Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.7 – [Hindi Translated into English] – March 22, 1975, Calcutta

Pradyumna: Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya. Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya. Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya. [devotees repeat] [leads chanting of verse, etc.]

Prabhupada:

Yesterday we discussed the previous verse-sa vai pumsam paro dharmo/ yato bhaktir adhoksaje [SB 1.2.6] The Supreme Personality of Godhead is Adhoksaja or He who is transcendental to material senses. Surrendering and rendering devotional service unto His lotus feet-devotional service means sravanam kirtanam visnoḥ [SB 7.5.23], hearing about the Supreme Lord Visnu, just like you all are hearing now. This is Bhakti-yoga. sravanam kirtanam, and after you hear you repeat whatever you have heard. Like today we have heard about the topics of the Supreme Lord and it is our duty to contemplate on that. Sravanam kirtanam visnoḥ smaranam. Whatever we hear in the association of devotees we should remember it. In this way devotional service increases.

The topics of the Supreme Lord are best relished in the association of devotees. Not from the professional reciters. satam prasahgan. Those who are devotees of the Lord, they should sit together, hear with attention and discuss the Lord's topics. sravanam kirtanam visnoḥ whatever one has heard about the Lord one must speak about it exactly. This is the symptom of devotional service to the Supreme Lord. Just like these westerners, the American youths, they have ample facilities for sense gratification in the western countries. But because they have heard with faith and devotion, they have given up everything at an young age and by accepting the renounced order of life they are preaching all over the world. This is the result of proper hearing. If someone has genuinely heard the topics of the Supreme Lord then he will be inspired from within the heart that I should speak it out, I should tell about it to everyone, how nice these topics are! and I should preach about it to the whole world. This is called Kirtana. Kirtana does not mean that you simply do kirtana with mrdahga and karatala. To propagate the topics of the Lord is also called Kirtana. Just like Srila Sukadeva Gosvami did-abhavad vaiyasakiḥ kirtane, that the son of Vyasadeva, Sukadeva Gosvami became perfect by kirtana. Sravana, Kirtana, Smarana, Vandana, Arcana, these are the different limbs of devotional service. Cultivate any one of them. Cultivate some of them it is also alright or cultivate all of them that is also alright. But you must cultivate at least one of them and your life will become successful. For example, King Pariksit only heard and became perfect. He did not have the opportunity to speak or preach because he only had seven days of his life left. So Sukadeva Gosvami had instructed him. The king had inquired that since I have only seven days left before death so what should I do? Srila Sukadeva Gosvami advised him that you should simply hear about the topics of the Supreme Lord. So Pariksit Maharaja simply heard about the Lord and the speaker was Sri Sukadeva Gosvami.

Sri-visnu-sravane pariksit-King Pariksit became liberated by hearing about Lord Visnu. And abhavad vaiyasakiḥ kirtane Vyasadeva's son was Sukadeva Gosvami, he attained liberation simply by glorifying the Supreme Lord. He left this world and went back to Godhead. These instructions are there in the scriptures. So this Bhakti-yoga or this sravanam kirtanam-sravanam kirtanam visnoḥ. In this verse vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogaḥ prayojitaḥ, adhoksaja,…adhoksaja is explained in the previous verse. bhakti yogam adhoksaje [SB 1.7.6] sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje [SB 1.2.6]

Follow any religious principles, it does not matter, but you have to see the end result of it. Just by talking about Hindu, Muslim, Christian etc. there is no gain. Actually one has to see the ultimate benefit, and that benefit is bhakti yogam adhoksaje. [SB 1.7.6] Adhoksaje-Adhakrta aksaja-jnanam. Whatever knowledge we have got that is material knowledge. This knowledge we acquire by our senses. Just like we see with our eyes, we taste with our tongue, we write with our hand, we smell with our nose, we hear with our ears, In this way we have got eleven senses. Out of which, we gather knowledge with five senses and they are called Jnanendriya or the knowledge acquiring senses. And Karmendriya or the five working senses plus the mind, so all together eleven senses.

