Krishna's Protection of His Devotees

Divine protection and spiritual etiquette

0:00: Conversation Including SB 1.2.2–34 Recitation & Purport Type: Conversation Dated: April 1st 1969 Location: San Francisco Audio file: 690401R1-SAN-FRANCISCO.mp3

0:01Prabhupāda: "So we want to see him [her] naked in this assembly." So she prayed Kṛṣṇa. Mahābhārata story is very nice, how Kṛṣṇa, protecting His devotee.

0:24Devotee: Swāmījī? Didn't Karṇa request Arjuna not to fight when he was lifting the chariot? Didn't Karṇa request Arjuna not to kill him?

0:34Prabhupāda: Yes. Requested. But Kṛṣṇa said, "No. You kill him. I say." Arjuna said, "That's all right. [laughter] When You order me, 'Fight,' [chuckles] I don't care for any morality or discipline. Your order is 'Fight.'"

1:00Devotee: Can you chant for us loudly? Can you chant from the Bhāgavata?

1:04Prabhupāda: Yes, I'll chant. Hare Kṛṣṇa. Oh, thank you very much. All should be offered there, Jagannātha. The etiquette is nice. Everything should be offered to the..., through the spiritual master. That is the etiquette. No direct. [Prabhupāda chants the second chapter of First Canto]

8:48SB 1.2.2सूत उवाचयं प्रव्रजन्तमनुपेतमपेतकृत्यंद्वैपायनो विरहकातर आजुहाव ।पुत्रेति तन्मयतया तरवोऽभिनेदुस्तंसर्वभूतह्रदयं मुनिमानथोऽस्मि ॥ २sūta uvācayaṁ pravrajantam anupetam apeta-kṛtyaṁdvaipāyano viraha-kātara ājuhāvaputreti tan-mayatayā taravo 'bhinedustaṁ sarva-bhūta-hṛdayaṁ munim ānato 'smiŚrīla Sūta Gosvāmī said: Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto that great sage [Śukadeva Gosvāmī] who can enter the hearts of all. When he went away to take up the renounced order of life [sannyāsa], leaving home without undergoing reformation by the sacred thread or the ceremonies observed by the higher castes, his father, Vyāsadeva, fearing separation from him, cried out, “O my son!” Indeed, only the trees, which were absorbed in the same feelings of separation, echoed in response to the begrieved father.

Vedic knowledge and transcendental sound

8:52SB 1.2.3य: स्वानुभावमखिलश्रुतिसारमेकमध्यात्मदीपमतितितीर्षतां तमोऽन्धम् ।संसारिणां करुणयाह पुराणगुह्यं तम् व्याससूनुमुपयामि गुरुं मुनीनाम् ॥ ३yaḥ svānubhāvam akhila-śruti-sāram ekamadhyātma-dīpam atititīrṣatāṁ tamo 'ndhamsaṁsāriṇāṁ karuṇayāha purāṇa-guhyaṁtaṁ vyāsa-sūnum upayāmi guruṁ munīnāmLet me offer my respectful obeisances unto him [Śuka], the spiritual master of all sages, the son of Vyāsadeva, who, out of his great compassion for those gross materialists who struggle to cross over the darkest regions of material existence, spoke this most confidential supplement to the cream of Vedic knowledge, after having personally assimilated it by experience.

8:52SB 1.2.4नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् ।देवीं सरस्वतीं व्यासं ततो जयमुदीरयेत् ॥ ४nārāyaṇaṁ namaskṛtyanaraṁ caiva narottamamdevīṁ sarasvatīṁ vyāsaṁtato jayam udīrayetBefore reciting this Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which is the very means of conquest, one should offer respectful obeisances unto the Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa, unto Nara-nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi, the supermost human being, unto mother Sarasvatī, the goddess of learning, and unto Śrīla Vyāsadeva, the author.SB 1.2.5मुनय: साधु पृष्टोऽहं भवद्भिर्लोकमङ्गलम् ।यत्कृत: कृष्णसम्प्रश्नो येनात्मा सुप्रसीदति ॥ ५munayaḥ sādhu pṛṣṭo 'haṁbhavadbhir loka-maṅgalamyat kṛtaḥ kṛṣṇa-sampraśnoyenātmā suprasīdatiO sages, I have been justly questioned by you. Your questions are worthy because they relate to Lord Kṛṣṇa and so are of relevance to the world’s welfare. Only questions of this sort are capable of completely satisfying the self.

