0 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:14,769 SB 6-01-24 HON 1976-05-24 Trade the Dark Well for VRN Forest 1 00:00:14,770 --> 00:00:18,267 ANNOUNCER: The following is a class on the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, 2 00:00:18,268 --> 00:00:23,341 6th canto, 1st chapter, text number 24, 3 00:00:23,342 --> 00:00:29,253 given by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, 4 00:00:29,254 --> 00:00:46,589 recorded on the 24th of May, 1976, in Honolulu, Hawaii. 5 00:00:46,590 --> 00:00:53,799 PRABHUPĀDA: So he was engaged in maintaining the family. 6 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:58,699 Everyone is engaged like that; cats and dogs also do that. 7 00:00:58,700 --> 00:01:02,045 It is not very extraordinary thing. 8 00:01:02,046 --> 00:01:06,299 Sometimes they say, “It is my duty.” 9 00:01:06,300 --> 00:01:14,432 Yes, it is duty, but the prime duty is to solve the real problems: 10 00:01:14,433 --> 00:01:22,500 how to stop mṛtyu, janma-mṛtyu- jarā-vyādhi, [Bg 13.9] that we forget. 11 00:01:22,501 --> 00:01:27,300 Minor duties we take priority. 12 00:01:27,301 --> 00:01:29,900 That is the present situation. 13 00:01:29,901 --> 00:01:36,207 They do not know that there is life after death, 14 00:01:36,208 --> 00:01:43,370 and according to our karma, we are getting the next life. 15 00:01:43,371 --> 00:01:48,320 This morning we were discussing, Kṛṣṇa is always ready. 16 00:01:48,321 --> 00:01:50,627 Automatically it is going on. 17 00:01:50,628 --> 00:01:52,240 kāraṇaṁ guṇa saṅgo ’sya [Bg 13.22] 18 00:01:52,241 --> 00:01:57,783 As you desire according to the contamination, 19 00:01:57,784 --> 00:02:04,490 of different modes of material nature, immediately the body’s ready. 20 00:02:04,491 --> 00:02:06,760 Immediately after death. 21 00:02:06,761 --> 00:02:15,110 So everyone is engaged in so-called duties, but forget the real duty. 22 00:02:15,111 --> 00:02:17,280 This is called māyā. 23 00:02:17,281 --> 00:02:27,010 By the spell of māyā we forget what is the objective of life, what is the aim of life. 24 00:02:27,011 --> 00:02:28,812 This is called māyā. 25 00:02:28,813 --> 00:02:32,230 We are thinking this is our duty, no. 26 00:02:32,231 --> 00:02:38,818 Real duty in the human form of life, is here is a chance, 27 00:02:38,819 --> 00:02:42,827 whether you want to go to back to home, back to Godhead, 28 00:02:42,828 --> 00:02:47,930 or again you want to go to hell, the repetition of birth and death. 29 00:02:47,931 --> 00:02:50,560 That is your choice. 30 00:02:50,561 --> 00:02:55,624 Otherwise why there are so many scriptures, religious system, 31 00:02:55,625 --> 00:02:56,939 all over the world? 32 00:02:56,940 --> 00:02:58,541 It is not only in India. 33 00:02:58,542 --> 00:03:02,361 According to the capacity of understanding, 34 00:03:02,362 --> 00:03:10,081 in every civilized human society there is a system called religion. 35 00:03:10,082 --> 00:03:15,871 It may be Hindu religion, Christian religion or Buddha religion— 36 00:03:15,872 --> 00:03:19,381 these are major religious systems— 37 00:03:19,382 --> 00:03:27,001 but the aim is how to make a solution of the problems of life, that is all… 38 00:03:27,002 --> 00:03:33,068 But because they do not seriously discuss nowadays, 39 00:03:33,069 --> 00:03:40,441 the religious propensity tendency of the human society decreasing. 