Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.1.16–19 December 11, 1970, Bombay

Prabhupada:

This verse we were discussing last week. So Sukadeva Gosvami is affirming, "My dear King, hy aghavan." Hy aghavan means those who are sinful persons. Practically everyone of us who is within this material world more or less we are all sinful. The degrees may be different but nobody is uncontaminated. Simply those who are engaged in the devotional service they are on the prophylactic platform. But that does not mean they are uncontaminated. The devotees they are also contaminated. But they are put into such transcendental platform that further contamination cannot attack them and whatever contaminated life was there in the past that is being counteracted. But don't think for a moment that now we have perfected ourselves. No. We should always bear in mind that we are in the midst of infected area. Any moment the infection can attack us. Take for example that in a neighbourhood where there is infection of disease, say cholera or typhoid like that. Those who have taken vaccines, anti-cholera vaccine or anti-typhoid vaccines. Just like physicians, doctors they go to treat contaminated patient but if they are not cautious the physician will become himself contaminated. Then the question will come out physician heal thyself. A physician goes to treat but he... If he is himself a diseased man how he can treat?

So our preachers, our devotees should always remember that maya is very strong. As soon as there is slackness, immediately maya will attack. Just like the darkness and sunshine. You'll find in daytime that they are side-by-side. Just on the margin, there is darkness, there is sun, sunshine. So you can remain either in the sunshine or in the darkness that is your choice. But the both things are side-by-side. Similarly Krsna and maya. Maya has no existence, just like darkness has no existence. Darkness means absence of light that's all. Darkness has no independent existence. Similarly maya has no independent existence. Maya means where there is no Krsna. That is maya. The version is given in the Caitanya-caritamrta:

Just like this room, is now illuminating, lighted. We just put off the switch, immediately it becomes dark. So the darkness we haven't got to call it a creation. This... Immediately there is no light there is darkness. So immediately you are out of Krsna consciousness, immediately there is maya. It is not that I'll have to call maya, "Please come." She is already here, simply as soon as you are forgetful of Krsna. She is present.

Therefore here it is said:

My dear King, these people who are in this material world they are all in darkness. That's a fact. Without being sinful nobody comes into this material world. Either he may be Brahma or an insignificant ant. Brahma is the most important personality or creature within this universe. An ant or insect nobody cares for it. You see? But both of them are the same living entity. That small spark. An elephant, gigantic body and an insect has minute body. Even you have to see with the microscope, you can't see with naked eyes. Both of them are living entities and both of them have the same spiritual spark. That is measured, I have several times explained. The measurement of spirit soul is there in the sastras. That is one ten thousandth part of the tip of your hair. So you have no knowledge or instrument how to see that minute particle of soul. But there is measurement. There is measurement it is in the sastra. So that smallest particle, part and parcel of God is in everyone of us. That is not born, that is there always existing. Na jayate mriyate va [Bg 2.20].

That particle, smallest particle soul never takes birth, neither dies. That is eternal. But the death-birth and death is of different kinds of body. Designation, it is in the sastra it is called-upadhiḥ. Upadhiḥ, just like you have got an American designation due to the body. You are thinking, "I am American." Why you are thinking American? Because you have got this birth of this body in America. That's all. Similarly I am thinking of India because this body is made in India. That's all. But so far the spirit soul is concerned it is the same. It is the same. So this body we get within this material world according to pious or impious activities. Those who are very pious... Pious means in this sense; in the worldly sense, morality. This is considered as morality, charity. There are many other things, pious atribute[?], tapasya-austerities, penance, meditation; so many. To be hygienic, that is also pious activity. To be cleansed, bahyabhyantaram, Outside inside. These are all pious activities.

So by pious activities you can get yourself elevated to different higher standard of life, that's all. But you cannot get out of the clutches of these four principles of material existence. Namely birth, death, old age and disease. That is not possible. And our whole process is, how to get out of this material entanglement. That is intelligence. The pious activity, those who are undergoing various types of pious activities. They can get their next life in the Brahmaloka just like Brahma. You cannot calculate even his one days duration of life. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita. Or in other planets, you can get ten thousands of years duration of life. Actually from Vedic literature we understand that in the moon planet, there are living entities whose life is ten thousands of years. And their one day equal to our six months. Such ten thousand years.

