SPD11-02 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.8.23, April 15, 1973, Los Angeles
SPD11-02
Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.23,
April 15, 1973, Los Angeles
Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.23,
April 15, 1973, Los Angeles
[00:21] [Pradyumna:] [leads chanting of synonyms] ...vipat-ganat-series of dangers.
[00:26] Translation: "O Hrsikesa, master of the senses and Lord of lords,
[00:31] You have released Your mother, Devaki, who was long imprisoned
[00:34] and distressed by the envious King Kamsa, and myself and
[00:38] my children from a series of constant dangers."
[00:44] [Prabhupada:] So this is the position of devotees, that Devaki, who happens to be the mother
[00:57] of Krsna... She's not ordinary woman. Who can become the mother of the Supreme
[01:05] Personality of Godhead? The most advanced devotee, so that Krsna has agreed to
[01:16] become her son. In his [their] previous life, the husband and wife, they underwent severe
[01:29 austerities, and when Krsna appeared before them and wanted to give them benediction,
[01:43] they wanted a son like God. So where can be another person who is equal to God?
[01:56] That is not possible. "God" means there is no equal; there is no greater. Asama-urdhva.
[02:07] That is God. God, there cannot be any competition, that "You are God, I am God,
[02:12] he is God, he is God." No. These are dogs; they are not God. God means without
[02:19] competition: one. God is one. Nobody is great... Asamordhva:
[02:25] nobody is greater than Him; nobody is equal to Him. Everyone is lower.
[02:32] Ekale isvara krsna ara saba bhrtya . The only master is Krsna, God,
[02:42] and everyone servant. Never mind even if he's Brahma, Visnu or Siva,
[02:52] big, big demigods. And what to speak of others?
[02:57] Siva-virinci-nutam [SB 11.5.33]. In the sastra it is said that He's offered respect by Lord Siva
[03:04] and Lord Brahma. They are the topmost demigods. There are demigods.
[03:11] Above the human being, there are demigods. As we are human being above the
[03:18] lower creatures, lower animals, similarly, above us there are demigods.
[03:25] And the most important demigod is Lord Brahma, Lord Siva... Lord Brahma
[03:30] is the creator of this universe, and Lord Siva is the destroyer of this universe.
[03:38] And Lord Visnu is the maintainer. Lord Visnu is Krsna Himself.
[03:47] So for the maintenance of this material world there are three gunas:
[03:55] sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna. So each one of them has taken charge of
[04:01] one department. So Lord Visnu has taken the department of sattva-guna,
[04:09] and Lord Brahma has taken the department of rajo-guna, and Lord Siva
[04:16] has taken the department of tamo-guna. They are not under the influence of
[04:22] these gunas. Just like a..., the superintendent of jail. He's not a prisoner;
[04:31] he's controlling officer. Similarly Lord Siva, Lord Visnu, Lord Brahma,
[04:40] although they are controlling each department, they are not under the
[04:45] controlling department. We may not commit mistake.
[04:52] So Hrsikesa. Krsna is the supreme controller. Hrsika, hrsika means senses.
[05:04] So we are enjoying our senses, but ultimately the controller is Krsna.
[05:15] Suppose this is my hand. I'm claiming it is my hand: "I shall give you a
[05:22] good fist on your..." I'm very much proud. But I am not controller.
[05:30] The controller is Krsna. If you..., if He withdraws the power of the activity
[05:37] of your arm, you become paralyzed. Although you are claiming,
[05:43] "It is my hand. I shall use it," but when it is paralyzed, you cannot do anything.
[05:51] Therefore I may have possessed this hand by the grace of Krsna,
[05:58] but I am not the controller. That is Krsna consciousness. Therefore a sane man
[06:07] will think that ultimately if this hand is to be controlled by Krsna, then it is meant
[06:15] for Krsna. This is the commonsense understanding. I am claiming that
[06:23] "This is my hand, this is my leg, this is my ear." Even children says.