40 00:03:40,442 --> 00:03:43,771 It has become a also money-making business. 41 00:03:43,772 --> 00:03:51,391 The priestly order, they think “As others make some money by working hard, 42 00:03:51,392 --> 00:03:56,681 by professional or by doing some business or working, 43 00:03:56,682 --> 00:03:59,964 so we shall also earn some money, 44 00:03:59,965 --> 00:04:04,114 by showing the church or the temple or the mosque.” 45 00:04:04,115 --> 00:04:05,761 They have taken it like that. 46 00:04:05,762 --> 00:04:10,291 Therefore people have lost faith in religion; this is the reason. 47 00:04:10,292 --> 00:04:14,391 Because those who are in charge of the religious department, 48 00:04:14,392 --> 00:04:18,912 the brāhmaṇas, those who are in charge of religion, 49 00:04:18,913 --> 00:04:24,743 the priestly order or the mawlānās [Muslim priests] or the brāhmaṇas, 50 00:04:24,744 --> 00:04:27,639 they’re the same order, their duty is, 51 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:35,083 to keep people enlightened in the real mission of life; that is their duty. 52 00:04:35,084 --> 00:04:39,273 But if they’re also doing the same thing, sense gratification, 53 00:04:39,274 --> 00:04:42,133 how long they can cheat others? 54 00:04:42,134 --> 00:04:46,091 Therefore people have lost faith in religion; this is the position. 55 00:04:46,092 --> 00:04:48,514 But that is not good. 56 00:04:48,515 --> 00:04:58,644 Because the system of religion has become polluted, we should not give up religion. 57 00:04:58,645 --> 00:05:00,918 That is our prime duty. 58 00:05:00,919 --> 00:05:04,504 karamayi tasya eka bhūṣesya [?] 59 00:05:04,505 --> 00:05:08,134 What is the difference between animal and man? 60 00:05:08,135 --> 00:05:10,438 The animal has no religion. 61 00:05:10,439 --> 00:05:12,134 They have no religion. 62 00:05:12,135 --> 00:05:15,964 Eating, sleeping, sex and defense. 63 00:05:15,965 --> 00:05:20,024 āhāra-nidrā-bhaya-maithunaṁ ca sāmānyam etat. [Hitopadeśa 25] 64 00:05:20,025 --> 00:05:21,866 This is very easy to understand. 65 00:05:21,867 --> 00:05:23,844 The dog is eating; I am eating. 66 00:05:23,845 --> 00:05:26,227 Dog is sleeping; I am sleeping. 67 00:05:26,228 --> 00:05:30,194 Dog is enjoying sex; I am also enjoying sex. 68 00:05:30,195 --> 00:05:32,705 Dog is also afraid; I am also afraid. 69 00:05:32,706 --> 00:05:35,102 So what is the difference between dog and me? 70 00:05:35,103 --> 00:05:41,242 The only difference is that dog has no religion; I have got religion. 71 00:05:41,243 --> 00:05:48,264 So if I give up religion, life of religiosity, then I am equal to, 72 00:05:48,265 --> 00:05:51,604 dharmeṇa hīnāḥ paśubhiḥ samānāḥ [Hitopadeśa 25] 73 00:05:51,605 --> 00:06:00,554 So this Ajāmila, on account of bad association with prostitute, 74 00:06:00,555 --> 00:06:06,697 he lost his character and he became thief, cheater, 75 00:06:06,698 --> 00:06:09,024 somehow or other being punished. 