Bhagavad-gītā 7.1 in [Hindi] – September 25, 1975, Ahmedabad

Sri-bhagavan uvaca, it has not been said that Krsna uvaca because Krsna Himself is the Supreme Persoanlity of Godhead, Bhagavan, Bhagavan means Krsna-krsnastu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28], in the Srimad-Bhagavatam after mentioning all the main incarnations Suta Gosvami is finally saying this, even though we know various names of God ramadi-mūrtisu kala-niyamena tisthan [Bs. 5.39], there are different incarnations of God, Rama, Nrsimha, Varaha, etc. ete camsa-kalaḥ pumsaḥ [SB 1.3.28] either they are the expansions or expansions of the expansions, amsa or kalaḥ respectively.

But the main Supreme Personality of Godhead krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28] Krsna Himself, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is describing Himself. In the Bhagavad gita Krsna is explaining Himself in the Bhagavad gita. No one can understand the Bhagavad gita on his own by speculation, manodharma. No one can understand Krsna by mental exercise, manodharma because Krsna is limited and our intelligence and knowledge are limited. That is why the knowledge acquired by our senses is sensual knowledge aksaja jnana with this sensory knowledge we will not be able to understand Krsna. This is not possible. That is why those who are engaged in mental speculation thinking that God should be like this or like that He has form or is formless. Some will think that there is no God or that God is dead. So, all our attempts to understand God by speculation, all of them will prove to be futile. because we are all conditional living entities, this means that we have four kinds of faults. Firstly, we have a tendency to become commit mistakes, then pramada, we tend to become illusioned-we start to think of something as something else. Just like we start thinking of the soul to be the body, particularly those who are atheists they think that they are their bodies. For example, think that they are Indians and that this is their only identity. Some may think that they are American but the scriptures say that you are not this body, Krsna Himself has said in the Bhagavad gita dehino 'smin yatha dehe [Bg. 2.13], asmin dehe, within this body the spirit soul is the real thing. The body is just an outer covering. So, this is called pramada, to consider one thing to be something else. So, bhrama pramada followed by vipralipsa, we have a tendency to cheat, this is one of our propensities.

We may not have any knowledge but we try to become the leaders but actually we are misleading-andha yathandhair upaniyamana [SB 7.5.31] those who don't have knowledge, which means they are blind and being so how can they possibly guide others? This is impossible. So, bhrama, pramada, vipra lipsa and then karna patava-our senses are all imperfect. Just like our eyes, they have become weak because of which we have to wear glasses in this old age. So, that is also not fixed that we will surely get to see upon putting glasses on.

In this way all the sensory knowledge we receive is not perfect. Always there are some defects. That is why to get the knowledge the scriptures recommend-tad vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet: [Munḍaka Upanisad 1.2.12] one should approach a spiritual master. To get the real knowledge about the Absolute. So, who is the guru, spiritual master. God or Krsna Himself is the spiritual master. Or the person who has taken knowledge from Krsna is the spiritual master. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa [Cc. Madhya 7.128], regardless of wherever you are located, you don't even go outside, in whichever house you live, of your own family you become guru, guru means the one who gives knowledge to others. This ignorance within which all of us are lying, that is why guru is defined as ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namaḥ this is the business of a guru. Those who brings souls from the darkness to ignorance to the light of knowledge. So, these are the responsibilities. Otherwise, is someone cannot do so much then he can at least become the spiritual master of his own wife, children and other dependents. Anyone willing to expand may guide his entire society. Then he can expand to guide the community, further going on to guide the nation and so on. So, how can one become a guru? In this respect Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said:

Whatever Krsna has said, Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is saying, there is no guru above God Himself. So, Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna Himself, even then He is preaching as a devotee. Which is why He is not saying, "do what I am saying…" He says, whomever you meet, His order is, the order of the spiritual master is-yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa. Speak to everyone Krsna upadesa and you shall become a guru upon doing so. You should not speak nonsense because it is completely useless. The real message is being revealed by Krsna, you should take this and speak of it to the world. This is the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu:

