Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.3.32–33 February 23, 1971, Gorakhpur

Prabhupada:

People observe many religious ritualistic ceremonies known as yajna, vrata, dana, tapaḥ, tapasya but here it is stated that simply by:

If one simply becomes engaged in reciting and glorifying the transcendental pastimes and activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead-muhuḥ, harer muhuḥ-twenty-four hours. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, kirtaniyaḥ sada hariḥ [Cc Antya 20.21], life should be so molded that this kirtana will go on twenty-four hours.

Even you are engaged in your occupational duties if you practice it. It will go on twenty-four hours and when you are advanced in practice as soon as you chant the Hare Krsna mantra immediately the Krsna with all His paraphernalia. Krsna does not mean alone, just like when we speak, "The king is coming," that does not mean king is coming alone. He is coming, his private secretary is coming, his etikong [?] is coming, his military secretary is carrying on, so many people are coming. Similarly Krsna those who are impersonalists, voidists, for them Krsna has nothing to do. But actually those who are devotees of Krsna as soon as they chant this word, "Krsna" or, "Rama," immediately all Krsna's paraphernalia becomes manifest. Just like it is stated in the Brahma-samhita [Bs 5.29]:

Krsna means Krsna, immediately Krsna's Vrndavana-lila, Krsna's Dvaraka-lila, Krsna's Mathura-lila, immediately becomes in rememberence. Krsna who is fighting with such-and-such demons, Krsna is playing with His cowherd boyfriends, Krsna is dancing with the gopis. Krsna is speaking with His mother, Krsna is joking with His friends, Krsna is taking the cows to the pasturing grounds there He is taking bath in the... So many things will come in your mind. So these descriptions are there in the Krsna. So actually one who is advanced in Krsna consciousness, simply by chanting one word, "Krsna," so many things will come-harer muhuḥ: and this remembering of Krsna's pastimes when you are accustomed. Then even when you are sleeping you will think of Krsna-harer muhuḥ. That is perfection of Krsna consciousness. Not a second, not a moment he is without Krsna consciousness. That is recommended here: srnvatam grnatam viryany uddamani, because when you are thinking of Krsna everything is profoundly uddamani-encouraged. Krsna is engaged in fighting with the demons, how He is saving his friends in the forest fire, everything is. How He has lifted the Govardhan hill. All endeavors are uncommon in the human society, they are very interesting especially to the devotees.

Yatha sujataya bhaktya: but these things happen when you are developed in devotional service-bhaktya. Just like you can imagine that if you have got profound love for a person, either for your children or for your wife, then you'll always think of them. You can not be without thinking of them for a second, this is practice only. So if we transfer this power of thinking to Krsna, that is our perfection of life. We are thinking, we can not stay without thinking for a moment but if we think Krsna and His pastimes then our life is perfect, that is Krsna consciousness. Yatha sujataya bhaktya: but this situation is possible by advanced devotional service-sujataya bhaktya. Suddhyet: that means so long we are thinking of Krsna and His pastimes we are being purified, purified. If you cannot think then you must hear therefore this is the opportunity. In a temple or in a place, institute like this where there is always something Krsna business. So from morning to night something is going on about Krsna so by association one becomes purified.

By this formulas, religious formulas he can not be [indistinct]. People are very much attracted to the ritualistic ceremonies but they are not attracted to devotional service, sravanam kirtanam visnoḥ [SB 7.5.23].

The beginning of devotional service is hearing and chanting about Visnu, Lord Visnu. They're not interested but if somebody prescribes that, "You spend three thousand rupees or five thousand rupees, have a yajna," "Oh this is good," but simple things, chanting and hearing of Krsna they'll not be interested. But in spite of performing such yajnas and ritualistic ceremonies they remain the same. It is practical and you see those who are engaged in pure devotional service beginning with chanting and hearing about Krsna, how they are making nice. The simple process they'll not accept.

