20210313 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.7.23

The following is a class given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on March 13th, 2021 in Śri Dhāma Māyāpur, India.

The class begins with a reading from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 1.7.23.

mūkaṁ karoti vācālaṁ paṅguṁ laṅghayate girim
yat-kṛpā tam ahaṁ vande śrī-guruṁ dīna-tāraṇam
paramānandaṁ mādhavaṁ śrī caitanya iśvaram
Hariḥ oṁ tat sat!

Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya
Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya
Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya

Jayapatākā Swami: So Arjuna felt dangerous when Aśvatthāmā released the brahmāstra. But under that situation, he took shelter of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. We see how Arjuna whenever there was danger, he took shelter in Lord Kṛṣṇa. We should also follow his example. Whenever we face some problem we should depend on Kṛṣṇa. So, this way, if there is danger, it is an opportunity to take shelter of Lord Kṛṣṇa. This way, because danger is also an opportunity we don’t mind it.

We see that when Lord Caitanya was travelling in south India, He would always take shelter of the holy name. He would do kīrtana:

Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa He!
Kṛṣṇa Keśava, Kṛṣṇa Keśava, Kṛṣṇa Keśava pāhīmāṁ!
Rāma Rāghava, Rāma Rāghava, Rāma Rāghava rakṣamām!

So He was always taking shelter of Kṛṣṇa showing by His example, what we should do. So like that whenever we face some difficulty we should think about Kṛṣṇa. Also when we have some good fortune we should think about Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Bhakti Vinoda Ṭhākura said sampade vipade, jīvane-maraṇe, dāy mama gelā, tuwā o-pada baraṇe - whether we are in happiness or in opulence or distress we take shelter of the divine lotus feet of the Lord. So like this, in the material world, there is always some danger. We always take shelter of Kṛṣṇa.

The present-day scientists, politicians are thinking with which tactic they can come out of the present danger. Along with whatever material solution there may be, we should take shelter of Kṛṣṇa. So, that we don’t say not to take material solutions, but we should always depend on Kṛṣṇa. We don’t know if there is a material solution to this. But along with that we keep thinking of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

So, right now we are having the pandemic and in some countries it is surging. But simultaneously we follow the recommendations, but we are depending on Kṛṣṇa. So like this we are always depending on Kṛṣṇa. We saw that Śrīla Prabhupāda sometimes he would take vaccine if it was required. But he was always depending on Kṛṣṇa. Sometimes an astrologer wanted to tell Śrīla Prabhupāda his astrology. So he would say, let us see, he would accept it with a pinch of salt, and then he would say I will not accept this fully but depend fully on Kṛṣṇa. So like that we want to always remember Kṛṣṇa just like Arjuna did.

So, we don’t have such problems like Arjuna had. He was faced with the brahmāstra in front of him, we don’t face such severe problems. Suddenly, a nuclear weapon is released against him. He thought what should I do now? Kṛṣṇa You are above everything. Kṛṣṇa gave him a solution. So we depend on Kṛṣṇa, He or His representative or guru, to give us a solution. So, when Lord Caitanya faced the trouble caused by the Chand Kazi, then He organized and took out a procession against this. Then He did civil disobedience for the right cause. So, although He was the Supreme Lord, He was acting like a devotee. So, we have some minor problems. But for us, it seems like a big problem! So, we will take those opportunity and depend on Kṛṣṇa.

Śrīla Prabhupāda had a secretary, Śrīla Prabhupāda asked him, “Why you are so miserable? Your gurudeva is there, you can express your problem to him and get a solution. If he had not been there, then it would have been a problem, but your spiritual master is present.” So like that Śrīla Prabhupāda, he ordered the devotee, “I want you to be happy!” What an order! So like that Śrīla Prabhupāda was very kind. So in this material world we know that padaṁ padaṁ yat vipadām. Every step there could be danger.

So this material world is - just like we are trying to finish this Temple of Vedic Planetarium. But this pandemic, you know, has given some obstacles. But the devotees are there and still trying, and they are moving ahead. So like that devotees are always taking shelter of Kṛṣṇa and moving ahead. And Kṛṣṇa also sees when the devotee depends on Him in this manner He becomes very pleased. We want to do our service to Kṛṣṇa. Some people ask, why there are so many obstacles? The thing is that these obstacles are tests so that we can go ahead with Kṛṣṇa’s service. So, like that there is a saying, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. So, take all the troubles as a special opportunity to serve Kṛṣṇa. We think if things could be easier but it doesn’t happen like that. In Bangladesh, you go through so many difficulties. But there also the people are very enthusiastic.

So like this, there is some good and some bad parts. Kṛṣṇa Caitanya, He was going in south India and His secretary Kāla-Kṛṣṇa dāsa, he was taken by the gypsies. Lord Caitanya saved him. When He went back to Jagannātha Purī, then Lord Caitanya said, “This devotee he was supposed to be serving Me but he fell under the control of the gypsies.” So, Lord Caitanya said that, “He will not remain with Me any longer.” Then Lord Nityānanda and Jagadānanda Paṇḍita and others were thinking how to help this devotee. And they told well, “We need to send someone back to Bengal to tell about Lord Caitanya’s come back. That way the devotees of Lord Caitanya are more merciful than Lord Caitanya Himself.”

In the Kumbha-melā, Śrīla Prabhupāda was saying how to be in devotional service, one has already passed through all kinds of pious activities. One devotee raised his hand and asked, “Śrīla Prabhupāda you said that, after doing all the pious activities we get devotional service. But if I see my life, I have not done any pious activities I think. So how did I come to the path of devotional service?”

Śrīla Prabhupāda said, “I have made your good fortune for you!” So, like that, Śrīla Prabhupāda gave us such mercy. We think what did we do to deserve kṛṣṇa-bhakti? It is seen that everything has come about by the dint of the mercy of guru and Kṛṣṇa. Of course, maybe some of you have done many pious activities. But many people simply by the mercy of guru and Vaiṣṇavas, they have achieved Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet. So, Arjuna is faced with the brahmāstra in front of him and he has taken shelter of Kṛṣṇa. Similarly, in life we will be faced with some problems but we will always take shelter or depending on Lord Kṛṣṇa.