seeing through the eyes of scriptures
Bhagavad Gita 3.8
yas tv indriyāṇi manasā
niyamyārabhate ‘rjuna
karmendriyaiḥ karma-yogam
asaktaḥ sa viśiṣyate
Translation of Bhagavad Gita 3.8
Perform your prescribed duty, for doing so is better than not working. One cannot even maintain one’s physical body without work.
Commentary by Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
There are many pseudo meditators who misrepresent themselves as belonging to high parentage, and great professional men who falsely pose that they have sacrificed everything for the sake of advancement in spiritual life. Lord Krishna did not want Arjuna to become a pretender. Rather, the Lord desired that Arjuna perform his prescribed duties as set forth for kshatriyas. Arjuna was a householder and a military general, and therefore it was better for him to remain as such and perform his religious duties as prescribed for the householder kshatriya. Such activities gradually cleanse the heart of a mundane man and free him from material contamination. So-called renunciation for the purpose of maintenance is never approved by the Lord, nor by any religious scripture. After all, one has to maintain one’s body and soul together by some work. Work should not be given up capriciously, without purification of materialistic propensities. Anyone who is in the material world is certainly possessed of the impure propensity for lording it over material nature, or, in other words, for sense gratification. Such polluted propensities have to be cleared. Without doing so, through prescribed duties, one should never attempt to become a so-called transcendentalist, renouncing work and living at the cost of others.
Commentary by Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarthi Thakur of Gaudiya Sampradaya:
Therefore you should engage in daily obligatory activities such as sandhya vandana (niyatam karma). This is better that renunciation of these actions (karma sannyasa). By renunciation of all actions you will not even be able to maintain your body.
Commentary by Sri Sridhara Swami of Rudra Sampradaya:
One should perform the duties prescribed in the Vedic scriptures appropriate for ones stage in life. The daily duties like praying, meditating and worshipping are being referred to by Lord Krishna. Action is superior to inaction for by abstention from action none of these activities can be accomplished. What to say of those, if one fails to take actions even the maintenance of their physical body will not be possible.
Commentary by Sri Madhvacharya of Brahma Sampradaya:
One should perform the actions that are appropriate to one’s varna or status and ashram or stage in life. In Vedic culture there are four varnas: brahmin the priestly class, kshatriya the royalty and warrior class, vaishya the farmers and businesss classes and sudra the workers and servants of the previous three classes. In Vedic culture there are also four ashrams: bramacharya which is celibate student life, grihasta which is married family life, vanaprastha which is semi-retired householder life and sannyasa which is complete renunciation of worldy life for meditation on God. Due to changing times and the unseemly mixture of different varnas people no longer adhere exclusively to the natural duties of their ashram as prescribed by the Vedas. This was even happening over 5000 years ago at the end Dvarpara yuga. In the Mahabharata we see King Yudhisthira noting that it was becoming exceedingly difficult to determine the varna of people due to the mixture of different classes. Therefore it is only by conduct and attributes that one can judge what class one belongs to and not simply by what varna one was born into and this conduct is determined by actions. Unless and until the impulse arises for one to surrender themselves in full service and devotion to the Supreme Lord Krishna then both varna and ashram apply in society. But after surrendering in devotion varnashram is no longer applicable or required.
Commentary by Sri Keshava Kashmiri of Kumara Sampradaya:
One should note that by the use of tvam Lord Krishna is asserting that Arjuna should be detached from his actions and perform his duty. Action is superior to inaction because by performing actions prescribed in the Vedic scriptures according to ones occupation and stage in life because accumalated sins are destroyed that one has acquired in past lives. Realistically not performing actions is also not practical because without actions one is not able even to maintain the physical body. The particle api means even and refers to what else more should be clarified.
"From Pretension to Purity"
68/12/23 Los Angeles, Bhagavad-gita 3.6-10 download PlayersPrabhupada: Hare Krsna. Yes, read. Which verse? Go on.
