Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Lecture in Hindi – February 1, 1971, Allahabad

Prabhupada:

We discussed yesterday, the teachings that Caitanya Mahaprabhu imparted to Rupa Goswami, in this Prayag area in that connection I am trying to say some things. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, that if there is anyone peaceful in this world, peaceful, that is possible for a devotee of krsna only, nobody else, this is said by Caitanya Mahaprabhu and by Lord Sri Krsna also, everyone wants peace, big big politicians, just like in America in New York, there we have our temple and there is an office of United nations also, so sometimes when we to there by car and park our cars we see that, United Nations, to bring about peace in the world United Nations has been formed and in that thousands of flags are there, everyone says that our flag be at the topmost [Prabhupada chuckles] so this is peace, everyone wants that my flag should be at the top, that's all, how will you attain peace, tell me, but they say that we are working for peace, this is going on in the world, satya bole toh mare latta jhoota jagat bolai, that's it, talk all lies, everyone is happy, very happy, now from twenty years, from 1947 it is twenty five years now that this United Nation is going on, what is their peace, every day their flags are increasing, just like, in India earlier there was one flag, now it has become two, Pakistan flag is there, after some days it will be Sikisthan and after some days it will become something else, so flags are increasing, why? Because everyone desires that we shall rule the world, so how there will be peace? Everyone wants to be the king that who will be their subjects, this is the rule of material world, everyone desires that I should become bigger and my brother or my neighbor has progressed so much, how should I stop him, that's all. This is going on and they want peace, that is not possible, that is why Caitanya Mahaprabhu says krsna-bhakta 'santa'. A devotee of Krsna does not want anything, neither he wants to stop anyone from progressing and they also don't want to become very big in the world. Like Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught in this instructions, that how a Devotee of Krsna should be na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagad-isa kamaye, I don't want money, I don't want janam, I may have many people following me I should be a leader and after that get hit by a bullet that's it [Prabhupada chuckles] so we want this, we become leader also and after that we have to die with a bullet also. So one of a Bengali poets wrote this

