Questions and Answers Prabhupada: So your question, Rukmini’s question, Lord Caitanya’s opulence… There are six kinds of opulences: richness, then fame, strength, influence, beauty, education and renunciation. So He exhibited all these six. He was very beautiful; therefore His name is Gaurasundara. Very beautiful—tall and stout and strong. There was no comparison of His beauty at that time, He was so beautiful, fair complexion. This time He did not appear in black complexion because people after fair complexion. So… And son of a very respectable brahmana family, and very highly educated. His scholarly manifestation you’ll find in the explanation of one verse: atmaramas ca munayo nirgrantha apy urukrame kurvanty ahaitukim bhaktim ittham-bhuta-guno harih This verse was twice explained, two times explained: once before Sanatana Gosvami and once before Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya. Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya was considered at that time to be the greatest learned man in India. At that time nyaya-sastra, logic, amongst the learned scholar logic is the greatest weapon to get victory over His opponent. So learned scholar is always a very learned scholar in logic, nyaya-sastra. So this logic was taught in Bihar, Dharvanga. India, in different parts of India, different kinds of education was imparted. In Benares, the Mayavada philosophy was very prominent. In Dharvanga, logic was very prominent. In Navadvipa, philosophy was very prominent, and nyaya also. Similarly, in Bharampura, Bharatpura. There are many places, just like at the present moment there are many places, university. So He was great logician, Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In His boyhood He would ask His contemporary friends to argue with Him on a subject matter, and He’ll defeat him. And again He’ll establish it. The very point on which He defeated His friend, He’ll again establish it, and again nullify it. He was so talented. His name was therefore, other name, was Nimai Pandita. One name is Gaurasundara, another name is Nimai Pandita. Pandita means very learned scholar. And that is not hearsay, that because we are devotees we are speaking of Lord Caitanya very learned scholar. The evidence is there in the explanation of atmarama sloka. He has explained that sloka in sixty-four different ways, one verse. He has described one word, atmarama, in eleven ways. Similarly munayo, nirgranthah, urukrama, bhakti. Each word He has enunciated in so many ways. So He showed His opulence in wisdom also. Just like Krsna showed His opulence by speaking Bhagavad-gita in wisdom, not only miracles. Miracles a magician can also show. That is not very important thing. A yogi also can show so many miracles. But scholarly presentation of a certain thing, that requires opulence. And the most wonderful opulence He showed that is very unique, especially in this age, that at the age of twenty-four years He renounced the world. He had His very beautiful and obedient wife, Laksmi devi, sixteen years old. She was by name Laksmi, and actually she was goddess of fortune. And His mother was so affectionate, there is no comparison. So in a home, where mother is…, affectionate mother is present, and very beloved wife is present, and at the very young age…. He was twenty-four years old, and His wife was sixteen years old. Materially that is the age for sense gratification, but He renounced. He didn’t care for His wife, didn’t care for His mother. So renunciation is also one of the opulences, and it is described in the Srimad-Bhagavatam about His renunciation: tyaktva sudustyaja-surepsita rajya-laksmim [SB 11.5.34]. Su-dustaya. Su-dus… Tyaja means give up, and du means difficult, difficult, and su means very difficult. In any word, if you apply, affix the word su, it becomes hundred times more magnified. Just like buddhi. Buddhi is intelligence, and if you affix subuddhi, that means very, very intelligent. Similarly dustyaja, “difficult to give up,’’ and when you affix this alphabet su, it becomes “very, very, very difficult.’’ So su-dustyaja, this word, has been used. Tyaktva sudustyaja-surepsita rajya-laksmim [SB 11.5.34]. Rajya-laksmin means very happy home, home life, homely life. That is called rajya-laksmin—one who is very happy at home. And the symptom of happiness at home, according to Vedic understanding, is the mother, wife and son. If one has got very good mother, one has got very good wife, and one has got very good son, then his homely life is heaven. That is the standard of happiness. So He was young man, and although He had a wife, He knew that He would give up, that He did not begot children. So His children were His devotees. Vrndavana dasa Thakura has worshiped Him, saputraya sakala traya: “My dear Lord, I offer my obeisances unto You along with Your sons.’’ So Vrndavana dasa Thakura is offering obeisances Lord Caitanya, and specifically mentioning, “with Your sons.’’ Where are the sons? He did not beget any children. So His sons means His devotees, His followers. Kalatraya means wife. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu had all these facilities. He was learned, very honored young man in His country; He had many followings. In one incidence we can understand how beloved leader He was. The Kazi challenged His sankirtana movement and first times warned Him not to chant Hare Krsna, and when He did not care for it, then he ordered that, er, that mrdanga should be broken. So the constables came and broke the mrdangas. This information was given to Lord Caitanya, and He ordered civil disobedience. He was the first man in the history of India who started this civil disobedience movement. It is not Gandhi who is the originator of civil disobedience; it was Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He said that “Defy the order of the Kazi.’’ Kazi means magistrate. So “This evening we shall go at the Kazi’s house in hundreds of thousands, with mrdanga and kirtana.’’ So simply by His order many hundreds of thousands young men—not young men; young, old, all kind of men—gathered, and… The point is just how popular leader He was. Even in His young age, when He was only twenty years old, how popular He was. So…, and because He was a learned brahmana, people would send Him many presentation. A brahmana is not expected to work. That is dhana pratigraha. Pratigraha means accept offerings from others. Just like you offered so many things to me—money, clothing, food— so a sannyasi, a brahmana, can accept. Not others. A grhastha cannot. There are restriction. A brahmacari can, but he can accept on behalf of his spiritual master, not personally. These are the rules. So He was learned brahmana, and people used to present Him profusely, so He had no economics problem. Not that He renounced the world on account of poverty or some strain. He had no poverty, He was opulent. A brahmana does not require any great amount of wealth just to pull on his family. So that much amount was more than that He was receiving. He was teacher also. Pathana, pathana, yajana, yajana. Brahmin’s business is to teach and to become a very learned scholar and teach people how to worship Krsna and become devotee himself, and accept charities from others and distribute it again. So He had all these opulences without any difficulty, and His family life—mother, wife… Canakya Pandita says, mata yasya grhe nasti bharya capriya-vadini aranyam tena gantavyam yatharanyam tatha grham Canakya Pandita is giving too much stress on mother and wife in family life. So he says if one’s mother is dead and if his wife is not very…, apriya-vadini, and does not behave very well, ill-behaving, so Canakya Pandita advises him that aranyam tena gantavyam: such person should immediately go to the forest. Because in the Vedic understanding there is no divorce. If the wife is not very pleasing, there is no question of divorcing. Canakya Pandita does not advise it, the advise that he should divorce such wife, but he says, aranyam tena gantavyam: he should give up family life and go to the forest. Divorce was completely unknown, even up to, say, five years ago. Now this Nehru government has enacted Divorce Act in Hindu law, but actually, Hindu law-maker, they have no such thing as divorce. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu, this is one of the brilliant examples of opulence, that He renounced His so happy family life, not disturbing life, and very, at a very young age, when everyone is after enjoying family life. So is it not a great opulence? Very great opulence. Young man, having good mother, good wife, good home, good reputation, good following, good parentage, beauty—everything—but He renounced. That is the greatest opulence. He renounced everything for Krsna. That is the greatest opulence of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Similarly, if we can follow His footprints. Not that we have to give up everything, but give up everything for Krsna. That is very nice. So any other particular question? Yes. Devotee: His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati accepted both Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Gaurakisora as his spiritual master. Prabhupada: Gaurakisora dasa… Bhaktivinoda Thakura was his father, and Gaurakisora dasa Babaji was treating Bhaktivinoda Thakura… Although he was householder and Gaurakisora dasa Babaji was renounced order, still he used to offer great respect to Bhaktivinoda Thakura, and Bhaktivinoda Thakura saw him a pure devotee; therefore he recommended his son, Bimala Prasada. His former name was Bimala Prasada, and he got this title Siddhanta Sarasvati by writing one thesis on astronomy, astrology, astrological calculation according to solar system. So he got this title Siddhanta Sarasvati. So this Siddhanta Sarasvati, Sarasvati title also accepted by sannyasa. Sarasvati, Bharati, Puri, Aranya, Bon, Parvat—there are ten names of sannyasa according to Mayavadi school, and according to Vaisnava school there are 108 names. So this “svami” and “gosvami,” they’re also included within that 108 names. So he accepted Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja his spiritual master. Yes? Devotee: Does our line of succession go directly to Gaurakisora dasa Babaji or to Bhaktivinoda Thakura? Prabhupada: No. Because he was treating Bhaktivinoda Thakura as his siksa guru, preceptor guru, so it is in the line. Devotee: But is Bhaktivinoda Thakura directly in succession from Lord Caitanya? Prabhupada: Yes. Devotee: And Gaurakisora dasa Babaji also? Prabhupada: Yes. (pause) Hmm. Nayana Abhirama: Could you tell us about something about Lord Caitanya’s production of Vaisnava drama? Are there any of the plays that you know are still extant? Prabhupada: Yes. He was playing Vaisnava drama in His household life, rather in student life, and He was taking the part of Rukmini, because He was very beautiful young boy. Formerly, in our childhood also, we saw in drama there was no females taking part. If there was a female part, the man would be dressed just like a female. Formerly females are not allowed. If one has to find out a female for taking part in drama, then he has to find out from other quarters, not in respectable part. Now, very, very respectable, educated girls are taking in drama and cinema in India. Formerly this was not possible. And perhaps in the theatrical performances, stage, that was introduced by Lord Caitanya, drama. But His dramatical performances were limited within the devotees. He will not allow to take part in the performance who is not a devotee. So if our devotees… That movie was very nice. That’s a good example. If we play, train our devotees to present some dramatical performances or movie, I think it will be very successful, because they will play from transcendental sentiment, not for trade purpose. So that will come out very successful. Yes. In our childhood we had the occasion of taking part in a drama, Caitanya-lila. I took the part of Advaita, and our friends, others, somebody took the part of Caitanya, Nityananda. So that drama was so successful, it was unique in Calcutta. Because we were not, we were not professionals. I saw from the stage a huge gathering, they’re all crying. I was surprised, “Why these people are crying?’’ You see? It was great successful, because we were not professionals. We were not devotees at that time, but some of us were devotee by family tradition, but not exactly what is actually meant by devotee. But still, because we were not professionals, the drama was so successful, unique. And there was no female. Now Sacidevi, Sacidevi, the friend who take the part, took the part of Sacidevi, his shoulders were so big, (laughing) so just see. So there was no question of beautiful woman taking part. So still the drama was very successful. Similarly, when Caitanya Mahaprabhu staged, all the devotees took part. Srivasa Thakura, Advaita, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda and Mukunda and other, all devotees… (pause) Yes? Devotee: It’s said that Narada Muni delivered the chant to the Earth. How was it… Was it there before he came? Prabhupada: Hum? Devotee: Narada Muni delivered the chanting, the Hare Krsna mantra, to the Earth? Prabhupada: Yes. Devotee: Was it here before he came? And what…, how long ago did he come? Prabhupada: That you cannot calculate. Narada Muni is one of the sons of Brahma, so he’s present since the time of creation. And many great sages and saintly devotees are all devotees of Narada Muni. Prahlada Maharaja is disciple of Narada Muni, Dhruva Maharaja is the disciple of Narada Muni, Vyasadeva is disciple of Narada Muni, Valmiki is disciple of Narada Muni. So