Transcending All Misery

Transcending All Misery

Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.46
San Diego, July 27, 1975

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Nitai: "O best of the demigods, as we can see three different varieties of life on account of different contamination of the three modes of nature, and thus the living entities are seen to be peaceful, most restless and foolish, or happy, unhappy, and in between, or religious, nonreligious and in between, similarly we can infer that in the next life these three kinds of material nature exist."

Prabhupada:

yatheha deva-pravaras
trai-vidhyam upalabhyate
bhutesu guna-vaicitryat
tathanyatranumiyate
 [SB 6.1.46]

Anumiyate. Anumiyate means hypothesis. This is also an evidence. Pratyaksa, anumana, and sruta. According to Vedic principles, there are three different types of evidences. Everything must be proved by evidence. So these are primarily three evidences. Pratyaksa, direct perception, pratyaksa; anumana; and sruti. Anumana means I cannot see directly, but by the symptoms I can imagine. That is anumana. Just like I have seen that in the month of April, May, June, we can get mangoes. That is our direct experience. So similarly, we can say, in the month of January, we can say that "In the month of April, May, June, we shall have mangoes." In the January there is no mango. But because I know, I experienced in my last April, May, June, so similarly, this intuition is nothing but experience of my last life. That is called intuition. The rascals, they say that there is no experience. Whatever life we have got just now, here experience. No. The intuition... Just like a dog's cub born, it is also trying to find out milk from the body of the mother, and exactly in the same place putting his mouth. Or human child also. This is last experience. That proves that life is continual. Just like I came here about two, three years ago? So I immediately, while getting down, I immediately understood, "Oh, the same house." So this is called intuition, means past experience.

Then the most authentic evidence is sruti, out of three evidences, the sruti, hearing from the authority. Just like Krsna says, imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam [Bg. 4.1]. So Krsna says... Krsna is the authority, best authority, supreme authority. So we can understand from His speech that in the sun planet there is a king whose name is Vaivasvata. And Krsna says that "I spoke to Vivasvan." So Vivasvan... Now, nobody can say when the sun planet was created. But we can calculate, as it is said, vivasvan manave prahuh, that Vivasvan, he explained to Manu. So Manu's age we can calculate. Manu's age, there are seventy-two Manus in one day of Brahma. And the one day of Brahma means forty-three hundred thousands of years multiplied by one thousand and divided by seventy-two. Then we can immediately calculate what is Manu's age. So by Manu's age we can calculate that forty millions of years ago Krsna spoke to the sun-god about this philosophy. This is called sruti. The exact calculation, by sruti you can make. So sruti-pramana.

So here it is said deva-pravarah. The Visnudutas, they are coming from Vaikuntha, so beautiful, so nicely dressed, four-handed with ornaments, helmet, garland. So they have experience of the demigods, but the Visnudutas do not belong to this material world. They belong to the spiritual world. Therefore they are addressed deva-pravarah, "More than the demigods," deva-pravarah. They are very much pleased to see the Visnudutas, although argument is going on. Immediately after see them, they are, the Yamadutas, they are very much pleased upon them, that "They are not ordinary living being." And with four hands. Therefore they are addressing, deva-pravarah. Yatheha deva-pravaras trai-vidhyam upalabhyate. Vidhi, tri-vidha. Tri-vidha means three varieties. Vidha mean variety, and tri means three. So from tri-vidha it is said, trai-vidhyam bhavah.

So trai-vidhyam, three kinds. Three kinds. Here also, in this world, we see varieties of men, varieties of animals, varieties of trees, varieties of insects-many varieties. It is already informed that altogether, within this universe, there are 8,400,000 varieties of life. Life is one. The varieties means body. Just like we are sitting. Every one of us has got a particular type of body. You will never find that this man or this boy or this girl exactly of the same bodily feature. Varieties. So altogether there are classes, or species, 8,400,000. So those who are experienced, thoughtful men, by reading scripture... Just like Krsna says that imam vivasvate yogam proktavan. He said to the sun-god or the president of the sun planet, Vivasvan. So that means that is also a similar place like this. You cannot say there is no living entity. Anumiyate. That is intelligence. Because this planet is also one of the material things, everything is made here, earth, water, air, fire. So somewhere some element is very prominent. Here in this planet the earth is prominent. In the sun planet the fire is prominent. But that does not mean there is no living entity. This is foolishness. Anumiyate. This is intelligence, that everything within this universe, this material universe, everything is made of these five elements: earth, water, fire, air, sky. We see here practically that the aquatics, they have got a different type of body, and they are very peacefully living in the water. And if you are thrown in the water, you will die. And the fish is taken from the water; he will die. So land, water, fire -- the particular type of body.

So here it is said that it is anumiyate. As here we find varieties, similarly, in other planet or in next life there are varieties. This is intelligence, human intelligence. Why you should say there is no next life or there is no life in other planet? Therefore we have to refer to the sastras, sastra-vidhi. Yah sastra-vidhim utsrjya vartate kama... [Bg. 16.23]. If you unnecessarily becomes too much intelligent and theorize, then he is never successful, he is never sukhi. Na sukham na... Na siddhim sa avapnoti na sukham na param gatim. Such a rascal, who does not consult the sastras and thinks whimsically according to his mad conception, such person, na siddhim avapnoti. That is spoken by Krsna. He will never get success. He will simply speculate. There is no, definite knowledge. Na sukham, and he is not happy. And what to speak of going back to home, back to Godhead. He is a rascal. There is no hope. So do not conclude in your foolish way anything. Just refer to the sastra, authority, sruti. Therefore it is called sruti. We cannot imagine that there is possibility of living entity in the sun planet or moon planet, but sruti... Just like Krsna says that "I spoke to sun-god." So by hearing this sruti, we understand that there is also life and there is also system, the government, the chief executive. Everything is there. And that is by sruti anumiyate. Anumiyate means you can imagine it is a fact.

So from sastra we can get the different varieties of life there are, 8,400... Some of them living for a few second, some of them are living few hours, some of them are living for years, and some of them are living for a few millions of years, some millions of years, just like Brahma. You cannot calculate Brahma's duration of life. But the duration of life is given in the Bhagavad-gita, sahasra-yuga-paryantam ahar yad brahmano viduh [Bg. 8.17]. So you have to understand like that, that here is Brahma's twelve hours, one day, millions and millions of years. And he lives for hundred years. So his hundred years and my hundred years is not the same. That is scientific, relativity. Or the ant's hundred years and my hundred years is not the same. The space, time, they differ according to position. I think Professor Einstein has got this knowledge, relativity, Law of Relativity. Everything is... My one moment and Brahma's one moment, different. My one moment, the ant's one moment is different, according to my body. But time is unlimited, eternal. But according to my body, it is past, present and future. An ant's past, present, future and my past, present, future -- different. My past, present, future and Brahma's past, present, future -- different. It is the relative. Just like by speed we are calculating this whole world is twenty-five thousand miles. But it has been proved by the, what is that? Weapon for going to the space? Sputnik, sputnik. He rounded over the world -- one hour, twenty-five minutes. That is experience, relative. If you increase your speed, then the round about time decreases. Similarly, if by yoga system you increase your speed, then you can travel all over the universe as Durvasa Muni said. Durvasa Muni, he crossed over this universe and went to the Vaikunthaloka. It took only one year. This is relative. It took one years only. And you cannot go in so many years. Panthas tu koti-sata-vatsara-sampragamyah [Bs. 5.34]. Everything is relative.

So first of all the Yamadutas are so experienced because they are servant of Yamaraja. He is not ordinary living being. Therefore they are explaining that how people are happy, unhappy, in one position or other... It is due to past activities, dharma adharma. That is the next verse. So the example is given that why there are so many varieties of living entities? It is due to varieties of three gunas. Last evening I was talking with that Hope(?) professor that "Why in country like America and Europe there are hippies lying on the street? Why? They are not poor. In India you can say that they are poor. They have no shelter; therefore lying down on the street." I thought when I came that there is no man in America who is lying down, street, because that is rich country. But when I actually saw in Bowery, hundreds of men are lying down in the street... They are not poor, but they are destined to lie down on the street. So the three orders, traigunya, trai-vidhya, must be there. Either it may be America or Europe or India or Czechoslovakia or anywhere. Anywhere, the three must..., one high class, one middle class and low class. There must be there. And then again take these three varieties and multiply it again with three, nine. Then nine into nine. eighty-one.

So these varieties of bodies are there. You cannot change the law of nature. Struggle for existence: we are trying to conquer over the laws of nature. That is not possible. Daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg. 7.14]. So these are the subject matter of studies. Why there are, everyone is unhappy and happy to some extent? According to these qualities. So here it is said, therefore, that "As here we see in this life, in duration of life, there are varieties, similarly, guna-vaicitryat, by the varieties of the guna, guna-vaicitryat," tathanyatranumiyate. Anyatra means next life or next planet or next anything. Everything is being controlled. Traigunya-visaya veda nistraigunyo bhavarjuna. Krsna advises Arjuna that "The whole material world is being controlled by these three gunas," guna-vaicitryat. "Therefore you become nistraigunya, where these three gunas cannot act." Nistraigunyo bhavarjuna. So how you can stop the action of these three gunas? That is also explained in the Bhagavad-gita:

mam ca vyabhicarini
bhakti-yogena yah sevate
sa gunan samatityaitan
brahma-bhuyaya kalpate
 [Bg. 14.26]

If you engage yourself in pure devotional service incessantly, without any stop, then you always remain transcendental, above these three gunas. So our Krsna consciousness movement is to keep the devotee above the three gunas. Just like in the ocean, if you are fallen in the ocean, it is very dangerous position. But if somebody helps you to lift you from the ocean water and keep one inch above the ocean water, there is no danger. Your life is saved.

