Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.6.1
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Boston, May 8, 1968

Prabhupada:

kaumara acaret prajno dharman bhagavatan iha durlabham manusam janma tad apy adhruvam arthadam [SB 7.6.1]

This verse we have been discussing for the last three days. So Prahlada Maharaja’s argument is that everyone, if he is intelligent… If he’s a rascal, that is a different thing. Because the science of Krsna consciousness or God consciousness is not meant for the rascals. It is meant for the intellectual person. Krsna yei bhaje sei bada catura. Unless one is very intelligent, he cannot be God conscious or Krsna conscious. Therefore this word is used, prajna. Prajna means… Pra means prakrsta-rupena, specifically. Jna, jna means a man of intellect. So Bhagavata-dharma, what is that Bhagavata-dharma? That I have already explained. Again we can repeat. Bhagavata-dharma means to reestablish our lost relationship with God. This is Bhaga-vata.

Therefore in every section of human society there is attempt to reestablish our relationship with God. But at the present moment there is systematic propaganda to forget whatever little relationship we have got. We do not understand what is the science of God, but still, people know that there is something like God. So we are just trying. This is the symptom of this Kali-yuga. They will manufacture objects of worship, but not worship God. They will present so many false god, but they will not worship the real God. One has to worship something. Because it is my nature. I worship. Somebody worships God and somebody worships dog. Because I cannot remain without worshiping. Worshiping means loving. Without love there is no worship, there is no question.

So Prahlada Maharaja says that this bhagavata-dharma… Bhagavata-dharma means to revive our lost relationship with God. We should know what is God. We should know what we are, living entities. We should know what is this material nature. We should know what is time, and we should know what are our real activities. Why don’t you come forward? The sunshine is troubling you. So come forward. Yes. Sit comfortably. So bhagavata-dharma means it is scientific knowledge. It is not sentiment. Religion without philosophical understanding is sentiment. And philosophy without understanding of God is mental speculation. So we should not be both, neither sentimentalist nor dry mental speculator. There is a class of mental speculators, they’re writing volumes of books but there is no substance. And there are some religious fanatics, but they do not know, do not understand what is religion. So these two classes of men are now very prominent at the present moment. But Srimad-Bhagavata, or Bhagavad-gita, if anyone is intelligent he’ll know that it is combination of religious sentiment plus philosophy. To understand religion on the basis of philosophy and logic. Not blindly accepting. So this is called bhagavata-dharma.

So Prahlada Maharaja recommends that from childhood this should be instructed. Because nobody is caring to teach this science of God from childhood. Therefore the present population, Godless population is the cause of all disturbances. In the Bhagavad-gita you’ll find varna-sankara. Varna-sankara means population, unwanted population. What is the use of this population? Simply for living? The Bhagavata says does the tree not live? The tree also lives for thousands of years. So do you mean to say living is very important thing? No. There are many trees they are living for thousands of years. So what is the value of living? If you say, “Oh, the tree lives, but it cannot breathe.” Breathing. The Bhagavata says the bellow, it breathes very nicely. “Well, the bellow can breathe, but it cannot eat.” “Oh, the dogs and hogs, they do not eat?” There are so many questions and answers in the Bhagavata. But actually, population, important population means who are conversant with the science of God. That is important population. Otherwise, what is the use of living? Sankaracarya lived for 32 years, and Lord Jesus Christ, I think, he also lived similarly. Lord Caitanya lived for 48 years. But their philosophy and God consciousness is so important, they are still living. Kalpante sthayina gunah. Canakya Pandita said, ayusah ksana vidyanti. Ayusah ksana vidyanti. Ayusah means this duration of life, it can be finished at any moment, but kalpante sthayina gunah. But if you are a qualified man then your qualities will be remembered for many, many thousands of years. Therefore live for the best qualities, to acquire the best qualities, God consciousness or Krsna consciousness.

So Prahlada Maharaja recommends to the world society that from the very beginning of childhood this science should be taught. Why? Durlabham manusam janma tad apy adhruvam arthadam. Now this human form of life is very important. Sridhara Swami comments on this, (reads Sanskrit commentary) kaumara ity adina, ihaiva manusa-janmani dharman acaret. Now question may be why in this birth of human life it is so much stressed? The answer is durlabham. Durlabham means the intelligence that you have got now in this form of body, it is very rare. The intelligence, how it is rare? How it is important? Now here we are discussing about science of God, maybe very small number of men we are sitting, but we are all, because we are human being we are able to discuss. But we cannot call a cat or dog and sit down here and understand the science of God. That is not possible. So except human body, in any other form of life there is no possibility. You can become a tiger or a lion, very powerful, but it is a useless life. Useless life. I had correspondence with one gentleman in England. He says that “We want to be tiger.” So I answered “What is the use of tiger?” Tigers, to become tiger… Tiger is very important animal? It is, rather, enemy of the human society. So actually, the present society is producing tigers or hogs or dogs or camels, like that. In the form of human body. The real human body, the intelligence should be utilized to understand God consciousness, Krsna consciousness. Tad api janma.