Sudama: "One who restrains the senses and organs of action but whose mind dwells on sense objects certainly deludes himself and is called a pretender [Bg. 3.6]." Prabhupada: Yes. This is very important thing. Yoga indriya-samyamya. Yoga, the definition of yoga means sense control, controlling the sense. So here Krsna says that you cannot control your senses artificially. It is not possible. Those who are trying... Just like some of the yogis, they close their eyes, "Oh, I'll not see beautiful woman." That is another practice, but that does not mean that he can control his senses. No. You cannot curb down the natural force of sense. This is the secret. People do not know. And if you let the senses go on in its own way, that is also dangerous. Then you are going to hell. Adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram. If your senses are not controlled, then your senses will drag you to the darkest region of hell. That is another problem. Generally, in the material world, adanta -- adanta means uncontrolled, go -- go means senses. Adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram punah punas carvita-carvananam [SB 7.5.30]. Simply repeating, chewing the chewed. The whole history of the world, you just study, is a history of sense gratification. Just take, for example, some twenty years ago one Mr. Adolf Hitler came in the scene, and there was great upheaval as war in Europe and America. From 1933 to 1947 or something like that, the whole world was in trouble. But he is gone, finished. And what did he do? Sense gratification, that's all. He wanted that this way government should be, according to his own sense. Another person, just like Mr. Churchill or your President Roosevelt, they said "No. The sense gratification should not be like that. The sense gratification should be like this." (laughter) So it is the war of sense gratification, that's all. One leader is presenting a program of sense gratification, another leader is presenting another program of sense gratification, and there is clash. This is going on. This is the history of the world. And another class, they are thinking "Oh, there are so much trouble simply for sense gratification. Let us control our senses." Brahma satyam jagan mithya, just like Mayavadi philosophers, Sankaracarya. They say this world is useless. This world is useless. Only Brahman, the Supreme Brahman, impersonal Brahman, that is truth. That is also another sense gratification. That is bigger sense gratification. Why? These Mayavadi philosophers, they want to merge into the existence of the Supreme One. That means by becoming Hitler, Churchill or Roosevelt, their senses were not very much satisfied. "Now," they say, "this world is false. Now let me become the Supreme." That is another sense gratification. So this world, without Krsna consciousness, is simply sense gratification. That's all. One may present in one way, another may present in another way, but it is sense gratification. Therefore the so-called yogis, fifteen minutes meditation or, say, fifteen hours meditation or fifteen months meditation, but as soon as meditation finished -- sense gratification. That's all. So this sense gratification program is very strong. And so long you will indulge in sense gratification, the repetition of birth and death will go on. The repetition of birth. This body...Bhagavata says that these people are working for sense gratification. Nunam pramattah. Pramattah means mad after sense gratification. Kurute vikarma. And for sense gratification, they are acting so abominably that it is not to be uttered. Kurute vikarma yad indriya-pritaya aprnoti. They have engaged their life in sense gratification. Na sadhu manye, oh this is not good. This is not good. Why? Yata, because, atmanah, the spirit soul, atmano 'yam... Asann api klesada asa dehah [SB 5.5.4]. This body is temporary, but so long this body is there, you'll have to suffer. What is that suffering? The sum total of suffering is birth, death, old age and disease. This is due to this body. Therefore the problem is how to stop this material body, repetition. Today I have got this body, Indian, tomorrow I may get American, next birth... Tomorrow means next birth. Next birth another, next birth another, next birth another -- it is going on. Going on. There is no stoppage, this transmigration of the soul. But so long you do not stop it, there is no question of being freed from sufferings. They do not know it. They are thinking they are advancing. What advancement you have made? These sufferings are there -- birth, death, old age and disease. You cannot stop it. Abrahma-bhuvanal lokah, and even you go to this moon planet or to the highest planet, these four things will follow. So therefore sense gratification must be stopped. But if you want to stop it artificially it is impossible. Neither by this yoga process, neither by this jnana process. Simply for the time being you can check. Just like a naughty boy. By force, you can stop him acting mischievously. But as soon as he gets opportunity, again he will act so. Similarly, senses are very strong. You cannot stop them artificially. Therefore the only remedy is Krsna consciousness. These boys in Krsna consciousness, this is also sense gratification, eating nice prasada, dancing, chanting, reading philosophy -- but it is in connection with Krsna. That is the significance. Nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe. It is the sense gratification of Krsna. Not directly, but because I am part and parcel of Krsna, my senses are automatically satisfied. This process should be adopted. Artificially... This Krsna consciousness movement is an art of living by which you will feel your senses are fully satisfied, but you are going to be free next life. This is the nice process. And artificially if you want to stop your senses, you will fail. That Krsna says, "One who restrains the sense and organs of action but whose mind dwells on sense objects." Just like Visvamitra Muni. There were many instances. He was a great king and he wanted to be yogi. And he went to forest, gave up his kingdom, went to forest. And he was meditating very seriously, and Indra, king of heaven, he sent some society girls of heavenly planet, Menaka. And she came. She began to dance before the closed-eyes yogi, and as soon as he heard, "Oh, there is very nice female voice and dancing," and as soon as he opened, he became captivated, embraced her. So everything gone. You see? So sense gratification, you cannot stop artificially. Nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe. Therefore we advised our students, either boys and girls, that if you have... Of course, if you are serious in Krsna consciousness, you forget all these nonsense sense gratification, but still if you are disturbed, all right, get yourself married. Live peacefully, husband and wife, and both be engaged in Krsna consciousness. Gradually, you'll forget, both husband and wife. Don't try artificially. Artificially