Madhya20.119

TEXT 119

bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah syad

isad apetasya viparyayo ’smrtih

tan-mayayato budha abhajet tam

bhaktyaikayesam guru-devatatma

SYNONYMS

bhayam—fear; dvitiya-abhinivesatah—from the misconception of being a product of material energy; syat—arises; isat—from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna; apetasya—of one who has withdrawn (the conditioned soul); viparyayah—reversal of the position; asmrtih—no conception of his relationship with the Supreme Lord; tat-mayaya—because of the illusory energy of the Supreme Lord; atah—therefore; budhah—one who is wise; abhajet—must worship; tam—Him; bhaktya—by devotional service; ekaya—undiverted to karma and jnana; isam—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; guru—as the spiritual master; devata—the worshipable Lord; atma—the Supersoul.

TRANSLATION

" ’When the living entity is attracted by the material energy, which is separate from Krsna, he is overpowered by fear. Because he is separated from the Supreme Personality of Godhead by the material energy, his conception of life is reversed. In other words, instead of being the eternal servant of Krsna, he becomes Krsna’s competitor. This is called viparyayo ’smrtih. To nullify this mistake, one who is actually learned and advanced worships the Supreme Personality of Godhead as his spiritual master, worshipful Deity and source of life. He thus worships the Lord by the process of unalloyed devotional service.’

PURPORT

This is a quotation from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.2.37). It is an instruction given by Kavi Rsi, one of the nine saintly personalities called the nine Yogendras. When Vasudeva, Krsna’s father, asked Devarsi Narada in Dvaraka about devotional service, it was mentioned that previously King Nimi, who was the King of Videha, was instructed by the nine Yogendras. When Sri Narada Muni discoursed on bhagavata-dharma, devotional service, he indicated how a conditioned soul can be liberated by engaging in the loving transcendental service of the Lord. The Lord is the Supersoul, spiritual master and worshipable Deity of all conditioned souls. Not only is Krsna the supreme worshipful Deity for all living entities, but He is also the guru, or caitya-guru, the Supersoul who always gives the living entity good counsel. Unfortunately the living entity neglects the Supreme Person’s instructions. He thus identifies with material energy and is consequently overpowered by a kind of fear resulting from accepting himself as the material body and considering paraphernalia related to the material body to be his property. All types of fruitive results actually come from the spirit soul, but because he has forgotten his real duty, he is embarrassed by many material consequences such as fear and attachment. The only remedy is to revert to the service of the Lord and thus be saved from material nature’s unwanted harassment.

Madhya20.120

TEXT 120

sadhu-sastra-krpaya yadi krsnonmukha haya

sei jiva nistare, maya tahare chadaya

SYNONYMS

sadhu—of saintly persons; sastra—of scriptures; krpaya—by the mercy; yadi—if; krsna-unmukha haya-one becomes Krsna conscious; sei—that; jiva—living entity; nistare—becomes liberated; maya—the illusory energy; tahare—him; chadaya—gives up.

TRANSLATION

"If the conditioned soul becomes Krsna conscious by the mercy of saintly persons who voluntarily preach scriptural injunctions and help him to become Krsna conscious, the conditioned soul is liberated from the clutches of maya, who gives him up.

PURPORT

A conditioned soul is one who has forgotten Krsna as his eternal master. Thinking that he is enjoying the material world, the conditioned soul suffers the threefold miseries of material existence. Saintly persons (sadhus), Vaisnava devotees of the Lord, preach Krsna consciousness on the basis of Vedic literature. It is only by their mercy that the conditioned soul is awakened to Krsna consciousness. When awakened, he is no longer eager to enjoy the materialistic way of life. Instead, he devotes himself to the loving transcendental service of the Lord. When one engages in the Lord’s devotional service, he becomes detached from material enjoyment.

bhaktih paresanubhavo viraktir
anyatra caisa trika eka-kalah

(Bhag. 11.2.42)

Madhya20.121

TEXT 121

daivi hy esa guna-mayi

mama maya duratyaya

mam eva ye prapadyante

mayam etam taranti te

SYNONYMS

daivi—belonging to the Supreme Lord; hi—certainly; esa—this; guna-mayi—made of the three modes; mama—My; maya—external energy; duratyaya—very difficult to surpass; mam—unto Me; eva—certainly; ye-those who; prapadyante—surrender fully; mayam—illusory energy; etam—this; taranti—cross over; te-they.

TRANSLATION

" ’This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.’

