Lecture in Hindi – January 21, 1972, Jaipur

720121LE-JAIPUR [34:57 Minutes]

Devotee: [kirtana] Evening, January 21st, Jaipur.

Prabhupada:

Everyone wishes for themselves to remain filled with happiness. So, the means to attain that spiritual happiness is devotional service, sa vai pumsam paro dharmo. In this material world the human beings are trying in so many ways to make themselves joyful but the scriptures are giving injunction: anyone wishes to become a joyful soul then he should practice paro dharma. Sridhar Swami says that yato dharmat krsne srvanadar adi laksana titi bhavati sa paro dharmah. By performing Krsna kirtana:

His nine fold process of devotional service, srvanadi it begins by hearing and devotional service means the means by which one can attain the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is bhakti, bhaktya mam abhijanati, the only way to understand the Supreme Lord and it is known as paro dharma the topmost religion. So, Sridhar Swami explains what is para dharma? Yato dharmat, by execution of which religious activity krsne sravnadar adi laksana sthiti bhavati [?] sa paro dharmah eva atyantika sreyah.

There are two things one is sreya and another one is preya. Just like the little children they are fickle all they want to do is play around all day long, and if they are let to, they shall be very happy. This is preya. And sreya is when the parents of the kids ask them to not waste the whole day playing around but to go to the teacher for education [and educate themselves]. This is sreya. Sreya means that which results in happiness, that is sreya and the path of devotional service is the ultimate sreya.

So, Sridhara Swami says that eva aikantika sreya, aitantika sreya which is the real auspicious thing and earlier also Suta Goswami has explained to the saintly persons that the questions related to Krsna that you have asked, they are bhavadbhir loka-mahgalam. Just by hearing these questions people's lives become auspicious. And further he will says srnvatam sva-kathaḥ krsnaḥ punya-sravana-kirtanaḥ [SB 1.2.17]. Those who simply engage in hearing and chanting about the Supreme Lord he attain advancement regardless of whether he understands it or not. This chanting of the Hare Krsna maha mantra that is going on. It makes everyone's life auspicious, gives piety to everyone. That is why it has been said loka mangalam. And sreya, the credit or spiritual credit received upon hearing the pastimes and discussions about Krsna are the topmost sreya. Which for now will give no apparent credit but ultimately the practitioner will attain the lotus feet of Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because by executing in only pious activity all the sins become destroyed and then one is inspired within his heart to serve the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord. This is when the devotional service starts in its proper form.

Yesam tv anta-gatam papam, those who are sinful they cannot engage in devotional service. The Lord Himself says yesam tv anta-gatam papam jananam punya-karmanam. Now to speak of pious activity, those who wish to attain piety are required to engage in a lot of procedures according to the karma kandiya concept. They have to perform many, many yajnas and many other things which are very difficult to be executed in this Kaliyuga.

Nowadays, it is very difficult to find a proper yajnic brahmana and it is also very difficult to gather proper ingredients for such a yajnic sacrifice. Yes, that was tretayam yajato makhaiḥ it was possible to execute such elaborate sacrifices at Lord Ramachandra's times but now it is not possible. Now, the yajna recommended yajna is sankirtana yajna. This is what we are trying to execute here for the past seven-eight days in the Govindaji temple. This kirtan that is going on is itself yajna… yajnaiḥ sahkirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ [SB 11.5.32].

So, those who have a good brain, medha means those who have good brain substance. Those who don't have a good brain will not be able to perform devotional service. Those who have bad brain substance they start worshipping other demigods, worshiping, not serving. There is a difference between worshiping and serving. Worshiping means you invite someone, offer him respects, feed him and then request him, "my dear sir, please help me get such and such a job. Please help me get this certificate." This is called worship. When one invites just anyone to get their plan fulfilled. And service or bhajana means without any selfish motivation. Anyabhilasita-sūnyam, all kinds of selfish motives are rejected. That is the platform of devotional service.

That is why Suta Goswami says ahaituky apratihata, there should be no hetu or no selfish motive. There should be no selfish reason behind execution of devotional service. Every living being has an eternal relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam. [Katha Upanisad 2.2.13] which is why Sridhar Swami says yato dharmat krsne sravanadar adi laksana. Sravanadara one should hear with adara or respect, adar adi and the symptom of devotional service is love, and love takes the practitioner to loving devotional service. First there is vaidhi bhakti with rules and regulations then it evolves to loving devotional service. So, it begins with sravanadar adi which means the beginning of devotional service is by hearing sravana. In the scriptures it has been said ataḥ sri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaiḥ [Cc. Madhya 17.136]. Our senses in their present condition cannot help us hear the name of the Lord properly.

