Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.6.5
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Toronto, June 21, 1976

Pradyumna: (leads chanting, etc.) Translation: “Therefore, while in material existence (bhavam asritah), a person fully competent to distinguish wrong from right must endeavor to achieve the highest goal of life as long as the body is stout and strong and is not embarrassed by dwindling.”

Prabhupada:

tato yateta kusalah ksemaya bhavam asritah sariram paurusam yavan na vipadyeta puskalam

So this should be the human activity, that sariram paurusam yavan na vipadyeta puskalam. So long we are stout and strong and we can work very nicely, the health is quite all right, take advantage of it. It is not Krsna consciousness movement is for the lazy fellow. No. It is meant for the strong man: strong in body, strong in mind, strong in determination—everything strong—strong in brain. It is meant for them. Because we have to execute the highest goal of life. Unfortunately, they do not know what is the highest goal of life. The modern… Not modern, always. Now it is very conspicuous: people do not know what is the aim of life. Anyone who is in this material world, he is in maya, means he does not know what is the goal of life. Na te viduh, they do not know, svartha-gatim hi visnu. Svartha-gati. Everyone is supposed to be self-interested. Self-interest is the first law of nature, they say. But they do not know what is self- interest. He, instead of going back to home, back to Godhead—that is his real self-interest—he’s going to become a dog in the next life. Is that self-interest? But they do not know it. How nature’s law is working, they do not know it. Na te viduh. Adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram. Matir na krsne paratah svato va.

matir na krsne paratah svato va mitho ’bhipadyeta grha-vratanam adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram punah punas carvita-carvananam [SB 7.5.30]

That, Krsna consciousness, matir na krsne. People are very much reluctant to become Krsna conscious. Why? Matir na krsne paratah svato va. By others’ instruction Just like we are trying to spread Krsna consciousness all over the world, paratah. Svato, svato means personally. By personal endeavor. Just I am reading Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam and other Vedic literature. So, matir na krsne paratah svato va. Mitho va, mitho va means “by conference.” Nowadays it is a very popular thing to hold conferences. So one cannot become Krsna conscious either by his personal endeavor or by advice of some other men or by holding big, big conferences. Why? Grha-vratanam: because his real aim of life is that “I shall remain in this house.” Grha-vratanam. Grha means household life, grha means this body, grha means this universe. There are so many grhas, big and small.

So here it is said, tato yateta kusalah ksemaya bhavam asritah. Bhavam, this material world is called bhavah. And those who are within this material world, they are called bhava-rogi, means diseased, in the bhava disease. Bhava means “you become.” Bhava. So here in this material world is…, to become bhava. I have already taken birth in some family, I have already become something, bhava, but I’ll have to die. Then finish? No, bhava. Again bhava. Again bhava. Bhutva bhutva praliyate, bhu-dhatu. So bhava, bhu, bhutva bhutva praliyate. This is the nature, material nature. So those who are bhavam asritah… Those who have taken shelter of this material world for repeatedly taking birth and death and suffering old age and disease, they are called bhavam asritah. So for the bhavam asritah, those who are suffering in this disease, there are other, bhavausadhi, bhavausadhi.

nivrtta-tarsair upagiyamanad bhavausadhac chrotra-mano-’bhiramat ka uttamasloka-gunanuvadat puman virajyeta vina pasughnat [SB 10.1.4]

Vina pasughnat. Pasughnat means the slayer (indistinct), killer of animals. Or killer of himself. Pasughnat. So pasu means life. So they are killing. So this civilization is a killing civilization. Because the human being has got the opportunity for get out of this bhavam-asritah, this material world where he has to take birth and death, accept birth and death again and again. So this is an opportunity to get out of it. But they are not being properly educated. They are being forced to accept this chronic disease and suffer perpetually. This is the modern civilization.

