Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.3 Prabhupada: …or grhastha or sudra or brahmana, they are situated on the transcendental platform. So such person described here, because the recommendation is mahat-seva. So it does not mean mahat is only to be found in among the sannyasis, or fire circle, brahmanas. No. Mahat can be found in other circle also, but what is the qualification? The qualification is ye va mayise krta-sauhrdartha. His only business is to keep friendly relationship with Krsna. That is the first qualification. The first-class example is Arjuna. He was a military man, a politician, and grhastha, ksatriya, not brahmana, not sannyasi, but still Krsna accepts him. Sakha ceti, for you are my dear friend bhakto ’si sakha ceti. “You are not only My devotee, you are My best friend,” Krsna says. Although he is grhastha, a military man, and as ksatriya, still Krsna accepts him that “I shall speak to you the mystery of Bhagavad-gita, because you are My dear friend and bhakta.” Bhakto ’si sakha ceti rahasyam hy etad uttamam. Krsna also wants somebody friendly. It doesn’t matter whether he is a sannyasi or grhastha. So any grhastha, whose only aim is how to keep friendship with Krsna, he is also mahat, mahatma. He also mahat, because the recommendation, mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimuktes. One has to take shelter of a mahatma, and serve him with surrender, then his path of liberation will be open. So, if somebody says—I think the other day somebody was questioning—that “If I cannot contact sannyasi because I am grhastha, I am family man, so how my path of liberation will be open?” Yes, that is possible provided you find amongst your society a person like this, ye va mayise krta-sauhrdartha. If you can find out amongst your associate, a person who is only dedicated to Krsna, you can associate with him. Then your path of liberation will be open. So that symptoms are described here janesu, ye va mayise krta-sauhrdartha janesu dehambhara-vartikesu grhesu jayatmaja-ratimatsu na priti-yukta… Janesu dehambhara-vartikesu. Generally people, they’re interested how to maintain this body, because they are in bodily concept of life. Just like we pass through the streets, there are so many shopkeepers, and they’re all decorating their shop to supply the needs of the body. Cloth shop, tailor shop, wine shop, this shop, that shop, but what are these shops? Dehambhara-vartikesu, they are simply interested in maintaining this body, that’s all. This is only business in the big, big cities, you’ll find that business is going on, how to maintain this body. There is advertisement, as you look just like a human being, not some, something advertisement. So that is going on. We, our business at the present moment in conditioned life, nidraya hriyate naktam. At night we sleep, and vyavayena ca va vayah. Vyavayena means sex. At night our business is to sleep, and to indulge in sex. In this way we are wasting time, night. And daytime, diva carthehaya rajan kutumba-bharanena va [SB 2.1.3]. And in the daytime, we are very busy going this side, that side. Why? To get some money, div a ca artha ihaya. Desiring where I shall get money? Where I shall get money? Diva carthehaya, and as soon as I get money, I spend it, kutumba-bharanena va, to maintain our family. So where is time for Krsna consciousness? There is no time sir. So one should not be interested in that way. Therefore it is said, that, dehambhara-vartikesu, those who are busy only for maintainance of this body, to such person, he is not interested, na priti-yukta. This is the sign. He, he may be a grhastha, it does not matter, but he is interested with Krsna’s business, not dehambhara-vartikesu. Those who are interested with this body only, with them he has no interest. This is the sign. That is also mahatma. Ye va mayise krta-sauhrdartha, his only business is how to keep friendship with Krsna. That is his only business. Then he is mahatma. And so far janesu, people in general, who are simply interested how to maintain this body, janesu dehambhara-vartikesu. And, then what about his family? Yes, grhesu, at home. Jaya, jaya means wife. Jaya atma-ja, atma-ja means children. Grhesu jayatmaja-ratimatsu, and business about earning money, na priti-yukta, he’s not interested. Although he is at home, he is not interested at home. Therefore generally devotees, they become very reluctant in the interest of maintaining family, children, wife. Simply as far as possible, duty. So much interested, not any more. These are the signs. If you want to find out a grhastha mahatma, then he has got his family, he has got his children, he has got his wife, he has got his business. He has got to