28 June 71 , San Francisco
Prabhupada: So I am very glad that you are following the footprints of the Gosvamis, six Gosvamis. Vande Rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau. Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami, vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau, and two Raghunatha Gosvami -- one Raghunatha dasa Gosvami and one Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami. Vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau, four. Sri-jiva-gopalakau: and Sri Jiva Gosvami and Gopala Bhatta Gosvami. They were direct disciple of Lord Caitanya. There are thousands of disciples of Lord Caitanya, but they are prominent, who gave very prominent service to the Lord by executing the mission of Lord Caitanya. By the order of Lord Caitanya they went to Vrndavana, and the present city of Vrndavana is the contribution of the Gosvamis. First of all Sanatana Gosvami went there, then Rupa Gosvami. In this way the city was excavated. It was formerly, five hundred years ago, there was no trace where and how Krsna lila was performed in that tract of land. But when Caitanya Mahaprabhu went there, He first of all discovered Radha Kunda, the lake in which Srimati Radharani used to take bath and Krsna used to come. There is Syama Kunda also. The Syama Kunda, Radha Kunda, two lakes are still existing. Hundreds, thousands of people, devotees, go to see that lake every day.
So the six Gosvamis were, some of them were very prominent government officers. Just like Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami, they were two important ministers in the (indistinct) Muhammadan government, Nawab Hussein Shah, his government. They resigned their ministerial post and joined Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu for propagating His mission of Krsna consciousness. So rupa-sanatanau, they are very responsible government officers, and raghu-yugau, two Raghunatha: one Raghunatha Bhatta and one Raghunatha dasa. Raghunatha dasa was the only son of his father and uncle, very big landholder, Bengal. Their father's income was twelve hundred thousands of rupees in those days. Now you can increase at least fifty times and then calculate what was the income of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. But he left everything to join Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement. Gopala Bhatta Gosvami also came from a very learned brahmana family. Similarly, Jiva Gosvami was the greatest scholar till now. Nobody can compete with Jiva Gosvami's scholarship in Sanskrit and philosophy. That is the verdict of all learned scholars. The world's best philosopher and Sanskrit scholar was Srila Jiva Gosvami. He happened to be the nephew of Rupa Gosvami. When Jiva Gosvami's father and uncles left home, he was only ten years old boy. He thought, "If my father and uncles have left, why shall I not leave home?'' So at the age of ten years he left home and went to Benares, the seat of Sanskrit scholars. He learned there Sanskrit very nicely, became a very great scholar, and then joined their uncles in Vrndavana. Of course, at that time Caitanya Mahaprabhu had passed. So Jiva Gosvami, he is also very learned scholar. His books are still adored by all spiritual sections. Sandarbas, six sandarbas, philosophical theses. And then vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau. Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, he was also learned scholar. So all rich men, rich politicians, scholars, great brahmanas, they joined Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It is so nice movement. It attracted thousands of people, just (as) it is attracting you, American boys and girls.
So in those days, a scholarly section, learned section, rich section were attracted by Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement. And what was their business? This business, as you are doing: krsna kirtana-gana-nartana-parau. Their engagement was krsna ut kirtanam. Krsna kirtanam, singing about Krsna, just like you are doing -- Hare Krsna. Krsnot-kirtana, very loudly chanting Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, krsnot-kirtana-gana, and sometimes prayers, songs. Nartana. Naratana means dancing. These were their engagement: krsnot-kirtana-gana-nartana-parau premamrtambho-nidhi. And as soon as they chanted, immediately they were immersed in the ocean of bliss, prema, ecstasy of love of God, Krsna. Krsnot-kirtana-gana-nartana-parau premamrtambho-nidhi dhiradhira-jana-priyau. They were very much affectionate, or dear, to all classes of people. There are two classes of men: dhira, adhira. Dhira means sober, and adhira means just the opposite, debauchers. So they were dear to both classes of men. This is Krsna-kirtana, is so nice. It is dear to all classes of men. Dhiradhira-jana-priyau priya-karau nirmatsarau pujitau. Because they are not envious. This Krsna consciousness movement is not meant for a particular class of men. It is meant for everyone. So... And what was their other qualification? Sri-caitanya-krpa-bharau... Dhiradhira-jana-priya-priyakarau nirmatsarau pujitau, sri-caitanya-krpa-bharau... They're very dear servitors of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu for delivering the fallen souls of this world. And we have to offer our respectful obeisances to the six Gosvamis, vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau.
Then their next qualification, next engagement was nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau. Sastra, all kinds of Vedic literature. Sastra means which governs. The Vedic literature governs. There is a verbal root which is called sast. Sast means to rule. The ruling, there are three kinds of ruling. One ruling is sastra, law codes. Just like every civilized country is ruled by the laws of the state, and the statute book which contains all the rules, that is called law books. That is also sastra. That is sastra. And then another sasdhatu is sastra. Sastra means weapons, that like guns, swords. Sastra and sastra. So there are two sections of people: those who are civilized, they are ruled by the sastra, by the law codes, and those who are law-breakers, they are ruled by the sastra, weapons. Both things are required, sastra and sastra. And sasam, sasam means government. The government has two department -- criminal and civil. Civil department is controlled by the sastra, law codes, and the criminal department is governed by the sastra, weapons. So this is the rule from time immemorial. Both things are required. Sometimes violence required, police force required for the unruly persons. They'll not care for the sastra, don't care for sastra, but you care for the sastra. So two things are there.
Similarly, Krsna says that "I am this and that.'' He says, raso 'ham apsu kaunteya [Bg. 7.8]. Those who are sober, those who want to understand Krsna, they can understand Krsna in very step of life. Just like raso 'ham apsu kaunteya, "I am the taste of the water.'' Water you have to drink. Just like I drank just a minute before and quenched my thirst. But that quenching active principle is Krsna. So we can realize Krsna every time we'll drink water. This is Krsna consciousness. Sas..., prabhasmi sasi suryayoh. Krsna is the sunshine, Krsna is the moonshine. Krsna is the fragrance of the flower. As soon as you take a flower and smell it, the fragrance is Krsna. In this way, every step we can understand Krsna. Even in sex life we can understand Krsna. That is also stated in the Bhagavad-gita: dharmaviruddho kamo 'smi, sex life which is not against the religious codes. What is that? Sex life for begetting children is allowed. That is not against the religious code, and that is Krsna. Krsna says, dharmaviruddho kamo 'smi. Kama, lust. Sex life is the business of lust. Krsna says "Yes, lust is also good provided it is not against the religious codes.'' So nothing is bad; everything is good, if it is for developing our Krsna consciousness. Nothing is bad, because everything is creation of Krsna. How it can be bad? It cannot be bad; it is good, provided we follow the rules and regulations. Everything is good. Therefore we are consult various sastras. Nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau, vicara. Vicara means to study them with careful attention. Vicara. Nana-sas... So these Gosvamis were studying many kinds of Vedic literatures. There are hundreds and thousands of Vedic literature -- primarily four Vedas, Sama, Yajur, Atharva, Rg, Atharva. Then from the Vedas, there are supplementary Vedas, which are called Puranas, eighteen Puranas. Srimad-Bhagavatam is one of the Puranas, Maha-Purana. Then there is, there are Mahabharata, "The Great History of India.'' Bharata means India, and Maha means greater, greater India. The greater India was the whole planet. The whole planet was Bharata-varsa. Now it is crippled. It has become a small tract of land. But originally everywhere, this portion of the world, America, it was also Bharata-varsa. Sapta-dvipa, seven islands. Seven islands. Actually the whole planet is full of water -- Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean. Full of water. And these are islands only -- Asia, Europe, America. There are seven islands, sapta-dvipa. The planet is sapta-dvipa, seven full, comprising of seven islands. That is Bharata-varsa.
So nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau. So we have to study the Vedic literature very carefully, following the footsteps of Gosvamis. Not only chanting. This is also required, krsnot-kirtana-gana. But this is meant, if you simply go on chanting without reading books, that is also good. Especially in this age, because nobody has got power to study books. Education is very less, so still, one who is able, they should consider all this. We have given in English translation. So many important books, you study, and chant this Hare Krsna mantra like this, and that is the following the footsteps of Gosvamis. Acaryopasana. We have to worship the acaryas. That is recommended in the Bhagavad-gita, for making advancement in spiritual life, acaryopasana. So this is acaryopasana, by reading their books, nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma-samsthapakau. Why studying so many books? For the sake of establishing real religious life. Sad-dharma. There are two kinds of dharmas, religious, religions: pravrtti-marga, nivrtti-marga. Pravrtti-marga means materialism, and nivrtti-marga means spiritualism. Pravrtti means because we had intention to enjoy this material world, therefore we have given this material body by the energy of Krsna, prakrteh kriyamanani [Bg. 3.27], by the..., for associating with this material world. We are spirit soul. We have been given this chance to associate with the material world, this material, which is called... So there is still the rules and regulation. You associate, you enjoy this material world under this instruction, then you'll not be fallen. You'll not be implicated. That's sastra. Sastra gives you codes. Just like when I immigrated in this land, they gave me one paper, welcome, and some immigration rules. That is sastra. Similarly, the Vedas means the rules and regulation which following they'll very happily live in this material world. Material world is not required by me or you. We are spirit soul. We have no business in the material world. Just like we are living entities of the land. We have no business with the water. But if anyone wants to cross over the sea, he must have a well-built ship to cross over. Similarly, we spirit souls we have no business in this material world, but because we wanted to enjoy it, leaving the association of Krsna, we have been given this ship, this body, to ply over this material ocean. So if you know how to ply the ship over the ocean there is no, I mean to say, fear of being drowned. If you have got a good captain of the ship and the ship is well built, then you'll have no danger. So the captain, he is the spiritual master, and this body is a very good ship. This is, these are the examples given. We have to cross over this material ocean. So we must have a captain and good ship, and favorable air. If the air is favorable, suppose you're going to the western side, and if the wind is blowing toward western side, it will automatically push your boat or ship. It will be favorable. If you go against the wind, it is difficult. So you have got a very good ship -- this human form of body -- and the captain is the spiritual master, and the favorable wind blowing, the instruction of the sastras. So taking this opportunity, if you cross over this material ocean, then there is no difficulty. So we should take opportunity of this body, of the instruction of Krsna, Bhagavad-gita, and the spiritual master, then very easily we cross over.
Nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma-samsthapakau lokanam hita-karinau. The Gosvamis were very much fond of doing welfare activities for the general people, just like this movement. This movement is the greatest welfare activities in this world. Lokanam hita-karinau. It is beneficial for all kinds of human being. Nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma-samsthapakau lokanam hita-karinau tri-bhuvane manyau. So if we execute this Krsna consciousness movement, following the footsteps of the Gosvamis, then tri-bhuvane manyau, you will be honored in the three worlds, wherever you go. Just like I am Indian, but you are honoring me. Why? Have I bribed you with my Indian money, currency? I came with forty rupees only, had no money. Why? Because you are having some message of Krsna consciousness. That is the state of being honored. Similarly, just like this time when I went to India, all my American students-forty students are still there -- they're being honored very nicely everywhere. In every city -- Calcutta, Bombay, Benares, Amritsar. Why? Many American tourists go there. They are not honored. But why these boys are honored? Only for this krsnot-kirtana-gana-nartana. They are chanting Hare Krsna mantra. So not only... This is the process. Any country you go, if you are strictly adhering to the rules and regulation and chanting sixteen rounds, that is your spiritual strength, and following the prohibitive rules, then you will be honored everywhere. Any part of the world you go, you'll be honored. It is not very difficult to chant sixteen rounds and following the regulative principles, but if you follow strictly, rigidly, you'll get spiritual strength and you'll be honored all over the world. Just take this secret. They'll not ask you to know how far you are educated, or that you have passed your M.A. examination or Ph.D. No. They will be charmed by this krsnot-kirtana-gana-nartana.
So the Gosvamis showed us the way. Then next, sri-gauranga-gunanuvarnana-vidhau. They were very expert in describing the transcendental qualities of Lord Sri Caitanya, Gaurasundara, sri-gauranga-gunanuvarnana-vidhau. So in this way they passed their life in Krsna consciousness, and if we'll follow the footsteps of such mahajana, mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. Our business is, we haven't got to make research work. Everything is there, given by the Gosvamis and acarya. We have simply to follow. That's all. Who, what is Krsna, what is God, you haven't got to make research. Krsna is personally saying about Himself, Bhagavad-gita, "I am like this.'' Raso 'ham apsu kaunteya [Bg. 7.8], mattah sarvam pravartate. So these are thing there. You have simply to accept it, to know it and follow it. Then your life is successful. We are not so foolish that we are going to make research work. Why? When there are so many things present already, what is the use of research work? First of all assimilate what is already there. And what is research you can make? Your senses are faulty, imperfect. What research you can work? So that is not possible. That is humbug. You simply try to understand, without any malinterpretation, Bhagavad-gita As It Is, and you understand what is Krsna, what is God. And you follow the acaryas, then your life is successful.
Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. (end)
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Lecture -- San Francisco, June 28, 1971
© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with permission.
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Showing posts with label San Francisco. Show all posts
Showing posts with label San Francisco. Show all posts
Friday, July 16, 2010
"Chanting -- Universally Charming"
28 June 71 , San Francisco
Prabhupada: So I am very glad that you are following the footprints of the Gosvamis, six Gosvamis. Vande Rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau. Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami, vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau, and two Raghunatha Gosvami -- one Raghunatha dasa Gosvami and one Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami. Vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau, four. Sri-jiva-gopalakau: and Sri Jiva Gosvami and Gopala Bhatta Gosvami. They were direct disciple of Lord Caitanya. There are thousands of disciples of Lord Caitanya, but they are prominent, who gave very prominent service to the Lord by executing the mission of Lord Caitanya. By the order of Lord Caitanya they went to Vrndavana, and the present city of Vrndavana is the contribution of the Gosvamis. First of all Sanatana Gosvami went there, then Rupa Gosvami. In this way the city was excavated. It was formerly, five hundred years ago, there was no trace where and how Krsna lila was performed in that tract of land. But when Caitanya Mahaprabhu went there, He first of all discovered Radha Kunda, the lake in which Srimati Radharani used to take bath and Krsna used to come. There is Syama Kunda also. The Syama Kunda, Radha Kunda, two lakes are still existing. Hundreds, thousands of people, devotees, go to see that lake every day.
So the six Gosvamis were, some of them were very prominent government officers. Just like Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami, they were two important ministers in the (indistinct) Muhammadan government, Nawab Hussein Shah, his government. They resigned their ministerial post and joined Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu for propagating His mission of Krsna consciousness. So rupa-sanatanau, they are very responsible government officers, and raghu-yugau, two Raghunatha: one Raghunatha Bhatta and one Raghunatha dasa. Raghunatha dasa was the only son of his father and uncle, very big landholder, Bengal. Their father's income was twelve hundred thousands of rupees in those days. Now you can increase at least fifty times and then calculate what was the income of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. But he left everything to join Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement. Gopala Bhatta Gosvami also came from a very learned brahmana family. Similarly, Jiva Gosvami was the greatest scholar till now. Nobody can compete with Jiva Gosvami's scholarship in Sanskrit and philosophy. That is the verdict of all learned scholars. The world's best philosopher and Sanskrit scholar was Srila Jiva Gosvami. He happened to be the nephew of Rupa Gosvami. When Jiva Gosvami's father and uncles left home, he was only ten years old boy. He thought, "If my father and uncles have left, why shall I not leave home?'' So at the age of ten years he left home and went to Benares, the seat of Sanskrit scholars. He learned there Sanskrit very nicely, became a very great scholar, and then joined their uncles in Vrndavana. Of course, at that time Caitanya Mahaprabhu had passed. So Jiva Gosvami, he is also very learned scholar. His books are still adored by all spiritual sections. Sandarbas, six sandarbas, philosophical theses. And then vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau. Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, he was also learned scholar. So all rich men, rich politicians, scholars, great brahmanas, they joined Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It is so nice movement. It attracted thousands of people, just (as) it is attracting you, American boys and girls.
So in those days, a scholarly section, learned section, rich section were attracted by Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement. And what was their business? This business, as you are doing: krsna kirtana-gana-nartana-parau. Their engagement was krsna ut kirtanam. Krsna kirtanam, singing about Krsna, just like you are doing -- Hare Krsna. Krsnot-kirtana, very loudly chanting Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, krsnot-kirtana-gana, and sometimes prayers, songs. Nartana. Naratana means dancing. These were their engagement: krsnot-kirtana-gana-nartana-parau premamrtambho-nidhi. And as soon as they chanted, immediately they were immersed in the ocean of bliss, prema, ecstasy of love of God, Krsna. Krsnot-kirtana-gana-nartana-parau premamrtambho-nidhi dhiradhira-jana-priyau. They were very much affectionate, or dear, to all classes of people. There are two classes of men: dhira, adhira. Dhira means sober, and adhira means just the opposite, debauchers. So they were dear to both classes of men. This is Krsna-kirtana, is so nice. It is dear to all classes of men. Dhiradhira-jana-priyau priya-karau nirmatsarau pujitau. Because they are not envious. This Krsna consciousness movement is not meant for a particular class of men. It is meant for everyone. So... And what was their other qualification? Sri-caitanya-krpa-bharau... Dhiradhira-jana-priya-priyakarau nirmatsarau pujitau, sri-caitanya-krpa-bharau... They're very dear servitors of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu for delivering the fallen souls of this world. And we have to offer our respectful obeisances to the six Gosvamis, vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau.