you'll never be successful. But if you can avoid it by advance and strong Krsna consciousness... Just like Haridasa Thakura. But don't try to imitate Haridasa Thakura. His stage was different. We cannot imitate. We can simply follow. Anukarana, anusarana, there are two Sanskrit words. One is imitation, and one who is following the footprints. If one tries to follow the footprints of great personalities, that is very nice, but we cannot imitate. Imitate. Imitation is dangerous. Just like Lord Siva, he drank an ocean of poison and he kept it on the throat. He did not allow to go down. So therefore his name is Nilakantha. It became bluish. His neck is blue. But if somebody imitates Lord Siva and indulges intoxication, ganja, he'll go to hell. He is powerful. Somebody says "Well, Lord Siva is a smoker so we can also smoke." No. You cannot imitate. You can simply follow. Just like the sunshine. The sunshine is so strong that it is absorbing the moisture of the filthy place, contaminated place where one is passing stool and urine, but still it is sun because sun is so powerful. But if you live in that place for some time where urine and stools are thrown, then you'll be contaminated immediately because you are not powerful. Tejiyasam na dosaya. Those who are powerful, if they somebody does something which is very extraordinary, that is not to be imitated. You have to follow the rules and regulations. That will give you progress. Don't try to imitate. Just be in your position, try to follow the rules and regulations, and chant Hare Krsna, and gradually you'll get result. There is no need of being hasty. Go on. Sudama: Verse number seven: "On the other hand, he who controls the senses by the mind and engages his active organs in works of devotion without attachment is by far superior [Bg. 3.7]." Prabhupada: Yes. Instead of artificially trying to meditate and control the senses, just engage your senses in the activities of Krsna consciousness and gradually you will be happy. Your senses will be controlled. Go on. Sudama: Purport: "Instead of becoming a pseudo-transcendentalist for the sake of wanton living and sense enjoyment, it is far better to remain in one's own business and execute the purpose of life which is to get free from material bondage and enter into the kingdom of God. The svartha-gati or goal of self-interest..." Prabhupada: Svartha-gati, svartha-gati. Yes. Sudama: "...or goal of self-interest is to reach Visnu. The whole varna and asrama system is designed to help us reach this goal of life. A householder can also reach this destination by regulated service in Krsna consciousness. For self-realization one can live a controlled life as prescribed in the sastras and continue carrying out his business without attachment, and that will lead him gradually to the progressive path. Such a sincere person who follows this method is far better situated than the false pretender who adopts show-bottle spiritualism to cheat the innocent public. A sincere sweeper in the street is far better than the charlatan meditator who works only for the sake of making a living." Prabhupada: Yes. My Guru Maharaja used to say that don't accept spiritual life for living. Just like we are sending the sankirtana party. If we take it, "Oh, it is very easy method for living without working. We are getting money for our livelihood," this is not wanted. If your spiritual life is for... Just like there are so many professional chanters. Not here. In India. Their business is... Because people like chanting, so they have made this chanting business. Or professional Bhagavata reader. People like reading of Bhagavata. There are many expert Bhagavata readers. They can show many caricature just to attract people, and such people, generally, they describe the rasa-lila of Krsna. Because rasa-lila is resembling just like dealings between young boys and girls, so they take that part, particularly, rasa-lila. Easy way. And just like here in America, I've seen so many persons. They are writing books on Krsna about Krsna's pastimes with the gopis, as if Krsna has no other pastime. Because these things are very easily saleable. So they are writing books on that. I've seen one book written by Mr. Bhattacarya about these, Krsna's dealings with the gopis. No. This is not good. You should not take Krsna's activities, Krsna consciousness, professionally, for livelihood. That is dangerous. Your life should be sacrifice for Krsna. That is wanted. Otherwise you shall be pretender. Yes, go on. Sudama: Verse number eight: "Perform your prescribed duty, which is better than not working. A man cannot even maintain his physical body without work [Bg. 3.8]." Prabhupada: Yes. Krsna and Arjuna was talking. Krsna never said Arjuna, "Oh, my dear Arjuna, you are My friend, intimate friend and devotee. All right. You haven't got to fight with your... Everything will be done by Me. You go to Himalaya and meditate." No. He never said that. Krsna could do, Krsna could fight for Arjuna. He was all-powerful. Without fighting, He could give him everything, but still, He wanted to engage him -- that one should be engaged in Krsna consciousness along with his prescribed duty, that is required. Yes. (reading from text:) "Perform your prescribed duty which is better than not working." If you cannot work in Krsna consciousness, then you better perform your prescribed duty according to varnasrama. Just like if you are a brahmana, then you have to act such way. If you are a ksatriya you have to work in that way. But don't stop working. Krsna says that, "A man cannot even maintain his physical body without work." He does not say that "You become Krsna conscious beggar and maintain your body in that way." No. That is not required. That service for Krsna should not be taken, should not be accepted as profession for livelihood. It should be simply for the service of the Lord. For the service of the Lord you can collect millions of dollars, but for your livelihood you cannot take one dollar from any person. Then you'll be indebted. You have to repay him. You cannot cheat others. It is very strictly enjoined. Simply for Krsna's satisfaction you can take, you can beg from others. Just like according to Vedic system, begging is allowed. Begging allowed for whom? For the brahmanas, for the sannyasis, for the brahmacaris, because they collect money, beg from door to door for their benefit. Suppose a brahmacari is going to a householder's place or a storekeeper's place, "Give us some contribution." He is not collecting that money for his livelihood. He's quite competent to work. But that one dollar which he contributes to Krsna consciousness movement, it is good for him. At least, some portion of his energy goes to Krsna. That is the philosophy. Not that "Some way or other, I may collect some money and live very comfortably." No. We cannot do that. But you can accept Krsna's prasada. That is a different thing. But for personal comfort you have to work. If you