76 00:06:09,025 --> 00:06:10,491 So in this way, 77 00:06:10,492 --> 00:06:19,284 while he was maintaining his children and family, then the time of death came. 78 00:06:19,285 --> 00:06:25,455 That will not wait, that “I have not finished my duty, family duty. 79 00:06:25,456 --> 00:06:27,492 Please wait few years more.” 80 00:06:27,493 --> 00:06:30,045 “Oh, that is not possible.” 81 00:06:30,046 --> 00:06:35,505 So kālo… Atyagāt. 82 00:06:35,506 --> 00:06:42,805 kālo atyagāt mahān rājan aṣṭāśīti āyuṣaḥ samāḥ [SB 6.1.23] 83 00:06:42,806 --> 00:06:48,505 He became very old, eighty- eight years old, aṣṭaśīti. 84 00:06:48,506 --> 00:06:53,805 Aṣṭa means eight, aśīti means eighty-eight. 85 00:06:53,806 --> 00:06:57,865 In this way, aṣṭāśītyā āyuṣaḥ samāḥ. [SB 6.1.23] 86 00:06:57,866 --> 00:07:02,539 So at that time he had ten sons. 87 00:07:02,540 --> 00:07:07,855 tasya pravayasaḥ putrāḥ [SB 6.1.24] 88 00:07:07,856 --> 00:07:15,327 He begot so many children, number is ten. 89 00:07:15,328 --> 00:07:19,185 So putra, how many? 90 00:07:19,186 --> 00:07:23,297 Daśa ten, ten children he had. 91 00:07:23,298 --> 00:07:27,015 teṣāṁ tu yaḥ avamaḥ [SB 6.1.24] 92 00:07:27,016 --> 00:07:36,955 Out of the ten sons, the youngest son, teṣāṁ tu yaḥ avamaḥ bālaḥ, [SB 6.1.24] 93 00:07:36,956 --> 00:07:43,965 the child, nārāyaṇaḥ nāmnā, he kept the name Nārāyaṇa. 94 00:07:43,966 --> 00:07:48,826 Nārāyaṇa dāsa, just like we give name to an initiate. 95 00:07:48,827 --> 00:07:53,456 So this is his great fortune. 96 00:07:53,457 --> 00:07:59,006 He gave the youngest son the name Nārāyaṇa. 97 00:07:59,007 --> 00:08:05,936 Naturally father, mother becomes affectionate to the youngest baby. 98 00:08:05,937 --> 00:08:16,596 So by way of calling the young child, he was chanting “Nārāyaṇa.” 99 00:08:16,597 --> 00:08:24,226 This is very good system, that if you keep the name of your children, Nārāyaṇa, 100 00:08:24,227 --> 00:08:33,726 Govinda, Kṛṣṇa, Rāma, then you will get some chance to chanting this Hare Kṛṣṇa. 101 00:08:33,727 --> 00:08:38,917 Therefore in India still the system is, 102 00:08:38,918 --> 00:08:45,732 they keep some name which is with reference to Kṛṣṇa. 103 00:08:45,733 --> 00:08:50,206 He has got thousands of names, so you can keep one name, 104 00:08:50,207 --> 00:08:55,606 so that you have the opportunity of repeating, chanting, 105 00:08:55,607 --> 00:08:58,553 the holy name of the Lord. 106 00:08:58,554 --> 00:09:07,263 So, bālaḥ nārāyaṇaḥ sakṛt, pitroḥ ca dayitaṁ bhṛśam. [break] [splice] 107 00:09:07,264 --> 00:09:13,890 Nirīkṣamāṇa tat līlām; and the child is walking, 108 00:09:13,891 --> 00:09:20,234 the child is doing something, coming to the mother, capturing. 109 00:09:20,235 --> 00:09:23,450 This līlā, this pastime, 110 00:09:23,451 --> 00:09:29,028 nirīkṣamāṇaḥ tan līlā mumude [SB 6.1.25] it was very, very pleasing. 111 00:09:29,029 --> 00:09:31,214 jaraṭho bhṛśam [SB 6.1.25] 112 00:09:31,215 --> 00:09:33,844 In this way, 113 00:09:33,845 --> 00:09:41,024 bhuñjānaḥ prapiban sa kalam bālakaṁ sneha-yantritaḥ 114 00:09:41,025 --> 00:09:48,274 bhojayan pāyayan mūḍho na vedāgatam antakam [SB 6.1.26] 115 00:09:48,275 --> 00:09:55,664 He was very busy in enjoying the child’s, how you would say, pastimes, 116 00:09:55,665 --> 00:10:01,114 and feeding him and taking him; in this way he was very much pleased, 117 00:10:01,115 --> 00:10:04,289 “My life will go like this.” 118 00:10:04,290 --> 00:10:07,997 But the time of death came. 119 00:10:07,998 --> 00:10:13,744 bhojayan pāyayan mūḍho na vedāgatam antakam [SB 6.1.26] 120 00:10:13,745 --> 00:10:18,054 Antakam means the last day of life. 121 00:10:18,055 --> 00:10:20,824 Antakam means death. 