0 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,289 SB 1-08-20 NY 1973-04-12 Queen Kunti's Humility 1 00:00:01,290 --> 00:00:04,611 ANNOUNCER: …is a class on the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2 00:00:04,612 --> 00:00:09,179 1st Canto, 8th chapter, text number 20, 3 00:00:09,180 --> 00:00:15,679 given by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, 4 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:24,779 recorded on April 12th, 1973, in New York. 5 00:00:24,780 --> 00:00:33,067 PRABHUPĀDA: So Kuntīdevī, she is submissively… 6 00:00:33,068 --> 00:00:40,189 This is the symptom of Vaiṣṇava. 7 00:00:40,190 --> 00:00:48,849 The Lord, Kṛṣṇa, has come to Kuntīdevī to take the dust of her feet. 8 00:00:48,850 --> 00:00:55,129 Because Kṛṣṇa considers Kuntīdevī as her aunt, 9 00:00:55,130 --> 00:01:02,119 To show her respect, Kṛṣṇa used to touch the feet of Kuntīdevī. 10 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:09,090 But Kuntīdevī, although she is in such exalted position, 11 00:01:09,091 --> 00:01:15,840 practically on the level of Yaśodāmāyi, such a great devotee… 12 00:01:15,841 --> 00:01:29,050 So she is so submissive that “Kṛṣṇa, You are meant for the paramahaṁsas, 13 00:01:29,051 --> 00:01:35,160 and what we can see You? We are women.” 14 00:01:35,161 --> 00:01:42,990 So as it is said in the Bhagavad-gītā, 15 00:01:42,991 --> 00:01:48,870 striyo vaiśyās tathā śūdrāḥ [Bg. 9.32] 16 00:01:48,871 --> 00:01:53,960 In another place in the Bhāgavata it is said, 17 00:01:53,961 --> 00:01:58,200 strī-śūdra-dvijabandhūnām [SB 1.4.25] 18 00:01:58,201 --> 00:02:05,190 Śūdra, strī and dvijabandhu. 19 00:02:05,191 --> 00:02:09,810 Dvijabandhu means those who are born 20 00:02:09,811 --> 00:02:18,040 in brāhmaṇa family or kṣatriya family, high caste… 21 00:02:18,041 --> 00:02:23,020 According to Vedic system, there are four divisions: 22 00:02:23,021 --> 00:02:30,060 cātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛṣṭaṁ guṇa-karma… [Bg. 4.13] According to quality and work, 23 00:02:30,061 --> 00:02:35,730 the first-class man is the brāhmaṇa, intelligent. 24 00:02:35,731 --> 00:02:43,970 The next, kṣatriya; the next, vaiśyas; and next, śūdra. 25 00:02:43,971 --> 00:02:54,640 So according to this classification, women, śūdra and dvijabandhu, dvijabandhu, 26 00:02:54,641 --> 00:02:59,031 they are taken in the same category. 27 00:02:59,032 --> 00:03:03,491 Dvijabandhu means born in brāhmaṇa family, kṣatriya family, 28 00:03:03,492 --> 00:03:05,011 but has no qualifications. 29 00:03:05,012 --> 00:03:08,911 The thing is to be considered by qualification. 30 00:03:08,912 --> 00:03:10,741 It is very practical. 31 00:03:10,742 --> 00:03:16,971 Suppose one man is born the son of a high court judge. 32 00:03:16,972 --> 00:03:22,051 So it does not mean that because he’s a son of a high court judge, 33 00:03:22,052 --> 00:03:25,481 he is also high court judge; this is going on. 34 00:03:25,482 --> 00:03:31,101 Because one happens to take birth in a brāhmaṇa family, 35 00:03:31,102 --> 00:03:35,891 without any qualification, he claims to become a brāhmaṇa. 36 00:03:35,892 --> 00:03:40,701 That is the falldown of Vedic civilization in India. 37 00:03:40,702 --> 00:03:49,081 A rascal number one, he’s claiming that he’s brāhmaṇa—without any qualification. 38 00:03:49,082 --> 00:03:57,681 His qualification is less than a śūdra; still he’s claiming; and that is being accepted. 39 00:03:57,682 --> 00:04:03,111 So it is clearly stated: Guṇa- karma-vibhāgaśaḥ [BG. 4.13] 40 00:04:03,112 --> 00:04:06,161 Without qualification… 41 00:04:06,162 --> 00:04:09,431 The brāhmaṇa means the qualification. 42 00:04:09,432 --> 00:04:11,851 It is not this body. 43 00:04:11,852 --> 00:04:17,441 There are so many arguments, but they won’t hear. 44 00:04:17,442 --> 00:04:21,402 They are very much against, in my movement, 45 00:04:21,403 --> 00:04:28,452 because I am making brāhmaṇas from Europe and America. 