seeing through the eyes of scriptures
Bhagavad Gita 1.15
pancajanyam hrsikeso
devadattam dhananjayah
paundram dadhmau maha-sankham
bhima-karma vrkodarah
Translation
Lord Krishna blew His conchshell, called Pancajanya; Arjuna blew his, the Devadatta; and Bhima, the voracious eater and performer of herculean tasks, blew his terrific conchshell, called Paundra.
Commentary by Srila Prabhupada
Lord Krishna is referred to as Hrishikesha in this verse because He is the owner of all senses. The living entities are part and parcel of Him, and therefore the senses of the living entities are also part and parcel of His senses. The impersonalists cannot account for the senses of the living entities, and therefore they are always anxious to describe all living entities as senseless, or impersonal. The Lord, situated in the hearts of all living entities, directs their senses. But He directs in terms of the surrender of the living entity, and in the case of a pure devotee He directly controls the senses. Here on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra the Lord directly controls the transcendental senses of Arjuna, and thus His particular name of Hrishikesha. The Lord has different names according to His different activities. For example, His name is Madhusudana because He killed the demon of the name Madhu; His name is Govinda because He gives pleasure to the cows and to the senses; His name is Vasudeva because He appeared as the son of Vasudeva; His name is Devaki-nandana because He accepted Devaki as His mother; His name is Yashoda-nandana because He awarded His childhood pastimes to Yashoda at Vrindavana; His name is Partha-sarathi because He worked as charioteer of His friend Arjuna. Similarly, His name is Hrishikesha because He gave direction to Arjuna on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra.
Arjuna is referred to as Dhananjaya in this verse because he helped his elder brother in fetching wealth when it was required by the king to make expenditures for different sacrifices. Similarly, Bhima is known as Vrkodara because he could eat as voraciously as he could perform herculean tasks, such as killing the demon Hidimba. So the particular types of conchshell blown by the different personalities on the side of the Pandavas, beginning with the Lord’s, were all very encouraging to the fighting soldiers. On the other side there were no such credits, nor the presence of Lord Krishna, the supreme director, nor that of the goddess of fortune. So they were predestined to lose the battle—and that was the message announced by the sounds of the conchshells.
Commentary by Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur
Please see text 16 for Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur's combined commentary to texts 15 and 16.
Rudra Vaisnava Sampradaya:
Visnuswami
Sridhara Swami's Commentary
Now the names of the conch shells sounded by the Supreme Lord Krishna, Arjuna and Bhima are being described. The names Dhananjaya is used for Arjuna and means winner of wealth. The name Vikroda is used for Bhima and can mean he of terrible deeds or he whose appetite is voracious just like a wolf's.
Brahma Vaisnava Sampradaya:
Madhvacarya
Madhvacarya's Commentary
Madhvacarya has no commentary so we present Baladeva Vidyabhusana's.
Pancajanya is the name of Lord Krishna's divine, transcendental conch shell and the other names mentioned are the conch shells of the five Pandavas. This signifies that there were many such divine conch shells present on the side of the Pandavas but on the side of the Kauravas there were not any and so none were mentioned. By referring to Lord Krishna as Hrsikesa, the director of everyone's senses it is indicative that with the Supreme Lord directing their cause victory was certain for the Pandavas. The use of the name dhanajaya for Arjuna meaning conqueror of riches indicates that he would conquer all the wealth by defeating all the rich and powerful kings arrayed against him on the battlefield and with the word karma meaning reactions to actions added to the name of Bhima refers to his slaying the demon Hidamba after he and his mother and brothers were forced to flee their burning house instigated by Duryodhana and indicates what is in store for him in the future.
Sri Vaisnava Sampradaya:
Ramanuja
There is no commentary for this verse.
Kumara Vaisnava Sampradaya:
Nimbaditya
Kesava Kasmiri's Commentary
In order to subtly convey the superiority of the Pandavas, Sanjaya expresses in this verse beginning with the word pancajanyam which is the name of Lord Krishna's transcendental conch shell and then mentions the names of the divine conch shells of Arjuna and Bhima.
"Everything Belongs To God"
73/07/15 London, Bhagavad-gita 1.15
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Pradyumna (leads chanting, etc.):
pancajanyam hrsikeso
devadattam dhananjayah
paundram dadhmau maha-sankham
bhima-karma vrkodarah
[Bg. 1.15]
Translation: "Then Lord Krsna blew His conchshell named Pancajanya; Arjuna blew his, the Devadatta; and Bhima, the voracious eater and performer of Herculean tasks, blew his terrific conchshell named Paundram."
Prabhupada: So Vrkodara, Bhimasena, is advertised as voracious eater. But he can perform Herculean task also. Just like the elephant, it eats voraciously, but it gives service also. Similarly if we simply eat voraciously and we cannot give any service that is not good. We must eat sumptuously and give service also. In Bengali it is said that pete keli pithe soya (?). If one is given sufficient food in the belly, he can carry more burden on the back. So Bhima-karma, his activities were very Herculean, very, very, difficult tasks he performed.
So everyone is named here with his task. The first name is, Krsna, Hrsikesa. Hrsikesa. He is the master of the senses. Govinda. Go means senses. "Who gives pleasure to the senses." So Krsna has got many names, thousands, out of which, the Krsna name is chief, mukhya. That is described in Vedic literature. People say God has no name. That is right. He has no particular fixed name. But His names are there according to His different activities. Just like His name is Devaki-nandana. Because He accepted Devaki as His mother, therefore He is called Devaki-nandana. Similarly, He is called Nanda-nandana, Yasoda-nandana, Vrajendra-nandana -- -in relationship with Nanda Maharaja, Yasoda, His foster father and mother. Similarly, He is sometimes named Partha-sarathi because He acted as the chariot driver of Arjuna. Arjuna's name is Partha. His mother's name is Prtha, Kunti's. From Prtha, his name is Partha. From his father's name, Pandu, his name is Pandava. So in this way big personalities or anyone, they should tally, the name should tally with the activities. This is nomenclature.
