Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.5.17–18 – June 21, 1969, New Vrindavan

690621SB-NEW VRINDAVAN [42:50 Minutes]

Narada Muni is our previous acarya

[SB 1.5.17]

Prabhupada: [chants mahgalacarana]

So we are discussing Narada Muni's instruction to Vyasadeva to make him correct. Vyasadeva, such a scholar, Vedavyasa... He is known as the topmost scholar in Vedic knowledge. Not only that; he has compiled so many books, literary achievement, there is no comparison in the world. But still, he is not satisfied, and Narada Muni is instructing him that "You should write exclusively on the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, hearing which, there will be actual peace and prosperity all over the world." This is the secret. Without God consciousness, or Krsna consciousness, there cannot be any peace in the world.

So we were discussing in our last meeting that if a person, by sentiment or by persuasion or by some material gain or somehow or other, decides to accept the statement of Bhagavad-gita, Krsna... Krsna says that sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg 18.66]. Ekam: "Only unto Me." He even does not say that there are many incarnations of Krsna, but He says, mam ekam. This ekam can be understood in this way, that when we speak "Krsna," this term includes everything Krsna, all-attractive. But we can capture everything in Krsna simply by...

Just like the same example, as we have repeatedly..., that by supplying food in the stomach, you supply food to all the limbs of the body. You don't require... This is practical. Or pouring water on the root of the tree, you supply water to all the branches, leaves, everywhere. We see every day. This is practical example. Simply... Similarly, there must be something central point of all this manifestation. That is Krsna. If we simply capture Krsna, then we capture everything.

And the Vedas also says, yasmin vijnate sarvam idam vijnatam bhavati [Munḍaka Upanisad 1.3]. We are searching after departmental knowledge, but if you simply understand Krsna, the central point, then you understand everything. You understand everything. Just like we sometimes speak which great scientists cannot speak. Why? Because we have captured the central point: Krsna.

So in the last day's meeting we discussed that even by sentiment, without understanding Krsna, simply by sentiment, "All right, these..., all these boys and girls are dancing in 'Krsna, Krsna.' So let me also join this Krsna Movement and dance," he will derive the greatest benefit. Simply... Tyaktva sva-dharmam [SB 1.5.17].

Everyone is engaged, busy in his own occupation-businessman, student, lawyer, engineer, politician, so many. But Narada says that "If these people give up everything..." The same instruction, as Krsna says, "Give up everything. Surrender unto Me," Narada says the same thing.

That is the, I mean to say, significance, that whatever God, or Krsna, says, His devotee also will say the same thing. There is no difference. Therefore it is called parampara. Devotee will not manufacture something, interpretation, which is against the version of Krsna. Then he is not devotee. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu: He is playing the role of a devotee. Krsna says that "You surrender unto Me," and Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, "You surrender unto Krsna." So there is no difference between the teaching..., teachings of Lord Caitanya and teachings of Lord Krsna. The object is the same.

So we are... What we are doing? We are also asking people, "Chant Hare Krsna," the same thing. There is no difference. Therefore one has to accept the real thing from the parampara system, serious devotee. Then... Because a serious devotee will speak the same thing as Krsna says. There is no invention.

So Narada Muni says... Because Narada Muni is our previous acarya, disciplic succession from Brahma to Narada, Narada to Vyasadeva, and Vyasadeva to others. So Narada Muni's instructing his disciple that tyaktva sva-dharmam: "If somebody gives..., gives up his occupational duty..." Just like sometimes we are taken as some crazy fellows. We have no concern with any political movement or social movement. We have taken simply Krsna consciousness movement. So they may think that "This is a society of crazy fellows. They have given up everything, simply chanting 'Krsna, Krsna, Krsna, Krsna, Krsna.' " But Narada Muni confirms, it is the first-class thing.

He says that "If somebody, giving up everything, simply takes to Krsna..." Tyaktva sva-dharmam caranambujam hareḥ [SB 1.5.17] Caranambujam hareḥ, he takes, determines: "Now, from this day, I shall simply chant Hare Krsna. I shall do nothing..." "So," Narada Muni says, "if somebody does like that..." Bhajana...

