Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.2.8 – [Hindi-final proofreading pending] – March 23, 1975, Calcutta

Nitai: Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya. Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya. Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya. [devotees repeat] [leads chanting of verse, etc.]

[break] [00:44]

"Duties or dharma executed by men are only so much useless labor if they do not provoke attraction for the message of the Supreme Lord."

Prabhupada:

Dharma means to carry out ones duty, Earlier also I have told that dharma does not mean, that we speculate on one thing and that is our religion, just like Hindu religion, Muslim Religion, I accepted it and that's it, No, religion means, as it is explained in English, duty. You will have to do it, one cannot leave it. Just like a servant he has to take the orders from his master, that is his duty, or else the service will not last for long. Similarly, duty of a living entity as explained by Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Sri Krsna is mamai-vamso jiva-bhutah, living entity is my fragmental part and parcel, and how is it fragmental part? like the ansh and anshi. Like my body, your body and there are different parts of the body, like the hands, legs, eyes, ears, different parts.

So what is the function of these parts, the function of eyes is to see, ears duty is to listen, if eyes don't see then one is called blind, that is not is normal condition, that is not natural. It is the duty of eyes to see, if the eyes are unable to see then that is not normal, that is unnatural, it's a disease, eyes duty is to see and serve the body. If body wants to walk, then eyes see and informs that walk from here, legs walk, different body parts have different duties, this is called religion. That is religion of an eye is to see, duty of legs is to walk. Similarly for living entity God says mamai-vamso jiva-bhutah, all the living entities all of us, God says we are his parts, So Just like different parts of the body are engaged in service of the body, similarly, it is the duty of a living entity to be constantly engaged in service of God, this is the duty.

We are parts of his body, so as God wants, he takes different kinds of service from different demigods, similarly he takes different services from different living entities also. So that is called devotional service anukūlyena krsnanu-silanam bhaktir uttama [Cc Madhya 19.167]. Devotional service means every living entity has a specific duty towards God, God wants everyone to do a particular duty for him, that is service, just like God instructed Arjuna to fight, so to fight was Arjuna's duty, that is devotional service anukūlyena krsnanu-silanam, in a friendly manner, not in animosity. Whatever Krsna has said you do that, that is what God also wants, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg 18.6] whatever I am saying you listen to that, surrender on to my feet, this is called religion, that is why God says, sarva-dharman parityajya all the other things that are going on as religion that are going on they are all cheating, the real religion is this anukūlyena krsnanu- silanam, this is the real religion. As God says do that, God says man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg 18.65]

this is your religion, our religion, God himself is saying, that always think about me man-mana bhava mad-bhakto become my devotee, pay obeisances to me and worship me, this is what God says, doing this only is our religion, and whatever else we are doing that is all irreligion, that is why in Bhagavatam it is said dharmaḥ projjhita kaitava atra. All the cheating type of religions, except devotional service, whatever else is going on in the name of religion, all this is kaitava cheating, real religion is this. We have made all our individual religion, so it is said dharmaḥ svanusthitaḥ pumsam, we have speculated all our duties, this is my duty, no problem, do your duty, but at the end by performing your duty you reach the stage of devotional service than your duty is perfect, if not then srama eva hi kevalam it is just hard labor, that's all, the profit you got is labor, labha na koilo kichu, ghatilo janjal Narrottam dasa Thakur says, that we have concocted our duty for the body, there is no profit in this only entanglement. This is the thing, we are trapped in immediate duty and have forgotten God, the only profit we will get out of this is further entanglement nothing else, nothing else. After taking one birth, we will have to take birth again and again, because of being trapped with desires of the body, that is why it is said, one should ask what is religion, religion means as God is saying clearly this is the only religion mam ekam ekam, just like Mayavadi philosophers say that you imagine any form of God and the result will be the same, No, God does not say this, everyone is God's form, you are also God's form and I am also God's form, but God has a special form, that form has to be worshipped, that is why God says mam means me, ekam, this Krsna form. Krsna means Vishnu tattva

Krsna himself is the Supreme Person, this is there in Brahma Samhita, and it is described further govindam adi-purusam tam aham..