So these kind of life we can get by pious activities but the pious activities may diminish also. Just like you have got very good bank balance, say 10,000 millions of dollars you have got. But that does not mean that balance will not decrease. At any moment the balance may come to the point of zero and your condition is again the same zero. The bank balance is finished and you are a pauper. Similarly the action of your pious activities finished then again you are the same. It is stated in the Bhagavad-gita: ksine punye punaḥmartya-lokam visanti [Bg 9.21].

As, as soon as the result of your pious activities are finished you are again put into this lower planetary system. Just like your immigration department in order to admit a foreigner as permanent resident. There is so many enquiries and the most important enquiry is that, "How you shall live here? How much bank balance you have got and who will provide for you?" They want to be satisfied in this point first. So as soon as the immigration department sees that your bank balance is nil and nobody is providing. Then immediately they will ask, "Please get out." [Laughs] "Please get out-immediately." The same thing. You go to the higher planet but the strength of your pious activities as soon as it is finished you will be asked, "Please get out."

So these are not very safe place. That if you want to go to the higher standard of life that is material propensities. Everyone is trying to have higher standard of life. That is called civilization or that is called perfection of life. No. Your higher standard of life means to live for some more days or have some facilities for sense gratification. But that is not out of sinful life. No.

Real higher standard of life is Krsna consciousness. That you have to understand. Without Krsna consciousness everyone is sinful. Everyone. Therefore here it is said hy aghavan, hy aghavan means sinful. So he recommends, "My dear King the sinful man cannot get out of the reaction by so-called austerities, meditation, purification or truthfulness and controlling the senses, controlling the mind. There is so many. They cannot come to the perfection then stay it. Simplify. Simply by undergoing these processes it is not possible. It is not that they are not making progress. They are making progress but it is not so much perfect. How? Krsnarpita, yatha krsnarpita-pranas. A person who has dedicated his life to Krsna, yatha krsnarpita-pranas tat-purusa-nisevaya. And one has engaged himself in devotional service 24 hours, cent per cent without any deviation. Nobody can be compared with that person. He may practice austerities, penances, yogic practice or pious activities, mayorities[?] There so many nice things. But a still all of them combined together cannot be equal to the person who has dedicated his life to Krsna.

This is clearly said. Then again it is says;

"Therefore my dear King if you want guaranteed progress of life without any faith..."

[Pause]

Hm... samitian [?] sadhricinaḥ means-this is the considered opinion of the Vedic knowledge. Sadhricinaḥ, samicinaḥ. Just like if you do something and if I say, "It is right, yes." That is confirmation, "Yes." Then it is right. Similarly, if one has taken to Krsna consciousness. So Sukadeva Gosvami says this is the right path. Sadhricinaḥ.

Ksemaḥ-protection. Protection. It is the same thing. Prophylactic measure. If you are taken all the injection prophylactic measures then even if you move in the contaminated area. You are not affected. So Sukadeva Gosvami recommends, ksemaḥ. Ksemaḥ means-auspiciocity.

Yataḥksemaḥ, ksematve hetuḥ, na kutascid vighnader bhayam [Bhavartha-dipika, 6.1.17]. Sridhara Svami explains ksemaḥ. Ksemaḥ means-full security. Na vighnader bhayam. Now suppose you are going to do something. There may be so many hindrances but this path. This Krsna consciousness is so nice that that is no fear of any hindrance. If you strictly follow the principles. This... Why not follow strictly? It is very simple. Chant Hare Krishna mantra. Because in the beginning we have no attachment for Hare Krishna mantra therefore the stricture is that you must chant so many beads. So, so long we haven't got natural aptitude, natural affection for chanting Hare Krishna. We must follow these rules. But when you actually become experienced and advanced in Krsna consciousness then for a moment you cannot remain without chanting Hare Krishna. But so long we don't come to that stage we must strictly follow to chant the 16 rounds. Then, maya is there. She is always looking for the opportunity. "When I shall grab this... He is trying to get out of my clutches."

So just like somebody is paying interest, so the loan giver wants that he go on giving. Just like bank, they... They are advertising in so many ways. "That please come and take loan from us and pay us interest." That is their business. The American card, this MasterCard, this card. So many alluration there. "Oh you take loan for decorating your home, you take loan for riding a motor car, you take loan for this and that. They are offering. Their only business is that as soon as he comes, "Oh 8%, 10%. Come on." [Laughter]. So their business is 10%. Similarly maya she does not like that we shall get out of her clutches. She is always making plan, how to keep us. Under her clutches. It is certified by Lord Krsna Himself, he says: daivi hy esa guna-mayi mama maya duratyaya [Bg 7.14].