meet so many other people, but they are, he’s not at all interested. Simply behavior, official. “Yes, yes, it is all right. Yes, it is all right. What you say it is all right, but I am not interested.” This is called disinterested. People are generally very much interested in these things. So if you want to find out a mahatma within the society, not as a renounced sannyasi, then these are the symptoms. There are other symptoms. Nunam pramattah kurute vikarma [Bhag. 5.5.4], that we shall describe later on. These are the general symptoms of a mahatma grhastha. He is not interested in this bodily concept of life, or maintaining very opulently his family members, or talking very seriously with persons who are simply materially interested, dehambhara, just to maintain this body. Of course we require to maintain this body. He is not neglectful. There is no question of negligence. He takes care of his children, of his wife, everything, but without any attachment. That is recommended by the Gosvamis. That, anasaktasya visayan yatharham upayunjatah. You give education to your children, that is required. You maintain your wife, that is also required, no negligence, but no attatchment at the same time. No attachment, that I shall sacrifice everything for my wife, and children, and home. That is not a mahatma’s business, because he knows that he cannot improve the destiny. Everybody has got his body with certain destiny already settled up. That you cannot change. Otherwise everyone is trying to become very rich, very important, there is no scarcity of endeavor, but not that everyone is becoming like that. That is called destiny. So those who are believer in the sastras, believer in the Supreme Lord, they believe in destiny also. Therefore sastra says, tasyaiva hetoh prayateta kovido na labhyate yad bhramatam upary adhah. We should try for advancing our Krsna consciousness. That is our main business. Tasyaiva hetoh prayateta kovido. Kovidah means very expert. He should try for advancing in Krsna consciousness, not for material advancement. This is civilization. That is, we have already discussed. Nayam deho deha-bhajam nrloke kastan kaman arhate vid-bhujam ye [Bhag. 5.5.1]. If you think that, “If I work very hard, then I shall improve my position,” that is not possible. Your position is already fixed up. Then shall I not try for my happiness? Yes. That is replied in the sastra. Tal labhyate duhkhavad anyatah sukham. You do not try for distress of life, why does it come? You do not ask God, “Please give me distress.” Nobody asks, but why distress comes? Similarly, if you do not pray for happiness, if you have got happiness in your destiny, it will come, as the distress comes. Tal labhyate duhkhavad anyatah sukham. So don’t be misled by so- called happiness and distress. It is already fixed up. Simply try for advancing in Krsna consciousness. That is real business. Tasyaiva hetoh prayateta kovido. That business can be done very perfectly well when, mahat-sevam dvaram ahur vimuktes, when we associate with mahatma. It doesn’t matter whether he’s a sannyasi or grhastha, he must be mahatma. Mahatma means one who has got relationship with Krsna. That is described in the Bhagavad…, mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim prakrtim asritah, bhajanty ananya-manaso [Bg. 9.13], that is mahatma. You cannot stamp anybody and become a mahatma. No. Mahatma’s sign is, mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim prakrtim asritah, bhajanty ananya-manaso [Bg. 9.13]. He has no other business. Simply he has only one business: how to please Krsna. That is mahatma. Anukulyena, just like Arjuna did. Arjuna did not like to fight. He completely denied, he set aside his arrows and bows, became very morose, and then he asked Krsna, “I am now puzzled, you can give me instruction, what is my duty, because karpanya dosa upahata svabhavah. Actually my, it is duty, my duty, that uh I am ksatriya, and there is fight, battlefield, I should take advantage of it, but still, karpanya dosa upahata svabhavah. I am going against my nature, so I do not know what to do, please instruct.” Sisyas te ’ham sadhi mam prapannam. So, actually Arjuna was not willing to fight, because he is a Vaisnava. He does not want to kill, even if he is, even if he was put into so many difficulties. That was his attitude. So his decision was that he would not fight, but for the sake of Krsna, when he understood that Krsna wants this fight… Krsna said finally, nimitta-matram bhava savya-sacin. “Don’t think that these people who have come here will go back home. They will be killed here. That is my plan. You simply become an instrument, so that you may take the credit. I shall be happy. But they