Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.2.17
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Vrndavana, September 20, 1975

Prabhupada:

tais tany aghani puyante tapo-dana-vratadibhih nadharmajam tad-dhrdayam tad apisanghri-sevaya

So yesterday we have explained that we are put into such position in this material world (pause) that we have to commit sinful activities. This is our position. Even if I do not want to do it. Just like a man accustomed to steal, he is dictated from within, “Don’t steal.” Otherwise why he goes at night to steal? He knows that “This is not good.” He does not steal openly. Secretly, without any knowledge. Because he knows that “What I am going to do is not good.” That’s a fact. Therefore sometimes it is called black. So he is forced to do it.

It was questioned by Arjuna to Krsna that “How one man is forced to commit sinful activities.” So Krsna replied, kama esa krodha esa rajoguna-samudbhavam. There are three modes of material nature: sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. So those who are in tamo-guna and rajo-guna, they are forced to commit sinful activities, forced. There is no alternative. Therefore we have to come. Just like we go to school, college for education. What is the purpose? That “We are ignorant. We are illiterate, uneducated. Therefore I must go to school to learn, to become enlightened.” Similarly, from the lower animal status we are coming by evolution, and in the human form of life, especially in the civilized human form of life, the enlightenment is that one should come from this tamo-guna, rajo-guna to sattva-guna. That is required. Therefore the brahminical culture is so much adored in India to make one from the lower status of life to the higher status of life. And that is very easily done simply by devotional service.

That is stated here. Na adharmajam dhrdayam. Our heart is filled up with all dirty things, adharma. And it is very difficult to purify the heart, but it is possible, tad api. Even the hard-hearted, stone- hearted, rajo-guna, tamo-guna, can be melted, can be reformed. How? Isanghri-sevaya. Isa. Isa means the Supreme Lord, Krsna. Anghri means His lotus feet. Sevaya. This is possible. In the Bhagavad-gita also, Krsna says the same thing. Mam hi partha vyapasritya ye ’pi syuh papa-yonayah [Bg. 9.32]. Papa-yoni. Punya-yoni means according to the infection of the heart with different qualities of these material modes of nature. That is called papa-yoni. One whose heart is too much engrossed with tamo-guna, rajo-guna, they are lower grade, papa-yoni. And gradually one who is free from the tamo-guna, rajo-guna… Even sattva-guna. Of course, sattva-guna is taken—the platform of goodness. That is the only hope in this material world, that one has to come by endeavor to the sattva-guna platform. Then the heart disease, kama… hrd-roga-kama(?). It is a heart disease. Kama means lusty desires simply to enjoy senses. This is called kama. Hrd-roga-kama aprnoti.

So the Krsna consciousness movement means to cure the heart disease full with lusty desires. This is Krsna consciousness. And the perfection comes when anyabhilasita-sunyam [BRS 1.1.11]—no more any material desire. That is possible. Yam labdhva caparam labham manyate nadhikam tatah. If you get something, that something, “I don’t want anything more.” Svamin krtartho ’smi varam na yace, Dhruva Maharaja said. He went to the forest to undergo severe austerities so that he can see Narayana and beg some benefit, to get a greater kingdom than his father. He was insulted by his stepmother, so the boy, son of a ksatriya, he determined that “I shall have a better kingdom than my father.” So he got it. By Krsna’s grace he got it, that Dhruvaloka, the polestar. It is very big star. So he went for this purpose. Artharthi. Catur-vidha bhajante mam sukrtino arjuna. Artharthi. Arto artharthi. So he was in search after money, Dhruva Maharaja, and therefore at five years old he went to the forest. His mother advised that “Krsna can help you only.” Others cannot help. So he was simple boy. He decided, “Where is Krsna?” “Now, my dear child, I know that He is found in the forest.” So he went to the forest, and he very severely Narada Muni tried to persuade him, “No, no, you are simply a small child. Why you are so much infected with the insult given by your stepmother?” So he said, “No, I don’t want your advice. If you can give me God, just talk of that. You don’t talk of compromise. I am not going.” This is determination. This is determination. So he, actually, within six months he saw Narayana. But when he saw Narayana, then his all material desires finished. He said, svamin krtartho ’smi varam na yace: “I came to ask You for some benefit, material benefit. Now, by seeing You I am so satisfied that I have no more any desire to ask for.” This is the ultimate stage, no more desire. We may begin with desire, but perfection is that, when there is no more desire. That is the beginning of bhakti.

anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam anukulyena krsnanusilanam bhaktir uttama [BRS 1.1.11]

That is bhakti, no more desire.

So here, na adharmajam tad-dhrdayam. Adharmajam. So long our heart is compact with material desires, we have to take birth after birth to fulfill that desire. It is automatic. So how to become desireless? Not desireless but no material desires. There is desire to go back to home, back to Godhead. That is natural. To become a devotee, to desire like that, that is wanted. We cannot stop our desires. But desires have to be purified. Sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam tat-paratvena nirmalam [Cc. Madhya 19.170] So this is the process of bhakti. Therefore even one is infected with these lusty desires, kama-lobhadayas ca ye, rajo-guna, tamo-guna… Rajo-guna, and tamo-guna means lusty desires and greediness. Kama-lobha. So, so long we are influenced by the two material modes of nature, rajo-guna and tamo-guna, then we will be pushed for fulfilling our lusty desires and greediness. And that will help us to become implicated in sinful activities. The people are becoming implicated in sinful activities only for this kama-lobha. He is never satisfied, and his greediness increases and we create sinful life.