In the... According to Vedic civilization, after the birth of the child, there was name-giving ceremony, what kind of name. So that was calculated astrologically, that what kind of name he should be given, because the name should carry some meaning of the activities of his life. So Krsna is named here Hrsikesa. Hrsikesa, Krsna, in the fifteenth chapter is described that He gives direction to everyone. Sarvasya caham hrdi sannivistah: "I am sitting in everyone's heart as Paramatma." Realization of the Absolute Truth are three features, Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan.
vadanti tat tattva-vidas
tattvam yaj jnanam advayam
brahmeti paramatmeti
bhagavan iti sabdyate
[SB 1.2.11]
Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan. The same object. So the Brahman realization is impersonal realization. Just like the sun, the sun globe, and the sunshine. They are one, but the sunshine, realization of the sunshine, is not realization of the sun globe. Or realization of the sun globe is not realization of the sun god who is within the sun globe. Vivasvan. His name is Vivasvan. The present predominating Deity in the sun planet, his name is Vivasvan. And his son Manu is called Vaivasvata Manu. This is the age of Vaivasvata Manu. So at the... This is very nice example, that the sunshine, the sun globe and the sun god. They are all one, but still, the sun globe is not the person, sun god; neither the sunshine is not the person sun, although they are one. This is called acintya-bhedabheda-tattva, inconceivably one and different simultaneously.
So Brahman realization is also God realization, but it is partial. The Supreme Lord is sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah [Bs. 5.1]. He is person. But He is not a person like us. He is sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah. Isvarah paramah krsnah sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah [Bs. 5.1]. Vigraha means person. So He is person, Bhagavan. Brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate [SB 1.2.11]. Three features, realization of the Absolute. The first realization, imperfect realization, is impersonal Brahman. Further advanced realization -- Paramatma realization. And ultimate realization -- the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. These are the three stages.
So when He is Hrsikesa, it is His Paramatma feature. As it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita,
isvarah sarva-bhutanam
hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati
bhramayan sarva-bhutani
yantrarudhani mayaya
[Bg. 18.61]
Isvara, the Supreme Lord, Krsna. Isvara means the Supreme, isvara means controller. But the supreme controller is Krsna. Isvarah paramah krsnah [Bs. 5.1]. Control everyone of us, we are controller. We control our family, our society, our business, our factory. There are different kinds of controller. So in that sense everyone is isvara, but different types of isvara. But the supreme isvara.... Supreme means nobody controls Him, but He controls everyone. That is Supreme. Here we are controller, but we are also controlled, somebody else, superior than me. Therefore we cannot be called supreme controller. Supreme controller is Krsna.
When Krsna was present on this planet, nobody could control Krsna, but He controlled everyone. Nobody could control Krsna. So therefore the great saintly persons, even Brahma, they have decided, that isvarah paramah krsnah: [Bs. 5.1] "The Supreme controller is Krsna." He controls even Brahma, adi-kavaye. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said, tene brahma hrda adi-kavaye. Tene, He instructed Brahma sabda-brahma, Vedic knowledge, hrda, through heart. That is Hrsikesa. You can argue that "Brahma was the first creature within this universe. So how he could be instructed by somebody else?" No. The somebody else is always there within the heart, Hrsikesa. Hrsikesa means controller. Sarvasya caham... Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, sarvasya, in the fifteenth chapter, sarvasya ca aham hrdi sannivistah: "I am sitting in everyone's heart." Mattah smrtir jnanam apohanam ca: [Bg. 15.15] "From Me, one remembers and one forgets also." Forgets also. If you want to forget Krsna, so Krsna will give you such intelligence that you will forget Him forever. Ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham [Bg. 4.11].
So the atheist class, demon class, they want to forget Krsna. So Krsna gives him such intelligence that he can speak of atheism so many volumes. But he is getting that intelligence from Krsna. Krsna gives everyone the chance that "Whatever you want to do, you can do. I will give you intelligence. So if you want to become atheist, then I will give you intelligence how to become first-class atheist, like Hiranyakasipu, Ravana, Kamsa. And if you want to become devotee, then I will give you intelligence also in that way." Buddhi-yogam dadami tam yena mam upayanti te. Tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam priti-purvakam [Bg. 10.10]. Anyone who is engaged in His service with love and affection, tesam, not all, not all... Because not all, not everyone wants to serve Him. Everyone wants to become God, imitator. Imitation. Therefore they say, "Why Krsna shall be alone God? I am God." You are God. That's all right. But you are not the Supreme God. Why you forget that? You may be a God at home of your wife, but when you go to your office, you are not god; your master is god. He directs you to do something; you have to do it.
So we may claim that "Every one of us, we are God," but nobody can claim that "We are supreme; I am Supreme God." That is not possible. That can, Krsna can claim only. Mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya: [Bg. 7.7] "My dear Dhananjaya, there is no more superior personality than Me." And He proved it. So God cannot be manufactured. God is God. Krsna, when He was three months old on the lap of His mother, still, He was God. He could kill the Putana. So God cannot be manufactured by so-called meditation and mystic power. You can get some of the insignificant powers of God, but simply, but you do not know how much powerful is God. That you do not know. Therefore when a person gets little power, he thinks that he has become God. He does not know how much powerful God is.
So therefore sastra says that "You may be god in your own atmosphere, in your own jurisdiction. You may think that you are God." And everyone thinks like that. "But the Supreme God is Krsna." Eko yo bahunam vidadhati kaman. In the Upanisads it is said that God is also a person like me, you. Nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam (Katha Upanisad 2.2.13). But His personality is different from your personality, from my personality. What is that difference? Eko yo bahunam vidadhati kaman: "He supplies all the necessities of all other personalities." That is the difference. God is supplying us food. This conception is there in the Bible, "God, give us our daily bread." This is nice. Accepting that you are getting all supplies from God, this is sukrti, this is punyavat.
