19821215 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.1.41

The following is a lecture given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami on December 15, 1982, in Honolulu, Hawaii. The class begins with a reading from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, 3rd Canto, Chapter 1, Verse 41.

Translation: O gentle one, I simply lament for him [Dhṛtarāṣṭra] who rebelled against his brother after death. By him I was driven out of my own house, although I am his sincere well-wisher, he did this, by accepting the line of action adopted by his own sons.

(Translation with repetition)

Purport: Vidura did not ask about the welfare of his elder brother, because there was no chance of his well-being, only news of his gliding down to hell. Vidura was a sincere well-wisher for Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and he had a thought about him in the corner of his heart. He lamented that Dhṛtarāṣṭra could rebel against the sons of his dead brother Pāṇḍu and that he could drive him (Vidura) out of his own house on the dictation of his crooked sons. In spite of these actions, Vidura never became an enemy of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, but continued to be his well-wisher, and at the last stage of Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s life, it was he only who proved to be his real friend. Such is the behavior of a Vaiṣṇava like Vidura: he desires all good, even for his enemies.

Thus end the purport of Text 41, Chapter 1, Canto 3 of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam in the matter of Questions by Vidura.

Jayapatākā Swami: So, here we see the quality of a devotee. Often, we wonder what it means to be well-wisher, how a devotee can even be a well-wisher to an enemy. That when a person is an enemy, naturally, he wants to hurt his enemy; wants to create some kind of misfortune for that person. But the devotee, does not desire, even for his enemy particularly, that there should be any misfortune, but would rather see that even the enemy may be bene… benedicted by becoming Kṛṣṇa conscious. That even the enemy, so-called enemy, the person who thinks that he is an enemy of the devotee, may somehow or another stop his envious position, you see.

In material life, we find that, even Indra and great demigods are praying for protection from the demons. Of course, they would just as soon see the demons completely destroyed. But the mood of Lord Caitanya’s devotees is that even the demons, they like to see become devotees.

Even Kṛṣṇa Himself, when the demons would come, if they showed little bit of… even the demons He would give liberation. And if they showed little service attitude like offering a poisoned breast for His sucking, or any little service, then, even then Kṛṣṇa would somehow deliver that person, and give them devotional service. So, we can understand how merciful Kṛṣṇa is, and how merciful the devotees are.

That of course, even great sages and great souls, they like to see, they don’t lament, they are actually relieved when they see a snake, or a scorpion killed. So, it's not out of context, of course a very envious person is destroyed by the material nature; or as the devotee won't lament for that, because that will clear the way for spreading him God consciousness. But even then, if the alternative is given, the devotee is motive is not being driven by some tamasic desire to destroy someone, but is actually ultimately being driven by an overall desire, for having people uplifted in Kṛṣṇa consciousness including even the inimical people. If there was a choice of destroying the person or making him a devotee, obviously the devotee would always choose and let the person be actually purified.

And this is something which is different than the ordinary consciousness. In ordinary consciousness, when there's an enemy, you just want to see him destroyed, you don’t care about helping them. So, in the saṅkīrtana movement, that mood... of compassion is something which is specifically one of the qualities of Lord Caitanya. It’s called audārya. Audārya. Jagannātha, Subhadrā, Balarāma - They are worshipped in the mood of aiśvarya. They are worshipped with opulence, like Kṛṣṇa in Dvārakā. And Rādhā Kṛṣṇa are worshipped in the mood of mādhurya. Mādhurya means the conjugal love, this very sweet transcendental relationship of pure love, that is the particular mood that They are worshipped. But then Lord Caitanya, He is known as the audārya, audārya-vigraha.

In the songs by Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, when Prabhupāda sings one song where the mercy of Nityānanda and Lord Caitanya was described, that They are bhūridā. So bhūridā - what is the meaning of that? Dā, dātā, means a great benefactor. One who is giving out benediction. So bhūridā means just like a free house. Just like open house type of… Bhūridā - just.. unlimited giving mood. Just like in America, they used… they had… one movie show, television show, I don't know if they still have, the millionaire, something like that? Some guy would just give people, walk up and hand a guy a check, "Here's a million dollars," and then.. then watch to see what the person did with it.