Why… Somebody may say that “Let me enjoy this life. I shall try for Krsna consciousness or God consciousness next life, or after enjoying life in my youthhood, then we shall try.” So Prahlada Maharaja answers, “No, don’t remain confident that you shall live long or remain confident that you are getting next life also human form of life.” No. Adhruvam. There is no certainty. But if you begin Krsna consciousness in this life and try to achieve the result to some extent, even one percent, two percent, your life, next life is guaranteed a human form of life. It is such a nice thing. Because it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, sucinam srimatam gehe yoga bhrasto sanjayate. One who cannot fulfill the entire course of understanding the science of God, but because he has begun to understand it, never mind he has understood it one percent, two percent, ten percent Not ten percent. Unless one understands the science cent percent, he does not get liberation. But even one percent. Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat. In the Bhagavad-gita you’ll find this stanza, that even little percentage of God consciousness or Krsna consciousness is attempted, then you can be saved from the greatest danger.

There are many instances in the sastra, Ajamila. Simply he was most, I mean to say, a sinful man. All through his life he acted simply sinfully, but at the end of his life, just at the point of death, he remembered Narayana. That also in connection with his youngest son. And because he uttered the name “Narayana,” he remembered Narayana, and simply by remembering Narayana he was, I mean to say, liberated. So there were many instances. So svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat. In the Srimad-Bhagavata, Narada has instructed Vyasadeva, tyaktva sva dharmam caranambhujam harer bhajann apakvo ’tha patet tato yadi. Narada, he’s instructing. Vyasadeva is disciple of Narada Muni. So Vyasadeva was not very happy, even he wrote so many books. Even Vedanta-sutra. He wrote Mahabharata, he wrote all the Puranas, and he wrote the philosophy, Vedanta-sutra, and still, he was feeling unhappy. So at that time Narada Muni came and instructed him, and he asked that “Why I’m not feeling happy? In spite of working so hard about writing all these different kinds of Vedic literature, why I am not feeling happy?” So Narada Muni instructed him, “Because you have not very elaborately discussed about the science of God. You have simply superficially given some moral instruction to the society, some social instruction, but Some political instruction, Mahabharata.” Just like Mahabharata, you’ll find first-class political discussion, first-class social, economics, everything is there. But still, there is Bhagavad-gita. So Vyasadeva has done, but still he was not feeling. So at that time Narada Muni instructed him that “You simply describe about God, about Krsna.” Then he wrote this Srimad-Bhagavatam. In that connection he said, tyaktva sva dharmam caranambujam harer bhajann apakvo ’tha patet tato yadi [Bhag. 1.5.17]

Just like many students come to us, and they stick for some days, again go away. Not very much, but I have got experience. Some boys came, three, four boys. They are no longer with us. They have left us. Now Narada Muni said tyaktva sva-dharmam. Sva-dharmam means everyone has got his specific activity, duty. So Narada Muni says even if Of course, this specific duty is in reference with the system of varna and asrama. Just like somebody is brahmana, executing the duties of abrahmana, somebody is executing the duty of a ksatriya, somebody is executing the duty of avaisya, or a sudra, or a brahmacari, or a sannyasi, vanaprastha. There are eight divisions. So Narada Muni says that if one gives up his occupational duty, specific duty either as a brahmacari or sannyasi or grhastha or brahmana or ksatriya, he gives up Why he gives up? Tyaktva sva-dharmam caranambujam harer [Bhag. 1.5.17]. By sentiment or by association, he becomes encouraged that “I shall take to Krsna consciousness. I shall give up everything.” So Narada Muni says, “Oh, it is a very good thing. Even if he’s sentimental.”Tyaktva sva-dharmam caranambujam harer [Bhag. 1.5.17]. And because one comes by sentiment to understand Krsna consciousness he cannot stick. So bhajann apakvo ’tha. That means, bhajann, when the execution of devotional service is not complete, apakvo, immature Tyaktva sva-dharmam caranambujam harer bhajann apakvo ’tha patet tato yadi [Bhag. 1.5.17]. Or even falls down.

