SPD11-03 Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.8.25, April 17, 1973, Los Angeles
SPD11-03
Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.25,
April 17, 1973, Los Angeles
Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.25,
April 17, 1973, Los Angeles
[00:21] [Pradyumna:] [leads chanting of synonyms] ...repetition of birth and death.
[00:23] Translation: "I wish that all those calamities would happen again and again so that we can see
[00:28] You again and again, for seeing You means that we will no longer see repeated births and deaths."
[00:37] [Prabhupada:] So that is very interesting verse, that vipada, calamities, danger,
[00:50] that is very good if such danger and calamities remind me of Krsna.
[01:00] That is very good. Tat te 'nukampam su-samiksamano bhunjana evatma-krtam vipakam [SB 10.14.8].
[01:15] A devotee, how he receives dangerous position? Danger must be there. Danger...
[00:28] Because this place, this material world, is full of dangers. These foolish persons,
[01:37] they do not know that. They are trying to avoid the dangers. That is struggle for existence.
[01:47] Everyone is trying to become happy and avoid danger. This is the material business.
[01:58] Atyantika-sukham. Atyantika-sukha, ultimate happiness. A man is working and thinking,
[02:12] "Let me work now very hard, and let me have some bank balance so when I shall get old,
[02:23] I shall enjoy life without any working." That is the inner intention of everyone.
[02:38] Nobody wants to work. As soon as he gets some money he wants to retire from work
[02:47] and to become happy. But that is not possible. You cannot be happy in that way.
[03:00] Here it is said, apunar bhava-darsanam [SB 1.8.25]. The real danger is... She is speaking of apunaḥ.
[03:11] Apunaḥ means... A means not, and punar bhava means repetition of birth and death.
[03:22] The real danger is repetition of birth and death. That has to be stopped,
[03:32] and not this so-called danger. This is all... The material world is full of dangers.
[03:39] Padam padam yad vipadam [SB 10.14.58]. Just like if you are on the ocean. If you are on the ocean,
[03:47] you might have very strong ship, very safe ship, but that is not safety.
[04:01] Because you are on the sea, at any time there can be dangers.
[04:08] Perhaps you remember from your country, there was, what is that? Titanic?
[04:13] [Devotee:] Titanic.
[04:16] [Prabhupada:] Everything was safe, but on the first voyage it was drowned, and all important men
[04:22] of your country, they lost their life. So danger there must be,
[04:29] because you are in a dangerous position. This material world itself is dangerous position.
[04:39] So our business is that danger must be there.
[04:45] Now our business should be how to cross over the sea as soon as possible.
[04:52] So long you are on the sea, you are on the dangerous position, however strong your ship may be.
[05:01] That's a fact. So you should not be disturbed by the sea waves.
[05:07] Just try to cross over the sea. Go to the other side. That is your business.
[05:13] Similarly, so long we are in this material world, there must be dangerous calamities,
[05:32] because this is the place of calamity. So our business is, even within these calamities,
[05:30] dangers, how we develop our Krsna consciousness and, after giving up this body,
[05:37] we go back to home, back go Krsna. That should be our business.
[05:42] We should not be disturbed by the so-called calamities. They are not so-called; they are factual.
[05:51] So this question was there by Arjuna to Krsna, that "Whatever You are speaking, it is all right:
[06:01] that I am not this body, I am soul. Everyone is not this body. He's soul.
[06:08] So on the annihilation of this body..." [aside:] Stop that. "On the annihilation of the body, the soul will exist.
[06:22] But when I see my son is dying or my grandfather is dying, I am killing,
[06:29] how can I solace me that my grandfather is not dying, my son is not dying,
[06:36] the..., simply it is changing? Because I am accustomed to think like that.
[06:42] So there must be grief." So Krsna replied, "Yes, that's a fact.
[06:53] So that you must have to tolerate, that's all. There is no other remedy." Tams titiksasva bharata [Bg. 2.14].
[07:02] Krsna never said that these are not facts, what Arjuna explained, that
[07:08] "I know that when my son is dying, my son is changing the body, or my grandfather
[07:17] is dying, changing the body, I know this. But still, because I am affectionate on the skin,
[07:25] so I must suffer." The Krsna replied: "Yes, the suffering is there.
[07:31] Because you are also on the bodily concept of life, so suffering must be there.
[07:36] So there is no other remedy than to tolerate. There is no other remedy."
[07:50] Just like in your country it is very chilly in the morning to take bath, a little difficult task.
[08:05] But does it mean that those who are devotees, they will stop taking bath?
[08:11] No. Even it is chilly, cold, one must take bath. The duty must be done.
