faith. That is going on. But dharma does not mean that faith which can be changed. Dharma is a thing which cannot be changed. That means there is something in you, in me and everyone... That is called dharma. That is called... That cannot be changed. And what is that? This is a very fine analysis of human nature.

Now, if you analyze the human nature, you'll find that one thing there is which is called "rendering of service to others." Suppose I am a Hindu. Now I am doing something. I am rendering my service to my family, to my country, to my boss, or to others. Without rendering service, nobody can exist. We are all exchanging simply service. I am rendering service to somebody. Somebody's rendering service to me. So whole world is existing under this system, rendering service. Your President Johnson, he's supposed to be the chief man of your state, but still, he's rendering service. What he is doing? He's rendering service to the people. So he has the same business, as you are rendering service to your boss, and taking some money, then again with the money you are serving your family. So this is, this service... Suppose I am now Hindu. I become a Christian or Muhammadan. That, my real business of rendering service, does not change. So dharma means which you cannot change.

Just like... There are many examples in natural objects. Just like water. Water is liquid. It is not a faith. It is a fact. Water is liquid. You cannot say that water is liquid. If he changes his faith, then he can, it can become solid. No. Liquidity of water cannot be changed. Whenever there is conception, water, if I am blind, so... Suppose somebody gives me, "Take here a glass of water," I know it is liquid. So as the liquidity of water cannot be changed. Now, as soon as you speak of fire, so we understand fire is hot. Now, if you, if you... Can you change that fire becomes cold and still it is fire? No. As... So long it is fire, it is hot. So long it is water, it is liquid. Similarly, everything you analyze. Take for example chili. Chili, red pepper. Oh, it is very hot. Now, when you take chili from the market you see how much, what is the degree of its hotness. If it is very hot, oh, it is very good chili. If you find a chili sweet like sugar, oh, you'll reject it. "Oh, this is not good." Because that is the religion of the chili, to become very hot. Similarly, sugar. If you take sugar, if it is very hot, "It is nonsense. I want sweet."

So in everything, if you analyze, you'll find some particular quality. That is his religion. That is his religion. So we are living entities. Forget yourself. Forget yourself that you are Christian, "I am Hindu," or Muslim, or Mussalman, or Buddhist. Forget yourself! "I am living entity." When we come to this point, that is called liberation. That is called liberation. Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. When we become free from all these designations, that is called liberation. Liberation means nothing more, the conception of getting free from these designations which we have acquired from the association of material nature.

That is called designation. Because I have got a particular body, therefore I have got so many designations. I call myself a man, or animal, or I have got some name, given by my parents. Or because I am born in some particular country I designate myself to belong to that country, and because I accept some particular faith, so I designate myself to that faith. In so many ways we are now designated. This designation should be given up. When designations are given up, then we are free, pure soul. In that pure soul the religion is to serve the Supreme.

Just like the, in a machine, you'll find, a big machine, there are thousands of parts in the machine, but these small parts, they are all giving service to the whole machine. Just like your body. Your body is a machine. So you have got your finger. Now, what is the, what is the function of the finger? What is the religion of the finger? The religion of the finger is to give service to the body. Just like I am giving service this way, this way, and serve this way. So this part of this body is meant for giving service to the whole body. Similarly, we are part and parcel of the Supreme.

So our business is to give service. That's all. That service is now being rendered, actually. We are also serving now, but serving in designation. That's all. I am serving... I am serving. I am not a master here. That is foolishness. Just like I told you. Even the President Johnson, he's not a master. He's also a servant. Every one of us is a servant. But what kind of servant?

"Oh, I am servant of my wife. I am servant of my family. I am servant of my country. I am servant of my society." And if there is nothing, then "I am servant of my cat and servant of my dog and servant of my..." So many things. If anybody... I see in, in, in your country, there are so many gentlemen, they are very fond of becoming servant of cats and dogs. They have no children, but they voluntarily become servant of cats and dogs. Because that attitude is there, you cannot avoid it. If you have nothing to serve, your wife, your children, then you have to catch some cat and dog and give service. That is your nature. You cannot avoid it. So that is your religion, to serve.

Now, our whole thing is to serve the Supreme. Then that's... Now, our designated service... We are now in designated service. That means we, because due to these material bodies, we have manufactured so many service. Service, we cannot... Just like the water cannot be more than a liquid thing, similarly, we cannot be more than a servant, but because we have got so many designation, our service is being rendered in designation. That is the difference. Now, when we become free from the designation and we come to our senses and render service to the Lord, that is our position of freedom, real position. Real position.

