Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.2 Prabhupada: mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimuktes tamo-dvaram yositam sangi-sangam For two days we have explained mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimukteh [SB 5.5.2]. People have forgotten at the present moment what is the meaning of mukti. They do not know practically. Mukti means the…, to get out of the clutches of the stringent material laws. That is called mukti. We are at the present moment conditioned, so many conditions. So mukti means to live without condition. That is called mukti. The mukti definition is given in the Srimad-Bhagavatam: muktir sva-rupena vyavasthitih, muktir hitvanyatha rupam sva-rupena vyavasthitih. This is called mukti. We are not in the svarupa. Svarupa means spiritual form. That is called svarupa. At the present moment, our material conditional body, that is not svarupa. Last night I tried to explain, svarupa means sac-cit-ananda-rupa. That is svarupa, eternal, blissful life of knowledge. This is not svarupa. This body is not eternal, neither it is blissful. It is full of miseries and without any knowledge. So this is not svarupa. Svarupa means eternal life, blissful life, and full of knowledge. That is called svarupa. So we do not know that we are now living conditional life, virupa, which is not my svarupa. This is the science that svarupa can be perceived, can be realized. That is described in the Srimad Bhagavad-gita: brahma-bhuta. Brahma-bhuta, spiritual realization, that is also not svarupa. That is the beginning of self-realization. brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati samah sarvesu bhutesu mad-bhaktim labhate param [Bg. 18.54] That is svarupa. After Brahman realization, when one is perfectly free from all material anxieties, that is beginning of svarupa. And then the conception of equality, samah sarvesu bhutesu, panditah sama-darsinah [Bg. 5.18] Those who are learned, they have no such distinction that “I am Indian,” “You are American,” “You are Bengali,” “I am Andhra,” and this… No. This is all virupa, all virupa. Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. We have several times explained, we have to be free from all these designation. That is svarupa, designationless. But we are now busy with designation and fighting. That means we are not yet completely educated. Krsna also chastised Arjuna in the beginning, (sic:) asatyam anvasocas tvam prajna-vadams ca bhasase, “You are talking like a very learned scholar, but you are lamenting only the body, bodily concept of life.” Gatasun agatasums ca nanusocanti panditah. “So far the body is concerned, either it is dead or alive, a learned man does not care for it.” That is svarupa. Now we are simply concerned with this body; therefore we are missing our svarupa, therefore missing mukti. I have already explained, mukti means to be situated in his own original, spiritual life. That is called svarupa. Svarupanu bhuti (?). Svarupa. There is, I think there is the word used in Bhagavad-gita that all the persons assembled in the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, after death they attained svarupa. Means liberated, all liberated and situated in spiritual life because they gave up their life in the presence of Krsna. While dying they saw Krsna. Therefore all of them after death attained svarupa. So the mukti means sva-rupena vyavasthitih mukti hitva anyatha rupam sva-rupena vyavasthitih. This is the meaning of mukti. So if we want that mukti, liberation, no more conditioned by the material nature, unconditional life, sa-gunan samatityaitan brahma-bhuyaya kalpate [Bg. 14.26]. That is svarupa. So virupa means under the control of the three modes of material nature, sattva-guna, raja-guna, tamo-guna. Of course, in the material world the quality of brahmana, satya, sama, dama, titiksa, arjava, jnanam vijnanam astikyam brahma-karma svabhava-jam, this is the first-class quality within this material world. But that is also not svarupa. That is also not svarupa. One may become the topmost person within human society by acquiring brahminical qualification, but that is also not svarupa. Real svarupa is above that brahminical qualification. That is Vaisnava. Vaisnava qualification means completely dedicated to the service of Krsna. Sarvopadhi vinirmuktam [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. Even if I consider myself that I am a learned brahmana, that is also misconception. That is also not svarupa. When one understands that “I am not brahmana, not ksatriya, not vaisya, not sudra, nor American, nor Indian, nor this, nor that; simply I am spiritual part and parcel of Krsna, and my only business is to serve Krsna.” Anukulyena krsnanu-silanam bhaktir uttama [Madhya 19.167], that is first-class life. Anukulyena krsnanu-silanam. Not pratikulyena. Pratikulyena means against the will of Krsna. That is pratikula. Bhakti means anukula. Just like Kamsa. He was also Krsna conscious. He was always thinking of Krsna: “Whether Krsna is born? I have to kill Him. Whether this or that…” He was thinking of Krsna. But pratikulyena, not anukulyena. One Krsna consciousness is always making plan how to spread Krsna consciousness, and another Krsna cons…, how to kill Krsna. So that to… Krsna consciousness to kill Krsna, that is not bhakti. Krsna consciousness, how to serve Krsna, how to spread Krsna’s glories all over the world, how to make the people Krsna conscious, this Krsna consciousness is anukula. Anukulyena krsna…, cultivation of Krsna knowledge, that is required. And when one is fully situated in that Krsna consciousness, that is called mukti. Mukti does not mean “Now I’ve got two hands; I will have four hands,” like that. No. Mukti means change of consciousness. At this time, the present moment, every