Basic Principle

Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.33 Mayapur, March 11, 1976 download  flash player   Take a test Pusta Krsna: "This cosmic manifestation, the material world, is also Your body. By Your potential energy known as kala-sakti, this total lump of matter is agitated, and thus three modes of material nature are manifested. In this way You become awakened from the bed of Ananta-Sesa, and from Your navel a small transcendental seed is generated, from which the gigantic universe becomes manifest. Exactly like the small seed of banyan tree, the lotus flower of the cosmic manifestation is grown up." Prabhupada: These verses of Srimad-Bhagavatam, they are Vedic mantras. They're not ordinary wording, set of wording. It is not. Veda-mantra, samhita. So every one of you must try to chant. This is required. Each verse of Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam, they are Vedic mantras, veda-mantra. So simply by chanting them we become purified. So every one of you... There is diacritic marks, literation, transliteration, so everyone should try to chant the mantra. That is very beneficial. That is kirtana. Kirtanad eva krsnasya [SB 12.3.51]. Everything is being chanted in relationship with Krsna, with reference to Krsna. So this material world is explained, tasyaiva te vapur idam nija-kala-saktya sancodita-prakrti-dharmana atma-gudham ambhasy ananta-sayanad viramat-samadher nabher abhut sva-kanika-vatavat mahabjam  [SB 7.9.33]

Vatavat mahabjam. Abjam means flower, lotus flower? Yes. So this is the description of Garbhodakasayi Visnu. Karanodakasayi Visnu and then Garbhodakasayi Visnu and then Ksirodakasayi Visnu, trin, three Visnus. First of all from... I have several times explained, from Krsna, then expansion, Balarama, then catur-vyuha, Sankarsana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, like that. Then Narayana, then dvitiya catur-vyuha. From dvitiya catur-vyuha, Vaikuntha, Sankarsana, then Purusa, Purusa-avatara. These Purusas are three. In the Bhagavad-gita Arjuna recognized Krsna as purusa. Purusam sasvatam adyam. So He's the purusa. God is purusa, male. God is not female. Female... The sakti, that is female, prakrti.

In the Bhagavad-gita also it is mentioned, prakrtir me astadha, bhinna prakrtir me astadha. This material nature is separated energy, divided into eight elements: earth, water, air, and fire, then ether, mind, intelligence and ego. These are all prakrti, material. Bhinna me prakrtir astadha. Bhinna. Bhinna means separated. There is not direct connection, but another prakrti, that is... Apareyam itas tu viddhi me prakrtim para [Bg. 7.5]. This is inferior energy, material elements, and there is superior element, prakrti. That is also prakrti. We are prakrti. Prakrti means under the control of the purusa. That is natural. We cannot conceive equal rights of purusa and prakrti. That is not Vedic conception. Vedic conception is purusa, the superior, Supreme, and prakrti means subordinate. Purusa is predominator, and prakrti is predominated. So we living entities, we are prakrti. Falsely if we try to become purusa, that is maya. We should remain prakrti, subservient, predominated. That is this Krsna consciousness movement. Because generally the people are misled, thinking himself as purusa, "I am the enjoyer." But that is not the fact. That false ego, that "I am enjoyer," that is false ego. And real ego is "I am servant of Krsna." So there is no necessity of giving up egotism or egoism, but it must be real. At the present moment we are falsely thinking, "I am this body," every one of us. There is no argument. The whole material world is going on on the basis of this false conception that "I am this body." And because I am this body, therefore "I am American," "I am Indian." So this is false ego.

So from this false ego, when we come to real ego... What is that real ego? That "I am servant of Krsna." Gopi-bhartur pada-kamalayor dasa-dasa-dasa-dasanudasah [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. That is real ego. So our, this Krsna consciousness movement is teaching people how to come to the real ego, real constitutional position. The Mayavadi philosophy, they are also trying to do that, but they're another false ego: aham brahmasmi. Aham brahmasmi -- "I am Brahman" -- that is a fact, but I am not Supreme Brahman, Parabrahman. The Mayavadi, they take it: "Because I am Brahman, I am Supreme Brahman." No. Suppose you are all coming from America. You can claim that you are American, but that does not mean you are Mr. Ford, the President. So similarly, this is false ego. If somebody thinks, "Because I am American, therefore I am equal to Mr. Ford," that is false. That is not... So our Krsna consciousness movement is how to bring back these, I mean to say, insane, crazy fellows to their real consciousness. These crazy fellows, they are thinking, "I am God," "I am master," "I am this," "I am that," "I am prime minister," "I am president." This false ego. The real ego is, "I am servant of Krsna." That is the beginning of Caitanya Mahaprabhu's teaching.

When Caitanya Mahaprabhu was approached by Sanatana Gosvami, his first question was ke ami: "Who am I?" This is the first education, spiritual education. And the same thing is taught in the Bhagavad-gita because Arjuna was too much identifying himself in the bodily conception of life: "I belong to this Kurus' family, so if I kill them, then family will be ruined. The women will be widows, and they'll be corrupted. Then there will be unwanted children, varna-sankara, and in this way the whole world will be hellish," and so on, so on, so many, but beginning with the bodily conception of life. All, what was, Arjuna was explaining to Krsna, that was... From material point of view, it is very nice. He wanted to become nonviolent. He did not like to kill his family members. He, rather, liked to forego his claim, that "I don't want. Let them enjoy." But everything, from material point of view, it was very nice proposal. But this identification with family, with nation, with community, this is all foolishness. All foolishness.

So if you study this point only, you'll see the whole world is full of fools and rascals, that's all, because everyone is identifying with his body. There is fight, the United Nation. What is this United Nation nonsense? Assembly of rascals and fools, that's all. (laughter) Because they have got this bodily concept of life we can say, freely. There is no -- what is called? -- defaming. Everyone, fools and rascals. How we can say? On the strength of Vedic knowledge. This is our power. Otherwise how we can challenge the United Nation that "You are all assembly of fools and rascals"? This is Vedic knowledge. We can say and prove it, that they are all fools and rascals from the spiritual point of view because they do not know their identification. This is the first education, to know one's identification. That is being taught by Sanatana Gosvami and Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He was prime minister. He knew himself, Sanatana Gosvami, that he was prime minister of Hussain Shah and he's coming of very learned brahmana family. He knew it. Then why he's asking, ke ami: "Who am?" This is knowledge. This is knowledge. One has to understand himself. That is the basic principle of spiritual life. Unless we understand who I am... You go to the spiritual master, our first business is inquiry. That inquiry is "Who am I?" This is the... This is the beginning of inquiry. So our, this Krsna consciousness movement is authorized. We have printed one pamphlet, "Krsna Consciousness Movement Is Authorized." It is not a sentiment, fanaticism. No. It is scientific, authorized. So I am very glad that you European and American boys, you have taken so much trouble to come here, but you'll be benefited if you come here and try to take lessons from Caitanya Mahaprabhu as He gave it to Sanatana Gosvami. Sanatana Gosvami inquired, "Who am I?" and He replied very simple thing: jivera svarupa haya nitya krsna dasa [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109]. This is the beginning of our lesson, so we must understand very nicely this point.

So this material world is explained here: tasyaiva te vapur idam nija-kala-saktya. Energy, Krsna's energy, prakrti. Energy means prakrti. So parasya brahmana sakti. Eka-sthane sthitasyagner jyotsna vistarini yatha, parasya brahmanah sakti tathaiva akhilam jagat. Then same thing we'll find in the Vedic literature everywhere, either you read Puranas or Mahabharata, or Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam or Vedanta-sutra. Vedanta-sutra also says that "The origin... The Absolute Truth is origin, and everything is emanation." So emanation and the original fact-vapur idam. Idam hi visvam bhagavan ivetarah: "This visvam, this universe, is Bhagavan in one sense." Just like this my finger, so that is also my body. Although it is named "finger," but it is my body. Or even a piece of hair, that is also my body, although it is differently named, "hair." So similarly, when you understand that every particle of this material world is also the body of the Supreme Lord, that is Krsna consciousness. Andantarastham paramanu-cayantara-stham. Eko 'py asau racayitum jagad-anda-koti. So there are millions and trillions of universes, and each atom of each universe is Krsna. That we have to understand. That is being explained here.