So here Lord says, yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati [Bg. 4.7]. Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati means that whenever there is some discrepancy in the modes of rendering service of the living entity... Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati. Dharmasya means... I have explained to you. Dharmasya means my real nature. Dharma means my real nature. Dharma is not a faith. Dharma is not a designated faith. Dharma is my real nature. So when the real nature of the living entities are jeopardized, then, at that time, to make the adjustment, the Lord comes. Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati. And abhyutthanam, whenever there is discrepancy in the natural sequence and natural life of the human being, and there is artificial increase of sense gratification, at that time, when there is too much sense gratification...

Just like Lord Buddha. When did he appear? He appeared... He appeared in India. The condition of his appearance, perhaps you know. I shall still explain. When India was too much busy in animal slaughter. Of course, the Hindus, they, there are Vedic principles, animal slaughtering. They are... Just like in Muhammadans also, they have got some principle for animal slaughtering. You know, those who have read Koran, the Muhammadan religion allows animal slaughtering once in a year. It is called koravani. And they can slaughter animals in the mosque. Similarly, in the Vedic religion also, the animals are allowed to be slaughtered in some sacrifice. But no religion, either Muhammadan or Hindu... I do not [know] in detail of your Christian religion, but they do not allow animal slaughter in the slaughter house. There are some particular rules and regulations. Anyway, that is a religious details.
But when India was too much addicted for animal slaughtering under the plea of Vedic sacrifice, the Lord Buddha appeared. Why? They misused the Vedic injunctions. They misused the injunctions of the Vedas. So he, he proclaimed, "No, this animal slaughter should be stopped." He did, he did not agree even with the Vedic injunction. Therefore Lord Buddha's preaching was not accepted. It was... Once it was accepted, whole of India accepted. Under the king, under the Emperor Asoka, the whole of India became Buddhist. But later on, Sankaracarya appeared and he made against them, Vedantists. So India, Buddhist religion from India was practically banished. So these are historical facts.

The real fact is that as soon as the natural sequence of living entities is jeopardized, at that time, non-religious principle, unnatural life, becomes prominent and people become embarrassed. At that time, the incarnation of Lord is, I mean to say, appeared. Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata: [Bg. 4.7] "Whenever there is discrepancy in the natural life..." Like I explained to you. Religion means the natural sequence of life. When there is some discrepancy in that natural sequence of life and there is artificial way of life, at that time, the Lord or His representative comes, either as incarnation or the representative of God. That is the rule. Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata. And abhyutthanam adharmasya. Unnatural life, when they are too much addicted to unnatural life, at that time the Lord takes His appearance. Why? It is necessary. It is necessary.

Paritranaya sadhunam [Bg. 4.8]. Always, you'll know, there is always a class of men who are always God-fearing. There may be the percentage of such persons very small. But you'll find. That is the way of nature. There will be some percentage who are devoted to God. They are called sadhu. Sadhu. Sadhu. Sadhu means... Sadhu's description is there. Sadhu means sage, or saint. Who is a saint? Who is a sadhu. That description is given. Titiksavah karunikah.

titiksavah karunikah
suhrdah sarva-dehinam
ajata-satravah santah
sadhavah sadhu-bhusanah
[SB 3.25.21]

This is the definition of sadhu. Saint, who is a saint? A saint is called who is very tolerant, tolerant, tolerant to the utmost.

You have got very good example of Lord Jesus Christ, a great saint, or sadhu also. He was, of course, more than sadhu. Now, just see his behavior, how much tolerant he was. He was being crucified and he was praying God, "O Lord, forgive these people, what they are doing." That, this is the significance of sadhu. Titiksavah karunikah. For their personal sake, they're always very tolerant, but they are very kind to all people, all living entities, very kind. In spite of their all disadvantages, they try to give something, real knowledge, to the people in general. Karunikah. And suhrdah sarva-dehinam. And a sadhu is not a friend of a particular class, particular community or particular country. No. A sadhu, a saint, is he who is friend of all, not only of human being, even of animals and less than animals. These are the qualification of sadhu. Ajata-satravah.

And they have no enemies. Or they are not anyone's enemy. Everyone's friend. Enemy, of course, even the greatest man, you will find some enemy. This is the nature of this world. Even the most perfect man will have some enemy. So that is different thing. But the sadhu, the saint, is no, no one's enemy. He's friend of everyone. Titiksavah karunikah suhrdah sarva-dehinam, ajata-satravah santah [SB 3.25.21]. Ajata... They are nobody's enemy, and santa, always peaceful. These are the qualifications of sadhu.

Now, here the Lord says that "I come, or My representative comes..." Why? Paritranaya sadhunam [Bg. 4.8]. Sadhunam. The Lord is very much anxious for the saintly persons. Who have sacrificed everything for the service of the Lord, they are very, very dear to the Lord.