So... that is a mood that’s there in human consciousness. Their idea, “Well, give someone some very big donation, give someone some help; be very generous.” Just like Prabhupāda gave the example that some very generous rich person, just like a rain cloud just profusely gives the, the charity everywhere. Lord Caitanya’s mood is like that, bhūridā. Nitāi-Gaura’s mood is simply giving out the mercy. That is the meaning of audārya.. – that simply compassion, simply mercy. Even a person has no possibility, for becoming Kṛṣṇa consciousness without the mercy of Lord Caitanya, that person can get the mercy of Lord Caitanya.. and can be delivered.

So, this mood.. – in fact even when Lord Nityānanda, when he was attacked by Mādhāi, Jagāi Mādhāi, at that time Lord Caitanya became so impatient, He was calling out Sudarśana cakra. The Sudarśana was coming down. It was just ready to strike and kill the two brothers for their offense to Lord Nityānanda. And then Lord Nityānanda stopped Lord Caitanya, "What You are doing? What have you forgotten? This is not Your mood now. You promised that you are not going to take up any weapon in this Kali-yuga. You are supposed to simply give out mercy.

He said, “I can’t control when My devotee is, My devotee is being attacked, that goes over all other promises.”

But Nityānanda was pleading Him, “No, No, this is kali-yuga. If You hit these two, You’re going to have to get everyone. They're just symptomatic of so many people.” So finally, Jagāi Mādhāi, they came to their senses, and paid their obeisances, they begged for forgiveness that, "Please, please, forgive us."

Lord Caitanya said, "I will pardon you if you promise not to commit sinful actions again.” You see. So.. even though they were so sinful, because they promised not to commit again, once They gave them shelter, they wouldn't again do the same things. Then they were completely pardoned and forgiven, you see.

Of course, even after some time, Lord Nityānanda was approached by Mādhāi, where he said that, "My Lord, You've pardoned me, You've given me Your mercy. But, I am haunted by the idea that with my hand, I have struck You and I have caused You to bleed. And... I am just obsessed with this idea that I have committed this offense to You, how can I actually be forgiven. Even though You've pardoned me officially, still I always thinking that, I am so rotten, I am so fallen, I am so envious that I could have done such a thing.”

Then Nityānanda, He picked him up, you see. He gave him the shelter of His lotus feet. He said that, "I never took any offense. Because.. I took just like you are My child. If a baby hits the father, does the father take any offense? So, I am taking like that, you are My baby, you are my child; so, what offense can you do to Me? You didn't do any offense. Out of foolishness, you did that.”

So in this way Mādhāi couldn't get any… Nityānanda didn’t accept any offense. That was His mood that, "All right, they're all My children. All right, they do some nonsense. Won't take any offense.” Won't take any offense.”

So then Mādhāi said, “Alright, but I committed so many offenses to so many other living entities. I did so much sinful activities, then how will I be forgiven from all those offenses? I was so envious to every living entity– dogs, cats, humans, man, women, children. Who wasn't I? I was torturing and persecuting, and I was committing so many sinful activities over so many of those people. How will I be forgiven for my offenses against all living entities?”

Then Nityānanda, He considered that. So, then He told him that, "You can construct.. a bathing ghat.. with your own hands.. on the Ganges. And that way so many people, living entities, so many people will be able to go and take bath. And because of that, they will be coming, forgiven for their sinful reaction by bathing in the Ganges.. ..by your building the ghat; it will be instrumental to that. So, in this way you will be forgiven for your sinful reactions, for your offenses to the other living entities.”

So Mādhāi, of course he could have had other people help. But then Mādhāi was so enthusiastic that he himself he took the... the digging implements and everything, and he cut out the ghats, and he personally laid out the stones and everything and built.. a beautiful bathing ghat! Ghat is like stairways and bathing... platf... you know steps. Ghat - I don't know what you call it in English - bathing… And the side of the river, he built stairways down and it is called the ghat. Building stairways right into the water, because if you go, ordinarily you go on the riverside, you can get stick, foot stuck in the mud and then you can go take shower bath and come out, and again you've got to step into mud and then you get all dirty again. So they may build stairways right into the water, so that way, when you.. you know, it's very convenient for taking a bath; otherwise it is difficult on the side of the river. So, it goes right down, deep into the water. So Mādhāi personally dug the, built it, constructed it, and then had great devotees inaugurate it, and so it became famous as Mādhāi ghat.