[06:29] You ask the children, "What is this?" "It is my hand." But we may claim,
[06:35] but actually it is not our hand. It is given for... Because I wanted to use my hands
[06:45] in so many ways, Krsna has given: "All right, you take this hand. Use it."
[06:51] So it is gift of Krsna.
[06:54] Therefore a sane man is always conscious that "Whatever I have got in my
[07:01] possession-first of all this body and senses-they are actually not mine.
[07:08] I have given all these possession for utility. So if ultimately everything belongs
[07:19] to Krsna, why it is not utilized for Krsna?" That is Krsna consciousness.
[07:28] That is Krsna consciousness. That is intelligence. If I am given all these things
[07:35] for my use, for my sense gratification, but ultimately it belongs to Krsna...
[07:45] so everyone's senses are also Krsna's.
[07:49] So when..., when the senses are utilized for Krsna's service, that is perfection of life.
[07:59] And so long it is utilized for my sense gratification, it is maya.
[08:12] Hrsikena, by the senses, this hrsikesa-sevanam, when you serve Hrsikesa,
[08:21] really master of the senses, that is called bhakti. Very simple description, definition of bhakti.
[08:35] Hrsikena..., hrsikesa-sevanam. Hrsikesa-sevanam. Not hrsika-sevanam.
[08:41] Hrsika means senses. So when senses are used for sense gratification, that is maya.
[08:53] And when senses are used for the gratification of the master of the senses, that is
[08:59] called bhakti. Very simple definition. Anyone can understand.
[09:06] So generally, in this material world, everyone is using the senses for sense gratification.
[09:15] That's all. That is their bondage. That is maya, illusion. And when he comes to Krsna
[09:23] consciousness, purified, when he understands that actually these senses are meant for
[09:30] satisfying Krsna, then he's liberated person, mukta. Mukta-purusa, liberated person.
[09:40] Īha yasya harer dasye karmana manasa vaca [Brs 1.2.187]. When one comes to this position,
[09:48] that "My senses are meant for serving the master of the senses, Hrsikesa..."
[09:58] The master of the senses are..., is sitting within your heart. In the Bhagavad-gita it is said,
[10:06] sarvasya caham hrdi sannivistaḥ: "I am seated in everyone's heart."
[10:21] forgetfulness is coming." So why that? Because Krsna is so merciful, if I want to use my
[10:35] senses in a certain way... Not my senses; it is Krsna's, given.
[10:43] So Krsna gives the chance, "All right, utilize it."
[10:48] Suppose I have got tongue. If I want, "Krsna, I want to eat stool. I want to taste stool,"
[10:58] "Yes," Krsna will say. "Yes, you take this body of hog and eat stool." The master is there, Krsna.
[11:15] reminds you, "My dear living entity, you wanted to eat stool?
[11:20] Now you have got a proper body. Now utilize. Here is stool also." Similarly, if you
[11:27] want to become demigod, that also Krsna gives you chance. Anything.
[11:33] There are 8,400,000 forms of life. If you want to engage your senses
[11:41] in any type of body, Krsna is giving you:
[11:47] "Come on. Here is the body. You take." But by using our senses,
[11:58] ultimately we become senseless. Therefore Krsna said, sarva-dharman parityajya
[12:06] mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]: "Don't do like this. Your senses are meant for serving Me.
[12:16] So you are misusing it. By misusing, you are being entrapped in different types of body;
[12:24] therefore, to get relief from this tedious business of accepting one body
[12:32] and giving it up, again another body, again another, to continue this material
[12:38] existence, if you give up this process of sense gratification and surrender unto Me,
[12:45] then you are saved." This is Krsna consciousness.
[12:50] So at the present moment, our senses are contaminated. I am thinking, "I am American,
[13:00] so my senses should be utilized for the service of my country, my society, my nation."
[13:07] Big, big leaders, big, big so many things. So the real concept is that "I am American,
[13:16] so my senses are American senses. So it must be utilized for America."