If Maya has got hold of some one, what is his situation, just like a small girl who is haunted by a ghost and, you must have seen also, she speaks all nonsense things. So one who is under the grip of maya they will talk like that, which has no meaning and that is not true also, everything is a lie, maya itself is a lie, so one who is infected by maya will only lie, so there cannot be peace in this way. krsna-bhakta-niskama, why is a devotee of Krsna without desires, because he does not pray for anything from God, Although one can see some devotee who go to God and pray, just like Dhruva Maharaja went and God himself says Catur-vidha bhajante mam sukrtinaḥ, so if someone goes to God for asking something then he is pious, he is a good man, he is pious, he is distressed, he is diseased, if he is praying to God that is not bad because, at least he approached God and those who are duskritina they will say that what will God do for us, forget all this God business, all these big people who are sitting with all the money kill them and take the money, what will God do, Why did God make us sad we don't want such a God, all these things are there, so they are called duskritina, sukritina and duskritina Na Mam Duskritina Mudha Prapadyante Naradhama, there are four kinds of sinful people and there are four kinds of pious people. Those who are sukritivan, sukritivan means one who has some backing of pious activities they are called sukriti, As it is mentioned in the scriptures that go to Prayaga and take a bath in the holy waters, the pious results that are accumulated in this one day that will lead to devotional service, slowly slowly accumulating pious results, when all the sins will be destroyed completely, Yesam anta-gatam papam, for those whose sins are completely destroyed, jananam punya-karmanam, this is pious activity just like our material life, this is only to perform sinful activities, that is why it is said in the scriptures, you do this pious activity, bathe in this way, do this austerity, fast in this way, at least do some charity, perform some austerity, do some sacrifice Yajna-dana-tapaḥ-kriya na tyajyam, this is mentioned in Bhagvad Gita, if one has become a renouncer, he has become a sanyasi, that does not mean that you leave these three things also, sacrifice, charity and austerity, bhramachari, grahasta, vanaprastha and sanyasi, So grahasta and brahmacari should perform sacrifice, grahasta should do some charity also and sanyasi should perform austerities, these are the injuctions in the scriptures, one takes sanyasa then he has left austerities also, everything he left, he left the world so he left austerity also, no that is not the thing, God says Yajna-dana-tapaḥ-kriya na tyajyam these things should not be left, may he be a sanyasi or a grahasta, these three things should be performed, So those who perform these activities properly as per the direction of the scriptures, they are called pious, because they are pious, when there is misery, but they are pious, by leaving God no one can become pious, I do not believe in God and I have become pious he is the greatest sinner how is he pious. Those who do not believe in God they are greatest sinners, how are they pious, that is why God says Catur-vidha bhajante mam sukrtinaḥ arjuna, So in this also there is no peace, Pious people go to God and if they ask something from God, in that also there is no peace, Why? because their objective is that by performing devotional service, I can get this thing, No that is not, it should be desireless, I don't want anything from God, It is proper for me, God is my master I am servant, that is why serving God is my only duty, that is a pure devotee anyabhilasita-sūnyam, one has some objective to perform devotional service, that by performing devotional service I will be able to get this, I am sad, because of disease, I am miserable, O lord give me some relief I will chant Hare Krsna mantra, no this is also offense, pure thought, this is also one of the ten offenses, to perform nama kirtana there are ten kinds of offences, within that there is one offence namas subah kriya mucis pramada, if some one thinks of Hari nama, just like one does charity, sacrifice etc as per the vedic scripture, do not think it to be a part of this pious activity, No, the fruit of chanting the holy names of the Lord is Love of Godhead. Love of Godhead, that is what is wanted, I have love within me, I want to give Love to others, this is the desire of my heart, everyone, child, animals, birds, old, in the heart of everyone there is something called love, I want to give it to someone, but that love since it is not directed to the right place, all this love which we see is only for two days. Real love can be done with God only, not with the world and by loving God, one will automatically love the world, because he is able to see God, so by seeing God he knows, all the things in existence belongs to God, all the living entities are part and parcel of God, that is why naturally they love everyone, that is why love of Godhead should be there, within that all other love, Love for the country, love for the society and other all love, there are many loves people have discovered now a days, but because since there is no love for Godhead in that, all that love is temporary, its temporary, that is why Caitanya Mahaprabhu says prema pumartho puman, for giving that love there is incarnation of Caitanya, that is why Rupa Goswami says maha-vadanyaya krsna-prema-pradayate, Rupa Goswami says in this same Prayag area when he met Caitanya Mahaprabhu, first he fell at his feet like a stick

He says, that Mahaprabhu you are love incarnation of Krsna, because when Krishna Himself was present at that time he instructed all that leave everything and surrender at my Lotus feet

But nobody followed that, the instruction was simple, that by avoiding any other thing, just surrender your life at the Lotus feet of Lord Krsna, no they did not listen, some one said that this Krsna is very proud, look he is saying that leave everything and surrender at my feet, He is God, there is no need for him, surrendering at the lotus feet of God is auspicious for you only, you surrender or don't surrender what God has to do with that, God is not in want of anything he is self satisfied, but if I surrender my life at the lotus feet of God that will be good for me, that is why he says also that I am speaking this for your benefit only, but that was not understood, they said that Krsna is very proud, see we have one more Krsna, rich krsna, that krsna, that Krsna, we have that demigod and that demigoddess, why should I leave all this and surrender to Krsna, No, avajananti mam mūḍha manusim tanum asritam [Bg. 9.11], men made mistake, till today they are making mistakes, they are not understanding Krsna, that is why Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is Krnsa himself, krsnaya krsna-caitanya-namne, Rupa Goswami says, that you are Krsna only, but you have taken the name of Krsna Caitanya and have incarnated, but within all the incarnations till today you are the most vadana, vadana means one who is very charitable, one who gives very expensive charity, he gives millions to each person, this is called maha-vadanyaya, dhanavantari, just like Dasarath Maharaj, when he used to give charity, just like as clouds pour rain, without thinking, all over the place, where there is no requirement there also it gives there is no need on a mountain, there is no need of water in a ocean there also it gives, so dhanvantari, so donor should be like this, at whatever time whoever comes just give it, so he is called maha-vadanyaya and give it very nicely, So Caitanya Mahaprabhu's donation is like that, some people who are not qualified to them also Caitanya Mahaprabhu distributes Love of Krnsa. It is very difficult to obtain Love of Krsna, Krsna himself could not distribute Love of Krsna when he was here, Krsna commanded sarva-dharman parityajya, you surrender to my feet, I will protect you, but he did not give love by force. Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave Love of Krsna by force, that is why Rupa Goswami says maha-vadanyaya, So Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself is teaching Rupa Goswami, he says that if anyone is peaceful in this world then that is a devotee of Krishna. Why devotee of Krsna

