Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.3.28–29 — February 21, 1971, Gorakhpur

Devotee: [indistinct]

Prabhupada:

So this topic between Yamaraja and his assistants. Sometimes the atheist class of men, they think these are stories. "Where is Yamaraja? Where is his place? How he is talking? These are all made into stories." But that is not the actual fact. Sukadeva Gosvami is reciting, repeating the words of Yamaraja and accepted by great acaryas like Sridhara Svami, Jiva Gosvami, so does it mean, even Caitanya Mahaprabhu, does it mean that all these great acaryas they indulged in some stories? No, that's not, it is fact but because you do not know what is the actual position therefore it is our misconception that these topics are stories made by some fictitious man. Therefore they interpret in a different way-but actually that is not the fact. Just like the leader of the atheist class of men is Carvaka Muni, Carvaka, he has got a philosophy, atheistic philosophy-Carvaka Muni. So he says that:

He says, his philosophy-hedonism, "That so long you live, you live very happily." In India the standard of living happily is to eat more ghee, that is a luxury. One who can eat more ghee, he is considered to be eating very luxurious foodstuff and actually that is a fact. So his theory is that, "You eat more ghee, as much as possible. Enjoy, eat more and sleep more and have sex life more and that is his philosophy-enjoy materially. "Eat, drink, be merry and enjoy." Then he says that, "Oh I have no sufficient money, how I shall purchase ghee?" Just like in some European philosophies: beg, borrow or steal. For money either beg, take a profession of a sannyasi and beg and take money and enjoy or if you can not do so then try to borrow and if that is not possible then steal. What can be done? Money is wanted. So similarly Carvaka Muni also said that, "Live very happily and eat as much as you like-ghee." Then if you are, "I have no sufficient money, if I borrow then I shall remain a debtor. I shall be responsible." Because that's a fact according to karma, laws, if you take some money without proper utilization. You can not beg unless you spend it for Krsna therefore only the sannyasis and the brahmanas, they are allowed to beg, not all. The grhasthas-not allowed. The brahmacaris they are also begging but that is on behalf of the spiritual master, not for his personal. A brahmacari whatever he collects he immediately submits to the spiritual master because he has dedicated his life for the service of the spiritual master so whatever he collects that is the property of the spiritual master. So in this way begging is allowed to the sannyasis, to the brahmanas and to the brahmacari on behalf of the spiritual master. Not grhasthas, they can not beg, this is not allowed.

So he says that: rnam krtva ghrtam pibet, "If you have no money then borrow money somewhere and purchase ghee and eat and live very happily." rnam krtva ghrtam pibet/ yavaj jivet sukham jivet. "So long you live, live very happily. That is the theory at the present moment, "Somehow or other bring money and be happy." Then if one is conscious, if he believes in the Vedic way of karma-kanḍiya-vicara. That if I take some loan, borrow some money from some party and if I can not pay then I shall remain a debtor and I will have to suffer for that. Formerly in India the practice was that if somebody has taken some loan from somebody and he dies without repayment his son was responsible to pay it because the son inherits the property of the father. Nowadays even if the father dies debtor if the son is asked money. He says, "I am not responsible for my father's debts." But that was not the system. A good son he is... means: putrarthe kriyet bharya. One should marry only for begetting nice sons. Why a nice son is required? Because in case the father dies sinful the son will protect him: punnamno narakad trayate iti putra [Manu Smrti, 9.138]. So the punnamno, the pu and trayate, this tra, combined together it means putra. Putra means that he is supposed to relieve his father by offering sraddha offering pinḍa. Therefore if a son becomes devotee of Krsna then automatically he. He delivers not only his father but his father's father, his father up to fourteen fathers. That is the advantage. So in all respects to become a devotee is the first-class position in this material world.

So now Carvaka Muni says that, "Don't worry, you haven't got to bother that you are debtor, the life is finished here. You enjoy and." This is this modern story, that there is no next life, there is no question of suffering, so whatever suffering and enjoyment in this life-you enjoy. That is Carvaka Muni's atheistic theory.

Carvaka Muni says that: "That your body, when it will be put into the fire and it will be turned into ashes then your all responsibility for sins committed," he said. That means the atheistic persons, they do not believe in the next life or anything mentioned in the sastras. They create their own theories therefore they say, "There is no Yamaraja, there is no such thing. You can go on committing all kinds of sins and." But the question is, not supposed, it is theoretical, somebody says that there is no next life, "This life is all, you enjoy and create it." Now so taking as hypothisis, if there is any life then how much you are becoming responsible for your sinful activities? You should know that. Suppose if, because you do not know also, whether there is life or there is no life, I also do not know. Without reference to the sastras, common talk between friends and friends, argument. If somebody says that, "There is no life after death," then the other party can say that, "There maybe and if there is life then how much you are becoming responsible for our sinful activities." That is really intelligence, intelligence. That we have to take reference from the sastras. In the sastras, as it is described here in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, that is the real source of knowledge, not aroha-pantha. Avaroha-pantha, "We have to received knowledge from authorities." At least we Krsna conscious persons we should follow this parampara system. That don't think that this is story it is fact.

