Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.39 – March 17, 1976, Māyāpur

How Will They Become Brahmanas

Anantaram Sastriji: [chants verse; Prabhupada and devotees respond] [break]

Pusta Krsna: Translation: "My dear Lord from the Vaikuntha planets, where there is no anxiety, my mind is extremely sinful and lusty. It is sometimes so-called happy and sometimes so-called distressed. It is full of lamentation and fear and always anxious to get more and more money. In this way my mind has become most polluted. It is never satisfied, and therefore I am very fallen and poor. In such a status of life, how will it be possible for me to discuss Your activities?"

This is our position. This material world and the spiritual world, the difference is very nicely explained here. One place is no anxiety; in another place it is simply full of anxiety. This is the difference. [aside:] Ask them.

So Prahlada Maharaja in another place has said also the same thing. When his father asked him, "What is the best thing you have learned, my dear boy, from your school?" so he immediately addressed his father as asura-varya. [SB 7.5.5] Why? Now, because this thing, free of anxiety, is not understandable by the asuras. They want anxiety. They'll create such situation, they'll put themselves in anxiety and try to come out of it. That is their heroic activities. This is the difference between the asura and the sura, devata. The devatas, or the devotees... There are two different types of men. One is asura, and the other is devotee, just like Prahlada Maharaja and his father Hiranyakasipu. These two types of men are there in this world. And the difference we can see, that Prahlada Maharaja is simply satisfied with Krsna. Prahlada Maharaja says, naivodvije para duratyaya-vaitaranyas tvad-virya-gayana-mahamrta-magna-cittaḥ [SB 7.9.43]. Prahlada Maharaja, when he saw Nrsimhadeva, very fierceful... Even mother Laksmi, the goddess of fortune, who is constant companion of the Lord, she also became afraid, and what to speak of other demigods like Brahma, Lord Siva and Indra and so many others? All of them became afraid. Nobody could approach Him, He was so angry. But Prahlada Maharaja said that "I am not afraid." He said, "I am not afraid." Naivodvije para duratyaya-vaitaranyas tvad-virya-gayana-mahamrta-magna-cittaḥ.

A devotee who is always absorbed in the thought of Krsna and His activities... We are therefore presenting Krsna and His activities. This is our Krsna consciousness movement. All these books which we are distributing and publishing, what is this? This is Krsna and His activities, that's all. Tvad-virya-gayana-mahamrta-magna [SB 7.9.43]. So if you simply read our books very carefully, then immediately this disease of heart palpitation, anxiety, will cease. Because on account of the dirty things, product of this tamo-guna and rajo-guna... That is disturbing us. We are covered by the tamo-guna and rajo-guna, rajas-tamaḥ. So rajas-tamaḥ means greediness and lusty desires. This is rajas-tamaḥ. So we have to... If we actually want to become free from anxieties, then we have to learn how to kill this, or how to avoid this anxiety due to rajas-tamo bhavaḥ [SB 1.2.19].

So first of all we have to try to come to the platform of goodness. There are three platforms: tamo-guna, rajo-guna and sattva-guna. So immediately we cannot come to the pure sattva-guna, suddha-sattva. Sattvam visuddham vasudeva-sabditam [SB 4.3.23], vasudeva platform... Just like Vasudeva is the father of Krsna, so there is vasudeva platform also. Unless one comes to the vasudeva platform, there is no question of Krsna, because Vasudeva can beget Krsna, or Vasudeva. Vasudevaḥ sarvam iti [Bg 7.19]. So actually we have to come to the platform of Vasudeva, vasudeva-sabditam, and that is suddha-sattva. But it is not immediately possible. Therefore gradually, from the platform of tamo-guna and rajo-guna, we have to come to the sattva-guna. Or in other words, we have to acquire the qualities of a brahmana. Therefore this is initiation, how to bring one to the platform of brahmana. Catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasaḥ [Bg 4.13]. So this is necessary. From this material platform to come to the spiritual platform one has to become a qualified brahmana.

So this process, that we first of all accept anyone who is prepared to chant, we accept to give him hari-nama-what is the idea? The idea is that he'll gradually become brahmana. Of course, chanting of Hare Krsna mantra is beyond the position of brahmana. Nivrtta-tarsair upagiyamanat [SB 10.1.4]. This chanting of Hare Krsna mantra is meant for the nivrtta-tarsaiḥ. Nivrtta-tarsaiḥ means one who has finished all kinds of desires, all kinds of material desires. For him. Nivrtta-tarsair upagiyamanat. But for the ordinary man, bhavausadhi, even it is meant for the liberated person, chanting Hare Krsna mantra, but still, those who are not liberated, if he chants, then he becomes cured from the material desires. Kamaturam. Material desires... Kamaturam harsa-soka-bhayaisanartam. This is material desires. We are full of lusty desires, kama, kamaturam, and therefore you are distressed. Our distressed condition is due to lusty desires, kamaturam. And the result is harsa-sokaḥ. When we can fulfill our desires-"I am very much inclined to a woman or a man"-kamaturam, lusty desires, if we can fulfill, then it is very nice, harsa: "Oh, I am very successful." And if you cannot fulfill, then soka. The two things are there. Soka, there are so many things. We have got practical examples. The so-called loving affairs of man and woman ends in even murder. We have got experience. So sokaturam. The lusty desires means for the time being it may be very happy condition, but the result is soka. It will end. Either illicit sex or legal sex, the end is soka, soka, lamentation. There are many examples, practical.