Then their next qualification, next engagement was nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau. Sastra, all kinds of Vedic literature. Sastra means which governs. The Vedic literature governs. There is a verbal root which is called sast. Sast means to rule. The ruling, there are three kinds of ruling. One ruling is sastra, law codes. Just like every civilized country is ruled by the laws of the state, and the statute book which contains all the rules, that is called law books. That is also sastra. That is sastra. And then another sasdhatu is sastra. Sastra means weapons, that like guns, swords. Sastra and sastra. So there are two sections of people: those who are civilized, they are ruled by the sastra, by the law codes, and those who are law-breakers, they are ruled by the sastra, weapons. Both things are required, sastra and sastra. And sasam, sasam means government. The government has two department -- criminal and civil. Civil department is controlled by the sastra, law codes, and the criminal department is governed by the sastra, weapons. So this is the rule from time immemorial. Both things are required. Sometimes violence required, police force required for the unruly persons. They'll not care for the sastra, don't care for sastra, but you care for the sastra. So two things are there.
Similarly, Krsna says that "I am this and that.'' He says, raso 'ham apsu kaunteya [Bg. 7.8]. Those who are sober, those who want to understand Krsna, they can understand Krsna in very step of life. Just like raso 'ham apsu kaunteya, "I am the taste of the water.'' Water you have to drink. Just like I drank just a minute before and quenched my thirst. But that quenching active principle is Krsna. So we can realize Krsna every time we'll drink water. This is Krsna consciousness. Sas..., prabhasmi sasi suryayoh. Krsna is the sunshine, Krsna is the moonshine. Krsna is the fragrance of the flower. As soon as you take a flower and smell it, the fragrance is Krsna. In this way, every step we can understand Krsna. Even in sex life we can understand Krsna. That is also stated in the Bhagavad-gita: dharmaviruddho kamo 'smi, sex life which is not against the religious codes. What is that? Sex life for begetting children is allowed. That is not against the religious code, and that is Krsna. Krsna says, dharmaviruddho kamo 'smi. Kama, lust. Sex life is the business of lust. Krsna says "Yes, lust is also good provided it is not against the religious codes.'' So nothing is bad; everything is good, if it is for developing our Krsna consciousness. Nothing is bad, because everything is creation of Krsna. How it can be bad? It cannot be bad; it is good, provided we follow the rules and regulations. Everything is good. Therefore we are consult various sastras. Nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau, vicara. Vicara means to study them with careful attention. Vicara. Nana-sas... So these Gosvamis were studying many kinds of Vedic literatures. There are hundreds and thousands of Vedic literature -- primarily four Vedas, Sama, Yajur, Atharva, Rg, Atharva. Then from the Vedas, there are supplementary Vedas, which are called Puranas, eighteen Puranas. Srimad-Bhagavatam is one of the Puranas, Maha-Purana. Then there is, there are Mahabharata, "The Great History of India.'' Bharata means India, and Maha means greater, greater India. The greater India was the whole planet. The whole planet was Bharata-varsa. Now it is crippled. It has become a small tract of land. But originally everywhere, this portion of the world, America, it was also Bharata-varsa. Sapta-dvipa, seven islands. Seven islands. Actually the whole planet is full of water -- Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean. Full of water. And these are islands only -- Asia, Europe, America. There are seven islands, sapta-dvipa. The planet is sapta-dvipa, seven full, comprising of seven islands. That is Bharata-varsa.
So nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau. So we have to study the Vedic literature very carefully, following the footsteps of Gosvamis. Not only chanting. This is also required, krsnot-kirtana-gana. But this is meant, if you simply go on chanting without reading books, that is also good. Especially in this age, because nobody has got power to study books. Education is very less, so still, one who is able, they should consider all this. We have given in English translation. So many important books, you study, and chant this Hare Krsna mantra like this, and that is the following the footsteps of Gosvamis. Acaryopasana. We have to worship the acaryas. That is recommended in the Bhagavad-gita, for making advancement in spiritual life, acaryopasana. So this is acaryopasana, by reading their books, nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma-samsthapakau. Why studying so many books? For the sake of establishing real religious life. Sad-dharma. There are two kinds of dharmas, religious, religions: pravrtti-marga, nivrtti-marga. Pravrtti-marga means materialism, and nivrtti-marga means spiritualism. Pravrtti means because we had intention to enjoy this material world, therefore we have given this material body by the energy of Krsna, prakrteh kriyamanani [Bg. 3.27], by the..., for associating with this material world. We are spirit soul. We have been given this chance to associate with the material world, this material, which is called... So there is still the rules and regulation. You associate, you enjoy this material world under this instruction, then you'll not be fallen. You'll not be implicated. That's sastra. Sastra gives you codes. Just like when I immigrated in this land, they gave me one paper, welcome, and some immigration rules. That is sastra. Similarly, the Vedas means the rules and regulation which following they'll very happily live in this material world. Material world is not required by me or you. We are spirit soul. We have no business in the material world. Just like we are living entities of the land. We have no business with the water. But if anyone wants to cross over the sea, he must have a well-built ship to cross over. Similarly, we spirit souls we have no business in this material world, but because we wanted to enjoy it, leaving the association of Krsna, we have been given this ship, this body, to ply over this material ocean. So if you know how to ply the ship over the ocean there is no, I mean to say, fear of being drowned. If you have got a good captain of the ship and the ship is well built, then you'll have no danger. So the captain, he is the spiritual master, and this body is a very good ship. This is, these are the examples given. We have to cross over this material ocean. So we must have a captain and good ship, and favorable air. If the air is favorable, suppose you're going to the western side, and if the wind is blowing toward western side, it will automatically push your boat or ship. It will be favorable. If you go against the wind, it is difficult. So you have got a very good ship -- this human form of body -- and the captain is the spiritual master, and the favorable wind blowing, the instruction of the sastras. So taking this opportunity, if you cross over this material ocean, then there is no difficulty. So we should take opportunity of this body, of the instruction of Krsna, Bhagavad-gita, and the spiritual master, then very easily we cross over.
Nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma-samsthapakau lokanam hita-karinau. The Gosvamis were very much fond of doing welfare activities for the general people, just like this movement. This movement is the greatest welfare activities in this world. Lokanam hita-karinau. It is beneficial for all kinds of human being. Nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma-samsthapakau lokanam hita-karinau tri-bhuvane manyau. So if we execute this Krsna consciousness movement, following the footsteps of the Gosvamis, then tri-bhuvane manyau, you will be honored in the three worlds, wherever you go. Just like I am Indian, but you are honoring me. Why? Have I bribed you with my Indian money, currency? I came with forty rupees only, had no money. Why? Because you are having some message of Krsna consciousness. That is the state of being honored. Similarly, just like this time when I went to India, all my American students-forty students are still there -- they're being honored very nicely everywhere. In every city -- Calcutta, Bombay, Benares, Amritsar. Why? Many American tourists go there. They are not honored. But why these boys are honored? Only for this krsnot-kirtana-gana-nartana. They are chanting Hare Krsna mantra. So not only... This is the process. Any country you go, if you are strictly adhering to the rules and regulation and chanting sixteen rounds, that is your spiritual strength, and following the prohibitive rules, then you will be honored everywhere. Any part of the world you go, you'll be honored. It is not very difficult to chant sixteen rounds and following the regulative principles, but if you follow strictly, rigidly, you'll get spiritual strength and you'll be honored all over the world. Just take this secret. They'll not ask you to know how far you are educated, or that you have passed your M.A. examination or Ph.D. No. They will be charmed by this krsnot-kirtana-gana-nartana.
So the Gosvamis showed us the way. Then next, sri-gauranga-gunanuvarnana-vidhau. They were very expert in describing the transcendental qualities of Lord Sri Caitanya, Gaurasundara, sri-gauranga-gunanuvarnana-vidhau. So in this way they passed their life in Krsna consciousness, and if we'll follow the footsteps of such mahajana, mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. Our business is, we haven't got to make research work. Everything is there, given by the Gosvamis and acarya. We have simply to follow. That's all. Who, what is Krsna, what is God, you haven't got to make research. Krsna is personally saying about Himself, Bhagavad-gita, "I am like this.'' Raso 'ham apsu kaunteya [Bg. 7.8], mattah sarvam pravartate. So these are thing there. You have simply to accept it, to know it and follow it. Then your life is successful. We are not so foolish that we are going to make research work. Why? When there are so many things present already, what is the use of research work? First of all assimilate what is already there. And what is research you can make? Your senses are faulty, imperfect. What research you can work? So that is not possible. That is humbug. You simply try to understand, without any malinterpretation, Bhagavad-gita As It Is, and you understand what is Krsna, what is God. And you follow the acaryas, then your life is successful.
Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. (end)
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Lecture -- San Francisco, June 28, 1971
© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with permission.
For higher quality audio, you may purchase the MP3s/CDs from www.Krishna.com
Sunday, July 4, 2010
"Code For The Fighting Man"
"Code For The Fighting Man"
Mar 68 , San Francisco
Prabhupada: (chants mangalacarana prayers)
ramadi murtisu kala-niyamena tisthan
nanavataram akarod bhuvanesu kintu
krsnah svayam samabhavat paramah puman yo
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
[Bs. 5.39]
This is a verse from Brahma-samhita in which the incarnation of Lord Ramacandra is described. Ramadi. Not only Rama, but there are many other, innumerable incarnations. They are compared with the waves of a river. As the waves of the river or the waves of the ocean cannot be counted, similarly, how many incarnations are there of the Supreme Lord it is not possible to count. But out of them, the principal names are mentioned in the sastras. Therefore it is said ramadi. Ramadi means Rama and also other, many incarnations. And they are existing. Not that one incarnation appeared and it is finished. No. Not like that. Just like Lord Ramacandra appeared on this planet, say millions of years before. He appeared in the Treta-yuga. Treta-yuga means... We have passed only five thousand years of this age, Kali-yuga. Before that, there was Dvapara-yuga. Dvapara-yuga means 800,000 years. And before that, there was Treta-yuga, which continued for twelve hundred thousands of years. That means at least two million years before Lord Ramacandra appeared on this planet.
So now Lord Ramacandra appeared in Ayodhya. There is a place in Ayodhya, in northern India. There He appeared. As Krsna appeared in Mathura... That is also northern India. And Mathura is about ninety miles down southward from New Delhi. You have heard the name of New Delhi, the capital of India. So Ayodhya is also situated about five hundred miles northeast of New Delhi. So Lord Ramacandra appeared on this day. Today is called Sri Rama Naumi. On the ninth day of the moon Lord Ramacandra appeared. His father was the king of Ayodhya, and he had three wives. So out of... No. He had two wives. So out of two wives he got four sons. Ramacandra is the eldest son. The life and activities of Lord Ramacandra is... [break] ...in a book which is called Ramayana. You have heard the name of Ramayana. Ramayana is also accepted as history. Vedic literatures are histories also. The Puranas, the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Mahabharata, and Ramayana, they are counted amongst the history. The history of Ramacandra is that His father wanted to retire. Dasaratha, Maharaja Dasaratha. And he decided to enthrone Lord Ramacandra and retire. So everything was settled, but just one day before, his youngest wife turned the whole thing into different way. Sometimes Maharaja Dasaratha was suffering from what is called whitlow, some trouble in the finger? And this queen served him very nicely, and he was pleased. And he said, "My dear Sarmistha, if you want some benediction from me, I can give you." And she replied that "I shall ask you for the benediction when I require it. Not now." So just one day before Lord Ramacandra's coronation, she approached her husband Maharaja Dasaratha and reminded him, "My dear husband, you promised to give me some benediction, and I told you that I shall ask you when I require it." Maharaja Dasaratha said, "Yes, I remember. You want some benediction just now?" She said, "Yes." "And what is that?" She said that "Ramacandra cannot be seated on the throne. My son should be coronated, Bharata." He was surprised. It is a big demand. So he said, "All right. That will be done. Your son." Because formerly, the kings... Not only formerly, even up to date, there are many ksatriya kings in India. They have more than one wife. And they are, naturally, there is rivalry between different wives. So the same thing. Human psychology is the same. Even two million years ago the same mentality was there, and she asked that "My son should be the king, not Ramacandra." Ramacandra happened to be the son of Kausalya, the elder queen.
So Maharaja Dasaratha agreed and called for Ramacandra. "My dear boy, your..." She asked also that... She was very diplomatic. She wanted that Ramacandra go to forest for fourteen years. The idea was political, that "The king may agree to install my son just now. Now, after a few days, this Ramacandra may come with His army, and there may be some difficulty to continue the kingdom." So she wanted that Ramacandra should go to the forest and He should not come back till the end of fourteen years from this day. So Maharaja Dasaratha agreed. Because he was ksatriya. Just see the promise. A ksatriya never goes back from the promise, never refuses any challenge. If a ksatriya is challenged by somebody, that "I want to fight with you," oh, he cannot refuse. This is ksatriya spirit. He cannot say that "I am now busy." Suppose somebody comes to you, that "I want to fight with you." You may say, "What nonsense fight? I have no time. We are in the temple." But a ksatriya cannot deny that. A ksatriya at once must accept. "Oh, yes. Come on." And the weapon should be, if he has no sword or weapon, he should be supplied weapon and fight. This is ksatriya spirit. They were highly charitable and chivalrous and keeping promise and with a great tendency for ruling over. They shall rule over. Administrators. Their business is...
There are different prescription for different classes of men for their livelihood. The brahmanas, they can pull on their livelihood by six ways. Pathana pathana yajana yajana dana pratigraha. Six. And they must be qualified with twelve high qualities. We have many times discussed. Out of that qualification, truthfulness is the first item for a brahmana. A ksatriya may speak lies. That is allowed, because he has to be diplomat, politician. But a brahmana, oh, he's not allowed to speak lie. This is the system, caste system or varnasrama system. Everyone was trained. Because these four classes of men are required in a society. For proper upkeep of society, one class of men must be very intelligent, highly qualified, with all good qualities. They must be trained in that way, ideal character so that people can see and follow them. Therefore brahmanas were taken to so much respect because they're ideal character, learned, and godly, knows the science, spiritual science. Therefore they're held in high estimation and topmost of the society. The next, the administrator, administrative class, ksatriyas. They are trained how to kill. The ksatriyas were allowed to hunt in the forest to learn the art of killing because that was necessity for the ksatriyas. Ksatriya, if he... If the king, if he finds somebody is doing wrong, he can immediately chop off his head if he likes. The king was so powerful. And it is not that if there was some war, it is not that the president or the king shall sit down comfortably at home and ordinary soldiers will go and lay down their life. No. Formerly, the king or the head of the state, he should first of all go there in the fight. You see in the picture, the chief men of the fighting in the Kuruksetra, both sides, they were arrayed, this side, that side, with their chariot. Not that the head man, the chief man, or the commander is taking shelter back side, protecting himself, and poor soldiers are (chuckles) thrown into the fighting. No. These were ksatriya spirit. And it is necessary that a class of men should be trained up in that way, ksatriya, fighting men. In India, because this training was there since a very long time, so there is no difficulty in recruiting soldiers there. There is a class of men, they are very much forward in fighting still. They are called... Just like the Gurkhas, the Nepalese. You have heard the name of Nepal. Still a small state, independent state. They are not within India. Between China and India. The whole Nepal population, they are ksatriyas. Oh, they are very good fighters. Similarly, the Sikhs, the Jatas. There are classes. So they're always forward for fighting. And you'll be surprised that the British Empire was voluntarily liquidated because they lost India. The Britishers, they understood that because we are now losing India, there is no more possibility to keep our eastern empire. Therefore they liquidated. Why? Actually, the whole British Empire were being administered or managed by Indian soldiers, these Sikhs and Gurkhas. They extended their empire. After taking their position with India, they extended British Empire in the Middle East and Far East simply by these Sikhs and Gurkha soldiers. They got supremacy on the Burma and everywhere.
So there is necessity of a class of fighting men. You are finding in your country difficulty in recruiting because the recruiting process is wrong. You are recruiting from persons... You are training persons just like sudras, and you want them to fight. How they can fight? It is not possible. So as it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, that catur-varnyam maya srstam guna karma vibhagasah... [Bg. 4.13]. Lord Krsna said that "The four classes or orders of the society, brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra, is planned by Me according to work and quality." So this ksatriya quality men is also required, the brahmana quality of men is also required, the mercantile community, they are also required, and the laborer class, they are also required. Of course, laborer class, they do not require any training. Laborer class means one who cannot do anything, neither become brahmana, nor become ksatriya, nor become vaisya. That means the last balance of the population, they are called laborer class, sudra. Sudra means one who has no training. Sudra has no samskara. Samskara means training. Everyone is accepted as sudra by birth. Janmana jayate sudrah. Janmana means by birth. By birth, everyone is born a sudra, a fourth-class man. It is to be accepted, and actually so. Just like a child, innocent child, what does he know? He has to be trained. Either you train him as a brahmana or train him as a ksatriya or train him as a vaisya. Or otherwise, he is sudra already, born sudra. Sudra has no training. Everyone, the basic principle, basic foreground, everyone, it is accepted sudra. Now, if you train him as a brahmana, then he becomes a brahmana. If you train him as a ksatriya, then he becomes a ksatriya. If you train him as a vaisya... So I think this is, this system is very scientific so that if you want help of a really intelligent man or God realized man, it is ready, the brahmana class. Just like if you require the help of a lawyer, we have got so many lawyers. If you require the help of medical man... Because there are trained men. Similarly, the society requires to train a certain class of men to become brahmanas. Just like we are training the Krsna conscious. The Krsna consciousness is meant for the brahmanas. They are not meant for fighting because they are not being trained for fighting. They have been trained for becoming brahmanas. Who is brahmana? Brahma janati iti brahmana. The four divisions are described like this. Janmana jayate sudrah, everyone is born sudra. That is accepted. Samskarad bhaved dvijah. Now if you train him, never mind in which family he's born, you have to train him. Just like boys are sent to school for being trained. So everyone is accepted as sudra, but you now train him. He goes to the guru-grha.
