Bhagavad-gītā 7.3, Pandal Wedding and Initiations – March 29, 1971, Bombay

I may inform you that these married couples, they are helping me very much

Hamsadūta: The following was a wedding and initiations at the Cross Maidan, evening of 29th March, 1971. [break]

Prabhupada:

By chanting the holy name of Lord Visnu, one becomes purified in whatever condition he may be. Apavitraḥ pavitro va: either he is pure or impure; sarvavastham gato 'pi va: any condition of life, if he chants the holy name of Visnu, then he becomes immediately purified internally and externally.

[break] ...on the strength of chanting. This is the greatest offense. It is a fact that when one chants this mantra, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, immediately, his past sinful reaction of life immediately ceases. But if he thinks that "Because by chanting, my sinful reaction are counteracted, therefore I may go on committing sinful activities, at the same time chanting Hare Krsna mantra," this is called namno balad yasya hi papa-buddhiḥ [Padma Purana, Brahma-kanḍha 25.16].

One who is continuing sinful activities on the strength of chanting Hare Krsna mantra, that is the greatest offense. So out of the ten kinds of offenses, as explained by Subala Maharaja, this is the most important item. One should not commit any sinful activity because he is chanting Hare Krsna mantra.

Go on. Next.

[break] ...Om Visnupada Paramahamsa Parivrajakacarya Astottara-sata Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja Prabhupada. He was creating more brahmacaris and sannyasis for preaching work, but I am creating more grhasthas [applause], because in Europe and America the boys and girls intermingle so quickly and intimately that it is very difficult to keep one brahmacari. So there is no need of artificial brahmacari. It is sanctioned. My Guru Maharaja wanted to establish daiva-varnasrama.

So married life is called grhastha-asrama. It is as good as sannyasa-asrama. Asrama means where there is bhagavad-bhajana. It doesn't matter whether one is sannyasi or one is grhastha or a brahmacari. The main principle is bhagavad-bhajana. But practically also, I may inform you that these married couples, they are helping me very much, because...

For practical example, I may say that one of my Godbrothers, a sannyasi, he was deputed to go to London for starting a temple. But three or four years he remained there, he could not execute the will; therefore he was called back. Now, I sent six married couples. All of them are present here. And they worked so nicely that within one year we started our London temple, and that is going on very nicely. [applause]

So it is not the question of a brahmacari, sannyasi or grhastha. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said,

It doesn't matter whether he is a sannyasi or grhastha or brahmacari. One who knows the science of Krsna and preaches all over the world, he is guru, spiritual master. It doesn't matter.

So in Europe and America I am especially creating more grhasthas, families, so that they can take up this movement very seriously and preach, and I am glad to inform you that this process has become very successful. Thank you very much. [applause] [break]

[05:15]

That's all right. Anyone?

[break] ...Gita Lord Krsna says who can understand Him. By understanding Krsna, as it is stated in the Fourth Chapter-janma karma me divyam yo janati tattvataḥ-simply by understanding Krsna, one becomes so much elevated that after quitting this body, material body, tyaktva deham punar janma naiti [Bg 4.9], he never accepts again this material body.

As I have already explained to you that our miserable conditioned life is this-that we have to accept every, say, fifty years or sixty or utmost hundred years, we have to accept another body. We may make very good arrangement in this life-nice bungalow, good bank balance, nice family relationships, everything-but the thing is that we shall not be allowed to stay. Asasvatam. Duḥkhalayam asasvatam [Bg 8.15].

Therefore all our attempts to become very happy within this material world is futile. The intelligent man should know this, that "I want permanent settlement in my life, but that is not being done." Only intelligent man can understand, because intelligent means to understand that we are all eternal. Why should we accept this temporary body? We must have our eternal body. That is possible.

You can have your eternal body like Krsna. At the present moment, although we are eternal, we have to accept a certain type of body which is not eternal. Asann api klesada asa dehaḥ [SB 5.5.4]. Asann api. This body is temporary, but it is very miserable. It is always giving us trouble. That we should know. Janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duḥkha-dosanudarsanam [Bg 13.9].

