Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.3.25-26
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Gorakhpur, February 18, 1971

Prabhupada:

prayena veda tad idam na mahajano ’yam devya vimohita-matir bata mayayalam trayyam jadi-krta-matir madhu-puspitayam vaitanike mahati karmani yujyamanah

So Sridhara Svami says, “As a physician without knowing the presence of mrta-sanjivani…” In Ayurvedic medicine system there is a medicine which is called mrta-sanjivani. Mrta-sanjivani. Mrta means death, and sanjivani means giving life. Even a dead man can get life by drinking that medicine. It is a strong tonic. It is still used in Ayurvedic medicine, and some of the biggest manufacturer of Ayurvedic medicine, they prepare, and it has a good sale. So it may not be exactly the same mrta-sanjivani, but it is very well known. So Sridhara Svami says… Just like one, a person, is suffering from fever, so according to Ayurvedic medicine, tri-katu… Tri means three, and katu means bitter. Tri-katu, just like nim, nim fruits, kalamegha and cirata. They are prescribed, very bitter to eat. So Sridhara Svami gives this example: “Without knowing that there is a very nice medicine, mrta-sanjivani, they takes so many troublesome medicines. Similarly, the great stalwart leaders of religious principles, without knowing this Hare Krsna maha-mantra, they take to so many troublesome, multiritualistic ceremonies.”

Vimsati-prakara-dharma-sastrah. There are twenty kinds of dharma-sastra composed by Manu, Parasara and others. They are very difficult. All of them are meant for counteracting our sinful life. This, as we have explained, material life is so arranged that even you do not like to commit some sin, in course of your life there will be sinful reaction. Just like we sing the prayers of Visvanatha Cakravarti, samsara-davanala-lidha-loka **. This world is so situated that there is a blazing fire always in this material world. Even if you do not want, still, that fire is there. Nobody wants blazing fire, davanala. Davanala means forest fire. Nobody goes to set fire in the forest, but it takes place. Similarly, this material world is also like that. Nobody wants, but still, miserable condition of life come in. Just like in Calcutta, nobody wanted the Naxalite disturbance, but it has come. There are so many troubles. And why this happens? Because their unconscious activities of sinful life… Just like we are walking on the street. Unconsciously, we are killing so many small ants and insects, unconsciously. I do not wish to kill, but we are, having situated, we are, being situated in material condition of life, we are unconsciously killing so many living entities. Therefore, according to the Vedic rites, the injunction is that one has to perform yajnas, sacrifices. And without that sacrifice you’ll be liable to be punishment for that unconscious killing of small animals. As such, those who are actually fearful of a sinful reaction of life, they perform yajnas. But here it is said that the mahajanas, the great leaders of religions, without knowing his simple method of getting out of sinful life, they take to so many yajnas prescribed in the Vedas. Prayena veda tad idam na mahajano ’yam devya vimohita-matir bata mayayalam: “Practically they were also bewildered by the influence of maya.” They do not know that there is such a medicine. The example is given, mrta-sanjivani. But they take to bitter medical drugs like nim, cirata and kalamegha. That is explained by Sridhara Svami. Mrta-samyamani visam ajananta ausadham ajananta vaidya roga-nirharanaya tri-katu nimva dini smaran, tatha svayambhuh sanmukha-pramukhat dvadasa, dvadasa vyatire kenayam mahajana api guhyam idam ajnata-dvadasadhikam smaranti.(?)

So the great compiler of religious scripture, headed by Manu and others, without knowing the simple method, they prescribe gorgeous ritualistic ceremonies. Kim ca mayaya divyalam vimohitam matir ayam jana madhu, madhunam yatha bhavati evam puspitayam puspa-sthaniya ratavadi mano-harayam trayyam jadi-krta abhinivista-matir yasya ata eva mahaty eva karmany agni-stomadau sraddhaya yujyamanah.(?) So being bewildered by the material or external energy, they take to these gorgeous ceremonies or sacrificial performances. Actually there is no need. The whole thing is that Sridhara Svami is giving stress very strongly that you can simply chant Hare Krsna mantra without undergoing any ritualistic ceremonies. Actually it is very difficult to understand. Madhavendra Puri, our predecessor acarya, he also has composed a nice verse. He says, “My dear gayatri-mantra, I offer you my respect, but no more I can chant gayatri-mantra.” In this way… Taking bath early in the morning, that’s a good recommendation for spiritual advancement. But Madhavendra Puri said, “Now I am unable to execute this order. Please excuse me.” In this way he has described in many ways. At last, he concludes that “I shall sit down somewhere underneath a tree and simply remember Govinda’s name. That is sufficient. Yes.” He says, “Please excuse me, please excuse me, please excuse me.”

