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730110ND.BOM
The Nectar of Devotion
Bombay, January 10, 1973 Pradyumna: Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu is divided into four parts, just as the ocean is sometimes divided into four parts, and there are different sections within each of these four divisions. Originally, in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, the ocean is divided like the watery ocean to east, west, north and south, while the subsections within these different divisions are called waves. As in the ocean there are always different waves, either on the eastern side, the western side, the northern side, or the southern side, so similarly, Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu...
Prabhupada: That Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, the Sanskrit word... We have short cut the translation, Nectar of Devotion, but the, Rupa Gosvami's purpose is to present the ocean of bhakti-rasa. Rasa means mellow. The juice. It is just like ocean. This ocean has limitation, but that is unlimited. Anandambudhi-vardhanam. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said this ocean is increasing. Now, this material ocean, it has got limit. It cannot increase unlimitedly. That is not possible. Otherwise, how you could build these houses on the beach? No, it is ordered not to come forward beyond this line. But the spiritual bliss type ocean is increasing. Anandambudhi-vardhanam. That is the difference between spiritual bliss and material enjoyment. Material enjoyment is limited. You cannot enjoy unlimitedly. That is not possible. Just for few seconds, for few minutes, or for few hours, then it becomes disgusting. That is the material enjoyment. But the spiritual enjoyment, spiritual bliss is different. That is simply increasing. So, therefore in the sastra it is said, ramante yoginah anante [Cc. Madhya 9.29]. Those who are yogis, bhakta-yogi, they enjoy unlimitedly. Ramante yoginah anante, and that is satyanande. That ananda bliss is real bliss. This is artificial. This is perverted reflection.
I have several times explained that the love affairs between Krsna and Radharani, that is fact. There is no end. Eternally They are enjoying. Radharani is enjoying the company of Krsna, and Krsna is enjoying. Radha krsna-pranaya vikrtir ahladini sakti. That is Krsna's pleasure potency. As Krsna is eternal, Krsna's pleasure potency is also eternal. So real love, Radha-Krsna, or Krsna with the gopis, or Krsna and the cowherd boys, Krsna and Yasoda Ma, Nanda Maharaja, Krsna and Krsna's servants, Krsna and Krsna's trees, Krsna and Krsna's water, Krsna and Krsna's flower, Krsna and Krsna's cows, everything eternal. That is eternal. Ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhavitabhis tabhir ya eva nija-rupataya-kalabhih [Bs. 5.37]. Krsna's enjoyment means Krsna's expansion. Just like in Bhagavata, you know, when Krsna's cowherd boys, calves and cows were stolen by Brahma, Krsna again expanded Himself in the similar forms so that the mother of the cowherd boys, the mother of the calves, they may not feel separation. Krsna immediately replaced. That is Krsna.
So the blissful enjoyment with Krsna, it is unlimited. That is called Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu. Rasa and amrta. Amrta, that is not dying, that is not possible. Want (?) some material enjoyment. It is not possible. But, because we are preaching Krsna consciousness, they still persisted. Yes, this is the difference. You will feel more and more enthusiasm. In this material world, the more you'll work, you'll feel tired. And the spiritual world, the more you work, you'll feel enthused. That is called anandambudhi-vardhanam. That is the test. If our workers are feeling tired, then that means he's working materially. And if he's feeling enthused, more and more, that is his, he's working spiritually. Anandambudhi-vardhanam. That is the spiritual test. Ramante yoginah anante satyanande cid-atmani [Cc. Madhya 9.29]. That is cid-atmani, that is spiritual, not material. So here, we are trying to enjoy material. So how we can be happy? That is not possible. Materially we cannot be happy, therefore Bhagavad-gita gives us indication, sukham atyantikam yat tad atindriya grahyam [Bg. 6.21]. If you want happiness, happiness is our prerogative. Every individual soul, happiness. Because Krsna is sac-cid-ananda-vigraha, eternal, blissful, ananda. Ananda, blissful. Cit, knowledge and sat, eternal. That is Krsna. Sat-cid-ananda-vigrahah.