Madhya20.122

TEXT 122

maya-mugdha jivera nahi svatah krsna-jnana

jivere krpaya kaila krsna veda-purana

SYNONYMS

maya-mugdha—enchanted by the illusory energy; jivera—of the conditioned soul; nahi—there is not; svatah—automatically; krsna-jnana—knowledge of Krsna; jivere—unto the conditioned soul; krpaya—out of mercy; kaila—presented; krsna—Lord Krsna; veda-purana—the Vedic literature and the Puranas (supplements to the Vedic literature).

TRANSLATION

"The conditioned soul cannot revive his Krsna consciousness by his own effort. But out of causeless mercy, Lord Krsna compiled the Vedic literature and its supplements, the Puranas.

PURPORT

Madhya20.123

TEXT 123

’sastra-guru-atma’-rupe apanare janana

’krsna mora prabhu, trata’--jivera haya jnana

SYNONYMS

sastra-guru-atma-rupe—in the form of Vedic literature, the spiritual master and the Supersoul; apanare janana—informs about Himself; krsna—Lord Krsna; mora—my; prabhu—Lord; trata—deliver; jivera—of the conditioned soul; haya—there is; jnana—knowledge.

TRANSLATION

"The forgetful conditioned soul is educated by Krsna through the Vedic literatures, the realized spiritual master and the Supersoul. Through these, he can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He is, and he can understand that Lord Krsna is his eternal master and deliverer from the clutches of maya. In this way one can acquire real knowledge of his conditioned life and can come to understand how to attain liberation.

PURPORT

Being forgetful of his real position, the conditioned soul may take help from sastra, guru and the Supersoul within his heart. Krsna is situated within everyone’s heart as the Supersoul. As stated in Bhagavad-gita:

isvarah sarva-bhutanam
hrd-dese ’rjuna tisthati
bhramayan sarva-bhutani
yantrarudhani mayaya

Madhya20.124

TEXT 124

veda-sastra kahe--’sambandha’ ’abhidheya’ ’prayojana’

’krsna’--prapya sambandha, ’bhakti’--praptyera sadhana

SYNONYMS

veda-sastra kahe—the Vedic literature instructs; sambandha—the conditioned soul’s relationship with the Lord; abhidheya—the regulated activities of the conditioned soul for reviving that relationship; prayojana—and the ultimate goal of life to be attained by the conditioned soul; krsna—Lord Krsna; prapya—to be awakened; sambandha—the original relationship; bhakti—devotional service; praptyera sadhana—the means of attaining Krsna.

TRANSLATION

"The Vedic literatures give information about the living entity’s eternal relationship with Krsna, which is called sambandha. The living entity’s understanding of this relationship and acting accordingly is called abhidheya. Returning home, back to Godhead, is the ultimate goal of life and is called prayojana.

Madhya20.125

TEXT 125

abhidheya-nama ’bhakti’ ’prema’--prayojana

purusartha-siromani prema maha-dhana

SYNONYMS

abhidheya—activities to revive one’s relationship; nama—named; bhakti—devotional service; prema—love of Godhead; prayojana—the ultimate goal of life; purusa-artha-siromani—the topmost interest of the living entity; prema—love of Godhead; maha-dhana—the greatest wealth.

TRANSLATION

"Devotional service, or sense activity for the satisfaction of the Lord, is called abhidheya because it can develop one’s original love of Godhead, which is the goal of life. This goal is the living entity’s topmost interest and greatest wealth. Thus one attains the platform of transcendental loving service unto the Lord.

PURPORT

Madhya20.126

TEXT 126

krsna-madhurya-sevananda-praptira karana

krsna-seva kare, ara krsna-rasa-asvadana

SYNONYMS

krsna-madhurya—of an intimate relationship with Krsna; seva-ananda—of pleasure from rendering service unto Him; praptira—of achievement; karana—because; krsna-seva kare—one renders service to Krsna; ara—and; krsna-rasa—of the mellows of such service; asvadana—tasting.

TRANSLATION

"When one attains the transcendental bliss of an intimate relationship with Krsna, he renders service to Him and tastes the mellows of Krsna consciousness.

Madhya20.127

TEXT 127

ihate drstanta--yaiche daridrera ghare

’sarvajna’ asi’ duhkha dekhi’ puchaye tahare

SYNONYMS

ihate—in this connection; drstanta—the example; yaiche—just as; daridrera ghare—in the house of a poor man; sarva-jna—an astrologer; asi’-coming; duhkha—distressed condition; dekhi’-seeing; puchaye tahare—inquires from him.