This was the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu who is Krsna Himself krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam [SB 11.5.32]. Krsna appeared and explained about Him, Himself. In the Bhagavad gita He had said sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66] but not everyone took it up. Everyone again became misled. And misled many other people. Therefore, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu even though is Krsna Himself, appeared in the form of Krsna's devotee and explained the same thing what Krsna had said-sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66], and Caitanya Mahaprabhu has asked everyone to listen to Krsna, which are both one and the same instructions. Now, all of us by the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu are saying the same thing, nothing different. Not that Krsna was once here and now is dead, now we are the incarnation and we are God, no, we don't speak like that. We are speak the same old truth, that still Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and everyone should surrender unto Him. Think about Him constantly, meditate upon Him, render devotional service unto Him and become His devotee, offer your obeisances unto Him, worship Him, the same thing which has been said by Krsna Himself we are presenting it to all of you once again, sri-bhagavan uvaca.

Bhagavan means the root bhaga means opulence, strength is one opulence, jnana is an opulence, beauty is one opulence, renunciation is an opulence, all of these including fame are various opulence. the person who fully possess all these six opulences is to be known as Bhagavan. So, that Bhagavan is explaining about Himself, about what is Bhagavan. Many people all over the world say that there is Bhagavan some say that there is no Bhagavan. They discuss about God but none of them has proper knowledge about Him. That is why Krsna is Himself explaining:

Hear from me to become free from all doubts. Which means to gain knowledge about the Supreme Lord which is complete and free from all doubts. So, hear what is God. In Chapter seven of the Bhagavad gita God is saying, just like all of you have read.

So, what is the first thing He says? Mayy asakta develop your attachment to me, and what is that attachment, we all know about it. We are attached to our women at home, attached to the family, society and nation everyone has attachments. But Krsna says mayy asakta become attached to Me and develop this attachment towards Me. Take up this yoga system and practice it. Mayy asakta-manaḥ partha, Caitanya Mahaprabhu has taught about increasing one's attachment for Krsna, what is this attachment, govinda-virahena me yugayitam nimesena caksusa pravrsayitam sūnyayitam jagat sarvam govinda virahena me [Siksastaka 7]. This is attachment asakti. That one cannot live without seeing God, without seeing Krsna.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is preaching in the mood of Srimati Radharani, so this is her mood govinda-virahena me. What is going on? Yugayitam nimesena, one nimisa one moment appears to be as long as 12 years. Yugayitam nimesena caksusa pravrsayitam, and tears are flowing like torrents of rain. Sūnyayitam jagat sarvam, my whole world has become vacant. Why? Govinda-virahena me, because I cannot see Govinda. This is called asakti, attachment. This kind of attachment exhibited by Radharani is not possible for everyone. This is called mahabhava, but we should have some attachment for Krsna. Only then shall our lives become successful.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu's subject of preaching is just this: prema pumartho mahan, dharma, artha, kama and moksa, religion, economic development, sense gratification and liberation these four are the goal of human life, but this is not the real goal. What is the goal of life beyond these? love, love for Godhead is the real goal of life. Without having love for God, we have distributed it all over this material world. When we collect all our love and give it to the feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that is called mayy asakta-manaḥ partha yoga [Bg. 7.1], Krsna is teaching how to practice, this kind of yoga.

And how will that yoga practice be executed? Mad-asrayaḥ one will have to take shelter of Krsna or those who are sincere devotees of Krsna, pure devotees. One should take shelter of pure devotees of Krsna. Mad-asrayaḥ can mean both the things. Either take My shelter directly or rlese take shelter of the one who has taken shelter of Me, mad-asrayaḥ. Then this yoga will be considered complete. mayy asakta-manaḥ partha yogam yunjan mad-asrayaḥ asamsayam, if you follow the yoga process in this way you wil become free from all doubts regarding God, Krsna. If you ask anyone what do you understand by the world 'God.' No one will be able to answer satisfactorily. Everyone is in doubt. First of all they wonder even if there is a God, then if He is has a form or is formless. So, there are many types of opinions but if you practice this yoga with mad-asrayaḥ, taking shelter of Me, Krsna or the shelter of my devotee, then you have no further devotee. You will become sure that this is God, and samagram, samagram means that God is present everywhere, isvaraḥ sarva-bhūtanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61], God is present in His Brahman form, in His Paramatma form and in His personal form as Krsna. Krsna is actually the Supreme Personality of Godhead krsnastu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28], all the doubts regarding God which have been described in the Bhagavat, the teaching is:

