Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.2 Prabhupada: parasarya maha-bhaga bhavatah kaccid atmana paritusyati sarira atma manasa eva va I am just quoting Sanskrit mantras before you. You may not understand the language, but the vibration of the sound, the Sanskrit mantra, hymns, it has got special value. Mantra, sound vibration. Sabdad anavrttih. Now, the whole material world is produced from sound. That is scientific fact. Scientists are researching the importance of sound, physical science. Sound, light, and transmission of sound and light. There are so many things, electronics. So this sound vibration, this is material sound. They have got so much wonderful power. And just try to understand what is the power of the spiritual sound. Real sound is coming from the spiritual world. It is simply just like gramophone. The sound is coming originally from the person; the gramophone is reproducing. That is not the original source of the sound. Similarly, whatever sound is there in this material world, the original sound is produced by God. Just like in your Bible it is said, “Let there be creation.” It is, simply it was sound and there was creation. So spiritual sound is so powerful. And we are trying to catch you directly from that sound vibration, Hare Krsna, and I am sure it is acting. Simply, sabdad anavrttih. Our question by Narada Muni to Vyasadeva, asking that “My dear Vyasadeva, the author of all Vedic literature, you are such a learned scholar. You have produced such vastly, scholarly, and philosophical theses, books, and still you are not happy. So did you try to find out what is the cause?” The similar position is of the present world. There is so much advancement of scientific research, result, economic. Of course, in India there may be poverty-stricken, but in your country, you have got ample, everything ample. But still, a section is confused and frustrated. Why? The same position as Vyasadeva, who was not satisfied even after producing so many variety of literatures in material science and philosophy and religion and… Everything was complete. So therefore Narada Muni is asking, “My dear Vyasadeva, you are great personality, but do you think as long as one is situated in the bodily plane or in the mental plane, does he derive any pleasure?” This is the question. We should try to understand how we are constituted. The Bhagavad-gita explains our constitutional position very nicely. Indriyani parany ahuh. Indriyani. Indriyani means senses. Just like, what is my material existence? I am in this world. What for? For my sense gratification. That’s all. This is the first constitutional position. Every animal, every living entity, is busy for eating, sleeping and defending and mating. That means the bodily necessities, senses. First of all, the prominent factor of our existence is the senses. Therefore Bhagavad-gita says, indriyani parany ahuh. My material existence means the sense enjoyment. That’s all. And therefore in the material civilization the highest pleasure is being derived by eschewing sex life, because that is the last word. That is the last word of material enjoyment. One who has no knowledge of spiritual life, they cannot go further than sex life. One who goes still further than the platform of sense enjoyment, he comes to the mental speculation, as there are many philosophers, speculating. The meditation is also another type of mental speculation. So indriyani parany ahuh. Bhagavad-gita says the first prominent factor are the senses, and the next stage is the mind, mental speculation, because the senses are controlled by the mind. Mind is the central point of sensual activities. If my mind is not in order, in spite of my eyes, I cannot see; in spite of my hand, I cannot touch. Therefore next important stage is mind. Indriyani parany ahur indriyebhyah param manah [Bg. 3.42]. Manah means mind. Manasas tu para buddhih. And mind is also controlled by intelligence. Manasas tu para buddhih. And the factor which is controlling intelligence, that is soul. Therefore behind all manifestations, all activities, the soul is there. That is in dormant stage. Not dormant stage. Actually, the soul is agitating the intelligence, the intelligence is agitating the mind, and the mind is controlling the senses, and the sense enjoyment is our material life. But we want happiness. Therefore Vyasadeva’s question to Narada…, uh, Narada’s question to Vyasadeva is very intelligent, that “My dear Vyasadeva, you are, you appear to be very, not very jolly even after producing so much literatures. But may I ask you, do you think that on the mental plane or on the bodily plane, if you think there is satisfaction, is it possible?” This is the question. The people of the modern age should think over this question of Narada to Vyasadeva very seriously, whether on the bodily platform or on the mental platform we can be happy. No. That is not possible. That is not possible. We should clearly understand that people are busy only on the bodily platform and mental platform. They have no spiritual understanding. That is the defect of the modern civilization. Unless… Just like you belong to certain atmosphere. Just like we are Indians. I am speaking from bodily consideration, that I am, in here, in your country, I am very comfortably situated. The boys are taking care of me very seriously. But still, sometimes I think that I am, I was happy in Vrndavana. Similarly, if you are transferred to some other foreign country, however comfortably you may be situated, you’ll think of your own country. This is natural. Therefore we are seeking after spiritual happiness actually. Just like the child. Child is crying. The child is crying, and the mother is trying to pacify the child in so many