122 00:10:20,825 --> 00:10:24,098 So death is called māyā. 123 00:10:24,099 --> 00:10:25,684 You are thinking, 124 00:10:25,685 --> 00:10:31,111 “Now I have arranged everything, things are going very nicely. 125 00:10:31,112 --> 00:10:32,693 Now I’m very happy.” 126 00:10:32,694 --> 00:10:36,754 But, all of a sudden, the death comes. 127 00:10:36,755 --> 00:10:40,234 That you cannot avoid; all of a sudden. 128 00:10:40,235 --> 00:10:41,159 That is… 129 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:43,844 Death is described in the Bhagavad-gītā. 130 00:10:43,845 --> 00:10:45,471 What is that death? 131 00:10:45,472 --> 00:10:50,174 That death is Kṛṣṇa, ūrdhva. 132 00:10:50,175 --> 00:10:54,502 That is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā: 133 00:10:54,503 --> 00:10:57,514 mṛtyu sarva-haraś ca aham [Bg 10.34] 134 00:10:57,515 --> 00:11:05,425 That means death will come, your all asset, your so-called children, your family, 135 00:11:05,426 --> 00:11:11,255 your bank balance, your friends, your country, your leadership, 136 00:11:11,256 --> 00:11:16,095 your pride and everything will be taken. 137 00:11:16,096 --> 00:11:18,564 That will be taken by Kṛṣṇa. 138 00:11:18,565 --> 00:11:24,205 The atheist class who does not believe in God, 139 00:11:24,206 --> 00:11:30,805 he’ll see God at the end of life when he cannot do anything. 140 00:11:30,806 --> 00:11:35,925 But before that, if he sees God, then his life is saved. 141 00:11:35,926 --> 00:11:40,035 tattva dehaṁ punar janma naiti mam eti so 'rjuna [Bg. 4.9] 142 00:11:40,036 --> 00:11:41,965 But that he’ll not accept, “What is God? 143 00:11:41,966 --> 00:11:43,745 I don’t care for… There is no God.” 144 00:11:43,746 --> 00:11:49,405 “All right, wait, God will come.” 145 00:11:49,406 --> 00:11:52,944 And at that time he said that the Hiraṇyakaśipu, 146 00:11:52,945 --> 00:12:00,919 he always defied the son’s, the small child, five-years-old boy, 147 00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:04,235 his only fault was he was chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. 148 00:12:04,236 --> 00:12:10,375 And even the father, what to speak of others, he became saved. 149 00:12:10,376 --> 00:12:14,839 So don’t think that Kṛṣṇa consciousness, 150 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:19,895 will go without any difficult; there will be so many difficulties. 151 00:12:19,896 --> 00:12:22,306 Even your father will be angry. 152 00:12:22,307 --> 00:12:25,375 This is the history. 153 00:12:25,376 --> 00:12:32,425 So this father, Hiraṇyakaśipu, he defied God: 154 00:12:32,426 --> 00:12:33,083 “Who is God? 155 00:12:33,084 --> 00:12:34,425 I am God. 156 00:12:34,426 --> 00:12:37,138 You, take my anger.” 157 00:12:37,139 --> 00:12:40,275 The child said, “My dear father, you are not God.” 158 00:12:40,276 --> 00:12:43,701 He would never, never address his father as “father.” 