TRANSLATION

"The following example may be given. Once a learned astrologer came to the house of a poor man and, seeing his distressed condition, questioned him.

PURPORT

Sometimes we go to an astrologer or palmist when we are in a distressed condition or when we want to know the future. The living entity in conditioned life is always distressed by the threefold miseries of material existence. Under the circumstances, he is inquisitive about his position. For instance, Sanatana Gosvami approached the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, to ask Him why he was in a distressed condition. This is the position of all conditioned souls. We are always in a distressed condition, and an intelligent man naturally becomes inquisitive. This position is called brahma-jijnasa. Athato brahma-jijnasa (Vedanta-sutra 1.1.1). Brahma here refers to Vedic literature. One should consult Vedic literature to know why the conditioned soul is always in a distressed condition. Vedic literatures are meant to free the conditioned soul from the miserable conditions of material existence. In this chapter, the story of the astrologer Sarvajna and the poor man is very instructive.

Madhya20.128

TEXT 128

’tumi kene duhkhi, tomara ache pitr-dhana

tomare na kahila, anyatra chadila jivana"

SYNONYMS

tumi—you; kene—why; duhkhi—distressed; tomara—your; ache—there is; pitr-dhana—the riches of your father; tomare—unto you; na kahila—he did not disclose; anyatra—somewhere else; chadila—gave up; jivana—his life.

TRANSLATION

"The astrologer asked, ’Why are you unhappy? Your father was very wealthy, but he did not disclose his wealth to you because he died elsewhere?’

Madhya20.129

TEXT 129

sarvajnera vakye kare dhanera uddese

aiche veda-purana jive ’krsna’ upadese

SYNONYMS

sarvajnera—of the astrologer; vak ye—the words; kare—make; dhanera—of the riches; uddese—news; aiche—similarly; veda-purana—Vedic literatures; jive—unto the living entity, the conditioned soul; krsna—of Lord Krsna; upadese—instructs.

TRANSLATION

"Just as the words of the astrologer Sarvajna gave news of the poor man’s treasure, Vedic literatures advise one about Krsna consciousness when one is inquisitive to know why he is in a distressed material condition.

Madhya20.130

TEXT 130

sarvajnera vakye mula-dhana anubandha

sarva-sastre upadese, ’sri-krsna’--sambandha

SYNONYMS

sarvajnera—of the astrologer; vakye—by the assurance; mula-dhana—with the treasure; anubandha—connection; sarva-sastre—all Vedic literatures; upadese—instruct; sri-krsna—Lord Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sam-bandha—the central connection.

TRANSLATION

"By the words of the astrologer, the poor man’s connection with the treasure was established. Similarly, Vedic literature advises us that our real connection is with Sri Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

PURPORT

Madhya20.131

TEXT 131

’bapera dhana ache’--jnane dhana nahi paya

tabe sarvajna kahe tare praptira upaya

SYNONYMS

bapera dhana ache—the father has some treasure; jnane—by this knowledge; dhana—treasure; nahi paya—one does not get; tabe—then; sarvajna—the astrologer; kahe—says; tare—unto the poor man; praptira upaya—the means of getting the treasure.

TRANSLATION

"Although being assured of his father’s treasure, the poor man cannot acquire this treasure by such knowledge alone. Therefore the astrologer had to inform him of the means whereby he could actually find the treasure.

Madhya20.132

TEXT 132

’ei sthane ache dhana’--yadi daksine khudibe

’bhimarula-baruli’ uthibe, dhana na paibe

SYNONYMS

ei sthane—at this place; ache—is; dhana—treasure; yadi—if; daksine—on the southern side; khudibe—you will dig; bhimarula-baruli—wasps and drones; uthibe—will rise; dhana—the riches; na paibe—you will not get.

TRANSLATION

"The astrologer said, ’The treasure is in this place, but if you dig toward the southern side, the wasps and drones will rise, and you will not get your treasure.

Madhya20.133

TEXT 133

’pascime’ khudibe, taha ’yaksa’ eka haya

se vighna karibe,--dhane hata na padaya

SYNONYMS

pascime—on the western side; khudibe—if you dig; taha—there; yaksa—ghost; eka—one; haya—there is; se—he; vighna karibe—will create disturbances; dhane—on the treasure; hata—hand; na—not; padaya—touches.

TRANSLATION

" ’If you dig on the western side, there is a ghost who will create such a disturbance that your hands will not even touch the treasure.