And Sridhara Svami says that sva-dharma-tyagena, nanu sva-dharma-tyagena bhajan paripakena yadi krtartho bhavet tada na kacic cinta: "All right, this boy has taken to Krsna consciousness. It is very good. Let him do that. If he comes to the perfectional point of Krsna consciousness, it is very good." But yadi punar apakva eva mriyeta: "But if he does not prosecute Krsna consciousness rightly, maturely, and if he dies..."

Because death is expected every moment. So suppose we are prosecuting this Krsna consciousness. Now death may come immediately. We all die. So Narada Muni gives us encouragement that punar apakva eva mriyeta tato bhrasyed va: "Either we die or sometimes we fall down..." Because maya and Krsna, side by side. "So it is all right. We are in Krsna consciousness. But if we fall down...," bhrasyed va tada sva-dharma-tyaga-nimitto 'narthaḥ syad, "then you have given up your all other duties. So for giving up your duty, there must be some punishment."

I don't mean in this worldly punishment. Just like, according to Vedic system, there are brahmanas, ksatriyas; for example, just like Krsna was advising Arjuna that "You are ksatriya. So if you die in this fight, then your heavenly door is open." Because, according to sastra, if a ksatriya dies while fighting, then automatically he gets promotion in the heavenly planet. And if he goes away, giving up the fighting, then he goes to hell. So similarly, if one does not discharge his duties, prescribed duties, then he falls down.

Narada Muni says, "Even if he falls down, still, there is no loss. Even if he falls down, there is no loss." Sva-dharma-tyaga-nimitto 'narthaḥ syad ity asahkhyaha. Tato bhajanat pated katancid bhrasyen mriyeta va yadi tad api bhakti-rasikasya karmanadhikaran na. Even there is such chance that I may fall down or I may not be mature, still, Narada Muni gives, "There is no question of hesitation. Accept it. Even if you think that you'll not be able to prosecute Krsna consciousness in full, still, you accept it." Na sahka.

Ahgikrtyapy aha. Va-sabdaḥ katakse. Sridhara Svami says that this word, here... Bhajann apakvo 'tha patet tato yadi va. Va means "What is there, even if he falls down?" Yatra kva va nica-yonav apy amusya bhakti-rasikasyabhadram abhūt kim. Now... Now, suppose a brahmana, a brahmana, he is..., he has got so many duties. As a brahminical, he has to perform so many sacrifices, nitya... There are different... Satya, samo damas titiksa. Satya means truthfulness; sama means controlling the senses; dama means... Dama means controlling senses; sama means controlling the mind. Satya, sama, dama, titiksa, tolerance. [Bg 18.42] There are so many nice qualification. So if a brahmana does not discharge his duties, it is said that he becomes a sūdra, or falls down. Sthanad bhrastaḥ patanty adhaḥ [SB 11.5.3].

So Narada Muni says that "Suppose next life a brahmana falls down, he takes to Krsna consciousness. Neither he executes the brahminical duties, nor he could prosecute Krsna consciousness to perfection, still," Narada Muni says, "there is no loss." There is no loss. Yatra kva va nica-yonav apy amusya abhadram abhūt kim.. Now, if the brahmana, by not executing his prescribed duties, he becomes a sūdra-next life he takes birth in a sūdra family or lower than sūdra family-so Narada Muni says, "What is the loss there? Because Krsna consciousness is so nice that it will not leave the person who has once taken to Krsna consciousness. It will revive even in that lower status of life."

Just like, according to Hindu civilization... Now, in this country, so the boys and girls who are taking to Krsna consciousness, previous to this, they were meat-eater; they were so many things which, according to brahminical religion, these are abominable condition. But see the practical. Even they were fallen this abominable condition some way or other, but because in their last life they had some advancement of Krsna consciousness, immediately they are taking up.

So those who are joining in this movement in this country, they are supposed to be previously Krsna conscious. Somehow or other, they could not execute Krsna consciousness in full. So although they are born in a country where there is no trace of Krsna consciousness, there is no, I mean to, even purity of life, still, they are taking up. So where is the loss? There is no loss. Narada Muni wants to point out that anywhere... Bhagavad-gita also confirms it, that one who has once taken to Krsna consciousness, anywhere he is in the next birth, he will again take it up. This is natural.