He has no material desires that is how, and beyond karma and jnana. Karma means to perform Sacrifice and yoga and some pious activities so that one can live comfortably in heavenly planets and birth in a house of a Brahman, four things that are available in the world Janma-aisvarya-sruta-sri. Janma means to take birth in good house, this is possible by pious activities, by following karma kanda process, if one has performed very pious activities, they take birth is a rich man's house, very learned Brahmans house, in the house of a demigod, all this happens, there is lot of comforts, lot of money Janma-aisvarya-sruta, they become learned also and they also are very beautiful, these things happen by pious activities, so by karma kanda process, to obtain these four things, they perform many ritualistic activities, but devotional service is beyond fruitive activities, imagine that by good activities you got a birth in heavenly planets, but what is the use. It is mentioned in Bhagavad Gita Ksine punye punar martya-lokam visanti, when the pious activities are exhausted, then you will have to come back here, God himself also says abrahma-bhuvanal lokaḥ punar avartino 'rjuna [Bg. 8.16]. Arjuna, if you go to Brahman loka also, in that also you will have to come back here punar avartino 'rjuna, but if you go to my abode you will not have to return to this world again, this is the instruction of the scriptures. That is why, a devotee of Krishna why is he without any material desires, because in this universe, he is not in need of anything. He is not in want of Heavenly planets or Brahma's planet and Patala loka, Nara loka whatever there is he rejects all that, they only want Krishna nothing else, that is why they are free from material desires, they don't want anything, that God give me this, give me that, that is why Devotional service is anyabhilasita-sūnyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam, not mixed devotion, devotion mixed with fruitive work, devotion mixed with jnana, just like there are many, who discuss about knowledge and add devotional service to it, but the objective is that we become one with God, that is not devotional service that is not pure devotional service. Pure devotional service means for all the time one is a servant of God as master and his devotee his servant Nitya-yukta upasate, this is great soul, nitya yukta, nitya means one who is already liberated, such kind of person is also engaged in the service of God, not that I got liberation and now I have nothing to do with God, I am also God, no, this is not pure devotional service, this is mixed devotion. Pure devotional service is this as Caitanya Mahaprabhu explains mama janmani janmanisvare bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi. Na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam , karmis want these things, Karmis say, let me have lot of money, let me have a beautiful wife and many people should follow me, this is what karmis want. Na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam¸ this are the thoughts of a karmi, so Caitanya Mahaprabhu says no I don't want all these things and jnani thinks that I shall be liberated and become one with God, that is why Caitanya Mahaprabhu says mama janmani janmani, because those who are liberated, may be that they become one with God or, there are five kinds of liberations, in that sahujya liberation is that, if one desires he can merge into the bodily effulgence of God, so jnani, thinks that this repetition of material birth and deaths should be finished and merge in the existence of God, this is the thought of a jnani, but Caitanya Mahaprabhu says no mama janmani janmani, if one becomes liberated then how there will be birth again. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says janmani janmani, let me take birth many times there is no worries, but in any birth, I may have unconditional devotion at your Lotus feet, this is my prayer. Just like, Bhaktivinoda Thakur, a Vaisnava Acarhya, he says kita-janma hou jatha tuya dasa, O my Lord I am praying to you, that if I have to take birth again, then give me birth in a place where there is your devotee, even if I become an insect in a devotee's house that is alright and bahir-mukha brahma-janma nahi mora asa, if I get a birth as Brahma and I do not have devotion, such a birth I don't want, that is why the devotees are desireless. To become a devotee is not an ordinary thing, that is why Caitanya Mahaprabhu explained that within millions of liberated persons, very few are devotees, it is not a ordinary thing. Many of those who are liberated, in this way, out of millions of them, it is difficult to find one pure devotee of Krsna. The position of a devotee of Krsna is very high, because he purchases God. God is bound in the fist of a devotee, this is devotee's position. Vedesu durlabham adurlabham atma-bhaktau [Bs 5.33], by reading Vedas and Vedanta, and discussing knowledge, what is God one cannot understand, but if one gets association of a pure devotee of the Lord, then he can give you God very easily, this is the power of a devotee. Devotee has so much strength that if you satisfy a devotee, then if he desires, he can take God in his hands, these are the words of the scriptures, Brahma Samhita. It is said in Brahma Sahmita,