46 00:04:28,453 --> 00:04:30,572 They are against me. 47 00:04:30,573 --> 00:04:34,072 But don’t care, we don’t care for them. 48 00:04:34,073 --> 00:04:38,072 Neither any reasonable man will care for them; but there is a 49 00:04:38,073 --> 00:04:41,082 propaganda against me. 50 00:04:41,083 --> 00:04:46,982 Even amongst my Godbrothers, they are making… Because they cannot do it, 51 00:04:46,983 --> 00:04:48,912 so find out some fault. 52 00:04:48,913 --> 00:04:50,852 You see. 53 00:04:50,853 --> 00:04:53,702 Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu says: 54 00:04:53,703 --> 00:05:00,742 pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi grāma sarvatra pracāra haibe mora nāma [CB Antya-khaṇḍa 4.126] 55 00:05:00,743 --> 00:05:07,132 In every town, city, village of the world, His cult will be preached. 56 00:05:07,133 --> 00:05:09,562 What is His cult? 57 00:05:09,563 --> 00:05:15,842 Does it mean that the Europeans and Americans will not become brāhmaṇa? 58 00:05:15,843 --> 00:05:23,802 Because Vaiṣṇava cult means past brahmanism, past brahmanism. 59 00:05:23,803 --> 00:05:27,262 māṁ ca yo ’vyabhicāreṇa bhakti-yogena sevate 60 00:05:27,263 --> 00:05:30,652 sa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate [Bg. 14.26] 61 00:05:30,653 --> 00:05:36,062 He, bhakti-yoga, one who takes to bhakti-yoga, 62 00:05:36,063 --> 00:05:41,273 he immediately comes to the transcendental platform, brahma-bhūta. 63 00:05:41,274 --> 00:05:45,153 What to speak of brāhmaṇa? 64 00:05:45,154 --> 00:05:51,333 And this stereotyped, crippled idea has killed Vedic civilization. 65 00:05:51,334 --> 00:05:54,773 Now we are again reviving. 66 00:05:54,774 --> 00:05:58,353 It is meant for everyone. 67 00:05:58,354 --> 00:06:00,093 Kṛṣṇa says, 68 00:06:00,094 --> 00:06:04,863 māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya ye ’pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ 69 00:06:04,864 --> 00:06:09,353 striyo śūdrās tathā vaiśyās te ’pi yānti parāṁ gatim [Bg. 9.32] 70 00:06:09,354 --> 00:06:11,373 Kṛṣṇa says. 71 00:06:11,374 --> 00:06:19,483 Although ordinarily we take striya, means women, 72 00:06:19,484 --> 00:06:31,068 śūdra and vaiśyas in the lower-class grade, but when one becomes a devotee, 73 00:06:31,069 --> 00:06:35,728 the, he is or she is no more in the lower grade. 74 00:06:35,729 --> 00:06:39,248 te ’pi yānti parāṁ gatim [Bg. 9.32] 75 00:06:39,249 --> 00:06:44,818 The devotional service is so nice that anyone… 76 00:06:44,819 --> 00:06:51,698 Ordinarily women is taken less intelligent; śūdra is taken less intelligent; 77 00:06:51,699 --> 00:06:55,048 vaiśya is taken less intelligent. 78 00:06:55,049 --> 00:07:03,118 But if he takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he is the most intelligent. 79 00:07:03,119 --> 00:07:07,018 kṛṣṇa yei bhaje sei baḍa catura [Caitanya-caritāmṛta kāṛacā] 80 00:07:07,019 --> 00:07:09,978 This is the statement in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta. 81 00:07:09,979 --> 00:07:18,288 Anyone who has taken to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he is the most intelligent. 82 00:07:18,289 --> 00:07:20,938 And Caitanya Mahāprabhu says: 83 00:07:20,939 --> 00:07:28,139 guru-kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya pāya bhakti-latā-bīja kona bhāgyavān jīva [Cc. Madhya 19.151] 84 00:07:28,140 --> 00:07:33,139 ei rūpe brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva [Cc. Madhya 19.151] 85 00:07:33,140 --> 00:07:39,249 The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is not for the wretched, unfortunate class of men. 86 00:07:39,250 --> 00:07:41,659 No. 87 00:07:41,660 --> 00:07:46,289 It is meant for the most fortunate man. 88 00:07:46,290 --> 00:07:49,879 Anyone who has taken to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, 89 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:58,059 he is to be considered as the most fortunate man because he has got the line 90 00:07:58,060 --> 00:08:02,619 of action how his life will be perfect. 