It was one of the five principal ghats in Navadvīpa: Bokuna ghat, Mahāprabhu ghat, Mādhāi ghat… I forget the other last two, but there are five principle ghats, and Mādhāi was one of the main ghats. So, in this way, then Mādhāi was... given a complete forgiveness for even the offenses he had committed to other living entities.

So Prabhupāda is so kind because, in this western world, by just that daily life, we can't help but commit so many offenses to other living entities. So many go-hatyās, murdering of cows, so many violences on our own body, violences on other bodies... ..in so many different ways. It describes in Bhagavad Gita that one who causes torture to his body, that person is under the nature of the asuras, the demons.. and he is very envious against his own body and himself, then ultimately against Kṛṣṇa, you see. So here it is natural to actually overwork the body in terms of... you know, for sense gratification, and to take so many drugs and things like that which actually are partially poisoning the body, and so many different things, which are actually just enviousness against their own self and against Kṛṣṇa.

Since so many ways people, in the western world especially, and more and more all over the world, are engaging in very envious activities, very offensive activities to other living entities, to Kṛṣṇa, even to their own self. So how to get forgiven from that, how to get completely purified? You see.. by working for the welfare of others, just like Lord or just like Mādhāi Prabhu, who became Śrī Mādhava Dāsa Brahmācārī afterwards. He... worked for the welfare of others, he built a bathing ghat, built a facility whereby they could become purified. So, by distributing transcendental literature, by preaching harināma-saṅkīrtana, how many people are given an opportunity to bathe in the nectar of Lord Caitanya’s Holy Name, to bathe in the nectar of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s nectarean ambrosial words, in the words of the Bhāgavatam.. ..you see.

So, we call that the mercy of guru is saḿsāra dāvānala līḍha loka - just like the rain clouds are showering over the forest fire, putting them out. So, by distributing the transcendental literature, by doing harināma-saṅkīrtana, the unlimited benefit is being done to so many living entities. So, in this way, it’s very easy for one to advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, because one quickly gets forgiven, not only for sinful reactions but even for subtle offenses.. that we've committed against other living entities, against Kṛṣṇa, against... various personalities. These offenses may be stumbling blocks in the long run.

For getting mokṣa of course, if one is freed from sin, it may be enough. But danger of the offenses is one can be reduced from pure kṛṣṇa-bhakti, down to the impersonal conception of life. So, one has to avoid offenses. Just as we mentioned today the ten offenses to the Holy Name. Not that, well one gets proud because he is preaching and then feels, "I can offend other devotees." Of course, that would be another kind of distortion. But... in that mood of giving out the mercy of Lord Caitanya, everything is within it. It's already perfect.. that simultaneously one is becoming purified, one is becoming... ...cleansed. And this opens the gateway to getting pure love for Godhead. It is a complete process, you see– simultaneously containing everything.

So, here we see that Dhṛtarāṣṭra, you see because of his offenses, we know that later on he wasn't able to take up devotional service. Instead Vidura gave him the next best thing he could give; he gave him yoga meditation. So, by doing yoga meditation, at least he could become liberated. Because he had committed so many offenses against the devotees, against Kṛṣṇa that how could he, after that, render devotional service? You see.. it was impossible. Of course, we see that like Jagāi Mādhāi, they committed so many offenses, but Lord Caitanya’s mercy was such that they could be engaged in devotional service. In that way, even... ...Yamarāja, he was completely astonished. You see, Vidura of course, is Yamarāja. And even he couldn't give devotional service to his own brother, because he had committed offenses. Because in that yuga, in Dvāpara yuga, Kṛṣṇa wasn't so kind to forgive.. ..offenses to that extent. You see. But Lord Caitanya is even more merciful than Lord Kṛṣṇa.