God has many forms, and until advaita, in that there is no duality advaitam acyutam, God can never fall from his position, these Mayavadi's say that God is trapped by Maya, it is completely lie, why will God be trapped by maya, then maya is bigger, how will God become greater. God says mama maya, maya is subordinate to God, then how can God be trapped by maya, this is completely wrong. God is not trapped by maya, but the part and particle of God, the living entity that is trapped, advaitam acyutam anadim, God is ever existing, we all have a source, our birth has taken place from our father, and his birth was from his father and go on like that, God has no father . God makes one of his devotees and father and he incarnates as a ordinary human being, so he has no father, svayambhu, advaitam acyutam anadim ananta-rūpam. God, like Lord Krishna had 16,108 queens, he expanded himself into 16,108 forms, why 16,108, if God expanded himself into 16 million forms that is also less, because Īsvaraḥ sarva-bhūtanam hrd-dese arjuna tisthati: [Bg. 18.61], God is sitting in the heart of every living entity, so 16,108 is that a difficult thing for him? That is why it is said ananta-rūpam, if God wants he can expand himself in innumerable forms, but he is one. advaitam acyutam anadim ananta-rūpam adyam, it is mentioned in Vedanta Sutra Janmady asya yataḥ adyam, the original person aham adir hi devanam [Bg 10.2] God says in Bhagavad Gita, all the big big demigods, Brahma, Lord Siva, Candra, Indra there are many, who is the beginning of all of them, Lord Vishnu, all, this is truth about nature, adyam purana-purusam and he is the oldest, since he is the original person that is why he is the oldest, even though he is the oldest God is nava-yauvanam ca, every time you look at God he is nava-yauvanam he looks like a 16 or 22 year old boy. You will not find God's form to be old, so all these things are mentioned in the Scriptures,

This is God, now if God Is like that, then search all the Vedas and Vedanta, No, scriptures say vedesu durlaba, that is why many people ask, this worship of Rama and Krishna, had started after the birth of Lord Rama, after the birth of Lord Krishna, because they don't know this adyam purusam, the proof of the scriptures, name of Rama and Krishna are there in the Vedas, that is why it is said, those who are veda vadis, Veda-vada-rataḥ partha nanyad astiti vadinaḥ, those who only recite the Vedas, but in reality do not know anything about Vedas, because the objective of the Vedas, God himself is saying vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyam, what is the objective of the Vedas, in all the Vedas are to explain God, Upanishads which are Vedas in that it is explained in an impersonal manner as to what is God, so they think that God is impersonal, God is not impersonal. The reality is that God's form is not like you. Whenever one says form everyone immediately one thinks a form like himself, no, God is sat cit ananda vigraha. Sat cit Ananda vigraha, his form is Sat cit ananda, is our body sat cit ananda, this material body, this body is neither sat, nor cit and there is no happiness in this, so how can God's form be like us that is why God says avajananti mam mūḍha, those who are foolish, they think that God's body and the body of an ordinary human being is the same, mudha, try to understand, God is sat cit ananda vigraha. God's qualities are spiritual, it is not these material qualities that is why God is nirguna, nirguna means that God does not have any qualities, that is not the case