If one, anyone says, "Oh, what God? We are creating our own food." Just like the Communist says. They are duskrtina, rascals. But if anyone even goes to the church and temple for asking something to God, he is pious. At least, he has approached God. So one day when he will be advanced devotee, he will not ask any more. He knows that "Why shall I bother God? He is supplying everyone food, so why shall I ask Him food? My food is also there. Let me serve Him." That is his higher intelligence. That is higher intelligence, that "Why shall I ask food from God? God is supplying food to the cats, dogs, ants, elephants, and I want little food, he will not supply me? And especially when I engage myself in His service? Ordinary man pays to his servant, and I shall starve if I am engaged in the service of God?" This is intelligence. This is intelligence. "Why shall I bother God? If He likes, I will starve. That doesn't matter. But I must engage myself in the service of the Lord." This is intelligence. Bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate [Bg. 7.19]. This intelligence comes after many, many births of endeavoring for self-realization. It is not easily comes.
So there is no question of scarcity for devotee. Just like this morning I was discussing with a gentleman. So a devotee is not in need of everything. Why he should be? He cannot be. Even one who is not devotee, if he is getting supplies from God, how is it that the devotee will not get? Just like the government. The government, although there is prisonhouse, the government supplies the food. Not that because they have gone to the prisonhouse, they are starving. Rather, those who are unemployed, they prefer prisonhouse, that without any service, they will get free food.
So anyone within this material world, they are prisoners. Bhramayan yantrarudhani mayaya. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61]. Isvara, the Supreme Lord Krsna as Hrsikesa, He is sitting in everyone's heart as Paramatma, and He is guiding. This is confirmed in the Vedas that two birds are sitting on one tree. These two birds, one is Krsna and another, the living entity, Paramatma and jivatma. The jivatma is eating the fruit, and Paramatma is simply becoming witness. Anumanta upadrasta. Paramatma is seeing, Hrsikesa is seeing that you are doing this. So we may forget what nuisance we had done in our last life, but Paramatma is there, witness; you have to get a body according to your work. Karmana daiva-netrena [SB 3.31.1]. You are working, that is being witnessed by the Paramatma. And He is also giving advice. Because we have forgotten Krsna, we have rebelled against Krsna. We want to act according to our whims.
Just like a child wants to do something according to his whims. Father checks him, "My dear child, do not do this." But if he likes, if he persists, father says, "All right, you do it." This is the position. The Hrsikesa, Paramatma, He is always guiding us, but we do not accept His guidance. This is our position. Arjuna has accepted Krsna, that "I shall be guided by You. Although You'll not fight." Therefore here it is said, Hrsikesa, He's guiding Arjuna. The hrsika means the senses. Hrsika-isa. Isa means Lord, master, isvara or isa. So Hrsikesa. Actually, He is the master of the senses. In the Bhagavad-gita you will find. In the Eleventh Chapter it is said, sarvatah pani-padam tat, "God has His hands and legs all over the universe." What is that? This, our hand, our legs, this is God's hands, God's leg. He is the master. I am claiming, "This is my hand," but as soon as God withdraws the power of your hand, it is paralyzed, you cannot repair. Therefore the real proprietor is Krsna. You are not proprietor. You have been given the facility to use it, for..., use it not for your sense gratification, but for the satisfaction of the Lord. Then your life is perfect. Because the things belongs to Krsna. He is Hrsikesa. He is the master. Just like we are sitting in this house. Somebody has given us. Similarly, everything belongs to God. This is self-realization. My body belongs to God, my mind belongs to God, my intelligence belongs to God, I am spirit soul, I am part and parcel of God. Therefore everything belongs to...Isavasyam idam sarvam [Iso mantra 1]. Everything belongs to God. So if you don't use it for God, that is called demonism. And if you use it for God, that is devotion. That's all.
One must realize that "Everything belongs to God; nothing belongs to me. Even this body is given to me by God. "Why a different body? The different body is... God gives us different body according to our karma. That is explained. Karmana daiva-netrena jantur dehopapattaye [SB 3.31.1]. How we get a different type of body? We have got different types of body. Because according to our past karma, we have created a certain type of body and now we have entered into that body and working according to past karma.
The Christian theologicians, they do not believe in the karma. I was student in Christian college, Scottish Churches College. So in our younger days, the Professor, Dr. W.S. Urquhart. So I heard his lecture, that he did not believe in the karmas. He said that "If I am suffering or enjoying for my last karma, who is the witness? Because some witness must be there that I have done this." But at that time we were not very expert. But this Hrsikesa is the witness, anumanta upadrasta. Upadrasta. He is simply seeing. So the Christians, they have no Paramatma idea. Sometimes they say holy ghost. Means a clear idea. But this Hrsikesa is clear idea. Hrsikesa. Hrsika-isa.
So this bhakti, devotional path, is meant for satisfying the master of the senses. Hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. Hrsikena, by your senses, when you serve the Hrsikesa, the master of the senses, that is called bhakti. This is the definition of bhakti. Hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate. Narada-pancaratra. So that is our business. We should under... That is self-realization. Isavasyam idam sarvam [Iso mantra 1]. Everything belongs to God; nothing belongs to us. This is Bhagavata communism. As the communists, they say, "Everything belongs to the state," we say "Everything belongs to God." We never say that anything belongs to anyone. No. This is Bhagavata communism. So everything belongs to God. So one can utilize God's property as much as he requires, not more than that. Then he will be thief, he will be punishable. Just like father's property. Each and every son has got the right to live at the father's protection. Ma grdhah kasya svid dhanam. That is spiritual communism. Whatever wealth is there within this universe, all belong to God, and we are, as sons of God, we have got right to take advantage of this wealth, but not more than what I require. That's all. This is spiritual communism. If you take more, then you become punishable. This is the law of nature.
Therefore our aim of life should be to understand that every..., to know... This is self-realization, that everything belongs to God. Nothing belongs to us. This is self-realization. I also belong to God. My, this body made of five elements, gross body... Bhumir apo 'nalo vayuh [Bg. 7.4], earth, water, fire, air, sky. This is gross body. And subtle body, kham mano buddhir eva, mind, intelligence, ego. These eight. Krsna says, bhinna me prakrtir astadha: "These eight kind of prakrti, they are My energy. They are My energy." So this whole universe is creation of Krsna's material energy.