Duratyaya means-very, very difficult to get out of the clutches of My maya. This maya is Krsna's maya. Just like the criminal department is also government's department. Government has equal attention to the criminal department, similarly maya is also Krsna's maya. Nobody is out of Krsna's clutches. So therefore the theory that Krsna when He comes, He also becomes under the control of maya. That is a nonsense theory. No. Krsna does not become under the control of maya. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, Krsna says: sambhavamy atma-mayaya [Bg 4.6]. He is not forced to come here. We are forced to accept something. I have been forced to accept a certain type body. You have been forced to accept certain type of body. But Krsna is not that. Krsna does not accept a body forced upon him by maya. Then you'll mistake. Therefore in the Bhagavad-gita it is stated that: avajananti mam mūḍha [Bg 9.11].

"The fools and rascals they deride at Me," that Krsna is also like one of us. "He may be very learned, very powerful, or very beautiful but he is also one of the human beings." No. He is not one of the human beings. So you should study Bhagavad-gita very critically.

How He is not human body? That is also explained in the Bhagavad-gita, you know in the fourth chapter. Krsna says that, "I taught this lesson of Bhagavad-gita millions of years ago to the sun god." Now Arjuna questioned, these are very intelligent part of Bhagavad-gita. That, "Krsna you are my cousin brother, our age is practically the same, how is that. I shall believe that You taught millions of years ago the sun god?" Arjuna knew perfectly well that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, what He says is all right. But because we shall misunderstand Krsna, therefore he puts this question. "What is that Krsna?" Question. He says, "my dear Krsna, oh the sun god Vivasvan he was born long, long years ago and You are born just along with me. How I can believe that You taught?" So the answer was, Krsna's, "Yes although it is millions and millions of years ago and you were also with Me. Because you are My eternal friend. So it is to be understood you were also at that time present. But you have forgotten, I have not forgotten. That is the difference. Krsna says, "Both you and Me we had many, many births but you have forgotten them. I do not forget."

In another place Krsna says: vedahamsamatitani [Bg 7.26]. "I know everything, past present and future. But nobody knows Me." So you have to study Bhagavad-gita in this way. Then you will understand. So anyone, who has got this material body. This material body means, it is an encagement for suffering. That's all. So do not think that we are free from this material contamination. But so long you are in Krsna consciousness fully then these contamination cannot touch you. You are in the midst of contamination but if you inject yourself with Krsna consciousness and keep yourself what is called prophylactic or antiseptic then these contamination cannot touch you. Krsna also says in the Bhagavad-gita:

"Maya is very difficult, that's a fact but anyone who has surrendered unto Me, oh he can surpass the control of maya." The same thing is confirmed here by Sukadeva Gosvami that one who has dedicated his life, pranaḥ. Pranaḥ means-life. Krsna-arpita. Simply surrender. "Krsna from this day I am Yours." That's all. "I was forgetful of You for many, many births now by Your kindness by Your grace I understand that You are the supreme." This knowledge comes after many, many births. Bahūnam janmanam ante [Bg 7.19].

These speculators are speculating what is the ultimate goal of life. After such speculation of many, many births when one is actually wise he surrenders to Krsna. And as soon as he surrenders to Krsna he becomes unaffected by the contamination of maya. This the process. Krsna-arpita mano. No, nothing to think except Krsna. We have got therefore so many engagements from morning, four o'clock up to 10 o'clock. Why so many engagements? Why not make here... Make... Make it a plan? That once in a week let us go and become Krsna conscious. No. You should become Krsna conscious 24 hours then it is possible that maya will not touch you. If you make it official programme, that all right along with other business I shall meditate upon Krsna for half an hour. 15 minutes. For that 15 minutes of course you are uncontaminated but if you, other 24 hours you engage then it is maya. Then what is it? If you burn a matchstick and pour upon it three gallons of water. Oh, how it will burn? [Laughter]. You see? It is useless. Waste of time. You must burn the stick, matchstick and get it more and more blazing. That should be your business. Not that I do it for a moment and pour water. This useless waste of time. So Sukadeva Gosvami recommends that:

Akutaḥ-bhayam means-there is no risk. The same thing is explained in the Bhagavad-gita also, ninth chapter. The Lord says that, su-sukham kartum avyayam [Bg 9.2]. These process, this Krsna consciousness is so nice. It is the easiest process. Now to remain always in contact with Krsna is our program. And somehow even sleeping, one has to have think of Krsna. If one has to rise early in the morning, then while sleeping he is also very alert. "So I must have to rise, I have to awaken Krsna." So that means in sleeping he is also thinking of Krsna. You see? Then after arati[?] he takes care of the temple room and Krsna seeings[?] then after further encagement, further encagement, further encagement, in this way up to 10 or 11 or 12. If you keep yourself-then it is very nice. To maya is awake and all these hours maya is awake. Therefore this path is recommended, it is accepted by all sages, all saintly person. Aradhito yadi haris tapasa tataḥ kim [Narada Pancaratra 1.2.6].

If you are worshipper or devotee of Hari the Supreme Personality of Godhead there is no more necessity of any kind of austerity. And Krsna says, su-sukham kartum avyayam [Bg 9.2]. These, I mean to say, engagement is very pleasurable. Pleasurable, what is the difficulty? Here the boys are simply chanting and dancing and eating prasadam. What is the difficulty here? Such a nice temple, neat and clean and they are dancing. They are eating, they are chanting, they are enjoying. So, su-sukham. Su-sukham in every part of this engagement is pleasurable. By pleasurable. These transcendental intoxication is so nice. [Laughter]. That you don't have to take, I mean to pleasure by LSD or wine or this or that. [Laughter]. It is automatically transcendentally, ah what is called? Intoxication. So come to this intoxication and your life will be saved. This is our propaganda we invite everyone without any distinction. There is no distinction Krsna is for everyone and practically you see. These boys and girls from their childhood they were not trained in this life, neither they had any qualification but how nice they are becoming. Anyone, any sane man can understand it.

One lady reporter in Philadelphia, he was, she was surprised. She asked, "Are you American? Are you American boys?" "Yes." So, su-sukham, kartum avyayam. And the... As much as you be advanced that is your secured. Krsna consciousness, if you cannot even execute cent per cent, any person, one person, two person, three person, ten person, anyone. Up to 99.9%. Whatever you do that is your permanent asset. It will never be, I mean destroyed. Just as you are spirit soul you are never destroyed. Similarly your spiritual activities will never be destroyed. Abhayam. It is called abhayam. Indestructible. Therefore this is the safest way of self-realization. That is recommended here. So:

And what is the evidence? Just see how the words of Bhagavata are valuable. That anyone you find actually gentle, good behavior. He is a devotee, he must be a devotee. Otherwise we cannot be gentle and good behavior.

One postmaster in India when I was. I went to see him in connection with my Back to Godhead there. So he asked me.. At that time I was not sannyasi, I was householder, or retired up. I retired from household life. He said, "Gosvamiji, if somebody is honest, moral and pious then does he require to be God conscious again?" I replied immediately, "Unless one is God conscious he cannot be honest, he cannot be pious, he cannot be gentle."

Devotees: Jaya! Jaya! Jaya! Jaya! Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: He cannot be. He was stopped. This is the only means that one can be gentle, one can be good behaved, one can be pious. Unless one is Krsna conscious he cannot, simply by law, or by training, by this. I do not wish to name. So we are sometimes talks with learned scholars. They can quote from many books but so far their character is concerned it is most abominable.

Devotees: Jaya! Hare Krishna.

Prabhupada: I do not wish to name there. They are sometimes doctor, this or that. But see their character, private life is most abominable. Therefore it is a fact, that these. I mean to say qualification to become moral, to become gentle. That is not possible, nobody. I give you. I can give you so many examples. I think I shall give you one good example. That in our country you have heard the name of Mahatma Gandhi. So sometimes back when there was political upheaval. So Mahatma Gandhi, designated, nominated some of his disciple that next year he should be president. But public by votes, another-Subash Candra Bose he was elected president. So Gandhi he was so angry that he did not attend the Congress meeting. He went away. Now see-these are to be studied. He was actually a very good man Mahatma but this is not gentlemenlyness. He should have accepted when public has elected the other man as president. Why shall I interfere with it? Is it not against gentlemen's principles? Well I... I nominated somebody that he should be president but public did not like him. There... Elected somebody else, so why shall I interfere with that? That is not gentlemanlyness. If you depend on public vote then whatever public has elected you have to accept it. That is gentlemanlyness. So in the. My point is that in the material world actually perfectly nobody can be gentlemen unless he is Krsna conscious. Susilaḥ, he says, susilaḥ. Susilaḥ means-good behavior. And sadhavaḥ means-honest. Good behaved, honest, you'll find everyone actually who he is good behaved and honest he must be a devotee of the Lord. Narayana paraḥ.