If you understand Krsna then asamsayam samagram if you understand Krsna fully in this way then you will automatically understand the brahman and Paramatma feature. There will be no problem for understanding any of the features.

That is why it is required, just the way Krsna recommends, mayy asakta we should endeavor to increase our attachment towards Krsna. So, the method of increase one's attachment has been given by the Gosvamis of Vrndavana who were the disciples of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, rūpa, sanatana, bhatta-raghunatha sri-jiva, gopala-bhatta, dasa-raghunatha [Cc. Adi 1.36].

These six Gosvami's among them Rūpa Gosvami who is the chief, He says that this is the way to increase our attachment towards Krsna. He is saying in his Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu, what is that? Adau sraddha, adau sraddha, just like all of you have gathered here. Why? because you have faith that let us here what these Hare Krsna movement people have to day. This is sraddha, sraddha or faith in the basic principle and upon the faith becoming firm one comes to the platform of nistha. So, the Gaudiya Vaisnava acaryas have elaborated on the word sraddha as:

This is called sraddha, when Krsna says sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66], those who have complete faith that if I surrender unto Krsna then my life will become successful, this is called sraddha, until this stage is reached one cannot be said to have any faith.

Those who have complete faith sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66], then Krsna says that who will be able to do this? Those who have faith, that whatever Krsna is saying that is right, that is the only thing we have to do. This is called sraddha, that is why Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, is explaining sraddha'-sabde-visvasa [Cc. Madhya 22.62], Krsna says that I will protect you in every way-aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami [Bg. 18.66], having firm faith that whatever Krsna is saying that is tru, we simply have to take shelter of Krsna, this is called faith, sraddha.

Adau sraddha then one should protect their faith. If one has sentimental faith then it can break if one is not properly protected, that is why to keep the faith in tact adau sraddha tato sadhu sanga. Those who are saintly person, sadhus, and who are sadhus? Sadhu means those who are devotees of God ananya bhak, not ordinary devotees. Those who don't know anything except Krsna, such people are known as sadhus, krsnastu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28], surrendering unto Krsna's lotus feet, service to Krsna, worship of Krsna, those who are engaged in such activities such people are known as sadhus. Sadhus have been described in many places. It actually means that those are unalloyed devotees of God, they are sadhusm just like Arjuna.

Arjuna is one such unalloyed devotees of Krsna and therefore a sadhu. Sadhur eva sa mantavyaḥ [Bg. 9.30], so one should associate with the sadhus. Sadhu sanga is not a difficult thing. If you cannot find any sadhu then Arjuna is a sadhu, you should listen to him, what he says and how he understood Krsna.

Arjuna says in the tenth chapter param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam bhavan purusam sasvatam adyam: [Bg. 10.12], so if you accept Arjuna then you should accept things as Arjuna says. Then Arjuna quotes authorities, that it is not because Krsna is my friend that is why I am saying that He is Supreme Brahman. These are the words of Vyasa, Brahma, Narada who attest that Krsna is param brahma and this is attested further by big-big rsis and acaryas. Just like in this Bharata varsa we advance by following previous acaryas such as Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Nimbarakacarya and Visnusvami etc. all of these acaryas agree krsnastu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28]. Sa bhagavan svayam krsnaḥ, this has also been accepted Sankaracarya. So, acaryopasanam [Bg. 13.8] we need that we live our life according to the way the sadhus have recommended. Sadhu-marganu-gamanam, mahajano yena gataḥ sa panthaḥ [Cc. Madhya 17.186]. So, this is sraddha and to improve it we should associate with saintly person, sadhu sanga.