So Yamaraja is advising:

He's. His order is, "You bring to me." first of all he has prohibited, "Don't approach a Vaisnava, don't go to their vicinity." Then who are the candidates? Oh there are so many candidates-how? Those who are not Krsna conscious, those who are bereft of tasting the honey on the lotus feet of Krsna and such honey is tasted by, niskincanaiḥ paramahamsa-kulair asahgair. In other words Krsna consciousness can be available for persons who are niskincana. Niskincana means: "One who has finished all material desires." He has no more any aspiration that, "I can enjoy anything in this material world." That is called niskincana. If anyone thinks that, "I have got so much property, I have got so nice, beautiful wife and so many. I have got good society, good nationality, I have good house, good dress and good furniture. So how I can leave this material world? I have to, I can be elevated to the heavenly planets and so many. Of course in the material world there are different grades of happiness, standard of life. But in the spiritual means one is finished. That, "I am no more, nothing to do with this material world." And that is called paramahamsa. He is paramahamsa. Paramahamsa means, amsa, it is said that a swan, if you give him mixed milk with water, he has got a process to drink, he'll take the milk portion and not the water. Similarly paramahamsa, he is advanced spiritualist, transcendentalist, he takes the essence of this world. What is that essential, essence of this world? Just like Bhaktivinoda Thakura said that:

"There is nothing attempt, within these fourteen worlds of the universe, except the holy name of the Lord," he says, Cait... Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

There is a song. So actually within this material world the essence is the holy name of Krsna. So those who have very seriously taken to the chanting of this holy name, they are called paramahamsa, asahgair. Asahgair: "They have no more any association with this material world, all liberated." Paramahamsa means: "Liberated." So paramahamsa does not mean that one has got material attachment. At the same time they are paramahamsa, no. Here it is stated that: niskincanaiḥ paramahamsa asahgair justad. And who does not associate with such personalities, paramahamsas: grhe niraya-vartmani baddha-trsnan. Persons who are too much attached in household life and full with material desires-baddha-trsnan. Actually we have got so many plans-trsnan, just like one man is thirsty. Thirsty, so sometimes artificial thirstiness is visible in a person who is suffering from diabetes. Diabetes patient, they eat voraciously and they become thirsty because the food are not properly digested, they turn into sugar, and as soon as there is sugar it will demand. It will demand more and more water. And it is a physical example. Similarly a man too much attached to this materialistic way of life, baddha-trsnan, simply making plans. Such person will never be able to become niskincana and paramahamsa.

I have seen one friend, he was dying at the age of fifty-four and he was rich man and he was asking the doctor, "My dear doctor, 'Can you not give me four years life more? I have got some plans, I should finish it.'" As if the doctor can do so and by four years living he will conquer the whole world, this is going on-you see?

So niskincanaiḥ:

These persons should be brought. Yamaraja says, "Those who have got so much intense desire for materialistic way of life and committing all kinds of, dist... what do they say?

[aside:] The hands, your legs should be covered, not to the Deity.

Then:

So another point is there, asatam. Asat, this word is used, asat, here Sridhara Svami is giving note, the meaning of asat or dustan. The asat means rogue, dustan. Dustan: another meaning is, "One who is materially affected," or dustan means "Rogue." So these are rogues. Now who do not try to associate with the paramahamsas or niskincana, and what are others? That is also described here, that who are candidates for the Yamaraja.

That here are the description of the dustan, or the rogues. What is that? Jihva na vakti bhagavad-guna-namadheyam. The one class of dustan or rogue is he whose tongue is never used in glorifying the qualities or the pastimes of the Lord. Guna-namadheyam. Guna means, "Qualities." The so-called transcendentalists, they say that the Absolute Truth is nirguna. Where is how to describe nirguna and nirakara. Now here it is said: guna-namadheyam. Nama, they say God can not have any name, but here it is distinctly said: guna-namadheyam. "God has got His qualities, transcendental qualities, and He has got His name also." Otherwise where is the possibility of chanting the name of holy name of God or where is the possibility of discussing the glorious qualities of the Lord? Here it is distinction: jihva na vakti bhagavad, guna-namadheyam. Qualitative business, bhagavad, "Of the Supreme Personality of Godhead." Anyone who does not utter the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, any man who does not discuss the glories, the glorious pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, jihva, and these things are done by the tongue. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau [Cc Madhya 17.136]. "God realization begins from the tongue."

