Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.5.2 in Hindi – December 25, 1976, Bombay

Prabhupada: So, day before yesterday I spoke in Hindi, yesterday in English. Today I shall speak in Hindi again? What do you think?

Gopala Krsna: [announces] Hindi or English?

Guests: [all together] Hindi, English, Hindi, etc.

Giriraja: The majority rules, Hindi.

Prabhupada: Hindi? Hm. [Transl. Doctor sahib, what do you say?] So? Hindi or English?

Dr. Patel: [Transl. You speak in whichever language you are comfortable with. I can understand both.]

Prabhupada: So? Hindi or English?

So in the previous verse we received the instruction that the human form of life is not meant for working hard like dogs and hogs. This life is meant for tapa, tapo divyam, [SB 5.5.1] performing austerity. That is Vedic civilization. We can see big, big sages, saintly kings used to perform austerity. There was a king named Rantideva who was the son of Bharata Maharaja. Although he was a great king, he underwent severe penance. If somebody would send him food, he would eat, otherwise he would fast.

Not only he alone, but also his whole family. Such an ascetic. In this way, once he remained without food for forty eight days. After that he received some food, but all of a sudden a brahmana came to him. So he divided his food and offered him half portion of his food. Then came a sudra and he offered him a portion of his food. Like this gradually all his food was finished. As a result they became very weak and feeble. The whole family. Like this there are examples in our Indian history. In those days even the kings used to be very austere. And because of that the knowledge of the absolute truth was imparted to them. In the Bhagavad-gita the Supreme Lord Himself says, imam rajarsayo viduḥ, [Bg 4.2]

The knowledge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is not meant for ordinary people. It is for the leaders, kings and those who protect and maintain the citizens. But nowadays the scholars, politicians and others take Bhagavad-gita and distort the actual meaning. Actually the knowledge of the Supreme Lord or the science of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is meant for the great personalities.

If great men cultivate devotional service to the Supreme Lord then by obserbing their examples, consideration and behavior ordinary persons will also follow. But there are no such ideals at present, still the human form of life is meant for austerity. This is the conclusion. The human form of life is not to be used like asses hogs, dogs and camels. These names have been mentioned.

If we keep the population two-legged animals then how there can be peace? How there can be attainment of the object of life? In the first verse Rsabhadeva said, tapo divyam putraka yena sattvam suddhyed [SB 5.5.1] We have to purify our existence. This is the mission of human life. Athato brahma jijnasa. [Vedanta-sūtra 1.1.1] Having attained the knowledge of the Supreme, one should realize his identity, aham brahmasmi, and thus acquire complete knowledge. This is the human form of life, tapo divyam. The word "Divyam" means the Supreme Lord. Transcendental. Tapo… Undergo austerity for that purpose. Otherwise everyone is doing tapasya working hard whole day. Those who want sense enjoyment they also undergo austerity. But the sastra recommends, tapo divyam. Perform austerity to acquire knowledge about the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Hiranyakasipu underwent severe penance. But for what? He wanted to become immortal. That is impossible. There is no profit in performing severe austerity to obtain something impossible. That is not possible. But if we perform austerity in order to attain the Supreme Lord that austerity is successful. In the sastra it is stated,

In the human form of life we should endeavor to achieve that position which we could not achieve in many previous lifetimes. In the material life sometimes we take birth in high class family and sometimes we are born in a hog's family. This is going on.

If you perform austerity by remaining in the mode of goodness then you will be transferred to the higher planets. And, madhye tisthanti rajasaḥ, if you are entangled in the mode of passion then you will remain in the earthly planet. And jaghanya-guna-vrtti-stha adho gacchanti tamasaḥ, if you engage your propensity in the mode of ignorance, even that requires austerity,just like to collect meat, fish, wine especially at the present age is also an austerity. One has to earn a lot of money for that. Adho gacchanti tamasaḥ.