We are opening centers all over the world, what is the reason behind it? That we are making sadhus and we are giving a chance to everyone to associate with saintly persons sadhus sanga. Please associate with sadhus this is our subject matter of our preaching. On one had making people into sadhus and on the other hand giving everyone an opportunity to associate with the sadhus, "please come and associate with devotees". So, adau sraddha tato sadhu sanga, if one's sadhu sanga is proper then there will be bhajana kriya, devotional service, by associating with devotees one will naturally have the desire to perform devotional service, one will decide he should also engage in devotional service. These American and European boys engage so nicely in devotional service and are so joyufully chanting and dancing, I should also do this. In India people have forgotten all of these practices. Apparently, they have sacrificed their culture. That is why we have brought these foreigners, so for a few days please associate with them, sadhu sanga-adau sraddha tato sadhu sanga, when sadhu sanga is done nicely, comes devotional service develops. The scriptures says adau gurvasrayam sadhu-marganu-gamanam, sad-dharma-prccha-these are the regulations one of them is bhajana kriya or devotional service and what will happen upon performing devotional service? All anarthas the usless attachments we have accumulated within our hearts… material civilization itself means useless attachments, simply anarthas, things which are not required at all we have created a false demand for it. Just like smoking, what is the need of smoking bidis and cigarettes? Does someone die if he or she doesn't smoke? But still the cigarettes and biḍi factories are making their business in millions, these are simply anarthas.

In this way by observing one thing after another you will realize that you don't have any need for them, but you are stuck with them. That is why in Bhagavatam it has been said about anarthas anarthopasamam saksad bhakti-yogam adhoksaje anarthopasamam [SB 1.7.6], this whole world has become filled with anarthas. Human life is meant for plain living, to live life in a simple way so that one can save time for developing his relation with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, what is this relationship with God? What is it? All the distress we are facing within this world, there is no other solution to it. Athato brahma jijnasa, this is very important for us. However, we have forgotten it all and have been stuck in the pile of anarthas. Anartha means that which is without artha or any meaning. But we have been entangled in anarthas. So, if bhajana kriya or devotional service is nicely executed then one will able to develop his attachment for Krsna and the anarthas will gradually subside. You can see all these American and European devotees; from the beginning they were accustomed to illicit sex and meat eating. Their parents used to feed them meat powder in their childhood.

So, what they could do? And intoxication, the parents used to drink in front of the children and because they are children and cannot drink. The parents give them soda water, in this way the children learn how to drink. This is the practice in those countries. Now, you can see that all of them have become devotees. Given it all up, completely, and even in this age of youth. One should be able to control his mind. If that is done regardless of external allurement, we will not be disturbed. These devotees never ask me for money so that they can go see cinema. This is called anarta nivrtti, why become entangled in the demands for useless things. No, by performing devotional service one will attain anarta nivrtti, freedom from useless attachments. So, adau sraddha tato sadhu sanga.

By associating with saintly persons sadhu sanga, sangat sanjayate kamaḥ [Bg. 2.62], the desires are similar to the type of association. If you associate with drunkards you will feel like drinking alcohol, and learn how to drink alcohol nicely. If you associate with devotees then you will quickly also become a devotee. This is why sadhu sanga, or association of devotees is required. Adau sraddha tato sadhu sanga tato bhajan kriya atha anarta nivrtti syat. Upon completion of anarta nivrtti one attains nistha, which means he become fixed up, tato nistha tato ruci, one attains ruci or taste for devotional service. These devotees cannot give up Krsna consciousness, they have attained the taste ruci and not just the taste but also attachment. This is called attachment, tato nistha tato ruci atha asakti. This is the stage of asakti. Tato bhava, sadhakanam ayam premnaḥ pradurbhave bhavet kramaḥ, this is the sequence, sequence of devotional advancement. In this way when one attains devotional service, one will have love for Godhead and make his life successful. Because just like I spoke earlier that upon attaining love for God sūnyayitam jagat sarvam, the world appears to be vacant, just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said, this simply means that love for God, will take you to God, there is no other way.

