0 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:14,724 Bg 01-07 LON 1973-07-11 Vaisnavism Is Not Cowardism 1 00:00:14,725 --> 00:00:20,046 ANNOUNCER: The following is a class on the Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, 1st chapter, 2 00:00:20,047 --> 00:00:27,890 text number 7, given by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, 3 00:00:27,891 --> 00:00:46,517 recorded on the 11th of July, 1973, in London, England. 4 00:00:46,518 --> 00:00:49,822 PRADYUMNA: O best of the brāhmaṇas, for your information, 5 00:00:49,823 --> 00:00:51,934 let me tell you about the captains 6 00:00:51,935 --> 00:00:55,969 who are especially qualified to lead my military force.” 7 00:00:55,970 --> 00:01:04,895 PRABHUPĀDA: So formerly, five thousand years ago, the same system, military— 8 00:01:04,896 --> 00:01:13,066 ordinary soldiers, then the captain, then the commander, the commander-in-chief— 9 00:01:13,067 --> 00:01:20,948 as there are gradations in the modern age, the same thing was there. 10 00:01:20,949 --> 00:01:27,057 But mahā-ratha, they had good qualification. 11 00:01:27,058 --> 00:01:35,377 Mahā-ratha means alone he could fight with many other charioteers. 12 00:01:35,378 --> 00:01:40,871 They are called ati-ratha, mahā-ratha. 13 00:01:40,872 --> 00:01:44,790 There are different grades of fighters. 14 00:01:44,791 --> 00:01:53,534 So, so far Pāṇḍavas are concerned, their son. 15 00:01:53,535 --> 00:01:59,456 Saubhadra… Saubhadra means Abhimanyu, Subhadrā’s son. 16 00:01:59,457 --> 00:02:04,824 Because he was Subhadrā’s son, his name was Saubhadra. 17 00:02:04,825 --> 00:02:08,967 Draupadī’s sons, they are called Draupadeya. 18 00:02:08,968 --> 00:02:20,040 In Sanskrit, just like bhaginī, sister, bhaginī, her son is called bhāgineya, nephews. 19 00:02:20,041 --> 00:02:22,634 So there is link. 20 00:02:22,635 --> 00:02:29,164 As soon as we speak Saubhadra, that means Subhadrā’s son. 21 00:02:29,165 --> 00:02:35,365 Subhadrā’s son, he was only sixteen years old at that time. 22 00:02:35,366 --> 00:02:44,519 He was married with Uttarā, the daughter of Mahārāja Virāṭa. 23 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:50,955 So they were all mahā-rathas, ordinary, not ordinary fighters. 24 00:02:50,956 --> 00:03:00,206 This Abhimanyu was killed by conspiracy by seven commander-in-chief. 25 00:03:00,207 --> 00:03:07,870 Bhīṣma, Karṇa, Droṇācārya, Aśvatthāmā, 26 00:03:07,871 --> 00:03:15,296 they all surrounded him, and they did not allow him to come out. 27 00:03:15,297 --> 00:03:19,540 They were very experienced commanders. 28 00:03:19,541 --> 00:03:22,075 So this is kṣatriya spirit. 29 00:03:22,076 --> 00:03:24,347 He was simply a boy, 30 00:03:24,348 --> 00:03:33,147 sixteen years old and he had to be killed by the combined efforts of very, very, 31 00:03:33,148 --> 00:03:36,026 big commander-in-chiefs. 32 00:03:36,027 --> 00:03:40,218 He was so great fighter, Abhimanyu. 33 00:03:40,219 --> 00:03:42,759 Abhimanyu-vāda. 34 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:49,772 So Saubhadra, Draupadī… Similarly, Draupadī’s sons also there. 35 00:03:49,773 --> 00:03:52,230 Sarva eva mahā-rathāḥ [Bg. 1.6]. 36 00:03:52,231 --> 00:03:55,823 Mahā-ratha means one who could fight 37 00:03:55,824 --> 00:04:00,107 with one thousand chariots on the other side. 38 00:04:00,108 --> 00:04:03,403 They were called mahā-rathāḥ. 39 00:04:03,404 --> 00:04:06,843 Then Duryodhana, 40 00:04:06,844 --> 00:04:14,638 first of all he pointed out the military strength of the opposite side. 41 00:04:14,639 --> 00:04:16,342 This is intelligence. 42 00:04:16,343 --> 00:04:27,512 One should take calculation of the opposing elements or the enemy’s side. 43 00:04:27,513 --> 00:04:33,655 In fighting the first thing is to take estimation of the enemy’s side, 44 00:04:33,656 --> 00:04:39,192 how much they are strong, how they have arranged. 