It is very important verse. Krsnahghri-padma-madhu-lin: those who are just like bees or the bumble-bees, they are always engaged in licking the honey in the flowers. Similarly Krsna's lotus feet, the lotus and as soon as there is lotus there is some honey also. The taste of Krsna's lotus feet the devotee just like bumble-birds, bumble-bees, they're engaged always in Krsna's, in licking the honey in the lotus feet of Krsna. Such persons, krsnahghri-padma-madhu-lin na punar visrsta-maya-gunesu ramate. They are no more interested in the varieties of goods manufactured by the three modes of material nature. Maya-gunesu ramate vrjinavahesu: but these manufactured goods are carried along with it various types of dangers.

Just as practically you can see that these Krsna conscious boys who are coming from very nice families of Europe and America and the standard of Europe and America is much better than our standard of living. Their rooms are very well furnished, they have got nice bedsteads, furniture. But here they are no more interested in furniture. They are lying down on the floor without having any suitable bedding, without having any suitable dress, they are satisfied. So that is also here stated: krsnahghri-padma-madhu-lin na punar visrsta-maya. What is this furniture? This furniture is a product of the different qualities of the material nature, that's all. Anything, not only furniture, the radio the television, are so many things. They are simply byproducts of the interaction of different modes of material nature, that's all. Scientists are engaged to discover something, rajo-guna. He is thinking that, "If I discover this machine it will be sold and I will get money and enjoy." So that means the real impetus of manufacturing something is the rajo-guna, srsti-creative, creative force.

But what is that creative force? Creative force is coming from the modes of passion. So here it is said that: maya-gunesu, krsnahghri-padma-madhu-lin na punar visrsta-maya-gunesu. The whole world is creation the whole material world is creation of the interaction of the three modes of material nature. Modes of ignorance, modes of passion and modes of goodness, mixed up-maya-gune. Or anything presented here in this material world they're simply guna-mayi. In the Bhagavad-gita [Bg 7.14] it is said: guna-mayi.

Guna means these material modes and maya, vikararthe mayat. In Sanskrit grammar there is addition, affixes-mayat-pratyaya. Just like svarnamaya. Svarnamaya means gold transferred into, into liquid and it is glittering. So similarly this is guna-maya, Krsna says: mama-maya guna-maya. By three material modes of nature everything is manufactured. Tejo-vari-mrdam [Cc Madhya 8.266], tejaḥ: fire, water and earth.

By the addition of these gunas a something wonderful is coming out, manufactured, everything in this material world. This body also it is the same products and this world is of the same products and whatever we are using, that is guna-mayi. Everything is a product of the interaction of the three modes of...

So we are captivated by the products of this material nature but one who is engaged in licking up the honey from the lotus feet of Krsna they are no more interested. They are not, that is vairagya. Vairagya means, "Unattached to material things," that is vairagya. That is stated:

Real thing wanted in this mat... in our lives jnana and vairagya. Due to our attachment with the material things we are having different types of body and situations. This is the attachment therefore in order to take yourself out of this entanglement of changing different bodies in this material world one has to be detached, that is called vairagya. And how one can be detached? By knowledge that, "I do not belong to this nonsense thing. I am spirit-soul-aham brahmasmi," that is called jnana. That after jnana there is vairagya. Just like when one understands that, "I do not belong to the family or society," so he becomes disinterested; naturally. That is partners in business and if one is no longer partner he has no more any interest in that business. Sometimes it is happens that a man too much attached to his wife, if the wife somehow or other is dead, he becomes vairagi. A false vairagi, that is not vairagya but he becomes detached, "Oh my wife is dead, I have no more interest." So attachment because we have got this attachment for this material world therefore we are conditioned for changing different types of bodies, eight million four hundred thousands of species of life. This is going on. But one who is engaged in devotional service, automatically jnana and vairagya develops. Vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogaḥ prayojitaḥ: if one engages himself in the matter of bhakti-yoga in the devotional service of Lord Vasudeva or Krsna then this knowledge that, "I am not this body, I do not belong to any of these material things," that is called jnana and then detachment follows.