namo mahā-vadānyāya 
kṛṣṇa-prema-pradāya te
kṛṣṇāya kṛṣṇa-caitanya-
nāmne gaura-tviṣe namaḥ

So, He is even more merciful than Kṛṣṇa. He is giving out... ...that mercy, in spite of offenses, He even gives out mercy, even forgives one for offenses. Even the people they chant Nitāi gaura rādhe śyāma hare kṛṣṇa hare rāma... and so many other concocted mantras, because somehow or other they are chanting Lord Caitanya’s name, even they are feeling some transcendental happiness from it, you see. But unfortunately, they are confusing people about the philosophy, so... in that sense, that will take them some time to completely become purified but even then, while they are chanting, they can feel something, no doubt. That is the mercy of Lord Caitanya; He doesn't take offense, very easily.

So, here we see that when Jagāi, Mādhāi were forgiven… Recently just in Bangladesh they showed one drama. And there they had Citragupta. He was taking the calcul… you know, Citragupta.. he is the person.. he is the accountant for Yamarāja. He is the chief accountant, auditor. So, like when Yamarāja, when someone comes up for the judgement, then he asks for the account, you see. So, then Citragupta has got so many.. you know.. brains working for him, that are keeping track of everybody's karma, they got it all recorded.. in the ether, in their own way. So that way, Yamarāja and other demigods, they had gone in... they had gone.. in disguise in hidden, in hiding, and they had observed. Actually, I believe that... yeah They had gone.. in disguise, you know just a... what you call it, gupta-vāsa. That means that they were invisible, and they went, and they were watching all these pastimes.

So.. when.. Yamarāja, he was seeing.. these pastimes, he came and he was asking Citragupta, you know, for the latest news and everything, and then Citragupta.. explained how Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda had just.. delivered Jagāi and Mādhāi and had.. completely cleaned the slate. And so.. when Yamarāja asked, that how many sins, reactions had they accumulated, so then Citragupta explained, was explaining that they had.. accumulated so much that if he had to put it into writing, it would take you know, so many thousands of clerks, so many yugas to write it.. and that it would be piled up; it would take to put it on paper would take so much.. that they had accumulated so many sinful reactions. They were just, day by, everything they were doing was some sinful, envious.. thing. And as he was explaining this, actually Yamarāja, he became so absorbed in the mood of Lord Caitanya, Nityānanda how They were so merciful, that he became stunned, because he is a pure devotee... and he became, he just.. fell unconscious in trance.

So... Citragupta and the others, they thought that he was just like so shocked, that such a sinful person had just been.. forgiven; that he had fallen.. you know unconscious, due to shock. So they tried to, you know.. fan him, you know, put a little cold compress on his head, whatever, they were trying to get him to come, but he wouldn't come conscious; he was actually in samādhi. So then, in the meantime, Lord Śiva and other demigods who had been now then watched the whole līlā, from their.. invisible.. vantage points, they could, they were also just completely astonished by the mercy of Nityānanda, Lord Caitanya. So, they thought that on the way they're just going to stop to see Yamarāja. And then.. they saw that Yamarāja was unconscious and they were trying re.. you know…

"What happened?"

“Well, we told him about Jagāi, Mādhāi’s deliverance.. and he fainted! So, he must have been shocked, because they got volume of sin… just like.. they were prime candidates, whatever.” That was their view. Then Immediately, Lord Śiva could understand that.. he is not in shock, he is, he is in ecstasy, he is in complete samādhi. So he got everybody, "All right, the only way you can get him to come up is you got to chant Lord Caitanya's name. Chant Jai Gauranga! Jai Nityānanda! Chant,

hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare
hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare!

So, he got the whole Yamarāja's crew to start chanting the holy name. And then.. Yamarāja came and then, Lord Śiva and Yamarāja and the demigods, they all started a big harināma- saṅkīrtana. And they all were chanting, glorifying Lord Caitanya, Nityānanda’s transcendental mercy.