So in the human society there must be some program how to cultivate such knowledge which can give me relief from this repeated birth and death. That is perfect human society. Otherwise, those who are being carried away by the waves of material nature like cats and dogs, that is not proper human society. Human society means which society is making advance in spiritual knowledge, the Aryans. The Aryans means those who are advanced in spiritual knowledge. They are called Aryans. Arya.

Krsna says, manusyanam sahasresu [Bg 7.3]. There are 400,000 species of human beings, different types of human being. Kirata-hūnandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanaḥ khasadayaḥ [SB 2.4.18]. There are so many varieties, they are considered lowest, low grade. They cannot realize what is the aim of life. Kirata-hūnandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanaḥ khasadayaḥ. Kirata, the black race.

Sometimes it is interpreted the Africans or the south part of our country. Kirata. Huns. These Huns are supposed to be inhabitants of the northern region of Russia. Some of them migrated into Germany. Kirata, hūna, andhra, pulinda, pulkasa. There are so many different names. Of course, if we research from history, from the world history, we can find out where there are. But there are varieties of human beings.

Therefore Krsna says, manusyanam sahasresu [Bg 7.3]. All human beings are not of the same standard. There are different standards. But Krsna is so kind, Krsna is so powerful, that anyone out of this human society can be claimed to become a Vaisnava. Anyone. That is the statement of Sukadeva Gosvami. Kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanaḥ khasadayaḥ, ye 'nye ca papaḥ [SB 2.4.18].

These names are mentioned, but there are many others whose names are not mentioned. Ye 'nye ca papaḥ. They are called papaḥ. Papa means very sinful life. Yad-apasrayasrayaḥ. If such persons, such lower-grade persons even, they take shelter of a pure devotee, then they become purified. Sudhyanti, they become purified. How? Prabhavisnave namaḥ. That is the special prerogative power of Lord Visnu. He can deliver anyone, in any condition of life. Prabhavisnave namaḥ. That is extra, extraordinary, inconceivable power.

According to smarta-vidhi, unless one changes his body, he cannot be purified. That impression is going on in India, that unless one is born in Hindu family or born in brahmana family, ksatriya, he cannot be accepted as brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sūdra, like that. But according to Vedic literature, that is not sanctioned. It is...

To become a son of brahmana and to have the privilege of becoming a brahmana, certainly there is. Just like a boy born in a medical man's family, so he has got a chance, better chance, to become a medical man. Similarly, a boy born in a brahmana family, he has got better chance to become a brahmana. Or a boy born in ksatriya family or vaisya family, he has got better chance. But that does not mean simply by taking birth in a brahmana family or ksatriya family, one becomes ksatriya or brahmana. No. He has to acquire the qualities.

That is stated in Bhagavad-gita: catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasaḥ [Bg 4.13]. And the qualification of brahmana is also stated there: satyam samaḥ damaḥ saucam titiksa arjavam astikyam, jnanam vijnanam brahma-karma svabhava-jam [Bg 18.42]. These are the characteristics of brahmana. Similarly, there are characteristics of ksatriya, vaisya, sūdra.

So in the Bhagavad-gita it is not stated... At least... We are discussing Bhagavad-gita. In the Bhagavad-gita at least, there is no such statement that a man becomes brahmana simply being born in a brahmana family or a man becomes sūdra simply by becoming born in a sūdra family. Guna-karma-vibhagasaḥ. This is also confirmed in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Sri Narada Muni instructs Maharaja Yudhisthira,

Narada Muni said that if the symptoms or characteristics of a certain status of social order is found in other family... For example, if a sūdra-born boy is inclined to accept brahmanism or Vedic culture, he should be given the chance. That is accepted in the Pancaratriki-vidhi. Just like these boys, European and American boys and girls, they are, according to our sastra, they are less than sūdras, or you can call them canḍalas. But they are being elevated to the status of the brahmana qualities by this Krsna consciousness process. It doesn't matter.

Our Sanatana Gosvami gives direction in the Hari-bhakti-vilasa that one man can become a brahmana by the regular process of diksa. Diksa, this initiation, cannot be offered to a sūdra. Diksa cannot be offered to a sūdra. But in this age, Kali-yuga, it is the statement of the sastras that in the Kali-yuga most of the population are sūdras. Kalau sūdra sambhavaḥ. How they can be initiated?