Isvarah paramah krsnah sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah [Bs. 5.1]. Vigraha means form, but not this form. Those who have no knowledge about Krsna, they are thinking Krsna is maya. These bhaktas, they are worshiping the maya form. Their philosophy is when Krsna comes, when God comes, He takes a material form. No, that's not right. Krsna says, sambhavamy atma-mayaya [Bg. 4.6]. Sambhavamy atma-mayaya, the atma-mayaya means cit potency. These Mayavadi philosophers they have no information that cit potency. That is ahladini sakti, that is Radharani. They have got experience of this material potency. External energy. Durga. But they have no information of the cit potency. Therefore, they think that Krsna appears in the form of maya. Just like we have got this body, material body, this is gift by the maya.
Karanam. We are getting this body according to our association with the different modes of material nature. But Krsna has nothing to do with this material nature. Material nature is controlled by Him, and we are controlled by the material nature. That is the difference. He is controller, and you are controlled. They do not understand. They think that if I make null and void these conditions of controlling, then I become uncontrolled.
Just like the philosophy voidism, or suicidism. I am feeling some pain in my body. So if I think that let me commit suicide, then the pain will go away automatically. That is void philosophy. The killing one-self, atma ha. But because they have no understanding that killing this body does not mean killing yourself. That is their ignorance. In the Bhagavad-gita it is clearly said, na hanyate hanyamane sarire [Bg. 2.20]. So these rascal think if I suicide, if I commit suicide, and just have a knife on my throat, then all my pains and pleasures are finished. No, that is not... He will be put into more pains and pleasure. Sometimes we'll have to accept, why accept, it is certain, the ghostly body. Because Krsna has given you, or maya has given, maya has given under the direction of Krsna, a certain type of body for enjoying for a certain span of life, you cannot finish it. If you disregard it, then, if you commit suicide, the result will be that you will not be allowed to accept another material body. You will have to remain in that subtle body. That is ghost. Ghostly life means one who has misused this life, this body, and by his whims he has killed this body. He becomes ghost. That means he will have to suffer for so many day, then he'll get another material body.
Therefore there is sraddha ceremony. The sraddha ceremony means, supposing my father or my relative has not got, yet, again gross body, this sraddha ceremony will help him to get another gross (body). Because without this gross body, the ghostly body is very troublesome, because he wants to enjoy something, but he has no instrument to enjoy. Therefore he creates, the ghost creates trouble. Sometimes captures some body to fulfill his desires, and the man becomes ghostly haunted. There are so many subtle sciences. What do they know, these so-called scientists? They're simply falsely proud, taking account of this small duration of life, for ten to twenty years, fifty years, or at most hundred years, that's all. They do not know. Andha yathandhair upaniyamanah [SB 7.5.31]. And still they're becoming guide, they're becoming swamis, they're becoming gurus, they're becoming fathers, they're becoming government. How people can be happy? Everyone is andha, blind. They have no jnana, no knowledge, and misleading only. So the, anandambudhi-vardhanam. You can have unlimited ananda, but because you are falsely trying to enjoy through this material body, therefore you are becoming confused and frustrated. That they do not know. They think, "I have got this material body, I have got some senses, let me enjoy the senses to the best possibility." But you cannot do it, because it is false, it is not real. Real senses, unless you feel sensation, that sensation, consciousness is there because the spirit soul is there. Otherwise there is no sensation, and unless you feel sensation, there is no enjoyment.
So this bodily enjoyment is false, real enjoyment (is) of the spirit. Therefore it is said, ramante yoginah anante. They want to enjoy life with Ananta, Krsna. They want to become friend of Krsna. They want to become lover of Krsna. They want to become servant of Krsna. They want to become father of Krsna. They want to become maya of Krsna. The same thing, as we are pervertedly enjoying in this material, the same thing is there (in) spiritual life. That is Krsna exhibiting. When He appears on this earth, He practically shows how you can enjoy also with Him. That is Vrndavana lila. Practical manifestation. But we are not taking to that. We are taking this Vrndavana lila of Krsna, Krsna is maya, Vrndavana is laya. Now simply place your nose and thinks of something impersonal, that is perfection. No? That is not. This is fact, ramante, unless you are many varieties, there cannot be enjoyment. Ramante yoginah anante. Ramante, this very word, one who is engaged, he is called iti rama-padenasau param brahmabhidhiyate [Cc. Madhya 9.29]. This is the meaning of Rama. Rama, Krsna, Radha-Ramana, Radha-Madhava.