Guru-grha means teacher's house. Formerly, for being trained, there was no such big scale school and colleges. Every village... Still, fifty years before in India, in every village there was a small school conducted by the brahmana, and the village children would be trained up there. So he was sent for training. And there was no school fee. The boys will go there, and on behalf of the teacher or spiritual master, they will go, brahmacari, door to door, and beg and bring forth alms, rice, dahl, grains, and everything. That was the system. There was no school fee. There was no problem how to send a boy to the school. Samskara. Now he's trained up. The teacher sees the psychology of the boy, in which way he should be trained. Either he should be trained as a vaisya or he should be trained as a ksatriya. So everyone was trained like that, but generally, the son of a ksatriya... Just like Maharaja Ramacandra or Arjuna, from the very beginning they were trained as ksatriya. Naturally, if somebody is the son of a medical man his father trains him to become a medical man in future. That is the natural tendency. If the boy is different altogether that is another question, but naturally, that is the tendency. So a ksatriya's son was trained as ksatriya. A brahmana's son was trained as a brahmana and a vaisya's son was trained as a vaisya, and sudra had no training. So gradually this became a caste system. Brahmana's son became brahmana. Because formerly, the training was there. But when it is vitiated, although a person born in the family of a brahmana, he is doing the work of a sudra. So according to Vedic scripture, one is classified according to his work and quality, not by birth. That is the classification of sastra. Just like in the Bhagavad-gita the Lord says catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg. 4.13]. Guna means quality and karma means work. One must be qualified for the work and he must actually work. Then he is counted classified into that, I mean to say, category. Just like if you are simply trained or educated as a lawyer, and if you are not practicing in the court, nobody comes to you to consult as a lawyer. Nobody cares for you. You must be practicing also. Similarly, to become a brahmana means first of all, he must know what is Brahman and he must be actually situated in the activities of Brahman. So devotional service are activities of Brahman. Activities in Krsna consciousness means activities in Brahman. Brahme carati iti brahma brahmacari. Carati means acts. Actually, he acts in life, applies the principles of brahmana in his life, he is called brahmacari. So these were the trainings.
So just see how the training was, that a ksatriya cannot refuse his promise. So Maharaja Dasaratha, he fulfilled the promise of his youngest wife and asked his son, eldest son Ramacandra, "My dear boy, You'll have to go to forest for fourteen years. That is the desire of Your youngest mother. And I promised that I shall fulfill her promise, uh, request. So please accept." Ramacandra said, "Yes father, I am ready." Just see. This is the quality. Out of the six opulences of God, this is one quality.
aisvaryasya samagrasya
viryasya yasasah sriyah
jnana-vairagyayos caiva
sannam bhagam itingana
(Visnu Purana 6.5.47)
How one becomes God? God is not manufactured by vote. There are definition who is God. God must be the proprietor of all the riches. Aisvaryasya samagrasya. Samagra means all. Nobody can compete with Him. Here, in this world, material world, I am rich man, and there is another rich man who can compete with me. There is another rich man who can compete with him. But nobody can compete with God in richness. That is one qualification of God. Nobody can say that "I am richer than God." You can say "I am richer than Ford or Rockefeller" or this or that. You can say. But nobody can say that "I am richer than God." Therefore in the Bhagavad-gita it is said mattah parataram nanyat asti kincid dhananjaya. Mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya [Bg. 7.7]. Dhananjaya is a name of Arjuna, and Krsna said that, "My dear Arjuna, there is nobody greater than Me." So if anyone claims that he is God, he must prove by practical example that nobody is richer than him. That is the first. But unfortunately, we are accepting so many Gods. A rascal in the street, he also claims that "I am God."
So similarly, the other qualification, nobody can be stronger than God, nobody can be wiser than God, nobody can be more beautiful than God, and nobody can be more renouncer than God. So here Ramacandra, Lord Ramacandra exhibited the quality how He renounced the whole kingdom simply on the order of His father, His obedience to father. He could have argued with His father, "My dear father, you, simply for keeping your promise and actuated by the dictation of a woman, you are doing this. Let us stop it. Everyone is expecting that tomorrow My coronation will be there, and they love Me so much." Because He... Just like Krsna was so much loved, similarly, Lord Ramacandra was the life of the people. They were very much expecting that Ramacandra was going to be enthroned tomorrow. So how they were celebrating, how they were decorating the whole city. Everything. He never argued. He accepted immediately: "Yes, father. I am ready."
So then one of the brothers, Laksmana, He also requested Ramacandra, "My dear brother, You also take Me. I am Your constant companion. I must go with You." So He said, "That's Your wish. Voluntarily, if You want to come, You can come with Me." Then Sita, His wife, young wife, She also said, "I'll go with You." Ramacandra requested His wife, "Oh, you cannot go with Me. It is very difficult. You are a king's daughter, and you are brought up in so nice way, and you are so beautiful. You cannot go. You cannot take the trouble of living in the forest." So she said, "Oh, I am Your wife. Married wife. So I must go even if You go to hell." This is ideal wife. She could have refused: "Oh, Your father has ordered to go to forest. You can go. I shall go to my father's house or I shall remain here." No. This is ideal wife. She must be prepared to accept any circumstances of the husband. Not that when the husband is rich the wife is very faithful, and when he has come down to be poor or he's going to forest the wife gives up his company. No. Wife means better half. She must abide. Just like, it is said, just like a shadow follows the reality, similarly, the wife is the shadow of the husband. Wherever the husband goes, she must go. Whatever the husband wants, she must carry out. Of course, in this country this interpretation is taken differently, that wife is made a slave. But actually, it is not so. When Sita was kidnapped in the jungle, Ramacandra expected that, that she was beautiful, she was young, and "We shall be in open jungle. It may be some demons may come," and actually it so happened. So for Sita, Lord Ramacandra massacred the whole family of Ravana. Only for Sita. So as the husband, so the wife. The wife was so faithful that she could not remain alone. She must accompany the husband even in the forest. And the husband was so faithful that, "Oh, my wife has been kidnapped." So He massacred the whole family of Ravana.
So these are ideal history how... Ramacandra, Lord Ramacandra appeared on this world to educate or to place ideal example of a king. How the king should be. Therefore when there is good government... The example is given, Rama-rajya. Rama-rajya. It is the kingdom of Lord Rama. Because everyone was happy, everyone. There are so many instances in the life of Ramacandra. One brahmana... Not brahmana exactly. Somebody came to Ramacandra. Because at that time there was no court like this, that you have to go to a court and apply with stamp fee. Then your judgment will be delivered after six years. It is not like that. Anyone who has got some complaint, he should... The king used to sit in the open audience, and the citizens were allowed to approach the king and place their complaints. Because there was no complaint practically. Everyone was happy. Very minor complaint. So somebody came to Ramacandra, and he charged Ramacandra, "My dear king, my son has died. How is that, in the presence of his father, son can die? There must be something wrong in Your government." Just see. The charge is "Why my son has died before my death? This is unnatural." So there was nothing unnatural. The king was responsible even for severe cold, severe heat. That we get from history of Srimad-Bhagavatam. That is stated. So the kings were so much responsible. They were always thinking of the happiness of the citizens, and the citizens were also so nice. One citizen approached Lord Ramacandra and His next assistant, His brother, Laksmana, informed Him that "He is a brahmana. You were absent on Your tour for, I think for a fortnight or a month, and this brahmana has not eaten even a drop of water during Your absence." Why? "Because he comes here to see You, darsana." Just like we come here in the temple to see the Deity. So Lord Ramacandra was present personally. So he used to come. After seeing Ramacandra, offering his obeisances, then he would go home and take something, his breakfast. That was his vow. And because he could not see for a fortnight or a month Lord Ramacandra because He was out on political tour, he did not eat even. Just see. The citizens were similar to the king. So at that time, there was a statue of Ramacandra which was being worshiped in the family from Maharaja Iksvaku. Maharaja Iksvaku, the son of Manu, happens to be the forefather of the family in which Ramacandra appeared. So he was devotee of Lord Rama, and he was worshiping the statue of Lord Rama. So that statue was being worshiped by the family one after another. But when Ramacandra was actually present He kept that statue in the closet of the room, and when this brahmana approached and Ramacandra was informed by Laksmana that he is so steady and strong in his vow, so Ramacandra ordered that he may be delivered that statue so that in My absence he can offer respect to the statue and do with this. That form, I mean to say, statue, or arca of Ramacandra is still existing in South India. It is being worshiped from that time.