This initiation is offered not according to the Vedic rules, because it is very difficult to find out a qualified brahmana. Diksa is offered to a qualified brahmana. Therefore this diksa is offered according to Pancaratriki-vidhi. That is recommended in this age. My spiritual master inaugurated this Pancaratriki-vidhi, and we are following his footsteps.

Anyone who is inclined to devote his life for Krsna, he should be accepted as brahmana. Of course, he should be trained up. Not that these boys and girls are being initiated all of a sudden. They are trained up for six months, one year, then they are offered hari-nama. And when they are qualified actually in chanting Hare Krsna mantra, at least sixteen rounds daily, when we see, one year at least, that he is doing his duties, following the regulative principles... All these boys and girls who are initiated, they will have to follow the regulative principles: no illicit sex life.

Just like one couple is married, because we don't allow to live..., to allow the boys and girls to live as friends. No. That is not allowed. All my students who came to me... Because it has become a system in their country, the young boys and girls, they live as friends, without parents taking care of their being married. That has become a system, regular system in Europe and America. And India also it is going to be introduced very soon.

It is already introduced, and it will develop. And in the Srimad-Bhagavatam there is foretelling that in this age there will be no more marriage. Vedic marriage will be stopped. Svikara eva ca udvahe Therefore Krsna says manusyanam sahasresu [Bg 7.3], means not ordinary men. Those who are situated in this daiva-varnasrama, qualified brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sūdra... And we should note also that this division of brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sūdra is not that to make artificial competition and to become puffed-up with pride, that "I am brahmana. You are sūdra." No. It is a cooperation. Just like you have got cooperative society, similarly, these four divisions of social orders are cooperative society.

The brahmana is considered to be the mouth of the social body. The ksatriya is considered to be the army-arm or army, strength of the social body. The vaisyas are considered to be the productive element of the body. And the sūdras are considered to be the working class. But the intelligent class, the brahmanas, and the administrative class, the ksatriyas, and the productive class, the vaisyas, and the working class, the sūdras, they are equally important.

If you take the whole body, you cannot say that leg is unimportant than the head. Head is as important as the legs. But comparatively, because the head, the brain, gives direction, therefore it is more important than the legs. But without legs, the brain also cannot work. Without hand, the brain also cannot work, simply by brain. Brain is of course most important.

Similarly, in the social order, the brahmanas, the intelligent class of men, are very important undoubtedly, but sūdras are not less important. They are also important. That is the system given by the Lord Himself. Catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasaḥ [Bg 4.13], to cooperate, to understand...

It is also compared that the brahmana is the head of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the virat-purusa. So brahmana's business is, because it is the head, to give direction to the society, to the spiritual society, daiva-varnasrama, how to conduct the life and occupation of the society.

That is brahmana's business. The ksatriya's business is to give protection to the society. And the vaisya's business is to give food, productive. Krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhava-jam [Bg 18.44]. In this way there is a cooperative system, taking as part and parcel of the supreme body. Mamaivamso jiva-bhūtaḥ [Bg 15.7]. So we should cooperate, but there must be these four classes of men. Not that simply sūdras and vaisyas. At the present moment, there are few vaisyas and mostly sūdras. Rajas-tamo-bhavaḥ [SB 1.2.19].

Rajas-tamaḥ, by the rajo-guna, the ksatriya are produced, and by tamo-guna the vaisyas are produced, and vaisyas are mixed up, rajo-guna and tamo-guna sūdras are produced. So it doesn't matter in whatever guna or status of life we are. If all of us take to Krsna consciousness, then our life is successful, mutual cooperation. Therefore Krsna says, manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye [Bg 7.3]. Now, how to make perfect, perfection of life, siddhi? That is stated in the Caitanya-caritamrta:

Because we have all forgotten Krsna. That is our miserable condition of life. We are all forgotten about Krsna. Therefore Krsna is teaching us personally. Five thousand years ago, He personally appeared and teaching us, we forgetful of Krsna, the whole human society. Krsna is teaching everyone. Don't think that Krsna is teaching only in India, and to the brahmanas or the Hindus.

Krsna is for everyone. Therefore Krsna is being accepted by everyone all over the world. It is our duty. Caitanya Mahaprabhu therefore says it is the duty of all Indians to spread this Krsna consciousness movement for para-upakara, all over the world. That is our business.

So manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye [Bg 7.3]. The siddhi means when one takes to the daiva-varnasrama principles. That is stated in the Visnu Purana:

The whole life should be engaged how to satisfy Visnu, or Krsna. That is varnasrama-dharma. The four orders, social orders and spiritual orders-brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, sūdra and brahmacari, grhastha, vanaprastha and sannyasa-these orders are made for Krsna realization. These Vedic principles are there to understand Krsna. Vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ [Bg 15.15].

So Krsna says that out of many thousands of human beings, species of 400,000's of species..., manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye [Bg 7.3]. They come to the principle of this Vedic system of varnasrama-dharma. That is the process of siddhi. Without coming to this process of varna and asrama, catur-varnyam, the human life is animal life, or less than animal life. That is not accepted as human society. Therefore it is necessary that all over the world this varnasrama-dharma, according to Bhagavad-gita, must be established.

I am therefore trying to get these boys and girls married. This is the system of varnasrama-dharma. And they are happy. These boys and girls who are married... Of course, there are sannyasis and brahmacaris. My open order is... I get..., receive so many letters daily that "I wish to marry." Immediately I sanction, "Yes, you get yourself married."

But one who is strict, one who can follow very rigidly the orders of brahmacari and sannyasi, they continue. Therefore you will find in our society there are sannyasis, there are brahmacaris, there are grhasthas, there are vanaprasthas, like that. So no one is checked or hindered to make progress in Krsna consciousness. Everyone is welcome.

So manusyanam sahasresu kascid yatati siddhaye [Bg 7.3]. Siddhaye means to enter into the institution of daiva-varna and asrama. That is called siddhi. Otherwise animals. And yatatam api siddhanam [Bg 7.3]. Those who are engaged in the four orders of varna and asrama, out of them, yatatam api siddhanam. Those who are actually in the position of a brahmana, actually in the position of a ksatriya, siddhanam... They are called siddha.

Actually following the rules and regulation of brahmanas, ksatriya, vaisya, sūdra, they are called siddha. Kascin mam vetti tattvataḥ. It is not that because one has become a brahmana, qualified brahmana, because one has become qualified ksatriya, he will understand Krsna. It is not easy to understand Krsna. But Krsna is so kind that He is coming personally and He is leaving behind Him this Bhagavad-gita to understand Him. That is Krsna's kindness.

Otherwise, by so-called mental speculation, you cannot understand Krsna. It is not possible. Ataḥ sri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaiḥ [Cc Madhya 17.136]. If a person is very expert in exercising his senses, mental speculator, it is not that he will understand Krsna. Ataḥ sri-krsna-namadi. Namadi means His holy name, Hare Krsna. Because name is the first. In our this forgetful condition, our first business is to chant the holy name. Therefore namadi. To understand Krsna we have to chant His holy name first, adi. Then gradually, Krsna's qualities, Krsna's form, Krsna's pastimes, Krsna's entourage and everything will be revealed.

If we take to this devotional service, then this chanting, this vibration of the holy name of Krsna, very simple method, if we accept this... Just like we have offered these boys this chanting process, and they have accepted it very humbly. And if they prosecute the routine work, gradually they will understand what is Krsna. As you see the advanced students who are dancing in ecstasy, you can understand how much they have understood Krsna. A simple method.

And nobody is checked or barred: "You are not Hindu. You cannot chant Hare Krsna." No. Yei krsna-tattva-vetta sei guru haya [Cc Madhya 8.128]. It doesn't matter whether he is a Hindu or Muslim or Christian or this or that. One has to learn the science of Krsna, Bhagavad-gita, as it is. Then he becomes a spiritual master.

These boys, this boy and girl just now married, I am sending to Australia. The boy has come from Australia, the girl has come from Sweden. Now they are united. Now they are going to maintain our establishment there in Sydney. Just now I am sending them within two or three days. They will take care of the temple and they will preach also. This Krsna consciousness movement is expanding by their help. I am alone, but they are helping me. They are my gurus. I am not their guru, [applause] because they are helping me in executing my Guru Maharaja's order.