91 00:08:02,620 --> 00:08:03,709 Therefore, 92 00:08:03,710 --> 00:08:10,029 anyone who is in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and discharging the duties nicely, 93 00:08:10,030 --> 00:08:13,949 he is the most fortunate man, most perfect man. 94 00:08:13,950 --> 00:08:17,959 That is, Kuntīdevī is humbly submitting. 95 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:23,989 Although is womanly body, she is a devotee. 96 00:08:23,990 --> 00:08:28,519 She is not like ordinary woman, less intelligent. 97 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:34,259 She is the most in… She has recognized Kṛṣṇa, that Kṛṣṇa is 98 00:08:34,260 --> 00:08:36,839 the Supreme Personality of Godhead. 99 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:45,509 “Although He has come to me, materially, as my nephew, to offer me respect, 100 00:08:45,510 --> 00:08:49,339 but He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” 101 00:08:49,340 --> 00:08:53,000 Therefore in the previous verse she said, 102 00:08:53,001 --> 00:08:59,730 alakṣyaṁ sarva-bhūtānām antar bahir avasthitam: [SB 1.8.18] 103 00:08:59,731 --> 00:09:06,090 “You are not seen by ordinary men, although You are inside and outside.” 104 00:09:06,091 --> 00:09:07,380 In another verse also, 105 00:09:07,381 --> 00:09:10,490 na lakṣyase mūḍha-dṛśā: [SB 1.8.19] 106 00:09:10,491 --> 00:09:14,370 “Fools and rascals cannot see You.” 107 00:09:14,371 --> 00:09:19,170 That means Kuntī sees Him. 108 00:09:19,171 --> 00:09:28,680 Unless she sees Kṛṣṇa as He is, how she can say, mūḍha-dṛśā na lakṣyase? [SB 1.8.19] 109 00:09:28,681 --> 00:09:38,380 And he says, prakṛteḥ param: “You are transcendental to this material creation.” 110 00:09:38,381 --> 00:09:42,530 So here also she continues her humbleness. 111 00:09:42,531 --> 00:09:47,660 This humbleness is very good in devotional service. 112 00:09:47,661 --> 00:09:53,330 Therefore Caitanya, Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu teaches us: 113 00:09:53,331 --> 00:09:58,410 tṛṇād api sunīcena taror api sahiṣṇunā [Śikṣāṣṭaka 3] 114 00:09:58,411 --> 00:10:05,410 One should be tolerant than the trees and humbler than the grass 115 00:10:05,411 --> 00:10:09,840 to make progress in spiritual life. 116 00:10:09,841 --> 00:10:13,300 Because there will be so many disturbances. 117 00:10:13,301 --> 00:10:21,510 Because māyā… We are living… Just like if we are in the ocean. 118 00:10:21,511 --> 00:10:26,771 So you cannot expect very peaceful situation in the ocean. 119 00:10:26,772 --> 00:10:32,451 It must be always tilt, what is called, tiltering, tilting. 120 00:10:32,452 --> 00:10:39,511 Even, even a big ship, it is also not very fixed up position; at any moment 121 00:10:39,512 --> 00:10:43,221 there may be tumultuous waves. 122 00:10:43,222 --> 00:10:50,671 So in this material world you should always expect danger. 123 00:10:50,672 --> 00:10:55,771 You cannot expect very peaceful life within this material world. 124 00:10:55,772 --> 00:10:58,831 padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadām [SB 10.14.58] 125 00:10:58,832 --> 00:11:03,841 Śāstra says in every step there is danger. 126 00:11:03,842 --> 00:11:08,731 But if you become a devotee, then you escape. 127 00:11:08,732 --> 00:11:11,921 Māyām etāṁ taranti te [Bg. 7.14]. 128 00:11:11,922 --> 00:11:13,881 Otherwise… 129 00:11:13,882 --> 00:11:18,281 So in the beginning, if you take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, 130 00:11:18,282 --> 00:11:22,681 there will be so many disturbances by the māyā. 131 00:11:22,682 --> 00:11:28,281 Māyā will test you how far you are fixed up. 132 00:11:28,282 --> 00:11:30,391 She will test you. 133 00:11:30,392 --> 00:11:33,311 She is also agent of Kṛṣṇa. 134 00:11:33,312 --> 00:11:40,161 She does not allow anyone who is meant for disturbing Kṛṣṇa. 135 00:11:40,162 --> 00:11:45,251 Therefore she tests very rigidly whether you are…, you have taken 136 00:11:45,252 --> 00:11:53,771 Kṛṣṇa consciousness to disturb Kṛṣṇa, or you are actually serious. 