That is why Krsna appears, to tell us, "why are you rotting here?" Duḥkhalayam asasvatam [Bg. 13.9], birth after birth simply suffering? You end one life then get another body tatha dehantara-praptiḥ: [Bg. 2.13], again the suffering begins. Moreover, there is no guarantee that we will get a body or an Indian or an America, we simply consider ourselves as a big leader. When this body is is given up, one has to take up another body. Regardless, if one is an atheist, one has to take another birth. This is such a great botheration. What is the difference when one disagrees with these facts? Will the stringent material nature spare anyone? No. Karanam guna-sahgo 'sya sad-asad-yoni-janmasu [Bg. 13.22]. The way you keep association the similar kind of body you will receive in the next life. This is the law of nature.

He says that we are the doers but we are not independent. We are completely under the grip of material nature.

So, this Krsna consciousness movement, it is not any religious movement. Religion is always there, religion means, according to the dictionary, a kind of faith, this is not a question of faith. It is compulsory duty, that is religion. Characteristic, that is religion. Just like you can see that the characteristic of chilli is to be hot, that is chilli's religion. Sugar is sweet, sweetness is its religion. In this way everything has its characteristics and these characteristics are called religion. So, we the living entities, what are our characteristics, jivera 'svarūpa' haya-krsnera 'nitya-dasa' [Cc. Madhya 20.108]. The characteristic is that we are eternally the servants of God, Krsna. This is our characteristic but when we forget this, then we don't stop being servants only we change our master from Krsna to maya.

Servitorship is can never be given up. We may become a servant of the society, of our sons, servants of our daughters, servants of our wives, of our communities but, servants we always remain. That is the difference. We can never become masters. You see America is such a big nation but President Nixon made a little mistake and he was removed from his position of power. He used to think of himself as a master but no, he is a servant and so is everyone else. Same as defined by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu-jivera 'svarūpa' haya-krsnera 'nitya-dasa' [Cc. Madhya 20.108]. Actually, they are all servants of Krsna but being bewildered by maya, they think that they are the masters, they are God. This is called maya. We will have to give this up. giving up this conception will make us happy. Regarding this Krsna says:

Mayy asakta-manaḥ partha [Bg. 7.1] one should increase his attachment towards Krsna. This is our subject matter for preaching. So, bhaktiḥ paresanubhavo viraktir anyatra ca [SB 11.2.42], this is mukti or liberation muktir hitvanyatha-rūpam svarūpena vyavasthitiḥ [SB 2.10.6], this is called liberation mukti. This hitva anyatha, giving up this false position of servitorship or this person or that person, we have become servant of so many things. Giving all of this up hitvanyatha-rūpam svarūpena vyavasthitiḥ, which is becoming Krsna's servant. So, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, a stalwart vaisnava acarya sings a song: mayara vase, yaccha bhese', khaccha habuḍubu, bhai: you are being carried away by the ways of maya and you are under so much suffering. Simply, if you accept just once and you are servant of Krsna, you have become free from all your suffering.

Krsna appears for this very purpose. We all forget that we are servants of Krsna. This is called dharmasya glani [Bg. 4.7]. This decline or glani is... yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata [Bg. 4.7]... tadatmanam srjamy aham, when we forget that we are servants of God, that is decline of religion. To reestablish dharma Krsna appears, and what is that dharma? Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66], you have become servant of so many things, servant of this dharma and that dharma. Give up all of these for you are only my servant, surrender unto me. When does one attain this knowledge?

So, our subject matter of preaching, you all are Gujrati ladies and gentlemen and you are naturally have devotion for Krsna, so please accept this nicely. So that it can be preached very nicely. People are ready to accept it, it is not like that, people all over the world are waiting to receive it, so please cooperate in our preaching in an organized way. This is our Krsna consciousness movement, this is our only request.

Thank you very much!

Hare Krishna!

Devotees: Hari Bol! Jaya!