So it is very nice combination that somebody is going to Australia, somebody is going to Fiji Island, somebody is going to Hong Kong, somebody is going to Czechoslovakia. And we are also negotiating to go to Russia also. There is chance of going to China also. We are attempting. We have already sent two boys to Pakistan-one in Dacca and one in Karachi. [applause]

So these boys, these American boys, are helping me. I am very sorry that no Indians are coming forward for this... Of course, there are some, but very few. They should come forward, younger generation of India, they should join this movement and spread Krsna consciousness all over the world. That is Indian's business. Caitanya Mahaprabhu says,

This para-upakara business, welfare activities to spread Krsna consciousness all over the world, is the most important business at the present moment. It will unite everyone politically, socially, culturally, religiously, in every way, Krsna. Krsna is the center. That's a fact. It is making progress. And if we endeavor more and more, it will make more and more progress.

So Krsna says therefore,

Therefore one who has understood Krsna by this process of chanting Hare Krsna mantra, svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ, Krsna reveals to them. Tesam satata-yuktanam bhajatam priti-pūrvakam, buddhi-yogam dadami tam [Bg 10.10].

Krsna is situated in everyone's heart. As soon as one takes to Krsna consciousness, Krsna helps him. If he comes forward one step, Krsna comes forward ten steps. But if you do not want Krsna, that is a different business. But one who takes to Krsna consciousness...

These boys and girls, they are simply engaged in Krsna consciousness. Twenty-four hours they are simply hearing about Krsna. Twenty-four hours. Not that fifteen minutes' meditation and twenty-three hours doing all nonsense. It is twenty-four hours' meditation. Even in sleeping, meditation, chanting Hare Krsna mantra.

So ataḥ sri-krsna-namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaiḥ [Cc Madhya 17.136]. If we simply speculate our senses, it is not possible to understand. But if we take to this process, sevonmukhe hi jihvadau... Jihva, this tongue, can be engaged in two processes. You can glorify Lord Krsna. Simply glorify Krsna. Krsna is so great, Krsna is so kind, Krsna is so beautiful, Krsna is so opulent, Krsna is so powerful. Why you make Krsna as imperson? He has got so many qualities, transcendental qualities. What would you gain simply by saying that Krsna is nirakara, finish all business? No.

Try to understand Krsna, how much powerful He is, how much strong He is, how beautiful He is, how learned, wise He is, and hear from Him. The sastras are there. Why you stop your business of Krsna consciousness simply by saying that Krsna is nirakara? Krsna is not nirakara. How He can be nirakara? Sac-cid-ananda-vigraha. Īsvaraḥ paramaḥ krsnaḥ sac-cid-ananda-vigrahaḥ [Bs 5.1].

Vigraha means He has got transcendental form. If He hasn't got transcendental form, how these great acaryas are worshiping Him-Ramanujacarya, Madhvacarya, Lord Caitanya and all the great acaryas? Does it mean they are making a farce?

Krsna has got akara. Krsna therefore says, avajananti mam mūḍha manusim tanum asritam [Bg 9.11]. Avyaktam vyaktim apannam manyante mam abuddhayaḥ [Bg 7.24]. Krsna has got transcendental form. He has got His abode. He is engaged there always.

Every description is there in the Vedic literature. Therefore if we learn about Krsna, being situated in the daiva-varnasrama or having acquired the real qualities of brahmana, higher, or transcendental, qualities... Brahmana qualities means brahma janati iti brahmanaḥ. That is nirakara, of course. But you have to transcend the position of brahmana and become a Vaisnava. Then you will understand the Krsna's form, Krsna's qualities, Krsna's pastimes. Sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ [Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.234].

Naham prakasaḥ sarvasya yoga-maya-samavrtaḥ [Bg 7.25]. Those who are not Krsna conscious, those who are not advanced in Krsna science, for them, Krsna is covered by the yoga-maya curtain.

Krsna is Syamasundara, but one who has advanced his love of Krsna, premanjana-cchurita-bhakti, he can see Krsna every moment, everywhere. Anyone can elevate himself to that stage of seeing Krsna every moment by this Krsna consciousness movement. Therefore Krsna says,

So we have to understand Krsna tattvataḥ, in truth, by this Krsna consciousness movement.

Thank you very much. Hare Krsna. [applause] [end]