Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.8–9 – March 6, 1972, Calcutta

720306SB-CALCUTTA [45:49 Minutes]

Anyone who knows the science of Krsna consciousness, he is guru

Prabhupada: Prahlada Maharaja is considering himself to be unfit for worshiping the Lord. He says, kim tostum arhati sa me harir ugra-jateḥ [SB 7.9.8]. Ugra-jateḥ, as I was speaking yesterday, that chili, chili caste, those who are very much in fallen condition by quality. His quality…, it is not that one is fallen in quality, he cannot be raised. It is not like that. The practical example is that our European-American students, actually they were fallen in quality. They were in the modes of ignorance and passion, the fallen quality. But they have been raised.

So even one is in fallen condition or in fallen quality, he can be raised. Just like Prahlada Maharaja. Prahlada Maharaja is considering himself that "I am fallen. I am born of a father who is fallen," ugra-jateḥ. But he is actually not fallen, because he is a devotee. He is not fallen. Just like Haridasa Thakura. Haridasa Thakura was born in Muhammadan family. But these so-called brahmanas, they thought that he is fallen. But actually he was not fallen. Why? Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted him as the greatest of all chanter, namacarya. He was the acarya of spreading hari-nama, ideal symbol, chanting Hare Krsna mantra three lakhs' time, three hundred thousand time. Practically whole day and night, twenty-four hours, he was chanting, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

So he was not fallen-but he considered himself as fallen. He was not entering the Jagannatha temple. He was living outside. Why he? Even Sanatana Gosvami, because he mixed with the Muhammadan emperors… His friends, his master, were the big, big Muhammadan kings and nawabs. And Caitanya Mahaprabhu reclaimed him. The brahmana society rejected, outcasted him, that "You have accepted…" [break] …also changed his name, Dabira Khasa. His Hindu name was changed. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu claimed him, and they became gosvami. Vande rūpa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau [Sri Sri Saḍ-gosvamy-astaka].

This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement. All Vaisnava movement is like that. There is no consideration of fallen or high. No. Anyone. Yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei 'guru' haya [Cc Madhya 8.128], Caitanya Mahaprabhu said. "Anyone who knows the science of Krsna consciousness, he is guru. It doesn't matter by birth what he is." He may be a brahmana, he may be a sūdra, he may be a householder, grhastha, or he may be a sannyasi. Because Krsna consciousness is transcendental to this bodily concept of life.

This varnasrama-dharma-four varnas: brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sūdra; and four asramas, namely brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa-they are meant for this bodily concept of life. Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore said that "I am neither a brahmana nor a ksatriya nor a vaisya nor a sūdra. Neither I am brahmacari nor grhastha nor vanaprastha nor sannyasi." He kept Himself naham vipro na ca nara-patiḥ [Cc Madhya 13.80], kept Himself aloof from this varnasrama-dharma.

Of course, this varnasrama-dharma is the beginning of human civilization. Unless one comes to this stage, or institution, accepting this varnasrama-dharma, he is not to be considered as human being or civilized human being.

Because the whole aim of life is to go back to home, back to Godhead, Visnu. We have forgotten Visnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, we are loitering in this material world under different species of life in different planetary system. Brahmanḍa bhramite [Cc Madhya 19.151]: we are wandering. Why? Because we have forgotten Visnu. Therefore, this human form of life is meant for realizing Visnu. But we do not know. Na te viduḥ svartha-gatim hi visnu [SB 7.5.31]. Om tad visnoḥ paramam padam sada pasyanti sūrayaḥ [Rg Veda 1.22.20]. This is Vedic, Rg Veda mantra, that "Those who are sūrayaḥ, advanced, civilized Aryans, they are looking forward to the lotus feet of Lord Visnu." That is the ultimate goal of life.

But unfortunately, the rascal civilization, they are not teaching. They are not giving the opportunity to the human society to realize the highest goal of life. Such a rascal civilization at the present moment. Misleading. It is very regrettable that a man is born... Especially in India; every Indian born after many pious activities. To take birth in India is also, is result of pious activities. It is so holy land, this holy land. But unfortunately, our rascal leaders, they are misleading people. They are trying to make people forget Visnu, forget Krsna, forget God, and try to imitate the Western industrialization, economic development.