Lord cannot tolerate any insult, or any, I mean to say, misbehave to a sadhu. Although sadhu, they do not, I mean to say, mind if they are insulted, they do not mind, but the Lord will never tolerate if a sadhu is... Just like a small boy, your child, if somebody slaps him in the street... That boy may excuse, "Oh, all right," but his father and mother will never tolerate. "Why you have slapped my son?" That is the nature. Similarly, the sadhu, who is a great devotee of the Lord, they might be tolerant. You can crucify him, can do any misbehavior to him. He's never angry. But God will never tolerate. We must always remember that. He has got special protection, special vision, on the sadhu.

You'll find in the Bhagavad-gita that, that... Samo 'ham sarva... Samo 'ham sarva-bhutesu na me dvesyo 'sti na priyah. The Lord says, "I am equal to everyone." Otherwise, how He can be God. He is equal to everyone. Yes. "I am equal to everyone. Nobody's My enemy and nobody's My friend." Samo 'ham sarva-bhutesu na me dvesyo 'sti na priyah: "Nobody's My enemy. Nobody's My friend. I am equal to everyone." But ye tu bhajanti mam bhaktya tesu te mayi: "But anyone who is devoted to Me, oh, I have got particular attention for him." Although He's neutral, still, the person who is devotee, who's always thinking of Krsna, Krsna consciousness, oh, there is a special protection, special. Therefore Lord Krsna declares... You'll find in the Bhagavad-gita, kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah pranasyati: [Bg. 9.31] "My dear Kaunteya, Arjuna, you can declare it in the, to the world that My devotee will be never vanquished, never be vanquished."

So here the same thing is said, that what is the mission of Lord, why does He come down. Now, that is explained here. He says, paritranaya sadhunam: "I come down, I incarnate Myself, or I send My representative only for the protection of the saintly persons, sages." And vinasaya ca duskrtam. Duskrtam: "Of those who are miscreants, just to finish them." Lord Krsna's mission, this was two things. Paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam [Bg. 4.8]. He wanted to establish Arjuna, the five brothers, the most pious, I mean, devotees and ksatriyas, He wanted to establish them for ruling over this world, and He wanted to vanquish the party of Duryodana. That was His mission. Two things. Paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam, duskrtam, dharma-samsthapanarthaya.

And another mission is to establish what is real religion, what is religion. In the name of religion, so many things are going on, but the real religion is that we must know that our natural function is to render service to the Lord. That's all. That is real religion. And forgetting this, forgetting this principle of life, under designation of this matter, I am serving, giving my service to so many things. That, my, because I am naturally...

Now, just like you take the knife. Now, what is the function of knife? Knife's function is to cut. You can cut a pencil and you can cut your throat. The function of the knife is nothing, but when you cut a throat, then the knife becomes polluted, but when you... (drunk talking and whistling in background) When you... (drunk goes on talking and whistling) Don't disturb. Sit down.

Similarly, the function, the function of the living entity, the original, natural function is to render service. And when the service is misused, it is rendered where we, where the service should not be rendered, when it is misused, that is called dharmasya glanih. That means discrepancies in the natural function of human life.

So when Lord comes, He has three functions. He gives protection to the saintly persons. He vanquishes the, I mean to say, irresponsible or irreligious or demonic persons, and He establishes the real religion, real religion. Dharma-samsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge. He comes down not only once, but He comes down many, many times, many, many times. Because the, this material world is such.

Now, suppose an adjustment is made, again, after some time, it will deteriorate. Just like there was first war. There was some armistice and some arrangement of peace, arrangement was made between Germany and the other party. So again the second war took place. And again, preparation is going on for a third war. So this is, world is like that. Even if you make a very good arrangement, it will gradually deteriorate. This is, this is the function of the time, kala. Just like you, you build up a very nice house. Then, after fifty years, it deteriorates. And after hundred years, it more deteriorates.

Take, take for example your body. When it was newly born, when I was a child, oh, very new, good-looking child. Everyone is kissing and everyone is working. Now I am becoming old and nobody cares. You see? So this is the function of this material nature. Even if you make a very good adjustment, gradually it will glide down to the lowest status. Therefore it requires a periodical adjustment. For that reason, the Supreme Lord or His representative comes.

That is explained here that paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam: [Bg. 4.8] "For protecting the saintly persons and for vanquishing the," I mean to say, "unfaithful unbelievers and for establishing real function of the living entities," dharma-samsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge, "I come down, not only once, but many times, in many millenniums," and that is the function of Lord Krsna.