Madhya20.134

TEXT 134

’uttare’ khudile ache krsna ’ajagare’

dhana nahi pabe, khudite gilibe sabare

SYNONYMS

uttare—on the northern side; khudile—if you dig; ache—there is; krsna—black; ajagare—snake; dhana—treasure; nahi—not; pabe—you will get; khudite—digging; gilibe—will devour; sabare—everyone.

TRANSLATION

" ’If you dig on the northern side, there is a big black snake that will devour you if you attempt to dig up the treasure.

Madhya20.135

TEXT 135

purva-dike tate mati alpa khudite

dhanera jhari padibeka tomara hatete

SYNONYMS

purva-dike—on the eastern side; tate—there; mati—the dirt; alpa—small quantity; khudite—digging; dhanera—of the treasure; jhari—the pot; padibeka—you will get; tomara—your; hatete—in the hands.

TRANSLATION

" ’However, if you dig up a small quantity of dirt on the eastern side, your hands will immediately touch the pot of treasure.’

PURPORT

The Vedic literatures, including the Puranas, state that according to the position of the conditioned soul, there are different processes-karma-kanda, jnana-kanda, the yogic process and the bhakti-yoga process. Karma-kanda is compared to wasps and drones that will simply bite if one takes shelter of them. jnana-kanda, the speculative process, is simply like a ghost who creates mental disturbances. Yoga, the mystic process, is compared to a black snake that devours people by the impersonal cultivation of kaivalya. However, if one takes to bhakti-yoga, he becomes quickly successful. In other words, through bhakti-yoga, one’s hands touch the hidden treasure without difficulty.

Therefore it is said in Bhagavad-gita: vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah. One has to take to devotional service. Although the Vedas enjoin one to search out Krsna and take shelter at His lotus feet, other Vedic processes will not help. According to Bhagavad-gita, only the bhakti process is said to be definitive. Bhaktya mam abhijanati. This is the conclusive statement of the Vedas, and one has to accept this process if one is serious in searching for Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this connection, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura gives the following statement. The eastern side represents devotional service to Lord Krsna. The southern side represents the process of fruitive activity (karma-kanda), which ends in material gain. The western side represents jnana-kanda, the process of mental speculation, sometimes called siddhi-kanda. The northern side represents the speculative method sometimes known as the mystic yoga system. It is only the eastern side, devotional service, that enables one to attain life’s real goal. On the southern side, there are fruitive activities by which one is subject to the punishment of Yamaraja. When one follows the system of fruitive activity, his material desires remain prominent. Consequently the results of this process are compared to wasps and drones. The living entity is bitten by the wasps and drones of fruitive activity and thus suffers in material existence birth after birth. One cannot be free from material desires by following this process. The propensity for material enjoyment never ends. Therefore the cycle of birth and death continues, and the spirit soul suffers perpetually.

The mystic yoga process is compared to a black snake that devours the living entity and injects him with poison. The ultimate goal of the yoga system is to become one with the Absolute. This means finishing one’s personal existence. However, the spiritual part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead has an eternal individual existence. Bhagavad-gita confirms that the individual soul existed in the past, is existing in the present and will continue to exist as an individual in the future. Artificially trying to become one with the Absolute is suicidal. One cannot annihilate his natural condition.

A yaksa, a protector of riches, will not allow anyone to take away riches for enjoyment. Such a demon will simply create disturbances. In other words, a devotee will not depend on his material resources but on the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who can give real protection. This is called raksisyatiti visvasah or (in the Bengali poetry of Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Saranagati), ’avasya raksibe krsna’-visvasa palana. The surrendered soul must accept the fact that his real protector is Krsna, not his material acquisitions.

Considering all these points, devotional service to Krsna is the real treasure house for the living entity. When one comes to the platform of devotional service, he always remains opulent in the association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One who is bereft of devotional service is swallowed by the black snake of the yoga system and bitten by the wasps and drones of fruitive activity, and he suffers consequent material miseries. Sometimes the living entity is misled into trying to merge into spiritual existence, thinking himself as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This means that when he comes to the spiritual platform, he will be disturbed and will again return to the material platform. According to Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.2.32):

ye ’nye ’ravindaksa vimukta-maninas
tvayy asta-bhavad avisuddha-buddhayah
aruhya krcchrena param padam tatah
patanty adho ’nadrta-yusmad-anghrayah

Such people may become sannyasis, but unless they take shelter of Krsna’s lotus feet, they will return to the material platform to perform philanthropic activities. In this way, one’s spiritual life is lost. This is to be understood as being devoured by the black snake.