In this way, Lord Caitanya’s saṅkīrtana movement spread over the whole universe. In that way, our... Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura sang that song, nārada muni, bājāya vīṇā. Which also.. portrays that.. when.. Pancamukhe Śiva and Caturmukhe Brahmā and everyone is just engaged in Harināma saṅkīrtana, so... this is a great opportunity, that.. even the demigods are completely.. overwhelmed by the mercy of Lord Caitanya, and they are just filled with transcendental ecstasy, they are filled with transcendental appreciation. And how great is the opportunity.. is the fortune, that somehow or another, we have.. been able to.. take up this devotional service, and to take up the chanting of the holy name. And moreover, to take up.. distributing that mercy to others.

Just like Lord Caitanya in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta, He said, "I'm the tree and I'm the gardener. So, I made all these flowers, all these fruits. How many can I eat, and how many can I give away? So, everyone, you should come, come eat to your heart’s content! Eat up to your capacity and then, give out, you see, all these fruits to the others.”

So.. here is the most wonderful example: we just come, you know, person eats. Just like Lord Caitanya, He would always feed first His devotees first. Then He would have all the devotees distribute prasad to all the public. Of course, we tried it sometimes and then sometimes the devotees eat so much, they can't distribute anymore! (laughter) I know it's something, I think they… you can't eat more than your capacity. Of course, there when it got there.. the devotees were conscientious enough to eat to capacity, and then.. be able to distribute to the others. At least in harināma, you can't.. deal like that.

Prasādam sometimes, there is this problem.. that one can eat more than the.. capacity. But.. that’s the mood that devotee takes, fills himself up by reading profusely, by chanting enthusiastically, by serving, becomes filled with spiritual assets, and then he goes, simply gives it out. And then he becomes a transparent media whereby even more mercy is being rained down upon that devotee, and.. the.. gateway for spiritual.. advancement, just becomes so much more enhanced. And the whole enthusiasm, the whole momentum is increased more and more.

So.. this is a great opportunity, especially today.. understand as the beginning of the marathon in full gear. Of course, marathon was going on... in one of the gears anyway. But now in the last... ten days, there is like the final sprint, where one is putting out all the energy. This is a good opportunity. Kṛṣṇa said, “ye yathā māṁ prapadyante tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham - As you surrender unto Me, so, I will.. reciprocate with you.” So.. to.. be able to focus intensely all our energy, for preaching Lord Caitanya’s saṅkīrtana movement for giving out mercy, that it is just one great opportunity, to... completely absorb our self in a very intense mood of giving our energy to Lord Caitanya. And naturally He reciprocates.. millions and millions of times.. more effectively than even we are able to offer to Him.

But in this way, it's a good opportunity for us to actually, concentrate our energy... in the most intense way. At a time when of course, in most of the places we also get a little more reciprocation even from the materialists. I don't know, someone was saying that, "Well, Hawaii it is not that much mood.” Of course, I think it is a little more than say in Thailand or India; of course (laughter) Christmas is not even there on their calendar, much hardly... But generally speaking, people are little bit more in the mood of reciprocation and giving. So, it is a good opportunity to engage them.. in the service of Kṛṣṇa. Every person that we can engage, when they are in a little more receptive mood, that means one more soul is brought in the orbit of Kṛṣṇa.

Just like there are some meteors, some comets which only come around the… you know, near the earth or near the sun, after so many thousands of years, and they go out again; but still they are within the orbit. Now these ordinary souls that never rendered any devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, they are not even in the orbit. You see. Even if they do one service, up! Now they're in the orbit. And so sometimes in their lives, they will again be brought back to Kṛṣṇa. And then each time that they get the opportunity to do little more service, they're brought closer and closer and closer, until finally they get the opportunity to fully surrender, you see. If you can give them that much of an intense opportunity to serve, then even in this life…

How do people become purified? The more you engage them in service, the more you engage them in devotional service hearing and chanting, naturally they become more and more purified, they become, their consciousness becomes.. uncovered from all the material dirts, and then natural love for Kṛṣṇa is revealed. Nitya-siddha kṛṣṇa-prema ‘sādhya’ kabhu naya śravaṇādi-śuddha-citte karaye udaya (Cc Madhya 22.107) That... Kṛṣṇa prema is not something that you get, like, you become Prime Minister, you become…something you have to work for, in terms of achieving something. It's already there; nitya-siddha. It's something which is within us, it’s not something that you have to bring from outside. It's there but it is covered up. So how we simply have to uncover it. It’s like the treasure is there, but it's hidden. Now we have to dig it out; you have to uncover.. piles! piles of karma, offenses, different kinds of dirts have covered up that pure consciousness. But by hearing and chanting, the devotees are, by hearing and chanting, by pure consciousness, that kṛṣṇa-prema, that love for Kṛṣṇa, desire to serve Kṛṣṇa is revealed. And so, the first step is when they engage in some service to Kṛṣṇa.