Tasyaiva te vapur idam nija-kala-saktya sancodita-prakrti dharmana atma-gudham. The secret, the people, they do not know. They... But Prahlada Maharaja knows. Ambhasi. This is the beginning of creation, ambhasi. Ambhasy ananta-sayanat. Anantadeva... Ananta faces, there are. On that Ananta-naga, the Garbhodakasayi Visnu is lying on. So from the navel of Garbhodakasayi Visnu there is a lotus flower, and... Vatavat-mahabjam. So, so there is Brahma, and Brahma created other thing. So it is just like the... In previous verse it has been explained, "Just like the seed of the fruit of the tree." Seed is the cause of the tree, and tree is the cause of the seed. In this way the whole material cosmic manifestation is there, and vapur idam tava te. So everything of Krsna. Therefore a Vaisnava's, I mean to say, conception is that everything at least Krsna's, so everything should be utilized for Krsna's benefit. This is Krsna consciousness, not "my benefit." "I also belong to Krsna, so I must be utilized for Krsna's benefit." So in this way, if we develop our Krsna consciousness, then we'll be benefited.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.33 -- Mayapur, March 11, 1976

HOME

© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

The All Pure and Powerful

Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.32 Mayapur, March 10, 1976 download  flash player   Take a test Pusta Krsna: "O my Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, after annihilation, the creative energy is kept in Yourself, but the energy being put within Yourself, it appears that You are sleeping with half-closed eyes. Actually, there is no sleeping like an ordinary human being. You are always in the transcendental stage, beyond the creation of the material world, and You always feel in transcendental bliss. In this way, You, Karanodakasayi Visnu, remain in Your transcendental status, but although it appears that Karanodakasayi Visnu is sleeping, it is not that; (it is) sleeping distinct from sleeping in ignorance." Prabhupada: nyasyedam atmani jagad vilayambu-madhye sesetmana nija-sukhanubhavo nirihah yogena milita-drg-atma-nipita-nidras turye sthito na tu tamo na gunams ca yunkse  [SB 7.9.32]

This is the position, transcendentally. How we use this word transcendental, that is explained here, what is transcendental. Turya. Turya, the fourth dimension. Here, in this material world, there are three dimensions: length, breadth and height. And spiritual world, beyond that, not within the measurement of length, breadth and height, that is called turya. (aside:) Child...

So we have already discussed that without spiritual touch there is no material creation. That is not possible. So modern scientists, they're missing this point, all big, big scientists. It is very simple thing, but they cannot understand. Mayayapahrta-jnanah [Bg. 7.15]. Although they're advertised to be very advanced in knowledge, but actually they have no knowledge. Mayayapahrta-jnanah. They cannot find out that within the matter there must be spirit. Otherwise there is no creation. There must be. We have used this example often, that matter... A dead child means matter. This body is lump of matter, but on account of presence of the spirit soul we have got working arrangement of this body. There is hand, there is leg, there is head, there is ear -- everything is being utilized. But when the spirit soul is not there, what is the value of this head, leg or hand? Anyone can see to it.

So the same principle is applicable to the whole cosmic creation, that even within the ant the same principle, within Brahma the same principle, and within the gigantic universe, the same principle. Without the spirit soul, there is no question of creation. Creation, maintenance and destruction, three things are going on on account of presence of the Supreme Soul. Therefore the three principal deities -- Brahma, Visnu, Mahesvara -- are there, guna-avatara. He is not within the guna; therefore He expands Himself as gunavatara: sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. But He's turya of the gunas. Just like if we enter into the fire, we'll be burned, but sometimes the fire brigade men, they enter into the fire... They have got suit and contradictory dress that they can enter into the fire. Similarly, maya... Maya is very strong, but Krsna, the Lord, when He comes within this material world -- yuge yuge sambhavamy atma-mayaya [Bg. 4.6] -- He comes in His own original turya status. He does not become affected. Gunams ca yunkse. He's not affected. This is the position of Krsna. He's always transcendental. Na me karma-phale sprha. Na mam limpanti karma... Karmani. Yes. Na mam karmani limpanti na me karma-phale sprha [Bg. 4.14]. This is position. We are here under the pressure of karma-phala. By the result of our past lives' fruitive activities we have got this body, material body. That is also not our real body. That is the body of the prison house, just like when a criminal is put into the prison house, he is given a different dress. In hospital, in prison house, when a man is there, his original dress is taken away. It is kept. When he's released from the hospital or jail, the same dress is again returned. Otherwise his present dress is taken and a separate dress is given. Similarly, we have got our spiritual body, not that we are zero, as the Mayavadi thinks. We are not zero. We have got our spiritual body but very, very small. Very small. The measurement is given: one ten-thousandth part of the tip of the hair, very minute. Anor aniyan mahato mahiyan. The Supreme Lord is great. "God is great." He's greater than the greatest, and He is smaller than the smallest. He is... The living entity is even smaller than the atom, but it has got a body. It is not that without body. We cannot imagine. Just like sometimes we see at night some microbic ant, very small, almost like full stop, but it is moving very nicely here and there. So the same physiological contruction, anatomy, is there. Everything is there. So this is God's creation. Anor aniyan mahato mahiyan. It can also fly. We can manufacture a flying machine, 747, but we cannot manufacture a flying machine like that microbic ant. That is not possible.

So this is God's creation, everything wonderful. But still, He's above, turya. He's not within this creation. He's creating, but he's not within it. Etad isanam isasya. This is called godly power. He is within everything and He is without still. So that is understood here. Nyasyedam atmani jagat vilayamba-madhye. Amba-madhye... Yah karanarnava-jale bhajati sma yoga-nidram ananta [Bs. 5.47]. He appears to be sleeping. Ananta-kale. Again creation and, what is called, annihilation is going on. Yasyaika-nisvasita-kalam athavalambya jivanti loma-vilaja jagad-anda-nathah, visnur mahan sa iha yasya kala [Bs. 5.48]. This creation and annihilation is going on continually. And what is the time difference? Nisvasita-kalam. Just like we exhale and inhale, a second, similarly, this creation -- annihilation is a second for Maha-Visnu. So millions and millions of years stays... Everything is created, and it stays for some time. Srsti-sthiti. Srsti-sthiti pralaya, three stages. So between the srsti, creation, and pralaya, annihilation, there is one period which is called sthiti. That sthiti means the life of Brahma. When the life of Brahma is finished, then there is no more sthiti; it is now annihilated. Now you can calculate what is the life of Brahma. Sahasra-yuga-paryantam ahar yad brahmano viduh [Bg. 8.17]. Our one thousand years and multiplied by the years of yuga... The yuga year means forty-three hundred thousand of years, and, multiplied by one thousand, that period is Brahma's twelve hours, day. Now you can imagine. It is beyond your mathematical calculation, but still, there is calculation in the sastra, and that is, such hundreds years, is the duration of sthiti. But that sthiti, before Karanavasayi Visnu, is the moment, just like we exhale and inhale. So srsti-sthiti. Yasyaika-nisvasita-kalam athavalambya [Bs. 5.48]. They take only that much time which is between exhaling and inhaling. That Maha-Visnu. That Maha-Visnu has placed Himself in this material energy, maha-tattva, and by His nisvasa, by His inhaling and exhaling, the material energy is agitated. Then the three gunas are there. Then, by interaction, counteraction, the whole creation takes place.

Nyasyedam atmani jagad vilayambu-madhye sese. Sese: "Lying down on the Sesa-murti." Atmana nija-sukhanubhavo... "He is not obliged, as we are placed in certain condition of life, being obliged." Karmana daiva-netrena [SB 3.31.1]. I have got this body; you have got this body. It is not sukhanubhavah. Here it is said that nija-sukhanubhavah. This is called pastime. He is not obliged, but he takes pleasure. Just like sometimes we take pleasure in a swimming pool, lie down and closing our eyes. Who expert swimmer, they're lying down. Why it is not possible for the Supreme Lord? What is the difficulty? Sukhanubhavah. We take that pastime for pleasure, for pleasure, lying down on the water, closing eyes. So when we speak, "The Garbhodakasayi Visnu lying down in the Causal Ocean," these rascals, fools, they sometimes criticize, "And how it is possible?" How it is not possible? If a ordinary man can take pleasure lying down on the water, closing and lying for hours -- we have seen it -- so what is the difficulty for the Supreme Lord? You have got this tendency to lie down on water, half on the water, and close your eyes. So where your tendency has come? Your tendency has come because the same tendency is there in the Supreme Lord. This is the explanation. Yato va imani bhutani jayante. Janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1]. This is the Vedic... Everything, whatever you see, that is there in the Supreme Being. Why we make love affairs with young girls or young boys? Because the same propensity is there. Laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambhrama sevyamanam [Bs. 5.29]. Krsna is enjoying in Goloka Vrndavana with so many young girls. That tendency to enjoy the company of young girls or young boys is there. Otherwise wherefrom it has come? That is the explanation. Everything, whatever you see, everything -- janmady asya yatah [SB 1.1.1] -- that is there.

