Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.50 – April 5, 1976, Vṛndāvana

760405SB-Vrindavan [26:32 Minutes]

Anantaram Sastri:

Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya. Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya. Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya. [devotees repeat] Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.50. [chants word-for-word, then verse; devotees and Prabhupada respond] [break]

[02:58]

Pusta Krsna: Translation: "Therefore, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, the best of all persons to whom prayers are offered, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You because without rendering six kinds of devotional service unto You-namely without offering prayers, dedicating the results of activities to You, worshiping You, always remembering Your lotus feet and hearing and speaking about Your glories-who can achieve that which is meant for the paramahamsas?"

Prabhupada: [taped from a distance, indistinct from this point]

So bhakti is under the control of paramahamsas. Bhakti is not available in the market. It is not possible. Srila Rūpa Gosvami has said that if at all possible you can purchase. Eh? Krsna-bhakti-rasa, rasa-bhavita matiḥ, kriyatam yadi kuto 'pi labhyate, labh..., labhyate. Krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita matiḥ .

This is the exact translation of Krsna consciousness. We have given this name Krsna consciousness. The exact Sanskrit is written by Rūpa Gosvami. Krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita matiḥ. Matiḥ means consciousness. We have taken this verse. So we are distributing this. Anyone can purchase. Hmm? Rūpa Gosvami has advised, "Purchase and indulge. That's all" Therefore, as paupers, here we are asking everybody, "Please purchase Krsna consciousness." This is our business. We are also businessmen. These books, this is business. What is this business? "Please purchase Krsna consciousness." They are seeing that we can act in business. [child crying loudly in the background; Prabhupada says something aside] It is Rūpa Gosvami's advise that krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita matiḥ. Kriyatam. Again he advises everyone, "Please purchase krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita matiḥ." The reference is [indistinct], that those who are actually eager to purchase, we are giving knowledge that "Here is Krsna bhakti: krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita matiḥ, here." There is no other way, only Krsna bhakti. This is required.

So, kriyatam, he has advised to purchase, but one can enquire what is the price? What is the price? I want to purchase one kilo, but what is the price? Yes, price is there, ah, laulyam ekalam mūlyam. First of all, to purchase Krsna consciousness, it does not require any pound, ceilling, penny. It cannot be purchased by any material money. Then, what price? Laulyam ekalam mūlyam [Cc Madhya 8.70]: I must have Krsna in this life. This is the price. If one is very, very eager, just like Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught us, sūnyayitam jagat sarvam govinda-virahena me [Cc Antya 20.39]: "I do not find Govinda, therefore the whole world is vacant." [Sri Siksastaka 7] This is the reaction. Yugayitam nimesena caksusa pravrsayitam. This is the price for purchasing Krsna. We have got everything given by our acaryas. Rūpa Gosvami says that you purchase, then you at least try. [indistinct] twice. And Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who rigidly purchased, this is the price [indistinct]. Yugayitam nimesena, when you live one moment as twelve years. One yuga means twelve years. Yugayitam nimesena caksusa pravrsayitam: and the eyes should be filled with tears. Just like in the rainy season, torrents and torrents of rain. Yugayitam nimesena caksusa pravrsayitam. And, Sūnyayitam jagat sarvam, that Caitanya Mahaprabhu practically shown that without Krsna He is jumping on the sea. He has fallen in amongst the cows and [indistinct]. You have read Caitanya-caritamrta where Krsnadasa Kaviraja has explained.

So He is showing us by practical example what is the price for this. That is the price. So therefore it is the knowledge, as it is said, paramahamsa-gatau labheta, gata-it is the property of the paramahamsa. You have to find, you have to purchase from the paramahamsas, not from the professional man. Therefore Narottama dasa Thakura says, chaḍiya vaisnava-seva nistara peyeche keba, you have to serve the paramahamsa. Paramo nirmatsaranam. Paramahamsa means paramo nirmatsaranam [SB 1.1.2] Vaisnava means, he is paramahamsa. Those who are envious, they are not even gosvamis, what to speak of paramahamsas. Vaisnava is adosadarsi: he will never find out any fault with anyone, anywhere. Paramahamsa, why they should find fault? This material world means they are under the influence of the material nature. Here everyone has got some difference of opinion, diseased condition. Diseased condition. Just like there are varieties of diseases, similarly, everyone is being influenced by the modes of material nature. Prakrteḥ kriyamanani gunaiḥ karmani sarvasaḥ [Bg 3.27]. So we are in diseased condition under the influence of material nature. You can say, "But that is not for me."

Just like a person ghostly-haunted, he speaks all nonsense. Similarly, anyone who is under the influence of the three qualities of material nature, he is as good as the person ghostly-haunted. He speaks only nonsense. We cannot see on our own account, because every one of us ghostly-haunted, under the influence of the material nature. It is these varieties of philosophies, varieties of sciences, biology and chemistry, varieties of material nature. So we cannot expect a sane man, so why you should be angry upon a man, or why should you blame an insane man? This is proper Vaisnava behavior. The Vaisnava's only desire is that "These people are suffering under the influence of material nature, and they are talking all nonsense. What shall I blame them? Why shall I condemn them? Let them pray to Krsna, let them become sane constantly." This is Vaisnava. It is just like the physician is treating patients, and one patient is [indistinct]. But if the physician becomes angry upon the patient, then he cannot treat. Therefore Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has advised to the preacher,

You have to become tolerant. People will be rude, illusioned under the influence of the material nature, and they will talk only nonsense. But we don't care, neither we complain. We never complain. Very tolerant. Samsevaya tvayi vineti saḍ-ahgaya kim, You have to follow the paramahamsas. Krsna is the property of the paramahamsa. Bhaktivinoda Thakura has sung, vaisnava thakura tomara kukura baliya janaha more. [Saranagati. Atma-nivedana, Song 19, Stanza 1] Just like the dog follows the master to get something. The dog does not go to any master, but he follows his master, and the master out of affection gives him food and drink. So Bhaktivinoda Thakura has taught us that vaisnava thakura tomara kukura baliya janaha more. You have to become a dog of a Vaisnava. And Narottama dasa Thakura says that chadiya vaisnava-seva nistara peyeche keba: without serving the Vaisnava, nobody can get out of the clutches of maya. That is not possible.

