20000119 Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.39

(Disclaimer: The following is a machine-generated transcript and may contain errors or inaccuracies. It will be reviewed and verified against the original audio soon.)

The following is a lecture given by His Holiness Jayapatākā Swami Mahārāja on January 19, 2000 – in Mathurādeśa. The lecture begins with a reading from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.5.39.

Imam swanigamam brahman avitya madanushtitamin. O Brahmana Thus by the Supreme Lord Krishna I was endowed first with the transcendental knowledge of the Lord as inculcated in the confidential parts of the Vedas, then with the spiritual opulences, then with his intimate loving service. Purport communion with the Lord by transmission of the transcendental sound is not different from the whole Spirit Lord Sri Kṛṣṇa it is a completely perfect method for approaching the Lord by such pure contact with the Lord without offense of material conceptions. Numbering 10, the devotee can rise above the material plane to understand the inner meaning of the Vedic literatures, including the Lord’s existence in the transcendental realm. The Lord reveals his identity gradually to one who has unflinching faith both in the spiritual Master and in the Lord.

After this the dolore is endowed with mystic opulences which are eight in number and above all the devotee is accepted in the confidential entourage of the Lord and is entrusted with specific service of the Lord through the agency of the spiritual Master. A pure devotee is more interested in serving the Lord than in showing an exhibition of the mystic powers dormant in Him. Sinarada has explained all these from his personal experience and one can obtain all the facilities which Sri Narada obtained by performing and perfecting the chanting process of the sound representation of the Lord. There is no bar for chanting this transcendental sound by anyone, provided it is received through Narada’s representative coming down by the chain of disciplic succession or the Parampara system.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta Swami translation and purport to the Srimad Bhagavatam 1st canto 5th chapter 39th text in the matter of Narada’s instructions on Srimad Bhagavatam. Hare Krishna, Today we’re reading from the Srimad Bhagavatam. Where Narada explained to Vyasadeva how he got spiritual perfection. This is. In an earlier verse he mentioned. That the best remedial measure for removing all troubles and miseries is to dedicate one’s activities to the service of the Supreme Lord. Personality of Godhead Sri Kṛṣṇa Tatsamuchitang Brahmana Tapatraya chikit Sitam Yadisvare Bhagavati Karma Brahmani Bhavitam Tapa Traya chikit Sitam There are three miseries Tapa traya miseries due to one’s own body and mind, like diseases, anxieties, tension, pains, aches, injuries, anybody’s Ever faced any pain due to their body or mind in their life? Few people. Then there’s that’s called Aryatmika. Then there’s Adi Bhutika. Other living entities causing trouble.

Insects, dogs, tigers, robbers, relatives, neighbors, enemies, somebody, other living entity causing trouble. Anybody ever faced any trouble from any other living entity in their life? Maybe in the workplace, on the street. That’s Adi Boutik. Then Adi Daivik. Difficulty due to natural causes. Too hot, too cold, Earthquake, storms, maybe some. Floods. Natural calamities, wars, riots, volcano eruptions. Anybody ever faced any difficulty due to this? Adi David causes things beyond our control. So how many would like to get solution from these troubles? So you want to know what the Chikitza is? What is the solution? What is the remedial measure? Narad Muni says the best remedial measure. Not only by his opinion but by all of the learned knowers. Avedas, Yad Ishware, Bhagavati Karma, Brahmani Bhavitam. To dedicate oneself to the Karma.

We were discussing last night about Karma Again here it’s mentioning Doing devotional service to Kṛṣṇa is the best way to solve these three prior problems of life. One is not solve these problems simply by making more money. Even if somebody has money, they have to suffer these three problems more or less. Maybe one  will be more, another  will be less. One  will be less, another  will be more. Just like recently came that president of Congo. He had enough money, enough power but he was shot by his own guard who is hired to protect him. He shoots him like Indira Gandhi also shot by her guard. So simply having power or money is not a solution for this Tapatraya. Maybe it solves some problem, it causes other problem. If you become rich and famous, more people become envious. Just like George Harrison.