Thank you very much. Now you can ask any questions. [break]

...render service to the Supreme Lord without any expectation of material gain, that is our real, liberated position, real position.

sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam
tat-paratvena nirmalam
hrsikena hrsikesa-
sevanam bhaktir ucyate
[Cc. Madhya 19.170]

Because we are now designated, therefore in, in exchange of our service, we expect some profit. But when we shall be liberated, when we shall be pure soul, then there is no question of exchange. It is a service of love.

Just like mother. There are some good examples in the material world, world, like the father and mother render service to the son. Just like here immediately you see the father is taking his son in a perambulator. It is rendering service. But there is no remuneration. It is duty. Because the father is expected to serve. Otherwise, the son will not survive. So this is a service of love. Similarly, even in this material, this service of love, there is a question of gain. Because sometimes the father thinks that "When the son will be grown up, I'll be happy, I'll get some remuneration," like that... There is some prospect. But actually, when we render service to the Supreme, there is not a single idea like that, "I shall be rewarded by..."

But it, that kind of service, is rewarded very highly. Very highly. The relation, the natural relation between God and ourself, is so sweet that a pure living entity is always trying to render service to the Lord without any material profit and the Lord is trying to serve the devotee. He's also finding out the opportunity, how to serve His devotee. So this is spiritual exchange of love. But that will be experienced when we are actually liberated from these designation, designated life. But we can begin, even in this designated life, we can begin just like an apprentice, this devotional service...

And the beginning is to devote some time. You have got twenty-four hours time. You can find out, you can pick up at least one hour, two hours, three hours, four hours. As much as you can, you devote yourself to this service of chanting Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, and then gradually you'll be free, free from the designation, and you'll realize yourself what you are and what is your position, and how you are making progress.

So this is the beginning. We are originally, our function is to render service, and where the service is to be rendered? To the Supreme. That is our natural position. Now, under designation, we are rendering the same service to so many things. That function is already there. Because... Just like the water. Water is liquid always, either black water, or green water or yellow water, or white water, it is always liquid. Because the water has become black, it does not mean the liquidity is lost. Similarly, because we are now in contact with material designation, so our services atti..., service attitude is not lost. That is there. But it is being rendered in a different way. So we have to clear out the pure water out of all designations, and...

Just like Arjuna. Arjuna, he was under the impression of this material existence. Therefore he refused to render service to the Lord. Lord Krsna wanted that he should fight. He refused, "No, I am not going to fight." But when he understood his position by, by the instruction of Bhagavad-gita, he agreed, "Yes, I shall fight." So this is spiritual...

Now, so far the employment is concerned, so here, here the employer and employee, both are serving and both are thinking that "I am the master." That is maya. Suppose I employ somebody. I give $25 per day. So the man who is employed, he thinks that "I am not your servant. I am servant of these $25." So there is no question of service. So similarly, the master also, he thinks, "I am giving you $25 because I am exacting some service from you." So here there is no question of... The service is there, but it is perverted, perverted, in a different way. That is not real service. Service is there. Because I cannot live without service. That is my nature. Just exactly the same way: the water is always liquid, either it is designated black, or designated white. That doesn't matter. But water is there.

What is this? (sound of footsteps walking away) Is that clear? (laughs) Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Just see. Natural tendency -- to give some service. Just see. He's not in order, but he thought that "Here is something. Let me give me some service." Now, just see, automatically come. So this is the natural...

A child also, he'll try to serve the father, his mother. He'll try to assist mother. Mother is cooking. He'll try to assist the mother. So this is the position, that our natural position is to render service. Now, where to render service and how the service is being misused. That we have to understand. That's all. Because we are now in a condition which is not natural condition. So we have to put ourself in the natural condition and the service attitude will go on. This is called Krsna consciousness.

Student: When you say... [break] ...it's natural to render service, I...

Prabhupada: Yes? [break]

Student: I suspect you mean this is how the machine works. Is there any reason why it works that way, or is it just that way?

Prabhupada: Reason... Of course, if you say, "What is the reason why the water is liquid?" it is very difficult to answer. "Why water is liquid? What is the reason?" if you ask like that, it is very difficult to answer why water is liquid, why fire is hot. This is the natural sequence. Whenever there is water, it is liquid. Nature is like that. Whenever there is fire, it is hot. And if you ask, "Why fire is hot?" oh, it is a very difficult question to answer. We have to trace out the whole natural course, why water, fire has become hot. Similarly, every living being is a servant. That is the natural sequence. How it has become, that will take some time to understand. It is not very difficult to understand. Because the small is meant for rendering service to the great. If God is great, and we are part and parcel of the Supreme, so our natural sequence, natural life, is to render service. That is our nature.

