Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.2.46 – January 30, 1971, Prayāga

710130SB-PRAYAGA [38:55 Minutes]

Srimad-Bhagavatam is a historical reference

A Reflection on the Gosvamis
• The speaker, Krsna, Prabhupada, emphasized the importance of chanting the holy name for all ages, especially in this age.
• The speaker referred to the incident of Ajamila's deliverance from Srimad-Bhagavatam, which was written tens of thousand years ago.
• The speaker emphasized the importance of receiving Vedic knowledge through the disciple chain, which is the business of the acarya.
• The Gosvamis, who were highly posted ministers, were compared to the Gosvamis, who were either rich or great scholars.
• The Gosvamis were exalted ministers in the government of Nawab Hussain Shah, but were living in poverty as poor mendicants.
• The speaker, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Prabhupada, introduced the concept of a sannyasi living in a palatial building, which may seem against the principles of the Gosvamis.
• The speaker urged for the spiritual master to be lenient with the principles of Rūpa Gosvami.

Understanding the Principles of Rūpa Gosvami and the Role of acarya
• Rūpa Gosvami's principles are not about living under a tree overnight, but about making convenient means for people to attain them.
• He recommends finding suitable means to attract people to Krsna consciousness, not just following rules and regulations.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Recommendations
• Caitanya Mahaprabhu's principle is to chant the holy names of Hare Krsna for twenty-four hours to dismantle the structure of sinful life.
• Chanting Hare Krsna mantra is sufficient to dismantle the structure of sinful life immediately.
• Chanting Hare Krsna mantra is the greatest offense as it is a fact that one can become free from the effective result of sinful life.

The Principle of bahudak
• The principle of bahudak is that Krsna could talk with any living entity, not just mythological stories or fables.
• Krsna's other quality is bahudak, which is natural as a father understands the language of his son.
• This principle was proven when Krsna was present.

Understanding the Language of Krsna
• Krsna's language is not an allegorical fact but a fact that requires understanding.
• Every living entity can speak, and understanding other's language is crucial.

The History of Ajamila
• The history of Ajamila's activities is not a story but a historical fact.
• Hearing these stories can help one become free from the contamination of sinful life.

The Confidential Teachings of Krsna
• The teaching of Lord Krsna is highly confidential and should not be open to everyone.
• The teaching that one must give up all religion and occupation is also highly confidential.

Kirtana in Devotion
• Kirtana is not just about chanting, but also about speaking about Krsna.
• Speaking about Krsna should be with reference to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
• Praying and facing opposing elements is better than chanting Hare Krsna.

The Culture of Bhakti
• Bhakti involves following the spiritual master and always serving the Lord.
• Regardless of speaking or speaking, one should always be engaged in the service of the Lord.
• Arjuna's fight was not about pride, but executing the order.

Understanding the Concept of Krsna and Brahmana
• Krsna encourages preaching and meeting opposing elements.
• It's important to follow the footsteps of your spiritual master or predecessor.

The Importance of Bhagavata
• Bhagavata should be heard from the recognized bhagavata, not from a professional man.
• Professionals should not recite Bhagavata to earn money for their family expenses.

The Absolute Supreme Personality of Godhead
• It should not be heard from a professional or unscrupulous man who is not a Vaisnava.

The Role of Policemen
• Policemen are meant for the sinful men, not for the devotees.
• If a devotee remains factually a devotee of Krsna throughout their life, they are not meant for the hellish condition of life.

The Role of Brahmana
• Brahmana means a person who is always clean, internally and externally.
• Those who keep themselves clean are considered brahmana.
• A sannyasi is recommended to beg from the house of a brahmana.

The Power of Chanting
• A devotee is never sinful, even if they have fallen down.
• Ajamila, the son of a brahmana, rose up simply by chanting.
• This chanting leads to no fear of falling down and no eligibility to go to the hellish condition of life.

Devotee: [introducing recording] ... Krsna. Prabhupada's morning lecture on the 30th of January 1971, Magha-mela.