He’s a famous musician. His co partner in the Beatles, John Lennon was shocked. And recently in last November some crazy guy tried to kill him. Also his wife had to hit the man over the head with a lamp and knock him unconscious. But George Harrison was stabbed in the lungs with a knife. And at that time he chanted Hare Kṛṣṇa Ka Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare Ram. Hare Ram. Ram Ram. Honey. Honey. So he got saved. As soon as he chanted Hare Kṛṣṇa Then there was some relief. But if we always chant then very quickly we can wind up our entanglement with this material world. So Narada Muni said that first he was given transcendental knowledge, very confidential knowledge by his devotional service. Then he got the mystic opulences and then he got Directly that devotional service to the Lord.

So Prabhupada explains that we can get all these things just like Narada got them if we follow the same process of Narada. Narada Muni is the second spiritual master in our disciplic succession or Guru Parampara after Kṛṣṇa, from Kṛṣṇa, Lord Brahma received the knowledge. Then from Brahma it came to Narad. And from Narad it came to Vyasadeva, the Asha Dev, to Madhuacharya and then down to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Through so many links. Like this, it’s handed down. Then it came to Shila Bhakti, Siddhanta, Saraswati Thakur and Siddha Omvishtu Pad Bhakti Vedanta Swami Prabhupada. And like that, his representatives are following in that disciplinary succession.

So if we get this mantra of Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kishna Kishn Hare Hare Ram, Hare Ram Ram, Hare Hari from a spiritual master in the succession from Narad and we follow the process of Bhakti Yoga, then we can also achieve all these spiritual perfections, knowledge and freedom from all the miseries, mystic opulences and then direct connection with the supreme Lord and his service. He could also translate while he’s cutting that. Translate to the cutters? No, for this here. Hindi Boliye Prem se boliye. So by fixing the consciousness and the transcendental vibration of the Holy name, even while you’re cutting vegetables or while you’re doing any other work, this is purifying our consciousness. Of course, we have to keep our mind to what we’re doing. Also, if you’re cutting vegetables, you don’t want to cut your fingers.

If you’re driving the car, you don’t want to drive off the road. Once there was a servant of Lord Krishna who was riding an elephant and he saw a peacock feather. But he was so advanced that when he saw the peacock feather he became ecstatic in separation of Kṛṣṇa and he fell off the elephant. So if one gets very advanced in Kṛṣṇa consciousness that you’re going into ecstatic symptom, then maybe you have to have another driver. But this is very advanced level. This not immediately to be worried about. We haven’t seen too many accidents like that. None so far as I remember. But eventually one can achieve all these opulences. So the system is to take shelter of a bona fide guru, learn from him the science of Kṛṣṇa consciousness directly as well as from his assistance.

And then in this way to practice Kṛṣṇa consciousness very carefully. By practicing Bhakti Yoga then one can get fully awakened. Even if we study the books, we may not understand what is the philosophy if we are not chanting Hare Krishna. The chanting allows this confidential knowledge to be revealed to us. You have to pay your entrance fee in order to enter into the confidential treasure house of spiritual knowledge. That entrance fee is chanting Hare Krishna and serving Kṛṣṇa under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master. So today we’re having initiation ceremony where there are devotees who are taking initiation into this disciplic succession. This is a very joyful situation. Joyful festival on the day of the Rath Yatra, they’re surrendering to Kṛṣṇa. This surrender to Kṛṣṇa is very practical. It means that we do our daily activities with the idea of pleasing Kṛṣṇa.

Krishna didn’t tell Arjuna to give up his duty. Krishna. Has prescribed for us according to our Ashram, according to our Varna, according to our specific situation. If we’re householders, we can do our household work for Kṛṣṇa. If we’re in a renounced order, we can do our devotional service for Kṛṣṇa. But we don’t have the responsibility of a family. The idea, just like Narada, Monique, he is teaching Vyas Dev. Vyas Dev is Grihasta. Narada Muni is Sannyasi. More than Sannyasi, liberated soul Rishi and his Vyas Dev’s son is Brahmachari Sukadeva. So Sukadeva is also giving this knowledge. What was discussed between Narad and Vyas. So the idea is that whatever knowledge was received by the previous Guru, that’s handed down from Guru to disciple. This is the meaning of Guru Parampara.