You cannot go beyond your nature. If you go beyond your nature, that is called maya. Maya means what is not. Therefore we are all servants, but here, in the material designation, we are trying to be master. Everyone is trying to be master. Therefore so much trouble of existence. If everyone becomes servant, there is no struggle. There is no struggle. Everyone becomes happy because he comes to his natural position. But here, artificially, we are trying to be the master, which I am not. That is my artificial life. Everyone is trying to predominate, to be the... He's trying to dominate over the material resources to his best. But he cannot have any domination of the material nature. Material nature is so strong that you cannot dominate it. That is impossible. So he's being crushed by the laws of material nature. Instead of becoming master, he's being crushed. So this is struggle for existence.

So... (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 4.6-8 -- New York, July 20, 1966

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

"If You Stay with Krsna"

73/07/20 London, Bhagavad-gita 1.24-25


Pradyumna (leads chanting, etc.):

sanjaya uvaca
evam ukto hrsikeso
gudakesena bharata
senayor ubhayor madhye
sthapayitva rathottamam
[Bg. 1.24]

Translation: "Sanjaya said: O descendant of Bharata, being thus addressed by Arjuna, Lord Krsna drew up the fine chariot in the midst of the armies of both parties."

bhisma-drona-pramukhatah
sarvesam ca mahiksitam
uvaca partha pasyaitan
samavetan kurun iti
[Bg. 1.25]

Translation: "In the presence of Bhisma, Drona and all other chieftains of the world, Hrsikesa, the Lord, said, Just behold, Partha, all the Kurus who are assembled here."

Prabhupada: So sanjaya uvaca. Actually Sanjaya, the secretary of Dhrtarastra, he is relating the activities in the battlefield. Dhrtarastra is blind. How in the battlefield the fighting was going on, Sanjaya was observing, either by television or a similar method. Otherwise, how he could explain things are going on in the battlefield in the room? This Bhagavad-gita, Sanjaya explained, all activities in the battlefield, to Dhrtarastra, within the room. So there must have been something like television or higher than the television, he was seeing within himself everything.

So scientific improvement is coming, but still on the material platform. Material means gross material and subtle material. That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita:

bhumir apo 'nalo vayuh
kham mano buddhir eva ca
ahankara itiyam me
bhinna prakrtir astadha
[Bg. 7.4]

Earth, water, fire, air, sky, these five elements are gross material, everyone can see, gross. We can see earth, we can see water. We can see fire, air, or we can perceive the sky also. But there is subtle matter also. Mind, intelligence, ego. We cannot see the mind. We cannot see intelligence. I understand that you have got intelligence, or everyone knows we have got mind, but we cannot see. This is subtle. They are also matter, subtle matter. So the television is a machine made of gross matter, but there is possibility of making another machine of subtle matter. There is possibility. Because matter, they are also matter. That subtle matter machine is not yet discovered. But here we can see the subtle matter discovery was there. Otherwise, how Sanjaya could see the activities in the battlefield? This is to be understood. They are very much proud of material advancement of science, but still, they have to make advancement, subtle matter. And above that subtle matter, within that subtle matter, there is spiritual identity. Indriyani parany ahur indriyebhyah param manah, manasas tu para buddhih [Bg. 3.42].

First of all we can see a person. A person we see, what do we see? The senses. But we cannot see the director of the senses. The director of the senses is the mind. And the director of the mind is intelligence. And the owner of the intelligence is the soul. This is understanding. The soul is there. Whose intelligence? As soon as we shall say intelligence, whose intelligence? That is the soul's intelligence. Wherefrom the intelligence is coming? From Paramatma, Hrsikesa. Therefore this word is used here, hrs ikesa. The intelligence will come from Paramatma. Otherwise we cannot act, just like a child has got intelligence, but it is guided by the parent's intelligence: "My dear son, do like this." And he does it. Similarly, we have got all this mind, intelligence, everything, but that is being guided by the super-intelligence, Krsna. Therefore He is called Hrsikesa. Once we have explained Hrsikesa. So we have to reach that platform where we can talk with Hrsikesa. That is spiritual platform. That is possible. The more you become purified, you can talk with Hrsikesa, who is within yourself. He is not outside. Although He in Goloka Vrndavana, Krsna is always in Vrndavana, in the spiritual world, but because He is Krsna, He can remain with you also at the same time, simultaneously. This is Krsna. Goloka eva nivasaty akhilatma-bhutah [Bs. 5.37].

goloka-namni nija-dhamni tale ca tasya
devi-mahesa-hari-dhamasu tesu tesu
te te prabhava-nicaya vihitas ca yena
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