But these rascals do not see that in spite of all economic development and industrialization, they are not happy. They do not see; they do not take practical knowledge from the practical life. It is very unfortunate. Na te viduḥ svartha-gatim hi visnum. Generally, they are misled. But at least in India they should not be misled, because in India the Vedas are there, the Vedic literatures are there, the Bhagavata is there. I am reading this Bhagavata. Where it is made? It is made in India. But these rascals, they have forgotten it. So much regrettable position of India. They do not care for this Vedic literature, their birthright.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu gives the same thing:

It is the duty of the Indians to learn all this Vedic literature, make his life successful in Krsna consciousness and preach the gospel throughout the whole world. That is India's duty. But the rascals are imitating which is already finished, fallen-so-called economic development and industrialization. Na te viduḥ svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31]. In Berkeley University, one rascal student was asking me, Indian student, "Swamiji, what this Hare Krsna movement will do? We have to learn now technology." Yes, you learn technology and remain beggar forever. You go and beg, "Give me rice, give me [indistinct]." Now America is stopping this aid. Now your government is perplexed.

So this is the position, apana dhana vilaye diye bhiksa mage parera kache. They have forgotten their own assets, and they are begging, "Give me rice, give me wheat, give me powdered milk, give me money, give me loan. Give me, give me, give me." And their own assets they have forgotten. Apana dhana vilaye diye bhiksa mage parera kache. This is the position. Because they have been… Now one boy, he has come to us, and his father and mother is very much perplexed: "Oh, now the boy is mixing with this Hare Krsna movement. Better let him become Naxalite." They will tolerate their children to become Naxalite, but they will not tolerate that he is going to the American sadhus and becoming Krsna conscious. This is the position of... You see? So because,

They do not know the ultimate goal of life is to realize God, Visnu. Durasaya. They are hopelessly hoping-hoping against hope. How? Bahir-artha-maninaḥ. This materialistic way of life, they are thinking this is the perfection of life. That is not. That is ugra-jata. Ugra-jata means those who are born in the modes of material nature, ignorance and passion, they think that this material economic development, exploiting the natural resources, will make them happy.

Why they have become so?

Because they are being led by blind leaders, andha. They are themselves blind. Everyone is blind, born…, born blind. Otherwise, why you are sent to school and colleges to take knowledge? Because you are born blind.

Janmana jayate sūdraḥ. Everyone is born like animal. The process of birth by parental sexual intercourse, that is there in the animal life and human life. Therefore the human life birth is not different from the process of birth of the animals. Then janmana jayate…Therefore, by birth everyone is a sūdra. Sūdra means almost animal. Then samskarad bhaved dvijaḥ, the second birth is required. Not finished, that birth. Birth by father and mother, that is first birth. That is as usual to the animals and to the man; there is no difference. The process of birth is the same. But the next birth, samskarad bhaved dvijaḥ, the reformatory method, garbhadhana-samskara.

Before giving birth to a child, there is a samskara, there is a ceremony. That is called garbhadhana-samskara. And the higher caste, especially the brahmana, ksatriyas, unless they observe the garbhadhana-samskara, immediately he becomes a sūdra. So in this age, Kali-yuga, kalau sūdra-sambhava: almost everyone is born sūdra. Everyone. Kalau sūdra-sambhava. Because there is no garbhadhana-samskara. So where is the question of becoming brahmana, ksatriya and vaisya? That is not possible.

So these are the process of varnasrama-dharma. But they have left everything. Now simply by force one is claiming that "I am brahmana," "I am ksatriya," "I am vaisya," like that. That is false claim. Ugra-jata. Actually ugra-jata, unfit for self-realization. But it is the mercy of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu; it is the mercy of Lord Krsna. Krsna prescribed this method:

So Krsna has given open order for everyone that if anyone takes shelter of His lotus feet, vyapasritya ye 'pi syuḥ papa-yonayaḥ. Papa-yoni. They are considered papa-yoni. Those who are not under the reformatory method, they are called papa-yoni, "impious species of life." Even women are considered like this, striyaḥ. Not all women; these fallen women, they are also considered. This is the statement. Sūdra. Stri, sūdra and vaisya, they are considered on the same platform. So… But our point is that even we are in the fallen condition of life, there is no impediment to make our progress in Krsna consciousness life. There is no impediment.