[13:22] Similarly, Indians thinking, others are thinking. But none of them do know it that
[13:31] senses belong to Krsna. This is ignorance. No intelligence. They are thinking for the time being
[13:42] that these senses, upadhi, designated: American senses, Indian senses, African senses.
[13:53] No. This is called maya. It is covered. Therefore bhakti means sarvopadhi-vinirmuktam [Brs. 1.1.12].
[14:02] When your senses will be uncontaminated with all these designation, that is the beginning of bhakti.
[14:13] If I think, "I am American. Why shall I take Krsna consciousness? It is Hindu God,"
[14:19] that is foolishness. If I think, "I am Muhammadan," "I am Christian," then you are gone.
[14:29] But if we purify the senses, that "I am spirit soul. The Supreme Spirit Soul is Krsna.
[14:38] I am part and parcel of Krsna; therefore it is my duty to serve Krsna," then you become free immediately.
[14:47] Immediately. You are no more American, Indian or African or this or that. You are Krsna-ized,
[14:53] Krsna conscious. That is wanted.
[14:58] Therefore Kuntidevi says, "Hrsikesa, my dear Krsna, You are the master of the senses,
[15:09] and for the sense gratification, we are fallen in this material condition of life, different varieties of life."
[15:23] So we are suffering, and suffering to the extent, even one becomes Krsna's mother...
[15:32] Because this is material world, she's also put into suffering, what to speak of others.
[15:42] Devaki is so advanced that she has become the mother of Krsna, but still [s]he's put into difficulties.
[15:55] And difficulties by whom? By his [her] brother, Kamsa. So this world is like that. Try to understand.
[16:04] Even you become Krsna's mother, and even your brother, who is very nearest relative.
[16:13] So you..., the world is such jealous, that if one's personal interest is hampered,
[16:20] everyone will be ready to give you trouble. This is the world. Everyone.
[16:27] Even if he's brother, even he's father, what to speak of others. Khalena.
[16:34] Khala means jealous. This material world is jealous, envious. I am envious of you;
[16:41] you are envious of me. This is our business. This is our business.
[16:47] Therefore this Krsna consciousness movement is for such person who is no more jealous,
[16:57] who's no more envious. Perfect person. Dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo 'tra
[17:06] paramo nirmatsaranam satam vastavam vastu vedyam atra .
[17:12] Those who are jealous and envious, they are within this material world.
[17:19] And those who are not jealous, they are in the spiritual world. Simple thing.
[17:26] You test yourself, "Whether I am jealous, envious of my other associates, friends, everything?"
[17:38] Then I am in the material world. And if I am not jealous, then I'm in the spiritual world.
[17:44] Anyone can test. There is no question of whether I'm spiritually advanced or not.
[17:57] Just like if you are eating, you'll understand whether you are satisfied, whether your hunger is satisfied.
[18:03] You haven't got to take certificate from others. Similarly, if you test yourself
[18:09] whether you are jealous, whether you are envious, then you are in the material world.
[18:17] And if you are not jealous, if you are not envious, then in the spiritual world.
[18:23] Then you can serve Krsna very nicely if you are not jealous. Because our jealous,
[18:29] enviousness has begin..., began from Krsna. Just like the Mayavadi:
[18:34] "Why Krsna shall be God? I am, I am also God. I am also."
[18:40] So this is the beginning of material life: to become envious of Krsna.
[18:46] "Why Krsna shall be enjoyer? I shall be enjoyer. Why Krsna shall enjoy the gopis?
[18:54] I shall become Krsna and enjoy, make a society of gopis and enjoy." This is maya.
[19:04] Nobody can be enjoyer. Krsna therefore says, bhoktaram yajna...
[19:10] Sri Krsna is the only enjoyer. And if we supply ingredients for His enjoyment, that is our perfection of life.
[19:23] And if we want to imitate Krsna, that "I shall become a God. I shall become an imitator enjoyer,"
[19:30] then you are in the maya. Simply our business is... Just like the gopis' life.