It is proposed, our Mayapura temple will be on this plan. Goloka-namni nija-dhamni tale ca tasya [Bs. 5.43]. The highest planetary system, spiritual, that is spiritual planet, that is named goloka-namni, Goloka Vrndavana. We have given that picture in the Bhagavata cover. Perhaps you know. The topmost original planet is the Goloka. Goloka-namni nija-dhamni. That is the abode of Krsna. Krsna-dhama. Krsna-dhama. People are searching after God. But actually there is the planet where God lives, Krsna lives. But you have got your machine, aeroplane, sputnik. You can reach there, but you cannot reach even the highest planet, even on this material planet, material universe. Everyone sees. We see the stars or planets. Now you have got the machine; you go there. No. You cannot go. You are so limited. Even you cannot go to the moon planet, which is so nearest. You cannot go. But still, we are proud of our these airplanes, sputniks. We are thinking, "Now we have become God." These rascals they do not know what is God. They are all rascals. They have no idea what is God. Therefore they have accepted another rascal as God. This is going on. You cannot reach. Panthas tu koti-sata-vatsara-sampragamyo vayor athapi manaso muni-pungavanam, so 'pyasti yat prapada-simny avicintya-tattve [Bs. 5.34]. Sastra gives you. Just like your material science also gives you information that there is one planet, highest planet, and one can go there by sputnik in forty thousands of years. So who is going to live forty thousand years to reach there? But they have got theoretically all these things. The highest planet. Material. That is not spiritual.

So after finishing this material world, there is covering of the universe, stock matter, mahat-tattva, wherefrom all these material comings. There is stock. So you have to penetrate through that stock material. And each layer of stock is ten times more than the other. So you have to pierce through the stock, material stock; then you reach the spiritual world. And the spiritual world, there are many... "Many" means three times more than these universes. This universe, this material universe, is only one-fourth manifestation of Krsna's creation. Ekamsena sthito jagat. When Arjuna inquired from Krsna, "So would you kindly explain little of your opulence." "Yes." So He said, "I am this. Out of this, I am this." He summarized,

athava bahunaitena
kim jnatena tavarjuna
vistabhyaham idam krtsnam
ekamsena sthito jagat
[Bg. 10.42]

Ekamsena. You are seeing this universe. This universe -- only a fragment of the material creation, a fragment. Caitanya Mahaprabhu informed us... One of His devotees requested Caitanya Mahaprabhu, "My dear Lord, You have come personally. You kindly take all the living entities to the spiritual world. Be kind enough upon them. And if you think that they are so sinful they cannot be taken, then transfer all their sins unto me. You take them. You take them." So Caitanya Mahaprabhu began to smile that "Even if I take the all the living entities of the universe, but do you know, this universe is only one fragmental part of other, all other universes. There are many other universes." And He compared that "In a bag where, bag full of mustard seeds..." Just imagine, a big bag of mustard seeds. "And this universe is just like one mustard seed." There are so many universes, so many universes. And it is confirmed in the Brahma-samhita: yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti [Bs. 5.40]. Jagad-anda. Jagad-anda means this universe. Brahmanda, jagad-anda. Koti, innumerable. Jagad-anda-koti. Yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti-kotisv asesa-vasudhadi-vibhuti-bhinnam [Bs. 5.40]. And each universe there are innumerable planets. And each planet is different from others. This is God's creation. And these rascals are manufacturing God. And there is other description also. Yasyaika-nisvasita-kalam athavalambya jivanti loma-vilaja jagad-anda-nathah [Bs. 5.48]. This jagad-anda, the universe. And there, in each universe, there is a controller of the universe, Brahma. He is called jagad-anda-natha, master of this universe. Because it is controlled by Brahma, therefore each universe is called brahmanda. It is controlled by Brahma. So in the Brahma-samhita we get information: jagad-anda-nathah, plural number. There are many, many thousands jagad-anda... Not only one Brahma. Many millions of Brahmas, many millions of Siva, many millions of Visnu, many millions of sun. Because there are many millions of universes. Now, just imagine. This is material creation. And that material creation, Krsna says, ekamsena sthito jagat [Bg. 10.42]. Taking all the material universes, it is only one-fourth creation of the Lord. And the three fourths creation is the spiritual world. Just imagine what is spiritual world. And in that spiritual, the topmost planet is Goloka.