So the Supreme Lord Adhoksaja is beyond the jurisdiction of these eleven senses. Ataḥsri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaiḥ [Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.234]. We acquire knowledge through our senses, but our present knowledge with which we are habituated at present and which we have learned to accumulate by our eyes, ears, nose etc is mundane. But one cannot acquire spiritual knowledge by such mundane knowledge. ataḥsri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaiḥ [Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.234].

Therefore another name for the Supreme Lord is Adhoksaja. Sensual knowledge is derived by the senses, but the Supreme Lord is Atindriya or transcendental to the senses. How can I realize the transcendental object with my material senses? The process is given here. Adhoksaje or one should render devotional service unto the Supreme Lord Adhoksaja. We cannot see God with our present eyes. Now we have got material senses and we cannot obtain knowledge about the Supreme Lord with the help of these material senses. That is why the Supreme Lord is addressed as Adhoksaja. That knowledge is Adhakrta or comes to an end. Therefore great sages and thoughtful personalities simply engage in meditation but fail to understand what God is and so they conclude that God is formless. When things are beyond their capacity they wash their hands off by saying God is formless. No! Why God is formless? He is Syamasundara. He is very beautiful with blackish complexion. This is the verdict of the scripture. premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santaḥ sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti How is He formless? santaḥ sadaiva-all the time, twenty-four hours a day the devotees behold Him. So how can He be formless? No, He is not formless, but He is beyond the reach of our present material senses. We cannot see God with our present senses. He is not formless. Naham prakasaḥ sarvasya yoga-maya-samavrtaḥ. [Bg 7.25]

The Supreme Lord says that I do not manifest Myself before everyone, but rather I remain covered by My internal potency Yogamaya. So one who can surpass this Yogamayahe can have darsana of the Supreme Lord. The Supreme Personality of Godhead has names, forms, qualities, pastimes and everything else. But by the help of these material senses ….. ataḥsri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaiḥ [Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.234], by these senses the topics of the Supreme Lord cannot be understood. We have got these senses now so how can we have darsana of the Lord? The formula for this is also given.

Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ [Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.234], we cannot have darsana of the Supreme Lord by exercising our material senses. If the Lord mercifully gives us darsana, He can give. That is His sweet will. How can we invoke His sweet will? Sevonmukhe hi, when we engage in His seva or service, seva….bhaja sevayam, means bhakti, seva and bhakti are one and the same thing. When one begins to worship the Supreme Lord, it starts with kirtana, sravana, sravanam kirtanam. So when we hear the topics of the Supreme Lord, and speak about Him then the Lord mercifully gives us darsana. I cannot see God. Just like there is the President or the king, and I am an ordinary person. By my wish I cannot see the king, but if the king desires he can come here and give darsana. That is the mercy of the king. In the same way we cannot see God by our own endeavor. Just like yesterday one gentleman asked "can we see God?" Yes, you can see God provided you have the qualification. And as long as you remain unqualified you cannot see God. So you have to earn that qualification. What is that qualification? That is sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ. Our first duty is to engage our tongue in the service of the Lord. Jihva or tongue, and not ahkha or eyes. Jihva, just see, this Jihva or tongue is a material object, yet by the help of the tongue one can have darsana of the Supreme Lord. Everyone knows that God is seen by eyes only, but the scriptures say that one can see God by the help of the tongue. This is a fact. This is extraordinary. Engage your tongue in the service of the Lord. Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. That's all. Engage your tongue in this way. The tongue has got another function. The tongue has two functions-one is to vibrate, and we can also taste with our tongue. The whole world is moving by the hankering of the tongue. Just see, so many activities are going on in the world. What is it? It is due to the greed of the tongue. Where is Restaurant? Where is tea? Where is biḍi? Where is cigarette? Where is meat? Where is wine? What more, What more? Everything is because of this tongue. If you can control your tongue and engage it in the Lord's service then you can have darsana of the Supreme Lord. This is the instruction of the Scripture. First of all one has to control the tongue. Srila Bhakti Vinoda Thakura has written in regard to honoring of prasadam;