So therefore it is the duty of every state if the state wants actually the citizens to be honest and to be pious, good behaved. They should introduce this Krishna Consciousness Movement. That is practical suggestion. But unfortunately they are trying to prosecute our poor devotees. Because they are so kind, going to the street, chanting this Hare Krishna mantra and purifying the whole area. Therefore they should be stopped. You see? This is called Kali-yuga. Sacca bole tomare lattha. If you speak the truth then people will be angry and if you cheat them they will be very much pleased.

Devotees: [Laughter] Jaya!

Prabhupada: You see? Because I say that unless you become Krsna conscious you have no qualification. That people will say Swamiji is very rigid and conservative. He does not give any credit to others. But that's a fact. How can I give? Here in the sastra it is said, just see practical by practical examples. In your country so many Svami's, so many yogis came. Find out any student of such yogis and Svami's comparable with my students. That is my challenge. So how can you say, that there can't be anything good beyond Krsna consciousness? There is no possibility.

So this is also confirmed here that:

Prayascittani cirnani [SB 6.1.18]. Again he is speaking from the opposite side. What is that?

In our country, not our country, our country has gone to hell and other things. Those who are Krsna conscious, those who are following the Vedic principles according to them a one drop of wine pollutes the whole thing. Oh. The example is given that if you have got a bucket full of milk and drop on it one drop of wine. It is immediately becomes useless. It cannot be touched. So here this example is being given but it is difficult to understand. Here it is said that:

Any atonement for counteracting sinful life but without being Krsna consciousness is just like to wash a pot which contains wine by water. That means a pot which contains wine if you want to cleans it. It is not possible it is to be thrown away. It is not to be cleansed. Oh. It is to be thrown away. So you can undergo many kinds of austerities, mystic yoga's, or this or that. But ultimately if you are Godless, if you have no God consciousness, it is useless. Oh useless... srama hi eva kevalam [SB 1.2.8]. Simply uselessly wasting time. That's a fact.

Just like you cannot cleanse the wine pot by washing it with any amount of water. It is not possible, it never becomes purified. Similarly persons who are narayana-parahmukham, who are aversed to God consciousness or Krsna consciousness. Their austerities, penances, mystic powers, this or that. They are useless, they cannot be purified exactly. That's a fact. Huh, then he says:

Now he says further, sakrn manaḥ krsna-padaravindayor, krsna-padaravindayor. Upon the lotus feet of Krsna. One who has given his mind at least for some time.

And somehow or other once one has become attracted by the transcendental attributes of Krsna. For in once, once only. Even not whole life. Sometimes if he has become, then what is the result? Na te yamam pasa-bhrtas ca tad-bhatan. It is guaranteed for him that the Yamaraja will never send his messenger to take him there. Svapne 'pi pasyanti hi cirna-niskrtaḥ. They will not even dream, that I have to go and bring that man for punishment here. [indistinct] in India, somebody, anyway long ago, somebody asked me. At that time I was [indistinct] So, "What is this?" So I told, "This is..." What is called? A dog's... Eh? Collar.

Devotee: Collar.

Prabhupada: Collar.

Mataji: A collar.

Prabhupada: Yes. It is the collar of the dog. [Laughs]. If Yamaraja is trying to find out a dog without collar for shooting. So if you put this Yamaraja will not shoot you.

Devotees: [Laughter]

Prabhupada: Yes, because he will understand this collar is given by Krsna. So he is pet dog or pet animal of Krsna.

Mataji: Haribol.

Prabhupada: So he is not to be touched.

Mataji: Jaya... [Laughs]

Prabhupada: So next week we shall recite a story about Ajamila. How he was saved by slight Krsna consciousness. And this is an example. Very nice. Thank you very much. [End].