In Srimad-Bhagavatam also it is said,

Even others, most abominable, they can sudhyanti: they can be purified by accepting this Krsna consciousness. Therefore this movement is scientifically being propagated on the authority of Vedic literature. Not that we have manufactured some movement. So everyone; it doesn't matter. Prahlada Maharaja will explain that "Because all these demigods, Brahma and others, asking me to pacify the Lord, then it is to be understood that," manye, "I therefore think,"

[Hindi] Therefore he says manye: "I think, because I am fallen, I am born of a father who is not in sattva-guna-he is in rajo-guna, tamo-guna-so therefore I am ugra-jateḥ. But still, Brahma and other demigods has ordered me to pacify the Lord and offer prayers. So by calculation, it is not possible that I shall offer my prayers to the Lord. But because they have recommended me, therefore I think," manye. Manye. He says manye. Manye means "therefore I think." What is that? Now, dhanabhijana-rūpa-tapaḥ-srutaujaḥ. Dhana, riches.

Sridhara Svami says that hari-tosane, "Actually I am unfit to offer any prayer." Just like it is a system: a brahmana is allowed to worship the Deity, not a non-brahmana. That is the Vedic system. But he was son of a person who is less than a sūdra-he was a raksasa-therefore, he was unfit from birth. So therefore, Sridhara Maharaja says that evam hari-tosane sa ajnata asankhya[?]: he was doubting about his eligibility to worship the Lord. Actually, unless one is situated on the platform, Brahman realization, one is unfit to offer any worship to the Lord. Krsna says that,

So lower birth means they are not free from the resultant action of sinful life. That is lower birth. And Krsna says that unless one is free from the contamination of sinful life, one cannot become a devotee. Therefore Prahlada Maharaja, he knows. Because he is a devotee, he knows.

Now Sridhara Svami is commenting asankhya, doubting his eligibility to worship the Lord. He is doubting, asankhya. Hari tosane… So he is thinking twice. He is first of all thinking, "Because I am born of a father who is so abominable, therefore by birth I am, because this body is my father's body." So the father's quality must be there. But at the same time he says that manye, "Then I think that one can become transcendental to this bodily concept of life simply by engaging himself in Krsna consciousness."

Anyone who engages himself in the Lord's service in full Krsna consciousness, he becomes transcendental to all material qualities. The material qualities mean sattva-guna, rajo-guna, tamo-guna.

The same way...

[aside:] What is that sound, kut-kut-kut-kut?

Therefore he says manye, "I think."

So what is that? Now, dhana, dhana means riches, one who has got money. Dhanabhijana. Manye dhana abhijana. Abhijana means aristocracy, born in very high family, rich family, aristocrat family. Manye dhana abhijana. Abhijana means sat-kule janma, to take birth in brahmana family or aristocratic family or ksatriya family. Brahmana, ksatriya and vaisya, they are… Not vaisya. Brahmana, ksatriya, they are taken as sat-kula, higher aristocratic family, or pure family-by culture, not by birth. Sat-kule janma rūpam sundarya, beauty.

These things are attractive. Janmaisvarya-sruta-sri [SB 1.8.26], the four things: janma, to take birth in high family, aristocratic family, rich family-that is due to pious activities; aisvarya, to acquire riches, money-immediately after birth he is proprietor of crores of rupees… This is not accidental. Don't think accidental. To take birth in a rich family, in high family, that is due to pious activities. Janmaisvarya-sruta-sri.

So these things are being analyzed, dhana, abhijana and sundarya, beauty. Beauty is also attractive. If a man or woman is beautiful, he or she becomes attractive. Sundarya srutam. Srutam means panḍitam. Panḍitam, education. Srutam, this word is very significant. Panḍitamdoes not mean to read only. Panḍitam means to hear, srutam. Therefore Vedas are called sruti. Sruti: one has to hear from the bona fide spiritual master; then he can become panḍita. Not that purchasing a book from the market, "I purchase one Bhagavad-gita from the market and I read." No. That is not panḍitam. You must hear.

Tad viddhi: you try to understand. Where? From the tattva-darsinaḥ. That is called sruti. You hear. Don't try to become a learned scholar by reading yourself at home. That is not possible. Therefore Vedas are called sruti. It has to be heard from a bona fide spiritual master. This very word is used, sruti, srutauja: knowledge received from the bona fide spiritual master by hearing, by giving aural reception. That is knowledge, panḍitaḥ. That is real panḍita. Otherwise, simply A-B-C-D knowledge is not panḍita. That is not. That is not realization.