[08:19] The duty must be done, even it is little suffering. That is called tapasya.
[08:27] Tapasya means we must prolong or proceed with..., with our Krsna consciousness business
[08:35] in spite of all dangerous and calamitous condition of this world.
[08:42] This is called tapasya. Tapasya means voluntarily accepting the difficulties of life.
[08:53] Sometimes tapasya, in the system of tapasya, in hot season, summer,
[09:00] in scorching heat of the sun, still they ignite some fire all round
[09:07] and sit down in the midst and meditate. There are some processes of tapasya like that.
[09:15] In chilly cold one goes into the water up to the neck and meditates. These things are prescribed in tapasya.
[09:26] But Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu does not give you such prescription.
[09:31] He gives you very nice program: chant, dance and take prasadam. [laughter]
[09:40] Still we are unable. We cannot accept this tapasya. You see? We are so fallen.
[09:57] and it is very pleasant. Still, we are not agreeable. We shall rot in the street,
[10:07] lie down anywhere and everywhere, and still I shall drink and have sex and lie down.
[10:16] So what can be done? We are giving good facilities: "Come here, chant,
[10:24] dance and live very peacefully, and take krsna-prasadam. Be happy."
[10:30] But people will not accept. That is called misfortune.
[10:37] Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore said: etadrsi tava krpa bhagavan mamapi durdaivam idrsam ihajani nanuragaḥ [Siksastaka 2].
[10:50] Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-saktiḥ:
[10:55] "In the transcendental holy name of God, Krsna, there is all potencies."
[11:06] As Krsna has got unlimited potencies, similarly, in the name, holy name of Krsna,
[11:14] there is unlimited potency. So, namnam akari bahudha. And there are many names of Krsna.
[11:27] Krsna has got thousands and thousands of names. Krsna name is the chief name.
[11:33] Namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-saktis tatrarpita niyamitaḥ smarane na kalaḥ.
[11:40] And there is no hard-and-fast rule, that you have to chant in this time or that time.
[11:46] No. Any time. Any time you can take. And the name is identical with Krsna.
[11:58] On this logic, the name, holy name of Krsna, is Krsna. He's no other than Krsna.
[12:08] Don't think that Krsna is living in Goloka Vrndavana and the name is different.
[12:13] Just like in material world we have got this conception, the name is different from the fact.
[12:21] But in absolute world there is no such difference. That is called absolute. The name is as potential as Krsna is potential.
[12:31] So you have got this tongue. You can chant "Krsna," "Hare Krsna"-immediately you become directly in touch with Krsna.
[12:41] Immediately. Because the name Krsna and Krsna person is not different.
[12:46] Identical. So even if you think that Krsna is far, far away... Krsna is not far, far away.
[12:55] Krsna is within you. He's not far away.
[12:58] He's far away, at the same time nearest. So even if you think that Krsna is far, far,
[13:07] His name is there. You chant Hare Krsna, Krsna becomes immediately available.
[13:14] Aniyamitaḥ. And for making Krsna available in this shortcut way, there is no hard-and-fast rule.
[13:22] You can chant any time, immediately you get Krsna. Just see the mercy of Krsna.
[13:31] Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu says that etadrsi tava krpa: "My dear Lord,
[13:40] You have given me so nice facilities to contact You, but durdaiva, but my...,
[13:47] I am so unfortunate, I have no attachment for these things. I have no attachment.
[13:53] I have got so many attachment for other things, but I have no attachment for chanting Hare Krsna.
[13:59] This is my misfortune." Krsna has given so much facilities, that He is present before you
[14:08] by transcendental vibration in His name, and the name has got all the potencies of Krsna.
[14:16] So if you remain in contact with the name, you get all the benefit of Krsna's benediction.
[14:23] But still, I am not inclined to chant Hare Krsna mantra. This is misfortune.
[14:32] So a devotee never takes dangerous position as very reverse position or very calamitous position. He welcomes.
[14:46] Because a surrendered soul, he knows either danger or festival,
[14:55] these are all different demonstration of Krsna. Krsna is absolute. In the sastra it is said
[15:05] that just like there are two kinds, two sides: religiosity and irreligiosity, just the opposite.
[15:18] But in the sastra it is said the religiosity is just the front portion of God, and irreligiosity is the back portion of God.
[15:30] So God's front portion or back portion, is there any difference?
[15:37] God is absolute. Therefore a devotee, either in opulence or in danger,
[15:45] he is not disturbed. He knows both these things are Krsna. Either in dangerous position...
[15:54] "Now Krsna has appeared before me as danger."