We are marginal energy of Krsna. So we are now put into this material energy because we wanted to enjoy this material world. In the spiritual world the only enjoyer is Krsna, either in spiritual or material world, He is the only enjoyer. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, bhoktaram yajna-tapasam sarva-loka-mahesvaram [Bg. 5.29]. "I am the enjoyer." So this is to be understood, that He is the supreme enjoyer. He is also enjoyer of My energy. Because my energy is derived from Krsna's energy. Just like master and servant. The master is paying him food, anything for comforts. He is getting energy. So how the energy should be utilized? For the master, not for his sense gratification. This is perfection of life. You produce anything by your energy, but you cannot use it for your sense gratification. Then you become perfect. And if you want to do it, then Hrsikesa, the master of the senses, will give you intelligence how to do it. Just like He is giving Arjuna intelligence. Therefore He is mentioned as Hrsikesa. How to win victory? How to utilize his energy for Krsna? Krsna wanted the battle. Arjuna was a military man. He utilized his military strength for Krsna's purposes. That is the perfection of life.
So whatever you have got, if you utilize it for Krsna's sake, hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhakti [Cc. Madhya 19.170], that is bhakti. Even by fighting, you can be a great devotee, just like Arjuna. He was not chanting on the beads, but he was fighting. But still, bhakto 'si priyo 'si me. Krsna says, "Oh, you are My great devotee." Now people, may say that "He was not chanting. He was fighting. How he became a great devotee?" But Krsna says, bhakto 'si priyo 'si me: "You are My dear friend. You are My devotee. Because you are utilizing your energy for Me." So bhakti means you utilize your energy for Krsna. Then your life is perfect. Thank you very much. (end)
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 1.15 -- London, July 15, 1973
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Test#GT012
Everything Belongs to God
Questions
Match the following:
Terms
Write/Indicate correct match
Meaning
Vikodara
1
Senses
Hrsikesa
2
Is impersonal realization
Go means
3
Controller
Govinda means
4
Inconceivably one and different simultaneously
Brahman realization
5
Voracious eater
Vigraha means
6
This is punyavat
Isvara means
7
Is simply becoming witness
Supreme means
8
Who gives pleasure to the senses
Acintya bhedabheda
9
Nobody controls Him but He controls everyone
Sukrti
10
Person
Paramatma
11
Master of the senses
State TRUE or FALSE.
a. Lord Krishna supplies all the necessities of all other personalities.
b. This intelligence comes after many, many births of endeavoring for self-realisation.
c. Hrsikesa, by your senses, when you don’t serve the Hrsikesa, the master of the senses, that is called bhakti.
Fill in the blanks.
a. Anyone who is engaged in His service with ___________ and affection (Bhagavad-gita 10.10).
b. The Supreme ___________ is Krishna.
c. He is sitting in everyone’s heart as ___________ and He is guiding.
d. Everything belongs to God. This is ___________.
4. Check All that applies:
What qualities in a devotee/ preacher are emphasized in this lecture?
a. This is not self-realization, that everything belongs to God. Nothing belongs to us.
b. Whatever wealth is there within this universe belongs to God and as sons of God, we have right to take advantage of this wealth, but not more than what I require. This is spiritual communism.
c. If one utilizes his energy for Krishna, that is not perfection of life.
5. Check All that applies:
What is the meaning of Krishna consciousness as emphasized in this lecture?
a. So bhakti means you utilize your energy for Krishna.
b. So this is to be understood, that He is the Supreme enjoyer, He is also enjoyer of my energy.
Test#GT012
Everything Belongs to God
Answers
Match the following:
Terms
Write/Indicate correct match
Meaning
Vikodara
5
1
Senses
Hrsikesa
11
2
Is impersonal realization
Go means
1
3
Controller
Govinda means
8
4
Inconceivably one and different simultaneously
Brahman realization
2
5
Voracious eater
Vigraha means
10
6
This is punyavat
Isvara means
3
7
Is simply becoming witness
Supreme means
9
8
Who gives pleasure to the senses
Acintya bhedabheda
4
9
Nobody controls Him but He controls everyone
Sukrti
6
10
Person
Paramatma
7
11
Master of the senses
State TRUE or FALSE.
a. Lord Krishna supplies all the necessities of all other personalities. TRUE
b. This intelligence comes after many, many births of endeavoring for self-realisation. TRUE
c. Hrsikesa, by your senses, when you don’t serve the Hrsikesa, the master of the senses, that is called bhakti. FALSE
Fill in the blanks.
Anyone who is engaged in His service with love and affection (Bhagavad-gita 10.10).
The Supreme God is Krishna.
He is sitting in everyone’s heart as paramatma and He is guiding.
Everything belongs to God. This is self-realization.
4. Check All that applies:
What qualities in a devotee/ preacher are emphasized in this lecture?
a. This is not self-realization, that everything belongs to God. Nothing belongs to us. FALSE
b. Whatever wealth is there within this universe belongs to God and as sons of God, we have right to take advantage of this wealth, but not more than what I require. This is spiritual communism. TRUE
c. If one utilizes his energy for Krishna, that is not perfection of life. FALSE
5. Check All that applies:
What is the meaning of Krishna consciousness as emphasized in this lecture?
a. So bhakti means you utilize your energy for Krishna. TRUE
b. So this is to be understood, that He is the Supreme enjoyer, He is also enjoyer of my energy. TRUE
comment: This whole war of Kuruksetra was fought because of the selfishnes of the Kuaravas not respecting that everything belongs to Krsna
Srila Prabhupada warned:
Srila Prabhupada wrote in a November 1, 1974 letter to Cyavana Swami:
"I pray to Krishna that you all may use your intelligence for Krishna's service and not for any personal ambition. We have worked very hard and established a great institution, but if we think for our personal benefit then it will become ruined. This is my only concern."
devadattam dhananjayah
paundram dadhmau maha-sankham
bhima-karma vrkodarah
Translation
Lord Krishna blew His conchshell, called Pancajanya; Arjuna blew his, the Devadatta; and Bhima, the voracious eater and performer of herculean tasks, blew his terrific conchshell, called Paundra.