One degrades to lower species of life, animal life. This way the cycle of birth and death goes on. mrtyu-samsara-vartmani. [Bg 9.3] If you do not attain the shelter of the Supreme Lord, there are only two ways. In this human form of life we are given a chance. For example we have got this ear. The Supreme Lord has gifted us the ear. Why? To hear about the purpose of the human life. The dog too has got ears, but it can't hear the instructions of Bhagavad-gita. Therefore in this human life, instead of acting like dogs, sheeps and hogs the ears should be employed…

Sruti-gocara, [SB 1.4.25] sruti, to hear the Vedic literatures. This is the life of devotional service. Sravanam. Beginning. Beginning is sravanam. Sravanam kirtanam, whatever you have properly heard you glorify. The spiritual knowledge is such that if anyone properly hears then he can explain it to others. This is the duty. It is not that I hear and I keep it to myself. No. Para-upakara or do good to others. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission.

This is the mission of Bharat-bhumi. First you hear nicely and make your life perfect. And then you preach it to others. This is the duty of India. Janma sarthaka kari, not heard anything but simply made plans whimsically and became leaders. What's the use of it? Nothing. Aandha yathandhair upaniyamanas. [SB 7.5.31] He himself remained blind and is trying to lead other blind men. What will be the gain? Both of them will fall into ditch. First hear, sravanam kirtanam visnu, [SB 7.5.23] About Whom? About Visnu. It is not that you hear about anything. There are many subject matters for hearing. But what are those for?

In reply to Pariksit Maharaja's question Sukadeva Gosvami said, "Maharaja… Oh brahmana, now it is time for me to die. Kindly advice me about my duty and subsequently what should I hear? Please instruct me." There were many sages and saints present there. Each one of them placed their own opinion. However, by the mercy of the Supreme Lord Sukadeva Gosvami arrived there. His father was also present in that assembly. But Maharaja Pariksit asked Sukadeva Gosvami, "Maharaja, you tell me what is my duty now and what should I hear?"

Because it is Vedic civilization that one should hear. tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet [MU 1.2.12]. Approach a bonafide spiritual master and hear from him. Sruti-gocara. One must hear. So in answer Sukadeva Gosvami said, "O king, there is only one subject to hear. srotavyadini, sahasrani, [SB 2.1.2] Maharaja, there are thousands of subject matters to hear. For who? apasyatam atma-tattvam grhesu grha-medhinam srotavyadini rajendra nrnam santi sahasrasaḥ. Now for example, to hear in the morning you get a newspaper containing a varieties of news.

Who are those for? apasyatam atma-tattvam grhesu grha-medhinam. For those who are attached householders and who have no information about self realization, there are plenty of subject matters to hear. Srotavyadini rajendra nrnam santi sahasrasaḥ And one who is self realised, for him there is only one subject to hear. Athato brahma jijnasa [Vedanta-sūtra 1.1.1] Therefore Sukadeva Gosvami said, "Maharaja, there are many things to hear, but for you there is only one item. Simply hear about the topics of the Supreme Personality of Godhead."

So in this Krsna Consciousness movement this very thing is taught. In Europe and America there are huge bundles of newspaper containing ten to twenty thousand pages. And these papers are distributed door to door daily. Srotavyadini rajendra nrnam santi sahasrasaḥ. It is full of advertisements, sports, this and that. But these boys no more hear all such topics. They are done with all that. They simply hear the topics of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. We have only one subject. You can ask them. None of our centres get daily newspaper. They gave up completely.

This is the symtoms of devotional service. If a person develops devotional service unto the Supreme Lord his symtoms is that he will be detached to all objects not related to the Lord. Therefore another name for devotional service to the Supreme Lord is vairagya-vidya. One doesn't want anything of this world.

If we have nothing to do with this world then even if something is lost what is there to lament? And if there is any gain there is nothing to feel happy about.

This is call vairagya. Samaḥ sarvesu.. when we have nothing to do with this world then there is no need to bother about who is my friend, who is my enemy. All are my friends. Just now I was reading a letter that Jesus Christ was in a meeting and his brother and mother were calling him. so all his followers informed him about this. Jesus Chirst replied "Who is my mother? Who is my father? One who assists me in the service of God he is my father, she is my mother, he is my brother." Jesus Christ said that. This is applicable everywhere.