Cause of all causes, the original cause is Krsna, Aham adir hi devanam [Bg 10.2] God has explained in Bhagavad-gitaMattaḥ parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya [Bg 7.7], there is no one Absolute truth beyond me. So God himself is saying, we should accept this, understand this and once we understand Lord Krsna, it is not so easy to understand Lord Krsna, it is very difficult, but by mercy of sadhu and devotee association, if we understand some topics of God, then our life is successful, otherwise srama eva hi kevalam it is only hard labor. Bathing in Ganges, applying Tilak, going on pilgrimage to holy places and worship, sacrifice, japa everything, but could not understand what is God, then all this is just hard labor, there is no profit, the profit will be there if one can understand Lord Krsna, aradhito yadi haris tapasa tataḥ kim [Narada Pancaratra].

If one has understood Lord Krsna, then what is the need to austerities, his life is successful. naradhito yadi haris tapasa tataḥ kim [Narada Pancaratra], and if one is doing lot of austerities and sacrifice and japa etc, but did not understand Lord Krsna, then what is the profit in such an austerity. Antarbahir yadi haris tapasa tataḥ kim, If you understand that always inside and outside you can see Krsna, then where is the need to perform any more austerity? this is the result of austerity and nantarbahir yadi haris tapasa tataḥ kim, and after doing all the austerities, if one could not see the lord within and without, then what is the use of such austerity ? These are the principles of the scriptures. In Bhagavad-gita also same thing is said, One who has understood God, then there is nothing left for him to understand Yasmin vijnate sarvam evam vijnatam bhavati this is the instruction of Vedas, that understanding this one person, one can understand everything, that is why it is said, we follow religion, but by following our respective religions, visvaksena-kathasu yaḥ, visvaksena is Gods another name if there is no interest in topics about God then it is srama eva hi kevalam.

By following religion one will become interested in Topics about God that is the result of following religion, all these will be explained later on, what is the meaning of religion

All this is explained, So generally religion is for humans, for animals there is no religion, these scriptures are for humans, not for animals, Animals will only bark nothing else. Supreme Personality of Godhead has made all these scriptures for human beings, it is explained in Caitanya Caritamrta, Anadi bahir-mukha jiva krsna bhuli gela, living entity has forgotten God from time immemorial Anadi bahir-mukha, Living entity is only attracted to the external things, does not know God, from what time it has started, because the relationship between God and the living entity is very deep, it is not proper to forget, we forget, sometimes we also forget things, similarly, when one forgets and from what time he has forgotten he does not know, that is why it is called Anadi, Anadi bahir-mukha jiva krsna bhuli gela ataeva krsna veda-purana karila, all Vedas and other scriptures which are composed by Vyasadeva, Vyasadeva is an incarnation of God, incarnation of Narayan. The living entity in this Kali yuga has forgotten God and they are accepting so much difficulty, formerly there was no need to write any Vedas etc, people had very good memories, that they would listen Vedas from their spiritual masters once and they could remember it, there was no necessity to write, because of the advent of Kaliyuga, Vyasadeva had to compile these Vedas, therefore his name is Vedavyasa. Formerly, students used to learn only by listening, therefore it is called sruti, So Vyasadeva, ataeva krsna,Krsna Dvaipayana Vyasa, Another name of Vyasadeva is Krsna Dviapayana, ataeva krsna veda-purana karila, Krsna means call him a incarnation or his name is Krsna Dviapayana who composed all the Vedas and other scriptures. One should utilize this, what is human life and specifically who has taken birth in India, for him it is very proper, one who has taken birth in India and who has not studied the Vedas and Scriptures and not understood it, such a person has wasted his birth, there is nothing to say, it's useless.