So those who are trying themselves to become detached by different processes, by yoga system, by jnana system, their process is ascending process. By their own endeavor but another process is this that vasudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogaḥ. As soon as you engage yourself in devotional service to Vasudeva, Lord Vasudeva this jnana and vairagya-automatically. The same thing is confirmed here that:

So long you remain attached to the different policies or modes of material nature you'll have to face different types of dangerous conditions [indistinct]-vrjinavahesu. Therefore one who has enjoyed this material life, after enjoyment they are not satisfied. It is not possible, people are in hellish situation, that by enjoying these material facilities they will be happy. Na te viduḥ svartha-gatim [SB 7.5.31] is durasaya.

This is called-durasaya: who is, "The hope which will never be fulfilled." But there are persons like that, durasaya ye bahir-artha-maninaḥ. They do not know that this material happiness will not make me any way happy. It is called durasaya. But one has to come to that stage, so there are different methods, but here it is said simply by tasting the honey on the lotus feet of Krsna: sa vai manaḥ krsna-padaravindayor [SB 9.4.18]. That day we have explained.Therefore Ambarisa Maharaja, he engaged himself always on the lotus feet of the Lord.

Those who are not engaged in devotional service, anya, anyas tu kama-hata. They are defeated by lust and desires-kama-hata. Anyas tu kama-hata atma-rajaḥ pramarstum: "When they try to get relief of the sinful reaction of their life," atma-rajaḥ, pramarstum iheta karma. They try another way this yajna-sacrifice, they also call karma-kanḍa-vicara, iheta karma. But the result is: yata eva rajaḥ punaḥ syat. Now suppose you have to perform a great sacrifice. In the sacrifice there is prescription that some animal should be offered in the fire, not in all sacrifices but in certain sacrifices. But if you do that then you become again implicated because you are killing one animal. In the sacrifice of course even you kill one animal you are responsible. Those who are sacrificing the goats in front of goddess Kali. The mantra says that, "You are taking the responsibility of being killed by this animal:" mamsa. "As you are eating the flesh of this animal so you should also be prepared to offer your flesh to this living entity." Therefore it is called mamsa, mam means, "Me," and sa means, "To," "He'll also eat me." So when in the yajna the sacrifice is recommended that means if one is intelligent, if he understands the mantras and the performance he will automatically cease; automatically cease. Then, "Why shall I take so much responsibility?" But people they are forbidden, according to Vedic rites you can not take mamsa. Those who are meat eaters they are forbidden that, "We can eat meat by this ritualistic ceremony." So still up to say six years back people would never take meat purchased from the shop. No. Even Hindus they were still, some of them, not high-class, not the brahmanas, ksatriyas, the lower class. Brahmanas, ksatriyas, vaisyas, they were never taking meat, they have learned now. Only sūdras or less than sūdras, they were taking meat and they were going to the Kali Mandir and sacrificing and now it has happened so that by worshipping Kali one becomes God. Eh? Just see how much degraded. This Kali worship was recommended for the lower class of men and it is now advertised that worshipping Kali-one becomes God. So much degraded this society has become. They have forgotten the whole culture and we are talking that, "Oh he is God, he is accepted by the whole world," some Romain Rolland. These things are going on.

But by that ritualistic ceremony he is again entangled. The example is just like this kali-pūja. There is canḍi-pūja also you can drink by offering liquor to Canḍi. Why they are in the sastras? Just like in other countries there is no such system of kali-pūja, canḍi-pūja, but they are drinking also, they are meat eating, they are eating meat. So why in the Vedic literature these things are there? That yes, you can eat meat, you can drink liquor on this process. What is the purpose? That means the Vedic literatures is encouraging them? No. The process is such that these meat-eaters and the drunkards if they follow this Vedic process one day it will come they will give up. The whole idea is to restrain them under such a process.