Commentary by Srila Prabhupada
Lord Krishna is referred to as Hrishikesha in this verse because He is the owner of all senses. The living entities are part and parcel of Him, and therefore the senses of the living entities are also part and parcel of His senses. The impersonalists cannot account for the senses of the living entities, and therefore they are always anxious to describe all living entities as senseless, or impersonal. The Lord, situated in the hearts of all living entities, directs their senses. But He directs in terms of the surrender of the living entity, and in the case of a pure devotee He directly controls the senses. Here on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra the Lord directly controls the transcendental senses of Arjuna, and thus His particular name of Hrishikesha. The Lord has different names according to His different activities. For example, His name is Madhusudana because He killed the demon of the name Madhu; His name is Govinda because He gives pleasure to the cows and to the senses; His name is Vasudeva because He appeared as the son of Vasudeva; His name is Devaki-nandana because He accepted Devaki as His mother; His name is Yashoda-nandana because He awarded His childhood pastimes to Yashoda at Vrindavana; His name is Partha-sarathi because He worked as charioteer of His friend Arjuna. Similarly, His name is Hrishikesha because He gave direction to Arjuna on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra.
Arjuna is referred to as Dhananjaya in this verse because he helped his elder brother in fetching wealth when it was required by the king to make expenditures for different sacrifices. Similarly, Bhima is known as Vrkodara because he could eat as voraciously as he could perform herculean tasks, such as killing the demon Hidimba. So the particular types of conchshell blown by the different personalities on the side of the Pandavas, beginning with the Lord’s, were all very encouraging to the fighting soldiers. On the other side there were no such credits, nor the presence of Lord Krishna, the supreme director, nor that of the goddess of fortune. So they were predestined to lose the battle—and that was the message announced by the sounds of the conchshells.
Commentary by Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur
Please see text 16 for Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur's combined commentary to texts 15 and 16.
Rudra Vaisnava Sampradaya:
Visnuswami
Sridhara Swami's Commentary
Now the names of the conch shells sounded by the Supreme Lord Krishna, Arjuna and Bhima are being described. The names Dhananjaya is used for Arjuna and means winner of wealth. The name Vikroda is used for Bhima and can mean he of terrible deeds or he whose appetite is voracious just like a wolf's.
Brahma Vaisnava Sampradaya:
Madhvacarya
Madhvacarya's Commentary
Madhvacarya has no commentary so we present Baladeva Vidyabhusana's.
Pancajanya is the name of Lord Krishna's divine, transcendental conch shell and the other names mentioned are the conch shells of the five Pandavas. This signifies that there were many such divine conch shells present on the side of the Pandavas but on the side of the Kauravas there were not any and so none were mentioned. By referring to Lord Krishna as Hrsikesa, the director of everyone's senses it is indicative that with the Supreme Lord directing their cause victory was certain for the Pandavas. The use of the name dhanajaya for Arjuna meaning conqueror of riches indicates that he would conquer all the wealth by defeating all the rich and powerful kings arrayed against him on the battlefield and with the word karma meaning reactions to actions added to the name of Bhima refers to his slaying the demon Hidamba after he and his mother and brothers were forced to flee their burning house instigated by Duryodhana and indicates what is in store for him in the future.
Sri Vaisnava Sampradaya:
Ramanuja
There is no commentary for this verse.
Kumara Vaisnava Sampradaya:
Nimbaditya
Kesava Kasmiri's Commentary
In order to subtly convey the superiority of the Pandavas, Sanjaya expresses in this verse beginning with the word pancajanyam which is the name of Lord Krishna's transcendental conch shell and then mentions the names of the divine conch shells of Arjuna and Bhima.
"Everything Belongs To God"
73/07/15 London, Bhagavad-gita 1.15
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Pradyumna (leads chanting, etc.):
pancajanyam hrsikeso
devadattam dhananjayah
paundram dadhmau maha-sankham
bhima-karma vrkodarah
[Bg. 1.15]
Translation: "Then Lord Krsna blew His conchshell named Pancajanya; Arjuna blew his, the Devadatta; and Bhima, the voracious eater and performer of Herculean tasks, blew his terrific conchshell named Paundram."
Prabhupada: So Vrkodara, Bhimasena, is advertised as voracious eater. But he can perform Herculean task also. Just like the elephant, it eats voraciously, but it gives service also. Similarly if we simply eat voraciously and we cannot give any service that is not good. We must eat sumptuously and give service also. In Bengali it is said that pete keli pithe soya (?). If one is given sufficient food in the belly, he can carry more burden on the back. So Bhima-karma, his activities were very Herculean, very, very, difficult tasks he performed.
So everyone is named here with his task. The first name is, Krsna, Hrsikesa. Hrsikesa. He is the master of the senses. Govinda. Go means senses. "Who gives pleasure to the senses." So Krsna has got many names, thousands, out of which, the Krsna name is chief, mukhya. That is described in Vedic literature. People say God has no name. That is right. He has no particular fixed name. But His names are there according to His different activities. Just like His name is Devaki-nandana. Because He accepted Devaki as His mother, therefore He is called Devaki-nandana. Similarly, He is called Nanda-nandana, Yasoda-nandana, Vrajendra-nandana -- -in relationship with Nanda Maharaja, Yasoda, His foster father and mother. Similarly, He is sometimes named Partha-sarathi because He acted as the chariot driver of Arjuna. Arjuna's name is Partha. His mother's name is Prtha, Kunti's. From Prtha, his name is Partha. From his father's name, Pandu, his name is Pandava. So in this way big personalities or anyone, they should tally, the name should tally with the activities. This is nomenclature.