45 00:04:39,193 --> 00:04:46,043 Then one should calculate how to counteract, how to fight with them, 46 00:04:46,044 --> 00:04:47,664 this is intelligence. 47 00:04:47,665 --> 00:04:55,081 Without taking any calculation of the other side, if you are not prepared, 48 00:04:55,082 --> 00:04:59,379 then how you can become victorious? 49 00:04:59,380 --> 00:05:09,197 This is sane proposal, that is, Upayan cintayet prajño apayan ca cintayet [?]. 50 00:05:09,198 --> 00:05:13,397 A prajña, an intelligent man, 51 00:05:13,398 --> 00:05:22,588 not only think of the bright side on this business, or this fight, 52 00:05:22,589 --> 00:05:26,169 or this any…, so many things we have to deal with. 53 00:05:26,170 --> 00:05:31,439 Simply we should not calculate the brighter side. 54 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:33,983 There is darker side also. 55 00:05:33,984 --> 00:05:40,135 We should always think, “If there is some thief, if there is some rogue, they cheat us, 56 00:05:40,136 --> 00:05:43,569 then what precaution I am going to take?” 57 00:05:43,570 --> 00:05:45,975 This is intelligence. 58 00:05:45,976 --> 00:05:51,519 If I simply calculate that “In this business I will make so much profit.” 59 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:57,999 In the meantime, somebody comes and cheats me and go away, then… Therefore, 60 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:03,099 Upayan cintayet prajña apayan ca cintayet [?]. 61 00:06:03,100 --> 00:06:05,367 Darker side also should be thought. 62 00:06:05,368 --> 00:06:07,220 That is intelligence. 63 00:06:07,221 --> 00:06:11,780 Just like they are… After calculating the darker side— 64 00:06:11,781 --> 00:06:16,332 enemy means darker side—they can defeat me at any moment. 65 00:06:16,333 --> 00:06:18,557 That is darker side. 66 00:06:18,558 --> 00:06:21,438 So after calculating their strength, 67 00:06:21,439 --> 00:06:26,382 then Duryodhana is speaking about his own strength. 68 00:06:26,383 --> 00:06:30,485 Asmākaṁ tu viśiṣṭā ye [Bg. 1.7]. 69 00:06:30,486 --> 00:06:31,734 Viśiṣṭā. 70 00:06:31,735 --> 00:06:34,410 Not to speak of the ordinary soldiers. 71 00:06:34,411 --> 00:06:35,933 They’re viśiṣṭā. 72 00:06:35,934 --> 00:06:43,447 Viśiṣṭā means who are specifically to be mentioned, high officers. 73 00:06:43,448 --> 00:06:48,155 Asmākaṁ tu viśiṣṭā ye tān nibodha dvijottama [Bg. 1.7]. 74 00:06:48,156 --> 00:06:51,043 He was in commander-in-chief. 75 00:06:51,044 --> 00:06:57,633 For eighteen days there was fight, and one after another, 76 00:06:57,634 --> 00:07:02,297 a commander chief was killed. 77 00:07:02,298 --> 00:07:09,194 And sixty-four crores of men were killed in the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra. 78 00:07:09,195 --> 00:07:14,734 And the battle was finished within eighteen days, not lingering for some years. 79 00:07:14,735 --> 00:07:16,950 No. 80 00:07:16,951 --> 00:07:23,676 Fight to the best capacity and finish the business. 81 00:07:23,677 --> 00:07:31,618 So everyone, both the sides, Pāṇḍava’s side and Kaurava’s side, all were killed. 82 00:07:31,619 --> 00:07:36,042 This Saubhadra, Draupadeya, everyone was killed. 83 00:07:36,043 --> 00:07:37,850 And the other side also. 84 00:07:37,851 --> 00:07:42,513 Only the five brothers they remained, 85 00:07:42,514 --> 00:07:49,180 and the one grandchild who was in the womb of the mother, he remained. 86 00:07:49,181 --> 00:07:54,543 Otherwise everyone is finished within eighteen days. 87 00:07:54,544 --> 00:07:57,142 Such a great fight it was. 88 00:07:57,143 --> 00:08:05,187 And people from all parts of the world, they joined the Battle of Kurukṣetra. 