Bhagavad-gītā 7.9 – March 26, 1972, Bombay

720326BG-BOMBAY [40:22 Minutes]

Not that we shall die like cats and dogs

Prabhupada:

So if we want to realize God, it is very simple; there is no difficulty. But unfortunately we do not want. That is our disease. Somebody has objection to go to the temple: "Why shall I go to the temple?" That's all right, you do not go to the temple, but what is the harm to think of Krsna, or God, when you drink water?

What is the loss? Suppose while you are drinking water, and as it is said in the Bhagavad-gita, raso 'ham apsu kaunteya [Bg 7.8], that taste, that nice taste of water, is God. So if we remember, smaranam... Smaranam is one of the process of devotional service.

So we can adopt either of all these processes-one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine. Even one is sufficient. If you cannot execute the nine different processes, one is also sufficient. It is so easy.

Just like Pariksit Maharaja, he was warned that within seven days he will meet with death. He was cursed by so-called brahmana boy. He was cursed. Pariksit Maharaja accepted that, and he was preparing himself for death. That is our Vedic process: until the next death comes, we have to prepare ourself for the next birth. Not that we shall die like cats and dogs. No. There is a chain of progressive march, from aquatics to plant life, trees' life, then insect life, then birds' life, then beasts' life, then human form of life.

Then you can promote further yourself to the higher planetary system: Tapoloka, Janaloka, Svargaloka, Maharloka, there are human beings. They are also human being, but with great intellect, the standard of happiness better, far, far better, thousand times better. As you go more and more on the upper planetary system, you get more and more standard of living, higher, up to Brahmaloka. But nowhere you can get immortality. That is not possible. If you want immortality, then you will have to go to the Vaikuntha-loka, far, far away from this material world.

That is sanatanaḥ dharma.

So anywhere you like, you can go, but you have to prepare yourself. They are trying to go to the moon planet, but it is not so easy. Moon planet, so far we get information from the Vedic literature, that is also one of the heavenly planets. There the inhabitants live for ten thousands of years. These descriptions are there. Now, how you can enter moon planet without being qualified for it? Suppose if you want to go to America, they have got their immigration department, and they very scrutinizingly, they examine whether you can be admitted as an immigrant or citizen, or even as visitor.

So if so much restrictions are there within this planet, how do you expect there is no restriction and you can enter the higher planetary system by your whim? It is not possible. Why do you think like that, that there is no human being or intelligence? These are false assumption. Sastra-caksurvat: you have to see through the sastras. What I am speaking, not that I have gone to the higher planetary system, but I am speaking from my knowledge received from the Vedic literature, that's all. Sastra-caksurvat. Therefore the injunction is that you should see through the sastras. Otherwise it is not possible.

So in the Bhagavad-gita it is also said, yanti deva-vrata devan [Bg 9.25]. Devan, Devaloka. This is called Bhuloka. Above this, the planetary system is called Bhuvarloka, then Svargaloka, then Janaloka, then Maharloka. In this way there are different status of higher planetary system, and lower also-Tala, Atala, Vitala, Talatala, Patala, Rasatala, like that. These are descriptions.

So who goes to the upper planetary system and who goes to the lower planetary system, or lower grades of life, that is also stated in the Bhagavad-gita: ūrdhvam gacchanti sattva-stha [Bg 14.18]. Sattva-stha: those that are situated in the modes of goodness, they are promoted to the higher planetary system. urdhvam gacchanti sattva-stha, madhye tisthanti rajasaḥ: those who are under the modes of passion, they remain here. And those that are under the modes of ignorance, they go to the lower planetary system or to the animal kingdom. So we understand from Vedic literature these things are there.

In another place it is said,

Now if you want to go to the planetary system where Krsna, Narayana, are residing, Vaikuntha planet, then you have to prepare like that. You have to become a devotee. Without devotion you cannot understand where the Vaikuntha planetary systems are. That is also described in the Bhagavad-gita: bhaktya mam abhijanati [Bg 18.55].