The marriage is also like that, everyone is after sex, so this is another process. That the married life, the rules and regulations following, gradually he will be disgusted and he will retire-vanaprastha. The whole idea is that to restrain people because these are the material engagements: sex, meat-eating and drinking and for this purpose people are gathering money. This is material civilization. It is not that a certain class of men or certain nations are addicted, that is the material nature. Everyone is addicted but so long they are addicted to these habits that means he has to accept some sort of material body. There is no question of salvation. So the whole process is so scientifically and for the benefit of the whole human society they are desiring. But the panacea, the substantial medicine is here, devotional service, simply by adopting it everything becomes automatically vanished. You haven't got to endeavor separately, the example is here present. How they are giving up these material attachments: illicit sex and meat eating and drinking or intoxication. Simply by devotional service or Krsna consciousness; it is so powerful. One hasn't got to endeavor separately for this as in other methods there is separate endeavor.

Thank you very much.

Devotee: [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Yes. But they are not going to hotels as other big men are going. They're afraid of going to hotels.

Devotee: [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Those who are not sūdras, the brahmanas and the ksatriyas, they have got money, they go to hotels, prepared meat is there. That's all, no botheration. Stay and eat.

Devotee: [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Therefore it is said: kalau sūdra sambhavah [Skanda Purana]. "There is no more brahmana and ksatriya and vaisyas, all sūdras."

Kalau sūdra sambhavah. There are so many other processes just ah, without following nobody can remain in his own standard of brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya. Garbhadhana, garbhadhana ceremony, dasa-vidha-samskara, ten kinds of samskaras, reformatory methods. Nobody is following, it is simply going on as a matter of hereditary rites, that's all. "I am a brahmana," "I am ksatriya," "I am this," "I am that." But actually nobody is brahmana, nobody is ksatriya, all sūdras. This you'll find.

Devotee: [indistinct] Vedic rites.

Prabhupada: Hm?

Devotee: [indistinct] Suicide [indistinct] because he was [indistinct] advised him to discharge devotional service.

Prabhupada: Yes. Vyasadeva was not wrong. He made all the sastras to gradually develop. Just like the meat-eaters if you ask him, "Don't eat meat," he'll not hear you. It is very difficult for him therefore according to Vyasadeva it is prescribed, "Yes you can eat. Eat meat but under this process." But he made all these sastras for BUT! The idea was the same but Narada Muni asked him that, "Why you have..." Because Narada Muni saw that Kali-yuga was coming, nobody will follow this. "So give something which will directly help." That is Bhagavatam, simply by hearing and chanting as devotees. Everyone, everything will be and therefore the Bhagavatam is the last contribution of Vyasadeva.

Vyasadeva... such a nice thing that srnvatam sva-kathaḥ krsnaḥ [SB 1.2.17]. Simply by hearing of the glorious words and vibration of Lord Krsna one becomes purified and as he becomes purified progressively such, nasta-prayesv abhadresu [SB 1.2.18]. "Not completely purified but almost purified." Just like we are, it is not that we have been completely purified. We should always know that we are trying to be purified by this process. So nasta-prayesv abhadresu: "Almost purified," such persons, nityam bhagavata-sevaya, simply by culturing this Krsna consciousness. Bhaktir bhavati uttama-sloke naisthiki bhagavaty: "The result is even one is not fully purified but his devotion to Krsna becomes fixed-up." That is when devotion to Krsna is fixed-up that means he is elevated to the platform of sattva-guna. He is no more in the platform of rajo-guna and tamo-guna and because he is no more in the rajo-guna and tamo-guna therefore he has no more any more attraction for these material things. Then he has to still more advancement and completely he will be liberated and he will be situated in transcendental platform.

Devotee: [indistinct] Vyasadeva [indistinct] Because he [indistinct] make progress [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Just like yoga system, yoga system is a separate. Is a separate endeavor to learn how to control the senses, yoga indriya-samyamaḥ. "The purpose of practicing yoga means controlling the senses," but devotional service, because you are hearing Krsna, we are eating Krsna, we are chanting Krsna, we are taking Krsna. So there is no more necessity of yoga practice. You are, your senses being automatically engaged in Krsna it, it is controlled. It has no scope to be engaged otherwise, that is control. Is it clear? You are trying to control the senses but because your senses are engaged in the service of Krsna there is no more scope of your senses being engaged otherwise, that means it is controlled.

Devotee: Then one has to control his senses through the yoga of devotional service [?]