"Of all the senses the tongue is the most voracious and uncontrollable. It is very difficult to conquer the tongue in this world, but You, dear Krsna, are very kind to us. You have sent this nice prasada to help us conquer the tongue; therefore let us take this prasada to our full satisfaction and glorify Your Lordships Sri Sri Radha and Krsna and in love call for the help of Lord Caitanya and Prabhu Nityananda." [Gitavali, Prasada Sevaya, Song 1] So one should engage the tongue. On one hand one should engage the tongue in the glorification of the Supreme Lord. tvad-virya-gayana-mahamrta-magna-cittaḥ [SB 7.9.43] this is the statement of Prahlada Maharaja. Prahḷada Maharaja is praying to Lord Nrsimhadeva. naivodvije para duratyaya-vaitaranyas-"My dear Lord! I am not at all afraid of crossing beyond this material ocean. I am totally fearless. Why? How have I become fearless?

Because-tvad-virya-gayana-mahamrta-magna-cittaḥ I have learned to glorify your transcendental qualities. That's all. I have conquered. I have conquered the world." But it appears that you are somewhat unhappy. So Prahlada Maharaja clarifies that by saying "Yes, I am little unhappy. This is because tato vimukha-cetasa, those who have forgotten You, vimukha-who have become averse and who do not care for God, for such people" tato vimukha-cetasa …. maya-sukhaya bharam udvahato vimūḍhan. People are working so hard for illusory material happiness. But what for are they doing this? They will live in this world for twenty years, twenty-five years, fifty-years or at the most one hundred years. They will live here only for a short period of time yet they want to become very happy. They work so hard whole day. For all these foolish people I am very much concerned. For this reason I am unhappy, and not for anything else. This is the nature of a Vaisnava. A Vaisnava is never unhappy, because he has mastered the art of glorifying the Supreme Lord. Therefore he has no distress.

The only distress he has is … Just like a father or an elderly person or a child's mother is there at home, and if the child becomes ill then not only the child is unhappy but they all become unhappy even though they themselves are not ill. In the same way a Vaisnava has no distress, but maya… bharam udvahato vimūḍhan for these foolish people who are working so hard whole day for material happiness, he feels unhappy. Only for them. Therefore the vaisnavas chant and preach the holy names and qualities of the Supreme Lord so that people may hear and turn their attention towards the Lord, and start to worship Him. This is their desire. When they see people are worshiping the Supreme Lord they become happy. Other than this they have no purpose. That is why people should be taught, sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje, Adhoksaja refers to the Supreme Lord who is beyond the reach of our material eyes, ears and so on. He is far beyond all this, He is Adhoksaja. How will one serve that Adhoksaja Lord is explained in this verse Vasudeve bhakti, Vasudeva, Lord Vasudeva, Vasudeva refers to Krsna who appeared as the son of Vasudeva. He is called Vasudeva. Because, who can be the Supreme Lord's father and mother? He is the father of everyone. aham bija-pradaḥ pita [Bg 14.4] sarva-yonisu kaunteya / mūrtayaḥ sambhavanti yaḥ /tasam brahma mahad yonir/aham bija-pradaḥ pita [Bg 14.4]

The Lord is declaring I am the seed giving father of all. And the material world or Maya, Durgadevi, she is the mother. That Supreme Lord Vasudeva… the living entities are His parts and parcels. That Supreme Lord is sitting in the hearts of all living entities, Īsvaraḥ sarva-bhūtanam / hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg 18.61] That Supreme Lord Vasudeva Krsna, Vasudeva is Krsna's name. Many people think that God has no name. No, God has names but He does not have any particular or specific name. He is given a name according to His activities. For example, this Vasudeva, because He descended as the son of Vasudeva, He is addressed as Vasudeva. Because He appeared as the son of mother Yasoda and enacted pastimes He is called Yasodanandana. Because He has loving relationship with Radharani He is addressed as Radha-ramana. So God receives different names according to His activities. Because the Supreme Lord took up the role of Arjuna's chariot driver He is known as Parthasarathi. Actually we also have this concept that God has no name and yet He has got names. According to His work He gets a name. So here He is addressed as Vasudeva. The Lord is Adhoksaja or transcendental, but in spite of being Adhoksaja, paritranaya sadhūnam / vinasaya ca duskrtam [Bg 4.8]

in order to give darsana to His devotees He appears as Vasudeva by accepting His devotee as His father. This is also a fact. The Supreme Lord is Adhoksaja, He is avah-manasa-gocaraḥ or not understood by speculative knowledge and mental exercise, but in order to bestow mercy upon His devotees the Supreme Lord incarnates, just to display mercy on the devotees. And concomitantly, He kills those who are demons. paritranaya sadhūnam/ vinasaya ca duskrtam [Bg 4.8] The word 'duskrta' means to simply remain absorbed in sinful activities. That is duskrta. na mam duskrtino mūḍhaḥ/ prapadyante naradhamaḥ [Bg 7.15].