Any service to Kṛṣṇa, you see. Even unknowingly, will give them that benefit. I think I mentioned you that story in South India about the deity, that was going to the wedding of.. Durgā? Meenākṣī-devī? There is one incarnation of Lord…of… of… of Pārvati, where she was... she was.. some kind of.. a king was doing pūjā and asked to have... have a son and instead... got.. Meenākṣī who was like, she was a daughter, but she got the benediction that until.. she sees her husband, she won’t manifest her womanly qualities. So like everything was suppressed, you know, (the female breasts and that kind of stuff) and then she would be fighting and she conquered for this king, defeated all the enemies, and protected the whole Vedic culture that time, until she saw Lord Śiva, she went up to Kailāśa or something, somehow she saw Śiva and then.. she became Meenākṣī-devī (Devotees laughing), then, she could no longer fight any more. At that time, I mean then she wanted.. so they arranged the wedding and everything and Lord Viṣṇu personally married Śiva and Meenākṣī.

And there's temples in South India commemorating that. I don’t know how they got to be deities again, but there's a whole…. there are very important temples for all the Vaiṣṇavas, Śaivites, Śāktas, everyone. So, this one deity... of a temple, they asked us to manage. It's a little complicated, so I don’t know if we are going to actually take up their offer – because of lot of government restrictions and everything. But this deity, even today, every year, since thousands and thousands of years, is taken in a procession to officially do the wedding, all this because during the wedding, while the deities are married.

So, these pūjāris, they told us that, one of the pastimes of the deity was that some thousands of years ago, when the deity was coming back from the wedding, dacoits attacked the whole party. And the dacoit, he completely was absorbed that he didn't see the deity was deity, he took the deity was a person; so immediately came up and said, "All right, stop! I am a dacoit, I am a robber. I want all your jewels. Give me your jewels! He just started talking to the deity. So the deity completely reciprocated, ye yathā māṁ prapadyante (Bg 4.11) (devotees laugh) ? He started speaking, he was talking to Him, So then He reciprocated and said, "Well, why… I have just come back from a wedding. You don’t want to attack a wedding party (laughter). You don’t want to steal, I am just coming… it is a sacred thing. It's a wedding. Just, these are wedding, you know. You don’t want to steal somebody coming from a wedding, do you?" (laughter)

And the dacoit thought for a few minutes and said, "I don’t have any such restrictions." (laughter) No such. (laughter) "No, you are going to fight or you are going to give me your jewels? You just tell me."

"No, we won’t fight... you can take the jewels."

So, then the thief, he said, “All right. I put I put faith in you." You see. Since the person was so you know he is not going to fight, it is alright. So then to get a bag and everything, then it’s alright, hold my spear for me. He handed his spear, and then he was going you know got his bag. As soon as he handed this spear to the Deity, he had given something to Kṛṣṇa. (laugh) It was a devotional service. Even you know, just to hold it for a second. Even something, some from point A to point B, it went to Kṛṣṇa. As soon as he gave something to Kṛṣṇa, immediately by that devotional service, he realized.. that who Kṛṣṇa was. That this Deity that was Kṛṣṇa, was a deity of Kṛṣṇa, and he was speaking to the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the Deity. And then suddenly everything, just by that little service, and then he immediately at that point.. surrendered, because all those realizations just by the slightest devotional service he became a great devotee.