8:52SB 1.2.6स वै पुंसां परो धर्मो यतो भक्तिरधोक्षजे ।अहैतुक्यप्रतिहता ययाऽत्मा सुप्रसीदति ॥ ६sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmoyato bhaktir adhokṣajeahaituky apratihatāyayātmā suprasīdatiThe supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self.SB 1.2.7वासुदेवे भगवति भक्तियोग: प्रयोजित: ।जनयत्याशु वैराग्यं ज्ञानं च यदहैतुकम् ॥ (७)vāsudeve bhagavatibhakti-yogaḥ prayojitaḥjanayaty āśu vairāgyaṁjñānaṁ ca yad ahaitukamBy rendering devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, one immediately acquires causeless knowledge and detachment from the world.

8:52SB 1.2.8धर्म: स्वनुष्टित: पुंसां विष्वक्सेनकथासु य: ।नोत्पादयेद्यदि रतिं श्रम एव हि केवलम् ॥ ८dharmaḥ svanuṣṭhitaḥ puṁsāṁviṣvaksena-kathāsu yaḥnotpādayed yadi ratiṁśrama eva hi kevalamThe occupational activities a man performs according to his own position are only so much useless labor if they do not provoke attraction for the message of the Personality of Godhead.

8:52[The occupational activities a man performs according to his own position are only so much useless labor if they do not provoke attraction for the message of the Personality of Godhead.

8:52SB 1.2.9धर्मस्य ह्यापवर्ग्यस्य नार्थोऽथायोपकल्पते ।नार्थस्य धर्मैकान्तस्य कामो लाभाय हि स्मृत: ॥ (९)dharmasya hy āpavargyasyanārtho 'rthāyopakalpatenārthasya dharmaikāntasyakāmo lābhāya hi smṛtaḥAll occupational engagements are certainly meant for ultimate liberation. They should never be performed for material gain. Furthermore, according to sages, one who is engaged in the ultimate occupational service should never use material gain to cultivate sense gratification.SB 1.2.10कामस्य नेन्द्रियप्रीतिर्लाभो जीवेत यावता।जीवस्य तत्वजिज्ञासा नार्थो यश्चेह कर्मभि: ॥ (१०)kāmasya nendriya-prītirlābho jīveta yāvatājīvasya tattva-jijñāsānārtho yaś ceha karmabhiḥLife’s desires should never be directed toward sense gratification. One should desire only a healthy life, or self-preservation, since a human being is meant for inquiry about the Absolute Truth. Nothing else should be the goal of one’s works.

8:52SB 1.2.11वदन्ति तत्तत्वविदस्तत्वम् यज्ज्ञानमद्वयम् ।ब्रह्मेति परमात्मेति भगवानिति शब्द्द्यते ॥ (११)vadanti tat tattva-vidastattvaṁ yaj jñānam advayambrahmeti paramātmetibhagavān iti śabdyateLearned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth call this nondual substance Brahman, Paramātmā or Bhagavān.SB 1.2.12तच्छ्रद्दधाना मुनयो ज्ञानवैराग्ययुक्तया ।पश्यन्तयात्मनि चात्मानं भक्त्या श्रुतगृहीतया ॥ (१२)tac chraddadhānā munayojñāna-vairāgya-yuktayāpaśyanty ātmani cātmānaṁbhaktyā śruta-gṛhītayāThe seriously inquisitive student or sage, well equipped with knowledge and detachment, realizes that Absolute Truth by rendering devotional service in terms of what he has heard from the Vedānta-śruti.