So these were the dealings of Ramacandra. Then He, His younger brother Laksmana and His wife went to the forest, and His wife was kidnapped by the diplomacy of the demon Ravana, and there was fight between Rama and Ravana. Ravana was very, materialistically, he was very strong. But the thing is for fighting with Ravana, Ramacandra did not come back to His kingdom and take His army. No. He did not come back because He was ordered to live in the forest. So He organized army with the jungle animals, the monkeys. The monkeys. He fought with Ravana, an organized materialist, with the monkeys. You have seen the picture. And He constructed a bridge between India's last point to the other side. Ceylon is considered to be the kingdom of Ravana. So there was a bridge, and the stones were floating.
So there are so many historical incidences in the life of Ramacandra, and we should remember, because if we remember why we are observing today fasting for Ramacandra... There were many kings like Ramacandra. Because the kings were trained in that way. Maharaja Yudhisthira was also as good as Ramacandra, and Maharaja Pariksit was as good. There were many such kings. But we are not concerned because He was a king. He is the King of all kings, paramesvara. Because He is God, therefore we are observing today. Ramadi-murtisu kala-niyamena tisthan [Bs. 5.39]. So He is not original form of God. The original form of God is Krsna, and Krsna expands Himself in various other forms. Advaitam acyutam anadim ananta-rupam [Bs. 5.33]. Ananta-rupam means millions and millions. The Manu is also incarnation of Krsna. So in one day of Brahma there are fourteen Manus. So Brahma lives for one hundred years. Just see how many incarnation of Manus are there even for one Brahma, and there are innumerable Brahmas also. So, as stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam that nobody can count how many incarnations are there, but some of the chief incarnations are mentioned, and Lord Ramacandra is one of them. So Lord Ramacandra, He killed Ravana and He installed his brother. His brother was devotee, Vibhisana. So He did not go to conquer Ceylon, because He was emperor. He went to punish that culprit Ravana, and He installed his younger brother Vibhisana in that... And He came back with Sita, and again He was installed after fourteen years, and His brother was so faithful that so long His eldest brother was away, Ramacandra requested Him that "Your mother wants that You should be king, and I also wish that in My absence You should be king." Bharata, He was so faithful brother, He replied, "No. You are king. So long You are living, nobody can be king. So I cannot be king." Then He requested, "At least You administer." Because after the departure of Lord Ramacandra, Maharaja Dasaratha died out of the shock because Ramacandra was very pet son, eldest son. He was going to be king, and by his order He was sent to the forest. The father could not tolerate the shock. He died.
So Ramacandra's life, God's activities, pastimes, if we hear, that means we are associating with Ramacandra. There is no difference between His form, His name, His pastimes, and Himself. He's absolute. Therefore either you chant the holy name of Rama or you see the statue of Rama or you talk of His pastimes, transcendental pastimes, everything, that means you are associating with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So we take advantage of these days when the incarnation of God appears or disappears, and we try to associate with Him. By His association we become purified. Our process is purification. Krsna consciousness means simply we are purifying our consciousness. From the birth, as I have explained, everyone is sudra. Sudra means one who laments. That is called sudra. For a slight loss or slight inconvenience, one who laments, he is called sudra. And brahmana means one who tolerates. A sudra has no toleration. So kalau sudra sambhava. Kalau means... This age is called Kali. So it is the statement of the sastras that in this age the whole population is sudra. And formerly also, by his birth, everyone was considered sudra, but there was training, samskara. At the present moment, there is no samskara, there is no training. The training is only for earning livelihood. No other training. How one can earn money and enjoy senses -- that is the training at the present moment. But actually, to make successful the human life or the mission of human life, the Vedic culture is very nice. And by spreading Krsna consciousness, by adopting the process of Krsna consciousness, you can revive that cultural life, sublime life. If not wholesale, if there are a few people trained up in this line, and they become ideal examples to the society, immense benefit can be derived from their examples of life. What is time? [break] (kirtana) (end)
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Sri Rama-Navami, Lord Ramacandra's Appearance Day -- Hawaii, March 27, 1969
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© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with permission.
Mar 68 , San Francisco
Prabhupada: (chants mangalacarana prayers)
ramadi murtisu kala-niyamena tisthan
nanavataram akarod bhuvanesu kintu
krsnah svayam samabhavat paramah puman yo
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
[Bs. 5.39]
This is a verse from Brahma-samhita in which the incarnation of Lord Ramacandra is described. Ramadi. Not only Rama, but there are many other, innumerable incarnations. They are compared with the waves of a river. As the waves of the river or the waves of the ocean cannot be counted, similarly, how many incarnations are there of the Supreme Lord it is not possible to count. But out of them, the principal names are mentioned in the sastras. Therefore it is said ramadi. Ramadi means Rama and also other, many incarnations. And they are existing. Not that one incarnation appeared and it is finished. No. Not like that. Just like Lord Ramacandra appeared on this planet, say millions of years before. He appeared in the Treta-yuga. Treta-yuga means... We have passed only five thousand years of this age, Kali-yuga. Before that, there was Dvapara-yuga. Dvapara-yuga means 800,000 years. And before that, there was Treta-yuga, which continued for twelve hundred thousands of years. That means at least two million years before Lord Ramacandra appeared on this planet.
So now Lord Ramacandra appeared in Ayodhya. There is a place in Ayodhya, in northern India. There He appeared. As Krsna appeared in Mathura... That is also northern India. And Mathura is about ninety miles down southward from New Delhi. You have heard the name of New Delhi, the capital of India. So Ayodhya is also situated about five hundred miles northeast of New Delhi. So Lord Ramacandra appeared on this day. Today is called Sri Rama Naumi. On the ninth day of the moon Lord Ramacandra appeared. His father was the king of Ayodhya, and he had three wives. So out of... No. He had two wives. So out of two wives he got four sons. Ramacandra is the eldest son. The life and activities of Lord Ramacandra is... [break] ...in a book which is called Ramayana. You have heard the name of Ramayana. Ramayana is also accepted as history. Vedic literatures are histories also. The Puranas, the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Mahabharata, and Ramayana, they are counted amongst the history. The history of Ramacandra is that His father wanted to retire. Dasaratha, Maharaja Dasaratha. And he decided to enthrone Lord Ramacandra and retire. So everything was settled, but just one day before, his youngest wife turned the whole thing into different way. Sometimes Maharaja Dasaratha was suffering from what is called whitlow, some trouble in the finger? And this queen served him very nicely, and he was pleased. And he said, "My dear Sarmistha, if you want some benediction from me, I can give you." And she replied that "I shall ask you for the benediction when I require it. Not now." So just one day before Lord Ramacandra's coronation, she approached her husband Maharaja Dasaratha and reminded him, "My dear husband, you promised to give me some benediction, and I told you that I shall ask you when I require it." Maharaja Dasaratha said, "Yes, I remember. You want some benediction just now?" She said, "Yes." "And what is that?" She said that "Ramacandra cannot be seated on the throne. My son should be coronated, Bharata." He was surprised. It is a big demand. So he said, "All right. That will be done. Your son." Because formerly, the kings... Not only formerly, even up to date, there are many ksatriya kings in India. They have more than one wife. And they are, naturally, there is rivalry between different wives. So the same thing. Human psychology is the same. Even two million years ago the same mentality was there, and she asked that "My son should be the king, not Ramacandra." Ramacandra happened to be the son of Kausalya, the elder queen.
So Maharaja Dasaratha agreed and called for Ramacandra. "My dear boy, your..." She asked also that... She was very diplomatic. She wanted that Ramacandra go to forest for fourteen years. The idea was political, that "The king may agree to install my son just now. Now, after a few days, this Ramacandra may come with His army, and there may be some difficulty to continue the kingdom." So she wanted that Ramacandra should go to the forest and He should not come back till the end of fourteen years from this day. So Maharaja Dasaratha agreed. Because he was ksatriya. Just see the promise. A ksatriya never goes back from the promise, never refuses any challenge. If a ksatriya is challenged by somebody, that "I want to fight with you," oh, he cannot refuse. This is ksatriya spirit. He cannot say that "I am now busy." Suppose somebody comes to you, that "I want to fight with you." You may say, "What nonsense fight? I have no time. We are in the temple." But a ksatriya cannot deny that. A ksatriya at once must accept. "Oh, yes. Come on." And the weapon should be, if he has no sword or weapon, he should be supplied weapon and fight. This is ksatriya spirit. They were highly charitable and chivalrous and keeping promise and with a great tendency for ruling over. They shall rule over. Administrators. Their business is...