one of us, we are thinking that “I am this body. This family is my kinsmen,” yasyatma buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke sva-dhih kalatradisu bhauma-ijya-dhih [SB 10.84.13]. “This is my country. I have to worship it. I have to develop.” All these consciousness is just the opposite number of Krsna consciousness, when we shall always think of Krsna, satatam cintayanto mam: always thinking of Krsna, how to spread Krsna’s glories. How it is possible to adopt the means and ways and plans and always thinking. Just like Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu did and all the acaryas, the Gosvamis. We have to follow mahajano yena gatah sa panthah. That mahajana yena gatah sa panthah is situat…, explained here, mahat-seva, mahat-seva. Mahajana…, to follow the mahajana means to serve their mission. sri-caitanya-mano ’bhistam sthapitam yena bhu-tale svayam rupah kada mahyam dadati sva-padantikam We Gaudiya Vaisnava, we are known as rupanuga. Rupanuga means the followers of Rupa Gosvami. So why we should become followers of Rupa Gosvami? Because sri-caitanya-mano ’bhistam sthapitam yena bhu-tale. He wanted to establish the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Mano ’bhistam. Sri Caitanya, mano ’bhistam, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the same thing. This is called disciplic succession. Krsna wanted that “Everyone be surrendered to Me.” He personally therefore comes and He speaks Bhagavad-gita aiming at Arjuna, who was perplexed in the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, and He explained karma, jnana, yoga, so many things. But ultimately, He assured Arjuna, “My dear Arjuna, you are very dear friend to Me; therefore I am speaking to you the real purpose of life, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam… [Bg. 18.66]. This is the real purpose of life.” So Krsna wanted that people should take shelter of His lotus feet, sarva-dharman parityajya. But people misunderstood Him. Therefore Krsna came as a devotee, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Rupa Gosvami could understand that. Therefore he offered his first prayer to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, namo maha vadanyaya krsna-prema-pradaya te [Madhya 19.53]. “Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, You are the most munificent incarnation because You are not only giving the knowledge of Krsna, but You are giving the process how to love Him.” Krsna-prema-pradaya te. So “You are Krsna, krsnaya. I offer my humble obeisances to You, krsnaya, now appeared as krsna-caitanya-namine, You have now appeared as Krsna Caitanya.” So Krsna personally appeared as devotee to reestablish the mission of Krsna. Krsna wanted sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg. 18.66], and Caitanya Mahaprabhu preached Krsna consciousness, krsna-varnam tvisa akrsna. This is a statement in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. The real identification of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. That is in this age there was talk between Nimi Maharaja and Navayogendra. So what is the duty of the people of Kali-yuga to worship the Supreme? In that connection, Karabhajana Muni, he said, krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam sangopangastra-parsadam yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah [SB 11.5.32] This is the method of worship. What is that? That Supreme Personality of Godhead who is always chanting Hare Krsna mantra. Krsna varnayati, krsna varna tvisa akrsnam. But His bodily complexion is not krsna, not blackish, but yellowish, tvisa. Tvisa means by the complexion, akrsna, not Krsna. And another symptom, sangopaggastra-parsadam. He’s associated with His most confidential devotees and expansions. Therefore we chant sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda This is sangopangastra-parsadam. This form of the Lord, yajnaih sankirtanaih, He’s worshiped not by ritualistic ceremony, which is very expensive or performance of yajna. That is not possible in this age because there is no yajnic brahmana at the present moment. So this baivik-yajna (?) is permitted in the…, prohibited in this Kali- yuga because they are not properly performed. It is not possible. Just like our Sriman Pittieji was searching after a brahmana to recite the Ramayana, Sundarakanda. He’s not getting a proper brahmana. That is the difficulty. How you can perform yajna? There is no yajnic brahmana at the present moment. Therefore the yajna to be performed at this moment in this Kali-yuga is yajnaih sankirtana-prayaih yajanti hi su-medhasah. Su-medhasah means with good brain substance. Those who have no brain substance, they are called alpa-medhasah. That is also stated in the Bhagavad-gita, tad bhavati alpa-medhasah. Alpa-medhasah means there is no brain substance—filled up with cow dung. So one should be su-medhasah. Su-medhasah, nice brain substance. So those who are su-medhasah means with good brain substance, they perform yajnair sankirtanair by sankirtana yajna, Hare Krsna. Just see the effect of Hare Krsna mantra. This yajna being performed all over the world. How quickly they are capturing Krsna consciousness. Just see the effect practically. Therefore those who are intelligent, having good brain substance, they should perform yajna sankirtana, yajnaih…, and worship Lord Caitanya. sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrnda So these ideas can be had only if we follow the mahajana. Mahajana means that, Srila Rupa Gosvami, he understood Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. About Rupa Gosvami it is said… What is that? Vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau. Kirtana… Uh? Devotees: Krsnotkirtana. Prabhupada: krsnotkirtana-gana-nartana-parau premamrtambho-nidhi