This is very awkward, so how is that? God realization begins from the tongue? The tongue means, the first thing the tongues business is to chant Hare Krsna mantra and the second business of the tongue is to control it for eating. Because if we can not control the tongue then other senses will not be controlled. And if we can control the tongue then other senses will be automatically controlled. Therefore jihva, the tongue is given so much importance in all the sastras, tongue. Jihva na vakti, "Tongue should be always used in. In chanting the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead,"

Tongue should be used for eating only a reasonable quantity of bhagavata prasadam and tongue should be used for preaching the glories of the Lord. This is the control of tongue. If one can control his tongue in this way then he becomes a paramahamsa and if he is unable to control the tongue then it is very difficult to make progress.

Cetaḥ-heart or the mind, na smarati-never engaged in meditation of the lotus feet of the Lord. Cetas ca, cetas ca na, cetas ca na smarati tac-caranaravindam. The tongue is not used for cultivating Krsna consciousness, the mind is not utilized for meditating on the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

And the head is never bowed down before the Deity of Lord Krsna, krsnaya. Because it is said: krsnaya-to offer obeisances unto Krsna. Now one can say that, "Where is Krsna that I shall bow down?" That is another atheism. Krsna is here in the temple. Krsna being absolute, Krsna's name, Krsna's form, everything Krsna. Therefore temple worship is there, people are given opportunity to come and to bow down before Krsna. To give them opportunity to hear about Krsna, to give them opportunity to taste krsna-prasadam, to give them opportunity to chant Hare Krsna mantra. This is the purpose of opening temples. Otherwise there is no necessity of taking so much responsibility. It is the grace of the spiritual leaders that they open centers and Krsna's Deity to give chance to the people in general to take advantage as it is recommended here. Otherwise he will be subjected to the punishment of Yamaraja. In order to save the people from the punishment of Yamaraja these temples are opened. So therefore the inmates of the temples, the managers of the temples, they have got very, very responsible work-by their personal behavior. So that others may come and learn from them how to worship Deities, how to maintain temples, how to manage it. It is very, very responsible task.

One should personally. Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission is apane acare prabhu jiva hrsika. If you want to teach others then you must behave also, very nicely. The church or temple worship are dwindling because at the present moment the managers of the temples, they are not up to the standard therefore people have no interest. So two things, temple worship means the manager of the temples they should be ideal inmates of the temple and the people in general will come there and learn how to use this tongue, how to use this head, how to use this mind in this material world. That is the process. These things are described here. It is a very important verse: jihva na vakti bhagavad-guna-namadheyam. If you like you can write it, it is very important verse:

Visnu-krtyan, these are the duties because Visnu the Supreme Lord, is maintaining, maintainer of this material world. Brahma is the creator and Visnu is the maintainer and Lord Siva is the destroyer, three deities. Srsti-sthiti-pralaya [Bs 5.44].

The pralaya department is given to the Lord Siva and the maintenance department is to Lord Visnu and creation department to Lord Brahma. So these are visnu-krtyan, you are being maintained by Visnu. If you do not execute, because the whole process is to satisfy Visnu who is the maintainer. Just like government, government is maintaining the state. So a good citizens duty is to satisfy the government by his all means-he's a good citizen. One who abides by the laws of the government perfectly, he's a good citizen. I think in economics, "Good citizenship," what is good citizenship is taught. I remember. So the principle of good citizenship is to obey, to give service to the government and the government recognize it. Formerly in British government if anyone has given nice service to the government he was recognized by offering the title: Sir, CIE, Raya-Madhu. Of course at the present moment the congress government has given up all this but in the Britishers still in England it is still recognized. If one has given a very nice service to the state, to the people, he was recognized. Still recognized in England with the title of Lord, Sir, CIE, so many things. So we should be recognized. Similarly Visnu being maintainer of the whole cosmic manifestation our duty is to satisfy Lord Visnu. The our duty, whole varnasrama dharma, the four kinds of caste system and the four kinds of asramas, they are meant for satisfying Visnu. They are meant, caste system, to become brahmana, to become ksatriya, to become vaisya and to become sūdra, to become brahmana, to become. I mean to say, become sannyasi, to become vanaprastha, become grhastha, become brahmacari. The whole system is to satisfy Visnu. Na te viduḥ svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31].

But the rascals they do not know that the ultimate aim of life is to satisfy Visnu and that is varnasrama-dharma. At the present moment this India's fallen condition is due to this fault. They are appearing as brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, but they do not know how to satisfy Visnu.