But this Madhavendra’s statement is not for the neophyte devotees. We should not imitate Madhavendra Puri. Madhavendra Puri was the spiritual master of Isvara Puri, and Isvara Puri was the spiritual master of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So the position of Madhavendra Puri, the position of Haridasa Thakura, they are different from our position. We should not imitate, that “Because Madhavendra Puri gave up everything and simply concentrated his mind in chanting maha-mantra, Hare Krsna, or Haridasa Thakura, therefore I shall also do that. I shall not rise early in the morning. I shall not take bath. I shall not worship the Deity. Simply I shall…” That is not possible. That is not possible. But actually, if anyone can chant Hare Krsna mantra offenselessly and in devotion and love… There the first thing is love—not force—love, what is called automatically, spontaneous. Spontaneous. Just like Rupa Gosvami, he said that “How I shall chant Hare Krsna mantra in one tongue? If I had hundreds and thousands of tongues, then I could chant and relish what is Hare Krsna mantra.” That is a different stage. We should not imitate. But actually this is a fact, that simply by chanting Hare Krsna mantra, you can get relief from all kinds of performances, ritualistic ceremonies. That is the point stressed by Sridhara Svami.

evam vimrsya sudhiyo bhagavaty anante sarvatmana vidadhate khalu bhava-yogam te me na dandam arhanty atha yady amisam syat patakam tad api hanty urugaya-vadah

Now Yamaraja is saying that evam vimrsya sudhiyo bhagavaty anante. One who is so much attached unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead that he constantly associates with Him simply by chanting Hare Krsna mantra, or by performing the devotional service… Yamaraja does not, I mean to say, give only stress on the Hare Krsna mantra. He is giving stress on different process of devotional service. Bhagavaty anante sarvatmana vidadhate khalu bhava-yogam. Sarvatmana. Sarvatmana means “in all respect.” And bhava-yogam means bhakti-yogam. So if anyone seriously takes to bhakti-yoga process without any reservation—that means suddha-bhakti, unalloyed devotional service, anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam [BRS 1.1.11], as we have explained several times—then evam vimrsya sudhiyo bhagavaty anante sarvatmana… There is another verse in the Srimad-Bhagavatam:

devarsi-bhutapta-nrnam pitrnam na kinkaro nayam rni ca rajan sarvatmana yah saranam saranyam gato mukundam parihrtya kartam [SB 11.5.41]

Sarvatmana, this word, is very important. The Krsna also asks when He said that “Giving up all other kinds of engagement of religious process, simply surrender unto Me.” That is called sarvatmana, “with all heart, with all intention, without any reservation,” sarvatmana, the exact meaning. Yamaraja says that “One who has taken to devotional service,” sarvatmana, “very seriously, and without any deviation,” sarvatmana vidadhate khalu bhava-yogam, te me na dandam arhanti, “they are not,” I mean to say, “within the jurisdiction of my punishment.” It is clearly said, yama-danda. Those who are devotees, they are out of the jurisdiction of ruling of Yamaraja. It is especially stated here, te me na dandam arhanti: “They are not liable for my punishment. Even they commit some mistake or fall down, or even they commit a very sinister, sinful activity, still, they are not under my jurisdiction.” Krsna also says in the Bhagavad-gita, api cet suduracaro bhajate mam ananya-bhak sadhur eva sa mantavyah [Bg. 9.30] But this concession… There are many other concessions. Krsna says that “Anyone who is engaged in devotional service, if unintentionally he commits some mistake and offense, I excuse.”

So these are special cases, not that because Krsna promises to excuse… Because Krsna says that “Even though he has committed such sinful activities, still, he’s a sadhu,” and although Yamaraja says that “Those who are engaged in devotional service, they are out of my jurisdiction of punishment,” so we should not take advantage of this concession. That is a great offense, greatest offense. Namno balad yasya hi papa-buddhih. These concessions are there for the devotees, but not for intentional committing sinful activity. If by accident, if by previous habit, one commits some mistake or falls down, that is excused. And one should be repentant: “My dear Lord, I have committed this offense. Please excuse me.” And one should fast. One should be very much repentant. Then Krsna is so kind. But he hasn’t got to take to the prayascitta or, what is called, atonement system. A devotee hasn’t got to do that. A devotee’s sinful activities is excused, and if he is repentant, then he is again elevated to his original position. That is the verdict of all sastras.