[19:39] Krsna is enjoying, and they're supplying the ingredients of enjoyment. Yes. This is bhakti.
[19:49] We are meant for... Krsna is supplying... The servant and master.
[19:56] The servant is being supplied all the necessities by the master, but the servant's duty is to serve the master.
[20:15] These are the Vedic inform... Krsna is supplying you immense..., all the necessities of life.
[20:23] There is no scarcity. There is no economic problem. You simply try to serve Krsna,
[20:30] then everything is complete. Because He's Hrsikesa. And so much... If Krsna desires,
[20:40] there may be ample supplies. Just like in your country, there is ample supplies.
[20:48] In other country... I went to Switzerland: everything is imported. No supply.
[20:54] The supply is only..., only snow. Take as much snow as you like. You see?
[21:03] Similarly, everything is under the control of Krsna. If you become devotee,
[21:09] then there is no snow supply-simply food supply. And if you don't become devotee,
[21:15] be covered with snow. That's all. Covered with cloud. Everything is under Krsna's control.
[21:22] So actually there is no scarcity. The scarcity is Krsna consciousness.
[21:29] So if you become Krsna conscious, then everything is ample. There is no scarcity.
[21:35] This is the process. Tvaya hrsikesa... And here it is said, tvaya hrsi...,
[21:41] yatha hrsikesa khalena devaki. The world is full of dangers. But Devaki..., Kuntidevi says,
[21:53] "But because Devaki is Your devotee, You saved her from the distresses offered by her envious brother."
[22:08] As soon as the brother heard that "My sister's son, eighth son of my sister, will kill me,"
[22:15] oh, he was ready immediately to kill Devaki. So he was pacified by Devaki's husband.
[22:24] It is the duty of the husband to give protection. "So my dear brother-in-law, why you are envious to your sister?
[22:33] After all, your sister will not kill you. Her son will kill you. That is the problem.
[22:39] So I shall deliver all the sons to you, then you can do whatever you like.
[22:45] Why you are killing this innocent girl, newly married? She is your younger sister, just like your daughter.
[22:53] You should give her protection. What you are doing this?"
[22:56] So Kamsa became pacified. He believed in the words of Vasudeva, that he'll deliver all the sons,
[23:07] "And if you like, you can kill." He thought, "Let me save the present situation.
[23:12] After all, later on, mean, Kamsa gets a nephew, he may forget this enviousness."
[23:20] But he's never, never to forget. Yes. He killed all the sons and kept them in prison.
[23:30] Sucarpita badhya ati-ciram. Ati-ciram means for long time. So [s]he was saved.
[23:41] Devaki was saved after all. Similarly, if we take the position of Devaki and Kunti...
[23:50] Kunti, just like with her sons, Panca-Panḍava, five Panḍavas...
[23:55] After she became widow, the whole plan was, Dhrtarastra's, "How to kill these children of my younger brother?
[24:06] Because, by chance, I was blind, so I could not get the throne of the kingdom.
[24:13] My younger brother got it. Now he's dead. So at least my sons, they should get the throne."
[24:22] That was his policy, Dhrtarastra's policy: "I could not get." This is material propensities.
[24:31] "I shall be happy. My sons shall be happy. My community shall be happy.
[24:38] My nation shall be happy." These are extended selfishness. Nobody's thinking Krsna,
[24:47] how Krsna will be happy. Everyone is thinking in his own terms: "How I shall be happy,
[24:53] how my children shall be happy, my community shall be happy, my society shall be happy, my nation..."
[24:59] This is the struggle for existence. Everywhere you'll find. This is material existence.
[25:07] Nobody's thinking how Krsna will be happy.
[25:12] Therefore this Krsna consciousness is very sublime. Try to understand from Bhagavatam,
[25:25] and try to engage your senses for the service of the master of the senses. Then you'll be happy.
[25:33] Thank you very much.
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