There are two words used in this context. One is grhamedhi and one is grhastha. The grhastha life is actually an asrama. In our sastra there is mention about varnasrama. There are four varnas and four asramas. Brahmana, Ksatriya, Vaisya and Sūdra-these are four varnas. And the four asramas are brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa. Asrama we can understand because it is very common to us. From this we can understand that here is a place where the worship of the Supreme Lord is conducted. The meaning of the grhastha asrama is, though a householder with children, but his main purpose is how to make a relationship with the Supreme Lord. That is called grhastha asrama and the word grhamedhi refers to that person who has no aim in life. His only aim-eat, sleep and be happy. Decorate the house, decorate the wife, decorate the children and so on, and so on. This is because he has no information about the science of self realization.

By becoming a grhamedhi our life becomes useless. Even dogs, sheeps and hogs are also grhamedhi. That have their wives, children and they take care of them. But one should not become a grhamedhi but should become a grhastha. He along with his wife and children should live at home peacefully. This does not make him less respectable. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has instructed,

Caitanya Mahaprabhu says whether one is a brahmana, a sannyasi, a sūdra or a grhastha, there is no bar. If one knows the science of Krsna, if he knows who Krsna is then he is fit to become a guru. So our this Krsna Consciousness movement is here, you all kindly take advantage of it and acquire the knowledge about the science of Krsna. Your life will be successful. Otherwise, don't mind,

Ayam deha, Na arhate this is not proper. Viḍbhujam even a hog does this. This is the mission of India. The main aim of today's civilization is how to work hard and enjoy sense gratification to fullest extent. And the knowledge of self realization is forgotten. Apasyatam atma tattvam… Therefore the Supreme Lord has declared,

When one becomes too attached to sense gratification, then the possibility of his attaining the knowledge of the self and that of the Supreme Lord becomes nil. Therefore our Indian Vedic culture teaches not to work hard for sense gratification. So many big, big sages headed by Vyasadeva, so learned scholars that nowaday's doctors, philosophers are not even equal to a single hair of theirs. Yet they used to reside so humbly.

Even the kings, they required big, big palaces to conduct their royal duty otherwise ordinary people will not obey their orders. But they themselves lived in cottages and spent all their money to construct big, big temples. There are so many temples in India. They were built by public money liberally donated by the kings. They would spend lavishly for the sake of the Supreme Lord. And for themselves they would lie down anywhere. This is Indian culture. No sense gratification. By indulging in sense gratification one has to again accept another body.

This is not good. So much hard labor for sense gratification! Prahlada Maharaja has also said,

A vaisnava always thinks that people have forgotten the Supreme Lord and for a few years they are trying hard to maintain their family members. We need this, we need that, we need that. This is demoniac civilization. It is very difficult to push on Krsna Consciousness. Nobody is prepared. It is a difficult task. Still we have to do it because the Supreme Lord Himself has said,

The servant of the Lord, he wants that we should act in such a way that the Lord becomes pleased. This is the mentality of the Lord's servant. Even an ordinary servant thinks how his master be pleased. In the same way, the servants of the Supreme Lord want that let us engage in His service so that He may be pleased. That will bring us auspiciousness. This is the Lord's servant's only desire. He has no other desire. He is not interested in sense gratification at all. This is the teaching of Caitanya Mahaprabhu,

"Oh my Lord, I do not want all these. No honor, no wealth, no follower, no beautiful woman." Caitanya Mahaprabhu says. "No. I want none of these things." na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagad-isa kamaye. Then what do you want? Mama janmani janmani, I don't want liberation also. Because if I am liberated I won't get any more birth. All I want is, wherever I may take birth, in whichever places you send me to take birth, I may never forget you. I always be engaged in your devotional service. This is the prayer of the devotees. Therefore the devotees are known as niskama. The word 'niskama' means that there is no more desire for material sense gratification.