And here also the Yamaraja says that te me na dandam arhanty atha yady amisam syat patakam tad api hanty urugaya-vadah: “Even if he has committed some sinful activities, because he is chanting the glories of the Lord, his sinful activity is not taken into account— excused.” Te deva-siddha-parigita-pavitra-gatha ye sadhavah samadrso bhagavat-prapannah. Bhagavat-prapannah. How Yamaraja is eulogizing the devotees. Devotee is bhagavat-prapannah. Bhagavat means to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Prapannah means fully surrendered. Bhagavat-prapannah. The same thing is corroborated here. So just like Krsna said, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami, “I shall protect you from all sinful reaction,” because there is declaration by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, therefore His servant, the executor of the criminal department, Yamaraja, he also says that te deva-siddha-parigita-pavitra-gatha ye sadhavah samadrso bhagavat-prapannah, that “A devotee who has fully surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they are worshiped by devaloka, siddhaloka.” The demigods also, they worship. They show full respect.

Now, Krsna says that kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah prapadyante anya-devatah: [Bg. 7.20] “Those who are worshipers of the demigods, they are bewildered by their lusty desires.” And here Yamaraja says that deva-siddha-parigita-pavitra-gathah: “A devotee is worshiped by the devah, demigods.” Just try to understand the opposite direction, that those who are ordinarily enthused by lust and greed, they go to worship demigods. But if one becomes a devotee of the Lord, the demigods worship him. That is the prerogative of devotees. Siddha… Bhava-yogam. There the bhava… This word is bhava-yogam. Bhava means ecstasy. Ecstatic yoga, the yoga principle by which one comes to the ecstasy. Just like sometimes while you are chanting Hare Krsna you come to the ecstatic point. You forget yourself and dance, forget everything. That is called bhava-yogam. To the devotee it appears sometimes. So bhava-yogam. There are asta-sattvika-bhava—sometimes crying, some stunned, sometimes perspiring. These things come to the devotee. That is not to be practiced artificially. When actually one advances in devotional service this bhava-yoga, asta-sattvika-bhava, vikara, comes into existence. Therefore the devotional service is known also, bhava-yogam.

Sridhara Svami says the bhava-yogam… Sarvatmana vidadhate khalu bhava-yogam syat patakam. So bhava-yogam, bhakti-yogam amisam patakam na syad eva yadi syad urugayasya vada-kirtanam. Actually a devotee never commits any sinful activities. They are so careful, they are so sober, and because they are protected by Krsna they never think of acting anything sinful. But sometimes it happens because this material world, sometimes we are prone to fall down. A devotee… Just like Arjuna. He was not willing to kill his kinsmen. Although he was so much insulted, he was bereft of his kingdom, his wife was insulted, still, he was thinking that “What is the use of killing my family members? Let them enjoy the kingdom. I shall better beg and live.” He was thinking in that way because a devotee, yasyasti bhaktir bhagavaty akincana sarvair gunais tatra samasate surah. A devotee, a pure devotee, is naturally qualified with all good qualities. Automatically it comes as he becomes… Just like as a man suffering from fever decreases the degree of fever—he becomes healthy—similarly, with the increase of our degree of devotional service, naturally all the good qualities that is constitutionally existing in the pure soul… Pure soul, being part and parcel, it is naturally very pure. And Vedas says even when the soul is within the material existence, it is not mixed up. It remains always separate. Just like if you put a drop of oil in the water it does not mix— although it is in the water, it does not mix—similarly the spirit soul, part and parcel of God, Krsna, although in the material world, he does not mix. Therefore if there is a process… Just like you can pick up the spot of oil floating in the water by some process immediately, similarly, by bhakti-yoga process, although the spirit soul is floating in this material ocean, he can be picked up immediately. He can be picked up. And asango ’yam purusah. The Veda says that “This purusa, the spirit soul, is always unmixed, unmixed.” Therefore Mayavadi philosophers, they say that “This material association is simply a bewilderment. Actually it does not exist. I am Brahman; I am the same.” But actually, although I am the same, because I am associating with the different qualities, I mean to say, higher qualities or lower qualities of the material nature, then that association will give me a different position, although I am not mixed up with this material existence.

So Sridhara Svami says, bhava-yogam bhakti, amisam patakam na syad eva, yadi syad urugayasya vada-kirtanam. The conclusion is that generally the devotee does not do anything which is sinful, but accidentally, unconsciously, if he does, because he’s engaged in chanting or in the devotional service of the Lord, there is no sinful reaction on his life. That is the conclusion.

