Lecture – January 21, 1977, Bhubaneswar

They have come to deliver all kinds of sinful men

[Gaura-Govinda translates into Oriya throughout]

Prabhupada: Just like a student is admitted in the school for learning A-B-C-D, and if he follows the rules and regulations and continues his studies regularly, then one day he would be able to pass M.A. examination, so from the very beginning we have to execute these processes. Because our life is impure at the present moment, and we have to purify this life.

These things are there in the sastra. We have to execute tapasya, austerity, to purify. Tapo divyam putraka yena suddhyed sattvam [SB 5.5.1]. So it is not a formality. It is a process to become free from this material bondage and go back home, back to Godhead. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti [Bg 4.9]. We should be very serious, not that to take initiation as a matter of fashion, but it should be very carefully and seriously done.

[break] Human life is meant for this purpose: athato brahma-jijnasa. [Vedanta Sūtra 1.1.1] If we do not inquire about Brahman, if we simply inquire, "Where is food? Where is sense gratification...?" The whole world is going like that. Anywhere you go, the inquiry is, "Where is sense gratification?" "Where is sex?" "Where is safety?" and "Where is eating?" This is the inquiry generally. The cats, dogs, birds, beast-everyone is inquiring like that. In the morning you'll find the birds are chirping: "Now it is morning. Where we have to go to have our necessities of life?" This is the inquiry of this material body. But when you get this human form of body, the inquiry should be different.

[aside:] Explain this. [Gaura-Govinda translates] [break]

So Narottama das Thakura sings,

So we should always remember this song of Narottama dasa Thakura. He is acarya. He's guru. Acaryopasanam. [Bg 13.8] Acarya upasana is one of the process of making progress. So this song is very important.

[aside:] Explain.

[break] In the material world everyone is suffering. There is no exception, either rich man or poor man, learned or fool-everyone. This is the place for suffering. And if we take this place of suffering as comfortable, that is our ignorance. Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura sings,

[aside:] Explain.

[break] So Narottama dasa Thakura says that we should take advantage of Caitanya Mahaprabhu's and Nityananda Prabhu's presence. Papi tapi yata chila hariname uddharila tara saksi jagai and madhai, brajendra-nandana yei saci-suta haila sei balarama haila nitai, that "Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna. Formerly He was Brajendra-nandana." Brajendra-nandana. Brajendra is Maharaja..., Nanda Maharaja. And He accepted father-Nanda Maharaja. Nanda-nandana. "Same Nanda-nandana has now become Saci-nandana." Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mother's name is Sacidevi. So brajendra-nandana yei saci-suta haila sei: "Who was formerly Brajendra-nandana, He has now become Saci-nandana. And formerly who was Balarama, He has become Nitai." Brajendra-nandana yei saci-suta haila sei balarama haila nitai. So why They have come again? That is, papi tapi yata chila hariname uddharila: "They have come to deliver all kinds of sinful men, suffering humanity, just allowing to chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra." Papi tapi yata chila, hariname uddharila. So what is the evidence how papi tapi were delivered? Tara saksi jagai ara madhai.

So there is no hopelessness. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu is there. If we take shelter of Their lotus feet, there is no hopelessness. But we should not commit any more sinful activities. Then They will deliver us from these clutches of... [end]