So that is wanted, that guna-vaicitryat, if you want to save yourself from these varieties of life, birth, death, old age and disease, and accept so many varieties of life... Just like you were telling while walking that there are trees in California; they are living for five thousand years. That is also another variety of life. People are trying to live for many many years. By nature's way, here is a tree, five thousand years. So is that kind of living is very profitable, to stand up five thousand years in a forest? So any variety of life within this material world is not good, either you are demigod or tree or this or that. That is education. That is education. So one should understand that any varieties of life, either as demigod or dog, here the life is troublesome. The demigods even, they are put into so many dangers. Many times they approach God. So here you will be always in danger. Padam padam yad vipadam [SB 10.14.58]. It is futile to attempt to make this material world dangerless. That is not possible. As there are varieties of bodies, varieties of dangers, calamities, so one after another, you will have to... So best thing is, therefore, stop this business, material. That is Vedic civilization. The whole Vedic civilization is based on this idea, that "Stop this nonsense business, repetition of birth, death, old age." Therefore Krsna said, janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi duhkha-dosanudarsanam [Bg. 13.9]. This is knowledge. What knowledge, this technical knowledge, this knowledge? You cannot stop these things. Therefore main business is how to stop it. And because they are foolish people, they think that "These things cannot be stopped. Let us go on with this repetition of birth and death, and in each life let us struggle for existence." This is material civilization, ignorance, no knowledge.

The knowledge is given by Bhagavan Sri Krsna that "Here is the solution: janma karma ca me divyam yo janati tattvatah, tyaktva deham punar janma naiti [Bg. 4.9]." The problem is punar janma, repetition of birth, and if you want to stop it, then try to understand Krsna. Then you will be able to stop. As soon as you understand Krsna... To understand Krsna means even if you blindly accept, that is also beneficial. Krsna says what He is, that He is the Supreme Lord. So you accept Him. That's all. Simply have this faith, that "Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead." That will make you sufficiently advanced. But this is very difficult for the materialistic person. Therefore Krsna says, bahunam janmanam ante: [Bg. 7.19] "After endeavoring for many, many births," bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate, jnanavan, "who is actually wise, he surrenders to Krsna." Otherwise, na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah: [Bg. 7.15] "Otherwise he remain a rascal and implicated in sinful activities, lowest of the mankind, knowledge is taken away." Na mam prapadyante: "He never surrenders to Krsna."

So our Krsna consciousness movement is to propagate this knowledge that you understand Krsna, that He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by His activities which are recorded in the sastra. When Krsna was present on this earthly planet, He showed according to our understanding. Just like one man cannot maintain one wife: He married sixteen thousand wife. And He maintained them how? Sixteen thousand palaces. And will the women will be satisfied simply having very good palaces? No, she must have husband. So Krsna expanded Himself into sixteen thousand husband. This is Krsna. But because I cannot do it, we say, "Oh, this is all allegory, fiction. It is not fact." That is our defect. If God comes, explains, then we do not believe Him. Then how we will be convinced about God? God is omnipotent, and when He shows His omnipotency and it is recorded in the sastra, we don't believe. So therefore, why we do not believe? Now, yesam anta-gatam papam. Yesam... Krsna says everything.

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

One who is completely free from the reaction of sinful life, anta-gatam papam, and only engaged in pious activities, that such person can be engaged in His devotional service.

So you engage yourself in the routine devotional service of Krsna. Either understanding or not understanding, your life will be successful. Just like if you touch fire, understanding or not understanding, it will burn. Similarly, take to this Krsna consciousness. There is nothing blindly accepting. Everything is explained in the sastra, preliminary knowledge in Bhagavad-gita, further explained in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. So utilize your human life in understanding Krsna, and then your life will be successful.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

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Why Not Eternal Life

Why Not Eternal Life

Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.45
Laguna Beach, July 26 1975

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Nitai: "In this life, any person to the proportionate degree of the varieties of work, either religious or irreligious, as they are performed in the next life also, the same person to the same degree, the same variety, the resultant action of his karma must enjoy or suffer."

Prabhupada:

yena yavan yathadharmo
dharmo veha samihitah
sa eva tat-phalam bhunkte
tatha tavad amutra vai
 [SB 6.1.45]

So in the previous verse we have discussed, dehavan na hy akarma-krt. Anyone who has got this material body, he has to work. Everyone has to work. In the spiritual body also you have to work. In the material body also you have to work. Because the working principle is the soul -- soul is living force -- so he is busy. Living body means there is movement. There is work. He cannot sit idly. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said, "Not even for a moment one can be idle." That is the symptom of living being. So this working is going on according to the particular body. The dog is also running, and a man is also running. But a man thinks he is very much civilized because he is running on motorcar. Both of them are running, but a man has got a particular type of body by which he can prepare a vehicle or cycle, and he can run on. He is thinking that "I am running in greater speed than the dog; therefore I am civilized. This is the modern mentality. He does not know that what is the difference between running on fifty miles speed or five miles speed or five thousand miles speed or five millions miles of speed. The space is unlimited. Whatever speed you discover, it is still insufficient. Still insufficient.

So this is not life, that "Because I can run in more speed than the dog, therefore I am civilized."

panthas tu koti-sata-vatsara-sampragamyo
vayor athapi manaso muni-pungavanam
so 'py asti yat-prapada-simny avicintya-tattve
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
 [Bs. 5.34]

Our speed... What for speed? Because we want to go to certain destination, that is his speed. So the real destination is Govinda, Visnu. And na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnu. They are running in different speed, but they do not know what is the destination. Our one big poet in our country, Rabindranath Tagore, he wrote an article -- I read it -- when he was in London. So in your country, western countries, the motorcars and the..., they run in high speed. So Rabindranath Tagore, he was poet. He was thinking that "These Englishmen's is country so small, and they are running on so great speed they will fall in the ocean." He remarked like that. Why they are running so fast? So similarly, we are running so fast for going to hell. This is our position, because we do not know what is the destination. If I do not know what is the destination and try to drive my car in full speed, then what will be the result? The result will be disaster. We must know why we are running. Running means just like the river is running in great tide, flowing, but the destination is the sea. When the river comes to the sea, then its destination gone. So similarly, we must know what is the destination. The destination is Visnu, God. We are part and parcel of God. We are... Somehow or other, we are fallen in this material world. Therefore our destination of life will be to go back to home, back to Godhead. That is our destination. There is no other destination. So our Krsna consciousness movement is teaching that "You fix up your goal of life." And what is that goal of life? "Back to home, back to Godhead. You are going this side, opposite side, toward the side of hell. That is not your destination. You go this side, back to Godhead." That is our propaganda.

So we have not manufactured this; this is the standard. Just like Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam [Bg. 18.66]. "Why you are unnecessarily running just like dog?" That street dog, we have seen just now on the beach, he has no master. So sometimes he is running this way, sometimes this running way, and he saw us. He knows -- after all, he is a living being -- that "There are some Vaisnavas. So let me go with them if they will give us shelter." That is the purpose. He was coming. You were making, "Hut!" (laughter) But he wanted some master, because a dog without master, his position is very precarious. Without master... So we are all servant. Every one of us, we are all servants of maya. Maya means we are servant of our desires. We are servant of our different desires. Somebody is thinking, "I shall be happy in this way"; somebody is thinking, "I shall be happy in this way." In this way we have got different desires, and we are servant of the desires. So servant of desire means just like the street dog. He is also desiring: "If these gentleman will accept me as his dog?" But he is going there, and he is driven away: "Hut! Hut!" He is going to some house, moving his tail, "My dear sir, will you give me some food?" "No, no. Go away." We are also going also: "My dear sir, will you give me some service?" "No vacancy. Get out." This is our position. Hana mayara dasa kori nana abhilasa. Because we are constitutionally servant of God, but we have given up that service, we have now become the servant of maya. Therefore our life is frustrated, because you do not know "What is my actual position." Caitanya Mahaprabhu teaches, jivera svarupa haya nitya krsna dasa [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109]. Caitanya Mahaprabhu's teaching, that "Why you are going door to door like a dog: 'Will you give me some food, give me some duty? I am prepared to serve you,' and refusing, nana abhilasa, and desiring again and again, this way, that way?" But I do not know what is my real destination, how I shall be happy. That information is given by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, that "You are suffering in this way for a permanent service to become happy. Why you are going here and there? You are servant of Krsna. Go there. Then you will be happy."

This is Krsna consciousness movement. We are teaching people that you are suffering life after life. Now the human society has come to such a position that they do not know that there is life after this life. They are so advanced. Exactly the cats and dogs, they do not know that there is life after life. That is here stated: yena yavan yathadharmo dharmo veha samihitah. Iha, iha means "in this life." Sa eva tat-phalam bhunkte tatha tavat amutra vai. Amutra means "next life." So we are preparing our next life in this... Yatha adharmah, yatha dharmah. There are two things: you can act piously or impiously. There is no third, no third path. One path is pious; one path is nonpious. So here both are mentioned. Yena yavan yathadharmah, dharmah. Dharma means constitutional. Dharma does not mean, as it is stated in some of the English dictionary, "a kind of faith." Faith may be blind. That is not dharma. Dharma means original, constitutional position. That is dharma. I have several times said... Just like water. Water is liquid. That is its dharma. Water, if by circumstantially it becomes solid, ice, but still, it tries to become again liquid because that is its dharma. You put ice, and gradually it will become liquid. That means this solid condition of the water is artificial. By some chemical composition the water has become solid, but by natural course it becomes liquid.