So.. we can understand that even a person do a little devotional service, even you know, all right, just you know... sometimes people say, you know this water from the bucket (Dirty) (Devotees laugh) any… doesn't matter. It’s alright. Prabhupāda gave the story about one brahmacārī who used to go to everybody, trying to beg for Kṛṣṇa and no one give anything. So finally, one householder was there, the wife came out and said, "Well, we don’t have anything. Nobody. In the whole day, nothing. Not even a grain or rice.. nothing!" They wouldn’t give. So, she called and asked her husband, “Do we have anything?” He said, "Tell him we can give him ashes from our coal-fire." So, she said, "Well, we don't have anything but ashes, you see.” The brahmacārī told, "Listen.. just quit talking about it and give it will then you, please?”. Prabhupāda, he was laughing when he told that story. Give me ashes. Stop talking. We got people like that you know, even you know I take ashes, you know. Give anything, if you give something, that will start your good fortune. Even if they give ashes. At least we are talking about gift something. Get into the habit of giving. In that way, people are giving to Kṛṣṇa consciousness because of the devotees and that's the great opportunity for them. (devotees laugh) Prabhupāda, he was laughing when he told that story. Give me ashes. Stop talking. We got people like that you know, even you know I take ashes, you know. Give anything, if you give something, that will start your good fortune. Even if they give ashes. At least we are talking about gift something. Get into the habit of giving. In that way, people are giving to Kṛṣṇa consciousness because of the devotees and that's the.. great opportunity.. for them.

And if, while they are giving in this life, if they also don’t have that kind of... an offensive mentality, then even in this life it is easier for them to become Kṛṣṇa conscious, or for them to render more devotional service. And of course, even if they don’t... render more devotional service in this life, still it remains with them as a permanent asset. So.. this is the special mercy of Lord Caitanya, and here we see that in this verse today.. that... the devotees are always well-wishers, but now, we have the special opportunity that we can really see people be delivered by Kṛṣṇa consciousness. I've heard so many saṅkīrtana-līlās, where even envious people by taking prasādam every day, by associating with devotees, their hearts were changed.

And… anyway, I don’t want to take any more time. But we can just remember the names of the Pañca-tattva and.. surrender ourselves to taking up Their mood of giving out the transcendental mercy.

Jaya śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya prabhu-nityānanda
śrī-advaita gadādhara śrīvāsādi-gaura-bhakta-vṛnda

Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare
Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare

Are there any questions?

Devotee: What's the benefit, if somebody wants devotional service, He doesn’t want to chant, but still he does the service?

Jayapatākā Swami: If a person... renders devotional service without... hearing and chanting, that is basically what karma-yoga is. Doing some service, of course karma-yoga, maybe that one is working and giving the fruits of the labor. So if it is doing something which is specifically ordered by the guru, then of course it comes more under bhakti. The problem without chanting and hearing, is that the consciousness does not become purified. The power.. of purification in this Kali-yuga, is in the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa. Just like in every age, there is a yuga-dharma.

So, in general, devotional service is... is to be performed. But in this age, just like in the other age meditation was the system, then sacrifice, and temple worship. So, this age the system to purify the consciousness is hearing and chanting, saṅkīrtana. If a person just renders devotional service without hearing and chanting, then the danger is that the person is.. getting spiritual credit, but the desire to engage in material activity may not be counteractive. That desire, that seed is there in our heart to engage in materialistic activity and to counteract that we need the mercy of Nityānanda. We need to fill our hearts with spiritual happiness, you see.

So, rendering devotional service is sensitive, we are still a bit too covered up to be able to fully relish.. the real.. benefit of... of the service that he is doing at that time. And so, the danger is that the person can become misled again into material activities. It's like... when you are on some battleship which is.. firing but does not have its radar, doesn’t have the defenses.. you know, it's only.. it’s doing something, but it does not have any defense. The chanting is both defense as well as offense both, but it actually protects us and gives us the opportunity, that ability to relish. It gives us the spiritual realization for just the service alone. In this particular age, it's difficult for one to actually... be able to.. experience the transcendental... happiness and transcendental realization just by their service.

Devotee: What if someone just chants Hare Kṛṣṇa but not doing devotional service?