Simply by following the Visnu, following the principles of varnasrama-dharma one can satisfy Lord Visnu. So this is, this is visnu-krtyan, these are also individually formula of varnasrama-dharma. If you become a brahmana then your duty is to worship Visnu. And still in India, every brahmana family, they have got [indistinct] from forefathers, Visnu worship, Visnu worship. Therefore sannyasis is supposed to accept food from a brahmana family because there is Visnu worship. A sannyasi does not cook, he goes to a brahmana family and asks for some food, not to others because why not to others? He does not go to a ksatriya family, vaisya family or a sūdra family. He goes to a brahmana because in a brahmana family it is particularly Visnu worship is going on by generations. A still there are many brahmana families, visnu aradhya. So visnu-krtyan, there are duties to satisfy Visnu or how to become Vaisnava. If one is not Vaisnava then they are subjected to the punishment of Yamaraja. That is the conclusion. [break]... is compulsory, otherwise they will be punishable by Yamaraja. [pause]

Devotee: [indistinct]

Prabhupada: No, he is eating more, he should not eat more. Eating.

Devotee: [indistinct] process of sense gratification.

Prabhupada: If you take anything more means sense gratification.

Devotee: Yes.

Prabhupada: Suppose I can not digest but there are very nice foodstuffs, sweetmeats, "Oh I [indistinct] to the fullest extent," that should not be. One should control his tongue. Now. You can take necessary, one or two, but, "Oh it is very tasty, let me take one dozen." Then that is sense gratification. Even if it is prasadam.

Devotee: [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Yes.

Devotee: And then [indistinct]

Prabhupada: That we say, there are two, two satisfies the tongue, it is also sense gratification.

Devotee: Yes.

Prabhupada: You have got so many senses, so all the senses they, they are only. The tongue is demanding nice palatable food. Hand is demanding very soft place to touch and similarly eye demanding beautiful things. The ear is demanding very nice sweet musical sounds. So all these senses they have demands and. But because they require we have to give as much as, yuktahara-vihara, yukta. Yukta means, "As much as it is only required for maintaining the body." It is not prohibited, "Don't eat," but eat so much as you can keep yourself fit, ahara. Vihara similarly, sex life also. The sex life required, of course those who can not avoid, karmis, but only for begetting children-putrarthe kriyet bharya. The wife should not be used as a machine for gratifying sex life, no, then it is sense gratification. But if you use only simply for begetting nice child then it is duty, it is visnu-krtyan. The same thing, the sense-gratification, the same thing he is using, that one has to adjust. The same thing can be used as sense gratification and the same thing can be used. Just like one is, everyone knows husband and wife they have sex life, everyone knows it, but that is not condemned. But as soon as one goes to a prostitute, the same relationship, but it is condemned. But it is sense gratification. Why did he go to a prostitute? That is sense gratification. So as soon as sense gratification you are sinful. And as soon as you realize it's duty according to the religious principles then it is krti, krtya, visnu-krtyan.

A Vaisnava is not prohibited to marry or to have sex life but a Vaisnava is, there are so many examples. Just like Sivananda Sena, one of the great devotees of Lord Caitanya. His wife went to offer respects to Caitanya Mahaprabhu and she was pregnant and Lord Caitanya blessed that Sivananda, you keep your name, next son like this. He knows that this pregnant is possible because Sivananda had sex life. But He is, He is blessing him, blessed him. Whereas Chota Haridasa, he was constant companion of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, he was singing and Caitanya Mahaprabhu liked his singing and as soon as He saw that he simply glanced by a young girl, next day He said, "Chota Haridasa should not come here any more." That is, that is that glancing is also sense gratification. He was living with Caitanya Mahaprabhu as a brahmacari, as a Babaji, and still he has that desire, "Oh why he has accepted this Babaji dress? He should have married." Caitanya Mahaprabhu, this unlawful illicit sex life He condemned.

So everything is there, we have to utilize this properly, then it will be visnu-krtyan. And those who are not good citizen means who are abiding by the laws. Similarly a Vaisnava or a dutiful person he sees who is following the rules and regulations offered by Visnu. Dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam [SB 6.3.19].

The rules and regulations, dharma, following the rules and regulations enunciated in the sastras, this is called dharma. Dharma means nothing hype. Dharma means following the rules and regulations enunciated by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That's all. That is dharma. Dharmam tu saksad and Krsna said that, "This is dharma." Because if one is surrendered then he will follow the rules and regulations given by God but they do not believe in God. God is imperson, God has no intelligence, no head, no hands. That means make God zero and then we are at liberty. At liberty to do anything nonsense. That's all. That is said: nirvesesa-sūnyavadi, sūnyavadi means zero. If God is zero then there is no responsibility and if I am god then everything is alright. "What I am doing? And because I am god." These theories are being pushed and they are being carried, therefore the whole world situation is very dangerous, godless civilization. [End]