Thank you very much. [break] Visnujana is doing very nice. He has printed some literatures, and he’s going for enrolling members. So I think this literature should be rendered into Hindi and Bengali. He has picked up from the purport of Srimad-Bhagavatam very nicely and presenting this booklet about the mission, missionary activities of Krsna consciousness movement, The Krsna Consciousness Movement Is the Genuine Vedic Way. He has done it nicely, so I think this should be translated in different languages. Yes. The selected portion he has picked up from the purport of Srimad-Bhagavatam, that is a very nice arrangement. If you simply preach these principles, people will very much appreciate. Where is Giriraja?

Tamala Krsna: Last night he had to stay up from nine o’clock ’til two in the morning preaching with someone. So I told him he should go and take rest when he came home.

Prabhupada: That’s nice. All right.

Devotee (1): Prabhupada? You said Arjuna was lamenting, but pure devotees become… Superior qualities that all devotees possess… So why is this? So why did Krsna call him a fool?

Prabhupada: Yes. In spite of our superior qualities, we are always fool. You should know. Don’t be puffed up with your superior qualities. You should remain always fool. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He presents Himself as a fool. So even Caitanya Mahaprabhu presents Himself before His spiritual master as a fool. So that is a good qualification, to remain a fool. Otherwise, it he becomes puffed up—“Oh, I have learned everything. My business is finished”—so there is prone to fall down again. And the spi… Because… Arjuna was addressed as a fool because Krsna accepted, er, Arjuna accepted Krsna as his spiritual master. So the spiritual master has the right, just like father has the right to say like that. So there was nothing wrong. [break] …kirtanam visnoh. This is chanting and hearing of the glories of Visnu, harer nama kirtanam [Adi 17.21]. So that is the beginning. Devotional service begins from hearing. Unless there is chanting, what you can hear? Sravanadi-suddha-citte. Sravanadi. Sravana means hearing. That is the beginning of devotional… As you chant and hear, so you become purified more and more. Then your heart becomes cleansed. Ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. The whole thing is that we have accumulated so many nasty things in our heart. That has to be moved. It is cleansing process. So chanting Hare Krsna mantra means beginning the cleansing process. Ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam. Is it clear? Or you have got any question like that?

Devotee (2): What is the difference between bhakti-yoga and bhava-yoga?

Prabhupada: Bhava-yoga… Bhava-yoga and bhakti-yoga, the same thing, as Sridhara Svami has explained. Bhava. Bhava means the previous state of pure love for God. Tato bhavas tatah… After bhava, when we are always absorbed in thought of Krsna in ecstasy, that is the immediate previous stage of love of Godhead, love of Krsna. And bhakti-yoga means to invoke our dormant love for God, the same thing. Therefore bhava-yoga and bhakti-yoga— the same thing. And another name of bhakti-yoga is buddhi-yoga. Actually yoga means bhakti, but because yoga system has been used in so many other ways, therefore buddhi-yoga, bhava-yoga, and bhakti-yoga, these terms are used. Budha bhava-samanvitah. Without bhava-yoga, nobody can worship Krsna. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita:

aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate iti matva bhajante mam budha bhava-samanvitah [Bg. 10.8]

Bhajante. Bhajante means engaged in devotional service. Why? Now, budha bhava-samanvitah: “Because he is situated in the bhava.” What is that bhava? That bhava is vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma sudurlabhah [Bg. 7.19] One who is always absorbed in thought, one who sees Krsna’s energy in everything, that is called bhava. Budha bhava-samanvitah. How that bhava comes? When one understands clearly that Krsna is the origin of all creation. Aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate [Bg. 10.8]: “Everything is emanating from Me.” When one understands this fact in full knowledge, that is called bhava. He sees everything. He doesn’t see anything except Krsna. Sthavara-jangama dekhe na dekhe tara murti. He sees the trees and the animals, or the men, sthavara-jangama, everything he sees, but he does not see the tree, but he sees in that tree Krsna. That is bhava-yoga.

sthavara-jangama dekhe na dekhe tara murti sarvatra haya nija ista-deva-sphurti

Do you follow this Bengali? Sthavara. Sthavara means living entities which does not move, just like trees, plants, creepers. And jangama means those who are moving. Animals, man, they move. So a devotee who is actually in bhava stage, he may see a tree or an animal or a man, but he does not see the man or tree or the animal; he sees a part and parcel of Krsna, a jivatma. Panditah sama-darsinah [Bg. 5.18]. That is the stage of full knowledge. He does not see the skin or the dress. Just like when we talk with a gentleman, we do not see to the dress; we see the person as he is. So that’s a stage. That is called bhava-sam…, budha bhava-samanvitah. (end)