89 00:08:05,188 --> 00:08:10,538 Somebody was criticizing me that “Swamiji, 90 00:08:10,539 --> 00:08:14,211 you are introducing this Hare Kṛṣṇa movement. 91 00:08:14,212 --> 00:08:17,429 People are becoming coward. 92 00:08:17,430 --> 00:08:20,923 They simply chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.” 93 00:08:20,924 --> 00:08:23,320 So I replied 94 00:08:23,321 --> 00:08:29,427 that “You will see the power of Hare Kṛṣṇa movement in due course of time.” 95 00:08:29,428 --> 00:08:37,046 He required… Because there were two battles in India: 96 00:08:37,047 --> 00:08:43,017 the battle between Rāvaṇa and Rāma, Rāma-Rāvaṇa, 97 00:08:43,018 --> 00:08:50,672 the battle of Rāmāyaṇa; and another battle was Battle of Kurukṣetra. 98 00:08:50,673 --> 00:08:58,893 And in these two battles the hero was Vaiṣṇava and Viṣṇu. 99 00:08:58,894 --> 00:09:01,440 In the Rāma-Rāvaṇa battle 100 00:09:01,441 --> 00:09:05,434 Lord Rāmacandra was there and His devotee Hanumān, 101 00:09:05,435 --> 00:09:08,551 Vajrāṅgajī. 102 00:09:08,552 --> 00:09:12,268 Similarly, in the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra, 103 00:09:12,269 --> 00:09:17,592 Kṛṣṇa was there and His devotee Arjuna was there. 104 00:09:17,593 --> 00:09:21,593 So Vaiṣṇavas, they do not simply chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. 105 00:09:21,594 --> 00:09:31,548 If there is need, they can fight under the guidance of Viṣṇu and become victorious. 106 00:09:31,549 --> 00:09:38,780 A Vaiṣṇava’s one qualification is… Out of the twenty-six qualifications, 107 00:09:38,781 --> 00:09:44,472 one qualification is dakṣa, expert. 108 00:09:44,473 --> 00:09:51,057 If there is need of fighting, they can fight like very expert. 109 00:09:51,058 --> 00:09:53,703 That is also needed. 110 00:09:53,704 --> 00:09:59,300 Kṛṣṇa consciousness does not mean one-sided. 111 00:09:59,301 --> 00:10:01,892 Kṛṣṇa as all-pervading, 112 00:10:01,893 --> 00:10:07,736 the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement also should be all-pervading. 113 00:10:07,737 --> 00:10:16,595 It should touch everything, even politics, sociology, everything, if required. 114 00:10:16,596 --> 00:10:18,345 That is the aim. 115 00:10:18,346 --> 00:10:22,627 Because Kṛṣṇa’s mission is: 116 00:10:22,628 --> 00:10:26,907 yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata [Bg. 4.7] 117 00:10:26,908 --> 00:10:31,051 Paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām [Bg. 4.8]. 118 00:10:31,052 --> 00:10:36,040 There is two mission: not only to give protection to the devotees, 119 00:10:36,041 --> 00:10:40,619 but also to kill the demons. 120 00:10:40,620 --> 00:10:42,096 Kill the demons. 121 00:10:42,097 --> 00:10:44,536 That is one side. 122 00:10:44,537 --> 00:10:50,278 So the devotees of Kṛṣṇa should be trained up both ways: 123 00:10:50,279 --> 00:10:53,282 not only to give protection to the devotees. 124 00:10:53,283 --> 00:10:55,739 To give them encouragement. 125 00:10:55,740 --> 00:11:01,891 But if need be, they should be prepared to kill the demons. 126 00:11:01,892 --> 00:11:03,408 That is Vaiṣṇavism. 127 00:11:03,409 --> 00:11:05,810 It is not cowardism. 128 00:11:05,811 --> 00:11:07,676 It is not cowardism. 129 00:11:07,677 --> 00:11:08,963 When need be. 130 00:11:08,964 --> 00:11:12,829 Generally, a Vaiṣṇava is non-violent. 131 00:11:12,830 --> 00:11:14,491 Just like Arjuna. 132 00:11:14,492 --> 00:11:18,767 In the beginning, he was non-violent, Vaiṣṇava. 133 00:11:18,768 --> 00:11:22,729 He said, “Kṛṣṇa, what is the use of this fighting? 134 00:11:22,730 --> 00:11:25,177 Let them enjoy.” 135 00:11:25,178 --> 00:11:35,670 So by nature he was non-violent, but he was induced by Kṛṣṇa to become violent. 