So when we get the knowledge, we have to also hand it down without changing it. We shouldn’t add our own speculation, shouldn’t add our own concoction or interpretation. We should tell it as it is. So Lord Chaitanya and six Goswamis like RPA Goswami, they taught that we need to do Yukta Vairagya. Yukta Vairagya means to engage our normal existence in the service of Kṛṣṇa. When Lord Chaitanya was traveling in Andhra Pradesh at Kurmades, the Kurma Desh Brahmana told him that I have got properties, house, cows, land, grains, money, wife, children, social status. He was obviously a rich person, lot of material possessions. But he was telling Lord Chaitanya that in spite of all these things, my material life is burning me. Samsara Jwala. The Samsara is causing me so much Anxiety.

So I want to give all this up and go with you and travel with you. The Lord Chaitanya condemned him for this. Or he denied this. He said, never tell me this thing again. This is artificial renunciation. This is Marcat Voairagya. Like a monkey looks very renounced. But monkey is only thinking about sense gratification. So instead you should chant Hare Krishna Maha Mantra. And you should become a guru. And on my behalf, you should be preaching to the people in your area. Jaredako Tare Koho Kṛṣṇa Pradesh Amaragya Guru Hayataro Yides. On my order, you will be a spiritual master. And you liberate your land, your place. So in this way. Lord Chaitanya said, if you do this, then I  will live with you. I  will come back and I  will stay with you. So Lord Chaitanya forbade that he give up his household dealings.

But instead he said, you become a teacher and a preacher. So this is what we are following. Somebody surrenders to Kṛṣṇa. We don’t mean that he gives up his situation or changes his ashram. But rather he does the same things he was doing before. But now he does them for Kṛṣṇa. This is called Yukta Voairagya Renunciation by engaging everything in Ka’s service. If we do like that, then life becomes very peaceful and happy. Maharaja Ambarisha was a great emperor. But he used all of his senses and abilities in Ka’s service. He is considered the example of Atmanivedanam. He did surrender to the Lord. He would chant the holy names. He’d go to the temple and use his body for walking to the temple. Use his legs to walk to the temple. He’d clean the temple with his hands.

He listened to the lecture in the temple with his ears. He’d see the beautiful deities with his eyes. He’d smell the prasadam garland with his nose. Here, pass this around. Everyone can smell. Eyes, ears, nose. He would touch the lotus feet of the devotees using his sense of touch. He would engage his mind in Ka’s service. Like this. He used all of his senses for Ka’s service. So we’re seeing here also the devotees are using all their senses. Someone has constructed this ratan. Someone is decorating it. Someone is cooking. Someone is cutting Sabjis. How many are cutting sabjis? Kariba? We should thank them for cutting for the feast. So when there’s a feast, after it’s offered to Kṛṣṇa then everyone has to use the sense of taste. And today in the Rath Yatra  will use the sense of pulling the rope.

This also we use so many senses in the different programs. So our process is very active process. Yukta Vairagya is dynamic. It means using everything in Ka’s service very actively. Madindra Puri, when he was worshiping Gopal Diri on the Govardhan hill, they offered a big feast to Lord Gopal. They did Abishek to Gopal. They did Bhajan and Kirtan for Gopal. They distributed prasadam for Gopal. So like this they did big festival. Similarly today we’re doing a festival. We hope everyone  will be present and bring your friends. The idea of festival is to engage everybody’s thought, words and activities in Kṛṣṇa service. Like that when we take initiation, it means the whole life is a non stop festival for serving Kṛṣṇa different ways. It’s called a Nitya Muhutsava, a daily festival. By our own endeavor we won’t be able to cross over Maya.

