Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.6 – March 26, 1972, Bombay

720326SB-BOMBAY [48:39 Minutes]

What is that religion?

Prabhupada:

So this morning one gentleman was asking me, "Why there are so many religions in the world?" Very intelligent question. But actually there cannot be so many religions. Religion is one, but we have manufactured so many religions. Religion means dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam [SB 6.3.19]: what is made, or given, by God, bhagavat saksad, directly given by God. Saksad means directly.

There is a simple definition of religion, just like we can understand what is law. The law is the order given by the state. There is no misunderstanding. Anyone will understand what is the meaning…, what is the meaning of law. The state says, "You should do like this," you have to abide by that order. That is good citizenship, as it is practical, with reference to the laws of the state. Similarly, religion means the law given by the Lord. Everyone, in every scripture-either Hindu scripture, Muslim scripture or Christian scripture-the God is there, center, and according to the time, circumstances, country, people, that law is obeyed. So there is no difficulty to understand what is meant by religion.

Now here Sūta Gosvami says that first-class religion, sa vai pumsam paro dharmo. Paro means superior. There are different types of religion, but still there is some superior and some inferior. Because religion cannot be superior or inferior, but because this world, this material world, is conducted by the material nature, there are three kinds of material modes: goodness, passion and ignorance. So just like those who are in the modes of ignorance, they want to eat meat. Now for them there must be some religion. What is that religion? According to Vedic system the order is that you don't eat meat which is not offered to the goddess Kali. That means restriction: he is restricted, at least, to meat eat, ah, eat meat anywhere, by the slaughterhouse. According to the wide[?] Hinduism… Even in Muhammadanism, they also allow to eat meat by Koran, Eid; that is also one day in a year.

So according to country, people, there may be differences, but here it is said that the first-class religion is that which simply teaches devotional service to the Lord. That is first class. And if you are situated on the platform of first-class religion, then automatically all the good qualities of human being, they become developed.

If anyone has developed unalloyed akincana, unalloyed devotion for God, Krsna, then all the good qualities of the demigods will develop in him, automatically. Practical example: just see these boys, American and European boys. Before coming to my fold they were meat-eaters, illicit-sex hunters, intoxicants, gamblers-all these. These are common things in Europe and America. And since they have come to Krsna consciousness and taken to this devotional service seriously, they are freed from all this contamination. All unwanted things, anartha, that will be immediately disappearing. Exactly like this light and darkness: as soon as there is light, you haven't got to make separate effort to drive away darkness; immediately darkness will go away.

There is a verse in Caitanya caritamrta, krsna-sūrya-sama [Cc Madhya 22.31]: Krsna consciousness is just like sunlight. Maya andhakara, and maya is just like darkness. Yahah sūrya yahah krsna tahah nahi mayara adhikara: as soon as there is Krsna consciousness, no more maya, no more illusion. Krsna also says in the Bhagavad-gita,

The impersonalist philosophers, they are trying to get out of the clutches of maya. But here is a simple formula, given by the greatest authority, Krsna:

Therefore it is recommended here that sa vai pumsam paro dharmo. Paro means superior, superior dharma, first class. What is that? Yato bhaktir adhoksaje: by following the system of such religion, one becomes gradually an unalloyed devotee of the Supreme Lord. That is first class. Everything is there. In Krsna consciousness, whatever good qualities you want to see, you will find there.

Take for example ahimsa. The whole Buddha religion is based on this principle, nonviolence. A krsna-bhakta is nonviolent; he will never try to eat any animal. The whole Buddha philosophy, Jain[?] philosophy, is preached just to stop animal killing, ahimsa paramo dharmaḥ. The krsna-bhakta is automatically in that platform. In Muhammadan religion they say that bandar[?], we are servants of God. We are actually dasyam.

In the Christian religion there is prayer. They kneel down before Jesus Christ and offer prayers. We have got this: vandanam. Vandanam means offering prayer. So you take any religion of the whole world, you will find all those good things in Krsna consciousness movement-plus love of Godhead. This is the process, and it is recommended. We don't want to see what kind of religion you are following. It is all right. Everyone will say that "My religion is first class." That's all right, but there is a test.

What is that test? Yato bhaktir adhoksaje [SB 1.2.6]: whether you have developed love of God, that is the test. If you have developed love of God, then your religion-we don't say either this Hinduism, or Muslimism or any ism-if you are hankering, you are mad after God, that is your culmination of following religious system. Otherwise, that will be explained in the next verse, srama eva hi kevalam: it is simply laboring hard.