136 00:11:35,671 --> 00:11:38,570 “Your non-violence will not help. 137 00:11:38,571 --> 00:11:40,929 You become violent. 138 00:11:40,930 --> 00:11:43,053 You kill them. 139 00:11:43,054 --> 00:11:44,665 I want.” 140 00:11:44,666 --> 00:11:51,059 So if Kṛṣṇa wants we shall be prepared to become violent also. 141 00:11:51,060 --> 00:11:54,018 And Kṛṣṇa, that is open secret, 142 00:11:54,019 --> 00:11:58,772 that paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām [Bg. 4.8]. 143 00:11:58,773 --> 00:12:02,917 Two business of Kṛṣṇa, two side. 144 00:12:02,918 --> 00:12:08,891 So those who are devotees of Kṛṣṇa, they should be trained up both ways, 145 00:12:08,892 --> 00:12:10,783 they should be prepared. 146 00:12:10,784 --> 00:12:17,602 But generally, there is no question of becoming violent, unnecessarily. 147 00:12:17,603 --> 00:12:22,069 As the modern politicians, unnecessarily they declare war, 148 00:12:22,070 --> 00:12:24,154 a Vaiṣṇava does not do so. 149 00:12:24,155 --> 00:12:24,744 No. 150 00:12:24,745 --> 00:12:28,096 Unnecessarily, there is no need of war. 151 00:12:28,097 --> 00:12:34,959 When it was completely impossible to settle up the things 152 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:39,200 between the Pāṇḍavas and the Kauravas, 153 00:12:39,201 --> 00:12:44,325 then Kṛṣṇa said, “All right, then there must be fight.” 154 00:12:44,326 --> 00:12:54,845 When Duryodhana declined to spare even a portion of land holding the sūcyagra, 155 00:12:54,846 --> 00:12:58,806 the point of a needle… 156 00:12:58,807 --> 00:13:04,684 He refused that “I cannot spare even so much land 157 00:13:04,685 --> 00:13:10,093 which can hold the point of a needle.” 158 00:13:10,094 --> 00:13:12,523 Then the war was declared. 159 00:13:12,524 --> 00:13:14,692 There is no question of settlement. 160 00:13:14,693 --> 00:13:22,677 Otherwise, Kṛṣṇa requested that: “These five Pāṇḍavas: They are kṣatriyas. 161 00:13:22,678 --> 00:13:27,943 They cannot become merchant or brāhmaṇa. 162 00:13:27,944 --> 00:13:32,792 Brāhmaṇa’s profession is Paṭhana pāṭhana yajana yājana dāna pratigrahaḥ [?]. 163 00:13:32,793 --> 00:13:36,336 Brāhmaṇa can take charity from others. 164 00:13:36,337 --> 00:13:39,027 A sannyāsī can take charity from others. 165 00:13:39,028 --> 00:13:42,361 Not a kṣatriya or a gṛhastha. 166 00:13:42,362 --> 00:13:43,409 No. 167 00:13:43,410 --> 00:13:45,438 That is not allowed. 168 00:13:45,439 --> 00:13:52,065 “So they are kṣatriyas; they cannot take the professions of a brāhmaṇa, 169 00:13:52,066 --> 00:13:57,702 neither they can take the profession of a mercantile man, business man. 170 00:13:57,703 --> 00:14:03,494 They must have some land so that rule over, take taxation. 171 00:14:03,495 --> 00:14:06,549 And that is their living means. 172 00:14:06,550 --> 00:14:14,116 So spare only five villages to these five brothers and settle up.” 173 00:14:14,117 --> 00:14:16,989 But Duryodhana replied, “No, Sir. 174 00:14:16,990 --> 00:14:18,977 What to speak of five villages, 175 00:14:18,978 --> 00:14:24,483 we cannot spare even so much land which can hold the point of needle.” 176 00:14:24,484 --> 00:14:31,186 Then the war was… So Vaiṣṇava, they are non-violent. 177 00:14:31,187 --> 00:14:36,730 But if need be, they can become violent for Kṛṣṇa’s sake. 178 00:14:36,731 --> 00:14:39,181 This is the Battle of Kurukṣetra. 179 00:14:39,182 --> 00:14:41,496 So any more? 180 00:14:41,497 --> 00:14:43,114 Or end here? 181 00:14:43,115 --> 00:14:44,134 All right, end here. 182 00:14:44,135 --> 00:14:50,281 Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa. 183 00:14:50,282 --> 00:14:50,283 Subtitles by Gaurāṅga Sundara Dāsa, Causelessmercy.com Sponsored by Jitarata Dāsa