Therefore in order to worship the Lord one must refrain from committing sinful activities. That is why another name for devotional service to the Supreme Lord, as described here is vairagyam and jnanam. Vairagyam, jnanam. Janayaty asu vairagyam, vairagyam means to abstain from sinful activities. This vairagya vidya has another name which is called nivrtti-dharma. Pravrtti-dharma and Nivrtti-dharma. Pravrtti-dharma means how to enjoy the material world. This is called Pravrtti-dharma. We all have come here for this. Those who are in the material world they follow the path of pravrtti-dharma. And those who desire to retire from the material world and go back to Godhead their dharma is called Nivrtti-dharma. There are two aspects Pravrtti and Nivrtti. Nivrtti dharma is known as Vairagya. Lord Caitanya descended in this world in order to teach this nivrtti-dharma. Vairagya-dharma, Vairagya-dharma. Vairagya is necessary. We are entrapped within this material world and this is due to pravrtti-dharma. We want to enjoy life. And Adhoksaje ….. that is paro-dharma or transcendental religion. When we give up pravrtti-dharma and enter into nivrtti-dharma that is called paro-dharma. Transcendental, aprakrta, Aprakrta-dharma. If we want to go to the realm of aprakrta, then cultivate nivrtti-dharma and accomplish vairagya. jnana vairagya yuktaya [SB 1.2.12], if we are interested to go back to Godhead then nivrtti, nivrtti means getting respite from sinful life. Until one is completely sinless one cannot realize God, what to speak of returning back to Godhead. Yesam tv anta-gatam papam jananam punya-karmanam te dvandva-moha-nirmukta bhajante mam drḍha-vrataḥ [Bg 7.28]

It is not easy to worship the Supreme Lord. Therefore Bhagavata-dharma is called Paramahamsa-dharma. Paramo nirmatsaranam satamvedyam vastavam atra [SB 1.1.2] Paramahamsa, So the point is if we want to worship the lotus feet of Lord Vasudeva, vasudeve bhagavati, who is Vasudeva? He is svayam bhagavan or the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28]. He is Adi Bhagavan, He is Adi Purusam or the original personality of Godhead. govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami [Brahma Samhita]. That Vasudeva Krsna, Vasudeva also means one who is present everywhere or all pervading. Vasudeva, isvaraḥ sarva-bhūtanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg 18.61] The description of Vasudeva is also found in Brahma-samhita. eko'py asau racayitum jagad-anḍa-kotim

A plenary portion of Govinda is Vasudeva. Krsna resides in Vrndavana and His expansion Vasudeva resides in Dvaraka, Mathura and so on. This is the verdict of the scripture. Vasudeva, this Vasudeva Krsna, if we apply our devotion unto His lotus feet then what is the result of it? Janayaty asu vairagyam. This is required-vairagyam. Therefore another name for Bhakti-yoga is Vairagya-vidya. This was taught by Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya glorified Caitanya Mahaprabhu with one hundred verses. Out of these verses Caitanya Mahaprabhu tore apart two verses. This is to teach us. We all want to be glorified. He glorified Caitanya Mahaprabhu with one hundred verses. These verses were torn apart by the Lord and whatever few verses the devotees could collect were saved and are available. One of those verses is,

That Supreme Lord Sri Krsna has now appeared as Sri Krsna Caitanya, and what is He teaching?. Vairagya vidya. What is Vairagya vidya? Nija-bhakti-yogam. Vairagya-vidya-nija-bhakti-yoga. The meaning of bhakti-yoga is that we are entangled in material life and we are doing everything for our body, so we must have detachment for this. This is the meaning of bhakti-yoga. Until we become detached to bodily enjoyment of life, bhaktiḥ paresanubhavo viraktir anyatra ca [SB 11.2.42] This is bhakti. Bhakti simultaneously helps one to realize the Supreme Lord and develop detachment for worldly life. Anyabhilasita-sūnyam. [Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.1.11]