So our present position is solid: "Don't hear anything about God." But natural position is that we are servant of God. Because we are seeking master... The supreme master is Krsna. Bhoktaram yajna-tapasam sarva-loka mahesvaram [Bg. 5.29]. Krsna says, "I am the master of the whole creation. I am the enjoyer." He is the master. Caitanya-caritamrta also said, ekala isvara krsna. Isvara means controller or master. Ekala isvara krsna ara saba bhrtya: "Except Krsna, they are, any big or small living entity, they are all servants, except Krsna." You will therefore see: Krsna is not serving anybody. He is simply enjoying. Bhoktaram yajna-tapasam sarva-loka... Others like us, they first of all work very hard, and then enjoys. Krsna never works. Na tasya karyam karanam ca vidyate. Still, He enjoys. That is Krsna. Na tasya... This is the Vedic information. Na tasya karyam karanam ca vidyate: "God, Krsna, He has nothing to do." You see, therefore, Krsna always dancing with the gopis and playing with the cowherd boys. And when He feels fatigue, He lies down on the Yamuna and immediately His friends come. Somebody fans Him; somebody gives massage. Therefore He is the master. Anywhere He goes, He is master. Ekala isvara krsna. Isvarah paramah krsnah [Bs. 5.1]. The supreme controller is Krsna. "Then who is controller?" No, there is no controller of Him. That is Krsna. Here we are director of such and such, president of United States, but I am not supreme controller. As soon as the public wants, immediately pulls me down. That we do not understand, that we are posing ourself as master controller, but I am controlled by somebody else. So he is not controller. Here we will find a controller to some extent, but he is controlled by another controller. So Krsna means He is controller, but nobody is there to control Him. That is Krsna; that is God. This is the science of understanding. God means He is controller of everything, but He has no controller.

So we are, at the present moment in different conditions of life on account of our different activities, pious and impious, dharma, adharma. So pious activities means to be controlled by Krsna, and impious activities means to be controlled by maya. We have to be controlled. Our position is such that we cannot become controller. That is not possible. If we want to become controller, that is my artificial desire. And the resultant action we will have to suffer. First of all you must understand this, that we are controlled. Either you agree to be controlled by Krsna or you agree to be controlled by maya, but you cannot become controller. Is there anyone here who can say that "I am controller"? Is there anyone who will answer this? So I may think that "I am controller," but I am controlled by drugs, by sense gratification, desires-kama krodha lobha moha matsarya. So there is no question of the living entity's being independent. That is not possible. He is dependent. But if he becomes dependent on Krsna, then life is successful. Exactly the position, the dog. The dog is loitering without being controlled by somebody, he is seeking, "Somebody may control me." He's seeking position. But if he does not get anybody to control him, his life is very precarious; he is not happy. Therefore, if you want to be happy, then we must return to our own original position: to be controlled by Krsna. This is perfection of life.

So here it is said generally, yena yavan yathadharmah. Adharma I have already explained. Dharma means to become servant of Krsna, and adharma means to become servant of maya. This is the distinction between dharma and adharma, religious and irreligious. Dharma means the order of God, Krsna. Dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam [SB 6.3.19]. As I have explained several times... Just like law. Law means the order of the government. If somebody, ordinary man, makes some law, nobody will accept that law. That is not law. But government gives some law that "Keep to the right," you have to obey it. If you break this law, you will be punished. You can say, "What wrong I have done? Instead of going to the right, I have gone to the left. Both ways there are roads and streets." The government says, "No, I ordered you to keep to the right. You have violated. You must be punished." Simple thing. This is adharma: "You have violated the laws of the government. You must be punished." So a dog, of course, if he violates the law, he is not punished. The punishment is meant for the human being, because he has got developed sense. He cannot violate the laws. If he violates... All the books, laws, everything -- education, culture, philosophy, science -- it is all meant for the human being, not for the cats and dogs. So the human being must know what is the actual law. That is dharma. Therefore in the human society there is some form of dharma. Either you are Christian or Hindu or Muslim or Buddhist, throughout the whole world, any civilized nation, they have got some dharma or religious system. Why? Through it, you should understand what is the goal of your life. If you do not know that, then proportionately, as you are ignorant, fool, you will be punished. You will be punished.

So nature's way, evolution... The punishment is beginning from the aquatics. Then gradually, gradually, by evolutionary process, nature gives the chance that from aquatics you become plants and trees; then from plants and trees you become insect, reptiles; then from that, you become bird; then from that, you become beast; and from that beast, you become human being. In this way, by evolutionary process, you come to the platform of becoming a human being. Now, developed consciousness, you have to decide, "Where... Whom I shall serve now? I have... So long I have served the laws of material nature, and it has brought me to this platform." Now you have to decide, "What kind of service I shall accept?" That is human life. Athato brahma jijnasa. Jijnasa means enquiry. A sane man will understand that "I have been engaged in different types of service, now by evolutionary process, I have come to the human form of life. What is my real service? Under whom I shall work? Shall I loiter in the street like the dog, or find out some good master?" This is human life. Athato brahma jijnasa.

So the sastra... You have to learn from the sastra that who is the master. I have to serve. The master is Krsna. And that is our natural position. And if we do not serve Krsna, if we serve a big man or a demigod or any other but he is not Krsna, that is adharma. So dharma and adharma, these two things, are there. You serve either of them. But the result -- according to your service. If you are serving as high-court judge, that salary, and if you serving as ordinary, what is called, washer of dishes, that salary cannot be equal. You cannot expect, becoming a dishwasher, to draw the same salary as the high-court judge is drawing. That is not possible. Therefore it is said, sa eva tat-phalam bhunkte. You get... You can become high-court judge. There is no, I mean to say, obstacle. You could be qualified like the high-court judge. Now you are qualified like this, so you have to accept this. Therefore it is said, sa eva tat-phalam bhunkte tatha tavat amutra vai. Amutra. So our life is continuity, eternal. Just like a boy takes education, expecting to become one day high-court judge. But one who has not taken education -- he simply played in the street -- how he can become a high-court judge? It is not possible. Therefore it is said, sa eva tat-phalam bhunkte tatha tavat amutra, "in future life." But these rascals, they do not know what is future life. This is modern civilization. They are so rascal. But there is future life. So in this life, if you prepare yourself for the next life, then you are intelligent. If you remain irresponsible rascal, do not know what is going to happen next life, then you will have to suffer. That we must know. How I shall know? What I shall prepare for, and where shall I go? That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita: yanti deva-vrata devan [Bg. 9.25]. If you act in goodness, then you will be promoted to the higher planetary system, devan, where demigods live. They have ten thousand years of life, very high standard of life. Yanti deva-vrata devan pitrn yanti pitr-vratah. And if you are attached to pitr-loka, you can go there. Bhutejya yanti bhutani. And if you are materially attracted, then you will remain in this material... Mad-yajino 'pi yanti mam: "If you My become devotee, you'll come to Me." Now it is your choice. Make your choice, what you want.

So what is the difference between going to the heavenly planet and going to Krsna? The difference is abrahma-bhuvanal lokan punar avartino 'rjuna: "My dear Arjuna, if you go even to the highest planetary system, Brahmaloka, you will again fall down." Then? Mad-gatva na nivartante: "If you come to Me, you will have not..." So why not select this, that "I have to work for the next life. Why not devote this life for Krsna? I shall go back to home, back to Krsna"? This is intelligence. I am suffering so many lives, accepting this fish life or the tree life, the plant life, the moth life, the insect life, the serpent life, the bird's life. And not only bird's life -- there are so many varieties of birds, beginning from the eagle. There is a big eagle bird. We have no information. They are very big bird. They are flying in the sky, and their rest is from one planet to another. Just like here you find the birds, they are flying from one tree to another. Similarly, there are so big birds... They are called garuda. So garuda, these birds, they start their flying from one planet and sits in another planet. Just try to understand what is their flying. Not only that, they also lay eggs while flying, and the eggs, while falling down, it becomes another bird. And these birds can pick up elephants for eating. So this is God's creation. So if you want to become such a big bird, you can become. (laughter) Yes. Ye yatha mam prapadyante [Bg. 4.11]. God is so kind. Whatever you desire, you will get. Therefore it is depending upon our discretion, that "What kind of desire I shall maintain?" That desire is Krsna consciousness. Then you will be happy. Otherwise, you prepare your next life and you suffer or enjoy and again next life, again next life... That is not very good. Bhutva bhutva praliyate [Bg. 8.19]. Nobody wants that, that "I accept some position: again it is lost. Again I accept another position, again it is lost."