Narada Muni was very expert in getting disciples. He had so many disciples. Unlimited. Devotee: Swamiji, what’s the meaning of “Thakura”? Prabhupada: Thakura actually means God. So one who is godly, he is also addressed as Thakura. Yes. Devotee (girl): When we’re dreaming, when we’re asleep, are we in maya? Prabhupada: Yes. Devotee (girl): Even when we dream about… Prabhupada: So long you sleep, you waste your time. Devotee (girl): Swami, even when we dream about Godbrothers and Godsisters? Prabhupada: Huh? Devotee (girl): Even when we dream about Godbrothers and Godsisters? Prabhupada: No. That is not maya. I mean to say, dreaming… Yes. Sleeping means stopping your active life. So that is a waste of time. We should rather… The mind is always active, and dreaming means the mind is acting. So dreaming is not always bad. Dreaming sometimes very good. What I mean, sleeping is not very good. (long pause) Damodara, what is the price of these films? Damodara: Price of the films? Prabhupada: Suppose if we take film, very long film, what will be the cost? Damodara: Well, in an eight-millimeter, the size film that you saw last night, the other night, it’s not very expensive. It costs a little more than a dollar a minute for, you know. So if there was an hour and a half film, it might cost $150. Not much. But to make a film of the quality that’s seen in the theater, it’s very expensive. An hour and a half film, it’s not unusual, a hundred thousand dollars. Prabhupada: (laughing) Oh! Damodara: That’s quite a bit of difference. You see, when you have sound on a film it makes it very expensive. And the proper lighting. It takes a long time to make a film that has the right quality. It’s expensive. Prabhupada: So why don’t you get a financier? We can give so many ideas of Krsna consciousness, and we have got our players. Damodara: Brahmananda mentioned that I should write to some foundations, groups… Prabhupada: Yes. Damodara: …and I’ll do so. There are a couple I’ve thought of. Making films on Vedic scriptures—they’ll be interested in them. Prabhupada: Hm. (pause) Yes. Devotee: Somebody said you want to film the Bhagavad-gita, Swamiji? Prabhupada: Yes. If you can take up, I can direct you. (exclamations from guests) Devotee: In Sanskrit or in English? Prabhupada: English. Yes. Devotee: OK, Swamiji. (laughter) Prabhupada: But it will be very expensive to arrange for the warfield. senayor ubhayor madhye. We require so many elephants, so many chariots. That panoramic manifestation of warfield, it will be very expensive. Where are the elephants? They don’t find here elephants. Devotee: Oh, you can rent elephants. Prabhupada: Uh? Devotee: You can rent elephants. Prabhupada: You can rent, but how many you can rent? Devotee: Well, how many do we need? (laughter) Prabhupada: You know, there is, there were eighteen aksauhini sena, eighteen groups of aksauhini. One aksauhini, so many hundred thousands of soldiers, so many hundred thousands of chariots, so many hundred thousands of elephants, horses. That is one group. Such eighteen groups were present there. At least, to make a successful scene we require at least fifty elephants to make a show. And chariots. Then it will be something scenic. Bhagavad-gita, I think, has not been attempted by any cinema company for this reason. It is very difficult to make arrangement for the war scene. This is not modern war. There are many modern war films. You can present that. But it is different kind of war. So if you want to present Bhagavad-gita as it is, then these things will be required. Devotee: Are there elephants available in India, Swamiji? Prabhupada: Yes. Elephants, there are many in India. Elephants, camels, horses also. Still there are many. Devotee: Could we film on location, on the battlefield? Prabhupada: Oh, yes. The battlefield is still existing, Kuruksetra. Yes. It is about hundred…, about within two hundred miles from Delhi. It is not far off. That, my red tape recorder is not replaced. Is it very costly now? Devotee: I think so. Yeah. About five hundred dollars. Prabhupada: Five hundred dollars, that may be Japanese. The original is English. Devotee: Oh, English? I thought it was German. English? Prabhupada: Yes. German or English. That is eight hundred dollars. It was very nice. Yes. I therefore used to keep daily in my compartment. I didn’t allow to leave it here. How you are feeling, Jadurani? All right? So I think we shall chant little Hare Krsna and close this meeting. (kirtana) (end)
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Montreal, August 26, 1968