So this science has to be understood. We are, everyone is after happiness, anandamayo 'bhyasat (Vedanta-sutra 1.1.12). We are spiritual soul, spiritual spark. Our life is ananda. Sac-cid-ananda. Eternal life, blissful life, life of knowledge. But we are put into this material condition which is ignorance, miserable and temporary. Just opposite. Instead of having eternal, blissful, knowledgeable life, we have got this body which is non-eternal, non-permanent, and always miserable in condition, and not blissful. Always miserable and always in ignorance. Just the opposite. So Krsna is not like that. If we think of Krsna like that, then it is a mistake. That Mayavadi philosopher, they are thinking of Krsna like that, that Krsna is like me. Avajananti mam mudha. They are rascals, mudha. They are thinking there is something above Krsna. Therefore they are mudhas. Avajananti mam mudha manusim tanum asritam [Bg. 9.11]. Because they have no knowledge, param bhavam ajanantah. They do not know the param bhava, the bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, they have no idea, they have no knowledge. So this Krsna consciousness movement is, therefore, giving them the real knowledge. Krsna, how He's enjoying. His, how He's joyful. Ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhavitabhih [Bs. 5.37].
angani yasya sakalendriya-vrtti-manti
pasyanti panti kalayanti ciram jaganti ananda-cinmaya-sad-ujjvala-vigrahasya... [Bs. 5.32] Ananda sad-ujjvala-vigraha. It is not ordinary vigraha like this. They have got bitter experience of this vigraha, of this form, therefore they want to make God impersonal. Must be opposite. They have got this bitter knowledge that getting this body, we are suffering so much. Therefore, the God must be without body. Just opposite. This is also material thinking. Thinking in a negative way. But they have no knowledge, that if God has body, but that is completely spiritual. It has nothing to do with the material body. They cannot think of spiritual body. So the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu is teaching people how you can enjoy in the ocean of blissfulness. That is bhaktir avatara. So Rupa Gosvami is dividing. Just like the sea has got east, west, north, south, similarly, he is dividing the ocean of nectarine in four divisions, and as there are waves in the ocean, so there are different chapters. That means he's dividing the Bhakti-rasamrta book in four parts, and in each part there are different chapters. That is the conclusion. Go on.
Pradyumna: "In the first part there are four waves, the first being a general description of devotional service."
Prabhupada: Yes. The first part of Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, the first wave is, "What is the meaning of bhakti?" "What do you mean by bhakti?" It is very scientific book. First of all, he will explain, "What do you mean by bhakti?" Then?
Pradyumna: "The second concerns the regulative principles for executing devotional service."
Prabhupada: Yes. Because as soon as you know the business, then you can chalk out your activities. If you do not know what is the business, then how you can work? That is second wave. Then?
Pradyumna: "And the third wave, devotional service in ecstasy."
Prabhupada: Yes. Then, when you become expert in devotional service, then you come to the spiritual platform. You will feel ecstasy. Anandambudhi-vardhanam. Otherwise how you get enthusiasm? That is the test. That is the test, that the material platform, you are working, you will feel tired, and you will try to retire from it. But the spiritual platform is, as you are engaged in spiritual activities, or devotional service, you become cleansed. Evam prasanna-manaso bhagavad-bhakti-yogatah [SB 1.2.20]. Prasanna-mana. As you prolong, execute devotional service, bhagavad-bhakti-yoga, prasanna-manaso, you become jolly, because that is your nature. At the present moment, although I am spirit soul, my nature is to become jolly, ananda, but because I am covered by this material nature, my joyfulness has practically disappeared, or I am trying to enjoy life through this material body. That is my position.