So Narada Muni stresses this point, that yatra kva va abhadram abhūd amusya kim. There is no loss. The... Because the seed, once sown, it will grow. It will grow. This example is given in the Caitanya-caritamrta by Lord Caitanya to Rūpa Gosvami: bhakti-lata, the plant of bhakti, growing. Simply we have to water it.

Those who have taken to Krsna consciousness, they should not be satisfied that whatever they have done, it is nice-"Even I fall down, there is no..." No. You have to execute as far as possible. But this is spoken. If by chance there is falldown, there is no loss. But we should not take that... We should not be careless. Sravana-kirtana-jale karaye secana [Cc Madhya 19.152].

Just like our program in this New Vrindavan, very nice program. From four-thirty in the morning till ten o'clock, there is nice program. So this program should be continued. Then there is no question of falling down. Simply executing this program.

Next verse: bhakti-vasana-sad-bhavad iti bhavaḥ abhajadbis tu kevalam sva-dharma ko va arthaḥ aptaḥ abhajatam. Now, once this Krsna consciousness awakens, it is so nice that it will not let the person fall down. No. The... Rest assured. Fall down. It will grow simply. If it is checked for the time being, but that checking is for temporary checking. It will again come out. So don't lose this opportunity. Go on with Krsna consciousness, the simple method. So there is no question of falldown. Bhakti-vasana-sad-bhavat. Bhakti-vasana, this desire, that "I'll serve Krsna," this desire is sufficient to keep him, I mean to say, intact. This very desire, bhakti-sad-bhavat. This desire will never die.

Nanu svadharma-matrad api karmana pitr-loka iti sruteḥ pitr-loka-prapti-phalam asty eva tatraha tasyaiveti [Sridhara Svami's commentary]. Kovido viveki tasyaiva hetoḥ prayateta prayatnam kuryat. Yad upary brahma-loka-paryantam adhaḥ sthavara-paryantam ca bhramatam brahmadbir jivair na labhyate [Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura's commentary]. Now, those who are karma-kanḍiya, karmis... Karmis means those who follow strictly the ritualistic ceremonies, as it is indicated in the Vedas. They are karmis. Karma, akarma and vikarma. There are three divisions of our activities. Generally we say karmis, ordinary men, who are working hard to earn some money and enjoy. Actually, they are not karmis; they are vikarmis.

Real karmis... Just like a thief. A thief is stealing. That is also certain kind of activity. It is not inactivity. So we cannot say that this is bona fide activity. He's also planning. He's also making plan: how to steal, how to go upstairs of the house and then come down. So there is activity. But such kind of activity is not bona fide activity. Therefore, according to sastra, it is called vikarma. Vikarma means it is counteractivity. Activity means you have to work legally. That is activity. If you say that "I am very much active in stealing," then that is not excused. Then you'll... Government will say, "Please stop your activity. You come into the prison." Yes. [chuckles]

So similarly, this kind of activity, sense-gratificatory activities, they are not karmis even. They are vikarmis. Because they are preparing their ground-adanta-gobhir visatam tamisram [SB 7.5.30] "By such activities they are going to the darkest region of hell." Adanta... Why? Now adanta-gobhiḥ. Adanta means uncontrolled, and go means senses. Such activities, impulse by uncontrolled senses, they will lead... Such activities will lead him to the darkest region of hellish conditional life.

So activi..., real activity means to elevate yourself. That is..., that is called karma. Karma, akarma and vikarma. Vikarma means such activities will, which will lead him to the hellish condition of life. And karma means that activity which will promote you to the higher standard of life, in the higher planetary system, where the standard of life is far, far greater than in this planet. So that is called karma.

Therefore generally, Vedic..., those who are following the Vedic principles, they become active in the ritualistic ceremony. The idea is they'll be promoted to higher planets and will be able to enjoy better sense gratification. Suppose a man is very rich and he has got ten thousands of years' living condition. Then he thinks, "Oh, how happy I am. For ten thousand of years I shall be able to gratify my senses."