are a karmi, then you have to work. If you are a devotee, if you are completely... Devotee means hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate [Cc. Madhya 19.170]. Devotee means one who has engaged his senses cent percent for the service of the Lord, he is devotee, pure devotee. So one who cannot become cent percent, all right, become fifty percent, twenty-five percent, one percent. Give something for Krsna. Don't be miser. Because whatever you have got, it is Krsna's. So long you catch it up, "It is mine," that is maya. You just let loose it for (chuckling) Krsna. Then it is freedom for you. You see. Go on. Sudama: Verse number nine: "Work done as a sacrifice for Visnu has to be performed, otherwise work binds one to this material world. Therefore, O son of Kunti, perform prescribed duties for His satisfaction and in that way you will always remain unattached and free from bondage [Bg. 3.9]." Prabhupada: Yes. Bondage means working for one's own account. The same example. Just like a soldier is fighting for the country under the command of the commander in chief. The more he's killing, he's getting promotion, he's getting medals. But the same man, when he comes back at home, if he kills one man, he's hanged. Why? Because that killing and this killing is not the same thing. So one who cannot engage himself cent percent in Krsna consciousness, let him remain in his own position and try to sacrifice for Visnu or Krsna as far as possible. The prescription is for the grhasthas, for the householder, as exemplified by Srila Rupa Gosvami that his income was divided into four parts. Fifty percent for Krsna, twenty-five percent for the family and twenty-five percent for his personal reserve fund. That he showed us example how a grhastha should live. Not that out of hundred dollars, ninety-nine percent for my wife, and one percent for Krsna. No. Not like that. One should sacrifice at least fifty percent. If he cannot sacrifice this... Brahmacaris, sannyasis, they have sacrificed their everything, cent percent. The grhastha, they cannot do that. Because they have got wife, children. Therefore fifty percent. So these are the prescribed rules and regulations for executing Krsna consciousness. Anyway, if one cannot sacrifice cent percent, let him sacrifice at least one percent, two percent. The more he does, that is, more he becomes free from bondage. And the more he uses his earning for sense gratification, the more he becomes bound up by the laws of material nature. Yes. Sudama: Purport: "Since one has to work even for the simple maintenance of the body, the prescribed duties for a particular social position and quality are so made that that purpose can be fulfilled. Yajna means Lord Visnu or sacrificial performances. All sacrificial performances are meant for the satisfaction of Lord Visnu. The Vedas enjoin: yajna vai visnuh. In other words the same purpose is served whether you perform prescribed yajnas or directly serve Lord Visnu. Krsna consciousness is therefore the performance of yajna as it is prescribed here in this verse. The varnasrama institution also aims at this, satisfying Lord Visnu. Varnasramacaravata..." Prabhupada: Acaravata purusena parah puman visnur aradhyate. By following the prescribed duties of a particular section of society in pursuance of the instruction of the sastra means satisfaction of Visnu. Yes. Sudama: "Therefore one has to work for the satisfaction of Visnu. Any other work done in this material world will be a cause of bondage, for both good and evil work have their reactions, and any reaction binds the performer. One has only to work in Krsna consciousness to satisfy Krsna or Visnu and while performing such activities, one is supposed to be in a liberated stage. This is the great art of doing work, and in the beginning this process requires very good and expert guidance." Prabhupada: Yes. Sudama: "One should therefore act very diligently under the expert guidance of a devotee of Lord Krsna or under the direct instruction of Lord Krsna, under whom Arjuna had the opportunity to work. Nothing should be performed for sense gratification, but everything should be done for the satisfaction of Krsna. This practice will not only save one from the reactions of work but will also gradually rise one to the platform of the transcendental loving service of the Lord which alone can uplift one to the kingdom of God." Verse number 10: "In the beginning of creation the Lord of all creatures sent forth generations of men and demigods along with sacrifices for Visnu, and blessed them by saying ‘Be thou happy by this yajna (sacrifice) because its performance will bestow upon you all desirable things [Bg. 3.10]." Prabhupada: Yes. In the creation, after creation, the yajna was also created and everyone, created being, was ordered to perform the yajnas. One cannot... Yajna-dana-tapah-kriya na tyajyam. In the Bhagavad-gita also you'll find that you may be a renouncer, sannyasi. A renouncer, you have renounced this world. But the four things, yajna... Yajna means working for satisfaction of Visnu, yajna. Dana, charity. Yajna, dana, tapah. Tapah means austerity, following the rules and regulation for spiritual upliftment. These things are not to be renounced. If somebody says, "Oh, I have renounced the world," that does not mean you can renounce the service of the Lord. No. Even if you are a sannyasi, you have to work for Krsna. Either you are a sannyasi or you are a householder or brahmacari, you have to work for Krsna. But the advantage of sannyasi is that because he has no encumbrances behind, he is detached from family relationship, he has full time service for Krsna. Similarly brahmacari, one who is not married, simply working under the order of the spiritual master, he has also cent percent time to work. So these are the secrets, that one has to work for Krsna. Either he's a brahmacari or sannyasi, it doesn't matter, or householder. Otherwise he'll be captured by maya. Go on. Sudama: Purport: "The material creation by the lord of creatures, Visnu, is a sort of chance offered to the conditioned souls to come back to home, back to Godhead." Prabhupada: Yes. This material creation, you'll find in the Bhagavad-gita that... Just like our body. This body is created at a certain period by the father and mother, and it remains for some time, it grows, it gives some by-product, then it dwindles, then vanishes. Just you can study from... Similarly the whole cosmic manifestation, this is a huge body. So it has a time of creation, its development, its by-products, its activities, then dwindling, then it will also vanish. It will also vanish. But why this creation is there? This creation is there because those who are rebelled against God, Krsna, they are not allowed to enter into the kingdom of God. They are kept aloof and this creation is made just to give them chance to develop Krsna consciousness. The Vedic sastras are there, the representatives of Krsna are there. They are