In the... According to Vedic civilization, after the birth of the child, there was name-giving ceremony, what kind of name. So that was calculated astrologically, that what kind of name he should be given, because the name should carry some meaning of the activities of his life. So Krsna is named here Hrsikesa. Hrsikesa, Krsna, in the fifteenth chapter is described that He gives direction to everyone. Sarvasya caham hrdi sannivistah: "I am sitting in everyone's heart as Paramatma." Realization of the Absolute Truth are three features, Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan.
vadanti tat tattva-vidas
tattvam yaj jnanam advayam
brahmeti paramatmeti
bhagavan iti sabdyate
[SB 1.2.11]
Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan. The same object. So the Brahman realization is impersonal realization. Just like the sun, the sun globe, and the sunshine. They are one, but the sunshine, realization of the sunshine, is not realization of the sun globe. Or realization of the sun globe is not realization of the sun god who is within the sun globe. Vivasvan. His name is Vivasvan. The present predominating Deity in the sun planet, his name is Vivasvan. And his son Manu is called Vaivasvata Manu. This is the age of Vaivasvata Manu. So at the... This is very nice example, that the sunshine, the sun globe and the sun god. They are all one, but still, the sun globe is not the person, sun god; neither the sunshine is not the person sun, although they are one. This is called acintya-bhedabheda-tattva, inconceivably one and different simultaneously.
So Brahman realization is also God realization, but it is partial. The Supreme Lord is sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah [Bs. 5.1]. He is person. But He is not a person like us. He is sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah. Isvarah paramah krsnah sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah [Bs. 5.1]. Vigraha means person. So He is person, Bhagavan. Brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti sabdyate [SB 1.2.11]. Three features, realization of the Absolute. The first realization, imperfect realization, is impersonal Brahman. Further advanced realization -- Paramatma realization. And ultimate realization -- the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. These are the three stages.
So when He is Hrsikesa, it is His Paramatma feature. As it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita,
isvarah sarva-bhutanam
hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati
bhramayan sarva-bhutani
yantrarudhani mayaya
[Bg. 18.61]
Isvara, the Supreme Lord, Krsna. Isvara means the Supreme, isvara means controller. But the supreme controller is Krsna. Isvarah paramah krsnah [Bs. 5.1]. Control everyone of us, we are controller. We control our family, our society, our business, our factory. There are different kinds of controller. So in that sense everyone is isvara, but different types of isvara. But the supreme isvara.... Supreme means nobody controls Him, but He controls everyone. That is Supreme. Here we are controller, but we are also controlled, somebody else, superior than me. Therefore we cannot be called supreme controller. Supreme controller is Krsna.
When Krsna was present on this planet, nobody could control Krsna, but He controlled everyone. Nobody could control Krsna. So therefore the great saintly persons, even Brahma, they have decided, that isvarah paramah krsnah: [Bs. 5.1] "The Supreme controller is Krsna." He controls even Brahma, adi-kavaye. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said, tene brahma hrda adi-kavaye. Tene, He instructed Brahma sabda-brahma, Vedic knowledge, hrda, through heart. That is Hrsikesa. You can argue that "Brahma was the first creature within this universe. So how he could be instructed by somebody else?" No. The somebody else is always there within the heart, Hrsikesa. Hrsikesa means controller. Sarvasya caham... Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita, sarvasya, in the fifteenth chapter, sarvasya ca aham hrdi sannivistah: "I am sitting in everyone's heart." Mattah smrtir jnanam apohanam ca: [Bg. 15.15] "From Me, one remembers and one forgets also." Forgets also. If you want to forget Krsna, so Krsna will give you such intelligence that you will forget Him forever. Ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham [Bg. 4.11].
So the atheist class, demon class, they want to forget Krsna. So Krsna gives him such intelligence that he can speak of atheism so many volumes. But he is getting that intelligence from Krsna. Krsna gives everyone the chance that "Whatever you want to do, you can do. I will give you intelligence. So if you want to become atheist, then I will give you intelligence how to become first-class atheist, like Hiranyakasipu, Ravana, Kamsa. And if you want to become devotee, then I will give you intelligence also in that way." Buddhi-yogam dadami tam yena mam upayanti te. Tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam priti-purvakam [Bg. 10.10]. Anyone who is engaged in His service with love and affection, tesam, not all, not all... Because not all, not everyone wants to serve Him. Everyone wants to become God, imitator. Imitation. Therefore they say, "Why Krsna shall be alone God? I am God." You are God. That's all right. But you are not the Supreme God. Why you forget that? You may be a God at home of your wife, but when you go to your office, you are not god; your master is god. He directs you to do something; you have to do it.
So we may claim that "Every one of us, we are God," but nobody can claim that "We are supreme; I am Supreme God." That is not possible. That can, Krsna can claim only. Mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya: [Bg. 7.7] "My dear Dhananjaya, there is no more superior personality than Me." And He proved it. So God cannot be manufactured. God is God. Krsna, when He was three months old on the lap of His mother, still, He was God. He could kill the Putana. So God cannot be manufactured by so-called meditation and mystic power. You can get some of the insignificant powers of God, but simply, but you do not know how much powerful is God. That you do not know. Therefore when a person gets little power, he thinks that he has become God. He does not know how much powerful God is.
So therefore sastra says that "You may be god in your own atmosphere, in your own jurisdiction. You may think that you are God." And everyone thinks like that. "But the Supreme God is Krsna." Eko yo bahunam vidadhati kaman. In the Upanisads it is said that God is also a person like me, you. Nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam (Katha Upanisad 2.2.13). But His personality is different from your personality, from my personality. What is that difference? Eko yo bahunam vidadhati kaman: "He supplies all the necessities of all other personalities." That is the difference. God is supplying us food. This conception is there in the Bible, "God, give us our daily bread." This is nice. Accepting that you are getting all supplies from God, this is sukrti, this is punyavat.