So this sleeping of Karanarnavasayi Visnu is not extraordinary. We can... If we study our, I mean to say, inclinations, our sense of pleasure, if we simply study ourself, you'll find that the Supreme Lord possessing the same thing but in turya, without any touch of maya or without any touch of the three gunas. Then you can understand what is God. God means... Because we are part and parcel of God, so you study yourself. You'll find the same quality. Just like a small drop of sea water. You analyze it, what chemicals are there -- the same chemicals are in the ocean. The difference is quantity. Quality, the same. That is called acintya-bhedabheda tattva. We are qualitatively one with God, not quantitatively. The Mayavadi philosophers, they think we are also quantitatively the same. That is mistake. That is not possible. Otherwise why it is said, sthito na tu tamo na gunams ca yunkse? This... He is so big that He is above these qualities. Just like we become infected in a filthy place, but the sun does not become infected. It, rather, sterilizes that infected place. So we should not compare with God, that "I am equal to Him." No. That is not possible. Tejiyasam na dosaya [SB 10.33.29]. The sun, when it absorbs water from the urinal, he is not infected. He makes that urinal sterilized. Similarly, if sometimes we see some behavior of the Supreme Lord which appears from social, our social point of view as not permitted... But He can do anything. That is the meaning of all-powerful. But He's not affected. He's not affected. Apapa-viddham. Apapa-viddham, in the Upanisad, Isopanisad, that sinful activities... He cannot do anything which is sinful. God is always good. But to our calculation, limited calculation, if we see that He is committing something sinful, it is not sinful. It is sterilizing. The same example. Tejiyasam na dosaya. If by chanting His holy name we become sinless, how God can become sinful? It is not possible. This is common sense. If by chanting His holy name, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna...

Devotees: Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

Prabhupada: ...so we become purified, how Krsna can be impure? It is not possible. Pavitram paramam bhavan. Try to understand Krsna.

Here is explanation, that sthito na tu tamo na gunams ca yunkse. This is Krsna. This is Visnu, Krsna. Never, never think... There are some party, they say, "We worship Krsna, Bala-Krsna, boy Krsna." Sometimes they give reason that... Why not, I mean to say, grown-up Krsna? They say that "Grown-up Krsna was polluted by rasa-lila." Just see the fool nonsense! Krsna is always Krsna. This is foolish conclusion, that child Krsna is pure than young Krsna. This is wrong conception. Krsna is... Just like Krsna, when He was three months old, He could kill a big, gigantic witch, that Putana. Can... A three months' old child can kill such a big...? No. Krsna is always God. Either He appears in three months or three hundred years or three thousand years, He is the same. Advaitam acyutam anadim ananta-rupam adyam purana purusam nava-yauvanam ca [Bs. 5.33]. This is Krsna.

So by studying Krsna, you become liberated. So these verses should be studied very carefully, understanding each word very carefully. Then you'll understand Krsna. Kaviraja Gosvami has said, siddhanta boliya citte na kara alasa, iha haite krsna lage sudrdha manasa. Siddhanta, what is Krsna, if you study from the sastras, then siddhanta boliya citte, don't be lazy in understanding Krsna, because if you try to understand Krsna sadhu-sastra-guru-vakyam cittete kariya aikya-through the sadhu, sastra and guru -- then you understand Krsna, what He is. Then you'll not take Him as ordinary human being, as foolish person taking. Avajananti mam mudha manusim tanum asritah [Bg. 9.11]. Mudhas, rascals, they think Krsna as one of us. Then you'll not be a mudha. You'll be intelligent. And what is the effect? Krsna says personally, janma karma ca divyam me yo janati tattvatah. If you understand Krsna perfectly well... Of course, we cannot know Krsna perfectly. He's so big and we are so small that it is impossible. That is not possible. But you can understand Krsna as much as He explains Himself in the Bhagavad-gita. That much will help you. You cannot understand Krsna. It is not possible. Krsna cannot understand Himself. Therefore He came as Caitanya, to understand Himself.

So it is not possible to understand Krsna, but Krsna is giving about, knowledge about Himself, as far as we can understand. That is Bhagavad-gita. So at least you try to understand Krsna as far instruction in the Bhagavad-gita... Caitanya Mahaprabhu has recommended, yare dekha tare kaha krsna-upadesa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. The human life is meant for understanding Krsna. There is no other business. If you simply stick to this business, your life is successful. Our Krsna consciousness movement is meant for that purpose. We are opening so many centers so that the people of the world may take advantage of this opportunity and understand Krsna and make his life successful.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.32 -- Mayapur, March 10, 1976

HOME

© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

First Lesson-Who Am I?

Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.31 Mayapur, March 9, 1976 download  flash player   Take a test Pusta Krsna: "My dear Lordship, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the whole cosmic creation is caused by You, and the cosmic manifestation is the effect of Your energy. Although the whole cosmic creation is Yourself, still, You keep Yourself aloof from it. The conception of 'my' and 'yours' is certainly a kind of illusion, maya. Because everything is emanating from You, it is not different from You. The manifestation is also not different from You, and the annihilation is also caused by You. In this connection, the example is of the seed and the tree, or the subtle cause and the gross manifestation." Prabhupada: tvam va idam sad-asad isa bhavams tato 'nyo maya yad atma-para-buddhir iyam hy apartha yad yasya janma nidhanam sthitir iksanam ca tad vaitad eva vasukalavad asti-tarvoh  [SB 7.9.31]

Cause and effect, sad-asad. One disappears, the cause appears, disappears, and the effect comes into being. The very good example is given here, asti-tarvoh. Asti means seed, and the... From the asti, from the seed, a big banyan tree comes out. At that time the asti, the seed, disappears. A tree is manifestation, so this is example of sad-asat. Asti, the seed, disappears, and the tree is manifest. So the creation of God is like that. Therefore, in the Bhagavad-gita it is said, bijo 'ham sarva-bhutanam [Bg 7.10]. Bija, asti, or seed, He is the root cause of everything. One seed, a small seed, grain, and hundreds of thousands trees coming out of it, and in each tree there are millions of fruits, and each fruit, there are hundreds and thousands of seeds. Again, from the seed, the same creation, hundreds and thousands, millions and millions. This is God's intelligence, how from one source so many varieties are coming out. Again, when annihilation takes place, they again go into the original seed, Krsna. Yanti mamikam, it is said. It's coming out.

yasyaika-nisvasita-kalam athavalambya
jivanti loma-vilaja jagad-anda-nathah
visnur mahan sa iha yasya kala-viseso
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
 [Bs. 5.48]

This material creation is done by Maha-Visnu. Maha-Visnu. The original Visnu, Krsna, He has nothing to do. Na tasya karyam karanam ca vidyate. Original God -- isvarah paramah krsnah [Bs. 5.1] -- He is simply playing on flute and enjoying the company of Srimati Radharani. He has nothing to do. And how things are taking place? Creation, He's the creator? By expansion, svamsa. From Krsna the expansion is Balarama; from Balarama the expansion is Sankarsana, then Aniruddha, Pradyumna, like that, then Narayana, then again Sankarsana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, dvitiya-catur-vyuha. From this Sankarsana, Maha-Visnu. Therefore Maha-Visnu is described, kala-visesah. Yasyaika-nisvasita-kalam athavalambya jivanti loma-vilaja jagad-anda-nathah, sa iha yasya kala-viseso [Bs. 5.48]. This Maha-Visnu, from whom, by His breathing only, millions and trillions of universes are coming, and each universe there is a Brahma, jagad-anda-nathah. Just like in this universe there is one Brahma. He creates again so many demigods, animals, human beings in each universe. Again we create so many also. Each of us, although we are very insignificant, still in the history we find one man begets hundreds of children.

So this is creation. This is Krsna's creation, how things are going on. But original seed is Krsna. Sarva-karana-karanam. Isvarah paramah krsnah sat-cit-ananda-vigrahah, anadih [Bs. 5.1]. He has no karana. He is not coming out of any seed. Anadi. Anadi means there is no beginning. He is eternal. Isvarah paramah krsnah sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah [Bs. 5.1]. Sat-cit-ananda-vigrahah. So there is no creator of Krsna, but Krsna is the creator of everything. That is called isvarah paramah, the Supreme. Everyone may be isvara-partially. Isvara means controller. So every one of us, we are more or less little controller. We sometimes control some little children or some disciples or some kingdom. So everyone may be controller. They are very much fond of becoming God. God means controller. So everyone can become... He is. Krsna has given. Because we are part and parcel of Krsna, so the quality of controlling must be there. Although very insignificant part and parcel of Krsna, still, the power of controlling is there, very minute quantity. This is understanding. Svamsa vibhinamsa. Everyone... Visnu-tattva is also Krsna's amsa, part and parcel. Yasya kala-visesah. Kala-visesah means part, part of the part. Kala, amsa, and amsa's amsa, that's called kala-viseso. So that kala-visesa, Krsna, Maha-Visnu, He's creating millions and millions of universes. So just imagine what is the creative power of Krsna.