Material attachment means desires, full of lust all the time, unlimited, there is no limit to how far one can desire. This is going on in the world today. There is no restriction about how far material civilization can advance. Go on more and more. This is not proper. Material objects are required to maintain the body, but only as much as needed and not more than that. Rest of the time should be utilized for cultivating devotional service to the Supreme Lord. This is very difficult to teach and is equally difficult to accept it. That will be possible only if vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogaḥ prayojitaḥ. Just like we worship Lord Vasudeva Krsna here and you all kindly assemble here. You can do this at home also, there is no difficulty at all. Although the Supreme Lord possesses the universal form, He also assumes a small form just to bestow mercy upon His devotees. Anor aniyan mahato mahiyan [Katha Upanisad 1.2.20]

If you want to see Him in His universal form that form is there, and if you want to worship Him then He agrees to accept a small form suitable for you. So Vasudeve bhakti or devotional service to Lord Vasudeva should be started in every house. Not only in the temple. In the temple we teach how to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And especially the householders should engage in vasudeve bhagavati bhakti yoga, vasudeve bhakti yoga or devotional service unto Lord Vasudeva. However, vairagya or detachment must be there. Without being detached the cycle of birth and death will continue. One will have to die and accept another body, and according to his karma he will have to suffer or enjoy. This birth, death, old age and diseas-these are the real miseries of life. But people do not understand this. People think that as soon as you get a chance just enjoy life. You have got opportunities to enjoy, but if you indulge in sense gratification you will be entangled. Lord Rsabhadeva has said, nūnam pramattaḥ kurute vikarma [SB 5.5.4] If you are too much entangled in the path of enjoyment then you will have to commit vikarma or sinful activities. Nūnam pramattaḥ kurute vikarma. The word vikarma means activities which are forbidden in the scriptures. And you will have to indulge in such activities. By force, kurute vikarma, you will be forced to act sinfully. And why am I engaging in vikarma? This is because indriya-pritaya or simply for the satisfaction of the senses, sense pleasure. What is the gain? The gain is you will again become entangled and you will have to accept another body. tatha dehantara-praptir [Bg 2.13].

And the moment you accept a material body you are in distress. There is distress within the womb of the mother, there is distress when one comes out of the womb of his mother. There is distress all the way. Duḥkhalayam asasvatam. [Bg 8.15] But by the influence of Maya we accept miseries as happiness. That is why it is called Maya or illusion. In fact it is misery only, we work hard whole day and earn some money and we think we are happy. But we forget the hardship we have gone through. Therefore we have to develop detachment. We have discussed this earlier-yayatma suprasidati [SB 1.2.6] In order to completely satisfy the self one has to cultivate sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje. If you really want to please the self then this is the process. This is also described in Bhagavad-gita;

If you want peace, if you want to satisfy the self then this is the method-The Supreme Lord is the enjoyer, I am not the enjoyer. So make God the enjoyer. What happens in the temple? Whatever is being done here is for the pleasure of the Supreme Lord. It's for the pleasure of the Lord. It is not for one's own pleasure. If the Lord becomes pleased then I will automatically become pleased. Just like pour water in the root of a tree and if the root is pleased then all its branches, sub branches, flowers, fruits, leaves will become nourished. We are making many plans to enjoy happiness in this world, but this is one plan-Krsna Consciousness. Accept Krsna Consciousness and make Krsna happy. Krsna is already happy, but from our side we must endeavor to please Him. Krsna is not unhappy. But Krsna, whatever instructions Krsna has given in Bhagavad-gita, if you preach that then Krsna will become very happy. This is the philosophy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128].