ways, but the child is still crying because it wants something else. The child wants mother’s milk. So unless the mother is supplying that thing, it is not satisfied. Similarly, our demand is spiritual happiness. Our demand is spiritual happiness. Just this morning or yesterday morning I was walking on the street. So many books were thrown in the street. Very nice book. Gaurasundara, you remember. Because the fact is all these nonsense books could not give him solace. He has thrown it on the street. Very nice book. Not nice book, very binding nice. It must have been very costly book. Big, big book thrown away. Why? There was no peace. There was no peace. Therefore… Just like in your country I see bunch of newspaper. Just after one second, turning this page, that page, thrown away. Why? There is no pleasure. There is no pleasure. Simply the old story. Punah punas carvita-carvananam [SB 7.5.30]. Chewing the chewed. In your country we don’t find such things. In our country, India, the sugar cane is chewed, the juice is sucked, and it is thrown in the street. Now, if somebody goes and chews the chewed sugar cane, what relish, what taste he will get? Similarly, because we have no information of spiritual life, we are simply chewing the chewed. That’s all. In a different way. This way or that way, this way or that way. And that is sex life. That’s all. So that will not give us happiness. This is the purport of the question of Narada Muni. Parasarya maha-bhaga bhavatah kaccid atmana. “Do you think that the soul can be pacified, the soul can be in peace by identifying himself with the body and the mind?” No. That cannot be. “And you are the first-class example.” Why? jijnasitam susampannam api te mahad-adbhutam krtavan bharatam yas tvam sarvartha-paribrmhitam “You are not ordinary scholar. You have produced Mahabharata. Mahabharata.” The other day I explained what is Mahabharata. Mahabharata is the… The real meaning of Mahabharata is “History of India.” History of… Maha, maha means great, and great history of India. Bharata means India. India’s real name is Bharatavarsa. Perhaps you know. Bharatavarsa. This whole planet was known in the beginning as Ilavrtavarsa. Then there was a king, Maharaja Bharata. So according to his name the whole planet became Bharatavarsa. This whole planet is called Bharatavarsa according to Vedic literature. But now it is now divided. There is a long history, how the human society was distributed all over this planet. So far Mahabharata is concerned, you Americans or Europeans, you also originally belonged to India, according to Mahabharata. Turkish civilization and Greece civilization was originally from India. Two sons of Maharaja Yayati, they were given kingdom of Turkey and Greece, and from Turkey and Greece the European civilization or population has increased and from Europe, the Americans, they have come here. Of course, that is historical point. So here it is said, “My dear Vyasadeva, you have compiled a great literature, Mahabharata. And in that Mahabharata you have introduced everything that is knowable for understanding.” Mahabharata was originally written for the women class and stri-sudra-dvija-bandhunam. Because the Vedic literature is very stiff. Not only because it is written in old Sanskrit language, but the meaning is very deep. Vedic literature… Because at that time people were very intelligent, so simple one hint gives them lots of meaning. Just like Vedanta-sutra. Vedanta-sutra, you’ll find simply some clues. Janmady asya yatah: [Bhag. 1.1.1] “The source of all emanation.” Now we can think over, “the source of all emanation.” So Vedic literature requires explanation, authoritative explanation. So the original Vedas, they, it was not possible for understanding for ordinary class of men. And who are ordinary class of men? Now, stri-sudra-dvija-bandhu. Stri, woman class, are taken as less intelligent. It is not partiality; it is stated in the sastra and practically it is so. So woman class, stri, and sudra. Sudra means laborer class. Stri, sudra, and dvija-bandhu. Dvija-bandhu means born of a high family… The brahmana, ksatriya and the vaisyas, they are considered as in the higher status of social life, and the sudras… It is everywhere. It is not that… The other day in the television somebody was questioning me that “Why there is caste system in India?” So I answered, “The caste system is everywhere. Why in India?” And what is that caste system? The caste system is that there is a class of men who are intelligent, very intelligent, educationist, philosopher, scientist. They are called brahmanas. That’s all. The intelligent class of the society… Just like my head is the most important part of my body. Why? Because from the head all intelligence is coming. If you cut my hand, I will exist. If you cut my leg, I will exist. But if you cut my head, oh, there is no existence. Therefore, as there is the important part of this body, the head, similarly, those who are giving intelligence to the society, they are called brahmanas. That’s all. Brahmana is not a thing which is born by, I mean to say, familywise. No. That is not… In the Bhagavad-gita you’ll find, catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg. 4.13]. There is no question of birthright. Anyone, anyone. Just like in our ordinary life, anyone can become your president. It is not that a particular family has to become. One who is intelligent enough, if people like, he will be voted, he’ll be elected. Similarly, according to the quality and work, the section of the society is imagined. Not imagined, practically designated. So this Mahabharata… Just try to understand that Mahabharata was originally designed for the less-intelligent class of men. Less intelligent, who are