The Jnanis also want something-liberation. And the karmis, they always ask things from the Lord. Give me this, give me that and finally give me a place in heaven. And they get it. The yogis also want something. They want mystic perfection. Eight fold mystic perfection. Anima, laghima prapti etc. They want to show some magic. Therefore all of them are asking something for themselves. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu says,

Everyone wants peace in life. But peace is available only when one engages in devotional service. So long one is desireous of bhukti, mukti and siddhi there is no question of peace. This is the verdict of the sastra. Bhukti, mukti, siddhi-kami. Bhukti refers to the karmis. They simply want sense enjoyment. Mukti refers to Jnanis. Jnanis want liberation. And the yogis want mystic perfection. There are four classes of men. Karmis and Jnanis they are above the animal platform. And those who do not know anything, who do not know what to ask, they are simply animals. Those who are situated above animal platform they are known as Karmis, Jnanis, yogis and bhaktas. This is the way they are catagorized. To become a devotee of the Supreme Lord should be the ultimate goal of life.

So in the human form of life one should perform austerity to attain that platform where he can enjoy spiritual happiness which will never deteriorate. One should try for that kind of happiness Brahma-sukha. When one's existence is purified, whether he is a Brahmavadi-impersonalists or an Atmanandi-who takes pleasure in the self or a bhakta-a devotee, he attains spiritual happiness which will never exhaust. The spiritual happiness derived from non variegated Brahman is not complete. It is stated in the sastra

The brahmavadi may attain spiritual happiness by performing severe penance but since he lacks the knowledge about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, patanti adha-he falls down. By nature the living entities are anandamaya. He needs happiness, and happiness is not achieved from Brahma sukha or pleasure derived from Brahman. Aham brahmasmi, sit down quite, don't do anything. No. That will not last long. Therefore it is stated in the sastra, until one approaches the Supreme Personality of Godhead, a nadrta-yusmad-ahghrayaḥ, they degrade.

The brahmavadis say that the devotees are maya, their Lord is maya, and the rules and regulations of devotional service is also maya. These are all useless. Anadrta, they do not regard. Therefore sastra says, anadrta yusmad-ahghrayaḥ. By giving up the Lord's service simply sit down idly, aham brahmasmi, that will not endure. Anadrta yusmad ahghrayah patanti adhah. Therefore we find in the sastra that many big, big yogis and jnanis fall down. But the devotees… Even if the devotees fall down there is no loss. This is because whatever devotional service one has rendered that will remain as his permanent asset. Even if he falls down,

If a person begins to render devotional service, if he has practiced only a little,

These are the statements of the sastra.

So Rsabhadeva instructs how to start tapasya. Mahat-seva. Mahat-seva. Who is mahat?

He is mahatma. One who always engages in the service of the Supreme Lord, he is a mahatma. Therefore it says here mahat-seva, go to such a person who is mahatma. Real mahatma. Not in the name only. Who is that person? He who is always, bhajanti ananya manaso, engaged in the service of the Lord's lotus feet. Render service to such a person. Mahat-seva. Nowadays this daridra narayana seva or service to poor Narayana is going on. Not that. Mahat-seva. Mahat-seva. Mahat-seva dvaram, if you want the doorway to liberation, how to get liberation, then engage in mahat-seva. Service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead is later. First render service to the devotees of the Lord. Narottama Dasa Thakura has sung, chaḍiya vaisnava seva nistara peyeche keba. Without serving vaisnava nobody has gain relief from this material life. That is the point.

This is the parampara system. Through this parampara, mahat seva, mahat, mahatma, those who serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Who is mahat and Whose lotus feet are the shelter of mahat-tattva, they are mahat. mahat-padam punya-yaso murareḥ [SB 10.14.58] Mahat-pada. Another name for the Supreme Lord is mahat-pada. Those serve that Mahat-pada, he is a mahatma.