Krsna says, "Only by devotional service one can understand Me." Krsna says. The karmis, jnanis, yogis, they can be elevated to the higher planetary system. Karmis can go up to the Svargaloka; the jnanis can go to the Janaloka, Maharloka; and the bhaktas, they can go to the Vaikuntha planets or Krsnaloka. These are the description.

So there are many so-called svamis, they say that whichever form of God you worship, you are elevated to the same place. The demigods, the forms of the demigods, generally they worship, just like Lord Siva, Lord Brahma, Goddess Durga, Kali, Ganesa, they have also got their different planetary system. But Bhagavad-gita says, yanti deva-vrata devan. Deva-vrata, those who are worshiping demigods, they will be promoted to the respective planetary system. Mad-yajino 'pi mam. It is not that if you worship goddess Kali or Durga you go to Vaikuntha.

That is not possible. We don't find these things in the Vedic literature. It is very practical to understand. If you purchase a ticket for going to Delhi, how you can go to Calcutta? Similarly, if you are preparing yourself for going to the moon planet, how you can go to the sun planet? Or if you are preparing to go to the sun planet, how you can go to the Satyaloka, Brahmaloka, like that, the highest?

So Krsna says, jivanam sarva-bhūtesu tapas casmi tapasvisu [Bg 7.9]. So all these planetary systems are attainable by tapasya-not very easily. Tapasya. You have to prepare yourself. Without being prepared, you will not be allowed. The same example: if you want to go to some nice country even within this planet, you have to prepare yourself for passport, visa and other, bank balance, P-form. So many things. So the tapasya is performed for being promoted to the higher planetary system. But the best tapasya is to be promoted to the Vaikuntha-loka. Tapo divyam [SB 5.5.1].

Rsabhadeva says that if you are undergoing tapasya, then you perform it for going back to home, back to Godhead. Tapasya means…Tapa means voluntarily accepting some uncomfortable position. There are description, you know, that sometimes tapasya is performed in summer season in the midst of fire. In the summer season already the temperature is very great, and still some tapasi, they sit down within the blazing fire, an all-round fire. And similarly, in winter season they dip up to the neck in the water and chant Gayatri mantra and other mantras.

So there are different processes of tapasya, which is called krtya[?]-sadhana, very difficult execution of spiritual life. But in this age these things are like stories; it is not possible. Sometimes they say, "We shall go to Himalaya and execute tapasya there," but it is very, very difficult. It is not possible. And Krsna knows that in this age, when people are of very short duration of life, prayenalpayusaḥ... .

At the present moment our duration of life is not very long. Nobody lives hundred years. Formerly people…, I have seen my grandmother died at the age of ninety-six. So my father died at the age of eighty-four. But gradually it is reducing. Perhaps we may not go so far. Maybe. It is all depends on Krsna also, will. But generally the duration of life is reducing; memory is reducing; strength is reducing; compassion, kindness, reducing. At the present moment, if on the high road we see somebody is being killed, nobody takes sympathy. "What is the use of taking botheration?" At least this is going on in the Western countries. They don't care.

So sympathy, compassion, mercifulness, duration of life, strength of the body, memory-all these things are now reduced. Gradually they are reducing. This is the Age of Kali. Besides that, we are very slow. Human life is meant for God-realization, but we are not very serious about it. Mandaḥ. Mandaḥ means very slow. And sumanda-matayo: and even one is not slow, he will accept something bogus. If somebody says bogus thing, that is very easily accepted, and if sometimes something is said authorizedly, from Vedic literature, people are not very much interested. If somebody says that "I will give you a special mantra. Within six months you will become God," oh, that is very welcome. And as soon as one is directed to undergo tapasya, tapasya, eh… Tapasya, here it is said, tapas casmi tapasvisu. If one is advised to become a tapasi, that is not possible. At the same time, nobody can become tapasi in this age, due to so many disadvantages.

Therefore in this Kali-yuga sastra has given us concession that in this age, simply if you chant Hare Krsna mantra without any offense-or with offense, never mind; you will gradually becoming offenseless by chanting and chanting-then gradually you develop all your spiritual consciousness without any difficulty. This is the only recommendation for the people in this age. There is no difficulty, there is no cost. And if there is any gain, why don't you try for it, by chanting this mantra, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare?