If one, anyone says, "Oh, what God? We are creating our own food." Just like the Communist says. They are duskrtina, rascals. But if anyone even goes to the church and temple for asking something to God, he is pious. At least, he has approached God. So one day when he will be advanced devotee, he will not ask any more. He knows that "Why shall I bother God? He is supplying everyone food, so why shall I ask Him food? My food is also there. Let me serve Him." That is his higher intelligence. That is higher intelligence, that "Why shall I ask food from God? God is supplying food to the cats, dogs, ants, elephants, and I want little food, he will not supply me? And especially when I engage myself in His service? Ordinary man pays to his servant, and I shall starve if I am engaged in the service of God?" This is intelligence. This is intelligence. "Why shall I bother God? If He likes, I will starve. That doesn't matter. But I must engage myself in the service of the Lord." This is intelligence. Bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate [Bg. 7.19]. This intelligence comes after many, many births of endeavoring for self-realization. It is not easily comes.
So there is no question of scarcity for devotee. Just like this morning I was discussing with a gentleman. So a devotee is not in need of everything. Why he should be? He cannot be. Even one who is not devotee, if he is getting supplies from God, how is it that the devotee will not get? Just like the government. The government, although there is prisonhouse, the government supplies the food. Not that because they have gone to the prisonhouse, they are starving. Rather, those who are unemployed, they prefer prisonhouse, that without any service, they will get free food.
So anyone within this material world, they are prisoners. Bhramayan yantrarudhani mayaya. Isvarah sarva-bhutanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61]. Isvara, the Supreme Lord Krsna as Hrsikesa, He is sitting in everyone's heart as Paramatma, and He is guiding. This is confirmed in the Vedas that two birds are sitting on one tree. These two birds, one is Krsna and another, the living entity, Paramatma and jivatma. The jivatma is eating the fruit, and Paramatma is simply becoming witness. Anumanta upadrasta. Paramatma is seeing, Hrsikesa is seeing that you are doing this. So we may forget what nuisance we had done in our last life, but Paramatma is there, witness; you have to get a body according to your work. Karmana daiva-netrena [SB 3.31.1]. You are working, that is being witnessed by the Paramatma. And He is also giving advice. Because we have forgotten Krsna, we have rebelled against Krsna. We want to act according to our whims.
Just like a child wants to do something according to his whims. Father checks him, "My dear child, do not do this." But if he likes, if he persists, father says, "All right, you do it." This is the position. The Hrsikesa, Paramatma, He is always guiding us, but we do not accept His guidance. This is our position. Arjuna has accepted Krsna, that "I shall be guided by You. Although You'll not fight." Therefore here it is said, Hrsikesa, He's guiding Arjuna. The hrsika means the senses. Hrsika-isa. Isa means Lord, master, isvara or isa. So Hrsikesa. Actually, He is the master of the senses. In the Bhagavad-gita you will find. In the Eleventh Chapter it is said, sarvatah pani-padam tat, "God has His hands and legs all over the universe." What is that? This, our hand, our legs, this is God's hands, God's leg. He is the master. I am claiming, "This is my hand," but as soon as God withdraws the power of your hand, it is paralyzed, you cannot repair. Therefore the real proprietor is Krsna. You are not proprietor. You have been given the facility to use it, for..., use it not for your sense gratification, but for the satisfaction of the Lord. Then your life is perfect. Because the things belongs to Krsna. He is Hrsikesa. He is the master. Just like we are sitting in this house. Somebody has given us. Similarly, everything belongs to God. This is self-realization. My body belongs to God, my mind belongs to God, my intelligence belongs to God, I am spirit soul, I am part and parcel of God. Therefore everything belongs to...Isavasyam idam sarvam [Iso mantra 1]. Everything belongs to God. So if you don't use it for God, that is called demonism. And if you use it for God, that is devotion. That's all.
One must realize that "Everything belongs to God; nothing belongs to me. Even this body is given to me by God. "Why a different body? The different body is... God gives us different body according to our karma. That is explained. Karmana daiva-netrena jantur dehopapattaye [SB 3.31.1]. How we get a different type of body? We have got different types of body. Because according to our past karma, we have created a certain type of body and now we have entered into that body and working according to past karma.
The Christian theologicians, they do not believe in the karma. I was student in Christian college, Scottish Churches College. So in our younger days, the Professor, Dr. W.S. Urquhart. So I heard his lecture, that he did not believe in the karmas. He said that "If I am suffering or enjoying for my last karma, who is the witness? Because some witness must be there that I have done this." But at that time we were not very expert. But this Hrsikesa is the witness, anumanta upadrasta. Upadrasta. He is simply seeing. So the Christians, they have no Paramatma idea. Sometimes they say holy ghost. Means a clear idea. But this Hrsikesa is clear idea. Hrsikesa. Hrsika-isa.
So this bhakti, devotional path, is meant for satisfying the master of the senses. Hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. Hrsikena, by your senses, when you serve the Hrsikesa, the master of the senses, that is called bhakti. This is the definition of bhakti. Hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate. Narada-pancaratra. So that is our business. We should under... That is self-realization. Isavasyam idam sarvam [Iso mantra 1]. Everything belongs to God; nothing belongs to us. This is Bhagavata communism. As the communists, they say, "Everything belongs to the state," we say "Everything belongs to God." We never say that anything belongs to anyone. No. This is Bhagavata communism. So everything belongs to God. So one can utilize God's property as much as he requires, not more than that. Then he will be thief, he will be punishable. Just like father's property. Each and every son has got the right to live at the father's protection. Ma grdhah kasya svid dhanam. That is spiritual communism. Whatever wealth is there within this universe, all belong to God, and we are, as sons of God, we have got right to take advantage of this wealth, but not more than what I require. That's all. This is spiritual communism. If you take more, then you become punishable. This is the law of nature.
Therefore our aim of life should be to understand that every..., to know... This is self-realization, that everything belongs to God. Nothing belongs to us. This is self-realization. I also belong to God. My, this body made of five elements, gross body... Bhumir apo 'nalo vayuh [Bg. 7.4], earth, water, fire, air, sky. This is gross body. And subtle body, kham mano buddhir eva, mind, intelligence, ego. These eight. Krsna says, bhinna me prakrtir astadha: "These eight kind of prakrti, they are My energy. They are My energy." So this whole universe is creation of Krsna's material energy.