The next verse,

Everyone is trying to perform the religious principle as he has understood. Therefore Sūta Gosvami says, dharmaḥ svanusthitaḥ. Everyone has got his own religion, and he is trying to execute the religious principles very nicely. But the result: dharmaḥ svanusthitaḥ pumsam.

Yadi, yadi means "if" one does not develop an attachment to hear about God... This is the test, visvaksena-katha. God's another name, Krsna's another name is Visvaksena. Visvaksena is situated in the stomach, and He helps your digestion. If Visvaksena does not help you in digesting, then you are forbidden to eat: not anymore. So Visvaksena. There are thousands and millions of names of God, and Visvaksena is one of the names. So visvaksena-kathasu: if one does not become interested to hear about God… Just like Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, they are called krsna-katha.

Bhagavad-gita is the katha, or words, spoken by the Lord Himself. Therefore it is krsna-katha-krsnaḥ sva-kathaḥ [SB 1.2.17], the words spoken by God Himself. Similarly, this Srimad-Bhagavatam is also krsna-katha. This is also krsnaḥ sva-kathaḥ. It is spoken, Srimad-Bhagavatam is spoken about Krsna-about Krsna's activities, about Krsna's birth, about Krsna's appearance, disappearance, activities; about Krsna's devotees. Therefore it is called Bhagavatam: in relationship with Krsna; everything in relationship with Krsna.

So Sūta Gosvami says that you may execute your religious principle very nicely, but simply "I am Hindu," "I am Muhammadan," "I am Christian," "My religion is better; therefore your religion is bad, so I shall fight," this is not religion. The test is whether you are Hindu, whether you are Muslim, whether you are Christian or Jews or Buddhist, it doesn't matter. Whether you have developed your love for God-that is the test.

If your attraction is not developed to hear about God… Because at the present moment, practically the whole world, what to hear of God? They do not believe in the existence of God. And if somebody believes, that is also in a different way denying the existence of God. Those who do not believe in God, they say sūnyavadi, "Ultimately there is a void, voidism." This is one class. And there is another class, nirvisesavadi: "Yes, God may be there, but He's without head, without tail, nirakara." So this is another way of voidism, nirvisesa-sūnyavadi.

Therefore the students sing the song, nirvisesa-sūnyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine. The whole Western world is full of voidism and impersonalism, and we are presenting Krsna, the Supreme Person. They want to make God void or without any form, but we are presenting form: here is Krsna, here is God, krsnas tu bhagavan [SB 1.3.28].

It is revolutionary, but still they are accepting. Because there is substance; it is not voidism, everything zero. The philosophy is also zero, the ultimate goal is also zero, and the result is also zero. The result is also zero: no understanding what is God. That is not positive.

Therefore it is said by Sūta Gosvami,

If actually one is religious, if actually one has developed his religious or his original constitutional position… Religious means to revive your original consciousness. That is religion. This is consciousness: visvaksena-kathasu. As soon as you develop Krsna consciousness you will be naturally attracted by krsna-katha. That is the test. So Sūta Gosvami says that unless one has developed this sense of attachment for krsna-katha, then he says,

Yadi ratim means attachment; notpadayed, not developed. Then srama eva hi kevalam, simply waste of time. Simply waste of time. Srama. Srama means labor, laborer life, without any gain. Srama eva. In another verse he says that,

Now, in this human form of life two things are required: jnana, vairagya. This is really achievement. Dharmartha-kama-moksa. Moksa means jnana and vairagya. And dharmartha-kama, that is material, because generally people execute religious principle, dharma, for gaining some money, artha. And why artha is required? Now, satisfy our senses, kama. And when one is baffled and confused in kama, satisfaction of the senses, then they go to moksa, to merge into the existence, moksa.

But this Krsna consciousness is above moksa. Above moksa. Therefore Vyasadeva has already said, dharmaḥ projjhita-kaitavo [SB 1.1.2]. [indistinct] Kaitavo means executing dharma. If you want some sense gratification, that is called cheating. There is no question of sense gratification by executing dharma. That is pure dharma; that is paro dharma. Paro dharma means the person who is executing paro dharma, he has no desire for sense gratification. He simply wants to serve Krsna. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu says,

Ahaituki: without any cause. Without any cause. Therefore it is recommended that vasudeve bhagavati. Bhagavati vasudeve. Vasudeva is Krsna, the son of Vasudeva. The son of Vasudeva. In the Artha Veda it is described, "Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the son of Vasudeva." Sahkaracarya, who is impersonalist, he also accepts Krsna: sa bhagavan svayam krsnaḥ, "That supreme Narayana has appeared as Krsna, as the son of Vasudeva." Vasudeva and Devaki, he has specifically mentioned. Those who have read Sahkaracarya's commentary on Bhagavad-gita, they will find it in the very beginning, how Sahkaracarya accepts Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead who has appeared as the son of Vasudeva and Devaki. Therefore, Krsna's another name is Vasudeva.