are already finished. This is my plan.” So when he understood that Krsna wants me to fight, took the credit of becoming victorious. So he doesn’t care for credit, but he understood that this is my duty, to please Krsna. Then when Krsna asked him, “What is your decision?” He said, “Yes, karisye vacanam tava [Bg. 18.73], I shall fight,” and he fought. This is called krta-sauhrdartha. For Krsna’s sake they can do anything. There are many other devotees also, just they, the gopis, for Krsna’s sake they sacrificed everything, their reputation, their family, their husband, their father, their brother. “No, Krsna is now playing on His flute. He wants to dance with us. Let us go.” Father is asking, “Where are you going?” Brother is, “Where are you going?” “Oh, you are going to Krsna.” So this is called Krsna consciousness. Ye va mayise krta-sauhrdartha. One is not interested in anything else, he is only interested in Krsna. Anukulyena krsnanu-silanam [Madhya 19.167], to serve Krsna as He desires. So as He desires… If we have no relationship with Krsna, no connection with Krsna, how we can understand as He desires? Yes, that we will have. Krsna is within you, isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese ’rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61]. As soon as you become sincere, if you are qualified to serve Krsna, then Krsna will dictate from within, “Do like this.” Buddhi-yogam dadami tam yena mam upayanti te. To whom? Tesam nityabhiyuktanam bhajatam priti-purvakam. One who is engaged in loving service of Krsna and Krsna is very expert, He can understand how you want to serve Him, with a motive or without motive. When He understands, then He personally gives you dictation, “You do like this, you do like that.” So that is Krsna’s friendship. Krsna is always available. Krsna can be seen twenty-four hours, provided you elevate to the position how to talk with Krsna, how to see Krsna, how to act toward Krsna. It is not very difficult. So the symptom is described, how even a grhastha can become fully Krsna conscious. The negative side is described that he’s not interested with this worldly, so-called advancement of social position, or advancement of economic problem. So many things they have created. These are described here. Grhesu jayatmaja-ratimatsu. Atmaja-ratimatsu na priti-yukta yavad-arthas ca loke. Neither neglectful as far as possible, yavat-arthah, not too much overwhelmed, because after all this is temporary. Our so-called society, friendship, love, in this material world, they are all, they are called illusory, phenomenal. Therefore Sankaracarya said, jagan mithya. He says little bluntly, but actually it has no meaning, because this social condition of life is existent so long this body is there. As soon as I change my body, even in this country We are very much fond of our country, janani janma-bhumis ca svargad api gariyasi, but the country is so ungrateful. Suppose There are many vivid examples. Mahatma Gandhi, he worked so much for his country. The result was that he was killed by his countrymen. So, just see the example. So, in this material life, you will never be able to make anyone happy by your activities. That is not possible. Neither you will be happy. Kamadinam kati na katidha palita durnidesas tesam mayi na karuna jata na trapa nopasantih. That is the intelligent, that I have served the so-called society, friendship and love just to serve my own lusty desires, that’s all. Kamadinam kati na katidha palita durnidesas. Everyone is serving the so-called societies, and for his own satisfaction, sense gratification. Nobody wants to serve anyone. He wants to serve himself. That is the position, real position. So in this way, if we spoil, spoil our life We are serving, but serving our senses, lusty desires. We have to change this mood of service to serve Krsna. That is Krsna consciousness. That is Krsna consciousness. We have to serve. We cannot become master. That is not possible. As soon as you become master, you will be kicked. But that is also false position. We cannot become master, we are servant, but instead of serving Krsna, we are serving maya. That is our position. So we have to change this position. We, instead of serving maya, we have to transfer our service to Krsna. That is perfection of life. Thank you very much. [break] That is explained in Bhagavad-gita, bhakto ’si priyo ’si, “You are my dear friend, and friend, at the same time devotee.” So rahasyam etad uttamam. Bhagavad-gita is a mystery, rahasyam, and uttamam, transcendental. So without becoming a devotee of Krsna, nobody can understand Bhagavad-gita. The karmi, jnani, yogi, they cannot understand Bhagavad-gita. Otherwise Krsna would have