[kirtana] [break]

Prabhupada: [sings Sri Sri Saḍ-gosvamy-astaka; devotees sing responsively]

Thank you. Hare Krsna.

So we have been discussing the advantage of chanting the holy name. This is recommended for all the ages, but especially for this ages. It is not that something new has been advented. Just like for this particular Kali-yuga, from Srimad-Bhagavatam, which was written, recorded, five thousand years ago, and this incident of Ajamila's deliverance, it took place long, long ago before writing this Srimad-Bhagavatam. It is a historical reference.

So tens of thousand years ago, the same recommendation was there, but it is more advantageous in this age. That is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's introduction. No acarya will introduce something new of his own concoction. Then he is not acarya. Always remember: evam parampara-praptam [Bg 4.2].

One has to receive knowledge, Vedic knowledge, through the disciple chain, and it is the business of the acarya which one is suitable for the particular time, age, circumstances. That is acarya.

Just like we are chanting about the Gosvamis. Five hundred years ago these Gosvamis left their opulent position as ministers, as zamindars-they were very highly posted. Vande rūpa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau. All of them either were very, very rich man or very, very great scholar, learned scholar. They are not ordinary men. So they left their home, Rūpa, Sanatana, Raghunath dasa Gosvami.

Raghunath dasa Gosvami, he was the only child of his father and uncle, and at that time their income not less than one lakh of rupees per month. One lakh of rupees of that day, it is fifty lakhs now; you can understand from the exchange value. So he was such rich man, and he was only child. The whole property was for him. And he was married, with a very, very beautiful wife. He left everything for preaching Caitanya Mahaprabhu's cult.

Similarly Rūpa Gosvami, he was highly exalted minister in the government of Nawab Hussain Shah, both the brothers. Practically the whole kingdom was entrusted to them. The Nawab was very happy by entrusting the administration to these Gosvamis because they were so expert administrator. So when Sanatana Gosvami expressed his desire to resign the post, the Nawab was very, very much disturbed. You know this story. So out of his anger he arrested him, that "You may not go away."

So these Gosvamis, although very..., occupied very exalted positions, they were living in Vrndavana as a very, very poor mendicant. They will not live underneath a tree more than one night, because one may develop some attachment after living two or three nights. There is a process for the sannyasis. A sannyasi cannot live in a place more than three days. That is injunction.

So it is very difficult nowadays to follow exactly all the rules and regulation. But His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Prabhupada, because he is an acarya, he introduced that a sannyasi can live in a palatial building. It may appear that he introduced something against the principles of the Gosvamis, because our Gauḍiya Vaisnava, they are rūpanuga-viruddhapa siddhanta-dhvanta-harine [Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Pranati].

We pray for our spiritual master, rūpa anuga viruddha-anything which is against the principles of Rūpa Gosvami. Rūpanuga-viruddha. Viruddha means "against the principles of"; apasiddhanta, "such kind of conclusion." His Divine Grace was very much against such principle.

But one may say that the Rūpa Gosvami lived underneath a tree only for one night. Both the brothers also would not live together. Sanatana Gosvami would live somewhere; Rūpa Gosvami would live somewhere. They were following. Sometimes Rūpa Gosvami will invite his elder brother. In this way they are living in Vrndavana. But does it mean that Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami, instead of living under the tree overnight, he was living in Calcutta in a palatial building-so does it mean that he broke the principles of Rūpa Gosvami? No.

That is acarya. The acarya has to make convenient means how people can get the principle. If Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami would not have introduced these principles, nobody would come to the principles of Rūpa Gosvami. In these days, nobody is prepared to go to Vrndavana and live underneath a tree overnight. That is very, very difficult task.

So acarya's business is to see how people will take it. First business is that. That is recommendation by Rūpa Gosvami: yena tena prakarena manaḥ krsne nivesayet. Rūpa Gosvami recommends according to circumstances you find out means how people will take to Krsna consciousness. Sarve vidhi-nisedha syur etayor eva kihkaraḥ [Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.4].

