Bhagavad-gita 4.28 Pradyumna: (leads chanting) dravya-yajnas tapo-yajna yoga-yajnas tathapare svadhaya-jnana-yajnas ca yatayah samsita-vratah Translation: “There are others who, enlightened by sacrificing their material possessions in severe austerities, take strict vows and practice the yoga of eightfold mysticism, and others study the Vedas for the advancement of transcendental knowledge.” Prabhupada: You can read the purport also. Pradyumna: “These sacrifices may be fitted into various divisions. There are persons who are sacrificing their possessions in the form of various kinds of charities. In India, the rich mercantile community or princely orders open various kinds of charitable institutions like dharma-sala, anna-ksetra, atithi-sala, anathalaya, vidyapitha, etc… In other countries too, there are many hospitals, old age homes and similar charitable foundations meant for distributing food, education and medical treatment free to the poor. All these charitable activities are called dravyamaya-yajna. There are others who, for higher elevation in life or for promotion to higher planets within the universe, voluntarily accept many kinds of austerities such as candrayana and caturmasya. These processes entail severe vows for conducting life under certain rigid rules. For example, under the caturmasya vow the candidate does not shave for fours months during they year, July to October, and does not eat certain foods, does not eat twice in a day and does not leave home. Such sacrifices of the comforts of life is called tapomaya-yajna. There are still others who engage themselves in different kinds of mystic yogas like the Patanjali system for merging into the existence of the Absolute, or hatha-yoga or astanga-yoga, for particular perfections. And some travel to all the sanctified places of pilgrimage. All these practices are called yoga-yajna, sacrifice for a certain type of perfection in the material world. there are others who engage themselves in the studies of different Vedic literatures, specifically the Upanisads and Vedanta-sutras, or the Sankhya philosophy. All of these are called svadhyaya-yajna, or engagement in the sacrifice of studies. All these yogis are faithfully engaged in different types of sacrifice and are seeking a higher status of life. Krsna consciousness is, however, different from these because it is the direct service of the Supreme Lord. Krsna consciousness cannot be attained by any one of the above-mentioned types of sacrifices but can be attained only by the mercy of the Lord and His bona fide devotee. Therefore, Krsna consciousness is transcendental.” Prabhupada: dravya-yajnas tapo-yajna yoga-yajnas tathapare svadhyaya-jnana-yajnas ca yatayah samsita-vratah So charity, or sacrificing your possession for the benefit of others, this is also yajna. But they are called karma-kanda yajna, fruitive activities. By such performance of yajna, one can elevate his material position. Just like feeding the poor. It is also yajna. But the same thing, if it is dovetailed in consciousness, that becomes perfect. People are very much inclined to feed the poor with sumptuous food, but it can be done in a little different way, that the foodstuff offered to Visnu, prasada, that distribution foodstuff is better than ordinary distribution of foodstuff. Ordinarily, that is punya, pious activities, but when it is connection with Krsna, this is called yajna. Dravya-yajna. To distribute food and cloth, that is called dravya-yajna, but yajna can be said when it is done, dovetailing the activities with Krsna consciousness. That is yajna. Yajna means Visnu. Yajnarthe karmano ’nyatra loko ’yam karma-bandhanah [Bg. 3.9]. So our the Krsna consciousness movement, we are also distributing food in our about one hundred branches all over the world. But not directly, but through nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe yuktam vairagyam ucyate. If we simply act piously, that is good, but it is not perfect. Suppose I execute many pious activities in my life. Then due to my pious activities, I will get birth in good family. Janmaisvarya-sruta-srih. I may get my birth in good family, high family. That is called janma. Then aisvarya, opulence, wealth; sri, beautiful body; and education also. I have several times explained that to become highly educated, that is also due to previous pious activities. To be highly rich, that is also due to previous pious activities. But Narottama dasa Thakura says that Karma-kanda, jnana-kanda, kebala bisera bhanda. Karma-kanda vicara, fruitive activities for getting better position of life, better body… [break] …though I get my birth in a good family, there is still risk of degradation. Because sometimes we get our birth in rich family and due to opulence we are associated with bad company. Then we begin to act sinfully. That means again degradation. Therefore the Vaisnava philosophy does not very much approve even pious activities. What to speak of impious activities, they do not approve pious activities also. They are simply after Krsna consciousness, simply interested in the service of Krsna. That is real yajna. Because in the Bhagavad-gita it is said that those who are engaged in devotional service… To hear, devotional service… I have explained several times. To hear about Krsna. Simply by hearing Krsna, if we simply try