So the karmis are like that. They want actually sense gratification, but they want higher standard of sense gratification. Yes. That is their... We are... Economic development, in this planet. What is this economic development? That means if we get to go more money, then we shall be able to gratify our senses more perfectly and more satisfactorily. That is the idea. Actually, either you become karmi or vikarmi, they are all on the platform of sense gratification. So one is going down, and one is going up. So Narada Muni says that,

"You should try... One should try to achieve that thing which cannot be gained even by going up or going down." "Up" means upper planetary system, and "down" means lower planetary system. And Bhagavad-gita also confirms this: ūrdhvam gacchanti sattva-sthaḥ. There are three modes of material nature. "Those who are situated on the modes of goodness, they are promoted to the higher planetary system." And ūrdhvam gacchanti sattva-stha madhye tisthanti rajasaḥ [Bg 14.18].

There are seven... According to Vedic information, there are fourteen different spheres of planetary system: seven down and seven up. So we are in the middle. This is called Bhūrloka. Above this, there is Bhuvarloka. Above that, there is Svargaloka, heavenly. The moon planet and similar other planets in the orbit, they are called Svargaloka. Bhūrloka, Bhuvarloka, Svargaloka.

Then Janaloka. In Janaloka... Great saintly persons, after death, they go to Janaloka or Maharloka. Then there is Satyaloka, or Brahmaloka. In this way there are seven planetary spheres. Similarly, down also: Tala, Atala, Vitala, Talatala, Rasatala, Patala. They are also named, down, down, down, down. The lowest down planetary system is called Patala.

So here Narada Muni says that "Try to achieve that thing which is not gained even if you go to the highest planetary system or if you go to the lowest planetary system-or if you remain in this planetary system, middle." That means..., going up means to be situated in the modes of goodness. urdhvam gacchanti sattva-sthaḥ [Bg 14.18]. Sattva-stha, "Those who are situated in the mode of goodness, they can be elevated to the higher planetary system." Madhye tisthanti rajasaḥ: "And those who are in the modes of passion, they remain within this world."

And adho gacchanti... Jaghanya-guna-vrtti-sthaḥ: "Those whose habits are very abominable," jaghanya. Jaghanya means very abominable, hateful. "One who is addicted to such hateful habits..." Jaghanya-guna-vrtti, adho gacchanti. Adho gacchanti means either they go down planetary system or down living condition just like animals. Just like animals, they are jaghanya-guna-vrtti-sthaḥ.

They can lie down anywhere. They can eat anything. They have no sense that "This is not good, I am doing this." They have no sense. Just like tree. We go sometimes in the jungle. A tree is standing for several thousands of years, but it has no sense, "Oh, I am standing like this, alone?" These are the births of jaghanya-guna-vrtti-stha adho gacchanti. If our character and behavior is very low and abominable, then we are awaiting such condition of life.

But here Narada Muni says that there is another thing, which is neither achieved either in the higher planetary system or lower planetary system. That means papa-punya. You go to the higher planetary system by pious activities, and you go to the lower, I mean to say, less than human life or lower planetary system, by papa, or sinful activities. But Krsna says that "Don't be attracted by pious activities; neither go down to abominable condition of life. Simply capture Me." Mam ekam saranam vraja.

That is the whole instruction of Bhagavad-gita. He has also explained,

So Narada Muni also, the same thing. This is called parampara system.

The nature's law is acting. So you don't try for being elevated to the higher standard of life or higher planetary system. There is no need of wasting your energy in that way. So higher or lower, that will come. That will come without... Just like we try to become happy or peaceful, but by circumstances we are put into unhappiness, disturbed condition of life. Nobody asks for it, but we are sometimes obliged to accept this. Similarly, by..., without your endeavor, if you can be put into distressed condition of life, why not without your endeavor you may be put in the happy condition of life? So don't try to be elevated in happy condition of life or distressed condition of life. Try for Krsna consciousness. Then your energy will be properly utilized.

This human form of life is so important that in this life only we can try to execute Krsna consciousness. In the higher planetary system... Just like Yamala-Arjuna... That story is narrated in our book, Krsna. Yamala-Arjuna, they were two sons, Nalakūvara and Manigriva, two sons of Kuvera. Kuvera is supposed to be the treasurer of the heavenly planets. So very rich man's son. So they were enjoying swimming in a very nice lake in the Sivaloka. That description is there. And with young girls and intoxicated.