This vidhi-nisedha, the restriction, the rules and regulation, might be introduced later on, which may serve as servant. Not that if you simply stick to the rules and regulation and forget the real business. That is called niyamagraha. We have to find out what is the suitable means to take to Krsna consciousness.

Therefore Rūpa Gosvami is worshiped: vande rūpa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau [Sri Sri Saḍ-gosvamy-astaka]. Dhiradhira-jana-priyau. They adopted such means. We have to follow the principle, how we can attract people to Krsna consciousness. Dhiradhira-jana-priyau. That is the business of acarya. Not that to follow a stereotype rules and regulation and forget the real business of preaching the cult.

He's not acarya. Acarya is he who adopts means by which people may be attracted to this Krsna consciousness movement. So the acarya..., Caitanya Mahaprabhu as acarya introduced these all principles for the convenience of this age, and that is also recommended.

So our business is, as you have already adopted, that we should chant according to Caitanya Mahaprabhu's recommendations that kirtaniyaḥ sada hariḥ . Kirtaniya sada hariḥ: twenty-four hours we have to chant this holy names of Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. The idea is, as I've already told you, the one chanting Hare Krsna mantra is sufficient to dismantle the structure of your sinful life immediately. If it is purely chanted, one is sufficient.

But as we know, that we are not so powerful that after dismantling the structure of our sinful life we are not prone to fall down again. We are prone to fall down again. Therefore, kirtaniyaḥ sada hariḥ. We should chant always; always chant. Deliberately we should not commit any sinful activities. That is our business. But unconsciously, due to our past habits, if we do something, that may be excused. But not deliberately.

Namno balad yasya hi papa-buddhiḥ [Padma Purana]. That is the greatest offense, if anyone commits sinful activity on the strength of chanting Hare Krsna mantra. Because he knows-it is a fact also; it is not only knowing, it is a fact-by chanting Hare Krsna mantra you become free from the effective result of sinful life. But if you commit again, and again chant, this is not very good business. Just like in the Christian church they go, confess, and again commit. This is not good business. You confess your sinful life, excuse, but don't commit it again. That should be the principle.

So if we follow, if we stay strictly on this principle, then, as it is recommended here that,

So if you keep yourself always antiseptic by chanting Hare Krsna mantra, then the mind will not be attracted to the qualities of ignorance and passion and you will safely make progress in your spiritual life, Krsna consciousness.

Now the speaker of this Ajamila, history of Ajamila, it is stated here clearly that guhyam itihasam. Itihasa. It is not story; it is historical fact. The…, some so-called gentlemen, they say these are all mythological.

[aside:] What exactly means mythological? It is imagination, or what? What does it mean, mythological?

Woman devotee: It is coming from the imagination. Imagined.

Prabhupada: Yes

Devotee: Mythology, it means shrouded in mystery.

Prabhupada: They are not fact.

Devotee: Knowledge as accepted as not fact. Stories…

Prabhupada: Stories.

Devotee: … fables.

Prabhupada: But here it is not stated anything as mythological, because they cannot adjust things. So suppose sometimes it is said, "The snake began to talk." Yes, a snake talks. It is not a story or mythological. The tree also talks-every living entity. If you have got symptoms of living being, other symptoms, why should you deny others? Simply you have to understand.

Krsna is known as, therefore, out of His sixty-four qualities, His one quality is vavadūka. That is explained in our Nectar of Devotion, you will see. That means He could talk with any living entity. Why not? If He is the father of every living entity, why He is not able to understand the language of every living entity? That is natural. Is it not a fact that a father understands the language of his son? Naturally, if Krsna is the father of all living entities, it is natural for Him to understand all the languages of birds, bees, trees, man-everyone. Therefore Krsna's another quality is bahudak.

This was proved when Krsna was present. One day Krsna was answering to the speaking of a bird, and one old lady, she came to take water from the Yamuna, and when she saw that Krsna was talking with a bird, she became amazed: "Oh, Krsna is so nice."