Therefore we daily sing, guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete kariya aikya, ara na kariha mane. [Sri Prema-bhakti-candrika, 1.2] Because if you want to have Krsna, then guru. Guru means who is coming through the parampara system. Not self-made guru, but that guru, guru-mukha-padma. What he says, that we have to follow. That's all. Because we are under the influence of maya. You cannot become paramahamsa by advertising. No, that is not possible. Guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete kariya aikya, that is the paramahamsa who follows the instruction of guru. He is not paramahamsa, but because he is following the words of the paramahamsa, he is perfect. This is guru. We sing also, yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado yasyaprasadan na gatiḥ kuto 'pi. [Sri Gurvastaka 8] This is paramahamsa. Paramahamsa-gatau, you have to become. You have to approach a Vaisnava, a paramahamsa and follow his words and instructions; then you get the result. This is the price. Otherwise it is not possible, it can be purchased very easily, provided you have got the price as it is described in the sastras:

Tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasuḥsreya uttamam [SB 11.3.21]. Jijnasuḥsreya. One should not approach guru for any material purpose. That is... He is not eligible to select the guru, and he is not fit for becoming disciple. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasuḥsreya uttamam. [from the darkness.]

So, sabde pare ca nisnatam brahmany upasamasrayam. Guru means he is expert, well versed in the transcendental science, literatures. Then how it can be done, transcendental literature? It is very easy. That is the instruction of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Then what is that transcendental literature? Caitanya Mahaprabhu explains, yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa [Cc Madhya 7.128].

Very easy. Simply you take Bhagavad-gita, krsna-upadesa. That is transcendental. This is Sabde pare ca nisnatam [SB 4.29.55]. One who has taken seriously, fully, sabde pare ca… Sabda means sound. Bhagavad-gita is also sound, but it is not ordinary sound. If you take Bhagavad-gita as ordinary sound and try to understand by your ordinary, blunt [indistinct] it will never be possible. It is transcendental literature. It cannot be understood by mundane education. Therefore all these rascals who are advertising that they have great scholars, great politicians, great students in this and that, they cannot understand. Because they want to understand Bhagavad-gita by the mundane knowledge, mundane education. It is not possible. Therefore he cannot. Sabde pare ca nisnatam, brahmany. Then brahmany upasamasrayam, the whole life is how to become completely fixed up in Brahman, the Supreme. That is brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannatma, we are trying to be happy, peaceful. Everyone of us. Everyone wants equanimity. How you'll get? The process you do not follow, brahmany upasamasrayam. So if you're fixed up in Brahma, then,

So if you get to the brahma-bhūtaḥ stage, even if you approach a person who is in brahma-bhūtaḥ then, tad-vijnanartham sa gurum, [Munḍaka Upanisad 1.2.12] sabde pare ca nisnatam [SB 11.3.21] In Bhagavad-gita everything is explained.

Brahmeti paramatmeti bhagavan iti. Tattva-darsinaḥ means one who knows what is actually the truth.

That means one who is brahma-bhūtaḥ, one who understands the distinction between material knowledge and spiritual knowledge, you have to approach that person. Then you can understand Krsna consciousness. And what is the means? Rūpa Gosvami has said, tatra laulyam ekalam mūlam, na labhyate janma-koti-sukrtair. "Yes, I say the price is eagerness." So anyone can say, "Oh, that is very easy. [indistinct] Yes, I shall do it." So Rūpa Gosvami immediately warns us, na janma-koti-sukrtair: even after millions of births and millions of past pious activities, this eagerness cannot be. It is not easy. Don't take it, I mean, "I am very eager, I have eagerness." No, how you can be? Therefore Rūpa Gosvami immediately warns, "No, don't do that." Just like you are eager to buy something [indistinct] in the market, janma-koti-sukrtair na labhyate, but it can be, immediately. This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's favor, mercy. Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Lord Krsna is merciful. Immediately within a second. How?

When Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommended Jagai and Madhai that "You give up your sinful activities [indistinct] immediately." So we, if we are serious that to approach Krsna and get Krsna consciousness, and if we follow the instructions of Krsna, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, we can become paramahamsa. [indistinct] Krsna, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, then life is successful. We can make Krsna consciousness very easily; otherwise stuti-karma-pūjaḥ karma smrtis caranayoḥsravanam kathayam samsevaya tvayi vineti saḍ-ahgaya kim…… saḍ-ahgaya kim.

Otherwise, if you make a show [indistinct] nice pillow. No, these things are required, but external, but internally how to get the favor of the paramahamsas, then you will be successful. This is the secret.

In Bhagavad-gita, [indistinct] vyavasayatmika buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana [Bg 2.41], ekeha, if you simply have one: ekah. [indistinct] There is no difference between Krsna and guru. Saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair [Sri Gurvastaka 7] This is the way you have to find out the paramahamsas. If you can find out sincerely, follow his instructions, then Krsna consciousness will be very easy. Otherwise, na ananta koti sukrtair labhyate, after many, many births, pious lives, not cats' and dogs' lives [indistinct]. Therefore initiation means to train the candidate to become a perfect brahmana, Vaisnava. Then you can become established in Krsna consciousness and if you remain in your original position then your life is successful.

Thank you very much.

Devotees: Jaya! Haribol! [end]