less-intelligent class of men? The woman class, or the laborer class, and those who are born in high family, but their qualities are not so improved. Suppose a boy is born in a brahmana family, but his quality just like sudra or laborer class. The people will not accept. Just like if I am born of a brahmana family, so they will ask my qualification, how I am qualified. So those who are born in high family but not qualified according to the family tradition, they are called dvija-bandhu. Dvija. Dvija means twice-born. Dvi means two, and ja means birth. The sudras have one birth, one birth by the father and mother. But those who are higher caste… Just like a man may be born in a low family or poor family, but by his intelligence he gets another birth. He becomes very rich man or very learned man, very intelligent man, very philosophic… That life is from the university. Similarly, dvija means first birth is from the father-mother, and the next birth is accepting a spiritual master. The next birth is… Father is the spiritual master, and the Vedas are the mother. So those who accept the spiritual master as father and the Vedic knowledge as mother, they are called dvija, twice-born. Twice-born. That means cultured. Cultured family. So those who are born in cultured family, but… A son is born in a cultured family, but his cultural knowledge is very poor, he is called dvija-bandhu. So woman class, laborer class, and those who are born in higher family, but intelligence is very poor, they are called dvija-bandhu. And for these classes of men the Mahabharata was compiled. That means Vedic knowledge explained in simple historical facts. The Mahabharata, the basic principle of Mahabharata is the fighting between the two groups of royal family and on that politics, sociology, religion… But those who have read Mahabharata, they will be surprised how elevated knowledge are there in Mahabharata. But they were meant for sudras and, I mean to say, less-intelligent class of men. So you can imagine how intelligent at that time people were that Mahabharata was… Mahabharata is even at the present moment they can(not) understand rightly Mahabharata. Say, for Bhagavad-gita. Bhagavad-gita is part of Mahabharata. But the philosophy is not understood properly even by the greatest philosophers. They commit mistake. So that means as the days are going, we are becoming less, less intelligent. Less, less intelligent. Therefore in this age of less-intelligence class of men, this, the yoga system as it is… Not bluff yoga, real yoga. Yoga indriya samyama. Oh, that is not possible, real yoga system. Controlling the senses, sit in a solitary place, and alone, with celibatic life, no sense enjoyment. There are so many rules and regulations. Not that… If I say that “Whatever you like you can do. You just meditate,” what meditation you’ll do? That is not possible in this age. Next stage of elevation is sacrifice. These are statement of the Vedic literature. [break] …krte yad dhyayato visnum. Meditation means meditating on Visnu, on the Supreme Lord, this Visnu form, as you have got in my front. Meditation. That is called yoga. By meditating on Visnu, one realizes everything and gets some power, wonderful power. So Bhagavata says that krte yad dhyayato visnum. The perfection of life (is) attained in the Satya-yuga, or golden age, by meditating on Visnu. That is meditation. Tretayam yajato makhaih. The next stage, Treta-yuga, by offering sacrifice. That is in the second age. And dvapare paricaryayam. In the next age, Dvapara age, by temple worship, church worship. So Lord Caitanya says that kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva. Three times. Three times “no.” That means meditation is not possible, sacrifice not possible, temple worship or church worship not possible. Then what is possible? Kalau tad dhari-kirtanat. In this age, simply by chanting the glories of the Lord, Hare Krsna. These are prescribed. Therefore Lord Caitanya, you see, He is preaching this cult, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna… There is no distinction whether you are in church or temple or mosque. You simply vibrate Hare Krsna wherever you are, at home or in temple or anywhere. Or in the street or in bed, or in hospital or in office, you can chant. Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna. So krte yad dhyayato visnum tretayam yajato makhaih, dvapare paricaryayam kalau… Kalau means this age, in the age of Kali. Hari-kirtanat, simply by chanting. Hari means God. So here Narada is asking Vyasadeva, jijnasitam. “You are a very perfect scholar.” Now the first word is used here, jijnasitam. A scholar is he who has perfectly inquired from his spiritual master. Inquiry. Just like in the Vedanta-sutra, the first aphorism is athato brahma jijnasa. One must be very inquisitive. That… I have explained already several times, that first inquisitiveness should be “What I am? Am I this body? Oh, the bodily comforts are so many. I have got my car, I have got good apartment, I have got good wife, and… Why I am not happy? Why I am not happy? Everything is there. So am I this body?” No. Vyasadeva here is asked this question, jijnasitam. So jijnasitam adhitam ca. Jijnasitam susampannam api: “And after inquiry, you have very nicely written all kinds of literature, authoritative literature.” If one is perfect in his inquiry from the authorized spiritual master, he can write things. Otherwise, what is the use of writing nonsense? Those books will be thrown away. After reading…, just like the newspaper thrown away and the other books are thrown away. But Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam you cannot throw away. You cannot throw away. I’ll give you one practical example in my life. In