Three times-it is in the Brhan-naradiya Purana-three times it has been stressed: there is no other alternative, no other alternative, no other alternative. "No other alternative" means karma, jnana, yoga. You cannot achieve success by the path of karma-kanḍiya-vicara. In the Vedas there are three kinds of processes: karma-kanḍa, jnana-kanḍa, upasana-kanḍa. Therefore Vedas are sometimes known as trayi: three different. So here it is said, nasty eva, nasty eva, nasty eva gatir anyatha.

If you think by karma-kanḍa process you will make your life successful, it is said no: nasty eva. If you think that by jnana-kanḍa process you will make your life successful, then again, nasty eva. If you think by upasana-kanḍa you will make your life successful, that is also nasty eva. That is not possible. Karma-kanḍa means sacrificing big, big…, performing big, big sacrifices, yajna. Yajna dana-tapasya: either by performing big sacrifices or by giving in charity, yajna dana-tapasya, or by undergoing severe austerities. Those that have got money, they can give in charity to the proper person-not charity for the sake of name or without any knowledge.

There are three kinds of charities also. If you give in charity to the proper place, datavyam [Bg 17.20], then you are spiritually elevated. If you give charity with a motive, that "I shall get good name" or "I shall get some benefit," that is in the modes of passion. And charity given without any consideration... Suppose you give in charity to a rascal, thief, that means you encourage him to commit sinful activities by stealing. So you shall be responsible. But if you give in charity to a nice brahmana or Vaisnava… Because actual qualified brahmana or Vaisnava, they are engaged in Krsna's service. They have no other occupation. Therefore whatever charity you give, your money will be engaged in the service of Krsna, so you get the benefit. That is called datavyam-that hear, you should, you must. That is sattvika.

So these are all described in the Bhagavad-gita. If we read carefully we can understand all the processes of self-realization, and we may make our choice. But here Krsna says, tapas casmi tapasvisu. That means that "I am the ultimate goal. I am the ultimate goal for the tapasi." If you are undergoing different types of austerities and penance, it is to be understood that you are searching after Krsna. And ultimately, by your successful execution of penances, you will meet Krsna. Therefore Krsna says, tapas casmi tapasvisu.

So tapasya we should accept for searching out Krsna-not tapasya for sense gratification. Just like a tapasi is undergoing severe austerities, similarly an ordinary man is going to work in the factory from six to evening six, or more than that. This is also a type of tapasya, because tapasya means voluntarily accepting some unfavorable condition, not very comfortable position. That is called tapasya. So one has to work very hard in the factory, day and night, that is also tapasya.

That tapasya for sense gratification, that is not recommended. The recommendation is tapo divyam: undergo penances and austerities for divyam. Divyam means for spiritual realization. Then what will be the result? The result will be tapo divyam yena suddhyet sattvam. If you undergo severe austerities for self-realization or God-realization, then your existence will be purified, yena suddhyet sattvam existence. Now my existence, your existence is depending on this body, but this body is not pure. Therefore we have to give up this body and we have to accept another body. But if you purify your existence, the next birth you will get such a body, you will never be envious.

These are…, these things are there. Therefore tapo divyam. If we at all undergo severe austerities, not for manufacturing lethal weapon but for self-realization, and that will make my existence purified. And what is the result of being purified? Now, yasmad brahma-saukhyam tv anantam [SB 5.5.1]. Brahma-saukhyam.

We are all hankering after happiness, but any happiness within this material world, that is temporary. But if you attain brahma-saukhyam, brahma happiness, then that is anantam: it will never end; it will be ramante yogino 'nante [Cc Madhya 9.29]. That is eternal, perpetual happiness, blissful life. So human form of life is meant for this realization, manusyam artha-dam [SB 11.9.29].

This manusyam, this human form of life, is meant for giving you something substantial, artha-dam. Not artha-dam means to get some hundreds of millions of dollars. Artha-dam means that you get eternal life, eternal blissful life. That is artha-dam. That can be achieved within the duration of this human form of life simply by executing the different processes of devotional service.