137 00:11:53,772 --> 00:11:58,162 That is māyā’s business. 138 00:11:58,163 --> 00:12:05,582 So there will be in the beginning test by the māyā, 139 00:12:05,583 --> 00:12:13,212 and you will feel so much disturbances in making progress in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. 140 00:12:13,213 --> 00:12:16,102 But if you remain steady… 141 00:12:16,103 --> 00:12:21,802 Steady means if you follow the rules and regulations and chant sixteen rounds, 142 00:12:21,803 --> 00:12:24,672 then you will remain steady. 143 00:12:24,673 --> 00:12:30,342 And if you neglect, then māyā will capture you, immediately; māyā is always ready. 144 00:12:30,343 --> 00:12:32,042 We are in the ocean. 145 00:12:32,043 --> 00:12:36,202 At any moment, we will be disturbed. 146 00:12:36,203 --> 00:12:43,132 So therefore one who is not disturbed at all, he is called paramahaṁsa. 147 00:12:43,133 --> 00:12:48,252 Therefore Kuntīdevī says: Tathā paramahaṁsānām [SB 1.8.20] 148 00:12:48,253 --> 00:12:50,852 Parama means ultimate. 149 00:12:50,853 --> 00:12:54,192 Haṁsa means swan. 150 00:12:54,193 --> 00:12:59,172 So paramahaṁsa means the perfect haṁsa. 151 00:12:59,173 --> 00:13:03,682 Haṁsa… It is said that if you… Haṁsa means swan. 152 00:13:03,683 --> 00:13:10,502 If you give to swan milk mixed with water, 153 00:13:10,503 --> 00:13:16,832 she will take the milk part and leave aside the water part. 154 00:13:16,833 --> 00:13:23,552 Similarly, a person who knows what is this material world… 155 00:13:23,553 --> 00:13:32,103 Material world is made of two natures—the inferior nature and the superior nature. 156 00:13:32,104 --> 00:13:37,983 The superior nature means spiritual life, and inferior nature is material life. 157 00:13:37,984 --> 00:13:43,203 So a person who gives up the material part of this world 158 00:13:43,204 --> 00:13:49,423 and takes only the spiritual part, he is called paramahaṁsa. 159 00:13:49,424 --> 00:13:51,223 Paramahaṁsa. 160 00:13:51,224 --> 00:13:54,673 Spiritual part means one who knows 161 00:13:54,674 --> 00:14:01,903 that whatever is working in this material… Just like this body—your body, my body. 162 00:14:01,904 --> 00:14:05,623 Anyone who knows that this movement, 163 00:14:05,624 --> 00:14:15,193 the activities of this body is due to the soul which is within this body… 164 00:14:15,194 --> 00:14:18,643 That is the real fact. 165 00:14:18,644 --> 00:14:21,333 This is only outward covering. 166 00:14:21,334 --> 00:14:29,983 Similarly, one who knows that Kṛṣṇa is the center of these all activities, 167 00:14:29,984 --> 00:14:33,863 he’s paramahaṁsa. 168 00:14:33,864 --> 00:14:37,263 He knows the fact. 169 00:14:37,264 --> 00:14:42,473 So bhakti-yoga is for the paramahaṁsa, 170 00:14:42,474 --> 00:14:46,673 one who knows that Kṛṣṇa is the central fact. 171 00:14:46,674 --> 00:14:49,943 aham ādir hi devānām [Bg 10.2] 172 00:14:49,944 --> 00:14:55,434 mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate [Bg. 10.8] 173 00:14:55,435 --> 00:15:02,584 So one who knows that Kṛṣṇa is the cause of all causes, not only theoretically, 174 00:15:02,585 --> 00:15:09,374 but practically, convinced, he is paramahaṁsa. [splice] 175 00:15:09,375 --> 00:15:13,784 So Kuntīdevī, by humble submission, 176 00:15:13,785 --> 00:15:18,024 that “You are meant for the paramahaṁsa, for the amalātmanām, 177 00:15:18,025 --> 00:15:23,954 for the munīnām and who are engaged in bhakti-yoga; and what we are? 178 00:15:23,955 --> 00:15:26,084 We are simply woman. 179 00:15:26,085 --> 00:15:29,274 We are in the lower grade; How we can understand You?” 180 00:15:29,275 --> 00:15:30,944 This is humbleness. 181 00:15:30,945 --> 00:15:33,424 Although she understands everything, 182 00:15:33,425 --> 00:15:37,314 but still she’s taking the position of an ordinary woman, 183 00:15:37,315 --> 00:15:39,714 that “How can I understand You?” 184 00:15:39,715 --> 00:15:47,437 Thank you very much. 185 00:15:47,438 --> 00:15:47,439 Subtitles by Gopī Kāntā Dāsa, Causelessmercy.com