There is a very special objective in taking birth in India, that by learning Vedas and other scriptures one should understand who is God, what is his relation with God, how should we act in that relation, all these things are stated in Vedic literatures, that should be done, Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu mentions bharata bhūmite manusya-janma haila yara, one who has taken birth in India as a human being, not as an ass or a hog, but a human being, he should make his life successful bharata bhūmite manusya-janma haila yara janma sarthaka kari' make one's life successful, because he has got the chance, Only in India in every home there is Gita and Bhagvatam, otherwise nobody reads it or knows it, so much foolish we have become, that is why Caitanya Mahaprabhu specifically says that bharata bhūmite manusya-janma haila yara janma sarthaka kari', janma sarthaka kari' means make your life complete, so how to make it complete, read all the vedic literatures nicely and try to understand, then only your life will be successful. What is the benefit in reading detective books, No, but we are attached to that only, Tad vayasa-tirtham it is mentioned in Bhagavatam na tad vacas citra-padam harer yaso pragrnita karhicit, tad vayasam tirtham, In any scriptures if it is not instructed to sing the glories of God, that scripture is vayasam tirtham, it a place of enjoyment for crows, crows, All the bad things that are thrown on the road crows are interested in that tad vayasam tirtham and the scripture which Glorifies God is for swans paramhamsa, rajahamsa, lives in clear water where there is a lotus flower and the environment is very pleasing, that is where swans stay and crows live where all the bad things are thrown, this is the discrimination even in birds, some are swans and some are crows. Similarly, those who are not interested in Veda and other scriptures and are always engaged in other literature, like newspaper, detective books etc are all crows only rajahamsa will study the scriptures paramhamsa, this is proper, in India this is immediately possible. In India till today there are pandits, devotees who can read the scriptures and make it understand, so one should go to them and understand the essence of scriptures and make one's life successful, not that study and just sit down, Caitanya Mahaprabhu says janma sarthaka kari', Firs of all make your life successful and then broadcast it to the world, I observe all over the world they are all engaged only in eating, sleeping, mating and defending we should tell them, this is India's duty. Go to every corner of earth, big big scholars, saintly and devotee people, go and tell them, they listen, they want to listen very eagerly, that is why they have come, they have not come here to see your sewing machine, when industries made, sewing machines, cycle, that they have already made two hundred years ago, by following that road you will not gain respect, that we have progressed in Industries, what can you do in Industry, they are hundred years ahead of us, but if you give them devotional service, then they will respect you, that is not there, by making machine we cannot become big, we can make it here bon gaya siyar raja, In jungle siyar also becomes raja, that is a different thing, if you want India to be respected, then this mission of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

This should be India's mission, copying the west and making skyscraper buildings will not make you any bigger, they are very much advanced in that. That is why this Krsna Consciousness movement is there, The real wealth which India has, devotional service, and Bhagavad-gita is present, there is no difficulty, Everything is mentioned very clearly in Bhagavad-Gita, explain these things very nicely to them, and you also understand and make your life successful and do paro upkara, simple thing, there is no difficulty. Caitanya Mahaprahu says all of you become guru, gurus are needed since everyone is a fool and an ass, to teach everyone, lots of gurus are needed, but not that guru which talks all nonsense and goes to the west and learns how to eat meat and here he is called a sanyasi.. not that kind of a guru. Guru means as mentioned in the scriptures, just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu says Amara ajnaya guru hana, Become a Guru by following my instructions, not this cheating guru, order following guru, who follow the order of the superior authority, that is a guru and not the one who manufactures his own thing.