Here comes the concept of offences against the holy name. At the stage of pure chanting of the holy name one attains love for Godhead, in the clearing stage of the chanting of the holy names one attains liberation and when one chants offensively then he attains worldly comforts. Due to this concept Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave a lot of stress on the hearing aspect. All other limbs of devotional service are very difficult to bring in practice in this Kaliyuga. Therefore, in the conversation between Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Ramananda Raya, Ramananda quoted a verse spoken by Lord Brahma in the Srimad Bhagavatam: sthane sthitaḥ sruti-gatam tanu-vah-manobhir [SB 2.9.18], everyone should stay where they are and srutigatam take to hearing about the Supreme Lord. To hear about the Lord with one's ears is called sravana. Jnane prayasam udapasya namanta eva jivanti san-mukharitam bhavadiya-vartam [SB 10.14.3], these [there] are the teachings of Lord Brahma. Quoting these Sriman Ramanand Raya told Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, "my dear sir, I have heard from the Bhagavata that unlike these jnanis, mental speculators one should quit trying to understand the Supreme Lord by cultivation of knowledge." Jnane prayasa udapasya such an endeavor should be given up. That is useless panthas tu koti-sata-vatsara-sampragamyo [Bs 5.34], it is not possible to understand the Supreme Lord by one's own intellectual endeavor. If one tries to achieve that for many many millions of years even then one will remain where he is.

So, the Supreme Lord also says bahūnam janmanam ante [Bg. 7.19] after many many years when one's intelligence intelligent is perfected then one realizes that to surrender oneself at the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord is the best course of action. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu accepted this and said, "age kaha ara." Related to this hearing and chanting Sridhar Swami is saying the same thing, yato dharma krsne sravanara adi laksana sthiti bhavati sa paro dharma katham vruta ahaituki heti phalabhisandhanam tad rahita apratihata vighnaih anaivibhutah.

[break]

So, hearing, one should hear, it is not possible to understand the Supreme Lord by one's own intelligence. Satam prasahgan mama virya-samvido bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanaḥ [SB 3.25.25], even the Lord says that in sat sanga ine the association of the saintly people one should [should one] hear about the topics of Him. Not to hear from just a professional. Just like one pays a person to speak, one should also pay for a person to read us the Bhagavata. One should hear from the lotus mouth of an experienced devotee of the Lord. Satam prasahgan mama virya-samvidah, and by proper hearing in this way one achieves the goal of life. Therefore, Sridhar Swami says sravanadaradi laksanah, one should listen to discussion about the Supreme Lord with proper respect.

[break] Pancasordhvam vanam vrajet, after becoming older than fifty years of age one should take up the vanaprastha order of like them proceed towards sannyasa but it is very difficult to follow in this Kaliyuga. Therefore, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says one doesn't need to give up his external position but should hear from the lotus mouth of the devotees of the Supreme Lord. Upon hearing again and again we will become free from disease of lust which is troubling our hearts. Ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12], the chanting of the glories of the Supreme Lord, just like we are doing with mrdanga and kartals, not just this but this discussion is also kirtan. This discussion from the Srimad Bhagavatam is also kirtana. It is not like that not discussion but only chanting is kirtan.

Wherever there is chanting of [oh] the holy names, and satam prasahgat, that pure devotee who is free from all worldly desires anyabhilasita-sūnyam, not those who wish to recite the Bhagvatam just to maintain their household. That is not required because hearing from such a person will not solve any problem. It will take too long because this kind of recitation is against the principle. Our Sanatana Goswami has also said avaisnava-mukhodgirnam pūtam hari-kathamrtam sravanam naiva kartavyam [SB 6.16.33], these people who have completely broken all vaisnava etiquette, one should not hear the chanting of the holy name from such professional people. This has been prohibited. The reason is that it will not bear any result. The example has been given sarpocchista-payo yatha, just like milk, it is a wonderful thing but if it is tasted by a snake then immediately upon consumption there [three] will be death. Such is the verdict of the scriptures.

It is not recommended to hear the Bhagavata from anywhere and any person. That is alright, just like sandalwood regardless of the way you paste it, it will give off fragrance but if you follow the recommended procedure the fragrance will come much sooner. That is why those who are in the practicing stage of devotional service he should follow this. Just like it has been recommended in the scriptures the same way Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has taught which was again repeated by Sanatan Goswami and he taught others, evam parampara-praptam [Bg. 4.2]. In this way when one executes devotional service the purpose will be achieved.