So, if you engage yourself in devotional service, the first engagement is this sravanam, hearing. It is not difficult. You don't have to go anywhere. Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah [SB 1.2.17]. Krsna is within you. If you kindly hear about Krsna, that is the first business, sravanam. If you kindly hear about Krsna. Unfortunately, even we do not get time to hear about Krsna. So Krsna is within you. Krsna is within you and as soon as Krsna sees that now you are very much eager to hear about Him. The first business. Srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah. And the hearing about Krsna is punya, even if you do not understand, because hearing about Krsna means you are hearing the sound Krsna. That sound Krsna will purify you, ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. My Guru Maharaja, if somebody would write some article, he would hear, he would simply see how many times there is Krsna and Lord Caitanya. Then he'll pass, "Yes, it is all right." (laughter) Because, because there are so many times Krsna uttered, it is already nice. That is also stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam.
tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavo
yasmin prati-slokam abaddhavaty api namany anantasya yaso 'nkitani yat srnvanti gayanti grnanti sadhavah [SB 1.5.11] Tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavo. That type of literature which is describing Krsna, namany anantasya yaso 'nkitani yat. Yatra, in which, in that literature where simply there is glorification of the ananta, the Supreme Lord. Not dry philosophy, simply jugglery of words. That is garbage. So that cannot, that kind of literature. Any literature, simply, simply trying to describe the glories of the ananta. Yaso anki, yasah ankitani yat srnvanti gayanti grnanti sadhavah. Those who are sadhu, those who are devotees, they hear that literature. They hear that literature. Otherwise, another, the next verse, I forget now. Tad vayasam tirtham, it has been described, tad vayasam tirtham usanti manasa [SB 1.5.10]. So this kind of literature, even it is not properly, grammatically correct, tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavo yasmin prati-slokam, abaddha [SB 1.5.11]. That, writing Sanskrit sloka, it requires very high education. It is not that whatever I write, three miles, one line, two lines, no. There is some metric system, canda, so saita (?). So the, Sukadeva Gosvami says, even it is not properly composed, but because there is anantasya, anantasya gunani, the glorification ananta, the Supreme, srnvanti gayanti grnanti sadhavah. Those who are sadhus, actually, they accept it. It doesn't matter if there is little grammatical mistake or some poetical discrepancies. There are literary rules and regulation. So sastra says, it doesn't matter, even there is not perfectly, Sankaracarya also says, na hi na hi raksati dukrn-karane. You cannot be saved by simply grammatical efficiency. No. The grammatical efficiency is secondary. Real thing is how much you are feeling for Krsna. That is wanted. Namany anantasya yaso 'nkitani yat srnvanti grnanti gayanti sadhavah.
So srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah [SB 1.2.17]. If we are sincerely hearing about Krsna, this very first qualification, sravanam kirtanam visnoh. This society, we are holding classes, just to give opportunity to the people. We are not professional, that you come here and pay, then we continue, otherwise we stop. No. Our business is to distribute the glories of the Lord. Sravanam kirtanam visnoh [SB 7.5.23]. Therefore it is recommended, satam prasangan mama virya-samvido [SB 3.25.25]. In sat-sanga. Sat-sanga means association of the devotees. Satam prasangan mama virya-samvido bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah. Just contrary to this, avaisnava mukhodgirnam putam hari-kathamrtam, sravanam naiva kartavyam. Those who are not vaisnava, those who are not devotees, one should not hear from them. It is useless. It is useless, waste of time. Sravanam na kartavyam sarpocchistam payo yatha. Just like milk touched by the lips of a serpent is poison. You cannot say it is milk, very nice. No. Because it is touched by the lips of the serpent it is useless. Similarly, as soon as a professional reciter or a avaisnava reciter, without any realization, without being a devotee of the Lord cites, recites, that should not be heard. That is restricted by Sanatana Gosvami. Avaisnava mukhodgirnam putam hari-kathamrtam sravanam naiva kartavyam. Because you'll not derive any benefit. You go on hearing for thousand of years. Thousands of years, still you'll remain where you were in the beginning. But satam prasangan mama virya-samvido bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah kathah [SB 3.25.25]. So this kathah, hari-kathah, krsna-kathah should be heard from devotees, in the association of devotees. Srnvatam sva-kathah, then Krsna will help. Krsna, Krsna is very intelligent, more intelligent than you. So He knows our heart, what for I am hearing, then He will help us.