There are different prescription for different classes of men for their livelihood. The brahmanas, they can pull on their livelihood by six ways. Pathana pathana yajana yajana dana pratigraha. Six. And they must be qualified with twelve high qualities. We have many times discussed. Out of that qualification, truthfulness is the first item for a brahmana. A ksatriya may speak lies. That is allowed, because he has to be diplomat, politician. But a brahmana, oh, he's not allowed to speak lie. This is the system, caste system or varnasrama system. Everyone was trained. Because these four classes of men are required in a society. For proper upkeep of society, one class of men must be very intelligent, highly qualified, with all good qualities. They must be trained in that way, ideal character so that people can see and follow them. Therefore brahmanas were taken to so much respect because they're ideal character, learned, and godly, knows the science, spiritual science. Therefore they're held in high estimation and topmost of the society. The next, the administrator, administrative class, ksatriyas. They are trained how to kill. The ksatriyas were allowed to hunt in the forest to learn the art of killing because that was necessity for the ksatriyas. Ksatriya, if he... If the king, if he finds somebody is doing wrong, he can immediately chop off his head if he likes. The king was so powerful. And it is not that if there was some war, it is not that the president or the king shall sit down comfortably at home and ordinary soldiers will go and lay down their life. No. Formerly, the king or the head of the state, he should first of all go there in the fight. You see in the picture, the chief men of the fighting in the Kuruksetra, both sides, they were arrayed, this side, that side, with their chariot. Not that the head man, the chief man, or the commander is taking shelter back side, protecting himself, and poor soldiers are (chuckles) thrown into the fighting. No. These were ksatriya spirit. And it is necessary that a class of men should be trained up in that way, ksatriya, fighting men. In India, because this training was there since a very long time, so there is no difficulty in recruiting soldiers there. There is a class of men, they are very much forward in fighting still. They are called... Just like the Gurkhas, the Nepalese. You have heard the name of Nepal. Still a small state, independent state. They are not within India. Between China and India. The whole Nepal population, they are ksatriyas. Oh, they are very good fighters. Similarly, the Sikhs, the Jatas. There are classes. So they're always forward for fighting. And you'll be surprised that the British Empire was voluntarily liquidated because they lost India. The Britishers, they understood that because we are now losing India, there is no more possibility to keep our eastern empire. Therefore they liquidated. Why? Actually, the whole British Empire were being administered or managed by Indian soldiers, these Sikhs and Gurkhas. They extended their empire. After taking their position with India, they extended British Empire in the Middle East and Far East simply by these Sikhs and Gurkha soldiers. They got supremacy on the Burma and everywhere.
So there is necessity of a class of fighting men. You are finding in your country difficulty in recruiting because the recruiting process is wrong. You are recruiting from persons... You are training persons just like sudras, and you want them to fight. How they can fight? It is not possible. So as it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, that catur-varnyam maya srstam guna karma vibhagasah... [Bg. 4.13]. Lord Krsna said that "The four classes or orders of the society, brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sudra, is planned by Me according to work and quality." So this ksatriya quality men is also required, the brahmana quality of men is also required, the mercantile community, they are also required, and the laborer class, they are also required. Of course, laborer class, they do not require any training. Laborer class means one who cannot do anything, neither become brahmana, nor become ksatriya, nor become vaisya. That means the last balance of the population, they are called laborer class, sudra. Sudra means one who has no training. Sudra has no samskara. Samskara means training. Everyone is accepted as sudra by birth. Janmana jayate sudrah. Janmana means by birth. By birth, everyone is born a sudra, a fourth-class man. It is to be accepted, and actually so. Just like a child, innocent child, what does he know? He has to be trained. Either you train him as a brahmana or train him as a ksatriya or train him as a vaisya. Or otherwise, he is sudra already, born sudra. Sudra has no training. Everyone, the basic principle, basic foreground, everyone, it is accepted sudra. Now, if you train him as a brahmana, then he becomes a brahmana. If you train him as a ksatriya, then he becomes a ksatriya. If you train him as a vaisya... So I think this is, this system is very scientific so that if you want help of a really intelligent man or God realized man, it is ready, the brahmana class. Just like if you require the help of a lawyer, we have got so many lawyers. If you require the help of medical man... Because there are trained men. Similarly, the society requires to train a certain class of men to become brahmanas. Just like we are training the Krsna conscious. The Krsna consciousness is meant for the brahmanas. They are not meant for fighting because they are not being trained for fighting. They have been trained for becoming brahmanas. Who is brahmana? Brahma janati iti brahmana. The four divisions are described like this. Janmana jayate sudrah, everyone is born sudra. That is accepted. Samskarad bhaved dvijah. Now if you train him, never mind in which family he's born, you have to train him. Just like boys are sent to school for being trained. So everyone is accepted as sudra, but you now train him. He goes to the guru-grha.
Guru-grha means teacher's house. Formerly, for being trained, there was no such big scale school and colleges. Every village... Still, fifty years before in India, in every village there was a small school conducted by the brahmana, and the village children would be trained up there. So he was sent for training. And there was no school fee. The boys will go there, and on behalf of the teacher or spiritual master, they will go, brahmacari, door to door, and beg and bring forth alms, rice, dahl, grains, and everything. That was the system. There was no school fee. There was no problem how to send a boy to the school. Samskara. Now he's trained up. The teacher sees the psychology of the boy, in which way he should be trained. Either he should be trained as a vaisya or he should be trained as a ksatriya. So everyone was trained like that, but generally, the son of a ksatriya... Just like Maharaja Ramacandra or Arjuna, from the very beginning they were trained as ksatriya. Naturally, if somebody is the son of a medical man his father trains him to become a medical man in future. That is the natural tendency. If the boy is different altogether that is another question, but naturally, that is the tendency. So a ksatriya's son was trained as ksatriya. A brahmana's son was trained as a brahmana and a vaisya's son was trained as a vaisya, and sudra had no training. So gradually this became a caste system. Brahmana's son became brahmana. Because formerly, the training was there. But when it is vitiated, although a person born in the family of a brahmana, he is doing the work of a sudra. So according to Vedic scripture, one is classified according to his work and quality, not by birth. That is the classification of sastra. Just like in the Bhagavad-gita the Lord says catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg. 4.13]. Guna means quality and karma means work. One must be qualified for the work and he must actually work. Then he is counted classified into that, I mean to say, category. Just like if you are simply trained or educated as a lawyer, and if you are not practicing in the court, nobody comes to you to consult as a lawyer. Nobody cares for you. You must be practicing also. Similarly, to become a brahmana means first of all, he must know what is Brahman and he must be actually situated in the activities of Brahman. So devotional service are activities of Brahman. Activities in Krsna consciousness means activities in Brahman. Brahme carati iti brahma brahmacari. Carati means acts. Actually, he acts in life, applies the principles of brahmana in his life, he is called brahmacari. So these were the trainings.
So just see how the training was, that a ksatriya cannot refuse his promise. So Maharaja Dasaratha, he fulfilled the promise of his youngest wife and asked his son, eldest son Ramacandra, "My dear boy, You'll have to go to forest for fourteen years. That is the desire of Your youngest mother. And I promised that I shall fulfill her promise, uh, request. So please accept." Ramacandra said, "Yes father, I am ready." Just see. This is the quality. Out of the six opulences of God, this is one quality.
aisvaryasya samagrasya
viryasya yasasah sriyah
jnana-vairagyayos caiva
sannam bhagam itingana
(Visnu Purana 6.5.47)
How one becomes God? God is not manufactured by vote. There are definition who is God. God must be the proprietor of all the riches. Aisvaryasya samagrasya. Samagra means all. Nobody can compete with Him. Here, in this world, material world, I am rich man, and there is another rich man who can compete with me. There is another rich man who can compete with him. But nobody can compete with God in richness. That is one qualification of God. Nobody can say that "I am richer than God." You can say "I am richer than Ford or Rockefeller" or this or that. You can say. But nobody can say that "I am richer than God." Therefore in the Bhagavad-gita it is said mattah parataram nanyat asti kincid dhananjaya. Mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya [Bg. 7.7]. Dhananjaya is a name of Arjuna, and Krsna said that, "My dear Arjuna, there is nobody greater than Me." So if anyone claims that he is God, he must prove by practical example that nobody is richer than him. That is the first. But unfortunately, we are accepting so many Gods. A rascal in the street, he also claims that "I am God."