Such a great soul is under the shelter of the Lord's internal potency and not under the shelter of the material energy. The devotees are sa gunan samatityaitan. [Bg. 14.26] The material energy consists of the three modes, that is external material energy, so the devotees are beyond the clutch of the three modes of material nature. Therefore he is addressed as mahat, mahatma. However, sa mahatma sudurlabha. This is what the Lord Himself declared. He is not ordinary person. Such a mahatma is very rare.

He is mahatma. Sa mahatma sudurlabha. Like that you will find so many mahatmas like me loitering in the street begging alms. No. Very rare. What is his symptom? Always, bhajanti mam ananya manaso. [Bg 9.13] So one should serve that type of mahatma or mahat. Mahat seva dvaram ahur vimuktes. [SB 5.5.2] If you wish to get freedom from material world, if you have realised that material life is troublesome, it is, but by the influence of maya we don't understand. We think it is very pleasant here. If you have got to die and again accept another body then where is the happiness? But our brain is so dull that we can't understand it. They think what is there after death? The Supreme Lord says, tatha dehantara-praptir, [Bg 2.13] after death you will have to accept another body. You be prepared for that. The Lord explains, urdhvam gacchanti sattva-sthah, [Bg 14.18] but nobody cares. What to do? This is the difficulty. Actually one should think about it, one should be intelligent enough to mahat-seva, mahatma, take shelter of such a person who is cent per cent engaged in the Lord's service.

What kind of guru should you approach? You should approach a guru who is constantly engaged in the Supreme Lord's service. And render service to him. Why? Why serve a mahat? We can serve anyone? There are so many other services. Service to society, service to country, service to this and that. So many types of services. Why mahat-seva? Because, dvaram ahur vimukte. If you want liberation, if you want freedom from the repeatation of birth and death then you must engage in mahat-seva. And if you don't want liberation then do whatever you like.

And yositam. The word "Yosit" means woman and objects of sense gratification. Yosit. Sense gratification. Anything. The principle sense gratification is sex enjoyment. Yosit. Yositam sahgi sahgam. What to speak of enjoying woman, even to associate with persons who indulge in sex enjoyment has been forbidden. This is the verdict of the sastra. Yositam sahgi sahgam. One may argue, "I don't indulge in sex, so what is the harm if I associate with those who enjoy sex life?" No. Because, sahgat sanjayate kamaḥ [Bg. 2.62] If we intimately keep ourselves in contact with those who enjoy sex life, then there is possibility, because the senses are very strong. Vidvamsam api karsati. It it stated in the sastra,

The senses are so strong that by associating with persons who indulge in sex life, our senses will also become strong. Vidvamsam api, Big, big learned scholars have also failed. Therefore we should be extreme cautious. Even if we have to come in contact with woman we should be very careful. This is scriptural injunction. Yositam sahgi-sahgam. Then mahanta…Who is a mahanta? How will I understand? That definition is also given in the sastra. Mahantas te

This is mahanta. The Supreme Lord has already given the general definition of a mahanta.

And special definition is given like this. Mahantas te sama-cittaḥ. Who is sama-cittaḥ? Unless a person is a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead he cannot be sama-cittaḥ. Just like samaḥ sarvesu bhūtesu Who is that? mad-bhaktim labhate param [Bg. 18.54] These things are there in the sastra. The word "Sama-cittaḥ" means… devotional service to the Supreme Lord is beneficial to all. Not that it is only for Indians, Hindus, or brahmanas. No. It is beneficial to all. That is sama-cittaḥ. Let everyone be engaged in the Lord's service. The Supreme Personality of Godhead said,

What is wrong if one is sinful? Everyone is eligible to take shelter of the Supreme Lord. If someone thinks that "such and such person is sinful . I should not see his face." Then who will deliver him? If we reject people thinking them to be sinful, then we are not sama-cittaḥ. How can they become devotees of the Lord? No. Devotional service to the Lord is for everyone. The Supreme Lord Himself says, mam hi partha vyapasritya ye 'pi syuḥ papa-yonayaḥ [Bg. 9.32] Just because one is born in a sinful species of life he is not qualified? No, he is also qualified. Te 'pi yanti param gatim [Bg 9.32]. He too can achieve the supreme destination. Therefore it is the duty of those who are servants of the Lord, who identify themselves to be the Lord's servants, they should, as Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered,