to understand Krsna, that is also better than dravyamaya-yajna, dravya, in charity. But because we cannot devote ourself… Pure devotional service means sravanam kirtanam. Just like Haridasa Thakura, he was simply engaged in sravanam kirtanam. He was chanting three hundred thousand times Hare Krsna maha-mantra. We cannot imitate that. That is not possible. But pure devotional service is like that. Just like our Gosvamis, the Six Gosvamis in Vrndavana, how they executed devotional service is described by Srinivasa Acarya, krsnotkirtana-gana-nartana-parau premamrtambho-nidhi dhiradhira-jana-priyau priya-karau nirmatsarau pujitau sri-caitanya-krpa-bharau bhuvi bhuvo bharavahantarakau vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau Krsnotkirtana-gana-nartana-parau. They always engaged them in chanting Hare Krsna maha-mantra. Utkirtana, very loudly. Krsnotkirtana. Utkirtanam. Krsnotkirtana-gana-nartanau-parau, dancing also. Just like here the boys, they are chanting and dancing. This is very good, following the footsteps of the Gosvamis. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He was also engaged in chanting and dancing. That is a… His dancing description is there in the Caitanya-caritamrta during the Ratha-yatra festival. So chanting, dancing, chanting of the holy name, and in ecstasy dancing, that is also yajna. That is the most perfectional yajna. Yajnaih sankirtana-prayaih. This is called sankirtana-yajna. Bahubhir militva gayantiti sankirtanam. Sankirtana means when we combine together, many persons, and chant and dance. that is called sankirtana-yajna. So those who are engaged in the sankirtana-yajna, they are also performing yajna. That is better than dravyamaya-yajna, dravya-yajna. Dravya-yajna, charity. Suppose one man has no money. Then his life is spoiled? No. In any condition we can execute this yajna, sankirtana-yajna. There is no need of money. Ahaituky apratihata. This sankirtana-yajna is so nice that it cannot be checked by any material condition. If one is interested, he can perform sankirtana-yajna or the bhakti-yoga system, sravanam kirtanam, in any condition of life. In the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, there is a story… Not story. Fact. It is described there that one brahmana—he was a great devotee—he wanted to offer very brilliant service, arcana, in the temple worship. But he had no money. But some day he was sitting in a Bhagavata class and he heard that Krsna can be worshipped even within the mind. So he took this opportunity because he was thinking since a long time how to worship Krsna very gorgeously, but he had no money. So he, when he got this point, that one can worship Krsna within the mind, so after taking bath in the Godavari River, he was sitting underneath a tree and within his mind he was constructing very gorgeous simhasana, throne, bedecked with jewels and keeping the Deity on the throne, he was bathing the Deity with water of Ganges, Yamuna, Godavari, Narmada, Kaveri. Then he was dressing the Deity very nicely, then offering worship with flower, garland. Then he was cooking very nicely, and he was cooking paramanna, sweet rice. So he wanted to taste it, whether it was very hot. Because paramanna is taken cold. Paramanna is no taken very hot. So he put his finger on the paramanna and his finger burned down. Then his meditation broken, because there was nothing. Simply within his mind he was doing everything. So… But he saw that his finger was burned. So he was astonished. In this way, Narayana from Vaikuntha, He was smiling. Laksmiji asked, “Why you are smiling?” “One of My devotee is worshipping like this. So send My men to bring him immediately to Vaikuntha.” So the bhakti-yoga is so nice that even if you have no means to offer the Deity gorgeous worship, you can do it within the mind. That is also possible. Therefore it is said that ahaituky apratihata. In any position of life you can engage yourself in bhakti-yoga system. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam [SB 7.5.23]. But the prime or the topmost perfection of bhakti-yoga is sravanam kirtanam, sravanam kirtanam, fully absorbed in the thought of Krsna. That is recommended in the Bhagavad-gita also. Yoginam api sarvesam mad-gatenantar-atmana [Bg. 6.47]. This is the simplest process. You have to practice always thinking of Krsna. That is also, Krsna says, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. Mad-yaji. Now, suppose if you have nothing to offer. Still, you can, man-manah, by thinking of Krsna, by thinking of all materials for worshiping, testing them, sitting in one place, you can go on. That is called man-manah, thinking, thinking of. You can offer Krsna, as I described, so many things. But Krsna wants to see how much you are devoted to Him. Dravya-yajna. Krsna is not hungry that you have to offer something, very nice foodstuff. That, you must do that. But if you have no such thing in possession, you can do it within the mind. But not that you have got everything to offer… You can offer Krsna very nice foodstuff. In that case if you think that “I can do it in mind,” that is cheating. That will not be done. But in case you have nothing to offer materially, but still, you can offer in the mind. That is called vitta-sartha.