This is the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna Himself, but because He is preaching in the role of a devotee of Krsna, He is saying 'Krsna-upadesa'. He is saying-this is My order. And what is that order? That is-preach Krsna-upadesa or instructions of Krsna to everyone. This is the mission of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa. You all can do it. What is the difficulty? And if you preach Krsna's instructions you have become a Guru. There is no difficulty in becoming a Guru. There is no need to become a learned scholar. If you simply repeat exactly what Krsna has instructed, to your family members if not to general public, if you sit together in the evening and instruct about Krsna then you become a Guru. There is no difficulty in becoming a Guru. It is the duty of a Guru to deliver everyone from death.

This is the duty of a Guru, the duty of a father, the duty of a mother, the duty of a relative, the duty of a friend. What is that duty? That duty is to deliver everyone from the clutch of death. Only then it is justified to become a Spiritual master, to become a father and to become a mother. But people do not understand this, they think-we will die, so what? But why? Why should we die? We are eternal. Na jayate mriyate va kadacin [Bg 2.20] We have no death. So why do we have to die? Actually the spirit soul never dies. Na hanyate hanyamane sarire. Only he changes his body. This is also very troublesome, and very risky. Now we have this handsome human body and what if we get the body of a tree in the next life? We have to accept a new body according to our karma or work. This is very troublesome. It is very unfortunate if a man becomes a tree or a dog in his next life. Is it a coveted object? No, it is condemned life. Therefore one has to act in such a way in this life, one should worship the Supreme Lord. Vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogaḥ prayojitaḥ janayaty asu vairagyam jnanam. This is Jnanam or real knowledge that I am eternal, I am part and parcel of God, aham brahmasmi. Why should I embrace death? This is knowledge. Why should I die? These things are very nicely described in Srimad-Bhagavatam. You all hear this. You are all life members already. You read these topics nicely and after reading engage in devotional service to Lord Vasudeva. Vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogaḥ prayojitaḥ start practicing devotional service unto Lord Vasudeva. Then what will you gain? janayaty asu vairagyam-you will develop detachment. We cannot develop detachment of our own. We simply increase our attachment day by day just to enjoy the world. But we need to develop detachment. svamin krtartho 'smi varam na yace [Hari-bhakti-sudhodaya 7.28]

This is the statement of Dhruva Maharaja. This is called Vairagya. My dear Lord! Now I do not want anything from you. Svamin krtartho 'smi. Usually we go to God and ask so many things from Him. This we had discussed yesterday. That is also good in one sense, to approach God and beg for something. That is good means only pious people can do that. But those who have no piety they cannot even approach God. And those who are pious who demand some material benefit from God, they at least approach God. They will gradually develop devotional service to the Supreme Lord just like it happened to Dhruva Maharaja who finally concluded-svamin krtartho 'smi varam na yace. He said, My dear Lord! I had Your darsana, I am fully satisfied. Now I do not want anything else. This is called Vairagya. I do not want anything anymore. This is called Vairagya. Vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogaḥ, if you apply devotional service to Lord Vasudeva then very soon, asu, the word asu means very soon, very quickly janayaty asu vairagyamyou will develop vairagya. You can see for evidence these western young boys, just see how detached they have become! they have taken sannyasa. They have gathered here to participate in the festival of Lord Caitanya's appearance day. Someone came from Maxico, someone came from New York, someone came from France-Paris, London. Millions of rupees is spent for their traveling. These people spend their money in drinking wine, in going to the club and dance. But see how much renounced they have become! They have left all that. Now just to visit Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's birth place they spend so much money. Just see, what a renunciation! This is the proof-janay aty asu vairagyam. They are with me for last four or five years and not more. How soon they have become detached to worldly life! This is the proof. Vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogaḥ prayojitaḥjanay aty asu vairagyam, they have become detached. You ask them, you discuss with them. They will speak exactly according to the scriptures. Jnanam, janay aty asu vairagyam jnanam ca yad ahaitukam. How did this happen no one can say. Ahaituk, what is the motivation? The motivation is vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogaḥ prayojitaḥ. That's all. There is no other motivation. Those who are so much addicted to sense gratification, they have now renounced everything. How have they done this? Ahaitukam. Their only motivation is to dedicate their lives at the lotus feet of Vasudeva. This is evident, this is also the conclusion of the scripture, and it is applicable to all. You exchange your devotional dealings with Lord Vasudeva. Dadati pratigrhnati guhyam akhyati prcchati bhuhkte bhojayate caiva saḍ-vidham priti-laksanam .