So that is possible. It is not that the snake has no language. So it is not allegory; it is a fact. But one has to understand that language. That's all. Everyone can speak. Every living entity can speak. They have got their own language. Even in human society, just like you do not understand Hindi language-does it mean that Indians have no language? [laughs] This conclusion is a most foolish conclusion. Everyone can speak; simply one has to know the art how to understand other's language. That's all.

Now, these stories or itihasa-is not story-the history of Ajamila... Sukadeva Gosvami recommends that anyone who discusses these incident of historical fact, which is not only very nice to hear, but aghapaham... Agha means sin. Apaham. Apaham means counteractive or dismissive, vanquished. If you hear these stories, or the itihasa, the history of Ajamila's activities, if you hear it with a…, simply by hearing Ajamila's incident you become free from the contamination of sinful life. Simply by hearing. It is so nice. Unless there is some spiritual effect, no historical fact is inserted within Srimad-Bhagavatam.

So here it is said, ya etam paramam guhyam. Paramam guhyam: it is very confidential. Just like Krsna also declared, when He wanted to impress upon Arjuna the most confidential fact of His teaching:

A similar thing. Paramam guhyam is most confidential, that this teaching of Lord Krsna, that "You give up all religion, all occupation," sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg 18.66]. "Simply surrender unto Me." It is possible… It is not possible to take this advantage by everyone. It is practical. If I would have said that "You give up Christian religion and you take to this Krsna consciousness" in the first, you would have immediately left the meeting. So it is very confidential; it is not to be opened immediately. When gradually one comes to confidence, then it will be clear. Therefore it is called.

So those who are not devotees, those who have no taste for Krsna consciousness or any attachment for chanting the holy name of Krsna and be convinced, for them the Ajamila sto…, the Ajamila incident will appear as mythology or something like that. But it is most confidential. It is to be understood by a devotee who knows the value of chanting Hare Krsna mantra. Therefore it is guarded. It is called paramam guhyam.

Chraddhaya means one who hears with sraddha, with faith. Chraddhaya yuktoyas ca bhaktyanukirtayet. There are two [indistinct] required to discuss anything: one is hearing, and one is speaking. Kirtaye, kirtanam. Speaking also kirtana. Don't think that kirtana means simply with mrdahga and karatalas when you chant, that is kirtana. No.

When I speak, when you speak about Krsna, kirtana must be with reference to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is kirtana. Either you speak or chant. When you lecture on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that is also kirtana. And when you chant and dance with reference to the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, that is also kirtana. Don't mistake that this is not kirtana and that is also kirtana. No.

When you go, preach, talk, put your arguments, logic, to the opposing elements, and you are sometimes forced backward, sometimes you are defeated. Sometimes in arguments it happens. So this is… Visvanath Cakravarti Thakura has commented that a devotee, when he goes to preach and he is attacked by the opposing elements, that is also culture of bhakti, devotional service.

Not that when you go to preach, don't think that "I am wasting my time. Better to sit down in a place and chant Hare Krsna, Krsna, Krsna, Krsna." These are all nonsense. You have to preach, face the opposing elements. That is better than chanting Hare Krsna.

That is my Guru Maharaja's policy.

It is simply cheating the public, "Why I am engaged in chanting?" If you have got some important business, you have to do first. Your only business is how to satisfy Krsna through His representative. That is your only. So kirtanam, anything speaking about Krsna:

Your speaking, vibration of the tongue, should always be engaged in the service of the Lord. That is kirtana. Either you preach, either you talk with opposing elements, or you chant-everything is kirtana. Anu kirtana. Anu means following the spiritual master. Or anu means "always." Here it is said anu kirtana. Bhakta..., and with bhakti… This is also another. Bhakti, not that "I have become a very nice speaker. I can speak; I can defeat." Don't become proud like that. Whatever I am doing, it is in the service of the Lord, for the service of the Lord.