Therefore this very word is used, srutam pandityam ojah indriya-naipunyam. Ojaḥ, power. Power means sense power. Indriyam: not impotent; potent. Indriyam. Tejaḥ. Tejaḥ means bodily luster; kanti, beautiful. A man or woman is very beautiful, there is a luster from the body. These are material qualities. Tejaḥ, kanti, prabhava, pratapa. Prabhava means if somebody says something, it has to be carried out. Just like a father says to his son, "You must do it." A master says to his servant, "You must do it." A spiritual master says to a disciple. That is called prabhava, influence. Whatever he says cannot be disobeyed. Prabhava.

Then balam sariram. Balam means bodily strength. Just like [indistinct]. That is also a qualification. Sariram paurusam uddama[?]: enterprise. A man is very enterprising. Especially nowadays, there are many industrialists, they are enterprising; they invest their money, risk their money, and make further profit out of it. From twenty thousand they make twenty lakhs. That is called uddama[?], enterprise. Then buddhi. Buddhi means prajnana, prajnana, intelligence, sharp intelligence. That is called buddhi, prajnana.

Yoga. Then comes… Yoga is also material. People are very much fond of yoga in the Western countries, but they do not know this is only material exercise. Yoga… You, everyone knows astahga-yoga. Yama, niyama, asana, dhyana, dharana…, asana, pranayama, dhyana, dharana, then pratyahara, then samadhi. Astahga. Eight kinds of different process by bodily exercise, that is called yoga. First of all one has to make yama niyama. It is very difficult. The so-called yogas, doing everything, and has become a yogi-that is not yogi. First principle of yoga is yama niyama: you sense control. You cannot eat everything; you cannot do everything. That is called yama niyama. Then practice asana. There are different kinds of asana.

Then dhyana, dharana, pratyahara. There are so many rules and regulation. It is not at all possible for a person in this age. Not only at the present moment-five thousand years ago, when Arjuna was advised for this yoga practice, Arjuna flatly said, "My dear Krsna, it is not possible." He accepted his inability. Such a personality like Arjuna, who was talking with Krsna face to face, and such a warrior, he felt unable-and now they are practicing yoga, as if they have become more than Arjuna.

This is only false, bluff. You cannot practice yoga. And even if you practice yoga, here it is said you cannot satisfy by yoga practice the Supreme Personality of Godhead-even if you practice it. First of all you cannot practice it; it is impossible at the present age. And even if you practice… Prahlada Maharaja says even yoga, this yoga, he says,

These are not qualification. These material qualification-to become beautiful, to rich, having very bodily strength and very beautiful luster and practicing yoga, so many thing-but they are not, I mean to say, means for offering prayer to the Lord. They are not fit even. Manye, he sees. Because he can see that brahmadayaḥ sura-gana [SB 7.9.8]. Sura-gana means "all demigods." They are all qualified with all these material qualities.

They are very beautiful, they are very strong, they can practice yoga. Not only; they have attained the perfection of yoga, asta-siddhi. Asta-siddhi: anima, laghima, prapti, isita, vasita, so many things. There is Siddhaloka. There is a planetary system, Siddhaloka. They are all yogis. They can travel from one planet to another without any aeroplane, Siddhaloka. So all of them arrived there to pacify Lord Nrsimhadeva.

Because all the demigods, they are all qualified with all these qualities. In high strength they are qualified, not like human being. A human being may be very beautiful or very strong or may be successful in yoga practice, but the demigods, they are called demigods because they are thousands and thousands time more perfect than the human being. Therefore they are called demigods-almost God.

So Prahlada Maharaja thinks that these things, ete dhanadaya [indistinct] api guna parasya pumso aradhanaya na bhavanti, all these material qualities, they are not fit qualification for worshiping the Lord. Just see how Krsna is merciful. All these demigods are also unfit to worship Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Why? Because they are lacking in pure devotional service. They also worship Krsna; therefore they are called demigods.

There are two kinds of men within this universe: one is called deva and one is called asura. Asura means they have no connection with God, and deva means those who have got connection with God. So... So they have connection with God, the demigods-but for some material profit. Just like Krsna says,

Catur-vidha bhajante mam. Four classes of men: who are distressed, who are in need of money, arto artharthi, need of money, and jnani and jijnasur. These four classes of men begin their search after God and worship God. That is the beginning. But that is not pure devotion. It is contaminated; that is not pure. These demigods, they have got high post in this material world. Just like we also know, there are many rich families, they have also Deities in their house, or they have special thakura-baḍi, God's house. They do. But their purpose is to take something from Krsna: artharthi. They are not pure, although they are devoting very nicely. That is also good qualification, because Krsna said,

Sukrti. Sukrti means they are pious men. Therefore, even though asking something, some benefit by worshiping the Lord, still they are pious. Therefore, in other words, piety is also not a qualification to approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is also not an apt qualification. It is above. Sa gunan samatityaitan [Bg 14.26]. One who can transcend all the qualities. Anyabhilasita-sūnyam [Cc Madhya 19.167]-no other desire.