These are the characteristics of a Guru,

One who is tattva-darsi, that is a Guru, who has seen the Truth, not this cheating guru, So Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Supreme Personality of Godhead and Krsna also says the same thing ya idam paramam guhyam mad-bhaktesv abhidhasyati [Bg 18.68] na ca tasman manusyesu kascin me priya-krttamaḥ [Bg 18.69]. So, If one preaches words spoken by previous acaryas and God then he is a bonafide guru, otherwise one cannot just become guru, So Caitanya Mahaprabhu says Amara ajnaya guru hana tara ei desa [Cc Madhya 7.128], By my order what I am saying, What is Caitanya Mahaprabhu saying? Same thing what God is saying. Lord Sri Krsna said mam ekam saranam vraja and Caitanya Mahaprabhu is saying that worship Krsna chant the holy names of God Hare Krsna, this is Krsna's worship, there is no difference. And Ciatanya Mahaprabhu Specifically says

This is the disciplic succession, Caitanya Mahaprabhu is not instructing something new, he says whatever Krsna has instructed, tell that to all yare dekha, tare kaha, wherever and to whomever you meet, is this difficult or what, If every person starts doing this, that Supreme Personality of Godhead wants in Bhagavad-gitathat all should surrender at his feet, that is why I am telling you that you also surrender to God, that's it and one becomes a guru, is there any difficulty 'krsna'-upadesa whatever Krsna is saying just say that, you don't have to manufacture something yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa.

So it is proper for everyone as Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, Krsna says, similarly Krsna consciousness movement should be preached all over the world otherwise whatever we are doing is simply hard labor without any profit. So dharmaḥ svanusthitaḥ pumsam visvaksena-kathasu yaḥ, Increase your interest and try to create interest in others, this is the instruction in the scriptures, so everyone together should explain others that Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam, Krsna is the real God Krsnas tu bhagavan svayam and he wants that everyone should surrender at his feet and I am also assimilating his message and like peon am reciting dante nidhaya trnakam all these big saintly persons do the same thing Dante nidhaya trnakam padayor nipatya. I am holding a straw in my mouth and very humbly and in a flattering way I am praying at your feet, this is the preaching topic. So one who is sane, will listen, that you are so humbly requesting to speak, then tell what you want to say, then one should say that he sadhavaḥ, you are very saintly, and you know and listen from all, this is my request sakalam eva vihaya dūrad whatever you have learned, throw all that away, throw all the far away sakalam eva vihaya dūrad then what should I do ? Caitanya-candra-carane kurutanuragam, just follow what Caitanya Mahaprabhu is instructing, this is preaching, this is the duty of a preacher. Kali yuga is an age of quarrel so by forcing too much everything will be spoiled, so one has to flatter them, that I am falling at your feet and flattering you by holding a straw in my mouth I am requesting that you are very saintly and learned, kindly forget everything, only listen to what Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said, so what has Caitanya Mahaprabhu said? yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa, whomever you meet, in market, at home, in train, aeroplane, this is what Bhagavad-gitasays sarva-dharman parityajya chant Hare Krsna, that's all you become guru. So dharmaḥ svanusthitaḥ pumsam visvaksena-kathasu yaḥ and one more topic about religion, religion means duty.

So every individual has his own duty, just like I explained earlier, so in a real human society there should be four divisions Caturvarnyam maya sristam gunakarmavibagasah, this must be there Brahman, kshatriya, vaishya, sudra. Who is a Brahman, who has good intelligence and he has practiced austerities satyam saucam sama dama titiksa arjavam jnanam vijnanam astikyam brahma-karma svabhava-jam [Bg 18.42] this should be taught, one class of men there must be brahmans, otherwise who will guide the society, everyone has become sudra, so who will guide, in kali yuga this is the difficulty kalau sūdra-sambhavaḥ there is no Brahman, who will teach, there is no brain, sudra means legs, Brahman means head, and ksatriya means arms, and viashya means stomach, just like in a body there are four division, similarly society should be divided into four divisions, And there should be cooperation between these divisions, then it is a perfect society. Just like you and I have, brain, hands, legs, stomach, if they work in cooperation then body is healthy every work will be done properly.