These are the symptoms of loving exchange. You take Krsna's Prasada, and you give to Krsna. Patram, God wants you to give Him something at least. Give Me something! patram puspam phalam toyam. The Lord says, I am ready to accept, just give Me some leaves and some flowers. If you haven't got anything still you give Me something. What can I give You? I haven't got anything to give. No, give Me something, pick up some leaves and offer to Me, bring one flower, and offer Me some water I will accept it. So what do you have to say now? Why don't you worship the Supreme Lord? Is it very difficult to worship the Lord? The Lord is ready to reciprocate in every situation. This preaching of devotional service, this Krsna Consciousness is fully approved by and based on the scriptures. This is not a concocted idea. It is fully in accordance with what the Supreme Lord says and what the scriptures say. This Krsna consciousness is being spread everywhere. Thank you all very much. You are already supporting it, try to understand this movement seriously. This is my request. Thank you very much.

Devotees: Hari Bol.

Prabhupada: Here is light or devotion, so how can there be darkness here? Is it possible? Where there is God there can be no Maya.

Question: [Indistinct]

Prabhupada: Yes, bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvataḥ [Bg 18.55]. The Supreme Personality of Godhead has said Himself that only by devotional service can one know Me. So Maya cannot enter into that place where devotional service is cultivated. Maya will vanish from a distance. Daivi hy esa gunamayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg 7.14]. It is difficult to get rid of her clutch. No one can do it.

Just like if you are a good citizen, then where is the question of fear from Police? Let there be police. But if one is a thief then he will be afraid of police. So those who are non devotees, they are all thieves. All the wealth of the Lord, Laksmi of the Lord, just like Ravana kidnapped the Lord's Laksmi or Sita, and what did he achieve? He was destroyed with his entire family. So if you want to take away Laksmi from the Supreme Lord then your pathetic condition will be like that of Ravana. And if you want to keep Laksmi then keep Lord Narayana also, because Laksmiji never leaves Narayana and goes anywhere. So maya sukha or illusory happiness is not real happiness. Therefore it is stated maya-sukhaya bharam udvahato vimūḍhan [SB 7.9.43] One who labors hard for illusory material happiness, he is a fool. The real happiness lies in the service of the Supreme Lord. Seva-sukha or happiness derived from service. One should accept this. There is no maya in it. That is daivi-sakti or spiritual potency mahatmanas tu mam partha daivim prakrtim asritaḥ [Bg 9.13] daivi prakrti means the Lord's spiritual potency. Therefore the vaisnavas worship Sita-Rama together, the Lord's spiritual potency and Ramacandra, Radharani-Radha-Govinda, Laksmi-Narayana together. First the Lord's energy or sakti is worshiped and then the Lord or saktiman is worshiped. This is how the devotees worship the Lord. Actually Laksmiji favors the devotees of the Supreme Lord only. Otherwise whether one is a demigod like Brahma, or a demon like Ravana, he cannot obtain Laksmijis grace. However, that mercy is temporary and is called Maya sukha. It will remain for some days and then disappear. As soon as one changes the body everything is finished. And again a new chapter will begin. Therefore a devotee, an intelligent person never tries for temporary, illusory happiness. He endeavors for real happiness-devotional service to the Supreme Lord. vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogaḥ prayojitaḥ. This is the conclusion.

[Pause]

That vairagya, when one develops vairagya one will automatically lose taste for enjoyment. param drstva nivartate. [Bg 2.59] It is not possible to forcibly change the spirit of enjoyment into renunciation. If we get a superior taste then our inferior taste will automatically disappear. Param drstva nivartate, nivartate. When one will realize that there is no superior happiness than devotional service to the Lord, he will give up material happiness. Automatically. This is the consideration.

Question: [In Bengali] Can't one get Krsna without taking any trouble?