Suppose a brahmacari, he’s supposed to follow the laws of celibacy, but he could not. He falls down. There are so many rules and regulations. And fall down.(?) He began the execution of devotional service, but some way or other maya catches him and he falls down. Narada Muni says, “Oh, there is no loss for him.”Yatra kva vabhadram abhud amusya kim ko va artha aptah abhajatam sva-dharmatah. Narada Muni says that even if he falls down he does not lose anything. But what does he gain if one is engaged in his occupational duty as a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, or this or that? If he sticks to his occupational duty and does not understand Krsna consciousness, what does he gain? He does not gain anything. Suppose if one follows the rules and regulations of a brahmana. His next life he may get a brahmana birth or a very, I mean to say, learned family. Like that he can get. But that is not a very good gain. But Narada Muni says if one has begun the occupational duty of Krsna consciousness, giving up all other occupational duties, even if he falls down, that one percent, two percent, remains as his asset so that he will be able to begin from next life again Krsna consciousness. So it is so nice that even one falls down, it will not Whatever he has done, whatever you have done, that is your permanent asset. Permanent because it is spiritual. This Krsna consciousness movement is spiritual. As spirit soul is eternal, permanent, similarly, any activity on the spiritual platform is eternal. It will never be lost. So there are many instructions like this.

So Prahlada Maharaja is also stressing on that point, that durlabham manusam janma tad apy adhruvam arthadam. Although this human form of life is not very long, but you can get the very nice result out of it. Arthadam. Artha. Artha means profit. So real profit is spiritual profit. That is real profit because that will never be lost. And material profit, suppose you become MA, PhD, Doctor, or Rockefeller, or Ford, or something like that. You gain so many material things. But as soon as this body is finished, everything is finished. You are no more Rockefeller, you are no more MA. Suppose you get again a birth in a human family, so you have to again begin your education to come to the point of MA. Or you have to begin your life to become again Rockefeller. This Rockefeller estate is left here. You have to begin again. You do not know whether you are going to be Rockefeller or some feller. But at least, it is certain that whatever material gain you acquire, that will be finished with this body. That is a fact. So you have to begin again. But if you take up this Krsna consciousness even one percent, that will never be finished. It will give you… Just like seed. A seed if you sow on the earth and you put little water, it will grow. It will grow. It will never be stopped. Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore says,

ei rupe brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva guru-krsna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija [Cc. Madhya 19.151]

Bija means seed. So hundreds and thousands and millions of living entities are rotating in many places in the kingdom of God, both material and spiritual. There are so many planets, and each planet there are so many countries, towns, cities, life, varieties of… So the living entity is circumambulating in different kinds of species of life, different kinds of countries, places, planets. That is their material business. So in this way, while traveling, if he meets by chance a devotee of God, Krsna, and if he gets that seed… Ei rupe brahmanda bhramite kona… That is obtained fortunately. Fortunately. Ei rupe brahmanda bhramite kona bhagyavan jiva [Cc. Madhya 19.151] Fortunate, this very word is used, fortunate. Nobody can capture the seed of God consciousness or Krsna consciousness. But it is very… It is meant for the fortunate. So all right, he may be fortunate, but devotees of Lord Krsna and God, they are trying to make others fortunate. They are approaching, canvassing. So if anybody is intelligent, he catches up. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that mali hana sei bija kara aropana. Now, suppose you have got the seed of Krsna consciousness, now it is your duty to become a gardener. How? Mali hana sei bija kara aropana, sravana kirtana jale kara secana Just like you sow a seed in your garden or in your house and put some little water daily and it grows gradually, similarly, if you have captured the seed of Krsna consciousness or God consciousness, just pour water on it of this hearing and chanting. Then it will one day fructify. It will never be lost. It will grow, grow, grow. And when it is fully grown and the fruit is there… And what is that fruit? That fruit is love of Godhead. Then your life is successful. So it should be begun from the childhood. That is the instruction of Prahlada Maharaja.

kaumaram acaret prajno dharman bhagavatan iha durlabham manusam janma tad apy adhruvam arthadam

This human life is also not permanent, but you can acquire a permanent thing. This is the opportunity. Therefore it should be learned from the very beginning of your life. Now next line he says

yatha hi purusasya iha visnoh padopasarpanam yad esa sarva-bhutanam priya atmesvarah suhrt

Very important. We are searching after a lover. That day the boys were singing, what is that singing? You said?