Therefore Prahlada Maharaja says, idam sad-asad-isa. Sad-asat, karya karana, cause and effect. Just like you have got a cloth. Cloth is made of cotton. So from cotton we prepare thread, and from thread we prepare cloth. So when the cloth is there, the thread has disappeared. When the thread is there, the cotton has disappeared. They are called sad-asat. Sat means which is existing, and asad means which is no longer existing. So this material world is asat. It is simply for the time being an exhibition. So we have to find out the real existence, sanatana existence. That is Krsna. We should not be bewildered by seeing this temporary manifestation. Anything material is temporary. It has a date of creation. Everything, whatever you see here in the... Just like this microphone. It has got a date of creation, it will work for some time, and then it will go out of order, and we shall throw it in the street and again it will disappear in the earth, because everything has come out from the earth. This is material world. But we must find out what is the reality. We should not be bewildered by the temporary things. Our Krsna consciousness movement is to take the living entity from this temporary world to the spiritual world or to the permanent world, where there is no more annihilation. It is eternal, nitya. Nityah sasvatah.

So we living entities, we are eternal. This is maya, that I am thinking, "I am this body." This is our ignorance. So the Krsna consciousness movement is to deliver the human society from this ignorance, temporary things: "I am this body. This is my country. This is my wife. This is my children. This is... This is mine. This is -- aham mameti [SB 5.5.8]. I am this body, and anything in reference with the body is mine." But actually there is no such thing. This is called maya. Real thing is, the reality is, Krsna, Brahman, Parabrahman. All other things... Therefore Vedic injunction is, "Don't try to remain in this temporary situation." Asato ma sad gamah: "Don't remain this..." But we are so ignorant, our present civilization is so foolish, that they do not know what is sat and what is asat. They want to stay in the asat. They want to make arrangement to stay in this asat, temporary things, forgetting that however nicely you make arrangement in this temporary material world, you'll not be allowed to stay. This is our ignorance. Mudha nabhijanati mam ebhyah param avyayam. Krsna says, "These rascals, mudha, they do not know what is the permanent stage, sanatana." That is wanted. That is human knowledge. One should know the permanent, not be bewildered by the temporary things. That is ignorance.

Therefore Prahlada Maharaja says, yad atma-para-buddhir iyam hy apartha. This is misconception, atma-para-buddhih. Atma means "mine," and para means "others." Where is "my" and "your"? Everything Krsna's. Hy apartha. This is misconception. But the whole world is going on on the basis of this atma-para-buddhih: "My country," "My city," "My building," "My family," "my, my, my," that's all. And "my" and "your." Neither your nor mine. It is all Krsna's, the different energies, manifestation of different energies. Just like fire. From fire, two energies are coming, and if we fight that this, you say, "The light energy is mine, and the heat energy is your," that is foolishness. The heat and light, both of them, are coming from the fire. Everything belongs to the fire. But we are fighting: "Heat is mine, and light is your. Let us divide." How you can divide? Parasya brahmanah saktih. Everything is manifestation of energy. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. We see in the garden so many flowers, different color, different flavor, different utility. But wherefrom it is coming? It is coming from this earth. We do not know even how much inconceivable energies are there within this earth. We do not know. Where is the scientist? They are very much proud of their scientific knowledge. Let them say how many varieties of things are within this earth. They analyze the earth. What do they find? They see only sixty percent soda bicarb. No. There are many, many finer chemicals. Who is that rascal who can say that so many things are there, "This is soda bicarb"? And this is scientific, that's all. Nobody scientist; all fools and rascals, mudha. They do not know anything. Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, "I am this." That is the actual fact. But His energies are so, mean, manifestedly variegatedness energy. You'll find so beautiful world. It is condemned place. Still, you see, by Krsna's energy the world is so beautiful -- so many trees, so many flowers, so many fruits, so many varieties of life, so many varieties of human beings. This is Krsna, varieties. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate sva-bhaviki... [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. And every energy is acting automatically. You give the seed, sow the seed on the earth, and automatically the flower, flavor, beauty -- everything will come automatically. There will be no... There is no question of accidents. The so-called scientist, they cannot explain. "Accidents." Why accidents? A rose flower seed-rose will come. Why not by accident, lemon? No. There is no such things as accidents. This is all rascaldom. Everything is going on... Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate sva-bhaviki jnana-bala-kriya ca. In the energy there is automatic knowledge and activities, and they are being manifested.

So Prahlada Maharaja says that "Everything, variety, is there, but..." Tvam va idam sad-asad bhavan: "Except Yourself, to conceive anything else, that 'Beyond Krsna there is anything,' that is maya." That is maya, illusion. There is nothing except Krsna. Therefore those who are advanced devotees, they do not see anything, simply Krsna in everywhere. Sthavara-jangama dekhe na dekhe tara murti, sarvatra sphuraya tanra ista-deva murti [Cc. Madhya 8.274]. A devotee sees a tree, but he does not see the tree. He sees: "It is Krsna's energy." Immediately he remembers Krsna. That is Krsna consciousness. When every step you'll simple see Krsna, that is Krsna... That is possible, provided you follow the footstep of Prahlada Maharaja. That will be possible. Or devotees. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. That is the way. If you speculate nonsensically, it will be not possible. If you follow the devotees, mahajano yena gatah sa panthah, then you'll be successful.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.31 -- Mayapur, March 9, 1976

HOME

© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. 

Dedicate Your Life To Krishna

Dedicate Your Life To Krishna Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.9 Mayapur, March 1, 1977 download  flash player   Take a test Pradyumna: (leads chanting, etc.) "Translation: Prahlada Maharaja continued: One may possess wealth, an aristocratic family, beauty, austerity, education, sensory expertise, luster, influence, physical strength, diligence, intelligence and mystic yogic power, but I think that even by all these qualifications one cannot satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. However, one can satisfy the Lord simply by devotional service. Gajendra did this, and thus the Lord was satisfied with him." Prabhupada: manye dhanabhijana-rupa-tapah-srutaujas- tejah-prabhava-bala-paurusa-buddhi-yogah naradhanaya hi bhavanti parasya pumso bhaktya tutosa bhagavan gaja-yutha-paya  [SB 7.9.9]

So these are material assets. (aside:) It's not working? (bumps microphone) Hm? Wealth, dhana... Nobody can captivate Krsna by all these material possessions. These are material possessions: money, then manpower, beauty, education, austerity, mystic power and so on, so on. There are so many things. They are not capable of approaching the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Krsna personally says, bhaktya mam abhijanati [Bg. 18.55]. He doesn't say all these material possessions, that "If one is very rich man, he can have My favor." No. Krsna is not a poor man like me, that if somebody gives me some money, I become benefited. He's self-sufficient, atmarama. So there is no need of any help from anyone else. He's fully satisfied, atmarama. Only bhakti, love, that is required.

Bhakti means to serve Krsna. That is without any purpose. Ahaituky apratihata. That bhakti, unalloyed... Anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam [Cc. Madhya 19.167]. Everywhere this is the statement of the sastra, that bhakti should be unalloyed.

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

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

There are so many other definition. And if we have bhakti, love for Krsna, then we don't require huge amount of money or strength or education or austerity. Nothing of the sort. Krsna says, patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati [Bg. 9.26]. He doesn't require anything from us, but He wants everyone that because he is part and parcel of Krsna, He wants to see that everyone is obedient to Him, everyone loves Him. That is His aspiration. Just like the father is very rich man. He doesn't require any help from his son, but he aspires that his son should be obedient and lover. That is his satisfaction. That is the whole situation. Krsna has created... Eko bahu syama. We are vibhinnamsa-mamaivamso jiva-bhutah [Bg. 15.7] -- part and parcel of Krsna, every one of us. So everyone has got some duty. Krsna has created us, expecting something to be done by us for satisfaction of Krsna. That is bhakti. So that, our opportunity, is obtained in this human form of life. We should not waste our valuable time in any other occupation or business. Simply inquire and be ready how to serve Krsna. Anukulyena krsnanusila Anukula. Not your satisfaction but Krsna's satisfaction. That is called anukula, favorable. Anukulyena krsnanusilanam [Cc. Madhya 19.167]. And anusilanam means activity, not that "In trance I am in meditation." That is also Something is better than nothing, but real devotional service is activity. One must be active, and the best activity is to preach the glory of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the best activity. Na ca tasmad manusyesu kascid me priya-krttamah.