Prabhupada: [In Bengali] Do you want to have Him without paying any price? Vairagya, you have to practice renunciation, and that involves some voluntary trouble. Just like I am habituated to eating some special kind of food, but I have to give it up for Krsna's sake or pleasure. It is little difficult. That is called tapasya or austerity. Tapasya means-I have got some attachment for something and the scripture say that I should give up that attachment. I am finding it difficult to give it up. To voluntarily take that trouble is called tapasya. Tapo divyam putraka yena sattvamsuddhyed [SB 5.5.1] If you want to purify your existence then you must accept tapasya. Without tapasya it is not possible.

[Pause]

Question: [Indistinct]

Prabhupada: This bhakti-yoga, sravanam, hear and by hearing, hearing, hearing your heart will become cleansed. All the contaminations are there within the heart. srnvatam sva-kathaḥ krsnaḥ punya-sravana-kirtanaḥ [SB 1.2.17]. Hearing and chanting about the Supreme Lord certainly yields piety if not anything else. Even if you don't understand anything, simply by hearing you can accumulate piety. The more you accumulate piety the closer you go towards God. Because, yesam tv anta-gatam papam [Bg 7.28] if you engage in pious activities you will have no chance to commit sin. So when the result of one's sinful activities is completely cleansed-te dvandva-moha-nirmukta bhajante mam drḍha-vrataḥ [Bg 7.28]. Therefore to accumulate piety, that is very simple, just like you are hearing-this is auspicious. This is the best form of piety. Sravanam srnvatam sva-kathaḥ krsnaḥ punya-sravana-kirtanaḥ [SB 1.2.17]. If you simply sit down in the association of the devotees and hear the topics of the Supreme Lord, then automatically you will become very pious. Srnvatam sva-kathaḥ krsnaḥ punya-sravana-kirtanaḥ hrdy antaḥ stho, the Supreme Lord is sitting in the heart, He is sitting within the hearts of all living entities. Īsvaraḥ sarva-bhūtanam hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati [Bg 18.61].

He is sitting in the heart and He will see that you are trying to hear about Him, and so He will help you. Srnvatam sva-kathaḥ krsnaḥ punya-sravana-kirtanaḥ hrdy antaḥ stho hy abhadrani. The Lord will destroy all inauspicious things from the heart. He will destroy everything. The Supreme Lord can do everything. Aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami [Bg 18.66] This is the instruction of God. I will deliver you from all sinful reactions. You just surrender unto Me. Nothing else.

The Supreme Lord is Himself saying this. He is omnipotent. If He wants then within a second He can make you free from all sinful reactions. Immediately. Simply you surrender. This is wanted. That is vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogaḥ prayojitaḥ [SB 1.2.7]. It is not difficult. Anyone can do it.

Question: What about lust, anger, illusion and greed?

Prabhupada: All that will be destroyed. Kama or desire is not a bad thing if you can desire to work for Krsna. That is the proper utility of Kama. Just like you construct this skyscraper building and because of that our hearts become impatient with eagerness. If that same eagerness is utilized to construct a temple for Lord Krsna then that is the proper usage of Kama. Otherwise, srama eva hi kevalam [SB 1.2.8] If you desire to build a temple for the Supreme Lord you will certainly make advancement in devotional service, and if you desire to build a sky scraper then your desire will simply remain a desire. karmana daiva-netrena [SB 3.31.1]

According to this, whatever type of body you deserve you will be awarded. This is called Karma-kanḍa. But if the same application, the same endeavor is used in the service of the Lord then it is no longer Karma-kanḍa. It is devotional service. This is called Krsna Consciousness. Whatever inclination you have for working do it for God. Take for example Arjuna. What was Arjuna's qualification? Arjuna was a military man. He knew how to fight, how to kill others. But he used that same propensity for the service of the Lord in the battle of Kuruksetra. And the Lord gave him a certificate bhakto 'si me, [Bg 4.3] you are My devotee, priyo 'si me [Bg 18.65] you are dear to Me. Why? Sva-karmana tam abhyarcya [Bg 18.46] Worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead through one's own work will result in samsiddhim labhate naraḥ [Bg 18.45] or perfection of life for the human beings. This is the conclusion of the scripture.

This is bhakti-yoga, this is Krsna Consciousness movement. You all understand it nicely and act accordingly. Your life will be successful.

Thank you very much.

Devotees: Hari bol!