So we are becoming so dullheaded by so-called education, we do not know anything of these things, that there is next life and I can become immortal; I can avoid death, birth, death, old age and disease. There is no discussion of these scientific... It is only the Krsna consciousness movement which is giving all this information. It is very scientific and authorized. So I am very glad, so many devotees here. Try to make your life perfect by accepting Krsna consciousness and studying the philosophy and practicing the method. Then you will be happy.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.45 -- Laguna Beach, July 26, 1975

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Krishna's Central Agency

Krishna's Central Agency

Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.45
Los Angeles, June 11, 1976

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Prabhupada:

yena yavan yathadharmo
dharmo veha samihitah
sa eva tat-phalam bhunkte
tatha tavad amutra vai
 [SB 6.1.45]

So, one has to suffer or enjoy. There are two things. So that is according to our activities. That we can practically experience. If one is educated, naturally, he gets a good position, and if one is criminal, he gets another position. There is no difficulty to understand. So there are two things, dharma and adharma. Religiosity and irreligiosity. Religiosity means to abide by the orders of God and irreligiosity means to disobey the orders of God. That's all. Simple thing. But in this connection we must know what is the order of God, what is God, how He orders, how to execute, how we become fit for executing orders. These things -- these questions are there, but God is speaking personally, "This is My order," in the Bhagavad-gita. You'll find, very simple thing.

What Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita? First of all, He establishes Himself that "I am the Supreme Lord." Mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya [Bg. 7.7]. So, the Mayavadis, they also think that "I am also Krsna. I can also speak." No, that you cannot do. Just like we are singing this song daily, gopi-jana-vallabha giri-vara-dhari. It is... Krsna is playing with the gopis. The sahajiyas, they take it very easily. But giri-vara-dhari, oh, that is very difficult thing. He raised the whole Govardhana Hill in His finger; that nobody is imitating. But gopi-jana-vallabha, very easy. "You are gopi, I am Krsna. Let us enjoy." This is sahajiya. This is sahajiya. That is going on. Parakiya-rasa. All rascaldom is going on. But one should understand that here is Krsna. He can dance with the gopis and He can lift the Govardhana Hill also, simultaneously. That is also for pleasing the gopis. When there was incessant rainfall, all the inhabitants of Vrndavana became so disturbed, and they had no other friend than Krsna. So they appealed, "Krsna, do something!" "Yes!" Immediately, He raised the whole hill as umbrella. "Come on under this." So that is Krsna. So don't imitate Krsna, but hear Krsna, what says, then our life is successful. We cannot imitate God. We have to simply follow His order. That is dharma. And if you imitate Krsna, that is adharma. Don't try to imitate. There are two words in Sanskrit, anukarana, anusarana. Anukarana means imitation, and anusarana means follow. We have to execute anusarana, follow. Tejiyasam na dosaya. Tejiyasam na dosaya [SB 10.33.29].

The Pariksit Maharaja inquired that "Sukadeva Gosvami, Krsna, He came to establish dharma, but it appears that He danced with other's wife or other's daughter." According to Vedic civilization you cannot mix with any other woman except your wife. That is not allowed. So, according to the Vedic conception of life, it was not right thing that Krsna danced with other's wife or other's daughter. This question was put. Pariksit Maharaja said that Krsna, because He is God, He cannot do anything wrong. Just like in England, the constitution says, "The king can do no wrong." King cannot be subject to any law. Similarly, when Krsna danced with the gopis, it has got a deep meaning. Because they are all devotees, they did not know except Krsna, and they prayed to the Katyayani, although they are married, they prayed to Katyayani before they were married, that "Let Krsna become our husband." Krsna is so beautiful. Naturally there is attraction. Krsna means all-attractive. So... And they were not ordinary women. They are eternal consorts or associates of Krsna. Ananda-cin-maya-rasa-pratibhavitabhih. They are expansion of Krsna; they are not ordinary women. Expansion of Krsna. Radha-krsna-pranaya-vikrtih hladini-saktih asmad. The gopis, Radharani, they are expansion of the spiritual energy of Krsna. Don't think they are ordinary women. They are Krsna. Saktih saktimator abhedah. They are not different from Krsna. But to give Krsna pleasure, Krsna expands Himself by His spiritual energy, ananda hladini, spiritual energy, sandini hladini. That is the expansion of His pleasure potency. It is not that to imitate gopis. That is sahajiya. That is sahajiya. They are ananda-cin-maya-rasa-pratibhavitabhis tabhir ya eva nija-rupataya kalabhih goloka eva nivasaty akhilatma-bhuto [Bs. 5.37]. When Krsna wants pleasure, He is full spiritual, His pleasure is full spiritual. There is no question of material.

It has been very broadly described by Sri Jiva Gosvami. Read all this. Don't try to imitate. That is sahajiya. We should know the position of Krsna. His expansion of pleasure potency. Therefore Krsna's lila is put into the middle of the Tenth Canto. First of all, try to understand Krsna from the very beginning. Janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1]. What is Krsna? Vasudeve, om namo bhagavate vasudevaya. So what is Vasudeva? Janmady asya yato. Here is the original source of everything. Aham sarvasya prabhavah mattah sarvam pravartate [Bg. 10.8]. First of all, try to understand Krsna. So therefore Vyasadeva has dedicated full nine cantos for understanding Krsna. Bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate [Bg. 7.19]. Manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye [Bg. 7.3]. [break]...siddhis, they think of gopis. That is recommended in Caitanya-caritamrta, siddha-deha. Where is siddha? And siddha-deha means there is no more any material lusty desires. That is siddha-deha. Yad-avadhi mama cetah krsna-padaravinde nava-nava-rasa-dhamany udyatam rantum asit tad-avadhi bata nari-sangame smaryamane. So long we shall think of nari-sanga, association, unity with woman, we must consider this is material body. Not siddha body. Siddha body means anyabhilasita-sunyam [Brs. 1.1.11]. All material desires, zero. That is siddha body. So therefore it is very confidential. But to clear it, that "How Krsna accepted to dance with so many gopis," this was for clearance.

In that question, you'll find, Sukadeva Gosvami has answered that unless one is liberated, he should not think of it even. Should not think of it. And he has given the example that, you have read, that Lord Siva, when there was churning, the poison came out, he took it and kept it. But if we imitate Lord Siva, that "He kept, he also drunk, so let me drink also, let me smoke ganja," no. You cannot do. Tejiyasam na dosaya [SB 10.33.29]. The example is given: those who are very, very powerful, they are not contaminated. Just like the sun. Sun is so powerful that it can soak water from the urine, or from the stool, but it still is sun. But if you imitate sun and you... Nowadays, it is going on. The urine is turned into water and they drink. And from stool they are getting fat. So these things are going on. But we should not try to imitate. The sum and substance is Krsna cannot be contaminated. Apapa-viddham. In the Isopanisad, you'll find. Tejiyasam. Just like sun is never contaminated. From the whole universe, the sun is soaking water from any filthy place. But the filthy place is becoming purified by the sun rays. That is possible by the sun.

So similarly, we cannot imitate Krsna. That is papa, adharma. Dharma is to abide by the orders of Krsna. That is very simple. And if we do that then we become qualified to go back to home, back to Godhead. Very simple thing. It doesn't require much education. Simply it requires a purified mind, that "I shall execute it honestly." That much qualification is sufficient. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. This is Krsna's law and order. Krsna does not say anything which is very difficult to execute, because we cannot do it. Krsna asks from you very simple thing. Not that Krsna is asking from you very things which we cannot supply. No. We can supply. Anyone, any poor man, any illiterate man, any poor man or any rich man. Everyone, it is open to everyone. Mam hi partha vyapasritya ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah. Krsna consciousness is not forbidden to anyone, even papa-yoni.

mam hi partha vyapasritya
ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah
striyo vaisyas tatha sudras
te 'pi yanti param gatim
 [Bg. 9.32]

Kim punar brahmanah punya bhakta rajarsayas tatha [Bg. 9.33]. Bhajasva mam. This is Krsna's instruction. Krsna says, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji: "Simply always think of Me." This is the law and order. Who cannot think of Krsna? Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Very easy. Where is the difficulty? This is always thinking of Krsna. Man-mana, bhava mad-bhakto. And unless one is devotee, he cannot spend time in that way, "Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna." Only the devotees can do. And mad-yaji, to worship Krsna. So if somebody says, "I am very poor man. I cannot construct such a nice temple or offer Krsna so many nice foodstuffs," Krsna says, "No, no need." Patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati [Bg. 9.26]. "Come on." You do not require. If you have money, then spend it for Krsna, as much as you can. Then if you don't spend, if you think, "Krsna wants patram puspam; the money I shall keep in the bank for my pleasure," then Krsna will cheat you also. If you want to cheat Krsna, Krsna is the greatest cheater. Then you'll be cheated. Don't be cheater. Simply, fervently, very honestly, obey the orders of Krsna. Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam. Four things. And what is the result? Mam evaisyasi asamsayah: [Bg. 18.65] "Without any doubt, you'll come back to Me." What do you want more? That Krsna is so nice.

So spread this movement all over your country. Your country is... By the grace of Krsna, everything is there. And the first qualification is that you are not poverty-stricken. So take the instruction of Krsna and be happy. Open similar temples all over your country. Your country is not poor. You can establish such temples, hundreds and thousands. And similarly assemble, hear Krsna's instruction, and see how happy you'll become.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.45 -- Los Angeles, June 11, 1976

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Lion-killer Rabbit

Lion-killer Rabbit

Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.44
Los Angeles, June 10, 1976

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Pradyumna: Translation: "O inhabitants of Vaikuntha, you are sinless, but those within this material world are all karmis, whether acting piously or impiously. Both kinds of action are possible for them because they are contaminated by the three modes of nature and must act accordingly. One who has accepted a material body cannot be inactive, and sinful action is inevitable for one acting under the modes of material nature. Therefore all the living entities within this material world are punishable."