instructed Bhagavad-gita to many karmis, jnanis, yogis. They are present, but He knows it well, these karmis, jnanis, yogis, they cannot understand Bhagavad-gita. Therefore He said to His devotee and friend, bhakto ’si, priyo ’si. So in order to understand Bhagavad-gita, one has to come to this position to become a devotee of Krsna. It is a business between Bhagavan and bhakta. Just like, if you go to the market place, if some merchant is talking with some broker or somebody about business, he is talking about that business, that is concluded. Similarly, Bhagavad-gita is spoken by Bhagavan, and it is heard by the bhakta. Therefore in the Bhagavad-gita there is no other business than bhakti. There is no other business. Karma, jnana, yoga. They are described, but with the aim to culminate in bhakti. Just like karma. Krsna said, yat karosi yad asnasi yat tapasyasi kurusva tat mad-arpanam, “Give it to Me.” This is bhakti. So far jnanis are concerned, Krsna concludes bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate [Bg. 7.19]. Jnanis, after many, many births, cultivation of knowledge, when he actually begins to become a bhakta, then his perfection is there. bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma su-durlabhah [Bg. 7.19] This is for the jnanis, and for the karmis, yat karosi. Yat karosi, “Whatever you do, the result you give it to me.” That means, bhakti misra karma, jnana misra bhakti. And for the yogis, he says, yoginam api sarvesam mad-gatenantaratmana sraddhavan bhajate yo mam sa me yuktatamo matah [Bg. 6.47] The first class yogi is, who is always thinking of Me. He is first- class. Yogi’s business is to see God within the heart. That is real yogi. Dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa pasyanti yam yogino. Yogi’s business is to see in meditation always Krsna or Visnu within the heart. That is real yogi. Dhyanavasthita, by meditation one has to see continually. That is called samadhi. yoginam api sarvesam mad-gatenantaratmana sraddhavan bhajate yo mam sa me yuktatamo matah [Bg. 6.47] He is first-class yogi. So everything is there ending in bhakti. Therefore in the Bhagavad-gita, the only talk is about bhakti, in a different way, either through karma-yoga, or jnana-yoga, or hatha-yoga. The point is how to become a devotee, and at the end He concludes, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66] This is the conclusion of, so these things cannot be understood by anyone who is not a devotee. Without being devotee, you cannot understand. Therefore there are so many, the politicians, the scholars, they are commenting Bhagavad-gita in so many ways, but they are misled. Because they are not devotee of Krsna. They cannot poke their nose in the Bhagavad-gita. It is not possible. So Arjuna was bhakta, therefore Bhagavad-gita was spoken to him. Not to a yogi, not to a karmi, not to a jnani. This is the answer. Acyutananda: (reads questions put by audience) Krsna says in the end of the Gita, sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg. 18.66], but in another place in the Gita, twice it is mentioned sreyan sva-dharmo, para-dharmo bhayavahah, one should perform his own duty rather than another’s duty. Prabhupada: Yes. Acyutananda: How can we… Prabhupada: I may say many things to you, but when I say something directly, “Do it,” your first duty is to do that. You cannot argue, “Sir, you said me like this before.” No, that is not your duty. What I say now, you do it. That is obedience. You cannot argue. Of course, Krsna never said anything contradictory, but if when one thinks foolishly that Krsna said something contradictory, no, that is not to be. You could not understand. So even though you could not understand, you take My direct orders now. Sarva-dharman parityajya mam e… [Bg. 18.66], that is your business. The master says like that, and the servant’s business is to accept it as it is, without any argument. That’s all right. Acyutananda: Are not all the poor, and miserable, and the weak, God? Why not worship the living God first? Prabhupada: Who is living God? Who is living God? That he has not mentioned. Devotee: The poor. Prabhupada: Poor is God? Then why rich is not God? If you have so broad vision, that you see God everywhere, so why you make distinction between poor God and rich God? Why you make distinction? If poor is God, the rich is also God. Panditah sama-darsinah [Bg. 5.18]. If you have got so broader vision, then why you distinguish between poor and rich. A pandita, a learned scholar, vidya-vinaya sampanne brahmane gavi hastini suni caiva sva-pake ca panditah sama-darsinah [Bg. 5.18] Sama-darsi means he has no distinction. Why you should make distinction between poor and rich? That