There is much to learn about Vasudeva. Vasudeva… Krsna's appearance in Dvaraka and Mathura is His Vasudeva feature, and Krsna as pure, He is in Vrndavana. But They are one. But sometimes mundane scholars like Bankim Chandra Chatterjee-perhaps you have heard his name; he is a big story writer-he could not understand. He has written one essay on Krsna. He has differentiated that the Krsna of Mathura and Krsna of Vrndavana and Krsna of Battlefield of Kuruksetra, They are different person. But They are not different. They are the one, but the manifestation of different features.

So here it is stated, vasudeve bhagavati. Vasudeve bhagavati means that one can approach Krsna when He is in the Vasudeva feature. Just like He is present in the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, that is His Vasudeva feature. Krsna's pure feature, krsnas tu bhagavan svayam [SB 1.3.28], that Krsna, always in Vrndavana. He does not move even an inch from Vrndavana, because He is so much overpowered by the devotion of the residents of Vrndavana.

So real called Krsna-real Krsna because Krsna is always real-but the Krsna in His original feature, Govinda… Original feature is called Govinda, adi-purusam.

That original Krsna, Govinda, is engaged in tending cows, surabhir abhipalayantam. He is a cowherd boy in the village. That is real feature of Krsna. And He is worshiped by Laksmi, sahasra-sata-sambhrama-sevyamanam. Sahasra, the gopis, hundreds and thousands of gopis, some of them are just like mother, and some of them are friends. And in this relationship Krsna is always in the Goloka Vrndavana planet.

These are the Vedic description. This Brahma-samhita is one of the samhitas of Vedic literature, composed by Lord Brahma and accepted by Lord Caitanya. The authority we cannot deny, because this Brahma-samhita was found in southern India in some temple in handwritten, and Caitanya Mahaprabhu collected from that temple when He was traveling there, and He brought it back and presented it to His devotees, that "Here is the essence of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Brahma-samhita." Therefore Brahma-samhita is authentic, and all the Vaisnavas, they accept; all the acaryas, they accept. If you read Brahma-samhita, the transcendental abode of Krsna is described and the activities of Krsna is described. Don't think that this Krsna feature has been carved by artist. No.

It is described in the Brahma-samhita,

Venum kvanantam: He is playing on His flute. Surabhir abhipalayantam: He is tending the cows, surabhi cows. Those cows are not as ordinary cows. Surabhi. The surabhi cow means you can milk as much milk as you want, and as many times as you want-it will deliver. Because they are all spiritual; there is nothing material. But some of them are serving Krsna as cows, some of them are serving Krsna as trees, some of them are serving Krsna as men. Some of them are serving Krsna as house[?], some of them are serving Krsna as gopis, some of them are serving as Krsna's father, mother. In this way, Krsna has got His all paraphernalia in that platform, surabhi, cintamani-prakara-sadmasu.

So we should not take it falsely, that "Krsna is a imagination," "There is no person like Krsna in the history." Krsna appeared. The Mahabharata is the history. So Krsna is not fictitious. Krsna is fact. But those who are atheist, those who are miscreant, for them Krsna is fictitious, null and void, like that, they describe. This is our misfortune. But actually if we try to understand Krsna from the authentic scripture, Vedic literature, then this process:

If you apply your devotional service, bhakti-yogaḥ prayojitaḥ, [indistinct Sanskrit] then the result will be janayaty asu vairagyam. Asu. Asu means very soon; vairagyam, vairagyam means detachment for this material world. That is called vairagya. And jnana, and knowledge, these two things are required. That is perfection of human life. Jnana, brahma-jnana, or self-realization-that is required. And vairagya. If anyone has got jnana, then he must have vairagya. The result of jnana means vairagya.

That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita,

Prasannatma. Brahma-bhūtaḥ. As soon as you are on the platform of jnana, knowledge, that is called the brahma-bhūtaḥ stage. At the present moment, without jnana, without knowledge, we are jiva-bhūtaḥ. But from jiva-bhūtaḥ stage we can be elevated to the brahma-bhūtaḥ stage. That is called jnana. That is the result of jnana. And when you are actually on the platform of jnana, then you will be detached from the attraction of this material world: brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannatma. Why detached? If you are perfectly in knowledge that "I am not this body," aham brahmasmi, "I am spirit soul," if you are perfectly in knowledge, then how you can be attached to this material world or to these bodily necessities of life?

Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura has sung a nice song: deha-smrti nahi yara samsara-bandhana kahah tara: "One who has become detached from these bodily concepts of life, no more he is conditioned. He is already liberated," deha-smrti nahi yara. This can be possible. This can be possible. The example is given just like the coconut: the coconut when it is raw, everything is attached; but when it is dry, if you move it, you'll hear the sound, krt-krt, krt-krt. That means the shell within the coconut, he has separated from the coir. He has separated from the coir. This is possible. Similarly, even within this material body, if you follow the principles of bhakti-yoga, vasudeve bhagavati-bhakti-yoga through Vasudeva, not bhakti-yoga through anything else-vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogaḥ prayojitaḥ-then you will be detached, gradually.

The more… Another example is given, bhaktiḥ paresanubhavo viraktir anyatra syat [SB 11.2.42]. Bhakti, if one is actually advancing in bhakti, then result will be that he will be no more attached to this material enjoyment. That is the test. And the example is further explained: Just like if you are hungry, and if you are given a nice dish of foodstuff, you go on eating, you go on eating. But as you eat, your hunger is satisfied; you'll get strength and you will get satisfaction.

Similarly, if you engage yourself in the bhakti-yoga system to Vasudeva, similarly, in exactly the same way the hungry man eating, you will feel satisfaction. You will feel that "I am now spiritually strong." There is no more need of taking recommendation from others. Automatically you understand. Just like when you are eating, nobody required to give you recommendation that you are now satisfied; you will feel. Pratyaksavagamam dharmyam.

Therefore in the Bhagavad-gita Krsna says this bhakti-yoga is pratyaksavagamam dharmyam [Bg 9.2]. In any other religion type, religious principles, you cannot understand how far you are proceeded. But this bhakti-yoga is so nice that you will directly understand, "Yes, I am now making progress." Vasudeve bhagavati. And the test is not that simply I say, "Yes, I have made progress." The test is the jnana and vairagya. There will be full knowledge, and vairagya. Knowledge means vairagya. I have got full attachment of the material world, and now I am saying I have realized Brahman-that is not Brahman realization. Brahman realization means brahma...,

That is practical. In the material world we have got two kinds of diseases: hankering for things which you haven't got, you do not possess, and lamenting for things which you have lost. But brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannatma na socati na kahksati. He becomes neutral. He is no more hankering. Because if one understands that "I am not this material body. I have no material necessity," then why shall I be hankering for possessing material things? That is your understanding. That is brahma-bhūta stage. Not that I am hankering after so many things and still I am nobody. But this facility for the bhaktas, that is very nice. Bhakta's endeavor is that nirbandha-krsna-sambandhe: they engage others in Krsna's sambandha.

Just like yesterday I told you the story of Rūpa Gosvami. Rūpa Gosvami was minister. He left everything, and he went to Vrndavana by the order of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and he was living each night underneath one tree. Not the second night; the second night he would go to another tree, underneath another, because he may develop some attachment: "Oh, it is very nice place." Such vairagya. This is called vairagya. Vairagya. So we have to practice. This Rūpa Gosvami, he was so exalted devotee, he was also afraid of being attached to the place underneath the tree.

So these are examples given to us to learn, although it is very difficult to... We don't require to imitate, but these are the examples. Bhakti-yoga does not teach you to imitate artificially something, but the method should be accepted. That is bhakti-yoga. Therefore that Rūpa Gosvami has given us instruction that,

He was so much detached, but he recommended that "Don't be attached to the material enjoyment." Anasaktasya visayan. Visayan means material enjoyment. "Don't be attached, but you can use everything," nirbandhaḥ krsna-sambandhe, "in relationship with Krsna."

So…, and he gave example in his life also. I have already narrated that story. This Rūpa Gosvami, when he was approached by Maharaja Mansihgh, the commander-in-chief of Akbar's Pathans... So formerly rich men used to do that, so "Sir, can I do something for you?" So Rūpa Gosvami saw that "This gentleman is very rich king and commander in charge; he has got money, so he should spend money for Krsna." He recommended that "You should construct a nice temple for my Govinda." He did not ask anything, "You give me something." No. He asked that "You please construct a temple for my Govinda."

