CDV 14-2 Purport

Purport by His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

So this song was sung by Govinda dasa. Govinda-dasa-abhilasa re. What is his desire? Abhilasa means desire. Bhajahū re mana sri-nanda-nandana: "My dear mind...'' Because mind is our friend and enemy. If you train the mind, then mind is your best friend. And if you cannot train your mind, then it will be your bitterest enemy. Sa vai manaḥ krsna-padaravindayoḥ [SB 9.4.18].

Therefore, mind has always to be engaged on the lotus feet of Krsna, then mind automatically will be controlled and will become friend. So Govinda dasa is expressing his desire: "My dear mind, you just be engaged in devotional service of Nanda-nandana.'' His..., he does not say Krsna. He says Nanda-nandana. Bhajahū re mana sri-nanda-nandana. If we address Krsna directly, that is not very pleasing, but if we say Krsna: Nanda-nandana, Yasoda-nandana, Devaki-nandana, Partha-sarathi-in relationship with His devotee-then He becomes more pleased.

So bhajahū re mana sri-nanda-nandana. Why Sri-Nanda-nandana? Now, abhaya-caranaravinda re. If you take shelter of the lotus feet of Krsna, Nanda-nandana, then you'll have no more anxiety, fear.

This is Bhagavat-darsana. Padam padam yad vipadam. This material world, padam padam means step by step there is danger. So one who takes shelter of the lotus feet of Krsna, mahat-padam punya-yaso murareḥ samasrita, for him there is no more danger. Abhaya-caranaravinda re. How it is possible to take complete shelter of Krsna, which is fearlessness, no anxiety, vaikuntha? Durlabha manava-janama sat-sahge. This is possible if you associate with devotees. If you think that "Now I have become very much advanced. Now I shall live alone and chant Hare Krsna, imitating Haridasa Thakura,'' this is nonsense. You cannot imitate Haridasa Thakura. You have to associate with devotees. Durlabha manava-janama sat sange. Sat-sange. Satam prasahgan mama virya-samvido [SB 3.25.25].

If you remain with the devotees, then by their association, by talking with them, you'll get real understanding of God consciousness. It is very practical to understand. Just like in material world there are many associations, societies. Businessmen, they have got their Stock Exchange association. Those who are dealing in exchange, they have got an association. They go there, and their business facility is very good. Similarly, so many clubs. If you want to drink and enjoy sense, you go to so many clubs and associate with them and you'll learn how to drink, how to mate very nicely. So association is very important thing. Therefore, our Krsna consciousness society, we are giving chance people to associate with us so that they will be able to understand what is Krsna, what is Krsna consciousness.

Therefore Govinda dasa recommends, durlabha manava-janama-sat-sahge. Manava. This human life is durlabha, very rarely obtained. Not dogs' association, crows' association, but swans' association. There are association even by nature. "Birds of the same feather flock together.'' Crows, they'll mix with crows, and the swans will mix with swan. White swan in very nice water, nice garden, they will like that. The crows will not like that. The crows will like where filthy things are thrown away. They'll take pleasure there.

So similarly, according to the quality of nature, there are different association in human society. So it is recommended that durlabha manava sat-sahge: not with the crows but with the swans. You give the swan milk and water, it will take the milk portion and give it up the water portion. Similarly a swan, a hamsa, paramahamsa means in this human form of life, one who takes the spiritual portion of life and rejects the material portion of life, he is called hamsa, paramahamsa. We are mixed. Our body is material, but I am spirit soul. So we have to know the techniques how to get out of this material bondage.

It will come out from this material body, but when it comes out, then it will vanquish the material body. Very good example. The fire, there is..., in the wood there is fire, everyone knows. So you ignite fire, and if you make it dry, then the fire takes place very quickly. And when it is blazing fire, then the wood becomes vanquished. There is no more existence of the wood. Similarly, if you can invoke your spiritual consciousness, Krsna consciousness, when it will be very nicely going on, then your material existence will be finished. This is the process. Durlabha manava-janama sat-sahge taraha e bhava-sindhu re. In this way, just get on the other side of this ocean of nescience.

Then, one may say that "If I associate with the Krsna consciousness movement, then how my family affairs will go on? Who will look after my wife and children, society, friendship, love? I have got so many business.'' Therefore he says, sita atapa bata barisana ei dina jamini jagi re: "My dear mind, you are working so hard.'' Sita atapa. "In severe cold you are going to work. In scorching heat you are going to work. Torrents of rain... You cannot stop your work.'' Sita atapa bata barisana. "Night duty, whole night working.'' People are doing that. Sita atapa bata barisana ei dina jamini jagi re. Whole day work, again I'll get some more money, I'll let you work at night also, extra. In this way we are working. Why you are working? Why you are working?

"In this way I have wasted my time,'' biphale sevinu, "to serve krpana durajana, some so-called society, friendship and love. Krpana, they will not...never be engaged in Krsna consciousness, but I am engaged in their service.'' So this is general, not that every, every family. Mostly 99.9. So biphale sevinu, "In this way I am wasting my time. And what is the pleasure?'' Capala sukha-labha lagi' re. "Few Minutes sex, that's all.'' Behind this sex, so many labor. Therefore, Govinda dasa says that "You are trying to enjoy wealth,'' ei-dhana, yauvana, putra, parijana. Material happiness means to acquire money, dhana; and then jana, many adherents or dependents-wife, children, friends, society, so many things, country. So putra, parijana, ithe ki ache paratiti re. "You cannot have any transcendental bliss in this.''

Kamala-jala-dala, jivana talamala. The life is tottering. You cannot say when the life will be finished. The example is given, kamala-jala-dala. Just like lotus leaf. If you put water on the leaf, it will not stay, it will be tiltering. At any moment it slips. Similarly, our life is like that, tiltering. At any moment-finished. Kamala-jala-dala, jivana..., bhajahu hari-pada niti re. Therefore, engage yourself in Krsna consciousness as much as you can finish before the death comes. That is your mission. And what is Krsna consciousness? Sravana, kirtana, smarana, vandana, pada-sevana, pūjana, sakhi-jana, atma-nivedana, the nine kinds of devotional service, govinda-dasa-abhilasa re.

So everyone should desire like Govinda dasa. Sravana kirtana, these are the devotional process: hearing; chanting; remembering; arcana, worshiping the Deity; vandana, offering prayer. There are nine kinds. So human life is meant for this purpose. And by this process, gradually we ignite the fire of Krsna consciousness, or spiritual consciousness. Then, by that fire, as by blazing fire the wood itself becomes burnt into ashes, so our, all of our covering... The spirit soul is covered by matter, by ignorance. So this covering and ignorance will be burnt into ashes, and you'll become free and go back to home, back to Godhead. This is the purport of this song.