All of you become guru. How we can become guru? Simply, yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa. It is not at all difficult. You simply repeat. Don't interpret. Krsna's instructions. Whatever Krsna has said you simply repeat. You haven't got to become very clever to interpret in a wrong way to bring ruination for you and for the others. Don't do it. Simply whatever is spoken there you repeat like a parrot. Then you become guru. Therefore, sama-citta, prasanta. Prasanta. Prakrsta rūpenasanta-especially peaceful.

Not disturbed by anything. Always peaceful. He has only one goal-how to preach about the Lord's names, forms, qualities, associates and characteristics all over the world. To do that one has to voluntarily accept many types of difficulties. Still one should not be disturbed. Somehow or other the Lord's holy names should be spread. satatam kirtayanto mam [Bg 9.14]. Never mind what is there opposition.

Prasanta. Sama-citta. And vimanyava, vimanyava means you become angry sometimes. No. A mahatma never becomes angry. He knows that the whole world is like that. Nobody wants God. Rather they abuse God or defy Him. What to do. There is evidence of this. Just like Nityananda Prabhu had delivered Jagai and Madhai. They hit Him and He was bleeding. Still He did not reject them. "No problem. You hit Me and made Me bleed. You called Me ill names. Never mind." Jesus Christ was crucified.

But he didn't get angry on anyone. Vimanyava. These are the characteristics. Haridasa Thakura was beaten in twenty-two market places with a stick by Mohammedans. This Kazi. "You are following Hinduism being a Muslim?" This was his fault. This Haridasa Thakura was a Muslim and the country was ruled by the Muslims. So they arrested him. They chastised him saying "With great fortune you have taken birth in the Muslim family. And now you have become a Hindu? So what could the poor fellow do? He realised that he was in trouble. He replied "O lord, many Hindus also convert into Muslims. What is wrong in it."

So the king ordered him to be beaten in twenty-two market places. These things have to be tolerated. Prahlada Maharaja had to tolerate so much. What to speak of Kazi or someone else, even his own father chastised and tortured him like anything. But Prahlada Maharaja was such a vimanyava that despite all this, and his father was killed by the Lord and He asked Prahlada "My child, ask for any benediction you want." But he did not ask any boon for himself. He said "Maharaja,You can give benediction, but I am born in a low class family. If you tempt I will be greedy. I am not a businessman that I would ask something in return for my service to you.

I don't want anything." Such a great Prahlada Maharaja that he begged forgiveness for his father. He said, "Maharaja, I must pray one thing. Because my father has committed so many offenses against You, You kindly deliver him." Just see! Vimanyava. This is vaisnava. Vimanyava. Suhrdaḥ. He wanted his well being even though he gave him so much trouble. Jesus Christ also said the similar thing "O Lord they do not know what they are doing. Excuse them." Isn't something like that? Anyway, the devotees know that people are crazy. They will go on talking badly. But our duty is to teach them how to engage in devotional service so that they may be delivered.

So one should approach such saintly persons and devotees and learn from them. That is tapasya. It is not very difficult. If you find a bonafide spiritual master then by leading your life according to his instruction your life will become perfect. The human form of life will be successful. This is Rsabhadeva's teaching. Suhrdaḥ sadhava. Sadhava sadhu bhūsanam. This is the symptom of a sadhu is titiksava karunikaḥ. On one hand he has to tolerate many things and on the other hand he has to bestow mercy on others. He has two business.

These are the sadhu's ornaments. So by practice everything is possible. This is the real duty of the human life. To work hard whole day like dogs and sheeps for sense gratification is not the business of the human life. That's all for today. We will discuss more later. Thank you very much.

Devotees: Jai Srila Prabhupada. [end]