dhiradhira-jana-priyau priya-karau nirmatsarau pujitau sri-caitanya-krpa-bharau bhuvi bhuvo bharavahantarakau vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau This is the… The six Gosvamis of Vrndavana, they lived in Vrndavana by the order… The present Vrndavana, holy place, was made by Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami. These two brothers, they were ministers in the government of Nawab Hussain Shah. Practically they became Muhammadans; their name were changed. Because in those days the brahmana community was very strict. Any brahmana accepting service, he’ll be immediately excommunicated: “No, you are not brahmana.” Brahmana’s business is not to serve others. Brahma-karma svabhava-jam. They should remain… Everyone was independent. Brahmana independent, ksatriya independent, vaisya independent. Simply sudra’s dependent. So in those days, five hundred years ago, these two brothers were born of a very high class brahmana. They were learned scholar, but because they accepted the service of Nawab, they were excommunicated. So practically they become Muhammadans. Their names were changed: Dabira Khasa, Sakara Mallika. But Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu made them gosvami. This is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. They were rejected by the brahmana community, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu made them Sanatana Gosvami, Rupa Gosvami. The gosvami is not a caste title. Gosvami means who has control over the senses. Go means senses and svami means master. Those who are servant of the senses, they cannot become gosvami. That is not gosvami. Servant of senses, that is go-dasa, not gosvami. So the Gosvami… Vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau, the six Gosvamis, six Gosvamis, and if we follow their footprints, rupanuga-varaya te, then he also becomes gosvami. This is the process. Therefore anywhere you go, it is required, mahat-seva. .vs bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma sudurlabhah [Bg. 7.19] This is mahatma, one who has fully surrendered to the lotus feet of Krsna after mature experience and wisdom, bahunam janmanam ante. Many, many births we may go on philosophizing Brahman, neti, neti. But after many, many births, this is jnanavan. The jnanis, they are after Brahman realization. So Krsna says, bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate [Bg. 7.19] “After many, many births of this Brahman realization or Paramatma realization, one may come to the platform of realizing the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” Who is that Supreme Per…? Vasudeva, the son of Vasudeva, Krsna. Vasudeva. Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya. Vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma su-durlabhah [Bg. 7.19]. That is mahatma. One who knows vasudeva sarvam iti, that mahatma is required. And if we can serve such mahatma, then our path of liberation, mukti, will be open. That is stated here. mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimukteh [SB 5.5.2]. And the other way. One path to mukti, another path is bondage. Two things are there: bondage and mukti. Andha yathandair upaniyamanas te’pisa-tantryam uru-damni baddhah. Baddha means bound up. We are, in our material condition of life, we are bound up tight, hands and legs are bound up. We cannot do anything independently. It is not possible. That we must know. People are declaring independence. That is not possible. That is our foolishness. Baddhah, uru-damni baddhah, just like uru means this waste. If you are bound up by rope just like thieves are carried, handcuffed and bound up on the waist, what you can do? So we are uru-damni baddhah. Uru means very strong, and damni means rope, baddhah. Just like the bulls are bound up in the nostril and the driver is moving like this, immediately he has to move this way, immediately. Although he’s very strong bull, but uru-damni baddhah. So therefore maya’s name is gunamayi. Guna, guna means also rope, guna. Gunamayi, tri-guna-mayi, three ropes you bound together become very strong. Similarly, this maya, the stringent laws of material nature, prakrti, is very, very strong. You cannot declare independence. That is not possible. If you really want independence, then you mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimuktes. Then you have to take shelter of mahajana, mahat-seva. That is the instruction of Bhagavad-gita, that tad viddhi pranipatena [Bg. 4.34]. First thing is that this… Mukti means you have to become surrendered either to Krsna or Krsna’s representative. Otherwise there is no question of mukti. And if you do not do this, if you think that eat, drink, be merry and enjoy life, that is called yosi sanga, yositam sangi-sangam. What is that? Tamo-dvaram. That means you are making progress towards darkness, tamo-dvaram, hellish condition of life. na te viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum durasaya ye bahir-artha maninah [SB 7.5.31] matir na krsne paratah svato va mitho ’bhipadyeta grha-vratanam adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram punah punas carvita-carvananam [SB 7.5.30] These are the instructions Prahlada Maharaja gave. He wanted to teach his father, atheist father. So his father inquired, “Prahlada, how you have developed this Krsna consciousness?” So Prahlada began to smile and said to his father, matir na krsne paratah svato va. He did not address his father “My dear father.” He used to address him as “the best of the asuras,” asura-varya. Tat sadhu manye ’sura-varya. So he said, “My dear father,” matir na krsne paratah svato va, “to become Krsna conscious is not so easy.” Paratah svato va, “Even if you hear instruction from others or if you speculate yourself, it is not possible.” Matir