teaching, "My dear conditioned souls, please adopt this means and end your repetition of birth and death. Come to the kingdom of God." This is a chance. But if somebody takes it, "Now I have got my body, let me enjoy my senses to the fullest extent," then he is doomed. Then he loses the chance. Therefore this human form of body should not be wasted simply by sense gratification like cats and dogs. Those who do not know what is the complication of this material nature, this spiritual life or material life, they are rascals. Simply they are enjoying the senses which have been given by laws of nature. They are thinking "The best things we have got, let us enjoy it to the fullest extent." No, it is not good. You must take the advantage to get out of this field of material activities and enter into the kingdom of God. This is a chance of creation. Go on. Sudama: "All living entities within the material creation are conditioned by material nature because of their forgetfulness of their relationship to Visnu or Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Vedic principles are to help us understand this eternal relationship. The Lord says that the purport of the Vedas is to understand Him." Prabhupada: Yes. That you will find in the Fifteenth Chapter, vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah [Bg. 15.15]. What is the purpose of so many scriptures and Vedic literature? Just to give you information that there is Krsna and you are eternally related with Krsna. You have forgotten. Just revive that relationship and perfect your life. That is the sum and substance of all Vedic literature. Go on. Sudama: "In the Vedic hymns it is said patim..." Prabhupada: Patim visvasyatmesvaram. Yes. Go on. Sudama: "The Lord of the living entities is the Supreme Personality of Godhead." Prabhupada: Yes, Lord of the living entities. Just like here we have got a leader, a society leader or a party leader or a club leader, there are leaders. Some are led by somebody, some are led by somebody. We don't wish to discuss. But there is a leader. Without leader, nobody goes to hell, neither to heaven. There must be one leader. The supreme leader is Krsna. Leader of the leader, leader of the leader. There are various types of leaders. Nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam, eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman (Katha Upanisad 2.2.13). These are the wordings in the Vedas. So He is the supreme leader. We are following some leader. Some leader is following Stalin, somebody Hitler, some leader is following Gandhi, somebody's following somebody, somebody. There must be some leader. But why not the supreme leader, who will never misguide you? He will give you actual path of happiness. Then you will become happy. Krsna therefore said, sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg. 18.66]. "You give up all nonsense leadership. Simply come unto Me, surrender unto Me. I'll give you protection." That is wanted. Yes. Therefore we are following leader. There is no doubt about it. But there is misleader. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanah. Just like a blind man is leading other blind men. What is the use of such following leaders? He is blind and I am blind. So if he leads me to cross the road, what [is] my life? My life is in danger. So don't follow these misleaders. Krsna is approved leader. All leaders of the society, any part of the world, has accepted Krsna as the supreme leader. Follow Him. Then you'll be happy. Go on. Sudama: "Visnu is the Lord of all living creatures, all worlds, and all beauties, and protector of everyone. The Lord created this material world for the conditioned souls to learn how to perform yajnas for the satisfaction of Visnu so that while in the material world they can live very comfortably without anxiety in life. Then after finishing the present material body they can enter into the kingdom of God. That is the whole program for the conditioned souls. By performance of yajna the conditioned souls gradually become Krsna conscious and become godly in all respects. In this age of Kali the sankirtana-yajna, or chanting the holy names of God, is recommended by the Vedic scriptures, and this transcendental system was introduced by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu for the deliverance of all men. Sankirtana-yajna and Krsna consciousness go well together. Lord Krsna in His devotional form as Lord Caitanya is worshiped in the Srimad-Bhagavatam as follows, with special reference to the sankirtana-yajna. ‘In this age of Kali people who are endowed with sufficient brain substance will worship the Lord who is accompanied by His associates, by performance of sankirtana-yajna.' " Prabhupada: Yes. There is a verse, yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi sumedhasah [SB 11.5.32]. Those who are intelligent class of men in this age, they'll worship this form of the Lord. Who? Krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam sangopangastra-parsadam. The Lord who is chanting always Krsna, but His body is not black. Fair-complexion. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sangopangastra-parsadam. Followed by many devotees. Just like you'll see the Caitanya Mahaprabhu's picture. He is followed always by His associates and devotees. Sangopangastra-parsadam. Yajnaih san... This form of the Lord should be worshiped. Therefore we do not worship Krsna directly. Through Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, through sankirtana movement. That is the process prescribed in the sastra. You cannot worship Krsna directly. Then you will misunderstand. Those who are not following the path of Caitanya's sankirtana movement, if they want to understand Krsna, they'll simply misrepresent Krsna's this rasa-lila in this way. That's all. Go on. Sudama: "Although other yajnas prescribed in the Vedic literature are not easy to perform in this age of Kali, the sankirtana-yajna is the easiest and it is sublime for all purposes, as is recommended in the Bhagavad-gita." Prabhupada: Yes. In the Bhagavad-gita also it is recommended, satatam kirtayanto mam yatantas ca drdha-vratah [Bg. 9.14]. So this process, chanting of Hare Krsna mantra and gradually to develop Krsna consciousness, is the only means for, I mean to say, elevating yourself to the perfectional stage which is meant for this human life. Otherwise we are simply, what is called, cutting our own throat. That's all. Thank you. No more. (devotees offer obeisances) Any question? Madhudvisa: Prabhupada? We read in the Bhagavad-gita today in verse number... Prabhupada: Don't go outside today's lecture. You try to... Question means the lecture on which I was speaking. If there is any difficulty, that should be questioned. Otherwise, if you go outside, that present atmosphere created for this purpose, that will be lost. So question means on the subject matter which is already discussed. If there is any doubt or if there is any difficulty for understanding the subject matter which we have already discussed, that is the subject matter of question. Yes? Woman devotee: I'm not sure if I heard you correctly. Did you say that Krsna could not be worshiped directly? Could not be? Prabhupada: Krsna directly, yes. Through the process. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He is Krsna Himself. So the sastra advises, instructs us, that those who are intelligent, intelligent. The word is used there, sumedhasa. Sumedhasa means those who have got nice brain substance. So Krsna, you can approach Krsna. There are so many ways you can approach Krsna. And in other words it is said, mama vartmanuvartante partha manusyah sarvasah. Krsna, our relationship is with Krsna, and that relationship cannot be cut off. That is there. Even those who are disobedient to Krsna, those who are atheists, godless or Krsna-less, they are also obeying Krsna's order. They are also. Just like an outlaw who does not care to abide by the laws, he is also abiding the laws of the state in a different way. He is being forced. So those who are not in Krsna consciousness, he's being forced by maya to act. So that is there already, direct connection is there in this way or that way. But here it is prescribed that anyone who wants the ultimate perfection of life they should worship Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna Himself. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is... Just like Rupa Gosvami worshiped Caitanya Mahaprabhu: namo maha-vadanyaya krsna-prema-pradaya te krsnaya krsna-caitanya- namne gaura-tvise namah [Cc. Madhya 19.53] He said that "My Lord, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, You are the most munificent incarnation because You are distributing love of Krsna. Therefore I offer You my respectful obeisances on account of Your distributing Krsna consciousness, and this is possible because You are Krsna Yourself." Krsnaya krsna-caitanya-namne. "Simply You have assumed the name of Krsna Caitanya." So these are the injunction of the sastras, and if you follow Caitanya Mahaprabhu... And Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, gives you the easiest method. He says that "In this age simply chant Krsna and you'll get all perfection." So that is the easiest process. Therefore if you follow the footprints of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, then it become easier. Krsna says sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg. 18.66] in the Bhagavad-gita. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says "All right. You cannot give up all of a sudden everything. You just join in this chanting." That is more magnanimous, you see. We ask nobody that "You fulfill all conditions of Krsna consciousness; then you come here." No. We simply say "Please come here. We have taken this nice hall, and these boys, they are, I mean to say, giving their blood to maintain the establishment. We don't want anything from you. Please come and chant with us." That is our request. We don't ask you that because we are paying four hundred, five hundred dollars for this building, you give us something. If you give, it is welcome. But we simply request you, please come and chant with us and dance with us and take the prasada. That's all. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's program. Because we know that Caitanya Mahaprabhu will supply us everything. We don't depend on your contribution, but if you give, oh, that is good for you. But our only request is that please come here. Please chant with us, dance with us. That's all. Yes? Visnujana: How will it be possible, Prabhupada, for a man whose mind is clouded to constantly chant Hare Krsna? A man who's always thinking thoughts about family, friends, country, nation? Prabhupada: Yes. Think of. At the same time, chant. Two things will go on, and this will conquer. (chuckling) As maya is forcing you to drag you from this Krsna consciousness, you also force maya by chanting Hare Krsna. There is fight. And maya will go away. daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te [Bg. 7.14] This maya is very strong. She'll force you to entice you to other path. But if you do not stop, if you chant loudly... Just like Haridasa Thakura was chanting, and maya could not victimize him. You know that? What was his stand? Simply chanting Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. Maya could not entice. Maya failed. Maya became his disciple. He did not become maya's disciple. This is tug of war. So don't be afraid of maya. Simply enhance chanting and you'll be conqueror. That's all. Narayana-parah sarve na kutascana bibhyati [SB 6.17.28]. We are not afraid of maya because Krsna is there. Yes. Krsna says, kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktah pranasyati [Bg. 9.31]. You just declare, "My devotee will never be vanquished by maya." Maya cannot do anything. Simply you have to become strong. And what is that strength? Chant Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, loudly. Yes. Woman devotee: What is maya? I know that it's attractive... Prabhupada: Maya means which drags you from Krsna. That is maya. Woman devotee: Is it a spiritual form? Prabhupada: Whatever form may be, [it is] force. We shall see form later on. You just... Just like a police sends a warrant, arrest. You do not ask what is the form of the police, but here is warrant, you have to go. Force, that's all. Similarly, don't try to understand what is maya's form, but you just feel her force, how she is acting. How she is putting you in difficulty. You see? There are so many things. Maya puts into this difficulty and you are encumbered. That we have to understand, how I have become encumbered. In my childhood I was free. There was no encumbrances. Now I am encumbered. I am harassed. This is maya's action. So if you want to get out of this maya's influence, then you have to become Krsna consciousness. There is no other alternative. Chant Hare Krsna. (kirtana) (end) >>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 3.6-10 -- Los Angeles, December 23, 1968
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Prayers for Offering Prasadam
TEXT 117
dvija-strinam bhakte mriduni viduranne vraja-gavam
dadhi-kshire sakhyuh sphuöa-cipita-mushöau mura-ripo
yashodayah stanye vraja-yuvati-datte madhuni te
yathasid amodas tam imam upahare ‘pi kurutam
dvija—of the brahmanas; strinam—of the wives; bhakte—in the foodstuff; mriduni—palatable; vidura—offered by Vidura; anne—in the foodstuff; vraja—of Vraja; gavam—of the cows; dadhi—the yogurt; kshire—and milk; sakhyuh—of Your friend Sudama Vipra; sphuta—manifested; cipita—of chipped rice; mustau—a handful; mura—of the Mura demon; ripo—O enemy; yasodayah—of Yasoda; stanye—in the breast-milk; vraja—of Vraja; yuvati—by the young gopis; datte—presented; madhuni—palatable foods; te—to You; yatha—just as; asit—was; amodah—happiness; tam—this; imam—this; upahare—in the offering; api—also; kurutam—may be done.