Calcutta… My birthplace is in Calcutta. So my friend, he had one European gentleman tenant. I am speaking of, say, about thirty years before story. So that gentleman, he was a very respectable man, manager of a big firm, and he was tenant of my friend. So he was going to take possession of the house. He was vacating. So I also went with him. That European gentleman… I forgot his name now. It is… There was a Bhagavad-gita in his almirah. So my friend, Mr. Mullik, he, out of inquisitiveness, he was touching that book. He thought that “He is European Christian. Why he has kept this Bhagavad-gita?” So he was seeing that Bhagavad-gita. And that European gentleman, he thought that “I’m going, and this landlord may ask this book, because the Bhagavad-gita belongs to the Hindus.” He immediately said, “Dear Mr. Mullik, I can give any book you like, but I cannot give that Bhagavad-gita. This is my life.” Just see. I heard it in my own ear. So he replied, “No, Mr. such and such, I don’t want your book. I was just seeing that how, why you have kept Bhagavad-gita in your almirah?” “Oh, Bhagavad-gita is my life.” So it is the… Sastra means that you cannot throw it away. Nobody has thrown Bhagavad-gita at any time, anywhere, because it is perfect. Nobody has thrown Bible—because they are perfect in knowledge. Jijnasitam adhitam ca. Jijnasitam susampannam api te mahad-adbhutam: “You have done wonderful work.” And krtavan bharatam yas tvam sarvartha-paribrmhitam: “And you have created the great literature Mahabharata, in which everything is there.” Eh? Jijnasitam adhitam ca. “And not only simply you have inquired, but you have studied fully.” There are many inquisitive persons, inquire so many things, but do not study. Reciprocation, there must be study and inquiry. Just like a nice scholar in the college, he inquires from the professor, at the same time studies. So the process of acquiring knowledge is to study and to inquire. So here it is said jijnasitam adhitam ca brahma. Brahma means the Supreme Absolute Truth. “You have inquired sufficiently…” Because he was spiritual master, Narada, he knows how he was inquisitive. So, “You have inquired about the Supreme Absolute Truth.” Jijnasitam adhitam ca yat tat sanatanam. Absolute Truth, sanatana means eternal. Absolute Truth is not relative. Here in this world everything we see relative. This world, material world, is called relative world. And therefore it is not sanatanam. Sanatanam means eternal. As soon as we are in the relative world, there is no eternal life. Relative world means that one thing has to be understood by another thing. Just like what is the meaning of “son”? The son is the son of a father. So unless there is father, there is no question of son. Unless there is husband, there is no question of wife. Unless there is black, there is no question of white. Similarly, whatever you try to understand, there must be the opposite number. That is called duality, or dvaita-jagat, or the duality. But in the absolute world there is no such distinction. One. The same father and the same son. Therefore, if I do not mistake, sometimes Jesus Christ is accepted as the father and sometimes as son. Because in the material world there is such distinction, master and servant, father and son, lower or higher. But in the spiritual world, although there are varieties, but there is no distinction. There is no distinction. The Mayavadi philosophers, they cannot understand the spiritual varieties. As soon as they think of varieties they think of material things. But actually, that is not. There is variety in the spiritual… Unless there is variety… Because Vedanta-sutra says, janmady asya yatah [Bhag. 1.1.1] Unless there are varieties, how in the shadow the varieties are there? Just like in a cinematographic picture, unless in the original photograph or the subject matter from which photograph is taken, unless there were varieties, how the picture can be variety? So in the material world the varieties are reflection of the spiritual world. Here is also father, but this is imitation father. But there is also father, but that is not father, that is real father. It is imitation father. A friend is imitation friend. Real friend is Krsna. Real father is Krsna. Here husband, imitation husband. Real husband is Krsna. Master, imitation master. Real master is Krsna. So in this way, if we establish our relationship with Krsna as…, either as husband or lover or master or friend or son or father, it is perfect. It is perfect. We have to go to that stage. We have to give up this imitation, brahma satyam jagan mithya. Sankaracarya placed this theory before all the world, but that is not explained properly because people at that time could not understand more than that. Brahma satyam: “The Absolute is truth.” And jagan mithya, “And this world, the manifested world, is false.” How it is false? That is not explained by Sankaracarya. That is explained by Caitanya Mahaprabhu, that reality, real father… If you accept Krsna as your father, oh, He’ll give you all protection. If you accept Krsna as your husband, oh, there is no question of divorce. If you accept Krsna as your friend, oh, Krsna will give you everything. So so many relationships. All these relationships in the relative world, they are all shadow or temporary. But the same thing is there in the spiritual world. And if we come to that platform, then there will be happiness. Thank you very much. Any questions? No questions. All right. You have question? No. Of course, I am trying to explain as far as possible understandable by you. But still, if there is any doubt, you can question. You can put. Mukunda, you can… No, you… (end)
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Los Angeles, January 10, 1968