Devotee: Yes. “You better find somebody to love.”

Prabhupada: Jaya. Better find out somebody to love. That is the problem. That is the problem of this life. Everyone is there… Now, after disappointment they say that “I had tried to find out somebody, girl or boy, to love, but I was, I mean to say, frustrated, disappointed. Now I find the dog is the best friend.” Yes. Actually, they say like that. “We find the dog is the best friend.” Is it not? Yes. Why? Everyone is searching after to love somebody. That’s a fact. Because we are lover. Our constitutional position is lover. Prahlada Maharaja says that Visnu, your loving object is Visnu. So try to love Visnu, then your life will be successful. You’ll feel satisfaction. Yayatma suprasidati. You’ll feel, “Oh, I have got something now. Now I have got this loving object.” In another place Prahlada Maharaja said na te viduh svartha gatim hi visnu. They do not know what is their actual loving object. That is Visnu. And in the Vedic mantra, Rg mantra, it is said, tad visnoh paramam padam sada pasyanti surayah. Those who are demigods, they are always surayah. Surayah means Just like Aryans and non-Aryans. Then there’s suri and asuri, or sura or asura. Asura, asura means demons, and sura, just the opposite. Or Aryans and non-Aryans. So the Aryans Aryans, the real meaning, the Sanskrit word, “Aryans,” means progressive. We have historically made a class of men. No. Aryan civilization means who is progressive, advancing. They are intelligent. They are fair-complexioned. Therefore Aryan means progressive. So they know.

Vedic mantra says that tad visnoh paramam padam. Paramam padam, the highest perfection of life, is to understand Visnu or God. Tad visnum paramam padam sada pasyanti surayah. In order to reach that goal, they are always looking after that. Just like in darkness you are walking on the road. The cynosure of the neighboring eyes. You see the stars. Just like in the ocean, the navigators, they look to the Pole Star, that which side they are going. Similarly, our aim should be always to Visnu. Always to Visnu. But unfortunately we are not educated in that way. We are educated in different way. Therefore there is disaster. The same example we can give. If you do not know that the Pole Star, then you may be misdirected. Just like Columbus, he came to America, or many, there are many navigators. If they miss that, misses that Pole Star, then they will be misdirected. Similarly, our human form of life, the aim should be to understand Krsna or Visnu. That should be the aim of life. Tad visnoh paramam padam sada pasyanti surayah. So here also, the same thing, visnu padopasarpanam yad esa sarva-bhutanam priya. Sarva-bhutanam means all living entities. Priya, that is real dear object. Sarva-bhutanam priya atmesvarah suhrt. He is the proprietor of my self. He is Superself. Just like I love this body. Why? Because I am the spirit self, or soul is within this body. Therefore just like I love this apartment. Why? Because I live here. Similarly, I love this body because I am spirit soul, I am living within this body. Therefore I try to protect it. Real love is to myself. So naturally, if you love yourself, then this self is the part and parcel of the Superself. Therefore you love indirectly the Superself. And suhrt, and He is your actually intimate friend. Suhrt. Suhrt means who is always wishing your good. The Vedic information says that the Supreme Lord as Supersoul is sitting with you in the same tree. The individual soul and the Supersoul is sitting in the heart and this body is considered as tree, and He is seeing your, my activities. He is trying to get me back to Godhead. So in whichever form of life I am transmigrating He is also going with me.

Just like two birds. So he is acting as my friend. That is described in the Upanisad, that two birds are sitting in one tree in friendly terms. One bird is eating the fruit of the tree, and the other bird is simply witnessing. So the bird which is eating the fruit of the tree, that means we are enjoying happiness or distress out of my own activities or this bodily activities… But the other bird, or Supersoul, He is not affected with the activities of the body. He is simply looking when this bird will turn to Him. That is His friendship. So suhrt, this very word is suhrt. So isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese ’rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61]. This is confirmed in the Srimad-Bhagavatam and all Vedic literature. So that suhrt is simply looking to the opportunity when the other bird, instead of eating the fruit, looks to his friend. That’s all. He’s simply waiting for the opportunity. And He’s sending His servant, He’s coming Himself as incarnation, He is leaving books like Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bible, just to attract me. “My dear friend, come this side. Come this side.” Suhrt. And He is atmesvara. And He is the proprietor of myself because I am part and parcel of God. So therefore He is the Supreme. So He is Just like you are part and parcel of your father. Similarly, everyone of us we are part and parcel of the Supreme Father. So as we (end)