So this kamaturam, this lusty desire, is not good. Either you do it legally or illegally, the result is soka. That we must understand. Unforunately, although the result... Everyone knows practical experience, that nobody has become happy by these sex affairs. There is a Urdu word, they say dilli ka laḍḍu, yo khaya wobhi pachtaya yo na khaya wobhi pachtaya. The meaning is, "There is a laḍḍu"-you know laḍḍu, of course-"laḍḍu which is known as dilli ka laḍḍu. So this dilli ka laḍḍu is so dangerous, one who has eaten it, he's also lamenting, and one who has not eaten it, he's also lamenting." [laughter] Dilli ka laḍḍu yo khaya wobhi pachtaya yo na khaya wobhi pachtaya. So this man and woman connection is dilli ka laḍḍu. One who has married, he's also lamenting, and who is not married, he's also lamenting. So this is the thing. The sastra also says... Not only... Any experienced man will say like that, that "Both ways, it is simply lamentation."

Therefore Prahlada Maharaja says that trpyanti neha krpana bahu-duḥkha-bhajaḥ [SB 7.9.45]. Trpyanti neha krpana. There are two classes of men: krpana and brahmana. The opposite word of brahmana is krpana. Brahma janati iti brahmanaḥ. This life, human life, is meant for understanding Brahman, the Absolute Truth. So a person who has understood what is Brahman-aham brahmasmi-so he is called brahmana. Anyone who understands Brahman, he is brahmana. Brahma janati iti brahmanaḥ. And one who does not understand, he's krpana. In the Upanisad also it is said, etad viditva yaḥ prayati sa brahmanaḥ, etad aviditva yaḥ prayati sa krpanaḥ [Gargopanisad]. This human life is meant for understanding Brahman-athato brahma-jijnasa, Vedanta-simply meant for understanding Brahman, such a nice life, human life, not cats' and dogs' life. In everywhere the same thing is repeatedly said. Rsabhadeva says, nayam deho deha-bhajam nrloke kastan kaman arhati viḍ-bhujam ye [SB 5.5.1]:

"This human life is not meant for acting like the pigs." Kastan kaman arhati. So it is meant for becoming a brahmana. And one who does not become a brahmana-become a pig-he's krpana, krpana. Krpana means he got the chance of becoming a brahmana, but he remained a cat and dog and pig. That's all. Krpana. And if I give you, say, ten thousand rupees, that "You take this, do some business and be happy," but you could not do anything, simply kept the money and see it or spoil it, then you are krpana. You could not use it. And there are others who can increase.

So we got this human form of life, we could..., we are advanced in consciousness, and if we increase this consciousness to the ultimate goal, Krsna consciousness, then our life is successful. And if we could not do it-we remain in the same cats' and dogs' consciousness, kamaturam... Just like a dog is lusty dog, one dog, one female dog, and dozen of dogs is after her... You have seen nature's instruction. So that is krpana life. We should not spoil our life by becoming a krpana. This Krsna consciousness movement is trying to raise the standard of the human society to become brahmana from the position of krpana. This is the attempt. It may be a tiny attempt, humble attempt, but our aim is how these dogs and cats will become brahmana. This is our aim. We do not want to keep them in the position of cats and dogs and pigs. This is our attempt. So we may be successful or not successful, but our endeavor is very, very great. We should always remember that. Because these krpanas... Na trpyanti. Krpana... What is that?

The krpana bahu-duḥkha-bhajaḥ, they know, "After the sex I'll have to meet so many botherations," either illicit or sex. Either you get so many diseases, syphilis and this, and from syphilis so many other disease, up to madness, up to leprosy, one disease after one disease, one disease. This sex... The sex syphilitic disease is called in India by the Ayurvedic physician as phairahga-roga. It has come from the Western country. I do not wish to discuss, but the point is that illicit sex has many, many aftereffects who is not very nice. And even it is legal sex, there is also botheration. If there is no botheration, why they are killing their own child? There is botheration. Sex life is botheration. Therefore it should be controlled, undoubtedly. And the last control is to become a sannyasi, bas. Ara nare bapa: "No more," that is called.