So our this movement is based on practical activity. Whatever talent you have got, whatever little strength you have got, education you have got... You haven't got to learn anything. Whatever you have got, in whatever position you are, you can serve Krsna. Not that you have to learn something first and then you can serve. No. The service itself is learning. The more you try to render service, the more you become advanced how to become experienced servant. We don't require any extra intelligence. Otherwise... The example is gaja-yutha-paya. The elephant, the king of the elephants, he satisfied. He's an animal. He's not a brahmana. He's not a Vedantist. Maybe very big, fatty animal, but after all, he's animal. Hanuman was animal. There are many such things. Jatayu was a bird. So how they satisfied? The Jatayu fought with Ravana. Yesterday you saw. Ravana was kidnapping Sita devi, and Jatayu, the bird, he was going, flying. Ravana knew how to fly without machine. He was very, very materially powerful. So the Jatayu attacked him on the sky: "Who are you? You are taking away Sita. I shall fight you." So Ravana was very powerful. He was defeated, Jatayu, but he fought. That is his service. Never mind defeated. Similarly, we have to fight. Those who are opposing Krsna consciousness movement, we have to fight with them to our best capacity. Never mind if we are defeated. That is also service. Krsna sees the service. Defeated or victorious, depend on Krsna. But fighting must be there. Karmany evadhikaras te ma phalesu kadacana.  That is the meaning. You have to work for Krsna sincerely, intelligently, and victory or defeat, it doesn't matter. Just like Jatayu was defeated fighting with Ravana. His wings were cut off. Ravana was very strong. And Lord Ramacandra, He did his last funeral ceremonies because he was a devotee. This is the process, not that we have to learn something extra. Whatever capacity we have got, let us decide to render service to the Lord. It doesn't require that you must be very rich or very beautiful, very bodily strong. Nothing of the sort. Sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje ahaituky apratihata [SB 1.2.6]. In any condition, your devotional service should not be stopped. That should be the principle, that we are not going to stop, any circumstance. And Krsna is prepared even to accept a little flower, little water. Patram puspam phalam toyam [Bg. 9.26]. He doesn't say, "Give me very luxurious and palatable dishes. Then I'll..." He'll be satisfied. No. The real necessity is bhakti. Patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati. This is real necessity -- bhaktya. Bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas ca... [Bg. 18.55].

Therefore we have to develop our bhakti, love for Krsna. Prema pumartho mahan, Caitanya Mahaprabhu has advised. People are after dharma artha-kama moksa [SB 4.8.41, Cc. Adi 1.90], but Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "No, even if you become liberated, moksa, that is not the qualification to get favor of Krsna." Prema pumartho mahan. Pancama-purusartha.  People are trying to be very religious. That is good. Then economic. Dharma artha. Artha means economically very rich, opulent. Then kama, very expert in sense enjoyment. And then mukti. This is general demand. But Bhagavata says, "No, these things are not qualification." Dharmah projjhita-kaitavo 'tra [SB 1.1.2]. Sridhara Swami has said that mukti is also another cheating. Why mukti? Krsna does not demand that "Unless you are mukta, liberated, you cannot serve." No. You can serve in any condition. Ahaituky apratihata. Not that because first of all we have to become liberated... Because as soon as you begin bhakti, you are already liberated. The platform is so great that a bhakta, without any other ultra-motive, he's already liberated. Brahma-bhuyaya kalpate.

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

Immediately.

sarva dharman parityajya
mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami...
 [Bg. 18.66]

If Krsna takes charge of vanquishing all your reaction of sinful life, that means immediately you are mukta, you are liberated.

Liberation means... We are entangled in this material world because we are creating one after another entanglement. Nunam pramattah kurute vikarma [SB 5.5.4]. Because we are in such a position that we have to act obversely, not properly, even if you do not desire... Even if you are very careful not to kill even an ant, still, unperceptibly, imperceptibly, you, while walking, you kill so many ants. And don't think that you are not sinful for that purpose. You become sinful. Especially those who are nondevotees, they must be responsible for killing so many small creatures while walking or while... There is waterpot, you have seen. So many small animals are there. Even by moving the waterpot, you kill so many living entities. While igniting fire in the oven, there are so many living entities. You kill them. So consciously, unconsciously, we are in such a position in this material world that we have to commit sinful activities even if we are very, very careful. You have seen the Jains, they are after nonviolence. You'll find they keep a cloth like this so that the small insects may not enter the mouth. But these are artificial. You cannot check. In the air there are so many living entities. In the water there are so many living entities. We drink water. You cannot check it. It is not possible. But if you keep yourself fixed up in devotional service, then you are not bound.

Yajnarthe karmano 'nyatra loko 'yam karma-bandhanah [Bg. 3.9]. If your life is dedicated for yajna, for serving Krsna, then the inevitable sinful activities which we commit without any knowledge, we are not responsible. Manye mithe krtam papam punyaya eva kalpate (?). So our life should be dedicated simply for Krsna consciousness. Then we are safe. Otherwise we must be entangled with so many reaction of our activities and bound up in the repetition of birth and death. Mam aprapya nivartante mrtyu-samsara-vartmani [Bg. 9.3].

nunam pramattah kurute vikarma
yad indriya-pritaya aprnoti
na sadhu manye yato atmano 'yam
asann api klesada asa dehah
 [SB 5.5.4]

The safest position is let us always be engaged in Krsna consciousness. Then we make spiritually advance and safe from the reaction of sinful life.

So Prahlada Maharaja thought it that, although he was born in a family, asura family, ugra, ugra-jatam, still, if he decides to serve Krsna, Lord Nrsimhadeva, with bhakti, following the footprints of gaja-yutha paya, the king of elephant... He was animal. You know the story, that he was attacked by a crocodile in the water. So there was struggle for existence between the two, and after all, the crocodile is the animal in the water. He had great strength. And the elephant, although he's also very big, powerful animal, but he was not a animal of the water. So he was very helpless. So at last, he began to chant the holy name of the Lord and prayed, so he was saved. He was saved, and because the crocodile caught up the leg of the elephant, he was also saved because he was Vaisnava. And this animal, crocodile, he was under the feet of a Vaisnava, so he was also saved. (laughter) This is the story, you know. So therefore, chadiya vaisnava seva. He indirectly gave service to the Vaisnava, and he also became delivered.

So bhakti is so nice thing that very easily you can get favor of the Supreme Personality. And if Krsna is pleased upon you, then what remains? Everything you get. Everything you get. Yasmin vijnate sarvam eva vijnatam bhavanti. Easiest way to please Krsna... You don't require much money, much education, and nothing of the sort. Simply you require your heart: "O Krsna, You are my Lord. You are my master eternally. I am Your servant eternally. Let me be engaged in Your service." That is Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ (devotees chant) Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. This is the meaning of Hare Krsna mantra: "O Krsna, O energy of Krsna, I am Your servant. Somehow or other I have now fallen in this material condition. Kindly pick me up and engage me in service." Ayi nanda-tanuja patitam kinkaram mam visame bhavam budhau. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's teaching us. Bhavam budhau. This material world is just like a great ocean, bhava. Bhava means repetition of birth and death, and ambu means ambudhau, means in the sea, in the ocean. So we are struggling hard for existence in this ocean. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, ayi nanda tanuja patitam kinkaram mam: "I am Your servant eternal. Somehow or other I have fallen in this ocean and struggling. Pick me up." Ayi nanda-tanuja patitam kinkaram mam visame bhavambudhau krpaya. By Your causeless mercy...

ayi nanda-tanuja patitam kinkaram mam visame bhavambudhau
krpaya tava pada-pankaja-sthita-dhuli sadrssam vicintaya
 [Cc. Antya 20.32, Siksastaka 5]

This is bhakti-marga, devotional service, to become very humble, meek, always pray to Krsna, "Kindly consider me as one of the particle of the dust of the lotus feet of Your Lordship," this very simple thing. Man-mana.  In this way think of Krsna, become His devotee, offer obeisances and whatever patram puspam, little flower, water, you can provide, offer to Krsna. In this way live very peacefully and be happy.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.9 -- Mayapur, March 1, 1977