That is why the Lord Himself advises, satam prasahgat, satam, anyabhilasita-sūnyam, those who don't have any other desire except to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead, nothing else. Anyabhilasita-sūnyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam [Cc. Madhya 19.167] and the pursuance of knowledge to achieve impersonal liberation, this also has to be given up. Impersonalists think that ok, lets engage in devotional service for now and later we will merge into the Supreme Lord. This is called sayujya mukti, it has been described in the scriptures but those who are pure vaisnavas they don't wish for sayujya mukti, impersonal liberation. What to speak of sayujya they don't want any kind of liberation. Because they don't desire liberation, they wish only for the love for Godhead.

Therefore, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has taught na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagad-isa kamaye . O my Lord Jagadisa, I don't wish for any riches, nor followers nor to become a big leader. Na dhanam na janam na sundarim, neither do I want a beautiful wife or children. Saḍaisvarya sri, everyone wants to be famous and opulent but Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says that no, he doesn't desire any such thing. And janmani janmanisvare he doesn't even want the birth and death to stop because upon getting liberated there is no rebirth. So, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says janmani janmani life after life I wish to remain engaged in rendering causeless devotional service at your lotus feet.

This is same as what Suta Goswami is elaborating. In disciplic succession whatever Suta Goswami said Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is repeating. Ahaituki apratihat, Suta Goswami says sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje ahaituki apratihata, there should be no ulterior motive. There should be no materialistic motive to perform devotional service, that this is why I am worshiping the Supreme Lord.

The Lord is my master and I am his eternal servant and it is proper for me to remain eternally engaged in His service. This itself is liberation. One will not have to look for liberation separately. Just like Bilvamangal Thakur says: bhaktis tvayi sthiratara bhagavan yadi syad. O Lord if I achieve steady devotional service unto your lotus feet. Fixed up not impermanent then muktiḥ svayam mukulitanjali sevate 'sman [Padma Purana]. Then liberation or mukti will keep on waiting to serve me with folded hands, "My dear sir, what can I do for you?" And why would one desire liberation which is already waiting to serve them? Not just impersonal liberation but all kinds of liberation wait to serve the devotees. They don't have any need to separately endeavor for them.

The way Sri Narada muni, he goes about the entire universe singing and chanting the glories of the Lord, even to hell he goes. But the difference is just like a king makes a visit to the jail. To see how the prisoners are doing. But it would be foolishness to think that he is in jail for he is the king. Similarly, the devotees who preach devotional service may even go to the hellish regions for their purpose but they will still remain in Vaikuntha. They will not be suffering in hell. So this is the concept, wherever the devotees go they stay in Vaikuntha always because the Supreme Lord has said Himself: tatra tisthami narada yatra gayanti mad-bhaktaḥ: now when the Lord himself is residing there then even if His devotees to go hellish planets they remain in Vaikuntha. When the Lord says: tatra tisthami narada, so does the Lord reside in hell?

Īsvaraḥ sarva-bhūtanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg. 18.61], so, the Lord resides within the heart of a hog also. Now, God resides in the heart of a hog but if the hog is a stool-eater does that mean the Lord is also residing in such a hellish condition? No. The Supreme Lord and His devotee both always reside in Vaikuntha. Therefore, what is the need for them to desire liberation? For they are always in Vaikuntha. Such is the verdict of the scriptures.

So, Sridhar Swami therefore says that yato dharmat krsne sravanadar adi laksanat tripti bhavati sa para dharman. Those who constantly chant the names and glories of the Lord they reside in Vaikuntha and are practitioners of paro dharma.

Similarly, Prahlada Maharaja also says that My dear Lord I am not afraid of duratyaya vaitarani, naivodvije para duratyaya-vaitaranyas [SB 7.9.43] Why? Everyone is afraid of it why not you? Tvad-virya-gayana-mahamrta-magna-cittaḥ [SB 7.9.43] because I have made my nature so that I keep on glorifying your activities all the time, for I have heard and developed taste for your glorious pastimes tvad-virya-gayana-mahamrta-magna-cittaḥ.

So, what is the cause of your lamentation? Soce tato vimukha-cetasa indriyartha-maya-sukhaya bharam udvahato vimūḍhan. All these foolish people who are constantly after illusory happiness never mind only for ten, twenty, twenty-five years, keep on working hard like an animal. Thinking of nothing but ways to get money and enjoy. But that enjoyment is nothing but illusory and to achieve that bharam udvahan one has to work very, very hard, installing huge factories. Therefore, for such people I lament.