We are marginal energy of Krsna. So we are now put into this material energy because we wanted to enjoy this material world. In the spiritual world the only enjoyer is Krsna, either in spiritual or material world, He is the only enjoyer. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, bhoktaram yajna-tapasam sarva-loka-mahesvaram [Bg. 5.29]. "I am the enjoyer." So this is to be understood, that He is the supreme enjoyer. He is also enjoyer of My energy. Because my energy is derived from Krsna's energy. Just like master and servant. The master is paying him food, anything for comforts. He is getting energy. So how the energy should be utilized? For the master, not for his sense gratification. This is perfection of life. You produce anything by your energy, but you cannot use it for your sense gratification. Then you become perfect. And if you want to do it, then Hrsikesa, the master of the senses, will give you intelligence how to do it. Just like He is giving Arjuna intelligence. Therefore He is mentioned as Hrsikesa. How to win victory? How to utilize his energy for Krsna? Krsna wanted the battle. Arjuna was a military man. He utilized his military strength for Krsna's purposes. That is the perfection of life.
So whatever you have got, if you utilize it for Krsna's sake, hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhakti [Cc. Madhya 19.170], that is bhakti. Even by fighting, you can be a great devotee, just like Arjuna. He was not chanting on the beads, but he was fighting. But still, bhakto 'si priyo 'si me. Krsna says, "Oh, you are My great devotee." Now people, may say that "He was not chanting. He was fighting. How he became a great devotee?" But Krsna says, bhakto 'si priyo 'si me: "You are My dear friend. You are My devotee. Because you are utilizing your energy for Me." So bhakti means you utilize your energy for Krsna. Then your life is perfect. Thank you very much. (end)
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 1.15 -- London, July 15, 1973
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Test#GT012
Everything Belongs to God
Questions
Match the following:
Terms
Write/Indicate correct match
Meaning
Vikodara
1
Senses
Hrsikesa
2
Is impersonal realization
Go means
3
Controller
Govinda means
4
Inconceivably one and different simultaneously
Brahman realization
5
Voracious eater
Vigraha means
6
This is punyavat
Isvara means
7
Is simply becoming witness
Supreme means
8
Who gives pleasure to the senses
Acintya bhedabheda
9
Nobody controls Him but He controls everyone
Sukrti
10
Person
Paramatma
11
Master of the senses
State TRUE or FALSE.
a. Lord Krishna supplies all the necessities of all other personalities.
b. This intelligence comes after many, many births of endeavoring for self-realisation.
c. Hrsikesa, by your senses, when you don’t serve the Hrsikesa, the master of the senses, that is called bhakti.
Fill in the blanks.
a. Anyone who is engaged in His service with ___________ and affection (Bhagavad-gita 10.10).
b. The Supreme ___________ is Krishna.
c. He is sitting in everyone’s heart as ___________ and He is guiding.
d. Everything belongs to God. This is ___________.
4. Check All that applies:
What qualities in a devotee/ preacher are emphasized in this lecture?
a. This is not self-realization, that everything belongs to God. Nothing belongs to us.
b. Whatever wealth is there within this universe belongs to God and as sons of God, we have right to take advantage of this wealth, but not more than what I require. This is spiritual communism.
c. If one utilizes his energy for Krishna, that is not perfection of life.
5. Check All that applies:
What is the meaning of Krishna consciousness as emphasized in this lecture?
a. So bhakti means you utilize your energy for Krishna.
b. So this is to be understood, that He is the Supreme enjoyer, He is also enjoyer of my energy.
Test#GT012
Everything Belongs to God
Answers
Match the following:
Terms
Write/Indicate correct match
Meaning
Vikodara
5
1
Senses
Hrsikesa
11
2
Is impersonal realization
Go means
1
3
Controller
Govinda means
8
4
Inconceivably one and different simultaneously
Brahman realization
2
5
Voracious eater
Vigraha means
10
6
This is punyavat
Isvara means
3
7
Is simply becoming witness
Supreme means
9
8
Who gives pleasure to the senses
Acintya bhedabheda
4
9
Nobody controls Him but He controls everyone
Sukrti
6
10
Person
Paramatma
7
11
Master of the senses
State TRUE or FALSE.
a. Lord Krishna supplies all the necessities of all other personalities. TRUE
b. This intelligence comes after many, many births of endeavoring for self-realisation. TRUE
c. Hrsikesa, by your senses, when you don’t serve the Hrsikesa, the master of the senses, that is called bhakti. FALSE
Fill in the blanks.
Anyone who is engaged in His service with love and affection (Bhagavad-gita 10.10).
The Supreme God is Krishna.
He is sitting in everyone’s heart as paramatma and He is guiding.
Everything belongs to God. This is self-realization.
4. Check All that applies:
What qualities in a devotee/ preacher are emphasized in this lecture?
a. This is not self-realization, that everything belongs to God. Nothing belongs to us. FALSE
b. Whatever wealth is there within this universe belongs to God and as sons of God, we have right to take advantage of this wealth, but not more than what I require. This is spiritual communism. TRUE
c. If one utilizes his energy for Krishna, that is not perfection of life. FALSE
5. Check All that applies:
What is the meaning of Krishna consciousness as emphasized in this lecture?
a. So bhakti means you utilize your energy for Krishna. TRUE
b. So this is to be understood, that He is the Supreme enjoyer, He is also enjoyer of my energy. TRUE
comment: This whole war of Kuruksetra was fought because of the selfishnes of the Kuaravas not respecting that everything belongs to Krsna
Srila Prabhupada warned:
Srila Prabhupada wrote in a November 1, 1974 letter to Cyavana Swami:
"I pray to Krishna that you all may use your intelligence for Krishna's service and not for any personal ambition. We have worked very hard and established a great institution, but if we think for our personal benefit then it will become ruined. This is my only concern."
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