Prabhupada:

sambhavanti hi bhadrani
viparitani canaghah
karinam guna-sango 'sti
dehavan na hy akarma-krt
 [SB 6.1.44]

This material world is karma-krt -- you have to do something. Krsna has explained that "Without acting, you cannot even maintain your body and soul together." Sarira-yatrapi te na prasiddhyed akarmanah. If you become idle, then you cannot even maintain your body. That is the difference between civilized man and uncivilized man or developed country... (aside:) Stop that. Developed country and undeveloped country. Just like America. This land was inhabited by the Red Indians. They could not do anything, but the Europeans, when they migrated, they made it so beautiful country. So karma-krt, one has to work. This material world is so made. Trtiya karma-sanga anya saktir isyate.

In the Padma Purana, Visnu Purana: parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. God's energy are varieties. All those varieties are grouped into three divisions. Out of that... Three divisions means tatastha-sakti, antaranga-sakti, cit-chakti. Tatastha-sakti and this external, or this karma-sakti... The... Trtiya saktih karma-sanga anya. It is mentioned that the spiritual world is just manifestation of cic-chakti, and this material world is creation of material energy or karma-sanga, where everyone has to work. Without work, it is said, na hi suptasya simhasya pravisanti mukhe mrgah. That is very nice example. In the forest the lion is supposed to be the mightiest animal, and he is sometimes called the king of the animals, pasu-raja. So in one place it is said that even the lion, who is the king of the forest, if he sleeps and he thinks that animals will come and enter in his mouth, that is not possible. He has to also find out how to eat. Na hi suptasya simhasya pravisanti mukhe mrgah. The lion is so powerful, but he cannot also dictate.

So there is another story,

buddhir yasya balam tasya
nirbuddhes tu kuto balam
pasya simho madonmatah
sasakena nipatitah

There is a story that a lion was killed by a rabbit. Sasakena nipatitah. Why? Now, buddhir yasya balam tasya: "One who has got intelligence, he has got power." A lion is very mighty, ferocious animal, and a sasaka, a ordinary rabbit, he killed a lion. How? Now the lion was disturbing all animals, so all the animals held a meeting and called the lion: "Sir, you do not try to kill us all, hunting after everyone. We shall go voluntarily every day, one of us. So you don't create disturbance. Let us become peaceful." So lion agreed, "All right, if you voluntarily come, I will sleep, and if you enter in my mouth..." So this was the agreement. There was the turn of one rabbit. So he planned something. So he went to the lion a little late. So lion was very angry that "Why you have come late? I am very hungry, and you did not come." (laughter) So the rabbit said, "Sir, there was a danger in the way." "What is that?" "There is another lion, and he wanted to kill me and eat, so I protested, 'No, sir, you cannot kill me. (laughter) I am destined to be killed by such and such lion, so you cannot do it.' " So he was very much pleased: "Where is that lion?" "Please come. I will show you." So he took him near one well. So he... The rabbit said, "He is living within this." (laughter) The lion immediately... "Come on. Make a how!' " So there was vibration, still higher sound, and he saw his photo, yes, shadow. So he thought it, "Yes, there is lion." He immediately jumped over him. (devotees laugh) Finished. So how the lion was killed by the rabbit? Now, buddhir yasya balam tasya: "One who has got intelligence, he has got power." The foolish... So everywhere you will find.

So how one is intelligent, how one is dull, how one is via media -- that is due to these three gunas: sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. If one is intelligent, that is one of the qualification of sattva-guna. Jnanam vijnanam astikyam. The brahminical qualification... Satyah samo damo titiksa arjavam eva ca, jnanam vijnanam astikyam brahma-karma svabhava-jam [Bg. 18.42]. In the society, human society, there must be a class of brahmana, intelligent class. So our Krsna consciousness movement is trying to create a section of the human society -- real brahmana, intelligence. And the intelligence means Veda. Veda means knowledge. Knowledge... One who has got sufficient knowledge, he is intelligence, not the fool, rascal. So therefore the... There is Vedas, and there are Vedanta, Vedanta. Veda, Vedanta, source of knowledge. So Vedas means knowledge, and Veda-anta... Anta means the last word. So that anta knowledge, or the last word in knowledge, is Srimad-Bhagavatam. Vidya bhagavatavadhih, they say. Knowledge, expansion of knowledge, the last word is Srimad-Bhagavatam. So it is the explanation of Vedanta. Bhasyam brahma-sutranam **. Vedanta's another name is Brahma-sutra. In India there are Mayavadi sannyasis. They advertise themselves as the Vedantists, "one who knows Vedanta." But actually they do not know Vedanta. Real Vedanta is Srimad-Bhagavatam, because this is commentary. Bhasya ayam brahma-sutranam. Brahma-sutra is Vedanta.

So Vedanta, what is that Vedanta? That is explained by Krsna in the Bhagavad-gita, vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyam: [Bg. 15.15] "Vedas means to understand Me." That is Veda. If one does not understand Krsna, his so-called Vedic knowledge or Vedanta knowledge is useless, srama eva hi kevalam, simply labor.

dharmah svanusthitah pumsam
visvaksena-kathasu yah
notpayed ratim yadi
srama eva hi kevalam
 [SB 1.2.8]

Everyone is engaged in executing a particular type of faith or religious system, ritualistic. That's all right. Dharmah svanusthitah. You are Hindu; you are doing your Hindu ritualistic ceremony or religious rules and regulations. Or a Christian is doing nicely, or a Muhammadan is doing... That's all right, but we are interested -- those who are followers of real Vedanta -- to see the result. Phalena pariciyate. Phalena means "by the result." So what is the result? The result is by executing one's particular type of religious system, he must develop Krsna consciousness or God consciousness. That is the test. If you are unaware of what is God, what do you mean by God, and you are very, very religious, that is useless. One must know God. So therefore, those who are in the lowest grade of human life, they cannot understand. Na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah [Bg. 7.15]. Naradhama ... Nara means human being, and adhamah means the lowest. So one who is in the lowest grade of human society, they are called the svapaca. Svapaca. Svapaca means those who are the dog-eaters. So in this way there is description. There are others also.

So here the same thing is...

sambhavanti hi bhadrani
viparitani canaghah
karinam guna-sango 'sti...

This guna-sanga... Why one is in the lowest grade, and why... There are three grades generally, and if you mix it, it becomes eighty-one. Three into three equal to nine; nine into nine, eighty-one. Therefore we have got so many species of life, 8,400,000. So how it is possible? Now, guna-sango 'sti. In the Bhagavad-gita also it is... Karanam guna-sango 'sya sad-asad-janma-yonisu [Bg. 13.22]. Why there are different varieties of life, so many, 8,400,000? Now, what is the reason? Karanam... Karanam means reason, the cause. Guna-sanga. Guna-sanga. Now, here is temple, and a few yards after this temple there may be a brothel, there may be liquor house. So somebody is coming here, and somebody is going there. So what is the reason? Karanam guna-sango 'sti. One is attached to sattva-guna; one is attached to rajo-guna; one is attached... But everyone is working, and that working must be under the influence of one of these three qualities: sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna.

 

So if one associates with the sattva-guna, then he is promoted gradually to the higher planetary system. Higher planetary system. Urdhvam gacchanti sattva-sthah [Bg. 14.18]. Everything explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Those who are developing the good qualities of this material world, three qualities, so urdhvam gacchanti sattva-sthah. The upper planetary system, heavenly planetary system... Therefore we say that you cannot go to the moon planet, from the sastra. Because the moon planet, who will go? Urdhvam gacchanti sattva-sthah. Unless one is in the modes of goodness, they cannot enter there. It is not possible. "By force," if you say, "Yes, we have gone; we are going," you may say, but we are followers of the sastra. Sastra-caksusah. We see through the sastra. We understand that these men, they are not even rajo-guna, or maybe in rajas-tamo-guna. But where is sattva-guna? Sattva-guna. So through the sastra we can understand that who is who through sastra. Therefore in my poetry, on the strength of sastra, I said that rajas tamo gune era sabai acchanna, vasudeva-katha ruci mahe se prasanna: [SB 1.2.16] "Most of the population here is covered by the material modes of ignorance and passion. Absorbed in material life, they think themselves very happy and satisfied; therefore they have no taste for the transcendental message of Vasudeva. So I do not know how they will be able to understand it." Actually that is the fact. Everyone, so many swamis and yogis, come in this country. So they advertise in India that they went out of India for preaching Vedanta. But being influenced, what Vedanta they learned? When they returned to India, they have learned how to entice women and how to eat meat. This is their Vedanta. Because karanam guna-sango 'sya. If you are not strong enough, then association will induce or influence. If you are not a Vaisnava, then if you go in a brothel or a liquor house, then you will be influenced by the drunkards and prostitute-hunters. But if you are strong enough, then you will... The effect you will give your effect of association; they will be Vaisnavas. That is the difference.