[16:01] Just like Hiranyakasipu and Prahlada Maharaja and Nrsimhadeva.
[16:09] Nrsimhadeva is dangerous to Hiranyakasipu, and He is the supreme friend to Prahlada Maharaja-
[16:20] the same Personality. Similarly, God is never dangerous to the devotee.
[16:28] Devotee is never afraid of dangers. He's confident that the danger, that is another feature of God.
[16:38] "So why shall I be afraid? I am surrendered to Him." So Kuntidevi says that
[16:48] vipadaḥ santu. Vipadaḥ santu taḥ sasvat. Because he..., she knows how to remember Krsna at times of danger.
[17:03] So he is..., she is welcoming danger: "My dear Lord, I welcome such dangers when I can remember You."
[17:16] Just like Prahlada Maharaja, he was always thinking of Krsna when his father was putting him in dangerous position.
[17:27] So if you are put into the dangerous position, and if that dangerous position gives an impetus to remember Krsna,
[17:37] that is welcome. That is welcome. "Oh, I am getting this opportunity of remembering Krsna."
[17:47] So how it is welcome? It is welcome because seeing Krsna means I am advancing in my spiritual life
[17:58] so that I'll not have to suffer any more of these dangerous position.
[18:10] in Krsna consciousness, then the result will be, after giving up this body, Krsna says,
[18:21] tyaktva deham, after giving up this body, punar janma naiti, you don't take birth again in this material world.
[18:31] That is wanted. Suppose I am very comfortable at the present moment.
[18:41] My body is kept in a very comfortable position. But there is death, and there is another birth.
[18:49] So after giving up this body, if I get the body of a cat and dog,
[18:56] then what is the meaning of this comfortable position?
[19:01] Because death is sure, and janmantam tataḥ dehantaram.
[19:08] Dehantaram means you have to accept another body.
[19:12] If you do not know what kind of body you are going to get... You can know it.
[19:19] That is stated in the sastra, that if you have got such-and-such mentality,
[19:24] you get such-and-such body. So in a comfortable position, if I keep myself in the dog's mentality,
[19:33] then I am going to get my next life as dog. Then what is the value of this comfortable position?
[19:44] I may be in comfortable position for twenty years, fifty years or, utmost, hundred years.
[19:50] And after that comfortable position, when I give up this body, if, due to my mentality
[19:57] I become a cat and dog and mouse, then what is the benefit of this comfortable position?
[20:03] These people, they do not know that. They think, especially in this age, that
[20:10] "I am now in comfortable position. I have got enough money. I have got enough state.
[20:18] I have enough comforts, enough food. So as soon as the body's finished,
[20:25] so I am not going to take birth again. So, so long I am living, let me enjoy life."
[20:31] This is the modern philosophy: hedonism. But that is not the fact.
[20:45] not to repeat. If you see always Krsna, that is Krsna consciousness.
[20:54] Krsna consciousness means always thinking of Krsna. Your consciousness
[21:00] should be absorbed in Krsna thought. Therefore we give different varieties of engagement,
[21:11] Krsna consciousness. We should not divert our energy. Now when we are selling book, that is Krsna consciousness.
[21:22] We are selling book. But if we think that the selling book may be diverted into selling jewelry,
[21:31] that is not very good idea. That is not very good idea. Then we become again jeweler. Punar mūsika bhava.
[21:42] Again become mouse. We should be very much careful. Our Krsna consciousness cannot be diverted.
[21:53] Then you are gone to hell. Even there is danger, even there is suffering in Krsna consciousness,
[22:03] we should tolerate. That is the instruction of... We should welcome such danger,
[22:16] "My dear Lord, it is Your great mercy that I am put into this dangerous position."
[22:25] That is the viewpoint of devotee. He doesn't take danger as danger. He takes,
[22:31] "It is Krsna's mercy." What kind of mercy? Now, bhunjana evatma-krtam vipakam.
[22:41] "Due to my past activities, I was to suffer so much. But You are mitigating that suffering, giving me little suffering."
[22:54] Just like a token punishment. Sometimes in the courts a big man is culprit. So say, if the judge wants 100,000 dollars,
[23:11] he can pay immediately. But he asks from him, "You just give one cent."
[23:19] Because that is also punishment, but minimizing. Similarly, we have to suffer on account of our past deeds.
[23:38] But those who are in devotional service, those who are in Krsna consciousness,
[23:43] their sufferings are minimized, a token. Just like one was to be killed.
[23:54] So instead of being killed with his knife, he gets some little cut on the finger.
[24:02] In this way, karmani nirdahati kintu ca bha...