So in order to reach God, to understand God, one should approach a devotee of God, then God, like this God is vedesu durlabham adurlabham atma-bhaktau, God will, that is why we sing the Guru astakam of Visvanath Chakravati yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasada, if a devotee of God is satisfied then God will have to agree, this is my devotee, if he wants that one should get some devotion, then God will agree, this is not a difficult thing to understand, If one wants to meet some very important person, his servant who stands at door, you satisfy him by some means, then he will arrange for the meeting quickly, similarly, the servants of God, and confidential, of whom God listens to, one who is completely trusted by God, you contact such a devotee then you will be able to meet God and you will achieve devotional service and you will be peaceful, without devotional service, without contact with God, nobody can achieve peace, so that is why Caitanya Mahaprabhu says Krsna bhakta santa

Who is bhukti-kamis who want to enjoy materially, they are not peaceful, big big wealthy people, mill owners, we have contacts with big big rich people, I sent one letter that you all come to the Kumbha mela, all have written that we are very busy how shall we come, swamiji, thank you very much, that's all, where is time, so that is anxious, they have millions of rupees, but still they are so busy that they cannot come to kumbha mela for two days, these are bhuktis and mukti they are also anxious, they want to merge into the effulgence of God, all of the time they are very attentive that whether I am in maya or not, and devotee he may be in maya or in the effulgence of God he does not know anything, I will only remember Lord's lotus feet that's all, finished, they do not want anything and they are not afraid of maya also, why should they be afraid of maya, maya is scared of a devotee. God says mam eva ye prapadante mayam etam taranti te [Bg. 7.14], maya is scared of them, there are many such stories where maya cannot control a devotee, maya can only control those who are devoid of devotional service, God himself says mam eva ye prapadante, one who has surrendered at the Lotus feet of God, maya cannot touch such a person, it will not even go there, that is why they are liberated, those who are under the control of maya is a conditioned living entity, that is why God himself says

For them they don't have to try separately to attain the Brahman conception of life, because those who are engaged in devotional service he has attained the Brahma buta stage, he does not have to try separately for self realization, he is very ahead, that is why it is said in Bhagavatam, Dharma prohjitta kaitava, the real religion is to surrender to the Lotus feet of God, God himself comes and teaches us Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja: [Bg. 18.66], it is a very simple straight forward thing but we will not accept simple things, by our intelligence, we will accept something from here and there and then we will have to become miserable, what can be done. There is only one solution to attain peace, that is to surrender to the Lotus feet of God and like God says aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucaḥ [Bg. 18.66], this are the thoughts of all the scriptures, you are not a debtor to anyone, this is also mentioned in the scriptures

All of us are here we are indebted in many ways, indebted to the demigods, sun and moon give you light, for electricity you pay so much bill, so you are a indebted to the sun, moon, that is why there are procedures to perform sacrifices to the demigods, satisfy them you take so much from them, but nobody accepts, that is why it is sin, bhunjnte agam papam, whatever one eats they eat sins only, they do not understand that all these things that we are having is because of the mercy of God, God's servants all the demigods are helping, so we are indebted to the demigods, in this way we are indebted to the great sages, great sages like Vyasadeva he has give you so many books, Veda, Vedanta, Purana, Upanishads, Mahabharata etc, Valmikiji gave Sri Ramayan, you take knowledge from them you are benefitted aren't you indebted to them, definitely you are indebted to them, So we are indebted to the demigods, indebted to great sages similarly we are indebted to other living entities also, in this way everyone is indebted, so one should repay, these are the instructions in the scriptures. But if one has surrendered to the Lotus feet of the Lord for him it is said nayam rni na kihkaro, he is not a servant of anyone's father also and he is not indebted to anyone also sarvatmana, because God has taken charge of him, all these things have to be understood. That is why there is no desire for a devotee of Krsna. Just like father, small child is completely dependent on the father, So father knows what is needed for the child, what should be given to eat, what clothes should be given, that father is taking care of, similarly if you really surrender at the Lotus feet of God, then there is no need of you to think that is why desire less and peaceful. One who has surrendered his life at that lotus feet of God only he can be peaceful, not a yogi, not a jnani, nor a karmi, these are the instructions of the scriptures. Thank you very much.