O Lord Murari, as You enjoyed the palatable food presented by the wives of the brahmanas, the meal offered by Vidura, the milk and yogurt of the cows in Vraja, the handful of chipped rice from Your friend Sudama Brahmana, the breast-milk of Mother Yashoda, and the delicious foods prepared by the young girls of Vraja, I hope the offering I now place before You, You will also enjoy in the same way.
—Shri Ramanuja
TEXT 118
ya pritir vidurarpite madhu-ripo kunty-arpite yadrishi
ya govardhana-murdhni ya ca prithuke stanye yashodarpite
bharadvaja-samarpite shabarika-datte ‘dhare yoshitam
ya va te muni-bhamini-vinihite ‘nne ‘trapi tam arpaya
ya—which; pritih—pleasure; visura—by Vidura; arpite—offered; madhu—of the Madhu demon; ripo—O enemy; kunti—by Kunti-devi; arpite—offered; yadrishi—like which; ya—which; govardhana—of Govardhana Hill; murdhni—on the summit; ya—which; ca—also; prthuke—in the chipped rice; stanye—in the breast-milk; yasoda—by Yasoda-devi; arpite—offered; savarika—by Sabarika; datte—presentede; adhare—in the lips; yositam—of the gopis; ya—which; va—or; te—of You; muni—of the sages; bhamini—by the wives; vinihite—presented; anne—in the foods; atra—here; api—also; tam—that; arpaya—please place.
O Lord Madhusudana, as You enjoyed the meal offered by Vidura, the foods presented by Kunti, Your lunch on the peak of Govardhana Hill, the chipped rice of Sudama Brahmana, the breast-milk offered by Mother Yashoda, the meal offered by Bharadvaja Muni, the food offered by Shabarika, the many dishes presented by the wives of the brahmanas, as well as the taste of the gopis’ lips, I hope the offering of food I now place before You, You will enjoy in the same way.
—author unknown
TEXT 119
kshire shyamalayarpite kamalaya vishranite phanite
datte ladòuni bhadraya madhu-rase somabhaya lambhite
tushöir ya bhavatas tatah shata-gunam radha-nideshan maya
nyaste ‘smin puratas tvam arpaya hare ramyopahare ratim
kshire—in the milk; shyamalaya—by Syamala; arpite—presented; kamalaya—by Kamala; visranite—presented; phanite—the phanita; datte—given; ladduni—the laddus; bhadraya—by Bhadra; madhu-rase—the madhu-rasa; somabhaya—by Candravali; lambhite—presented; tustih—pleasure; ya—which; bhavatah—of You; tatah—then; sata—a hundred times; gunam—multiplied; radha—of Radha; nidesat—from the instruction; maya—by me; nyaste—placed; asmin—in this; puratah—in Your presence; tvam—You; arpaya—please place; hare—O Lord Hari; ramya—delicious; upahare—in the presentation; ratim—pleasure.
O Lord Hari, You greatly enjoyed the kshira presented by Shyamala, the phanita presented by Kamala, the laddhus given by Bhadra, and the madhurasa offered by Candravali. I hope that the delicious food I have prepared under Radharani’s guidance, and I now place before You, You will enjoy a hundred times more that what was offered by these other gopis.
—Shri Rupa Gosvami
Srila Madhavacarya immidiatly points to the duties of Varna and Asrama ,these duties are described in Jaiva Dharma and also in Srimad Bhagavatam 7th Canto for example
Srila Prabhupada in his lecture on this sloka and slokas in this chapter gives the example of Hitler ,he politely calls Mr Hitler ,Churchill and Rosevelt : No. The sense gratification should not be like that. The sense gratification should be like this." (laughter) So it is the war of sense gratification, that's all. One leader is presenting a program of sense gratification, another leader is presenting another program of sense gratification, and there is clash. This is going on. This is the history of the world.