Just like Arjuna. Arjuna was fighting. That fighting was not his pride, that he thought himself that "I am a great fighter." He was simply executing the order of Krsna. Krsna wanted to fight, so he was fighting. Similarly, Krsna wants you to preach, so you preach and meet all opposing elements. But don't think that you have become a very good preacher or speaker. No. You have to do all this businesses anu, by following the footsteps of your spiritual master or predecessor. Like that. Anu kirtana.

Similarly, srnuyac. Bhagavata should be heard from the recognized bhagavata. Grantha-bhagavata means this book Bhagavata, it is to be heard from the person bhagavata, realized soul. Not from a professional man. Just like it has become a custom, a professional man comes in a village and he finishes Bhagavata in seven days. Now we are speaking Bhagavata for seven generation, and still it is not understood. And Bhagavata will be finished in seven days? It is a karma-kanḍa-vicara. Of course, by such function one gets some result of piety. That is fact. But that is not understanding Srimad-Bhagavatam.

And especially one should not hear Srimad-Bhagavatam from a professional man whose business is to recite Bhagavata and take some money for his family expenses. No.

That is the injunction given by Sanatana Gosvami, that one who is not a pure devotee, Vaisnava, you should not hear his kirtana. Avaisnava-mukhodgirnam pūtam hari-kathamrtam. Hari-kathamrtam. Hari means this Absolute Supreme Personality of Godhead. His katha, His description, it is amrta, it is nectarean. And still, it should not be heard from a professional or unscrupulous man who is not a Vaisnava. Why? It is amrta; it may be brought by anyone. The example is sarpocchistam payaḥ yatha. Milk is amrta, known to everyone. But when it is touched by the lips of a serpent, it is spoiled. That principle you should follow.

So by hearing this history of Ajamila incident, sa vai sa…, na vai sa narakam yati neksito yama-kihkaraiḥ. He never goes to hell, neither he's seen by the servants of Yama. Yama kihkara. Means… Means, just like you can understand very easily, if you are not acting criminally, against the laws of the law, no policeman will watch over you. Policeman may be there, but policeman watches there as soon as you are criminal.

Similarly, yama kinkara: the policemen, the constables engaged by Yamaraja, they are meant for the sinful men, not for the devotees. That is explained further. They do not come to the devotee. So if you remain factually a devotee of Krsna throughout your whole life, there is no chance of your seeing the Yamadūtas. They will not come. Neither you are meant for going to the hellish condition of life.

Krsna also says that even if you have fallen down, you will be given chance to take birth in a good family of a brahmana or in a rich family of vaisyas. Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura has explained these two words…, what is that? That a person, yoga-bhrastaḥ. Sucinam srimatam gehe yoga-bhrastaḥ sanjayate [Bg 6.41]. Sucinam. Suci means brahmana. Brahmana means he is always clean, internally and externally. Bahyabhyantaram suciḥ. You know this mantra-it is enunciated during initiation-bahya bhyantaraḥsuciḥ sri visnu sri visnu sri visnu [Garuḍa Purana].

Anyone who is always thinking of Krsna, chanting of Visnu's name, Hari's name, or anyone who is particularly Vaisnava, he is suciḥ. Brahmana is supposed to be engaged always in the service of Visnu. Still in old families a brahmana, there is salagrama-sila; the whole family is engaged. Those who have continued that process and keeping themselves always clean, they are really brahmana, sucinam.

And a sannyasi is recommended to beg from the house of a brahmana. Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to do that, because a brahmana is always suci; they are not unclean. But they… Provided… Otherwise it is not that one is born of a brahmana father but does not follow the rules and regulations-he is not a brahmana. He is called brahma-bandhu. He is called brahma-bandhu.

So here it is said, na vai sa narakam yati. So a devotee is never sinful, even if he has fallen down. Somehow or other, because maya is very strong, he is not very mature and maybe attract… Just like Ajamila did. He was the son of a brahmana; he become attracted with a prostitute and fell down.

But again, he rose up simply by chanting. So simply if you keep yourself always chanting, there is no fear of falling down, neither you are eligible to go to the hellish condition of life, neither these constables of Yamaraja will come and see you. This is a part of the conclusion; we shall discuss it.

Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. [end]