HOME

© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

How A Devotee Thinks

Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.8 Mayapur, February 28, 1977 download  flash player   Take a test Pradyumna: (leads chanting, etc.) "Translation: Prahlada Maharaja prayed: How is it possible for me, who have been born in a family of asuras, to offer suitable prayers to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead? Even until now, all the demigods, headed by Lord Brahma, and all the saintly persons could not satisfy the Lord by streams of excellent words, although such persons are very qualified, being in the mode of goodness. Then what is to be said of me? I am not at all qualified." Prabhupada: sri prahlada uvaca brahmadayah sura-gana munaya 'tha siddhah sattvaikatana-gatayo vacasam pravahaih naradhitum puru-gunair adhunapi pipruh kim tostum arhati sa me harir ugra-jateh  [SB 7.9.8]

So ugra-jateh means demonic family, passionate. Ugra. There are three qualities within this material world. Therefore it is said guna-mayi. Daivi hy esa guna-mayi [Bg. 7.14]. Guna-mayi means three gunas, three modes of material nature: sattva-guna, rajo-guna and tamo-guna. So our mind is jumping. Everyone knows the nature of the mind, sometimes accepting one thing, again rejecting it, sankalpa-vikalpa. This is the quality of the mind or nature of the mind. Sometimes the mind is jumping over sattva-guna, sometimes on the rajo-guna, and sometime on the tamo-guna. In this way we are getting different types of mentality. In this way, at the time of death the mentality which is just at the moment of leaving this body will carry me to a different body of sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. This is the way of transmigration of the soul. Therefore we have to train up the mind until we get the another body. That is the art of living. So if you train up your mind simply to think of Krsna then you are safe. Otherwise there is chance of accidents. Yam yam vapi smaran bhavam tyajaty ante kalevaram [Bg. 8.6]. At the time of leaving this body, if we have not practiced the mind to fix up at the lotus feet of Krsna, then there is... [break] A particular type of body we get.

So Prahlada Maharaja, although he does not belong to this platform of mental speculation... He is nitya-siddha. He has no chance because he's always thinking of Krsna. (loud electrical noise) (aside:) What is that? Sa vai manah... Sa vai manah krsna-padaravindayor [SB 9.4.18]. Practice this very simple thing. Krsna is here. We see the Deity daily and see the lotus feet of Krsna. Fix up your mind in that way. Then you are safe. Very simple thing. Ambarisa Maharaja, he was also a great devotee. He was king, very responsible person, politics. But he practiced in such a way that he fixed up his mind on the lotus feet of Krsna. Sa vai manah krsna-padaravindayor vacamsi vaikuntha-gunanuvarnane. This practice. Don't talk nonsense. (noise again) (aside:) What is the trouble? Take out.

So mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. We can learn Krsna consciousness perfectly well if we follow the mahajanas. Mahajana means great personality who are devotees of the Lord. They are called mahajanas. Jana means person. Just like in ordinary way, in India a person is called mahajana who is very rich. So this mahajana means one who is rich in devotional service. He is called mahajana. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah. So we have got Ambarisa Maharaja. We have got Prahlada Maharaja. There are many, many kings -- Yudhisthira Maharaja, Pariksit Maharaja -- they are rajarsi. So Krsna consciousness, actually, it is meant for very great personalities.

imam vivasvate yogam
proktavan aham avyayam
vivasvan manave prahur
manur iksvakave 'bravit
 [Bg. 4.1]

Evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh [Bg. 4.2]. Actually, sastra is not for the loafer class. For highly learned brahmanas and highly elevated ksatriyas. And the vaisyas and the sudras, they are not expected to become very learned in sastra, but, being directed by proper brahmana and ksatriya, they are also perfect. The first perfect class, munayo, as it is said, sattvaikatana gatayo munayo, "Great sages..." Generally, "great sages" means brahmanas, Vaisnavas. They are situated on the sattva-guna by devotional service. Rajas, tamo-guna cannot touch them. Nasta-prayesv abhadresu nityam bhagavata-sevaya [SB 1.2.18]. The bhadra and abhadra, good and bad... So the rajo-guna and tamo-guna is bad, and sattva-guna is good. If we are situated, as it is said, sattvaikatana-gatayo... If you are always situated on the sattva-guna, then everything is clear to be done. Sattva-guna means prakasa. Everything is clear, full knowledge. And rajo-guna is not clear. The example is given: just like the wood. There is fire, but the first symptom of fire, wood, you'll find smoke. When you set fire in the wood, first of all smoke comes. So smoke... First of all wood, then smoke, then fire. And from fire, when you engage the fire for fire sacrifice, that is the ultimate. Everything coming from the same source, from earth... The wood is coming from wood, the smoke is coming from smoke, the fire is coming... And fire, when engaged in fire sacrifice -- svaha -- then it is proper use of fire. If one stays in the wood platform, that is completely forgetfulness. When one stays in the smoke platform, there is little light. When one is staying in fire platform, then full light. And when the light is engaged in Krsna's service, that is perfect. We have to understand like that.

So Prahlada Maharaja is Vaisnava. Vaisnava qualification is

trnad api sunicena
taror api sahisnuna
amanina manadena
kirtaniyah sada harih
 [Cc. Adi 17.31]

Vaisnava is always humble, meek and humble. That is Vaisnava. Vaisnava is powerful, but still he is very meek and humble. So here is the sign. Prahlada Maharaja is so qualified that immediately Lord Nrsimhadeva put His hand on the head: "My dear child, you have suffered so much. Now be pacified." This is Prahlada Maharaja's position -- immediately accepted by the Lord. But he's thinking, "I am so lowborn in the family of passionate family." Ugra-jateh. He's not proud that "Now Nrsimhadeva has touched my head. Ah. Who is like me? I am the greatest personality." This is not Vaisnava. Sanatana Gosvami when he approached Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he presented himself, nica jati nica karma nica sangi: "I am born of very low grade family, and my duties are also very low grade, and my association are also very low grade." So Sanatana Gosvami was born in a very respectable brahmana family, but because he accepted the service of Muhammadan king, actually he lost his all brahminical culture. He did not lose, but superficially it appeared because he was mixing with the Muhammadans, eating with them, sitting with them, talking with them. But he gave up. Tyaktva turnam asesa-mandala-pati-srenim sada tuccha. He understood, "What I am doing? I am committing suicide." Janiya suniya visa khainu. Narottama dasa Thakura says that "I am taking poison knowingly." Unknowingly one may take poison, but if knowingly one takes poison, that is very regrettable. So Narottama dasa Thakura said,

hari hari biphale janama gonainu
manusya-janama paiya, radha-krsna na bhajiya,
janiya suniya visa khainu

So we are trying to preach this Krsna consciousness movement all over the world, but still, if people do not take to this Krsna consciousness movement, then he is drinking poison knowingly. This is the position. He is drinking poison. That's a fact. It is not that we are imagining something, eulogizing.(?) They are charging us, "Brainwash." Yes, it is brainwash. It is... All the dirty things, stools, are there in the brain, and we are trying to wash them. That is our...

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

The vidhunoti, this word, is there. Vidhunoti means washing. Washing. As you are hearing the message of Srimad Bhagavatam or Bhagavad-gita, the process is vidhunoti, washing. Actually, it is brainwashing -- but for good. Washing is not bad. (laughter) That these rascals, they do not know. They are thinking, "Oh, you are making me purified? Oh, you are very dangerous." This is their... Murkhayopadeso hi prakopaya na santaye: "To a rascal, if you give good advice, he becomes angry." Murkhayopadeso hi prakopaya na santaye. How is it? Payah-panam bhujanganam kevalam visa-vardhanam. A snake-quality man is very dangerous. Canakya Pandita has said,

sarpah krurah khalah krurah
sarpat kruratarah khalah
mantrausadhi-vasah sarpah
khalah kena nivaryate

"There are two envious living entities. One is a snake, black snake, and one is a human being with the quality of black snake." He cannot see any good thing. Sarpah krurah. The snake is envious. Without any fault he bites. A snake is there on the street, and if you happen to pass by him he becomes so angry, immediately he bites. So this is the snake's nature. Similarly, there are persons like the snake. Without any fault they will accuse you. They are also snake. So Canakya Pandita says that "This black snake is less harmful than the man snake." Why? "Now, this black snake, by chanting some mantra or by some herb can bring him under your control. But this man snake you cannot. It is not possible."