But Vedic civilization is not like that. Vedic civilization is how to rescue him from this disease, bhava-roga. Bhava-roga, to cure this bhava-roga, Caitanya Mahaprabhu has also prescribed, and it is since the creation, Vedic knowledge is that bhavausadhi. Nivrtta-tarsair upagiyamanad [SB 10.1.4] This chanting of the holy name of the Lord is called nivrtta tarsair upagiyamanad. This chanting can be performed by nivrtta tarsair, one who has ceased from all kinds of trsna, or desire: sarvopadhi vinirmuktam [Cc. Madhya 19.170] or anyabhilasita-sunyam [BRS 1.1.11]. One who has become free from all kinds of material desires, for them, this chanting of Hare Krsna mantra is possible, is very successful (indistinct). But still, those who are not free from these material desires, it is recommended by Pariksit Maharaja Nivrtta-tarsair. Actually this chanting of Hare Krsna mantra should be done by the liberated persons. But still, those who are not liberated, bhavam-asritah, for them it is bhavausadhi: the disease, medicine of this disease. Nivrtta-tarsair upagiyamanad bhavausadhi chrotra-mano-’bhiramat [SB 10.1.4]. It is very pleasing to the ear and the mind. Chrotra, chrotra means ear and mano means mind. Even one is not liberated, still, it is so pleasing to the ear and the mind. Bhavausadhac chrotra-mano-’bhiramat. Such a nice thing. What is that? Uttamasloka-gunanuvadat. Uttamasloka means the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is prayed by selected poems. Uttama, transcendental poetry, transcendental songs. He’s worshiped by transcendental vibration of sound. Ka uttamasloka-gunanuvadat puman virajyeta vina pasughnat [SB 10.1.4]. Who keeps himself aloof from this transcendental vibration of sound? Vina pasughnat [SB 10.1.4]. Simply the person who is animal killer. Therefore, meat-eating is so dangerous for a devotee. Because one who is animal killer, he’ll never be attracted. Therefore we prescribe that no animal killing. Meat-eater means other things will follow. Illicit sex will follow and drinking will follow. Because you cannot digest meat by water. You must drink. That is the fact. It is so heavy that unless Therefore, madhyamanusa (indistinct), they are four relatives. If you eat meat, then you have to drink. Otherwise, you’ll not be able to digest. Then your intestine will be digested, the wine is so strong. Therefore the drunkard must take In India we have seen, everywhere. This wine and meat, they are together. Because you have to digest.

So nivrtta-tarsair upagiyamanad bhavausadhac chrotra, vina-pasughnat [SB 10.1.4]. We have to become very simple and pure. Then it is possible to relish the transcendental chanting. So bhavam asritah. For one who has taken shelter, actually this is not our place. This very word is used, asritah. Unfortunately we have taken shelter of this material world. Otherwise it is not our place. We are spirit soul, sanatana, and there is a sanatana-dhama, place. Mamaivamso jiva-bhutah jiva-loke sanatanah [Bg. 15.7]. This word is used, sanatanah. Means eternal. These living entities, they’re eternal. They are not meant for this world. Here, nothing is eternal; everything is temporary. So why we should remain here? It is not. Therefore it is called bhavam asritah. Unfortunately, he has taken shelter of this place where he has to die and take birth again. So bhavam asritah. So Prahlada Maharaja recommends, tato yateta kusalah. If one is interested for his upliftment, kusalah… Kusalah means auspicity. Everyone wants auspicity. Tato yateta kusalah ksemaya bhavam asritah. Ultimate auspicity or ultimate goal of life. So long the body is strong… Not that… Prahlada Maharaja has begun, kaumara acaret prajnah. General education also. Education is given to the children, not to the old men. Because that is the rising of the body. He’s receptive; he can take. Prahlada Maharaja’s recommendation is that so long we are strong, we are in working order, we are not feeble or all energy lost… No. When you have got full energy, full strength, young men, children, they should take this lesson of Krsna consciousness. It is recommended for them. Not for the old man who has lost everything. But they have taken it that Hare Krsna mantra is for the old man who is going to die. But here it is recommended—no, for the strong man, youthful children, like that. So Prahlada Maharaja is recommending, because the business is very important. Bhavam asritah: to get out of this bhava. Bhutva bhutva praliyate.