That is why God says Caturvarnyam maya sristam these brahmans, kshatriya all these, modern thinking is remove all this and all become sudras, there is no profit in that, All the sudras have taken the position in Government, what can they do, what can a sudra do, ksatriya is needed. That is why the situation is miserable. All there four divisions of religion, this is called Varnashram religion, we have given a name Hindu, it is not Hindu, Hindu is the name given by Muslim people, the name in the scripture is Varnashram religion, it is not Hindu religion, Varnashram, four varnas and four ashram Brahman, kshatriya, vaisaya, sudra and brahmachari, grahasta, vanaprasta and sanyasa. All these eight things have to go in a very organized way, in Kali yuga this is also impossible and there are no proper Brahman, kshatriya and vaisya, that is why God has instructed in the scriptures that never mind if you are a Brahman, sudra, kshatriya or whatever you are, your work is to satisfy God this is the real duty varnashram vibhagashya, this has been concluded in Niamisharanya amongst, big big, brahmans and sages, atha pumbhir dvija-srestha, this is explained by Suta Goswami, you are all dvija-srestha big big brhamans are present here, So as per the scriptures this is the instruction Ataḥ pumbhir dvija-sresthaḥ varnasrama-vibhagasaḥ, same varnasrama has been spoken here, four varnas and four ashram. varnasrama-vibhagasaḥ, svanusthitasya dharmasya samsiddhir hari-tosanam [SB 1.2.13], the same thing is here, you be a Brahman or be a brahmacari or sudra or grahasta or whatever you are, your real duty is samsiddhir. If you want to attain perfection samsiddhir hari-tosanam then you have to satisfy God. In Kaliyuga having these divisions brhaman, kshatriya, vaisya, sudra, brahmachari, grahasta, vanaprastha is very difficult, that is why one work is suitable for all that is hari-tosanam, satisfy God, then you will attain perfection samsiddhir hari-tosanam. In Kali yuga, the Supreme Personality of Godhead will be satisfied by simple process, why and how?

That is why as per the direction of the scriptures we are in a extremely fallen condition, that is why harer nama, chanting the name of Supreme Personality of God head, not any name, harer nama, that is why it is specifically mentioned harer nama, Supreme Personality of Godhead has many names, Rama, Nrshima, etc many many names, take any name. Recently I was in Tehran, that is a muslim country, So somebody argued, that why should we take your Krsna's name, we said don't take Krsna's name, but God has many name, what name do you understand, he said, we call him Allah, So take Allah's name, but take God's name only and nothing else nama namakari bahula nija sakta sakti. So accept God's name as mentioned in the scriptures, and make your life perfect, there is no difficulty, and if you do not take God's name and do not understand him dharmaḥ svanusthitaḥ visvaksena-kathasu, you did not accept God, then this life is wasted srama eva hi kevalam, this is the direction of the scriptures. So in Kaliyuga, this is very easy, chant

this is,

This is mentioned in Bhagavad-gita, that chant My name every moment satatam, satatam means twenty four hours a day, while walking, sitting, sleeping, eating, drinking all the time Hare Krsna.

All these are the directions in scriptures, by accepting the scriptures, one will attain to perfection, otherwise it is not possible otherwise it is only srama eva hi kevalam. If we leave the direction of the scriptures aside then na sa siddhim avapnoti

He can never attain perfection, na sukham na param gatim he is not purified and there is no question of reaching ultimate position. So in scriptures instructions are there, Ciatanya Mahaprabhu has preached harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam it is a very easy method, this is our request that please accept this and chant, your life will be successful. Thank you very much.

Devotees: Jaya Srila Prabhupada

Prabhupada: [Bengali] …bhakta ttava kichu noya janam dehi, rupam dehi, rupavati bhasyani dehi, yaso dehi and give everything and I will enjoy. [Bengali] Specifically talking about kali puja and unrestricted meat eating during that time by people. As per the scriptures the injunction was to restrict the meat eating business by performing sacrifices at particular times giving examples from Quran for Muslim explaining Christians ten commandments Thou shall not kill

Prabhupada: Any other question. No more questions? Alright. Thank you very much.

Devotees: Jaya Srila Prabhupada …

Devotee: [Bengali]

Prabhupada: [Bengali] janma karma ca me divyam…..

Devotee: [Bengali]

Prabhupada: [Bengali] [end]