So there will be. This Hiranyakasipu is also described by Prahlada Maharaja as a snake. When Nrsimhadeva is so angry so he will say later on that modeta sadhur api vrscika-sarpa-hatya: [SB 7.9.14] "My Lord, You were very much angry on my father. Now he's finished, so there is no more reason for Your remaining angry. Be pacified. Nobody is unhappy for killing my father. Be sure. So there is no cause of anguish. These all these demigods, Lord Brahma and others, they are all Your servants. I am also Your servant's servant. So now the envious snake is killed. Everyone is happy." So he gave this example that modeta sadhur api vrscika-sarpa-hatya. A sadhu, a saintly person, never likes killing of any living being. They are not happy... Even a small ant is killed, they are not happy: "Why ant should be killed?" What to speak of others, even a small ant. Para-duhkha-duhkhi. It may be an ant, insignificant, but at the time of death he has suffered. A Vaisnava is unhappy: "Why an ant should be killed?" This is para duhkha-duhkhi. But such Vaisnava is happy when a snake and a scorpion is killed. Modeta sadhur api vrscika-sarpa-hatya. So everyone is happy when a snake or scorpion is killed because they are very, very dangerous. Without any fault they bite and create havoc.

So there are these snakelike persons. They are envious about our movement, and they are opposing. That is the nature. Prahlada Maharaja also was opposed by his father, what to speak of others. These things will happen, but we should not be disappointed, as Prahlada Maharaja never became disappointed although he was teased in so many ways. He was also served with poison, he was thrown amongst the serpents and he was thrown from the hill, he was put under the feet of elephant. In so many ways put... Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu has instructed us that "Do not be disappointed. Kindly forbear." Trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna. Be tolerant more than the tree. I mean to say, one shall be meek and humble more than the grass. These things will happen. In one life if we execute our Krsna consciousness attitude, even there is suffering little, don't mind. Go on with Krsna consciousness. Don't be disappointed or hopeless, even there is some trouble. That is encouraged by Krsna in Bhagavad-gita: agamapayino 'nityas tams titiksasva bharata: "My dear Arjuna, even if you feel some pain, this bodily pain, it comes and goes. Nothing is permanent, so don't care for these things. Go on with your duty." This is the instruction of Krsna. Prahlada Maharaja is the practical example, and our duty is to follow the footprints of such person like Prahlada Maharaja.

So Prahlada Maharaja, such an exalted personality, the authority, he is so humble, he says, kim tostum arhati sa me harir ugra-jateh: "I am born in a very ferocious family. Certainly I have inherited the quality of my father, my family, demonic family. And persons like Lord Brahma and other demigods, they could not satisfy the Lord, and what I shall do?" A Vaisnava thinks like that. Vaisnava, Prahlada Maharaja, although he is transcendental, nitya-siddha, he's thinking, identifying himself with his family. Just like Haridasa Thakura. Haridasa Thakura was not entering in the Jagannatha temple. The same thing, five hundred years ago they did not allow anyone except Hindus in the Jagannatha temple. The same thing is still going on. But Haridasa Thakura never by force entered. He thought himself, "Yes, I am low grade person, born in low grade family. Why shall I disturb the pujaris and others who are directly engaged with Jagannatha? No, no." Sanatana Gosvami, he did not go near the temple gate. He thought himself, "By touching me, the pujaris will be impure. Better I shall not go." But Jagannatha Himself was coming to see him daily. This is the position of devotee. Devotee is very humble. But to prove the devotees' quality the Lord takes care of them. Kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah pranasyati [Bg. 9.31].

So we should always depend on Krsna's assurance. In any circumstances, any dangerous position, Krsna... Avasya raksibe krsna visvasa palana. This is surrender. Surrender means... One of the item is full faith in Krsna, that "In execution of my devotional service there may be so many dangers, but because I have taken shelter of Krsna's lotus feet, I am safe." This, this faith for Krsna.

samasrita ye pada-pallava-plavam
mahat-padam punya-yaso murareh
bhavambudhir vatsa-padam param padam
padam padam yad vipadam na tesam
 [SB 10.14.58]

Padam padam yad vipadam na tesam. Vipadam means dangerous position. Padam padam, every step in this material world -- na tesam, not for the devotee. Padam padam yad vipadam na tesam. This is Srimad-Bhagavatam. Even from literary point of view so exalted. So Prahlada Maharaja... Just like Kaviraja Gosvami. He is writing Caitanya-caritamrta, and presenting himself, he says,

purisera kita haite muni se laghistha
jagai madhai haite muni se papistha
mora nama yei laya tara punya ksaya
 [Cc. Adi 5.205]

Like that. The author of Caitanya-caritamrta, he presents himself: "The lighter than the worm in the stool." Purisera kita haite muni se laghistha. And in Caitanya-lila, Jagai-Madhai, two brothers are supposed to be most sinful, but he has also They were also delivered. Kaviraja Gosvami says, "I am more sinful than the Jagai-Madhai."

jagai madhai haite muni se papistha
mora nama yei laya tara punya ksaya

"I am so low grade that if somebody takes my name, whatever little pious action is there is lost." In this way he's presenting. And Sanatana Gosvami, presenting himself, nica jati nica karma nica sanga... They are not artificial. A Vaisnava actually thinks like that. That is Vaisnava. He is never proud of... And just opposite number: "Oh, I have got this. I have got this. Who is equal to me? I am so rich. I am so this and that." That is the distinction.

So we have to learn this trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna and follow the footprint of Prahlada Maharaja. Then surely we shall be accepted by Nrsimhadeva, Krsna, without any failure.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.8 -- Mayapur, February 28, 1977

HOME

© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.

Touch Krishna By Your Tongue

Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.7 Mayapur, February 27, 1977 download  flash player   Take a test Pradyumna: (leads chanting, etc.) "Translation: Prahlada Maharaja fixed his mind and sight upon Lord Nrsimhadeva with full attention in complete trance. With a fixed mind, he began to offer prayers in love with a faltering voice." Prabhupada: astausid dharim ekagra- manasa susamahitah prema-gadgadaya vaca tan-nyasta-hrdayeksanah  [SB 7.9.7]

So this is the process. This process you cannot expect immediately, but if you practice general process, very easily done, as it is recommended in the Bhagavad-gita, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru... [Bg. 18.65]. You cannot get the position of Prahlada Maharaja immediately. That is not possible. The process is, first of all, sadhana-bhakti. This Prahlada Maharaja's position is different. He is maha-bhagavata. In many places we have seen already. He is nitya-siddha. There are two kinds of devotees, three: nitya-siddha, sadhana-siddha, krpa-siddha. These things are described in The Nectar of Devotion. Nitya-siddha means they are eternally associate of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They are called nitya-siddha. And sadhana-siddha means one is fallen in this material world, but by practice of devotional service according to the rules and regulation, injunction of the sastra, direction of guru, in this way, one can reach also the same position as the nitya-siddha. This is sadhana-siddha. And there is another. That is Krpa-siddha. Krpa-siddha means... Just like Nityananda Prabhu. He wanted that these Jagai-Madhai must be delivered. There was no sadhana. They never followed any rules and regulation. They were thieves and rogues, very fallen condition. But Nityananda Prabhu wanted to show an example that "I shall deliver these two brothers. Never mind they are so fallen." That is called krpa-siddha. So we should always remember there are three categories: nitya-siddha, sadhana-siddha and krpa-siddha. But when they become siddha, perfect, by any process, they are on the same level. There is no distinction.

So Prahlada Maharaja's position is nitya-siddha. Gaurangera sangi gane nitya-siddha boli mane. Caitanya Mahaprabhu, when He came... Not only He, but others also. Just like with Krsna so many devotees, they descended. Just like Arjuna. Arjuna is nitya-siddha, nitya-siddha friend. When Krsna said that "I spoke this philosophy of Bhagavad-gita to the sun-god...," imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam... [Bg. 4.1]. That is so many millions of years ago. To clear the matter, Arjuna inquired that "Krsna, You are of my age. How I can believe that You spoke this philosophy so many millions of years ago?" So what Krsna replied, you know, that "My dear Arjuna, both you and Me, we appeared many, many times. The difference is that you have forgotten. That means you were also present at that time because you are My nitya-siddha friend. Whenever I appear, you also appear. But you have forgotten; I have not forgotten." That is the difference between jiva and siva, or Lord, that we are minute part and particle of the Supreme; therefore we may forget. But Krsna does not forget. That is the difference. So nitya-siddha. Prahlada Maharaja is to be understood as nitya, maha-bhagavata, nitya-siddha. They appear to complete the lila of Krsna.