So now, we find from the Bhagavad-gita, there are three words. Sanatanah, eternal, is used there. First thing is this jiva, these living entities, they have been described as sanatanah. Mamaivamso jiva-bhutah jiva-loke sanatanah [Bg. 15.7]. We are living entities, sanatanah. It is not that we have become jiva-bhutah by the influence of maya. We have put ourself in the influence of maya; therefore we are jiva-bhutah. Actually we are sanatana. Sanatana means eternal. Nityo sasvata. Jivatma is described: nityo sasvato yam na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20]. That is sanatana. So we are so less intelligent that if I am eternal, sanatana, I have no birth and death, why I have been put into this tribulation of birth and death? This is called brahma-jijnasa. But we are not educated. But we should be educated. At least we should take advantage of this instruction. We are sanatana. And another world is there, mentioned in the Bhagavad-gita, paras tasmat tu bhavo ’nyo ’vyakto ’vyaktat sanatanah [Bg. 8.20]. This material world is manifested, and background of this is the total material energy, mahat-tattva. That is not manifested. So vyakto ’vyaktat. Beyond this there is another nature, a spiritual nature, sanatana. That is called sanatana. Paras tasmat tu bhavo ’nyo vyakto ’vyaktat sanatanah [Bg. 8.20]. And the jiva-bhutah—sanatana. And in the Eleventh Chapter, Arjuna describes Krsna as sanatana. So three sanatana. Three sanatana. So if we are all sanatana, there is sanatana-dhama and Krsna is sanatana, we are also sanatana. So when they are combined together, that is called sanatana-dharma. They do not know what is sanatana. They think that if I dress in a certain way and if I am born in a certain community, then I become sanatana-dharma. No. Everyone can become sanatana-dharma. But they do not know what is the meaning of sanatana. Every living entity is sanatana. And Krsna, God is sanatana. And there is a place where we can meet together—that is sanatana dhama. Sanatana dhama, sanatana-bhakti, (indistinct), sanatana-dhama. When it is executed, that is called sanatana-dharma. So what is that sanatana-dharma? Suppose I return to that sanatana-dhama and there is God, sanatana, and I am sanatana. So what is our sanatana activities? Does it mean that when I go to sanatana-dhama I become God? No. You do not become God. Because God is one. He’s the Supreme Lord, Master, and we are servant. Caitanya Mahaprabhu: jivera svarupa haya nitya krsna dasa [Cc. Madhya 20.108-109]. So here every one of us, we are claiming to become Krsna. But when you return to the sanatana-dhama, then we—unless we are qualified we cannot go there—then we eternally engage in the service of the Lord. That is sanatana-dharma.

So you practice it. The sanatana-dharma means this bhakti-yoga. Because we have forgotten. Everyone is trying to become God. Now practice here how to become a servant of God. And if you are qualified, factually, that now you are rest assured that you have become a servant of God, that is bhakti-marga. As Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, gopi-bhartur pada-kamalayor dasa-dasa-dasa-dasanudasah. When you are expert in becoming the servant of the servant of the servant of the servant of the Lord—hundred times down, servant—then you are perfect. But here everyone is trying to become the Supreme Lord. Somebody is misusing the word “so ’ham,” “aham brahmasmi” and therefore “I am the Supreme.” But that is not. These are Vedic words, but so ’ham does not mean “I am God.” So ’ham means “I am also the same quality.” Because mamaivamso jiva-bhutah [Bg. 15.7]. Jiva is the part and parcel of God, Krsna, so the quality is the same. Just like you take a drop of water from the sea. So the chemical composition of the whole water of the sea and a drop of water—the same. That is called so ’ham or brahmasmi. Not that we misuse these words, Vedic version, and I think falsely that “I am God. I have become God.” And if you are God, then why you become a dog? Does God becomes dog? No. That is not possible. Because we are minute particle. That is also mentioned in the sastra:

kesagra-sata-bhagasya satadha kalpitasya ca jivah bhago sa vijneya sa anantyaya kalpate [Cc. Madya 19.140]

Our spiritual identity is that we are ten-thousandth part of the top of the hair. It is like a very small, we divide it into ten thousand part, and one, that is our identity. And that small identity is within this body. So where you’ll find it? You have no such machine. Therefore we say nirakara. No, there is akara, but it is so minute and small, tlat it is not possible to see with this material eyes. So we have to see through the version of Vedas. Sastra caksusa. That is the Vedanta version. We have to see through the sastra. Not by these blunt eyes. That is not possible.

So all these things should be discussed, should be understood, so long we are young, strong, brain is in order. Then our life will be successful. And Prahlada Maharaja is advising:

tato yateta kusalah ksemaya bhavam asritah sariram paurusam yavan na vipadyeta puskalam

So long you are strong, try your best to understand the instruction of Krsna and be Krsna conscious and make your life successful.

Thank you very much. (end)