Krsna is there. You haven't got to search out Krsna. He is already within you. Simply He wants to see whether you are sincere. That's all. You cannot deceive, you cannot deceive Caitanya, Krsna. He is always present. Anumanta, upadrasta. In the Bhagavad-gita, He is upadrasta. So srnvatam sva-kathah krsnah punya-sravana-kirtanah. If you simply hear about Krsna from the lips of pure devotees, then it is punya. Ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]. It will cleanse your heart. It will cleanse your heart.
We have got many dirty things within our heart. Krsna will cleanse. Krsna is within there. Then Krsna will personally cleanse. Then everything will be clear. Everything will be clear. You will understand. So it requires little willingness. Sthane sthitah sruti-gatam tanu-van manobhir ye prayaso 'jita jito 'py asi tais tri-lokyam. This statement was given by Brahma, and when it was quoted by Ramananda Raya before Caitanya Mahaprabhu, He accepted. Sthane sthitah sruti-gatam tanu-van-manobhir. You can remain your position. Don't, you don't require to change your position. Not that you have to give up your household life, you have to accept sannyasa, or you have to do this, the other. No. Remain in your position. But, but try to hear from the proper source, and try to understand. That will make you so strong that, Krsna is ajita, unconquerable, but you will conquer Him. You will conquer Him. Ajito 'pi, jito 'py asi, He becomes conquered. Because...
Krsna cannot be conquered by anyone, by the demons, but he can be conquered by a devotee. Just like Yasodamayi, he has conquered Krsna. The whole world is trembled by Krsna's prowess, but Krsna is trembling before Yasodamayi, or the stick. So He wants to be controlled, because everyone is praying, "My dear Lord, oh, you're so great." Everyone prays like that, but no one shows his stick. (laughter) But He wants, because that is also enjoyment. So sometimes He is disappointed that nobody wants Me to show his stick. Therefore He finds out such a devotee who can show Him stick. (laughter) Krsna is so kind. Krsna is so kind. So you can become mother of Krsna, or you can become father of Krsna. What is to become one with Krsna? You become father of Krsna. The Mayavadis they want to merge into the Supreme, but we want to become father of Krsna. Why merge? More than Krsna. The devotee can beget Krsna. Krsna accepts that. Yes, I shall become your child. I shall be controlled by your stick.
So they are not ordinary. We should not think like that. The ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhava. That is Krsna's expansion of pleasure potency. Krsna wants to be controlled by Yasodamayi. Krsna wants to be defeated by His friends. Krsna wants to be refused Radharani's darsana. Yes. Radharani is angry, she has refused, she has ordered the sakhis, "Don't allow Krsna to come here!" Yes. Krsna is flattering. (laughter) "Kindly let Me go." "No sir, you cannot go." This is Krsna. You see. But at the same time, gopi-jana-vallabha. Jaya sri-radha-madhava gopi-jana-vallabha. Krsna is, that is Krsna's actual life. He is gopi-jana-vallabha, He is radha-madhava, He is giri-vara-dhari. As soon as the gopis and the cowherd boys in distress, He will uplift this hill, Govardhana, giri-vara-dhari. That is Krsna's life. As the gopis, and the cowherds boy, and the inhabitants of Vrndavana, they have sacrificed everything, they do not know anything but Krsna, similarly, Krsna also does not know anything beyond Vrndavana. That is Krsna. That is Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, ocean of blissful life.
Thank you very much. (end)
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/classes/nod/the_nectar_of_devotion/bombay/january/10/1973 Previous: The Nectar of Devotion -- Vrndavana, October 28, 1972 Next: The Nectar of Devotion -- Bombay, January 11, 1973
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