is sama-darsi. As soon as you make distinction, then your vision is imperfect. Brahma-bhutah prasannatma na socati na kanksati samah sarvesu bhutesu, samata [Bg. 18.54] Not that I distinguish between this particular class to another particular. That is not brahma-darsana, neither it is sama-darsana. Acyutananda: You said that Lord Krsna has many opulences, but in Chapter Thirteen verse fifteen he says that He is nirguna. How to reconcile this statement? Prabhupada: What did, does He mean by nirguna? That let him explain first of all. What is nirguna? What does he mean by nirguna? Nirgunam guna-bhoktr ca. He is, Krsna is described, nirgunam guna-bhoktr ca. He is nirguna, at the same time enjoyer of gunas. What is that enjoyer of guna and nirguna? Can you explain? Nirguna means one who does not live under the condition of material gunas, sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. Transcendental. That is called nirguna. But nirguna does not mean that He has no transcendental qualities. Just like Krsna is bhakta-vatsala. That is His guna, but that is not material guna. That is spiritual guna. Krsna is nirguna means, He is not controlled by the material qualities, but He has got innumerable spiritual qualities. That is called gunavati. So unless we understand the distinction between matter and spirit, we cannot understand what is the meaning of nirguna. That is not possible. Acyutananda: In India, there are many swamis who claim to be Krsna. How to detect them? Prabhupada: Hm? Many swamis? Devotee: Claim to be Krsna. How to detect them. Prabhupada: Let them prove that he is Krsna. If you are foolish, then they will accept. If you are intelligent, then you’ll ask him, first of all lift the Govardhana Hill, then you become Krsna. Otherwise you are rascal, I kick you on your face. (laughter) This is our version. We do not accept these rascals as Krsna. We want to test, first of all, that you are Krsna. Why should we accept a rascal as Krsna unless he proves himself that he is Krsna? Krsna lifted Govardhana Hill when He was seven years old. What he has done that we shall accept him Krsna? Don’t be foolish. First of all let him prove that he’s Krsna. Test him. Then accept. Acyutananda: Why at the time of death, the name of God does not come to (indistinct)? Prabhupada: Because you are not practiced. You practice to chant Hare Krsna, at the time of death it will come. Abhyasa-yoga-yuktena cetasa nanya-gamina [Bg. 8.8]. That is advised. You practice it and you’ll remember. Sada tad-bhava-bhavitah. If you practice twenty- four hours, Krsna, Krsna, Krsna, then at the time you’ll chant Krsna, Krsna, Krsna. Otherwise, there is no possibility. Sada tad-bhava-bhavitah. Yam yam vapi smaran bhavam tyajaty ante kalevaram [Bg. 8.6]. So we have to practice. That is natural. If you always think of something, at the time of death you will think like that. So if you think of Krsna, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam nama… Therefore Krsna adv…, mam evaisyasi asamsayah [Bg. 18.65]. You simply add up these four principles, always think of Me, you become My devotee, and offer obeisances unto Me, man-mana bhava mad, mad-yaji, worship Me. You do these four things then mam evaisyasi asamsayah [Bg. 18.65], without any doubt you are coming to Me. So why don’t you do this? Four things, very easy things. Is it very difficult to constantly remember Krsna? You can do it. You are remembering something. A mind is occupied always with something. Just practice to occupy the mind with Krsna, that’s all. Where is the difficulty? Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namas… Everything is there. You practice it. Don’t (indistinct). Sa vai manah krsna-padaravindayor. Maharaja Ambarisa, he was a great emperor of this world, but his mind was fixed up on the lotus feet of Krsna. Sa vai manah krsna-padaravindayor vacamsi vaikuntha-gunanuvarnane. When you talk, you will talk about Krsna only. You practice. You always see, you see Krsna’s picture, Krsna’s Deity. You hear Krsna’s topics, Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam. In, in this way engage all your senses. Your seeing power, your hearing power, your talking power, your eating power, your sleeping power. Everything, if you make Krsna conscious, then generally or automatically, you’ll remember at the time of death Krsna. And as soon as you remember Krsna, ante narayana-smrtih, then your life is perfect. There is no difficulty. Simply you have to practice. Abhyasa-yoga-yuktena cetasa nanya-gamina [Bg. 8.8]. Don’t allow your mind to go astray, then everything is all right. Hm. Acyutananda: When you said that everyone is destined to a particular goal, then where is the question