159 00:12:43,702 --> 00:12:48,374 He addressed him “the best of the asuras.” 160 00:12:48,375 --> 00:12:51,586 “My dear best of the asuras,” 161 00:12:51,587 --> 00:12:54,886 tat sādhu manye asura-vārya dehinām [SB 7.5.5] 162 00:12:54,887 --> 00:12:58,336 After all, the relationship is father and son. 163 00:12:58,337 --> 00:13:01,100 So one day the father took him, 164 00:13:01,101 --> 00:13:05,268 “My dear son, what you have learned, the best thing, from your teachers? 165 00:13:05,269 --> 00:13:07,126 Tell me.” 166 00:13:07,127 --> 00:13:08,607 “Yes, I’ll tell you.” 167 00:13:08,608 --> 00:13:09,836 “What is that?” 168 00:13:09,837 --> 00:13:12,816 tat sādhu manye asura-varya [SB 7.5.5] 169 00:13:12,817 --> 00:13:15,145 He never addressed “father.” 170 00:13:15,146 --> 00:13:16,866 “O the best of the asuras.” 171 00:13:16,867 --> 00:13:20,376 Asura-vārya means “the best of the asura.” 172 00:13:20,377 --> 00:13:23,506 Tad sādhu manye: “I think that is very good thing.” 173 00:13:23,507 --> 00:13:25,016 “What is that?” 174 00:13:25,017 --> 00:13:32,936 tad sādhu manye asura-vārya dehināṁ sadā samudvigna-dhiyām asad-grahāt [SB 7.5.5] 175 00:13:32,937 --> 00:13:38,500 “All these people, they’re simply full of anxieties.” 176 00:13:38,501 --> 00:13:40,196 That’s a fact. 177 00:13:40,197 --> 00:13:42,146 Who is not full of anxieties? 178 00:13:42,147 --> 00:13:46,176 Those who are in this material world, who can say, “No, I have no anxiety?” 179 00:13:46,177 --> 00:13:47,236 That is not possible. 180 00:13:47,237 --> 00:13:52,627 Either you become President Nixon or in the street beggar, there is anxiety. 181 00:13:52,628 --> 00:13:56,126 At any moment danger will come. 182 00:13:56,127 --> 00:13:58,157 They're busy. 183 00:13:58,158 --> 00:14:04,037 So the child said, “My dear best of the asuras, 184 00:14:04,038 --> 00:14:08,244 I think that is the best thing, 185 00:14:08,245 --> 00:14:13,302 for the persons who have accepted this material body, asad grahā…” 186 00:14:13,303 --> 00:14:14,997 Why anxiety? 187 00:14:14,998 --> 00:14:19,015 The anxiety is because this material body. 188 00:14:19,016 --> 00:14:22,177 I am thinking of “I may be hot.” 189 00:14:22,178 --> 00:14:24,610 Oh, what’s that hot? 190 00:14:24,611 --> 00:14:26,827 The hot means body. 191 00:14:26,828 --> 00:14:33,637 The soul is never hurt; soul is eternal: na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre [Bg. 2.20]. 192 00:14:33,638 --> 00:14:35,813 That they do not know. 193 00:14:35,814 --> 00:14:38,667 They think this body: “I am this body. 194 00:14:38,668 --> 00:14:42,847 So I’ll be hurt, I’ll die, I’ll this,” and so on and so many. 195 00:14:42,848 --> 00:14:48,267 Simply anxiety: “How I shall protect my body? 196 00:14:48,268 --> 00:14:52,637 How I shall protect my bodily relationship?” 197 00:14:52,638 --> 00:14:56,285 Everything in connection with the body. 198 00:14:56,286 --> 00:14:58,277 Everything asat. 199 00:14:58,278 --> 00:15:02,657 The body’s asat, perishable, or temporary. 