na krsne paratah svato va mitho ’bhi,“or making by assembly, conference.” Why? Na grha-vratanam. “If you have this intention, that ‘I shall live in this material world. I shall become happy in this material world,’ then there is no question of becoming advanced in Krsna consciousness.” Matir na krsne paratah svato va mitho ’bhipadyeta grha-vratanam. Why they are so much attached? Adanta-gobhih, because they are not gosvamis. Adanta. Adanta means uncontrolled, go means senses. They have given freedom to the senses: “Whatever you like, you do.” So the result is that if you let loose your horses—“Whatever you like, you can do”-then it will go and cause you to fall down in a ditch, adanta-gobhih. Similarly, if we give freedom to the senses, adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram, we go to the darkest region of hellish condition of life. And what is that? Punah punas carvita-carvananam [SB 7.5.30], again and again the same disease: birth, death, old age and disease. Punah punas carvita-carvananam [SB 7.5.30], this life or that life, the birth, death, old age, disease will continue. So if you have got determination that “We shall continue this life of birth, death, old age and disease and let loose our senses, do whatever you like,” then there is no question of liberation. There is no lib… Therefore it is said, tamo-dvaram yositam sangi-sangam. Yositam sangi-sangam, yosit means woman, generally. Woman is supposed to be the representative of maya. So either you directly keep relation or you keep relation with persons who are very much fond of yosit, in both ways you have to go directly to the darkest region of hellish conditions. Tamo-dvaram. Therefore our Vedic civilization is… The first teaching is brahmacari. First teaching, how to become brahmacari. There are many saintly persons, they are akhanda brahmacari, or avala (?) brahmacari. They avoid. It is not only for men; it is meant for woman also, because here we are dressed like men and women. Otherwise the mentality is manly, to enjoy, purusa. Purusa means who wants to enjoy, and yosit means enjoy. So our relationship in this material world, that either in the dress of woman or man, the mentality is purusa, how to enjoy. The mentality is purusa. So when we give up this mentality, enjoyer… Because we are not actually enjoyer. Enjoyer is Krsna. Krsna says, bhoktaram yajna-tapasam sarva-loka-mahesvaram suhrdam sarva-bhutanam jnatva mam (santim rcchati) [Bg. 5.29] And in the Bhagava… Arjuna also addresses Krsna, param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan, purusam sasvatam [Bg. 10.12] You are the only purusa, sasvata. So we are simply thinking of becoming purusa, enjoyer. But we are not purusa. We are all prakrti. It is described in the Bhagavad-gita, the jiva-bhuta. Apareyam itas tu viddhi me prakrtim param. Prakrti, another prakrti is there. This material prakrti, bhumir apo ’nalo vayuh, they are My bhinna prakrti, bhinna prakrtir astadha. But besides that, there is another prakrti. Prakrti means, who is that prakrti? Jiva-bhuta, the living entities. The living entity’s prakrti. He is not purusa. Constitutionally, prakrti means the things which are enjoyed. That is called prakrti. And the enjoyer is called purusa. So nobody of us, either men or women. We are not purusa. We are all prakrti constitutionally. That is called hitvanyatha rupam sva-rupena vyavasthitih. When you live as prakrti, not as purusa, that is called mukti. This is the definition of mukti. Mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimukteh [SB 5.5.2], every one of us, we are thinking as purusa, enjoyer. That is the fight between, going on. Just like in Western countries, the prakrti, the woman, they’re also fighting, “We have equal rights with the man.” So this is going on. So this is all conditional life, the so-called purusa life, or so-called prakrti life. Unless we have got real enlightenment, what is our real, constitutional position? That we can learn only by the association of mahat, mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimukteh [SB 5.5.2]. That is the Vedic process, tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. We must take shelter. Krsna also says that tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasnena sevaya upadeksyanti tad jnanam jnaninas tattva-darsinah [Bg. 4.34] Everywhere, in Srimad-Bhagavatam also the same thing is explained, tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasur sreya uttamam [SB 11.3.21] If you are inquisitive to understand transcendental truth, the Absolute Truth, the guru is… To have a guru is not a fashion. Now it has become a fashion. If somebody shows some jugglery, people become very much anxious to accept such guru. No. Guru means, tasmad gurum prapadyeta. Who requires a guru? Jijnasu sreya uttamam, one who is very much anxious to know about the ultimate benefit of life. For him guru is required. Not a fashion. Just like we keep a dog as a fashion. Nowadays it is a fashion to keep a dog. So don’t keep a guru like a dog. And who will hear you? “Come on. Come on.” Yes. Not like that. Guru require then where you can surrender. Not like a dog, but master, where you can surrender. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta, prapadyeta means you must surrender. And why you should surrender? Jijnasu. If you are actually inquisitive, inquirer, what about? Sreya uttamam. Sreya means the ultimate benefit of life. And preya means immediate benefit of life. There are two things: sreya and preya. The human life is meant for sreya. And animal life is meant for preya, immediate benefit. That is called preya. And sreya means ultimate benefit of life. That one who is inquisitive to understand about the ultimate goal of life, for him there is need of guru, not a fashion. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasur sreya uttamam [SB 11.3.21]. Then what is that guru? That is also explained: sabde pare ca nisnatam brahmany upasamasrayam. Sabde means Vedic literature. Vedic He has drowned himself, he has bathed himself in the ocean of Vedas. Sabde pare ca nisnatam. Just like if you take bathing in a river, deep down you’ll become refreshed. Similarly, one has to take sabde pare ca nisnatam. And what is the symptom? How I shall know that he has taken bathing fully in the ocean of Veda? Brahmany upasamasrayam, he has finished all desires for material happiness or distress. He is brahmany upasamasrayam. He has taken shelter of Brahman—the same thing, Parabrahman, Krsna. Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66], one who has taken fully shelter under the lotus feet of Parabrahman, Krsna, you have to take shelter of such a guru. Otherwise you’ll not be able to get out of these clutches of maya. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta [SB 11.3.21], every sastra you go. So therefore here it is said that if you are actually anxious to become free from this material condition of life, then you must accept the service of mahat-seva. Mahat means one who has fully surrendered to Krsna. He’s mahat. Vasudeva sarvam iti. One who has taken this conclusion, vasudevah sarvam iti, sa mahatma su-durlabhah [Bg. 7.19]. Mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim prakrtim asritah, bhajanty ananya-manaso [Bg. 9.13]. These are the formulas. So mahatma means the fully surrendered soul unto the lotus feet of Krsna. He is the first-class mahatma. Sa mahatma su-durlabhah, not ordinary mahatma, but su-durlabhah. And what are the signs? Mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim prakrtim, bhajanty ananya-manaso [Bg. 9.13]. He has no other business except worshiping Krsna. That’s all. Mam ekam. In this way if we find the opportunity, then there is possibility of mukti. Mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimukteh [SB 5.5.2]. And if we associate with the yosi sangi, those who are desirous of enjoying this material world under different pleas, you, if you associate with them, then you glide down to the darkest region of hellish condition of life. In the next verses it is said, mahantas te sama-cittah. Then what is the symptoms of mahatma? He says, Rsabhadeva says, sama-cittah. Equilibrium, not disturbed by material conditions. Sama-cittah, sama sarvesu bhutesu. The same thing. Sama-cittah prasanta. Peaceful. Prasanta. Pra means prakrsta rupena, fully blissful. And when one can become fully prasanta, fully peaceful? When he has no more desire. Anyabhilasita-sunyam [BRS 1.1.11], no more desire. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma [Bg. 18.54]. Everything is described. So prasantatma. It is described in the Caitanya-caritamrta, so long you will want something there is no question of prasanta. So therefore Caitanya-caritamrta says bhukti mukti siddhi kami—sakali asanta. Bhukti means karmis. Karmis means those who are working very hard to get some material benefit. They are called karmis, either in this world or the next world or heavenly planet, there are different types of karmis. So the bhukti… Bhukti means bhoga, sense enjoyment. They are called karmis. So bhukti or mukti. Mukti means liberation to get out of this material contamination. That is called mukti, sva-rupena vyavasthitih. But just like the jnanis, they want mukti, sayujya mukti, to become one with the Supreme. So mukti, bhukti, mukti and siddhi. Siddhi means yogic perfection. Anima, laghima, prapti, eight kinds of yoga-siddhi. So the yogis, the jnanis, and the karmis, they want something. They want something. Therefore they are not prasanta. As soon as, so long you’ll want, you… There cannot be peacefulness. There is no question of peacefulness. Caitanya-caritam… Bhukti mukti siddhi kami—sakali asanta, they are not prasanta. Krsna-bhakta—niskama, ataeva ‘santa.’ Krsna bhakta, he does not want anything. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is teaching that. na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagad-isa kamaye mama janmani janmanisvare bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi This is called santi, “I don’t want it.” Na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagad-isa kamaye. This is bhukti. Karmis, they want. They want many followers, many voters, so that “I can become minister or president.” So Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, “No, I don’t want many voters.” Na janam, na sundarim kavitam, “Neither very beautiful wife.” These are material demands, to get money or wealth, sumptuously, to get good a wife and many followers, many workers. Caitanya Mahaprabhu denies, na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagad-isa kamaye. Then what do you want? Mama janmani janmanisvare, He doesn’t want mukti even. Otherwise how He says janmani, janmani? Mukti means no more janma. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu says mama janmani janmani. It doesn’t matter. Mama janmani janmanisvare bhavatad ahaituki bhakti. That’s all. Therefore if you want to become prasanta, fully satisfied… Just like Dhruva Maharaja, he went to the forest and underwent severe tapasya to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But when he actually saw Him, he said, svamin krtartho ’smi varam na yace: “I don’t want any benediction.” This is prasanta, no one disturbing Krsna for any personal, material benefits. That is called prasanta. That is stated here, mahanta. This is mahanta, sama-cittah prasanta vimanyavah. Vimanyavah, because a devotee has to suffer so many tribulations. That is the history of all devotees. But he’s never angry. He’s never angry. Then he falls down. Vimanyavah. Just like Lord Jesus Christ. He was being crucified; He still, He was praying, “God, these people they do not know what they are doing.” Vimanyavah, never angry. If he becomes angry, then who He’ll preach? He’s criticized for… There is a description of sadhavah in Kapiladeva’s instruction that titiksavah karunikah. Sadhu means very tolerant. That is taught by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna. So the first qualification of sadhu is titiksavah. And at the same time karunikah. There are many instances, just like Prahlada Maharaja. He tolerated so many tortures even by his father, titiksavah. And at the same time he was thinking, “How to deliver these persons who are not Krsna conscious?” That is karunikah. He is personally being tortured, but at the same time he was thinking how to do good to others. This is sadhu. Titiksavah karunikah. Suhrdam sarva-bhutanam, he’s friend, not only to the human society, but he’s friend to the ant even. A devotee does not like that even an ant should be killed. No. Suhrdam sarva-bhutanam, titiksavah karunikah suhrdah sarva, ajata-satravah, he does not create any enemy, but unfortunately the demons becomes his enemy. What can be done? Suhrdam sarva-bhutanam, ajata-satravah santah. Again this same word, prasanta, fully satisfied. He has nothing to hanker after because he has got Krsna. Why he should hanker? Santa, prasanta. titiksavah karunikah suhrdah sarva-bhutanam ajata-satravah santah sadhavah sadhu-bhusanah This is the sadhu. Therefore Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita: api cet suduracaro bhajate mam ananya-bhak, sadhur eva sa mantavyah [Bg. 9.30], he is sadhu. No more sadhu, this is sadhu. Therefore, here it is same thing, vimanyavah suhrdah sadhavo ye. So we have to approach sadhu. We have to approach devotee. We have to approach prasanta. And if we become fortunate to serve him, then the liberation, the path of liberation is open. Thank you very much. Any question? Who is the in charge of microphone? Go on. What happen? Acyutananda: (reading question) In the Vedas the maha-mantra is repeated Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare/ Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. What is the significance of changing the order? Prabhupada: There is no change of order. If you like you can begin with Hare Rama. There is no harm. Acyutananda: (to audience) We request everyone to please print very clearly and make your questions brief to save time. (reading question) Many people say that Lord Krsna is the King of romance. (indistinct) true? Prabhupada: King of…? Devotees: Romance. Prabhupada: Romance? Tamala Krsna: Romantic. King of lovers. Prabhupada: Yes. Krsna means the supreme lover and beloved. He attracts everyone. There is one Greek word, krista. The meaning is the same, “love.” And from this krista the word Christ has come. So this word Christ also has connection with Krsna. Acyutananda: How to see Lord Krsna? Can anybody see Him by chanting the holy name Hare Krsna mantra? Is it possible for a human being in his short period of life? Prabhupada: Yes. If he develops love for Krsna. That I have explained the other day, premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti [Bs. 5.38] If you develop love for Krsna, prema, prema pum-artho mahan, that is the recommendation by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that dharma, artha, kama, moksa is not the aim of life. Prema pum-artho mahan. After liberation… brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati samah sarvesu (bhutesu) mad-bhaktim labhate param [Bg. 18.54] When one is engaged in devotional service, loving devotional service, then he can increase his love for Krsna. The love for Krsna is there. In the Caitanya-caritamrta it is said, krsna… nitya-siddha krsna-prema ‘sadhya’ kabhu naya sravanadi-suddha-citte karaye udaya [Cc. madhya 22.107] The love for Krsna is there, everywhere. Just like the European, American boys. Why they are loving Krsna? It is not foreign. It was there. It was there. Similarly, in everyone’s heart there is love for Krsna. By cultivation, that Krsna consciousness, that love becomes developed. And when you develop that love for Krsna, then you will see Krsna twenty-four hours. That is wanted. So adau sraddha tatah sadhu sanga tato ’nartha-nivrttih syat tato nistha tato bhakti… Tato nistha tathasaktis tato bhava sadhakanam ayam premnah pradurbhave bhavet kramah. This is the adau sraddha. Just like you have come here in this Krsna consciousness movement meeting because you have got little sraddha, faith. This is called sraddha. You have to increase this sraddha. How? Adau sraddha tatah sadhu sanga, those who are Krsna’s devotees, you have to associate with them. You cannot develop Krsna consciousness by associating with drunkards and others. No. That is not possible. You have to associate with krsna bhakta. Adau sraddha tatah sadhu sanga, sadhu means bhajate mam ananya-bhak, sadhur eva sa mantavyah [Bg. 9.30] I’ve already described the sadhu. If you want love of Krsna, then you have associate with sadhu. Sadhu means krsna-bhakta. Adau sraddha tatah sadhu-sango, tato bhajana-kriya. Association with sadhu means you’ll learn, bhajana-kriya. Just like many people come in our society, not in the beginning as devotee, as a matter of inquisitiveness. Then gradually he wants to become initiated. He approaches, “Kindly initiate me. Make me a disciple.” Bhajana kriya. This is called bhajana-kriya. And if you actually perform bhajana-kriya, then anartha nivrttih syat. All these unwanted things which you have learned, you have become habituated, mainly illicit sex, meat-eating, intoxication and gambling, that becomes finished. Anartha-nivrttih syat. No more attachment for these things. Then nistha, firm conviction. Then