So similarly, the other qualification, nobody can be stronger than God, nobody can be wiser than God, nobody can be more beautiful than God, and nobody can be more renouncer than God. So here Ramacandra, Lord Ramacandra exhibited the quality how He renounced the whole kingdom simply on the order of His father, His obedience to father. He could have argued with His father, "My dear father, you, simply for keeping your promise and actuated by the dictation of a woman, you are doing this. Let us stop it. Everyone is expecting that tomorrow My coronation will be there, and they love Me so much." Because He... Just like Krsna was so much loved, similarly, Lord Ramacandra was the life of the people. They were very much expecting that Ramacandra was going to be enthroned tomorrow. So how they were celebrating, how they were decorating the whole city. Everything. He never argued. He accepted immediately: "Yes, father. I am ready."
So then one of the brothers, Laksmana, He also requested Ramacandra, "My dear brother, You also take Me. I am Your constant companion. I must go with You." So He said, "That's Your wish. Voluntarily, if You want to come, You can come with Me." Then Sita, His wife, young wife, She also said, "I'll go with You." Ramacandra requested His wife, "Oh, you cannot go with Me. It is very difficult. You are a king's daughter, and you are brought up in so nice way, and you are so beautiful. You cannot go. You cannot take the trouble of living in the forest." So she said, "Oh, I am Your wife. Married wife. So I must go even if You go to hell." This is ideal wife. She could have refused: "Oh, Your father has ordered to go to forest. You can go. I shall go to my father's house or I shall remain here." No. This is ideal wife. She must be prepared to accept any circumstances of the husband. Not that when the husband is rich the wife is very faithful, and when he has come down to be poor or he's going to forest the wife gives up his company. No. Wife means better half. She must abide. Just like, it is said, just like a shadow follows the reality, similarly, the wife is the shadow of the husband. Wherever the husband goes, she must go. Whatever the husband wants, she must carry out. Of course, in this country this interpretation is taken differently, that wife is made a slave. But actually, it is not so. When Sita was kidnapped in the jungle, Ramacandra expected that, that she was beautiful, she was young, and "We shall be in open jungle. It may be some demons may come," and actually it so happened. So for Sita, Lord Ramacandra massacred the whole family of Ravana. Only for Sita. So as the husband, so the wife. The wife was so faithful that she could not remain alone. She must accompany the husband even in the forest. And the husband was so faithful that, "Oh, my wife has been kidnapped." So He massacred the whole family of Ravana.
So these are ideal history how... Ramacandra, Lord Ramacandra appeared on this world to educate or to place ideal example of a king. How the king should be. Therefore when there is good government... The example is given, Rama-rajya. Rama-rajya. It is the kingdom of Lord Rama. Because everyone was happy, everyone. There are so many instances in the life of Ramacandra. One brahmana... Not brahmana exactly. Somebody came to Ramacandra. Because at that time there was no court like this, that you have to go to a court and apply with stamp fee. Then your judgment will be delivered after six years. It is not like that. Anyone who has got some complaint, he should... The king used to sit in the open audience, and the citizens were allowed to approach the king and place their complaints. Because there was no complaint practically. Everyone was happy. Very minor complaint. So somebody came to Ramacandra, and he charged Ramacandra, "My dear king, my son has died. How is that, in the presence of his father, son can die? There must be something wrong in Your government." Just see. The charge is "Why my son has died before my death? This is unnatural." So there was nothing unnatural. The king was responsible even for severe cold, severe heat. That we get from history of Srimad-Bhagavatam. That is stated. So the kings were so much responsible. They were always thinking of the happiness of the citizens, and the citizens were also so nice. One citizen approached Lord Ramacandra and His next assistant, His brother, Laksmana, informed Him that "He is a brahmana. You were absent on Your tour for, I think for a fortnight or a month, and this brahmana has not eaten even a drop of water during Your absence." Why? "Because he comes here to see You, darsana." Just like we come here in the temple to see the Deity. So Lord Ramacandra was present personally. So he used to come. After seeing Ramacandra, offering his obeisances, then he would go home and take something, his breakfast. That was his vow. And because he could not see for a fortnight or a month Lord Ramacandra because He was out on political tour, he did not eat even. Just see. The citizens were similar to the king. So at that time, there was a statue of Ramacandra which was being worshiped in the family from Maharaja Iksvaku. Maharaja Iksvaku, the son of Manu, happens to be the forefather of the family in which Ramacandra appeared. So he was devotee of Lord Rama, and he was worshiping the statue of Lord Rama. So that statue was being worshiped by the family one after another. But when Ramacandra was actually present He kept that statue in the closet of the room, and when this brahmana approached and Ramacandra was informed by Laksmana that he is so steady and strong in his vow, so Ramacandra ordered that he may be delivered that statue so that in My absence he can offer respect to the statue and do with this. That form, I mean to say, statue, or arca of Ramacandra is still existing in South India. It is being worshiped from that time.
So these were the dealings of Ramacandra. Then He, His younger brother Laksmana and His wife went to the forest, and His wife was kidnapped by the diplomacy of the demon Ravana, and there was fight between Rama and Ravana. Ravana was very, materialistically, he was very strong. But the thing is for fighting with Ravana, Ramacandra did not come back to His kingdom and take His army. No. He did not come back because He was ordered to live in the forest. So He organized army with the jungle animals, the monkeys. The monkeys. He fought with Ravana, an organized materialist, with the monkeys. You have seen the picture. And He constructed a bridge between India's last point to the other side. Ceylon is considered to be the kingdom of Ravana. So there was a bridge, and the stones were floating.
So there are so many historical incidences in the life of Ramacandra, and we should remember, because if we remember why we are observing today fasting for Ramacandra... There were many kings like Ramacandra. Because the kings were trained in that way. Maharaja Yudhisthira was also as good as Ramacandra, and Maharaja Pariksit was as good. There were many such kings. But we are not concerned because He was a king. He is the King of all kings, paramesvara. Because He is God, therefore we are observing today. Ramadi-murtisu kala-niyamena tisthan [Bs. 5.39]. So He is not original form of God. The original form of God is Krsna, and Krsna expands Himself in various other forms. Advaitam acyutam anadim ananta-rupam [Bs. 5.33]. Ananta-rupam means millions and millions. The Manu is also incarnation of Krsna. So in one day of Brahma there are fourteen Manus. So Brahma lives for one hundred years. Just see how many incarnation of Manus are there even for one Brahma, and there are innumerable Brahmas also. So, as stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam that nobody can count how many incarnations are there, but some of the chief incarnations are mentioned, and Lord Ramacandra is one of them. So Lord Ramacandra, He killed Ravana and He installed his brother. His brother was devotee, Vibhisana. So He did not go to conquer Ceylon, because He was emperor. He went to punish that culprit Ravana, and He installed his younger brother Vibhisana in that... And He came back with Sita, and again He was installed after fourteen years, and His brother was so faithful that so long His eldest brother was away, Ramacandra requested Him that "Your mother wants that You should be king, and I also wish that in My absence You should be king." Bharata, He was so faithful brother, He replied, "No. You are king. So long You are living, nobody can be king. So I cannot be king." Then He requested, "At least You administer." Because after the departure of Lord Ramacandra, Maharaja Dasaratha died out of the shock because Ramacandra was very pet son, eldest son. He was going to be king, and by his order He was sent to the forest. The father could not tolerate the shock. He died.
So Ramacandra's life, God's activities, pastimes, if we hear, that means we are associating with Ramacandra. There is no difference between His form, His name, His pastimes, and Himself. He's absolute. Therefore either you chant the holy name of Rama or you see the statue of Rama or you talk of His pastimes, transcendental pastimes, everything, that means you are associating with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So we take advantage of these days when the incarnation of God appears or disappears, and we try to associate with Him. By His association we become purified. Our process is purification. Krsna consciousness means simply we are purifying our consciousness. From the birth, as I have explained, everyone is sudra. Sudra means one who laments. That is called sudra. For a slight loss or slight inconvenience, one who laments, he is called sudra. And brahmana means one who tolerates. A sudra has no toleration. So kalau sudra sambhava. Kalau means... This age is called Kali. So it is the statement of the sastras that in this age the whole population is sudra. And formerly also, by his birth, everyone was considered sudra, but there was training, samskara. At the present moment, there is no samskara, there is no training. The training is only for earning livelihood. No other training. How one can earn money and enjoy senses -- that is the training at the present moment. But actually, to make successful the human life or the mission of human life, the Vedic culture is very nice. And by spreading Krsna consciousness, by adopting the process of Krsna consciousness, you can revive that cultural life, sublime life. If not wholesale, if there are a few people trained up in this line, and they become ideal examples to the society, immense benefit can be derived from their examples of life. What is time? [break] (kirtana) (end)
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Sri Rama-Navami, Lord Ramacandra's Appearance Day -- Hawaii, March 27, 1969
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