Jayapatākā Swami: But it’s Just… Of course, like one time one mataji in Māyāpur.. was telling Prabhupāda, "I don’t want to do any more service, I want to just chant. I want to Just chant.” Prabhupāda said, “Just chant?” Chanting is not just chanting. This chanting is the topmost of all our activities. Haridāsa Ṭhākura, He was, He was perfect simply by chanting, you see. But you can just chant, you can simply chant, you can stay here, and you sleep two to four hours a day, and you chant the rest of the whole time, and you eat once a day. That’s why I made Māyāpur, Vṛndāvana for anyone who wants to you know "Just chant." If someone wants to simply chant, let them come to the holy dhāma. Not that you chant in New York city or somewhere. You chant in the holy dhāma and you don't eat, only once a day and you reduce your sleep and you chant the whole time.” And then Prabhupāda laughed and said, "You cannot do it. You will chant for two hours and, you chant for one hour and you go to sleep”. Therefore, I have given you so much service. You see. Don't think… Chanting is the most difficult thing. It is the most difficult thing to chant with full consciousness, with full attention, with full enthusiasm and not to become distracted. It is the most difficult... you see. So... that’s why Prabhupāda said, “Work now, samādhi later.”

That by doing this preaching, by doing this service, by becoming purified, we get the qualification, then we can chant more, then we can read more, then we can concentrate more. It doesn't work the other way. Of course, we are always chanting too, but to chant more than 16 rounds a day, is in the beginning stages it’s not that productive as to engage fully 24 hours a day in constant devotional service, especially in preaching activity. Not only because now there's an emergency situation, just like when the house is on fire, that now preaching is the most, is the most essential, It's especially required that even if a person was capable or is capable of chanting, even then…

One time we were chanting in Calcutta temple. I remember that we were all chanting 32 rounds, and Tamāla Kṛṣṇa Goswami came and told Prabhupāda that, “Acyutananda Maharaj, Jayapatākā, this one, that one, they are all chanting 32 rounds.” And we were, they brought us in.

“So, you, and Jay doing that?”

“Yes” (laughter)

He said.. that, “If you sit and chant 32 rounds, then who is going to go out and preach? This is my order, you chant 16 rounds and immediately go out and preach, otherwise who is going to do the preaching?”

Even if we can do the chanting, Prabhupāda wasn’t very impressed. You see. Of course, not that... this is the specifics – particular advice at that moment. You see, there might be other advices for other people in other situations. But he wanted us to go out and establish Kṛṣṇa consciousness in India. And if we are sitting the whole day and chanting japa then what's going to happen? So, in that sense Prabhupāda, even if a person was capable of chanting, still Prabhupāda wanted us priority to preach. And actually, by preaching, what chanting one does do, one can actually appreciate more intensely. So, this preaching is something very wonderful. It is an actual science. It’s a whole science of preaching.. that this is a special benediction, a special opportunity for us to make very rapid advancement.

And.. especially in Kali-yuga there are unlimited opportunities to preach. In Satya-yuga.. you know you won’t get that fired up for preaching, because here now the māyā is so obvious that preaching is.... and the mercy of Lord Caitanya is so great, that the contrasts are so intense or so... vivid! You see that here is the greatest mercy, and at the same time here is practically greatest sinful activities going on. And a person, if they someone or other can just be brought to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, to engage in reading Prabhupāda’s books and doing some devotional service, can gradually come up to that platform. It's a very great opportunity. And then we can actually relish chanting. By.. our organizing systems others so many others can chant, then we are reaping the benefit also. Just like a commission from everyone chanting. So that way it’s... like a pyramid letter or, something like that, chain letters? Just like that you're getting so many transcendental... results for every person that engages in devotional service.

Hare Kṛṣṇa! Pañca-tattva ki..!

Devotees: Jaya!

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Prabhupāda ki..!

Devotees: Jaya!

Jayapatākā Swami: Śrīla Rāmeśvara Swami Mahārāja ki..!

Devotees: Jaya!

Devotee: Śrīla Ācāryapāda ki..!

Devotees: Jaya!

You know that Śrīla Rāmeśvara gets completely absorbed in the saṅkīrtana-yagna. So, he will be very pleased the more and more that Hawaii New-Navadvīpa... gets enthused in this marathon.