So we should not try to imitate Prahlada Maharaja. That is not good. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah. I have already explained yesterday. Prahlada Maharaja is one of the mahajanas, authorized persons, authorized devotee. We should try to follow him. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah. So srutayo vibhinnah,

tarko 'pratisthah srutayo vibhinna
nasau munir yasya matam na bhinnam
dharmasya tattvam nihitam guhayam
mahajano yena gatah sa panthah
 [Cc. Madhya 17.186]

You cannot understand God by logic and arguments. It will never settle up. There are so many Mayavadis, they are going on perpetually: "What is God?" Neti neti: "This is not, this is not, this is not. What is Brahman?" So by that process you'll never be able to understand what is God. Jnane prayase udapasya namanta eva. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has accepted this formula. By knowledge, by your erudite scholarship, if you want to understand, you may be very high standard scholar, but that is not your qualification to understand God. That is not qualification. You have to give up your vanity that "I am rich, I am very learned, I am very beautiful, I am very...," so on, so on. They are janmaisvarya sruta sri [SB 1.8.26]. These are not qualification. Kuntidevi has said, akincana gocarah: "Krsna, You are akincana gocara." Akincana. Kincana means if somebody thinks that "I possess this; therefore I can purchase Krsna," oh, no, that is not. That is not possible. You have to become blank, akincana-gocarah.

So Prahlada Maharaja... There was some disagreement with the father, but he was not ordinary person. His father might... He's a very, very big man. He conquered the whole universe. So he was not a poor man's son. He was very rich man's son, Prahlada Maharaja. And he was educated by his father sufficiently. Of course, within five years... So janmaisvarya-sruta-sri. Everything was there, but Prahlada Maharaja was not depending on his material circumstances. He was depending on his profound, ecstatic transcendental bliss of devotional service. That is wanted. So that stage immediately we cannot reach. He is nitya-siddha. As I was going to explain, that whenever Krsna descends, His nitya-siddha  devotees, associates, they also come. So gaurangera sangi-gane, nitya-siddha boli mane, tara haya vrajabhumi vasa. Like that. Narottama dasa Thakura... Just like sri krsna caitanya prabhu nityananda sri advaita gadadhara srivasadi gaura... So these associates of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, they are nitya-siddha. You cannot avoid any one of them and make your imagination, that "I shall simply worship..." [break] Krsna has appeared -- Panca-tattva. Krsna is isa, and Nityananda Prabhu, He is prakasa, the first expansion of God. God has many expansion. Advaita acyuta anadi ananta-rupam adyam purana-purusam. He has got thousands and thousands exp... So first expansion is Baladeva-tattva, Nityananda; and His incarnation, Advaita; and His spiritual potency, Gadadhara; and His marginal potency, Srivasa. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu has appeared with panca..., panca-tattvatmakam. You cannot neglect anything. If you think that "I shall simply worship...," oh, that is a great offense, "...Caitanya Mahaprabhu or only Caitanya-Nityananda" No. You must worship Panca-tattva, panca-tattvatmakam krsnam, in full. Similarly, the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, sixteen names, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ (devotees chant) Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. So you cannot mix up. You must do according to sastra. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. If you deviate from the sastra,  then you will never be successful.

yah sastra vidhim utsrjya
vartate kama-karatah
na siddhim avapnoti
na sukham na param gatim
 [Bg. 16.23]

So if you want to approach the same level like Prahlada Maharaja, we should not immediately imitate him. We must follow the sadhana-bhakti, sadhana-bhakti, for general, and krpa-siddha, that is special. That is incalculable. If Krsna wants, He can make immediately somebody very important. That is krpa-siddha. So there are three classes of devotees: nitya-siddha and sadhana-siddha and krpa-siddha. Prahlada Maharaja is nitya-siddha. He is not ordinary sadhana-siddha or of course, ultimately there is no difference, either sadhana-siddha or krpa-siddha or nitya-siddha. But we should always remember that Prahlada Maharaja is not ordinary devotee. He is nitya-siddha. Therefore immediately he developed the transcendental symptoms, asta-siddhi. Asta-siddhi, you have read in The Nectar of Devotion. So the ecstasies Ekagra-manasa. Ekagra-manasa, "with full attention." For us to bring that full attention may take hundreds and thousands of years, full attention. But Prahlada Maharaja, immediately. Immediately. Five-years-old boy. Because he is nitya-siddha. Always we should remember that we cannot imitate. "Now, Prahlada Maharaja has immediately ekagra-manasa, and I shall become also." No. That is not possible. May be possible, but that is not the way.

Just like in our country, perhaps you know, there was a poet, Rabindranath Tagore. He got many distinction from the Oxford University. He got... He never went to school but he got the title "doctor," "Doctor Rabindranath Tagore." And if you think that "I shall also get doctorate without going to school," that is foolishness. That is special. Similarly, don't try to imitate. Follow the general course, sadhana-siddhi. The regulative principles you must follow as instructed in the sastra. Therefore there are so many sastras. And guru is guide. We must always... Even if you are nitya-siddha or krpa-siddha, you should not neglect the general regulative principle. That is very dangerous. Don't try to do that. We must follow. Nitya. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna Himself, God, but He is accepting guru. Who is His guru? He is guru of everyone, but He has also accepted Isvara Puri as His guru. Krsna Himself, He accepted His guru, Sandipani Muni, teaching us that without guru you cannot make any advance. Adau gurvasrayam. The first business is to accept guru. Tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. Don't think that "I am so advanced. I may not require any guru. I can do without guru." That is nonsense. That, not possible. "Must." Tad vijnanartham. Tad-vijnanartham is spiritual science. "Must approach." Gurum evabhigacchet samit-panih srotriyam brahma-nistham. Tasmad-gurum prapadyeta jijnasuh sreya uttamam [SB 11.3.21]. If you are actually serious to understand the transcendental science, spiritual knowledge, oh, you must have guru. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasuh sreya uttamam. And... Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. Guru cannot be self-made. No. There is no such single instance throughout the whole Vedic literature. And nowadays, so many rascals, they are becoming guru without any authority. That is not guru. You must be authorized. Evam parampara-praptam imam ra... [Bg. 4.2]. As soon as the parampara is lost, sa kalena yoga nasto parantapa, immediately finished. The spiritual potency finished. You can dress like a guru, you can talk big, big words, but it will never be effective.

So these are the science. So Prahlada Maharaja is our guru. He's not ordinary. Don't think that "He's a five-years-old boy. He has no knowledge." No. He is perfect nitya-siddha guru, and we should always pray for his mercy. And that is Vaisnavata. Vaisnava thakur tomara kukkura boliya janaha more. This is a humble way. "O Vaisnava Thakura..." All Vaisnavas are thakura. They are not ordinary persons. Thakura... We therefore address: Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur. So Vaisnava Prahlada Thakura. So we should always pray, vaisnava thakura, tomara kukkura boliya janaha more. This is There is a song of Bhaktivinoda Thakura: "My dear Vaisnava Thakura, kindly accept me as your dog." Vaisnava Thakura. As the dog, by the indication of the master, does everything very obedient, we have to learn this lesson from the dog, how to become faithful to the master. That is the instruction. In everything you can learn something. Everyone Therefore maha-bhagavata, they accept everyone as guru, to learn something. Actually, from the dog we can learn this art, how to become faithful at the risk of life even. There are many instances, dog have given the life for the master. So, and we should be dog to the Vaisnava. Chadiya vaisnava-seva, nistara payeche keba.

Vaisnava aparadha is a great offense. You know Ambarisa Maharaja. He was a devotee, and he Durvasa, he was very proud of his yogic power, and he committed offense at the feet of Ambarisa Maharaja, and he was punished by Krsna by sending the sudarsana-cakra. And he wanted help from so many, Brahma, Visnu. He could go directly to the Visnuloka, but he was not pardoned. He had to come to Vaisnava, Ambarisa Maharaja, fall down at his lotus feet. And he, of course, Vaisnava, immediately excused him. So Vaisnava aparadha is great offense, hati-mata. So we should be very careful about Vaisnava aparadha. We should not Arcye visnu sila-dhir gurusu nara-matir vaisnava-jati-buddhih. The vaisnava-jati-buddhih is also another offense, great offense. Similarly, to think of guru as ordinary human being, that is also offense. To think of Deity as made of metal, stone, that is These are offenses. Sa naraki. So we should be very careful about the regulative principles and follow the footprints of Vaisnava. Mahajano yena sa gatah. Don't think that Prahlada Maharaja is ordinary boy. We should learn from Prahlada Maharaja how to advance in devotional service.

Thank you very much. (end)

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.7 -- Mayapur, February 27, 1977

HOME

© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.