Of course, Rūpa Gosvami's Govinda is always with Rūpa Gosvami, either he is underneath a tree or in a palace. Govinda cannot give up the association of the devotees, and the devotee cannot give up the association of Govinda. Similarly, Govinda cannot give up the association of the devotee, either he is underneath a tree or in a big palace. That is another thing. But Rūpa Gosvami recommended, because he had money-he would utilize his money for sense gratification-let that money be engaged in Krsna's service. That was required.

So this is called bhakti-yoga. If everyone is engaged in bhakti-yoga, never mind whether he is Maharaja Mansihgh or a beggar like me, it doesn't matter. If anyone… Because in the beginning Sūta Gosvami says,

This bhakti-yoga cannot be hampered by any material condition. It is not that simply Maharaja Mansihgh could be engaged in devotional service. No. A beggar like me can also be engaged in bhakti-yoga without any hampering. Everyone can. But everyone should be engaged according to his status, according to his position. Just like Krsna says,

Krsna says that a little flower, a little leaf, a little water. Just see-who cannot afford to offer these things to Krsna? The poorest man of the world, any corner of the world, these things are available still. May be different, but He demands, patram puspam phalam toyam: any kind of fruit, any kind of flower, any kind of leaf and any kind of water. He does not say specific, that one has to offer Ganges water and tulasi leaf. That is nice, but if in Czechoslovakia or in Norway there is no Ganges water and there is no tulasi leaf, is it that Krsna will not be worshiped? No. Ahaituky apratihata. Krsna worship cannot be checked in any part of the world by any man, throughout the world.

Any man born in the abominable family, canḍala, still Krsna is giving liberty, "Yes, you can worship." Krsna says personally that,

Papa-yoni means "lower than the sūdras." Sūdras are also papa-yoni, even striya sūdra tatha vaisya. Krsna says,

This striya, vaisya and sūdra, they are also almost papa-yoni. But lower than them Krsna offers them opportunity. Of course He offers everyone. In next verse He says,

So what to speak of brahmanas and the rajarsis, ksatriyas. He, "Lower than them, or the lowest of men, can offer Me devotion." Then what to speak of these higher, elevated personalities?

That is recommended. It doesn't matter whether you are a brahmana or a ksatriya or a vaisya or a sūdra or a woman or a lower than them, mleccha, yavana-never mind. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is clearly said,

These are mentioned. Kirata, kirata means the Africans. Kirata-hūna, the hūna nation. They are, on the northern side of Germany, they are hūnas. Andhra. Andhra is there in our country. So these things are described:

Khasadayaḥ is Mongolian. Yavanaḥ, yavanaḥ means the Greeks, the Romans. They were known in our history as yavana. They were sons of Maharaja Yayati. That is historical reference. So not only all these mentioned, but even those who are not mentioned, ye 'nye ca papa. Others, who are not mentioned but they are born of sinful families, dog-eaters, sudhyanti, they can be purified.

How? Prabhavisnave namaḥ. Prabhavisnave. One may question how these men can be purified. The answer is, by Sukadeva Gosvami, "That is the transcendental power of Lord Visnu," prabhavisnave namaḥ. So anyone can be engaged in this bhakti-yoga. It is a very easy.

Then the result… The Mayavadi philosophers and the jnani-sampradaya, the yogi-sampradaya, who are going…, undergoing severe austere life, they are just to attain to the stage of jnana and vairagya. But these two things can be achieved very easily, as it is recommended here, and practically you can see.

You cannot understand how it has happened. How it has happened, this is the miracle. Just like when I went to America, I was thinking that "Who will hear me? As soon as I will say that 'You cannot eat meat, you cannot have illicit sex, you cannot have any intoxication up to smoking and you cannot indulge in gambling,' the next day they will say, 'Please go home.' " Yes.

Because it was actually experienced by one of my Godbrother. He went to London, and Lord Zetland, Marquis of Zetland, he was talking with him, this gentleman, at my Godbrother, that "Can you make me brahmana?" He said, "Yes, I can make you brahmana." "How?" "Then give up these four things: don't drink, don't have illicit sex, don't indulge in gambling and don't eat meat." He said, "Impossible." He said, "Impossible. This is our life." This was talking fairly talk. So I was thinking that "As soon as I will prescribe these things, these boys, or these people of America, they will say, 'Please go home.' " But it is Krsna's mercy. Here it is said ahaituki. Nobody can understand how it has happened, but actually it has happened. How?

Simply I advised them to accept Krsna the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and worship Him. They have done it, and they have attained the achieve: jnana and vairagya.

Thank you very much. Hare Krsna.

Devotees: All glories to Srila Prabhupada. [end]