So you cannot go even in the moon planet. How you can go to that spiritual planet penetrating the material coverings coming to the spiritual effulgence, Brahman, and after all these universes, then...? Therefore it is said, panthas tu koti-sata-vatsara-sampragamyah. Koti-sata-vatsara, millions of years, if you go with your sputnik with full force... Panthas tu koti-sata-vatsara. Not this sputnik, but make your planes of mind speed. This is material speed. What is this speed? A few thousands, twenty thousand, fifty thousand. But do you know mind speed? You are sitting here, and immediately, within a second, you can go to India. This is mind speed. Immediately. So panthas tu koti-sata-vatsara sampragamyo vayor athapi [Bs. 5.34]. By the air speed or mind speed. Vayor athapi manaso muni-pungavanam. And driven by great scientists, muni-pungava. Pungava means very expert, nara-pungava. So big, big scientists, expert scientists, if they can discover airplane which is running on mind speed or air speed... They are not, they cannot go by the air speed. They fly on the air, but not with the air speed. So in this way, still, avicintya-tattve, after going many, many millions of years in that speed, still you will find, "Oh, Goloka Vrndavana is far, far away." This is the position.

And we are explaining what is Krsna. Don't consider Krsna is ordinary human being. Avajananti mam mudha manusim tanum asritam [Bg. 9.11]. Because He kindly appears before us just like ordinary human being, don't think that He is like us. It is the conclusion. Just like these rascals, they think that "Because Krsna appeared as a human being, I am also God. I am also God. Why Krsna shall be alone God?" So we are trying to explain what is Krsna, Hrsikesa. Hrsikesa. Then goloka-namni. Goloka eva nivasaty akhilatma-bhutah. Goloka eva nivasati.

ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhavitabhis
tabhir ya eva nija-rupataya kalabhih
goloka eva nivasaty akhilatma-bhuto
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
[Bs. 5.37]

So our worship is very simple. Tam aham bhajami. We worship that Govinda, adi-purusam. Govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami **. We don't worship ordinary so-called rascals. We worship Govinda. How Govinda is? The Govinda's description is Brahma-samhita. That Govinda, ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhavitabhih: "He is always in the spiritual world, which is ananda-cinmaya-rasa." Not this kind of ananda -- cinmayananda, spiritual bliss. Spiritual bliss means it is continually going on; still, nobody is fed up. Here you can accept any ananda in this material world, so many things. It cannot go on very long time. Suppose if I give you rasagulla, one rasagulla, you can take: "Oh, very nice." Another, "Very nice." Another, "Nice." Then next four or five, "No, I do not want." Finished. Similarly, any ananda you can take. Sex life. It cannot be continued. Finished. So try to understand what is cinmayananda. Ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibha... It, they'll never ends. It goes, nava-nava-yauvana, one after another, new, new, new, new. Just try to understand what is spiritual bliss. You do not... The sahajiyas, they accept this material bliss as spiritual bliss. That is called sahajiya. Don't be sahajiyas. Try to understand according to sastra.

So Krsna is described, this how He becomes Hrsikesa, that goloka eva nivasati. He is enjoying with His associates, the cowherds boys, the gopis, in goloka-namni nija-dhamni. He is enjoying there. At the same time, He is within your heart. This is Krsna, Hrsikesa. He's come simultaneously, not only within your heart, within the atom. Andantara-stha-paramanu-cayantara-stham govindam adi-purusam tam aham... [Bs. 5.35]. Not only within your heart, but within the atom. Just imagine. How many atoms there are. So Krsna is everywhere. These are..., we have to take information of Krsna from the sastra. Sastram eva caksusa (?). Vedanta-sutra. Your eyes should be sastra, not your so-called imagination. sastra-caksusa. Yah sastra-vidhim utsrjya vartate kama... If you give up the direction of the sastra and manufacture your own way, yah sastra-vidhim utsrjya vartate kama-karatah, as you like, then na sa siddhim avapnoti: you will never get siddhi, perfection, never get. Na sa siddhim avap..., na sukham, neither happiness. And what to speak of param gatim, going back to home, back to Godhead. So sastra-caksusa. Everything we have to take from the sastra. Because we are blind now. sastra-caksusa. Our, the sastra-jnana, because the spiritual master enlightens the disciple with sastra-jnana, therefore he is spiritual master. If the spiritual master bluffs the disciple, then he is not spiritual master. Bluffing. No.

om ajnana-timirandhasya
jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena
tasmai sri-guruve namah

[I offer my respectful obeisances unto my spiritual master, who with the torchlight of knowledge has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance.]

This is guru. Guru means he'll always enlighten the disciple with the light of sastra. Not that he will say, "There is no need of sastra. I am incarnation. I, whatever speak, you take it." No. This is rascal. You should immediately, who has no reference to the sastra, immediately take him as a rascal number one. This is the conclusion.