Prabhupada: Eh?

Devotee: [indistinct] Have to control his senses before becoming a pure devotee [indistinct]

Prabhupada: No. If you engage yourself in devotional the control automatically done. You haven't got to practice it separately. It becomes automatically:

Control means jnana and vairagya, that becomes automatically done without any reason, of course the reason is vasudeve bhakti, ahaitukam.

Devotee: [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Vairagya, vairagya means, "detachment." Vairagya, vijata, minus.

Devotee: [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Eh?

Devotee: [indistinct]

Prabhupada: Sannyasa is simply a symbolic representation of vairagya. When, just like when you see a policeman in uniform you understand that, "Here is a policeman." Similarly the sannyasi's dress is that he has taken vairagya, but without dress also one can become vairagya. Real thing is that one must have no more attachment for material enjoyment, that is vairagya. So either you change your dress or not change that doesn't matter, sa sannyasi:

That is described in the Bhagavad-gita. Anasritaḥ: everyone is working for enjoying the fruits. "I am doing business, there will be one lakh of rupees profit and I shall be very happy, I shall purchase three motor cars and I shall drink three bottles daily." So this is that karma-phala anasrita, you have taken asraya-shelter, and on the result of that activity. But one who has no more shelter of the result of that he becomes. He may be a very big businessman earning lakhs of rupees but if he is engaging the whole thing for Krsna then he is a vairagi. Just like Arjuna. Arjuna is a fighter he was fighting. He is a vairagi, because he was fighting for Krsna-he's a vairagi. So that does not mean that I dress myself like a sannyasi and within my heart I am trying to become one with God. The biggest ambition. Eh? The small people they have got small ambition, "Just let me become a millionaire or let me become a prime-minister." But he is trying to become God, just see how much rascal he is and he is a vairagi. He is so ambitious that by changing his dress and naming himself, "Narayana," he has become one with God. He will become God that means, "The enjoyer of the goddess of fortune, Laksmi." He has become Narayana, Narayana means, "Husband of Laksmi, the goddess of fortune." Is it not? Laksmi-Narayana. So he has become Narayana, he has become Ravana, just like Ravana. He wanted to become the husband of Sita-devi. Rama. That is Ravana, "I shall become, bring her Sita-devi." The result was finished, everything. So this is not vairagya, phalgu-vairagya, it is called phalgu-vairagya. Phalgu-vairagya means, you know there is a river Phalgu? You know?

Devotee: In Gaya.

Prabhupada: In Gaya. You will find that it is dry but if you put your hand, and there is water. Similarly, some superficially you will see, "Oh he has taken sannyasa. He has more desire," but the desire is that if you put your hand within his heart you will find, "Oh there is a great desire to become God." [Laughs]

Devotees: [Laughter]

Prabhupada: Phalgu-vairagya. Another term is markata-vairagya, markata-vairagya. Markata means monkey, that is also another vairagya. He lives in forest and eats fruits and remains naked, these are all vairagyas, fruit eater, naked and living in jungle, has no [indistinct]. But you see three dozen wives. Not one wife [laughs] is monkey, you know? Monkeys have got at least three dozen wives and they have got a gang. [Hindi] So that is called monkey-vairagya. Superficially he is naked, eating fruit, living in the forest but so much attached to women. [Hindi] This sort of nonsense vairagya is not [indistinct]. He has full attachment and they are passing on as sannyasi, vairagi. Vairagi means that, "One who has renounced everything for Krsna," that is vairagi. Nothing for himself but everything for Krsna-that is vairagya. The gopis, the greatest vairagis, because they were, everything was for Krsna. Gopi-bhava-rasamrtabdhi-lahari [Sri Sri Saḍ-gosvamy-astaka, 4].

They have no other desire, anything, "How Krsna will be happy?" That is vairagya. They didn't care even for their husbands, even for their brothers, even for... No. Krsna, simply Krsna. They took the risk of being defamed. Suppose a woman goes to, ordinarily, to another man's how much derided she becomes in the society. But they didn't care for this, that's a fact.

This is very important. [End]