So they forgot that they are demigods, and they were naked. To become naked is the most uncivilized way. In the Vedic system, to..., nakedness is... Why Vedic system? Suppose if you go naked on the street, immediately you'll be punished. You cannot say that "I have got my independence. I can..." No. Against the etiquette.

So these boys, Nalakūvara, they were intoxicated and naked, and were enjoying swimming with other girls. And Narada was passing through that way, and he saw, "Oh, they have fallen into such abominable condition? They are forgotten that they belong to very respectable family, and I am passing here with..." So they were cursed. Not cursed; they were given the benediction that... By devotee, either a man is cursed or given benediction, it is the same thing. Just like these boys, they were cursed to take birth of the tree, who has no sense. Tree is naked, or a animal is..., an animal is naked, but they have no sense. But if a human being becomes like that, then he is considered uncivilized.

So Narada Muni says that kalena sarvatra gabhira-ramhasa. We should try for Krsna consciousness. Otherwise, even if we go in higher standard of life, our..., sometimes our consciousness is so degraded that, that that two sons of Kuvera, although they were..., they got the body of demigods, still, they had to come down to take the birth of the life of trees, Yamala-Arjuna.

So there is every chance, every chance of falldown. Why there are so many species of life? Why we are thinking that "Our life is guaranteed; we shall continue like this"? This is called ignorance. Any moment this standard of life, this comfortable standard of life, may be lost. Therefore Narada says that "Everyone should try to achieve that benefit of life which is not available within the fourteen worlds, fourteen," I mean to say, "different types of planetary system."

So Narottama dasa Thakura has captured this idea. And he sings, golokera prema-dhana, hari-nama-sahkirtana [Prarthana]: "This hari-nama-sahkirtana, this Krsna consciousness movement, is not anything of this material world, either of the higher planetary system or the lower planetary system." It is golokera prema-dhana. It is the happy mode, not this mode of passion or goodness or ignorance. The happy mode, imported from Krsnaloka, Goloka. Therefore it is transcendental vibration. It is not of this material world.

Golokera prema-dhana, hari-nama-sahkirtana, rati na janmilo kene tay: "I am so unfortunate that this hari-nama-sahkirtana, this Krsna consciousness movement, is imported from Goloka Vrndavana, transcendental platform." Rati na janmilo kene tay, "But I have no attraction for this." Bisaya-bisanale, diba-nisi hiya jvale: "Although I am suffering always with the anxieties of this material adjustment of things..." Bisaya-bisanale, diba-nisi hiya jvale, tore bare na koinu upay. Tore bare means "There is way to get out of this anxious status of life, but I have no attraction." Caitanya Mahaprabhu also says like that. Enechi ausadhi maya nasibaro lagi': "I have brought a nice medicine to kill the spell of maya. So you take it."

So Narada Muni also says the same thing what Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, what Narottama dasa Thakura says, what Krsna says. This is parampara system. He says that "Don't be," I mean to say, "very much anxious how to adjust your material comforts of life. Let it come as it is destined. You simply try to develop Krsna consciousness, because this consciousness is not available." In higher planetary system... Just like this example. They are puffed up with so much opulence. A man... Just like we are inviting, we are attracting, middle class of men. Those who are too much rich, in consideration of this..., they are not attracted. They think that "All right, these boys are chanting in the street. All right." Not..., I don't think very rich men contributes. They also, middle class of men, they contribute something.

So to become too much rich, too much puffed up with opulence like the two sons of Kuvera, is another chance of being degraded. To remain a little poor is better condition for developing Krsna consciousness. Therefore our duty should be not to become a very great man in the consideration of these materialistic men. If he wants thousands and millions of dollars, become like a Rockefeller or Ford, that will be great a estimation of these common, materialistic man, but from spiritual point of view, such things have no value-unless such opulence is engaged in the service of the Lord. Otherwise, it is the cause of falldown.

So Narada Muni says that "Just try to save people to take to this Krsna consciousness movement, and other things will automatically... Whatever is destined by the laws of nature, they will get it. So there is no need of performing ritualistic ceremonies for being promoted to the heavenly planets or this or that. It is useless. What does he gain by that? He'll come down again. So don't teach them like that. Simply teach them to chant Hare Krsna. That will make their life successful."

Thank you. [end]