There is no other concern of the devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Just like Prahlada Maharaja is concerned, how to engage these foolish people in devotional service. It is not recommended that one should practice devotional service only for his benefit. Paro dukha dukhi one should be concerned about the unhappiness of others, and being so concerned one should try to awaken all of them towards devotional service. Otherwise, [they] it will be impossible for them to attain happiness. The Lord Himself says so in the Bhagavad-gita:

The same thing is being repeated here by Suta Goswami yat krtaḥ krsna-samprasno yenatma [supra] sidati, if one wishes to maintain spiritual joyfulness then one should constantly remain absorbed in Krsna katha. And Krsna katha the glories of Krsna are being given to us by him in the Bhagavad-gita. For an ordinary person this is the entry level scripture towards the spiritual world. The first book to guide us towards the spiritual reality. In the Bhagavad-gita Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is explaining what is God. How to proceed towards Godhead has been clearly elaborated in the Gita. So, this is the process. One should understand this process from the Bhagavad-gita just how the Lord explains it, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. When one becomes surrendered unto the Supreme Lord then his life becomes successful.

It is described further in a Sri Caitanya-caritamrta by Krsnadas Kaviraja Goswami, he says: adau sraddha to pursue the path of devotional service one should first of all have faith. Just like you all are sitting here, you are hearing the glories to the Supreme Lord with faith and if you continue with such faithful hearing you will attain more and more perfection in devotional service. So, the real thing is sraddha, faith. Tato sadhu-sahgo, tato bhajana kriya tato 'nartha-nivrttiḥ syat tato nistha ruci, so this is the order.

So, one should hear and this way and by doing so ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12], one will have the mirror of his heart completely cleansed. Then, bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam, everyone is burning in the wheel of this creation. Narottama Das therefore, says, visaya visanale, diva-nisi hiya jvale. Those who are karmis the fruitive workers they are burning in the fire of materialistic life, diva-nisi hiya jvale. All of their hearts are burning in the fire of materialism, taribare na koinu upaya and they don't even wish to get relief from such a situation.

Now, what is the solution to this? Golokera prema-dhana, hari-nama-sahkirtana, rati na janmila kene taya, that we have no taste for, this holy name of the Lord who is the same as Him and has appeared from the spiritual world Vrndavana, we are not at all interested in it. Rati na janmilo kene tay and Krsnadasa Kaviraja Goswami, is advising to improve the same sraddha, faith: 'sraddha'-sabde-visvasa kahe sudrḍha niscaya, sraddha means firm determination bhajante mam drdha vrtah. Those who are firmly determined sraddha'-sabde-visvasa kahe sudrḍha niscaya. This is faith that just by surrendering unto the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord and engaging in devotional service we will achieve all perfection there is no need to do anything else.

Aradhito yadi haris tapasa tataḥ kim, if one has worshiped the Supreme Lord then what is the need for further austerity. Devotional service unto the Supreme Lord is itself is the result of all austerities. Sridhara Swami also explains yatha krsna visaya samprasnah krtah sarva sastra artha sadhyar pranasyapi krsne paryavasan paryavasanat eva: that which is the essence of all scriptures, all including the Vedas and Vedanta, that is devotional service unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. Yes, so, the real purpose is to surrender unto the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ [Bg. 15.15] if after reading all the scriptures if we come to the conclusion vasudevaḥ sarvam iti sa mahatma su-durlabhaḥ [Bg. 7.19], of all the ailments the devotional service unto God is the ultimate remedy. The one who thinks in this way:

If one becomes surrendered unto the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Vasudeva this his life becomes successful and that is the ultimate credit. We had discussed about sreya and preya, sreya nihsreyasaya, the ultimate goal of life is to attain devotional service unto the Supreme Lord becoming surrendering unto Him and engaging in His service. Then what is liberation muktiḥ svayam mukulitanjali sevate 'sman. Mam ca yo 'vyabhicarena bhakti-yogena sevate [Bg. 14.26], those who are engaged with devotion constantly in the service of the Lord, sa gunan samatityaitan brahma-bhūyaya kalpate, they are very, very advanced and need not separately endeavor for liberation. He has attained the fifth goal of life, beyond liberation which is the love for Godhead. So, yes, so one attains devotional service after liberation:

So, after liberation comes devotional service and at this stage it is the topmost devotional service. Thank you very much. Hare Krishna. This was our subject for today.

Thank you very much. [end]