Madhya20.136

TEXT 136

aiche sastra kahe,--karma, jnana, yoga tyaji’

’bhaktye’ krsna vasa haya, bhaktye tanre bhaji

SYNONYMS

aiche—in that way; sastra kahe—Vedic literatures confirm; karma—fruitive activities; jnana—speculative knowledge; yoga—the mystic yoga system; tyaji’-giving up; bhaktye—by devotional service; krsna—the Supreme Absolute Personality of Godhead; vasa haya—becomes satisfied; bhaktye—by devotional service; tanre—Him; bhaji—we worship.

TRANSLATION

"Revealed scriptures conclude that one should give up fruitive activity, speculative knowledge and the mystic yoga system and instead take to devotional service, by which Krsna can be fully satisfied.

Madhya20.137

TEXT 137

na sadhayati mam yogo

na sankhyam dharma uddhava

na svadhyayas tapas tyago

yatha bhaktir mamorjita

SYNONYMS

na—never; sadhayati—causes to remain satisfied; mam—Me; yogah—the process of control; na—nor; sankhyam—the process of gaining philosophical knowledge about the Absolute Truth; dharmah—such an occupation; uddhava—My dear Uddhava; na—nor; svadhyayah—study of the Vedas; tapah—austerities; tyagah—renunciation, acceptance of sannyasa, or charity; yatha—as much as; bhaktih—devotional service; mama—unto Me; urjita—developed.

TRANSLATION

[The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, said:] " ’My dear Uddhava, neither through astanga-yoga [the mystic yoga system to control the senses], nor through impersonal monism or an analytical study of the Absolute Truth, nor through study of the Vedas, nor through practice of austerities, nor through charity, nor through acceptance of sannyasa can one satisfy Me as much as one can by developing unalloyed devotional service unto Me.’

PURPORT

Madhya20.138

TEXT 138

bhaktyaham ekaya grahyah

sraddhayatma priyah satam

bhaktih punati man-nistha

sva-pakan api sambhavat

SYNONYMS

bhaktya—by devotional service; aham—I, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ekaya—unflinching; grahyah—obtainable; sraddhaya—by faith; atma—the most dear; priyah—to be served; satam—by the devotees; bhaktih—the devotional service; punati—purifies; mat-nistha—fixed only on Me; sva-pakan—the lowest of human beings, who are accustomed to eat dogs; api—certainly; sambhavat—from all faults due to birth and other circumstances.

TRANSLATION

" ’Being very dear to the devotees and sadhus, I am attained through unflinching faith and devotional service. This bhakti-yoga system, which gradually increases attachment for Me, purifies even a human being born among dog-eaters. That is to say, everyone can be elevated to the spiritual platform by the process of bhakti-yoga.’

PURPORT

This verse is from Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.14.21).

Madhya20.139

TEXT 139

ataeva ’bhakti’--krsna-praptyera upaya

’abhidheya’ bali’ tare sarva-sastre gaya

SYNONYMS

ataeva-therefore; bhakti-devotional service; krsna-praptyera-of achieving the lotus feet of Krsna; upaya-the only means; abhidheya-abhidheya; bali’-calling; tare-this system; sarva-sastre-in all revealed scriptures; gaya-is described.

TRANSLATION

"The conclusion is that devotional service is the only means to approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This system is therefore called abhidheya. This is the verdict of all revealed scriptures.

PURPORT

Madhya20.140

TEXT 140

dhana paile yaiche sukha-bhoga phala paya

sukha-bhoga haite duhkha apani palaya

SYNONYMS

dhana paile—when one gets riches; yaiche—just as; sukha-bhoga—enjoyment of happiness; phala—result; paya—one gets; sukha-bhoga—real enjoyment of happiness; haite—from; duhkha—all distresses; apani—themselves; palaya—run away.

TRANSLATION

"When one actually becomes rich, he naturally enjoys all kinds of happiness. When one is actually in a happy mood, all distressful conditions go away by themselves. No extraneous endeavor is needed.

Madhya20.141

TEXT 141

taiche bhakti-phale krsne prema upajaya

preme krsnasvada haile bhava nasa paya

SYNONYMS

taiche—similarly; bhakti-phale—by the result of devotional service; krsne—unto Lord Krsna; prema—love; upajaya—arises; preme—in devotional love; krsna-asvada—tasting the association of Lord Krsna; haile—when there is; bhava—the distress of the repetition of birth and death; nasa—annihilation; paya—obtains.

TRANSLATION

"Similarly, as a result of bhakti, one’s dormant love for Krsna awakens. When one is so situated that he can taste the association of Lord Krsna, material existence, the repetition of birth and death, comes to an end.