Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.1-6
Lecture Excerpts
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Los Angeles, July 2, 1970

(Prabhupada and devotees recite verses)

Prabhupada: Srotavyadini rajendra nrnam santi sahasrasah [SB 2.1.2].

“My dear king…” Sukadeva Gosvami is speaking to King Pariksit that “There are many subject matters for the persons who are materialistic.” What sort of… Why they are engaged in so many topics? Atma-tattvam apasyatam. They do not see what is self- realization. Apasyatam atma-tattvam [SB 2.1.2]. Apasyatam… Generally, we do not know, we cannot see what is atma in these material eyes. Therefore the material scientists, they say that there is no soul, because they cannot see. With their instruments or with their knowledge it is not possible. Apasyatam. They do not see it. Therefore we cannot believe our eyes. These eyes are not fit to see anything. It is under certain condition it gives us some impression. Otherwise… Therefore my Guru Maharaja used to say that saintly persons should be seen not through the eyes, but through the ears. There are different processes of seeing. Don’t believe that eyes are sufficient to see everything. No.

So atma-tattvam. Those who are not interested what is self, for them there are different thousands and millions of topics. Srotavyadini rajendra [SB 2.1.2]. Everyone is hearing. Somebody is talking, somebody is hearing… Even there is politics, conspiracy, there is also hearing and talking. But these talkings, thousands and thousands of talkings of different subject matter, for whom? For them who are unable to see what is soul. For them. Apasyatam atma-tattvam [SB 2.1.2]. Why they have become so? Grhesu grha-medhinam. They want to be packed up within this material package and they have made their life in that way. Grhesu. Just like ordinary man, he is interested with his apartment, family. Dehapatya-kalatradisu. That sloka is next explained. He’s interested with these things: how his nice apartment is maintained, how his wife is nicely dressed, how his children are nicely educated. So much. That’s all. They are called grhamedhi. These words. Grhamedhi. So those who are married disciples, I will request them specifically that because you are married, you don’t become grhamedhi. Then you lose this chance. I am getting reports from outside that some of our family disciples, they are not very much attending temples regularly. So if they do not attend temples, do not take to the service, then gradually they’ll become grhamedhi, just like ordinary karmis.

So as soon as one becomes grhamedhi, he becomes blind to see what is self-realization. So Sukadeva Gosvami says that those who are blind, those who have been encaged in the materialistic way of life, for them, there are thousands and thousands of topics to hear and to chant. But those who are seeing to the self… Self is one. Ekam brahma dvitiyam nasti. For them, one talk only about Krsna. So I’ll request you, all my beloved disciples present here, that don’t turn to that point, grhesu grha-medhinam. Stick to this point, Krsna. Then you’ll be happy. Don’t talk, create. Thousand… As soon as we go out of the scope of this Krsna consciousness, there will be so many talks. And that will mislead you. That is maya. And if you stick to the Krsna consciousness, there is no secrecy, there is no duplicity, there is no diplomacy. One talk, Krsna: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama… That will make you satisfied. Yayatma suprasidati. If you want actually happiness then you stick to these Krsna consciousness topics. Don’t bring in anything other, else. Then that will become grhesu grha-medhinam, apasyatam atma-tattvam [SB 2.1.2].

So I am especially talking to my sannyasi disciples, who are going out today on a great mission. Please stick to this principle—one— Krsna. You will be benefited, and the persons to whom you’ll talk, they will be benefited, the world will be benefited. So you have got a very great responsibility. Don’t turn into the talks of the grhamedhi and break it. That is my request.

Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. Yes. Chant. (devotees offer obeisances) So you will start just at half past seven? So we have got little time. Better perform… That’s all. (kirtana) [break] Car is ready? Car? We’ll go to the car or you have got…

Gargamuni: Yes, there will be a truck?

Prabhupada: Truck? Where is that truck?

Brahmananda: It will be out front.

Prabhupada: So they’ll go there? No.

Gargamuni: We have to take our bags.

Prabhupada: Oh. So I want to see you in the car. [break] (Prabhupada and devotees recite together SB 2.1.1-6) Again this verse.

etavan sankhya-yogabhyam sva-dharma-parinisthaya janma-labhah parah pumsam ante narayana-smrtih

Again this verse (repeats again with devotees). So we discussed which verse? Srotavyadini rajendra nrnam santi sahasrasah [SB 2.1.2]. This verse we discussed yesterday, that “Those who are materialistic persons, they have got hundreds and thousands of topics,” and, although we are in Krsna consciousness, because we are in the material world, sometimes we have to deal with many unnecessary talks. But mind that our unnecessary talks and others’ unnecessary talks are not the same, because we sometimes talk unnecessarily, but the aim is Krsna. Just like Battlefield of Kuruksetra. The Bhagavad-gita begins,

dharma-ksetre kuru-ksetre samaveta yuyutsavah mamakah pandavas caiva kim akurvata sanjaya [Bg. 1.1]

The topics began from the warfield, dharma-ksetre kuru-ksetre. But it is dharma-ksetra. “Why dharma-ksetra? It is battlefield.” Because Krsna is there. Krsna is conducting the battle, therefore it is dharma-ksetra. Dharma-ksetra means religious… (end)