Simply by hearing. Just like we are discussing here Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita. If you kindly come here and if you continue to hear, then all perfection you will get. You don't require to be a Sanskrit scholar or very educated or scholar or rich-nothing. Ahaituky apratihata [SB 1.2.6]. All these material conditions, neither they can help you, nor they can stop you from your spiritual progress of life, it is so nice.

Simply that is recommended by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, that because in this age people are very much embarrassed, they cannot adopt any prescribed method of self-realization. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu has recommended that you remain in your position. It does not matter what you are-you may be a very great scholar, or you may be illiterate, you may be medical man or engineer or ordinary man-it doesn't matter. Sthane sthitaḥ sruti-gatam tanu-vah-manobhiḥ [SB 10.14.3]. You remain in your position; there is no need of change. San-mukharitam bhavadiya-vartam [SB 10.14.3]: we have to simply hear from the right source the message of Krsna. That will be sufficient, simply by hearing.

Pariksit Maharaja, as I told you, Pariksit Maharaja, for seven days he simply heard from Sukadeva Gosvami. He did not execute any other form of devotional service, he simply give aural reception to the words received from Sukadeva Gosvami. That is called sravanam. And similarly, Sukadeva Gosvami, he simply chanted Srimad-Bhagavatam. He got a nice audience, nice student like Pariksit Maharaja, and he went on speaking or chanting Srimad-Bhagavatam. So both of them, the hearer and the chanter, got perfection.

So Pariksit Maharaja got perfection simply by hearing, and Sukadeva Gosvami got perfection simply by chanting. So sravanam kirtanam visnoḥ: about Lord Visnu, or Krsna. And then smaranam. Smaranam: Prahlada Maharaja. His father tortured him like anything, and he was simply remembering Narayana: "All right, let my father torture me." So he simply remembered. Sravanam kirtanam visnoḥ, smaranam pada-sevanam. Pada-sevanam… Goddess of fortune, Laksmi, she attained perfection simply by massaging the lotus feet of Visnu. You have seen the picture: she is engaged in giving service to the lotus feet of Visnu. This is called pada-sevanam. Sravanam kirtanam visnoḥ smaranam pada-sevanam.

Arcanam: Prthu Maharaja. Just like this is called arcana, Deity worship. So if you engage yourself in Deity worship, you get perfection. And if you engage in Deity worship, in hearing, in chanting, in remember-what to speak of-then you are sure. Either of them or all of them, all facilities are there. Arjuna: sakhyam. Arjuna made friendship with Krsna, and he got the highest perfection. Krsna certified: bhakto 'si, priyo 'si. This friendship, sometimes between friends there are some loose words, so sometimes fight, sometimes insulting-that is not insult; that is love.

So Arjuna had all these affairs with Krsna. Krsna… Arjuna wanted to marry Krsna's sister. Arjuna could understand…, Krsna could understand that "My friend is attached with My sister," but His elder brother, Balarama, was not agreeable. So Krsna arranged, advised Arjuna to kidnap His sister. Just see how much Krsna is affectionate to His devotee. In any way.

You try to worship Krsna in either of these nine ways, you get Krsna within your hand. Vedesu durlabham adurlabham atma-bhaktau [Bs 5.33]: you cannot understand Krsna by studying Vedas. It is very difficult. Of course, the aim of Vedas is to know Krsna, but simply by studying Vedas you cannot understand Krsna. Vedesu durlabham adurlabham atma-bhaktau.

But if you become a devotee of Krsna, He is just like within your hand. Just as the gopis: they had no education, they were not nice society girls of city and town. They were village girls, and born of third-grade family. But they were so great devotees that Krsna was within their clutches. This is the process of devotional service. If we actually get the opportunity to become a devotee, then God-realization is not very difficult thing.

Simply by devotional service you can understand God as He is, without any bogus humbug. You will understand. Krsna says, bhaktya mam abhijanati. He doesn't says that by jnana, by yoga, by karma one can understand. He specifically mentions this very word bhaktya: bhaktya mam abhijanati, yavan yas casmi tattvataḥ. And not to understand Krsna very vaguely. Tattvataḥ, in truth.

And when one understands Krsna in truth, he is allowed to enter in His kingdom.

Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. [end]