There is a scientific story that one doctor friend, perhaps you know, the Dr. Ghosh who came. When he was student, he read in a medical magazine that one girl..., her name was Mary. So there was a Mary contamination. What is that? Typhoid, yes. Wherever she used to go, there was typhoid fever, so many people suffering, but she was not suffering. So by analysis of the blood, it was found that this girl, the blood was full of typhoid germs, but she was so strong that she could resist. She was not suffering, but wherever she used to go, everyone was infected with typhoid. So that is the explained. Karanam guna-sango 'sya [Bg. 13.22]. If you are strong enough, then the lower qualities will not affect you. And if you are not strong, if you are weak yourself, then where you are going to convert, they will induce their infectious quality, and you will be victimized. So karanam guna sango 'sya. So in the Western countries, everywhere, all over the world at the present moment, Kali-yuga, the guna, the rajo-guna and tamo-guna, is very prominent. The rajo-guna... How it is understood that the rajo-guna, tamo-guna, is prominent? Now, the rajo-guna, tamo-guna, the symptom, rajas-tamo bhavah kama-lobhadayas ca ye... Tada rajas-tamo-bhavah kama-lobhadayas ca ye [SB 1.2.19]. When one is infected with tamo-guna and rajo-guna, the symptoms will be that he is very greedy and lusty. This is the symptom. If one is very greedy and lusty, then you should know that he is infected with rajo-guna and tamo-guna. And if one is not greedy and lusty -- satisfied in every circumstances, and is Krsna conscious or trying to become Krsna conscious -- then it is sattva-guna. He is turned.

So by the culture of this Krsna consciousness, one comes to the sattva-guna, the immediate effect, sattva-guna. Just like our students: little association with this Krsna consciousness movement, they immediately come to the sattva-guna, at least officially. Although rajo-guna, tamo-guna, was there, but it overlaps. So how it overlaps? What is this process?

srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah
punya-sravana-kirtanah
hrdy antah-stho abhadrani
vidhunoti su-hrt-satam
 [SB 1.2.17]

Krsna is within everyone. If we simply hear the words and the instruction of Krsna, srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah... So this Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita -- full of Krsna's pastimes, Krsna's instruction. So if we hear this, especially these two books, Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah, then you become pious. Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah. There is no need of separate attempt. If we simply hear every moment or as many times as possible, then we become purified. Punya-sravana-kirtanah. One who is speaking, he is also becoming pious, and one who is hearing, he is also becoming pious. Punya-sravana-kirtanah.

So, pious? What is the meaning of pious? Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah, hrdy antah-stho abhadrani. The... Everything is causing effects within the heart, within the heart. The civilization or not civilization means the change of heart. A man is civilized because he has changed his heart. A man is uncivilized? He has not changed. Just like you know the story of Sik... What is that? Sikari? The name, I forgot.

Candanacarya: Mrgari?

Prabhupada: Mrgari, yes. So Mrgari was in the lowest status of tamo-guna. He was killing animals half-dead, and he was enjoying. But when he became Krsna conscious, elevated, he was not prepared to kill even one ant. You know this story. That is the change, change of heart. The same man, same man who was killing animals in the jungle half-dead... And when Narada Muni asked him that "Why you are killing half? Kill them complete. They are suffering. You will be more sinful," he said, "My father taught me that this is pleasure."

So this is going on, tamo-guna, rajo-guna. But if we simply hear this Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita... Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah [SB 1.2.17]. How it is possible? Nasta-prayesv abhadresu nityam bhagavata-sevaya [SB 1.2.18]. This abhadra -- inauspicious, nasty things within our heart, most uncivilized way of life, killing of animals -- this will be stopped. Nasta-prayesv abhadresu nityam bhagavata-sevaya [SB 1.2.18]. By hearing the message of God, bhagavatam bhaktih uttama-sloke bhavati naisthiki, gradually you become devotee. This is the process, how to transcend the material qualities. That is explained.

So this, my song... I was thinking on board the ship that rajas tamo gune era sabai acchanna, vasudeva-katha ruci mahe se prasanna [SB 1.2.16]. Nobody is interested. At the present moment, everyone is covered by the rajas-tamah, the base qualities, ignorance and passion, so they have no interest in Krsna consciousness. That is not possible. One has to purify himself. Tada rajas-tamo-bhavah kama-lobhadayas... [SB 1.2.19]. When we kill the rajas-tamo-bhavah, ceta etair anaviddham... When our heart is no more contaminated by the rajas-tamo-bhavah, ceta etair anaviddham sthitam sattve prasidati. There are three gunas. If you make minus these two gunas, rajas-tamo-guna, then the remaining -- only sattva-guna. So these rajas-tamo-guna can be counteracted simply by hearing about Krsna. Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah [SB 1.2.17]. So therefore I wrote, tabe jadi tava krpa hay ahaituki, sakala sambhava hay tumi se kautiki, that "God is all-powerful, Krsna is all-powerful. He can do everything impossible, possible." So whatever is being done in our Krsna consciousness movement, don't think that it is my influence of my... It is Krsna's. Krsna can do everything. He can change sattva-guna into tamo-guna, tamo-guna into rajo-guna, rajo-guna into sattva-guna. That is as He likes. Just like a expert electrician: he can turn the heater into cooler and cooler into heater. The electric energy is the same. Similarly, parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. He has His energy. If He likes... My point is that this Krsna consciousness movement has come to your country by the will of Krsna. So here is favorable situation because the will of Krsna is there, that "Now the Westerners, especially the Americans, they should become Krsna conscious." That is His will. So you take the opportunity, cooperate with Krsna, and you will be successful.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.44 -- Los Angeles, June 10, 1976

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Better Without Disturbance

Better Without Disturbance

Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.43
Los Angeles, June 9, 1976

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Pradyumna: Translation: "The candidates for punishment are those who are confirmed by these many witnesses to have deviated from their prescribed regulative duties. Everyone engaged in fruitive activities is suitable to be subjected to punishment according to his sinful acts."

Prabhupada:

etair adharmo vijnatah
sthanam dandasya yujyate
sarve karmanurodhena
dandam arhanti karinah
 [SB 6.1.43]

So you can say that "God is dead" or "There is no God," but that is not the fact. The atheist class of men, they want that there may not be any God; they can do whatever they like. That is not possible. Just like in a small state there are so many CID, police and so many other depart..., detectives, just to find out who is transgressing the law. So in this big government of the universe, how do you think that there is no system of finding out who is culprit? So what is adharma? Etair adharmo vijnatah. Adharma, irreligiosity, or transgressing the law, that is adharma. Dharma and adharma... Dharma means obeying the laws. Just like good citizens means who is obeying the laws of the state. He is good citizen. And other person who is disobeying, they are called outlaws. So what is dharma? Just like it is the duty of good citizen to abide by the laws of the state, similarly, dharmi, a person who is religious, means who is abiding by the laws of God. That's all. And who is not abiding, he is adharmi. That is the difference.

So what is our dharma? Living entities, we are part and parcel of God; we are not separated from God. Just like this finger is not separated from the whole body, a part of the body. So when Krsna says that "All these living entities, they are My part and parcel..." Mamaivamso jiva-bhutah jiva-loke sanatanah [Bg. 15.7]. Not that the part and parcel is differently created. As soon as the body is there, the part and parcel are also there. So what is the duty of the part and parcel? Just like this finger. I am feeling some itching sensation; immediately comes, naturally, without asking. It's always ready to serve. This is the duty of the part and parcel. So if we are part and parcel of God, then what is our duty? To serve God, that's all. This is our duty. So anyone who is serving always Krsna, or God, he is dharmi; he is in dharma. And who is not serving is adharma. Because a duty... It requires treatment. This finger, part and parcel of my body. I want to get some service from the finger, but if the finger is diseased or due to some pain or some injury it cannot serve the body, it requires treatment. This is natural. Similarly, punishment means treatment. Why government has opened so many prison house? So this punishment... Government does not desire to keep the prison house open and inviting, "Please come here." No, that is not the policy. Policy is that "One who is outlaw, diseased, he should be brought here and corrected."

So Yamaraja is for this purpose. When we are punished that is no envious envy on the part of God or His agent; it is our correction, I think the Yamaraja, er, the Yamadutas said in the beginning that "We have come to take Ajamila just to correct him." So dharma and adharma... Our real dharma is to serve God. That is our real duty. And as soon as we neglect this permanent service or occupation, then we are liable to be punished. You cannot become independent of God. That is not possible. That will (not) make you happy. The healthy condition of the finger is that it is able to serve the body. If the finger is not able to serve the body, that will mean unhealthy. Otherwise... Similarly, when we are engaged in Krsna consciousness and engaged in the service of the Lord, that is our healthy state. That is mukti, liberation. Mukti means no disease. So when we deny to serve Krsna, when we are not engaged in the service of Krsna, that is our diseased condition. That is not healthy condition.

So this Krsna consciousness movement is a treatment to cure this disease, atheist and rogues, to come to Krsna consciousness and be happy. This is Krsna consciousness movement. It is not an artificial thing to give you facility for your sense gratification. No. There is no question of sense gratification. That is disease. The healthy state is how to satisfy Krsna. That is bhakti. Bhakti definition, you know:

anyabhilasita-sunyam
jnana-karmady-anavrtam
anukulyena krsnanu-
silanam bhaktir uttama
 [Brs. 1.1.11]

That is bhakti, no other business. Anyabhilasita-sunyam. Sunyam means zero. We are singing, ara na kariha mane asa **. Make all... They could not understand. They are so much atheistic that it was impossible for them to understand what is God, what is devotion. So therefore Lord Buddha propounded the philosophy, "Make all your nonsense activities zero, so much. First of all make zero, then positive we shall say." That is zero movement, sunyavadi. At least, if a rascal children is always doing something nonsense, then first of all stop him. Make him zero. Then good lesson: "Come. Do this." So this Buddhist movement means to make their atheistic activities zero. At least that is good. It is better not to... Maunam, silent. Instead of talking all nonsense, better be silent; don't create disturbance. So... And the other movement, nirvisesa-vadi, are giving little hint, Sankaracarya, Mayavada, that "Yes, this zero is not sufficient. There is positive." Brahma satyam jagan mithya. His movement was that "This material world is false; make it zero. But there is a positive thing which is Brahman." What is that Brahman, he did not disclose.