[24:05] Those who are in devotional service, they are, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami [Bg. 18.66].
[24:12] Krsna assures that "I give you protection from the reaction of sinful life."
[24:20] So when there is very, very grievous criminal activities behind his..., sometimes it is like that.
[24:27] Instead of hanging him, there may be little cut by the knife on the finger.
[24:35] This is the position. So why should we be afraid of danger?
[24:39] We should simply depend on Krsna consciousness, because if we live Krsna conscious,
[24:49] in any circumstances, then my benefit is that I am not coming again in this material world.
[25:04] as you read of Krsna, as you work for Krsna, some way or other, if you remain in Krsna consciousness,
[25:11] that is your benefit. And that benefit will save you from taking birth again in this material world.
[25:11] That is real benefit. And if I am become little comfortable by so-called other engagement,
[25:33] and if I forget Krsna, and I have to take birth again, then what is my benefit?
[25:38] We should be very much careful about this.
[25:43] Krsna consciousness cannot be disturbed at any circumstances,
[25:48] even there is heavy suffering. That is the instruction of Kuntidevi.
[25:55] Kuntidevi's welcome, welcoming: vipadaḥ santu taḥ..., tatra.
[26:02] "Let there..." Because, before winning the battle of Kuruksetra, all these Panḍavas were
[26:09] put into so many dangerous position. That is already described in the previous verses.
[26:16] Sometimes they were offered poison, sometimes they were put into the house, lac,
[26:22] and it was set fire. Sometimes big, big demons, man-eaters, and big, big fighters.
[26:31] Every time... They lost their kingdom, lost their wife, lost their prestige.
[26:36] They were put into the forest. Full of dangers. But within all those dangers,
[26:46] Krsna was there, with all those dangers. When the Draupadi was being naked,
[26:54] Krsna was there, supplying cloth. Krsna is always there.
[27:01] Therefore Bhismadeva, while he was dying... He was grandfather of the Panḍavas.
[27:09] So when the Panḍavas came to see him on his deathbed, so he cried that
[27:16] "These boys, my grandsons, they're all very pious. Maharaja Yudhisthira, the topmost pious person.
[27:29] His name is Dharmaraja, the king of religiosity. He is the eldest brother.
[27:38] And Bhima and Arjuna, they are devotees and so great hero. They can kill thousands of men.
[27:46] They're so powerful. So Yudhisthira, Yudhisthira is there, and Bhima is there.
[27:55] Arjuna is there, and Draupadi is directly the goddess of fortune.
[28:03] There was this injunction that wherever Draupadi will be there, there will be no scarcity of food.
[28:13] In this way, the combination was so nice, and over and above that, Krsna is always with them,
[28:24] and still they are suffering." So he began to cry, that "I do not know what is the arrangement of Krsna
[28:32] that such pious men, such devotees, they are also suffering."
[28:40] So don't think that
[28:42] "Because I have become a devotee, there will be no danger, no suffering."
[28:47] Prahlada Maharaja suffered so much. The Panḍavas suffered so much.
[28:53] Haridasa Thakura suffered so much. But we should not be disturbed by those suffering.
[29:00] We must have firm faith, firm conviction, that "Krsna is there. He'll give me protection."
[29:08] Kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktaḥ pranasyati [Bg. 9.31]. Don't try to take benefit of other shelter than Krsna.
[29:18] Always take to Krsna.
[29:12] Krsna says, kaunteya pratijanihi na me bhaktaḥ pranasyati:
[29:27] "My dear Arjuna, you can declare it to the public that My devotees are never vanquished."
[29:37] Why declaration was advised to be made by Arjuna? Why He did not declare Himself?
[29:45] There is some point. Because this declaration, if Krsna makes, there may be
[29:54] violation, because sometimes He violated His promise. But if His devotee promises, it will be never violated.
[30:04] That is Krsna's business. "Oh, My devotee has declared this. I must see that it must be executed."
[30:13] That is Krsna's position. He's so much attached to His devotee. Therefore He said that
[30:19] "You declare. If I declare, people may not believe it. But if you declare, they will believe it.
[30:29] Because you are devotee. Your declaration will never be..."
[30:32] Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadaḥ. Krsna wants to see that
[30:38] "My devotee's promise is fulfilled. My promise may not be fulfilled, may be broken."
[30:47] So this is Krsna consciousness. We must stick to Krsna consciousness in...,
[30:52] at all circumstances, even it's the most dangerous position.
[30:57] We must keep our faith in Krsna's lotus feet, and there will be no danger.
[31:03] Thank you very much.
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