"I am approaching Krsna, God, to beg something," that is also good, that he is going to beg something from Krsna than the rascals who do not come to Krsna. They are better than them. They are duskrtina who are not coming to Krsna.

They are described as lowest of the mankind, one who does not come to Krsna even for asking something. Because people have become so fallen, they do not go to Krsna to ask. They think, "We shall earn, we shall fight, we shall kill, we shall take money from others-then I shall become rich." This is going on. Therefore, the society has so much fallen because they do not come to Krsna. Duskrtino naradhamaḥ, lowest of the mankind, and always full of sinful activities. They do not come.

But even one comes to Krsna to beg something, some material profit, he is described in the Bhagavad-gita as sukrtinaḥ. Sukrtinaḥ means pious, because he has come to Krsna. Just like Dhruva Maharaja. Dhruva Maharaja went to the forest to worship Krsna, to ask something material profit, to ask some benefit-his father's property. But the result was that he became a great devotee, so that his name… Therefore, sastra recommends that even if you have a desire for some material benefit, still you worship Krsna, not other demigods.

Paramam purusa is Krsna. So even you are…, you have got kama, you want something materially profitable-still you worship Krsna. The result will be like Dhruva Maharaja. He went to worship Krsna to ask some material benefit, but ultimately he became a great devotee. When he became a devotee, even Kuvera, the treasurer of the demigods, he once… Dhruva Maharaja, when he was king, he was fighting with some demons, and by the request of superior, Narada, he stopped it. So the demons' forefather, Kuvera, was pleased, that "You have saved my family, so you can take any benefit you ask me." Kuvera means treasurer of the demigods. The whole treasury of the world he could ask from Kuvera Maharaja, er, Kuvera.

But Dhruva Maharaja, because he was at that time a pure devotee, he did not ask anything. He said, "Sir, if you want to give me some benediction, please give me this benediction so that I may have my unflinching faith on the lotus feet of Krsna." This is pure devotee. He could have asked him the whole riches of the whole universe, but no; he did not do it. He simply said that "Kindly give me this benediction so that my faith on the lotus feet of Krsna may remain forever." You see? So this is the ultimate goal of life. Na te viduḥ svartha-gatim hi visnum [SB 7.5.31].

So Prahlada Maharaja is pure devotee. He is thinking that "Although I am low-born, but even those who are high-born, full of riches and beauty and bodily strength and yoga perfection, they are not fit for worshiping the Lord."

Parasya pumsaḥ. Parasya means Krsna, or the Lord, does not belong to this material world. Therefore Krsna says,

"The rascals, because I come as human being, they think of Me as ordinary human being." But He is para, parasya pumsaḥ. Narayanaḥ paraḥ avyaktat, Sahkaracarya said. So He is para-purusa, means He is above this material world. There is another nature-that is also described in the Bhagavad-gita: paras tasmat tu bhavaḥ anyaḥ [Bg 8.20]. Bhavaḥ means nature. There is another.

Where the Vaikuntha world is? The people do not know. They think these are all fictitious, story. So rascal they have become. You see? But these are actual facts. There is another world, beyond this material world. We cannot calculate what is the length and breadth of this material world, and what we can get information of the spiritual world? But there is.

That is never destroyed. In this material world, whatever existence is there, they will be destroyed. So even the whole world there, the spiritual world is not destroyed, and the master of the spiritual world, the enjoyer of the spiritual world, Krsna, how He can be like us, like human being? Therefore Krsna says, avajananti mam mūḍha: "Because they have no knowledge, they think I am as a man." Parasya pumsaḥ.

So nobody can worship the parasya pumsaḥ, this transcendental personality, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by all these material qualification, which are acquired even by the demigods. Then how He can be? Now, bhaktya tutosa bhagavan gaja-yūtha-paya [SB 7.9.9]. Bhaktya: by simply by pure devotional service you can please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Otherwise, it is not possible.

Thank you very much.

Devotees: Haribol. Hare Krsna. [end]