But by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa we can cross over. It’s easy to cross over if we take shelter of Lord Krishna. So that’s why we take shelter in chanting Nama Kari, Bahura, Nidya, Sarva Shaktis. Because in this chanting all of the energy, all of the Shakti of the Lord is present. That’s why in this verse it says if we take the name of the Lord, chant the glories of the Lord, we hear the glories of the Lord. That’s not different than having directly the association of the Lord. So we should take up this service to the Lord directly. Take up the service and this way we can always live in association with Krishna. Bhakti Vinod Thakur is saying a song that when I am singing the names of Krishna, the names of Nitai and Goranga, the Lord is dancing in my mind.

When I say the name Nithai and Goranga, they are dancing in my mind. So like this we want to always chant and have the Lord dancing in our mind. So for that devotees are taking initiation. When we take initiation, we get the shelter of the Lord through the Guru Parampara. That means we should follow the vows that we make before Guru and Krishna. We should chant Hare Krishna very carefully. We should engage our thoughts, words and deeds in Krishna’s service. And this way we will be protected by Kṛṣṇa. Just like the. Holy name is described here by Lord Caitanya, Namakari, Bahuda, Nidya Sarva, Nija Sarva Shaktis, all of the divine potency, the Lord are present in his holy name. This holy name is so powerful. We shouldn’t think that, oh, just chanting Hare Krishna. How can you achieve all this only by chanting?

Chanting is described here as having all the potency of the Lord. The Lord in his visible form or the Lord in the form we can hear, the audible form. It’s not different because Lord is absolute. So when we see the Lord in his mantra form, or we receive the Lord in his Murti form, or receive the Lord directly in his Sakshat Swayam Rupa, it’s all not different. Our founder is Prabhupada. He has said that we are a branch of the Chaitanya tree and we’re all dedicated to following Srila Prabhupada’s instructions. So anyone who’s taking initiation in iskcon, they’re also accepting Prabhupada as their primary teacher. And they’re dedicated to following Srila Prabhupada’s instructions. Although we have our initiating guru, we are also always grateful to the other devotees who guide us.

We should be respectful to our other guides who are helping the DK Guru to get us back to Kṛṣṇa. We have to be very tolerant in our Vaishnava dealings to avoid making offenses. Very humble to be able to see all the help we are getting from different devotees. In this very humble and tolerant state of mind, we can chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.

We understand from Bhagavad Gita that the soul is very minute. But after it leaves the material body, when it attains a spiritual body, is it again an embodiment like in a material body?

This is anonymous question. Gauranga Gopi is claiming responsibility for this question. We don’t have the soul is the spiritual body. The soul is dormant in the material body. And everything is functioning through the mind and the senses and the material body, subtle and gross. But when we have our spiritual body, we are liberated from the gross body and the subtle body. And that means that the soul, the Jiva atma, manifests his own form. It’s actually a spiritual form which is the form, the original form, the soul. So it’s not like you have a spiritual body and the atma is the atma. That’s like the material conception. We are the spiritual body. When we are liberated, we have our own spiritual form which is the spiritual body. And the spiritual body has a soul. The soul is Kṛṣṇa. He is the soul of the soul.

But the spiritual body is ourself.

This is from Tulsi. Does ISKCON support the concept of evolution of humans from apes? If not have humans just taken birth from Manu.

ISKCON does not support the mundane conception of evolution of species as promoted by Darwin. We do not consider our forefather to be an ape. You don’t think our grandfather or grandmother were monkeys. Or that monkeys were our previous forefathers? There’s no proof that we have evolved from apes materially, but we believe in it. Spiritual evolution of consciousness where the Atma has gone through 8,400,000 species of life and the Atma goes through the different animal species and from ape species can also take human birth. In the mode of ignorance. If you. As far as the physical evolution of the human beings, according to the Vedas, we have come from another planet. We have been brought to this planet by Manu. We are not the original residents of this planet. So there’s no question of us evolving from apes or anything else on this planet.