Srila Prabhupada says : Just like Visvamitra Muni. There were many instances. He was a great king and he wanted to be yogi. And he went to forest, gave up his kingdom, went to forest. And he was meditating very seriously, and Indra, king of heaven, he sent some society girls of heavenly planet, Menaka. And she came. She began to dance before the closed-eyes yogi, and as soon as he heard, "Oh, there is very nice female voice and dancing," and as soon as he opened, he became captivated, embraced her. So everything gone. You see? So sense gratification, you cannot stop artificially. Nirbandhah krsna-sambandhe.
Therefore we advised our students, either boys and girls, that if you have... Of course, if you are serious in Krsna consciousness, you forget all these nonsense sense gratification, but still if you are disturbed, all right, get yourself married. Live peacefully, husband and wife, and both be engaged in Krsna consciousness. Gradually, you'll forget, both husband and wife. Don't try artificially. Artificially you'll never be successful. But if you can avoid it by advance and strong Krsna consciousness...
Just like Haridasa Thakura. But don't try to imitate Haridasa Thakura. His stage was different. We cannot imitate. We can simply follow. Anukarana, anusarana, there are two Sanskrit words. One is imitation, and one who is following the footprints. If one tries to follow the footprints of great personalities, that is very nice, but we cannot imitate. Imitate. Imitation is dangerous.
Just like Lord Siva, he drank an ocean of poison and he kept it on the throat. He did not allow to go down. So therefore his name is Nilakantha. It became bluish. His neck is blue. But if somebody imitates Lord Siva and indulges intoxication, ganja, he'll go to hell. He is powerful. Somebody says "Well, Lord Siva is a smoker so we can also smoke." No. You cannot imitate. You can simply follow.
Morning Walk, May 14, 1975, Perth: Devotee (1): Shrila Prabhupada, how can the position be reconciled if in Krishna consciousness one of the two, the husband or the wife, wants to enjoy sense gratification, but the other does not? Should there be separation then?
Prabhupada: No... They should be trained up. Sense enjoyment means not advanced in Krishna consciousness. As soon as one is advancing in Krishna consciousness, his sense enjoyment spirit will be reduced. That is the test.
Bhaktih paresanubhavo viraktir anyatra ca . The test is, how you are advancing in Krishna consciousness is the proportionate diminishing of sense enjoyment. That is the test. Just like cure of the disease means diminishing the fever, temperature. This is the test.
Devotee (1): What if that fever is not being diminished?
Prabhupada: Then he should try to chant Hare Krishna mantra, instead of sixteen rounds, sixty-four rounds. That is the way. Sixteen round is the minimum. Otherwise Haridasa Thakura was 300,000. So you have to increase.
That is the only remedy. If one has got determination, he will make progress without any trouble. That determination is very difficult, that determination, "I must be Krishna conscious fully." That determination.
Drdha-vratah.
The more we chant Hare Krsna and avoid the 10 offences the more are getting ready to go back to Godhead in Kali santarana Upanisad it is stated:
bhagavata AdipuruShasya nArAyaNasya nAmoccAraNamAtreNa nirdhRtakalir
bhavati| nAradah punah papraccha tannAma kimiti | 3
"'By merely uttering the names of the Primeval Purusha, who is
Bhagavan Narayana, one is freed from the clutches of Kali.' Narada
asked again: 'What are those names of Narayana?'"
sa hovaca hiraNyagarbhah |
hare rAma hare rAma rAma rAma hare hare |
hare kRShNa hare kRShNa kRShNa kRShNa hare hare |
iti ShoDaSakam nAmnAm kalikalmaShanASanam |
nAtah parataropAyah sarvavedeShu dRSyate | 4
"Lord Brahma said: 'O Hari, O Rama, O Hari, O Rama, O Rama O Rama, O
Hari, O Hari! O Hari, O Krishna, O Hari, O Krishna, O Krishna O
Krishna, O Hari, O Hari! This collection of sixteen names (of
Narayana) destroys the evils of the Kali Yuga. I don't see any other
effective means (of liberation) in the Vedas.'"
Note: Gaudiyas chant this mantra by reversing the order of the two
halves, i.e. the Hare Krishna first and then the Hare Rama.
iti ShoDaSakalAvRtasya jIvasyAvaraNavinASanam |
tatah prakASate param brahma meghApAye raviraSmimanDalIveti | 5
"'(This mantra) destroys the sixteen kalas of the jiva, beginning with
the prana, which constitute the veil of ignorance. Then the Supreme
Brahman shines forth, just as the solar disc shines forth brilliantly
when the clouds vanish.'"
punarnAradah papraccha bhagavan ko asya vidhiriti |
tam hovaca nAsya vidhiriti | 6
"Narada asked: 'O Bhagavan, what are the regulations or injunctions to
be followed in chanting these names?' Brahma said: 'There are no
regulations to be followed.'"
sarvadA SuciraSucirvA pathan brAhmaNah salokatAm samIpatAm
sarUpatAm sAyujyatAmeti | 7
"'By chanting these names always, whether in a clean or unclean state,
a brahmana obtains the four kinds of liberation, sAlokya, sAmIpya,
sArUpya and sAyujya.'"
Notes:
1) sAlokya - living in the abode of Krsna
2) sAmIpya - living in the proximity of Krsna
3) sArupya - attaining a spiritual form
the mergining with Krsna is not accepted by vaisnavas
4) sAyujya - merging with the body of God
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