200 00:15:02,658 --> 00:15:05,592 So whatever you have got in relationship with this body 201 00:15:05,593 --> 00:15:09,473 —my country, my society, my bank balance, my money, my wife, children 202 00:15:09,474 --> 00:15:14,384 —everything in the body, they are also asat, temporary. 203 00:15:14,385 --> 00:15:18,847 So they are very, very anxiety, tat sādhu manye. 204 00:15:18,848 --> 00:15:22,575 So “I want to relieve them from this anxiety.” 205 00:15:22,576 --> 00:15:23,628 What is that? 206 00:15:23,629 --> 00:15:29,658 tad sādhu manye asura-vārya dehināṁ sadā samudvigna-dhiyām asad-grahāt [SB 7.5.5] 207 00:15:29,659 --> 00:15:31,599 Then, what you advise? 208 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:35,768 hitvātmā-pātaṁ gṛham andha-kūpam [SB 7.5.5] 209 00:15:35,769 --> 00:15:47,938 He’s fallen in this dark region of black well, this family life. 210 00:15:47,939 --> 00:15:50,918 hitvātmā-pātaṁ gṛham andha-kūpam [SB 7.5.5] 211 00:15:50,919 --> 00:15:56,288 Gṛha, we can take this material world, even up to the sky, 212 00:15:56,289 --> 00:16:02,358 that is also another bondage, either in society, or in country, 213 00:16:02,359 --> 00:16:05,998 or in this body, or within this material universe— 214 00:16:05,999 --> 00:16:11,228 wherever you want—that is andha-kūpa, dark well. 215 00:16:11,229 --> 00:16:19,158 So he advises, “Give up this darkness,” hitvātmā-pātam, “because it will kill you.” 216 00:16:19,159 --> 00:16:20,918 In this dark well you’ll be killed. 217 00:16:20,919 --> 00:16:26,558 Just like, the dark well, we are put into the dark well, you’ll be killed. 218 00:16:26,559 --> 00:16:33,518 hitvātmā pātaṁ gṛham andha-kūpaṁ vanaṁ gato yad dharim āśrayeta [SB 7.5.5] 219 00:16:33,519 --> 00:16:39,729 That is the first… You should give up this dark well and go to the forest. 220 00:16:39,730 --> 00:16:42,528 Vanam, come to Vṛndāvana. 221 00:16:42,529 --> 00:16:44,333 Vanam means forest. 222 00:16:44,334 --> 00:16:49,583 We have constructed very nice temple, come there. 223 00:16:49,584 --> 00:16:50,605 And, 224 00:16:50,606 --> 00:16:53,668 vanaṁ gato yad dharim āśrayeta [SB 7.5.5] 225 00:16:53,669 --> 00:16:58,608 Vanaṁ gato means to come to the forest; so what is business? 226 00:16:58,609 --> 00:17:02,824 The business is to take shelter of Kṛṣṇa. 227 00:17:02,825 --> 00:17:06,739 Then, he’ll be free from all these things. 228 00:17:06,740 --> 00:17:13,437 Vanaṁ gato yad, otherwise like monkey, descendants of monkey, if you go… 229 00:17:13,438 --> 00:17:19,425 The monkeys are in the forest, but they do not take shelter of Hari. 230 00:17:19,426 --> 00:17:22,987 So their simply going to the forest is no use. 231 00:17:22,988 --> 00:17:26,959 One has to take shelter of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. 232 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:29,719 vanaṁ gato yad dharim āśraya [SB 7.5.5] 233 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:34,288 Therefore Kṛṣṇa has made this Vṛndāvana. 234 00:17:34,289 --> 00:17:39,869 Anyone goes there, he gets shelter of Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, 235 00:17:39,870 --> 00:17:42,129 and his life becomes successful. 236 00:17:42,130 --> 00:17:48,436 Thank you very much. 237 00:17:48,437 --> 00:17:48,438 Subtitles by Gopī Kāntā Dāsa, Causelessmercy.com Edited by Pratyatoṣa Dāsa