The reason there are similarities in the different species is because there’s one designer and one creator. Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita Hung Bhija Prata, I am the seed giving father. So he is giving the seeds of existence.

Why is Simantam done? How is it helpful to the Grahasta and the other soul?

Simantayam is a samskara where we invoke Kṛṣṇa and the husband does some prayers and yajnas for the protection of the wife and the child. Materially and spiritually and for their advancement and well being. So this is helpful. The child in the womb of the mother is helpless, cannot do anything on his own. So the parents by doing this sacrifice, they are giving some blessing to the child and also to the mother. Prema Nandini, how do I or when do I understand that I am being able to satisfy my Guru and Ka? If the Guru is satisfied, Krishna is satisfied. You can find out if the Guru is satisfied by asking him or if he tells you. When we do business, we immediately offer result to Kṛṣṇa by investing in him the money earned. However, how do we immediately offer the result of our studies?

If we claim that we are studying for him, so we’re studying for Kṛṣṇa, then we have to use the knowledge that we gain for Kṛṣṇa. Or if we get a job later because of our educational qualification, then we should use that income, some of it for Kṛṣṇa. Like that, it’s one step in a longer process.

Dearest Guru Maharaja, please accept my most humble obeisances. At the dust of your divine lotus fear eat again and again. All glories to your Divine grace, All glories to Srila Prabhupada when does Bhagavan Krishna actually eat? Is it during a Yajna specifically or when we offer Bhoga daily? Your most insignificant servant Haribo Shasta says.

The Lord is eating when we ring the bell. When we’re chanting the mantras to offer and we’re ringing the bell. From the moment the bell starts ringing, that’s when he starts to eat. Somebody is in a hurry to take Prasad. They can take the food from the kitchen and eat. Say they’re late for going to school. From the moment the offer is ringing, the bell ding ding. Then Krishna start eating already. Normally we wait till after transfer, but it’s not essential in emergency. Next. Jara Sadhana kore tara kono goti praptahoy evang Om Sadona O Krishna Sadona. Tarajante prabhu. More Icha Bengali question since we got. We still got translation going on? No, You got it. Okay. So question is here. What’s the difference between chanting Om and chanting Ka? Is there any difference? What’s the different destination?

Sometime people chant Aum thinking that this is representing the impersonal Brahman. If that’s their concept, then if they achieve perfection, they can go back to the impersonal Brahman. Some people chant Om thinking that this is the sound representation of Kṛṣṇa. Because in Gita Kṛṣṇa says I am the Omkara, I am Pranava. If they’re thinking of Kṛṣṇa while they’re chanting Om, they go back to Kṛṣṇa.

Scriptures say if you  will be a pure devotee, you can show directly Krishna. I think Gurudeva is a pure devotee. So you see directly Krishna. Please speak about this incident. 2. Please speak a few words about the devotional life of Draupadi Kaushik.

My spiritual master told me not to tell about confidential incidents to the public of any realization about Kṛṣṇa. These are very confidential matters. Scripture says that through the Guru you can see Kṛṣṇa by taking initiation as is happening today and following this process. And we  will show you Kṛṣṇa. Draupadi. She was the pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore Kṛṣṇa has given her protection in so many ways. Just like becoming her unlimited sari. There’s a question here. Who is Manu? Manu is. There are 14 Manus and one day of Brahma. It’s a special category of entity. And he is the origin of human beings. He lives in a higher dimension in a Bhu mandal. And he brought the human beings to this planet. So they’re like we have. Now we’re in Vaivaswatamanu before there was the Swayambhuv Manu. After many millions and millions of births.

Many millions of Yugas. Not millions of yugas. After 1000 divided by 14 Mahayuga cycles. How many comes? 70 Something yugas. There’s a new Manu. And he’s the one who gives the code for the human beings. So there’s the Manu Samhita, which is to regulate how humans act. See, he’s the forefather of humans. But he’s superhuman.