So here is sastra, Bhagavad-gita. Hrsikesa. We have already explained one day. Here also, again we are explaining. Hrsikesa. Krsna. Krsna is there. He never leaves from Vrndavana. He is there. Why? Here also. Just like we see, a very rich man, a very influential man, the president, he lives in his... The Queen, she is in the Buckingham Palace. But she cannot go at the same time anywhere and everywhere. No. She is in, packed up in Buckingham Palace. Krsna is not like that. Therefore He is Hrsikesa. Try to understand the distinction between Krsna and others. Krsna is goloka eva nivasaty akhilatma-bhutah [Bs. 5.37]. Atma-bhuta. This atma-bhuta is Hrsikesa. He is giving intelligence. The more you become purified, the more you get direct instruction from Hrsikesa. This is the point. So how you can become purified? Purified means no more influenced by the modes of material nature. That is explained: gudakesa. Gudaka isa. Gudaka means darkness, and isa. When you become master of this material world, or material senses. This material world means material senses. That's all. So if you become master of the material senses, then you become gudakesa. Therefore Arjuna is described here as gudakesa. Arjuna... Don't take Arjuna that he was mistaken. No, he cannot be. How he can be? He is constantly with Krsna. How he can be misdirected? No. That is not possible. In the Caitanya-caritamrta it is said that krsna surya-sama maya andhakara. So gudaka means darkness, maya. So krsna surya-sama maya andhakara. The darkness and light is there always, side by side. We have got experience. Here is sunlight, here is darkness. So these two things are there. So krsna surya-sama maya andhakara, yahan krsna tahan nahi mayara adhikara. Wherever there is Krsna, there is no jurisdiction of darkness or maya.

daivi hy esa gunamayi
mama maya duratyaya
mam eva ye prapadyante
mayam etam taranti te
[Bg. 7.14]

You can become immediately out of the scope of maya if you always remain surrendered to Krsna. Maya will not touch you. Just like if you remain always in the sunshine, there is no question of night. Nowadays it is very easy. If you simply drive your plane on the western side, you'll never get night. You just round about. Yes. Just like it is materially possible. You drive your plane simply on the western side. Start your plane in the morning and go to the western side and don't stop it. You go on for three, four, as many days as you like. You'll never get night. This is practical. Similarly, if you keep always with Krsna, you are gudakesa, you will never get darkness. Or maya will not touch you. This is Krsna consciousness. So try to become Gudakesa.

The next verse. Krsna Hrsikesa. So He knew the sarvasya caham hrdi sannivistah. Krsna is there. Krsna knows what is your purpose, what you want to do, what is your past, future. Everything Krsna knows. Everything Krsna knows. That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Vedaham samatitani; "I know everything." So Krsna, sthapayitva, rathottamam sthapayitva. As soon as Arjuna asked Him, senayor ubhayor madhye ratham sthapaya me 'cyuta [Bg. 1.21], immediately He carried out the order and He knew why he wants. He wanted to see, "With whom I have to fight, my friends and relatives." He's hesitating. So why this ignorance of Arjuna, the question may be. Arjuna is gudakesa. He is above this material world. How he is being affected by his so-called relatives and kinsmen? He was hesitating to fight on this principle, that "They are my relatives. They are my kinsmen. They are my family members." He was always thinking. Therefore Krsna knew it. So he has become so family-wise infected. But he is gudakesa. How it is possible? He is above all these things. Yes, he is above all these things. By Krsna's desire, he is playing like that, ordinary man. Otherwise, how Bhagavad-gita will come? Krsna cannot talk with ordinary person. Krsna cannot fight with ordinary person. Even the demons, when they come, just like Hiranyaksa, Hiranyakasipu. They were Jaya-Vijaya in the Vaikuntha world. So they came here, and Krsna asked them, that "If you become My enemy, then within three births you will come back. And if you remain friend, then seven births." So they preferred, "Oh, I shall become Your enemy, Sir, so that I can come back again after three births." So why? That Krsna has all the propensities. Just like we sometimes want to fight, mock fight. So in the Vaikuntha world there cannot be any fight. So because Krsna wanted to exercise His fighting spirit, He sent His devotee. He became enemy and He fought. So you have to understand Krsna in that way, as Hrsikesa. He knows that unless Arjuna becomes affected family-wise, how Bhagavad-gita will be there? Therefore although Gudakesa, Arjuna, is above darkness, still, by the will of Krsna, Hrsikesa, he played just like ordinary man, affected with his family affection. Therefore Krsna in the next verse says... Uvaca. Krsna said, "My dear Partha, now you wanted to see with whom you have to fight. Now, here is Bhisma, Drona, and many other kings. All the descendants of Kuru dynasty, your Dhrtarastra's sons. Now you see very nicely and be prepared to fight with them." So this is the explanation of Hrsikesa and Gudakesa.

Thank you very much. (end)

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 1.24-25 -- London, July 20, 1973