Then the Vaisnava acaryas, Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, they said, brahma satya. And what is Brahman? Brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate [SB 1.2.11]. Brahman, first realization, impersonal; then localized; then person. Just like Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam: [Bg. 4.1] "Long, long years ago, millions of years ago, I spoke this philosophy to the sun-god, Vivasvan." So, Krsna, as He was instructing Arjuna, similarly, He was instructing the sun-god that... Arjuna is a person. Krsna is a person. Similarly, sun-god is also a person, and Krsna is a person. And Krsna says in the Second Chapter of Bhagavad-gita that "My dear Arjuna, you, Me, and all of them who are standing here in this battlefield, we were existing in the past, we are existing now, and we shall continue to exist." So God is person; we are also person. We existed in the past as person, we are existing now as person and we shall continue to exist as person. There is no question of imperson. If past, present, future, everywhere is a person, where is the question of imperson? So imperson means... Just like the sun-god is person, but the sunshine is imperson. Those who are in the sunshine, they cannot understand what is sun-god. That is not possible. It requires strength. If you want to go and see the sun-god Vivasvan, that requires qualification. It is not so easy. You cannot enter even the sun planet, what to speak of talking with him. But Krsna could talk. Krsna can go anywhere. And when there is sun-god, then "god" means not alone. A king does not mean alone. King means he has got his kingdom, he has got his subjects, he has got minister, he has got military strength. Everything is there. So similarly, if we accept Krsna's statement that "I spoke to sun-god," the sun-god is there in the sun globe, and he has his kingdom, so dazzling kingdom. It looks like fire, blazing. But don't think it is impersonal. Impersonal? How Krsna could talk with him? There is no question of impersonality.

So here, adharmah vijnatah, the degrees. Real dharma is, Krsna is explaining in the Bhagavad..., sarva-dharman parityajya... [Bg. 18.66]. You have created, man-made, so many dharmas. So one Bengali Vaisnava, he has mentioned, prthivite yaha kichu dharma name cale, bhagavat kahe taha paripurna chale. Bhagavata, Srimad-Bhagavatam says, dharmah projjhita-kaitavo 'tra: [SB 1.1.2] "In the Srimad-Bhagavatam all kaitava" -- kaitava means cheating -- "cheating type of religious religious system is kicked out." Projjhita, dharmah projjhita-kaitavo atra. So dharma is one; religion is one. There cannot be different types of religion. That is concoction. Dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam [SB 6.3.19]. I have several times... So dharma and adharma. These witnesses are there to see who is disobeying the orders of the Lord. That is adharma. A clear order is that sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. This is dharma. Everything is explained in the Bhagavad-gita, what is jnana, what is dharma, what is vairagya.

So we have got this opportunity, this human form of life. As I was saying yesterday, krsna-bhuliya jiva... Anadi bahirmukha jiva krsna bhuli gela, ataeva krsna veda-purana karila. We do not know when, but since a very, very long time, anadi... Adi means it is beginning of this creation. And before that, anadi. Anadi bahir-mukha jiva. We are forgetful of Krsna since a very, very long time, and going within the cycle of birth and death, transmigration. So we get the opportunity, this human form of life. So we must revive our consciousness by going through, by understanding, by hearing these literatures. Veda-Purana. Veda-Purana. Anadi bahir-mukha jiva krsna bhuli gela. Our position is: we have forgotten God. But this forgetfulness can be subdued, and we can revive our original consciousness. Just like a man sleeping, but if you call him again and again, "Mr. such and such, get up. Get up. Now your time is to go to office and do this, to do that," similarly, although we are sleeping on the lap of maya, kota nidra yao maya pisacira kole, so we can be awakened by simply this chanting process, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

So this chanting Hare Krsna mantra will cleanse our heart. We are loaded with so many dirty things, so this can be cleansed. Ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. This Krsna consciousness movement is to cleanse the heart of the human being and get out all the..., projjhita, kick out all dirty things and concentrate on devotional service of Krsna. And the beginning is srnvatam, srnvatam, this process. It doesn't require that you should be very rich man or you should be very educated or so on, so on. No. In whatever position you are, remain. There is no question of artificial improvement. There is no question. You remain. Simply God has given you the ear. Utilize it properly. That's all. You don't require to go to the university and get a Ph.D. degree and then you can understand. No. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission, that,

jnane prayasam udapasya namanta eva
jivanti san-mukharitam bhavadiya-vartam
sthane sthitah sruti-gatam tanu-van-manobhih

Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement is so nice that you don't require to acquire something artificial. No. Wherever you are, remain there. Simply hear. And preaching means to propagate or to vibrate what Krsna has said. So this is the position of the preacher, that you simply repeat, like a parrot, no qualification. You simply ... Whatever is said in the Bhagavad-gita, you repeat. And the others simply hear. Sravanam kirtanam [SB 7.5.23]. Then both of them become liberated. There is no question of that, to become a qualified person. This is the only qualification, that a preacher should preach only what Krsna has said. That's all. No manufacturing, no concoction. And the audience? They will hear from such person who does not speak anything else except Krsna's teaching, that's all. These two things, if carried, then your both the life,(?) the sravanam kirtanam, the one who is speaking and one who is hearing, both of them are benefited.

So this Krsna consciousness movement is opening so many centers just to give people opportunity to hear. To hear. So I am very glad that this church... This was a church, and nobody was coming here, and therefore it was sold to us. Now... You are all belonging to America, Los Angeles, and the church also was there. Now why it is crowded? It is not that you are imported from India to hear about Krsna. (laughter) So if there is substance, they will hear. If there is no substance, who will hear? That is the difference. So substance is here. Ataeva krsna veda-purana karila. You hear these Vedas and Puranas and make your life successful.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.43 -- Los Angeles, June 9, 1976

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No Fakir-Go to Guru

No Fakir-Go to Guru

Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.42
Los Angeles, June 8, 1976

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Pradyumna: (leads chanting, etc.) Translation: "The sun, fire, sky, air, demigods, moon, evening, day, night, directions, water, land, and the Supersoul Himself all witness the activities of the living entity."

Prabhupada:

suryo 'gnih kham marud devah
somah sandhyahani disah
kam kuh svayam dharma iti hy
ete daihyasya saksinah
 [SB 6.1.42]

In the Christian religion they do not believe karma, that I did something in my past life. "Where is the evidence that I did something; therefore I am suffering?" They take the analogy: just like a criminal in the court is convinced when there is sufficient witness, not that I have complained against you, and you go to the court, you are punished. No. My charges against you should be corroborated by sufficient witness. So the Christian religionists, they do not believe in the next birth, transmigration of the soul, something like that. So they do not believe also in the fruitive activities' resultant action of our past life. This very word "witness"... It is my personal experience. I was student in the Scottish Churches College, and we had to attend half an hour Bible class. So Dr. W.S. Urquhart, he was teaching, Reverend W.S. Urquhart. He said, I remember, that "Where is the evidence? The Hindus believe in the karma, but where is the evidence that I did it?"

The answer is here, that... We may not compare our inefficiency with the arrangement of the Supreme Lord. Now, God has kept so many witnesses. How you can escape? Here is a name, list of witness. Surya first of all -- the sun. So how you can escape Surya's light? You cannot escape. So here is one witness. Then Agni, fire. Then Kham, the sky. Where there is no sky? Here we are sitting; there is sky. And there is light also. Then Marut, air. Deva. Who is deva? Demigods, yes. Then Soma. At night there is moon. Sandhya, evening or noon. Noon is also sandhya. Sandhya means junction. When the night is going away -- the day is coming early in the morning -- that is also sandhya. When midday, the forenoon is passing -- the afternoon is beginning -- that is also sandhya. Tri-sandhya. Tri-sandhya. We have to chant Gayatri mantra tri-sandhya, early in the morning, in the midday and in the evening. That is tri-sandhya. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah yasyaprasadad na gatih kuto 'pi **. What is next line?

Devotee: Dhyayan stuvams tasya yasas tri-sandhyam.

Prabhupada: Tri-sandhya. This tri-sandhya, early in the morning, midday and in the evening. So every sandhya is witness. Sandhya, ahani, day and night together, whole day, twenty-four hours, ahani. Ahany ahani loka gacchanti yama-mandiram. This ahani. Every day hundreds and thousands of living entities are dying. Sesah sthitam icchanti kim ascaryam atah param. Still, one who is not dead, he is thinking, "I'll not die. I'll remain." This is the wonderful thing, most wonderful thing. Everyone should be prepared for death. Death is inevitable. So disah, and ten directions: north, south, east, west, the four corners, eight, and up and down. They are ten directions. Where you'll go? Everywhere there is witness. You cannot escape. Kam kuh svayam. What is kam kuh?

Devotee: Water and earth.