ruci, taste. Then asaktih, attachment. Then bhava, “Oh, Krsna is so nice.” Then prema. That requires… If you have developed your love for Krsna, then you will see Krsna twenty-four hours. premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti yam syamasundaram acintya-guna-svarupam govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami [Bs. 5.38] This is the process. So if by the mercy of Krsna you practice this process, then you’ll see Krsna always. There is no… Krsna is not concealed. He is prepared to be revealed. He comes Himself, “See Me. See My feature. Here I am. Here is my lila, Vrndavana lila.” But you don’t see, don’t like to see. That is our defect. Otherwise Krsna is always ready to be revealed. Premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah sadaiva hrdayesu [Bs. 5.38], sadaiva, twenty-four hours you’ll see. So Krsna is open for everyone. Mam hi partha vyapasritya ye ’pi syuh papa-yonayah [Bg. 9.32], it doesn’t matter you are born in a low-grade family. It doesn’t matter. Still, striyo vaisyas tatha sudras te ’pi yanti param gatim, you’ll get the highest result of life by seeing Krsna. So krsna-bhakti is ahaituky apratihata. It cannot be checked by any material condition if you are serious about it. Then Krsna will help you. Tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam priti-purvakam, dadami buddhi-yogam tam [Bg. 10.10], “I’ll give you intelligence how to see Me.” These things are there. So if you are serious to see Krsna then Krsna is ready to be seen by you. It is not very difficult task. Acyutananda: Is there any difference between Siva and Krsna? Prabhupada: Yes. There is no difference and difference also. Just like milk and yogurt, dahi. Dahi is nothing but milk, but still it is not milk. That is the example. That… What is dahi? Dahi is transformation of milk. But you cannot say it is milk. Will you accept dahi instead of milk? Or will it act the same way? No. So everything is like that. Acintya-bhedabheda-tattva. Krsna has explained this fact. What is that? maya tatam idam sarvam jagad avyakta-murtina mat-sthani sarva-bhutani naham tesu avasthitah “Everything is resting in Me.” But if you’ll see, if you say, “Then everything is Yourself…” No. Naham tesu avasthitah, Krsna is everything; at the same time everything is not Krsna. This is called acintya-bhedabheda, simultaneously one and different. So Lord Siva is also expansion of Krsna. Aham bija-pradah pita, that form is Lord Siva. So but, he said that dadhi vikara. Dadhi. Dadhi means yogurt. Milk is transformed into yogurt, dahi. And when it is dahi, it is no more milk. This is the idea. If you require milk for some purpose and if I give you dahi, “That is same thing, sir. Why don’t you take?” “No. It will be different effect.” Acyutananda: Please clarify whether Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was a devotee of Krsna or is He Himself avatara? Prabhupada: If you plug your ears then how can I explain? So many times we have said that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna, krsnaya krsna-caitanya-namine gaura-tvise namah. He has appeared in the name of Krsna Caitanya, but He’s Krsna Himself. We have to follow this. Acyutananda: How can the world survive when people forget their karma and immerse themselves in Krsna consciousness? Won’t it lead to inaction and a stand-still condition? Prabhupada: What is that? (laughter) Pancadravida: If they stop their karma and take to Krsna consciousness, everything will stand still. Prabhupada: Nothing stands still. We are not karmis. At least, we are not doing anything. We go and become guests of Pittieji and he does everything. We do not benefit. So you try to become Krsna conscious, everything will be done automatically. You don’t have to worry. Tesam nityabhiyuktanam yoga-ksemam vahamy aham [Bg. 9.22] Of course, you cannot stop karma. That is not possible. Not that everyone will become Krsna conscious and your field of activities will be stopped. No. And Krsna consciousness does not mean to stop the activities—some group of lazy people. No. We are the most active people, touring all over the world. Who can become a karmi like us? In this old age I am traveling all over the world. Can any karmi do that? So if you become Krsna conscious, then karma, jnana, yoga, everything becomes perfect. That is Krsna consciousness. Just like if you get one lakh of rupees, ten rupees is there. You haven’t got to separately to acquire ten rupees. Similarly, karma, jnana, yoga, they are ten rupees, twenty rupees, fifty rupees, like that. And Krsna consciousness is one lakh of rupees. As soon as you get Krsna consciousness, you’ll get everything. Therefore Krsna says sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam [Bg. 18.66], you’ll get everything there. It is confirmed. akamah sarva-kamo va moksa-kama udara-dhih tivrena bhakti-yogena yajeta purusam param [Bhag. 2.3.10] Akama. Akama means bhakta. Prasanta. He doesn’t want anything. They are called akama. Sarvakama means karmi. He wants everything. Bring these danam dehi, rupam dehi, yaso (?) dehi, dehi, dehi, dehi. That is karmi. Akamah sarva-kamo va moksa-kama [Bhag. 2.3.10], moksa-kama means those who are desiring after liberation. So whatever you may be, never mind. There are three classes of men, akama, sarva-kama, moksa-kama, so whatever you may be, Krsna is competent. He says, therefore, that tivrena bhakti-yogena yajeta paramam purusa. The only method that Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya… [Bg. 18.66] If you, even if you want to be karmi, even you want the karmi’s desire, that you want everything, to enjoy, that will also be fulfilled if you become devotee of Krsna. Tivrena bhakti-yogena yajeta paramam purusa. You haven’t got to work separately for fulfilling your desire of karma or jnana or yoga. Everything will be there. Krsna is so powerful. Ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham [Bg. 4.11]. If you want from Krsna the result of your karma, good result, Krsna will give you. Krsna is not unable to award you this. So better you simply worship Krsna. You get all your desires fulfilled. And the ultimate result will be that you will no more desire, because so long you’ll desire, you’ll never get peace. But by worshiping Krsna for some material motive, you’ll get that, (but) at the end you will not ask anything more. You’ll be santa, prasanta. This is the result. Just like Dhruva Maharaja. He went to worship Krsna for achieving greater kingdom than his father. That was his motive. But when he actually got perfection, he said, svamin krtartho ’smi varam na yace. Yam labdhva caparam labham manyate nadhikam tatah, when you get Krsna, then you’ll understand that there is no more anything more obtainable than Krsna, fully satisfied. That is wanted. That’s all? So many? All right. Go on. Acyutananda: Catur-varnyam maya srstam: [Bg. 4.13] is it applicable to India alone, or the whole world? Prabhupada: Whole world. Krsna, whatever Krsna speaks, it is for the whole world. Therefore we are creating brahmanas in the Western countries. You’ll have to import brahmana from there. (laughter) As you are importing milk powder. All cows finished. So brahmana is finished. So you have to import brahmana from Europe and America. Acyutananda: If Krsna has created the universe, then who has created Krsna? How did He acquire such immense powers? Prabhupada: Hmm. This is foolishness. (laughter) That is explained of course. Janmady asya yatah anvayad itaratas ca abhijnah svarat [Bhag. 1.1.1] This word is used. Krsna means janmady asya yatah. Krsna also explains aham sarvasya prabhavo mattah sarvam pravartate [Bg. 10.8]. He is the origin of everything. But He’s svarat, there is no more origin of Krsna. Sarva-karana-karanam [Bs. 5.1]. That is said in the sastra: isvarah paramah krsnah sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah, anadi [Bs. 5.1]. He has no adi. Anadi, adi. He is the adi origin of everything, but He has no adi. That is God. That is God. Anadir adir govindam sarva-karana-karanam. He is the cause of all causes. Just like I have got my father, you have got my (your) father. Your father has got father, his father, his father, his father, go on. Krsna is the supreme father, but He has no father. That is Krsna. Krsna does not require any father. But he accepts a father amongst His devotees because the devotee wants Krsna also as child. To fulfill the desire of the devotee He accepts Nanda Maharaja as father, Vasudeva as father, just to give them pleasure. Krsna as child, Yasoda-mayi is enjoying the pleasure. Krsna is playing as child. But he has no father, neither mother. He accepts the beloved devotee as father and mother. This is Krsna. Guest: Is Siva milk or dahi? Just now you said something about dahi and milk. Is Siva milk or dahi? Prabhupada: Dahi. Guest: That is what I wanted to know. Prabhupada: Siva is dahi and Krsna is milk. Dahi, the preparation of dahi that you take milk, pure milk, and mix it with little sour thing, then it becomes dahi. Similarly, Krsna is pure spirit, and when this pure spirit is mixed up with maya, that is Siva. Lord Siva is the maya-adipati. There are many narrations. This was once inquired by Yudhisthira Maharaja that Lord Siva, he appears to be like a beggar. He does not possess even a house. He lives underneath a tree. And the devotee of Siva becomes very rich, opulent materially, although he’s a beggar, whereas Visnu is laksmi-pati, vaikuntha-pati, and the Vaisnavas become beggar. Just opposite. By worshiping the beggar one becomes rich, and by worshiping the rich one becomes beggar. What is this contradiction? So this is answered by Krsna, yasyaham anugrhnami harisye tad-dhanam sanaih, “My first benediction to my devotee is that I take away all his riches. That’s all. Then when he becomes helpless, he becomes firmly convinced and he has no other shelter.” Then automatically he takes shelter of Krsna, what Krsna demands, sarva-dharman parityajya mam [Bg. 18.66]. When he has no other help, he fully surrenders to Krsna. That is Krsna’s special mercy. And so far Lord Siva is concerned, he is the husband of mother Durga, and Durga is the supreme material power, srsti-sthiti-pralaya sadhana-saktir eka chayeva yasya bhuvanani vibharti durga [Bs. 5.44]. So he gets all material benediction, and Vaisnava, instead of material benediction, he gets all spiritual benediction. That is the difference. Acyutananda: The last question. What is the real meaning of religion? Prabhupada: Religion means to abide by the laws of God. Dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam [SB 6.3.19]. Dharma is the core. Just like the state gives you law. So you cannot manufacture law at home. That is not possible. Nobody will accept that. When it is given by the state government, that is law. Similarly, what is given by God, that is religion, and that is given in the Bhagavad-gita. Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. This is religion. And other things cheating. That’s all. Dharmah projjhita kaitavo atra, all cheating type of religious system is rejected. In the Bhaga… Srimad-Bhagavatam begins, dharmah projjhita kaitavo atra. Sridhara Swami says, “Kaitava means cheating.” Moksa vancha api nirasta, even desiring for liberation, that is also cheating type of religion. Simply to surrender to Krsna, that is religion. Otherwise no religion. Dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam [SB 6.3.19]. This is religion. That’s all right? Chant Hare Krsna. (end)
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Hyderabad, April 13, 1975