Lecture
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Bhubaneswar, January 21, 1977

Prabhupada: Just like a student is admitted in the school for learning ABCD, and if he follows the rules and regulations and continues his studies regularly, then one day he would be able to pass M.A. examination, so from the very beginning we have to execute these processes because our life is impure at the present moment, and we have to purify this life.

tapasa brahmacaryena samena damena va tyagena satya-saucabhyam yamena niyamena va [SB 6.1.13]

These things are there in the sastra. We have to execute tapasya, austerity, to purify. Tapo divyam putraka yena suddhyed sattvam. So it is not a formality. It is a process to become free from this material bondage and go back home, back to Godhead. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti [Bg. 4.9] We should be very serious, not that to take initiation as a matter of fashion, but it should be very carefully and seriously done. [break] Human life is meant for this purpose. Athato brahma jijnasa. If you do not inquire about Brahman, if you simply inquire, “Where is food? Where is sense gratification…?” The whole world is going like that. Anywhere you go, the inquiry is, “Where is sense gratification? Where is sex? Where is safety, and where is eating?” This is the inquiry generally. The cats, dogs, birds, beast—everyone is inquiring like that. In the morning you’ll find the birds are chirping, “Now it is morning. Where we have to go to have our necessities of life?” This is the inquiry of this material body. But when you get this human form of body, the inquiry should be different. Explain this. (Gaura-govinda translates) [break]

So Narottama das Thakura sings,

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

So we should always remember song of Narottama dasa Thakura. He is acarya. He’s guru. Acaryopasanam. Acarya upasana is one of the process of making progress. So this song is very important.

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

(aside:) Explain. [break] In the material world everyone is suffering. There is no exception, either rich man or poor man, learned or fool—everyone. This is the place for suffering. And if we take this place of suffering as comfortable, that is our ignorance. Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura sings, bisaya bisanale diba-nisi hiya jwale taribare na koinu upay golokera prema-dhana harinama sankirtana rati na janmilo kene tay. (aside:) Explain. [break] So Narottama says that we should take advantage of Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s and Nityananda Prabhu’s presence. Papi tapi jata chilo hariname uddharilo tara saksi jagai and madhai, brajendra nandana jei saci-suta hoilo sei balarama hoilo nitai, that “Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna. Formerly He was Brajendranandana.” Brajendranandana. Brajendra is Maharaja, Nanda Maharaja. And He accepted father— Nanda Maharaja. Nandanandana. “Same Nandanandana has now become Sacinandana.” Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mother’s name is Sacidevi. So brajendra-nandana jei saci-suta hoilo sei. “Who was formerly Brajendra-nandana, He has now become Sacinandana. And formerly who was Balarama, He has become Nitai.” Brajendranandana hei saci-suta hoilo sei balarama hoilo nitai. So why They have come again? Now, papi tapi yata chilo hariname uddharilo: “They have come to deliver all kinds of sinful men, suffering humanity, just allowing to chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra.” Papi tapi jata chilo, hariname uddharilo. So what is the evidence how papi tapi were delivered? Tara saksi jagai and madhai.

So there is no hopelessness. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu is there. If we take shelter of Their lotus feet, there is no hopelessness. But we should not commit any more sinful activities. Then They will deliver us from these clutches of maya. (end)