[?] Actually we have seen in many places, a rich man has got Deity. The other day we went to a place. The Deity is there, but Deity is not worshipped. Deity is not offered anything. That is not good. That man is very rich man. According to his position, one must offer prepared foodstuff, distribute prasadam, not that… Generally, the impersonalists, they do so. There are many big, big temples, big, big Deities, but the Deity is offered a little elaichianna.[?] That is not good. If you establish Deity, you must worship to the best capacity of your possession. That is Deity worship. But if one hasn’t got to offer anything, he can offer everything within the mind. This facility is there. Therefore it is apratihata, it cannot be checked, apratihata. Because bhakti can be executed practically also within the mind. It cannot be checked. But if you have got something to offer to Krsna, don’t think that “I shall offer in my mind. “That is… Krsna is also very intelligent, that “He is cheating Me.” Krsna wants how much you are sacrificing in devotion, bhaktya. Krsna is not after your goods. That is explained in the Bhagavad, tad aham bhakty-upahrtam asnami. Patram puspam phalam toyam. Krsna is prepared to accept from you even a little leaf, patram, even a little flower, patram puspam phalam, a little fruit. Anyone can secure these. Even if you cannot secure, if you are so poor or unable, you can offer Krsna everything within the mind. But if you are in possession, then that will not be successful. Then it be cheating. That is called mithya-sartha.[?] According to one’s means, ye yatha mam, according to one’s position, they should worship Krsna, maybe without any dravya or with dravya. Yajna is performed. Dravya-yajnas tapo-yajnah. The svadhyaya. The Gosvamis, they also used to perform svadhyaya-yajna. That is also mentioned. Nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma-samsthapakau. They were studying all Vedic literature, all Vedic literature. That is called svadhyaya-yajna, to read Vedic literature, to understand Vedic literature, to act according to the direction of the Vedic literature. This is called svadhyaya-yajna. Svadhyaya-yajna, jnana-yajna. By reading Vedic literature, you enlighten yourself with knowledge. So this is also yajna. There are so many… Krsna is available in so many ways, according to your position. It is not that He is conditioned. He is not conditioned. Therefore it is called ahaituky apratihata. The svadhyaya-yajna. The Gosvamis, they were not only dancing and chanting. That was also part of their business. Krsnotkirtana-gana-nartana-parau. But they were also good scholars. Nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma-samsthapakau. Just like in our Krsna consciousness movement, we are trying to publish our books in different languages. Already we have got in European and American, English, French, German, Spanish, Swedish, Japanese, Chinese. This is required. Nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma. Because people are misled. So they should be given opportunity to study, to understand what is God consciousness, what is Krsna consciousness. So through the sastras. That is also required. Nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma… The Gosvamis practically demonstrated in their life everything. Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught them. They were the first disciples of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Rupa Gosvami was given lesson for ten days continually at Allahabad, Prayaga, Dasasvamedha-ghata. As a result of his instruction, he first wrote this Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, which we have translated into English, Nectar of Devotion. Similarly, Sanatana Gosvami was given instruction for two months at Benares, Varanasi. So bhakti is not that it is something sentiment, without any basic principle of knowledge. No. It is fully based on Vedic knowledge. Bhaktya sruta-grhitaya. Sruta means Veda. Bhakti after studying the Vedic knowledge—that is perfect bhakti. Vedanta-sutra. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He talked on Vedanta-sutra at Benares. And because the Mayavadi sannyasis, they were criticizing Caitanya Mahaprabhu that “He is sentimental sannyasi, devotee, He does not study Vedanta-sutra…” The Lord was criticized like that. So some of His devotees requested that “We know that You do not mix with the Mayavadi sannyasis, but they are criticizing You. If you kindly meet them…” So Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu met all the Varanasi Mayavadi sannyasis. Prakasananda Sarasvati, he had sixty thousand disciples. So they asked. Prakasananda Sarasvati asked Caitanya Mahaprabhu that “You are a sannyasi. So you do not study Vedanta-sutra. It is the,” I meant to say, “vow of the sannyasis that they must.” Vedanta-sutra is the crucial point of sampradaya. One sampradaya must give his commentation on the Vedanta-sutra. Otherwise he is not a bona fide sampradaya. So especially in the Sankara sampradaya, they are very much fond of studying Sankhya philosophy and Vedanta-sutra. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu, when He went to Varanasi, He was simply dancing and chanting Hare Krsna mantra. So people began to criticize. Not people, this sannyasi-sampradaya. So His devotees, they became little sorry that “Our Lord is being criticized.” Therefore He accepted their invitation, and there was Vedanta talk with Prakasananda Sarasvati, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu became victorious, and they became all disciples. These are statement in the Caitanya-caritamrta. So it is not that those who are bhaktas, they… That is also complete, chanting and dancing Krsna. Krsnotkirtana-gana-nartana-parau. There is direct process. But if somebody wants to understand this Krsna consciousness philosophy through Vedanta philosophy, through Upanisads, so they are prepared, they are prepared. Therefore we are publishing so many books. We are discussing Vedanta philosophy, Upanisad, all the Vedic literatures. The Srimad-Bhagavatam is the essence of all Vedic literature. It is stated, nigama-kalpa-taror galitam phalam idam [SB 1.1.3]. Nigama. Nigama means Vedic literature. Kalpa-taru. Kalpa-taru means desire tree. Desire tree… We have got experience; from the mango tree we get mango, and from coconut tree we get coconut. But desire tree means whatever you want, you can get. Even you can get puris and halava from the tree. that is called desire tree. So the Vedic literature is called nigama-kalpa-taru. Nigama, Vedic literature, desire tree, kalpa-taru, taru, kalpa-taru. In the Vedic literature every knowledge is there. Veda means knowledge, perfect knowledge, either material or spiritual. The Vedas are there for the benefit of the human society. Because the living entity has come here in this material world to enjoy, so direction is there, “All right, you have come here to enjoy. So you enjoy materially under direction. Then gradually you become spiritual and then take liberation.” That is the purpose. Karma-kanda, jnana-kanda. Jnana-kanda is the path of liberation. Then upasana-kanda. So it is not that devotees are sentimental. It is not that. Bhaktya sruta-grhitaya. Bhakti devotional service, after complete Vedic literature understanding… But bhakti is nice thing that if one takes to bhakti directly, he understands Vedic version automatically. vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogah prayojitah janayaty asu vairagyam jnanam ca yad ahaitukam [SB 1.2.7] This is Krsna’s mercy. Even one is illiterate, if he sincerely takes to bhakti-yoga, so Vedic philosophical conclusion automatically awakens. yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau tasyaite kathita hy arthah prakasante mahatmanah [SU 6.23] These are the statement, and actually… Just like these boys. These boys, they were not educated in Vedic literature, never. But how they have taken to this Krsna consciousness? This is the magic of Krsna consciousness. It is not dependant on studying of Vedas, but if you take seriously to Krsna consciousness, the Vedic knowledge is automatically awakened. yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau tasyaite kathita hy arthah prakasante mahatmanah [SU 6.23] This is the secret. If one has unflinching faith in Krsna and unflinching faith to his spiritual master, then automatically the Vedic knowledge becomes awakened. This is a fact, you can see. They never knew what is Vedic life, Vedic knowledge, but how they have become so nice perfect devotee? That unflinching faith. That is required. Visvase milaya vastu tarke bahu-rupa.[?] And that visvasa, that is explained, visvasa, faith, in the Caitanya-caritamrta, visvasa-sabde, visvasa sudrdha niscaya, krsne bhakti kaile sarva-karma krta. Sraddha-sabde visvasa sudrdha niscaya. This is statement of Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami. He said, sraddha. Because to become a devotee, the begin is sraddha faith. Just like you all ladies and gentlemen, you are coming. It is the sraddha, “Let us hear something, what they are speaking about Krsna.” This is the beginning. So this sraddha, as it grows and becomes firmly fixed up, that is devotion. Sraddha means, devotion means, gradually making the sraddha more and more fixed up. Adau sraddha. Adau sraddha tatah sadhu-sanga. First of all sraddha, faith. Then association with the devotee. Atha bhajana-kriya tato ’nartha-nivrttih syat tato nistha rucis tatah, athasaktis tato bhavah. Bhava. So we have to come to the stage of bhava. Budha bhava-samanvitah. Krsna says, aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate iti matva bhajante mam budha bhava-samanvitah [Bg. 10.8] So this bhava, the ecstatic stage of devotional service, one has to reach. That is the perfection, or that, the priority stage of love of Godhead. So these things are recommended. Krsna is personally explaining. Why should we not take advantage of these things? Why we are neglecting? It is suicidal. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is personally instructing how to become Krsna conscious, how to become perfect in Krsna consciousness, and then, tyaktva deham punar janma [Bg. 4.9], then you can go back to home, back to Godhead. Why we should not take advantage of this opportunity? This is not very good. We should take advantage. We have got this human form of body. We have got intelligence. And the statement and explanation is being given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead personally. Why we should not take advantage? This is suicidal policy. Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. (end)
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Bombay, April 17, 1974