of preaching Krsna consciousness? Prabhupada: Therefore I said tasyaiva hetoh prayateta ko… You should try only for Krsna consciousness, other things are destined. That is my, you did not hear properly, that you should not try for anything else, because that is already destined. If you want success, then simply try for Krsna consciousness. That is wanted. Tasyaiva hetoh prayateta kovido na labhyate yad bhramatam upary adhah. We did not try in our other life. Other than human life, we did not try it. We simply tried for eating, sleeping, mating, and defending. Animal life. If you do the same thing again, and do not take to Krsna consciousness, then you are losing your time. Therefore it is advised, you should try only for Krsna consciousness, not for other things. They are already destined. This is the instruction. Acyutananda: What would be the result if all the people became devotees of Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu? Prabhupada: Very good result. He is lamenting, that He doesn’t want this good result that everyone will become Krsna consciousness? Eh? There is a story in this connection, that there was a hatta, a fair or market. So many people came there, and one old lady began to cry. “Where shall I give them place? So many people have come here.” She began to cry. Then her son said, “My mother, see in the evening. You don’t worry about giving them place.” So in the evening she saw everyone has gone. Similarly, in due course of nature’s activities, prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27], everything will go nicely. You haven’t got to be worried. You better be worried how to develop your Krsna consciousness. Other things will go on. And what is the harm there? If all people become Krsna conscious, and go back to home, back to Godhead, what is the harm there? Do you mean to say, to remain here in this material existence and suffer three-fold miseries, is that very good business? That will not happen. Don’t be worried. Krsna Consciousness is not so cheap. Only a few fortunate people will take it. Others will remain. Don’t worry. (laughter) Acyutananda: How is that there are different types of religion in the world? Prabhupada: There is no religion. This is manufactured religion. Real religion is to surrender to Krsna. Sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg. 18.66], therefore it is advised that you give up all these so-called religions, sarva-dharman. You become surrendered to Krsna. That is real religion. All others, cheating religion, that’s all. Dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam [SB 6.3.19]. Just like there may be so many laws, but the real law is what is given by the government. Similarly, there may be so many so-called religious system, but the real religious system is what is spoken by God Himself. That is real. Acyutananda: Do you think Krsna consciousness will last forever? Some people accuse that you are hippies. Prabhupada: Some people says, “You are hippie.” So you take that. What can be done? These are all nonsense questions. Any other question? Acyutananda: Even after repeated chanting of Krsna-nama, I could not get solace due to family worry. May I leave the family to bear faith and devote myself to become a devotee of Krsna? Prabhupada: What is that? Devotee: He wants to know if he should leave his family and become a devotee, because… Prabhupada: No, we never said that. Just now we explained. ye va mayise krta-sauhrdartha, you keep your intimate relationship with Krsna. It doesn’t matter whether you are in family or without family. It doesn’t matter. Just like I have given already example. Arjuna, he is a family man, he is not a sannyasi. Not only family man, a military man, and politician, but he was prepared to sacrifice everything for Krsna. That is wanted. If you do not become a family man, so what is the gain there? Or if you remain a sannyasi, if you have no Krsna consciousness, just like you said, “So many swamis they want to become Krsna instead of becoming devotee of Krsna.” So this kind of sannyasi is also useless. Similarly, grhastha, if he’s simply attached to family, that is also useless. Any condition of life, if you remain fixed-up with Krsna consciousness, that is your perfection of life. Yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei ‘guru’ haya [Cc. Madhya 8.128]. Anyone who is fully Krsna conscious and fixed-up in devotional service, knowing fully well what is Krsna, he is guru. It doesn’t matter whether he is a sannyasi, or grhastha or brahmana, and sudra. It doesn’t matter. Is that all right? Chant Hare Krsna. Devotees: Jaya Prabhupada! (end)
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Hyderabad, April 15, 1975