Prabhupada: Water and earth, yes. So how you can escape God's eyes? Sarvatah pani-padam tat sarvato caksuh. Everywhere God's eyes are there. So you cannot escape. You are wanting witness? Here are so many witnesses. How you can hide your sinful activities? That is not possible. You can hide yourself from the material laws, that "The police has not seen me. Then I may escape." No. God's law you cannot do that. That is not possible. So we should remember it, that when we act sinfully, then there are so many witnesses, and we have to be punished. You cannot escape. Kam kuh svayam. Svayam. These are so many gods, witnesses, and over and above them svayam, the Personality of Godhead in His Supersoul feature Supersoul means God is present in everyone's heart. Not only heart, He is everywhere present, even within the atom.

yac-chaktir asti jagad-anda-caya yad-antah
andantara-stha-paramanu-cayantara-stham
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
 [Bs. 5.35]

The Lord, in order to maintain this material world, how He has expanded, it is described in the sastra. Eko 'py asau racayitum jagad-anda-koti. Jagad-anda means this universe. Anda: it is egglike. Anda means egglike, jagat-anda, the universe. So that universe is not one. We are seeing only one universe with our, these naked eyes, but when we see through the eyes of sastra, authority... Sastra-caksusat. This is Vedic knowledge, that "Don't be simply after your, these defective eyes." What is the value of these eyes? There are so many things. Just like this morning we were discussing: you take photograph from the sea. What you will see? But there are many millions of fishes within the sea. What you will take, photograph? They say that "We have taken photograph on the moon planet. There is no life." What is the value of this photograph? Can you take photograph in the water, how many fishes are there? So what is the value of your photograph? This is the difficulty, that these rascals, they do not accept that they are defective. That is the difficulty. With their defective senses they are thinking, "We are perfect. Because we have got a photograph, telescope, therefore it is sufficient." It is made by you. You are defective, and whatever you make, that is defective. This is the conclusion. This is right conclusion. If blind man, if he creates some telescope or..., can he see? You are blind. What you can see? But they are taking evidence: "We have seen with photograph, with telescope."

So these questions were never raised. We are now raising these questions. And they were passing on. No. This is not the process. The process is sastra-caksusat, sabda-pramanam. That is the Vedic injunction, sabda-pramanam. Just like you are sleeping, and somebody is coming to kill you with knife. So how you can take precaution? You are sleeping. But some of your friend or relative: "Get up! Get up! Get up! There is enemy! There is enemy!" Immediately you wake up. That means you see with the ear, not with the eyes. The real seeing is through the eyes, er, through the ears. Suppose one does not know who is your..., who is his father. So how he can see the father? Through the ear, not with the eyes. That is not possible. The mother says, "My dear child, here is your father," and you see through the eyes: "Here is my father." So therefore real eyes -- the ear, not these eyes. Real eyes. That is real seeing. Therefore sastra says, Vedic knowledge, that sastra-caksusat, pasyati jnana-caksusat: "One can see by the eyes of knowledge," not by these blunt eyes. This is useless. They cannot see. And how you can see through the sabda? Sastra means sabda. Through the ear... My Guru Maharaja used to say, "Don't try to see a saintly person by your eyes. You see a saintly person by the ear." Because if you hear from the saintly person and if he is speaking from the experience which he has heard from the, another saintly person -- this is called guru-parampara -- then the knowledge is perfect. Yesterday we ... The Yamadutas said that iti susruma. Never said, "I have seen it." Vedo narayanah saksat svayambhur iti susruma: "We have heard it." Vedo narayanah saksa... He never says, "I have seen it." No. Iti susruma. So this is experience, real experience, real knowledge. Vedo narayanah saksat. Veda is directly Narayana. So Narayana... You can see Narayana. You can hear about Narayana. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh [SB 7.5.23]. Visnu is Narayana. This is the beginning of understanding Narayana, sravanam kirtanam. Never says, "By seeing, by touching, by licking up." No. You cannot see. That is not experience. Real experience is iti susruma. So if we take our knowledge that there is no witness what we did in our previous life, that is nonsense. Here are the so many witnesses. Iti susruma. Hear. You cannot say there is no witness. You hear from the Vedic literature how many witnesses are present there for all your activities and how they are becoming recorded minutely, and everything will be judged. Therefore the Yamaraja is there.

So this is our position, that prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27], ahankara-vimudhatma. Anyone who is proud of his so-called knowledge, so-called experience -- simply "I believe," "I think," "It may be," "Suppose" -- what is this knowledge? They're all nonsense. When you get knowledge susruma, from the authority, that is knowledge. Otherwise all useless. All useless. Because your senses are imperfect. You cannot see properly. You cannot hear properly. You cannot touch properly. You cannot smell properly. These are your instruments for getting experience. You cannot go. How you can say in other planets there is no life? You cannot go. According to the scientists' calculations, they say that to go to the topmost planet it will take forty... Eh? Forty thousands of years. Who is going to travel forty thousand years? But we are seeing. The planets are there. Go there and see. You cannot estimate of one universe, which you are practically seeing. And in the sastra we hear that there are millions of universes.

yasya prabha prabhavato jagad-anda-koti-
kotisv asesa-vasudhadi vibhuti-bhinnam
tad brahma niskalam anantam asesa-bhutam
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
 [Bs. 5.40]

So we have to take knowledge from sastra. And who will teach me sastra? Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. Go to guru. Tad-vijnanartham. Just like you go to some superior person to learn something. That is the process. Similarly, the same process... You have to go to a person who has also heard. Susruma. You go to that, not that person who says that "I suppose," "I believe," "Maybe." No. You go to the person who says, iti susruma: "We have heard it from authorities." You have to go to that person. Srotriyam brahma-nistham [MU 1.2.12]. Who is guru? Srotriyam: "Who has properly heard." Srotriyam. And what is the result? Brahma-nistham: by hearing, he is firmly convinced there is God. You have to go to such guru. lf you go to a fakir, what he will teach you? No. Fakir means one who talks much without any knowledge. He is called fakir.

So everything is, direction is there. Tad-vijnanartham. If you want to know that science, then Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum eva: [MU 1.2.12] "must." Gacchet. This verb is used when there is the sense "must." If somebody says, "All right, I shall learn even without going to any guru," no, that is not possible. Therefore this verb is used, gacchet: "You must if you want to learn." Otherwise you remain in darkness. This is Vedic injunction. Susruma? You must hear from the right source; then you will get perfect knowledge. So therefore, whether there is witness or not witness, we cannot understand from a so-called professor. There is witness, sastra says. And how can you deny it? If surya... first word is surya. The surya is the eyes of God, one eye. Another eye is the moon. And it is described in the sastra,

yac-caksur esa savita sakala-grahanam
raja samasta-sura-murtir asesa-tejah,
yasyajnaya bhramati sambhrta-kala-cakro
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

So Surya can see that... We have got some rays of the eyes, three feet. But, you see, from the 93,000,000 miles away he is seeing you. So brightly he is seeing. So you have to understand in that way. The sastra says, "Here is the eyes." Another eye, another eye, one after another, one after another. How you will escape? That is not possible.

Therefore we must be very cautious and, I mean to say, with sense we must act, and if we act according to the direction of the sastra, then our position is safe. Otherwise, we are risking life. Risking life means this human life, human life. The dog has got ear; we have got also ear. But a dog cannot understand sastra; that is not possible. Or the elephant has got ear, very big ear. (laughter) Does it mean that he can hear more? No. This is rascaldom. One must be quite able to hear to understand sastra. Therefore sastra is meant for the human society. In the Caitanya-caritamrta you will find, the Sanatana Gosvami's teachings, you will find, anadi bahirmukha jiva krsna bhuli gela, ataeva krsna veda purana karila. Why these Vedas and Puranas are there? Just to remind us. The veda purana karila. Veda, the four Vedas and other literatures abiding by the Vedas... Purana means supplementary Vedas. There are many historical incidences. They say "mythology." No, it is not mythology. It is from selected historical incidences put together, but the same Vedic instruction for common man. In the Vedas the mantras are there. Common man cannot understand. Janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1], athato brahma jijnasa. This Veda mantra goes on. But ordinary persons, they cannot understand. Therefore the same Vedas explained with reference to the historical incidences, that is called Purana. Purana means "who is complete." Purana, purayati iti purana. So, the Mayavadi philosopher, they say the Puranas are stories. No. The Bhagavata is Purana. It is full of stories. But what kind of stories? All Vedic instruction. Just like Ajamila. Ajamila began, itihasa. The Bhagavata Purana is speaking itihasa, in the beginning. It is said. So Sukadeva Gosvami is giving incidences of itihasa, history, example from the history. So this is actual fact.

So in order to convince Pariksit Maharaja how chanting of Hare Krsna mantra is powerful, he is giving a lesson from the history, how Ajamila was delivered simply by chanting "Narayana." This is the incidence from the history. And it is history. The story begins, kanyakubje. Kanyakubja is still there in India. Perhaps you have heard the name of Kanpur. So that is within the Kanyakubja area. Kanyakubje dvijah: "There was a brahmana in Kanyakubja." Historical name is all... So it is history. It is not story, mythology. No story. It is historical fact. Anything which is described in the sastra... The Bhagavata is Maha-Purana. Don't be misled, "These are mythology." No, these are historical facts. And we have to learn the Vedic knowledge by the description selected from the history so that we can easily understand. This is the purpose.

So in our, this human form of life we should be very careful, and what is ordered that "You should do like this..." Just like if you go to a medical man, so if you are diseased, a medical man, physician, will give you a prescription that "You take this medicine, and you do not take this kind of food. You can take this kind of food." Ahara-pathya. So if you want to cure your material disease, then two things are required: the medicine and the food. It is called pathya. The proper food and proper medicine. The proper medicine is chanting Hare Krsna, and the proper food is Krsna prasada.

Devotees: Jaya!

Prabhupada: Take these two things -- you are liberated.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.42 -- Los Angeles, June 8, 1976

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