So there is prescription in the sastra that “If you are sinful, you do this prayascitta, atonement.” Tapo-dana-vratadibhih. Tapo, tapasya, dana, and observing some vratas, vows, ritualistic ceremonies, recommended. But here the Visnudutas says that actually, by these processes, tapasya, dana… Na tyajyam karyam eva tat. Krsna also says that… What is that verse? I just forget. That tapasya, dana, vrata… Just like one has taken sannyasa. Sannyasa means he has given up all these obligatory ceremonies. But Krsna says that “Even if you have taken sannyasa, you cannot give up these processes.” What is that? “Tapasya, dana, and vrata.” It is pavanani manisinam. Even if you have become manisi, very exalted great sage, still, you should continue this tapasya. And tapasya means voluntarily accepting some miserable condition. That is called tapasya. Just like they used to perform austerity in winter season, to go deep into the water. When one tries to avoid water, tapasya means one goes You have seen many persons, they are standing within the water and chanting Gayatri mantra. This is tapasya. And in summer season they ignite fire all around and sit down.

So these things are not possible at the present moment in the Kali- yuga. But little tapasya required. Without tapasya you cannot be purified. That little tapasya we have prescribed, that “Rise early in the morning at half past three,” but they are so downtrodden, they cannot do it. “Let me sleep five minutes more. I’ll enjoy.” You see? Such downtrodden. They were performing austerities, standing in the water in winter season, and we are recommending, “Please rise early in the morning at half past three. Be prepared for mangala-arati,” it is very difficult job. Just see how much we are fallen. We cannot sacrifice, say, fifteen minutes or half an hour’s sleep. We consider, “Sleeping is very good enjoyment.” I have seen in the Western countries, they want to sleep so much. That is enjoyment. Up to twelve o’clock in daytime. There are many Indians also, they sleep up to twelve o’clock, and then they prepare for going to the office, big man. He goes to the office at four o’clock when the office is going to be closed. That is their enjoyment. “I have slept so much. That is my life’s success. I have eaten so much. That is my enjoyment. I have enjoyed sex life so much. That is enjoyment.” He does not know… The rascal does not know that he is becoming implicated for the next birth. If you are too much sleeping, then you become owl. You know? The whole day they can sleep, the owl. If you want to be naked, all right, you become a tree. Stand five thousand years naked. If you want sex, all right, become a hog or a monkey. Nature is prepared to give you facilities.

So purification means to stop this low-grade life. And low-grade life is there. Otherwise wherefrom they are coming? These cats and dogs and other lower animals, wherefrom they are coming? Karmana daiva-netrena jantur deha upapatti [SB 3.31.1]. We are creating the facility for the next body, karmana. Therefore it has to be purified. That is called tapah. Tapo divyam-putraka yena suddhyet. This is the… “My dear boys…” Rsabhadeva instructed His children, hundred sons, “My dear boys, just prepare yourself for tapasya.” That is the whole Vedic civilization, tapasya. Tapo divyam. Tapasya for realizing God. This is the only business of the human life, not any other business. Any other business will not help you. Otherwise everyone would have been very rich man. Everyone is trying, whole day and night working. Does it mean that everyone is becoming Birla and like that? No. That is not possible. You can get only what is destined to you, not more than that. You cannot get more than that. Therefore sastra says, tasyaiva hetoh prayeteta kovido. Tasyaiva hetoh prayeteta kovido na labhyate yad bhramatam upary adhah. We are, by the impelling of the material nature—prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah [Bg. 3.27]—we are wandering throughout the whole universe in different types of bodies, in different planets, but we are not getting released. Therefore our only business is to get released from this repetition of birth and death. Sastra… Tapo… Tasyaiva hetoh prayeteta kovido. You have become the inhabitants of the higher planets, and you have become an ant, a small insect. This is going on. But you haven’t got that release. Now you have got sense; you are human being. Tapo divyam. Now you engage yourself in that tapasya. Yajna-dana-tapah-kriya na tyajyam karyam eva tat. Yajna, dana and tapasya. Krsna says, “These things are not to be given up.” That is human civilization. Yajna-dana-tapah-kriya na tyajyam karyam eva tat: “It must be done.” So if we do not do that, then you are not human being. We are not… We are losing the chance of becoming purified, and again implicated in the cycle of birth and death.

So these things can be very easily done, as it is said here, tad api isa anghri-sevaya, simply by dedicating yourself at the lotus feet of Isa, the supreme controller. Isa means controller. Jagadisa. God’s another name is Jagadisa. He is the controller of the whole universe. So isanghri-sevaya. That is the only way. So that seva begins from tongue. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau. You can begin isa-seva by the tongue, service. Chanting Hare Krsna, that is also by tongue, and eating prasadam. Very easy. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has given us this easy program. So don’t deviate from this. Chant Hare Krsna and take prasadam. Make life simplified and be happy. That is Krsna consciousness movement.

Thank you very much. (end)