So whole Vedic civilization is to reduce this propensity, kamaturam. That is Prahlada Maharaja's recommendation. Because if we remain kamaturam, sexually inclined, then we'll be subjected only to these processes, harsa-soka-bhayaisanarta. In this way we shall be always disturbed. And it will be not... Disturbed mind, you cannot think of the Absolute Truth. That is not possible. The mind must be peaceful. But there is one very easy method to control the mind from these disturbances. What is that? The yoga system means the control the disturbed mind. Yoga indriya-samyamaḥ. Real yoga means to control the mind and the senses. That is yoga. Because without controlling the mind and the senses, there is no question of spiritual advancement. That is not possible. Without controlling the mind, there is no question of spiritual advancement.

Therefore Krsna advised to Arjuna that "You practice yoga," in the Sixth Chapter, "so that you'll be able to control the mind." But Arjuna said that "Control the mind is very difficult for me, Krsna. I cannot practice this yoga system." Cancalam hi manaḥ krsna pramathi balavad drḍham [Bg 6.34]: "Mind is very restless, and it is very difficult to control." Tasyaham nigraham manye vayor iva suduskaram: "I think to control the mind is still more difficult than to control the wind." Nobody can control the wind. So Krsna... Arjuna said, "Even though I am able to control the wind, I cannot control my mind, it is so strong." So Krsna recommended... Krsna not discouraged Arjuna. Arjuna is a family man, and he went to the war field to gain his victory. So everyone is engaged in some such engagement, occupational duty-brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya-in this world. And so mind is very difficult to control. But Krsna gave the easy method:

If you can keep Krsna always in your mind, then the whole thing is solved. This is easiest. So chant always Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna...

Devotees: ...Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

Prabhupada: Then this kamaturam mind will be controlled, and you'll not be subjected to this harsa-soka-bhaya. This is the secret. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has recommended that in the Kali-yuga it is very, very difficult to come out this kamaturam position. It is not possible. But if you chant the holy name of the Lord Hari, harer nama harer nama harer nama iva kevalam, kalau...

Devotees: ...nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha.

Prabhupada: So the verdict of the sastra is the same everywhere in a different way. The perfection of life is, Prahlada Maharaja says, that tava kathasu vikuntha-natha. One should be interested in krsna-katha. We are interested in so many kathas. Because we purchase newspaper in the morning, so big volume, so many kathas are there. And we read many material dramas and novels and fictitious stories and killing stories. We are very much attached to these. All these kathas, means stories, we are interested, but we are not interested in krsna-katha. Means I am interested in katha, that is my nature, but it has become perverted on account of being contaminated by this material world. This is our position. Therefore Prahlada Maharaja said that naitan manas tava kathasu vikuntha-natha sampriyate durita-dustam asadhu tivram. Because it is so polluted, asadhu, dishonest and bad, everything, whatever... The mind is dirty, full of dirty things. So in another place it is said, srnvatam sva-kathaḥ krsnaḥ punya-sravana-kirtanaḥ, hrdy antaḥ-stho abhadrani [SB 1.2.17]. This is abhadra. The hrdy antaḥ-stho, within the core of heart, there, so many nasty, dirty things. That is the material contamination.

So it can be, I mean to say, avoided, or cleansed. Ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc Antya 20.12], Caitanya Mahaprabhu has assured. The whole process of education and advancement of civilization is how to cleanse the dirty mind. Why it is dirty? Kamaturam: the lusty desire and greediness. So we should always remember this, that mind is the best friend and the worst enemy. If it remains kamaturam, the worst enemy, and if it is Krsna conscious, the best friend. So we have to control this mind. And that is very easy, as Ambarisa Maharaja did: sa vai manaḥ krsna-padaravindayor vacamsi vaikuntha-gunanuvarnane [SB 9.4.18].

We have to fix up. This arcana-vidhi for kanistha-adhikari, everyone... The temple is meant for gradually making the mind thinking of Krsna. You'll come to the temple, you'll see the Deity, you'll see Krsna, you'll think of Krsna, and if you increase... That is the system. Every man, every woman, used to go to the temple. This is our Vedic civilization, to make the mind Krsna conscious, always Krsna conscious. And then it will be possible to cleanse the mind from this... Yadavadhi mama cetaḥ krsna-padaravindayor nava-nava-rasa-dhamanudyata rantum asit. If you make your mind fixed up in Krsna and think of Krsna's activities-tadavadhi mama...

This kamaturam mind will be cleansed. Not only be cleansed: if you think of sex, you'll spit on it. This is Krsna consciousness movement.

Thank you very much.

Devotees: Jaya Prabhupada! [end]