8:52SB 1.2.13अत: पुम्भिर्द्विजश्रेष्ठा वर्णाश्रमविभागश: ।स्वनुष्ठितस्य धर्मस्य सम्सिद्धिर्हरितोषणम् ॥ १३ataḥ pumbhir dvija-śreṣṭhāvarṇāśrama-vibhāgaśaḥsvanuṣṭhitasya dharmasyasaṁsiddhir hari-toṣaṇamO best among the twice-born, it is therefore concluded that the highest perfection one can achieve by discharging the duties prescribed for one’s own occupation according to caste divisions and orders of life is to please the Personality of Godhead.SB 1.2.14तस्मादेकेन मनसा भगवान् सात्वतां पति: ।श्रोतव्य: कीर्तितव्यश्च ध्येय: पूज्यश्च नित्यदा ॥ १४ ॥tasmād ekena manasābhagavān sātvatāṁ patiḥśrotavyaḥ kīrtitavyaś cadhyeyaḥ pūjyaś ca nityadāTherefore, with one-pointed attention, one should constantly hear about, glorify, remember and worship the Personality of Godhead, who is the protector of the devotees.

8:52SB 1.2.15यदनुध्यासिना युक्ता: कर्मग्रन्थिनिबन्धनम् ।छिन्दन्ति कोविदास्तस्य को न कुर्यात्कथारतिम् ॥ १५ ॥yad-anudhyāsinā yuktāḥkarma-granthi-nibandhanamchindanti kovidās tasyako na kuryāt kathā-ratimWith sword in hand, intelligent men cut through the binding knots of reactionary work [karma] by remembering the Personality of Godhead. Therefore, who will not pay attention to His message?SB 1.2.16शुश्रूषो: श्रद्धधानस्य वासुदेवकथारुचि: ।स्यान्महत्सेवया विप्रा: पुण्यतीर्थनिषेवणात् ॥ (१६)śuśrūṣoḥ śraddadhānasyavāsudeva-kathā-ruciḥsyān mahat-sevayā viprāḥpuṇya-tīrtha-niṣevaṇātO twice-born sages, by serving those devotees who are completely freed from all vice, great service is done. By such service, one gains affinity for hearing the messages of Vāsudeva.

8:52SB 1.2.17श्रुण्वतां स्वकथां कृष्ण: पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तन: ।ह्रुद्यन्त: स्थो ह्यभद्राणि विधुनोति सुहृत्सताम् ॥ १७ ॥śṛṇvatāṁ sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥpuṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥhṛdy antaḥ stho hy abhadrāṇividhunoti suhṛt satāmŚrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramātmā [Supersoul] in everyone’s heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted.SB 1.2.18नष्टप्रायेष्वभद्रेषु नित्यं भागवतसेवया ।भगवत्युत्तमश्लोके भक्तिर्भवति नैष्ठिकी ॥ १८ ॥naṣṭa-prāyeṣv abhadreṣunityaṁ bhāgavata-sevayābhagavaty uttama-ślokebhaktir bhavati naiṣṭhikīBy regular attendance in classes on the Bhāgavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact.

8:52SB 1.2.19तदा रजस्तमोभावा: कामलोभादयश्च ये ।चेत एतैरनाविद्धं स्थितं सत्त्वे प्रसीदति ॥ १९ ॥tadā rajas-tamo-bhāvāḥkāma-lobhādayaś ca yeceta etair anāviddhaṁsthitaṁ sattve prasīdatiAs soon as irrevocable loving service is established in the heart, the effects of nature’s modes of passion and ignorance, such as lust, desire and hankering, disappear from the heart. Then the devotee is established in goodness, and he becomes completely happy.SB 1.2.20एवं प्रसन्नमनसो भगवद्भक्तियोगत: ।भगवत्तत्त्वविज्ञानं मुक्तसङ्गस्य जायते ॥ २० ॥evaṁ prasanna-manasobhagavad-bhakti-yogataḥbhagavat-tattva-vijñānaṁmukta-saṅgasya jāyateThus established in the mode of unalloyed goodness, the man whose mind has been enlivened by contact with devotional service to the Lord gains positive scientific knowledge of the Personality of Godhead in the stage of liberation from all material association.

8:52SB 1.2.21भिद्यते हृदयग्रान्थिश्छिद्यन्ते सर्वसंशया: ।क्षीयन्ते चास्य कर्माणि दृष्ट एवात्मनीश्वरे ॥ २१॥bhidyate hṛdaya-granthiśchidyante sarva-samśayāḥkṣīyante cāsya karmāṇidṛṣṭa evātmanīśvareThus the knot in the heart is pierced, and all misgivings are cut to pieces. The chain of fruitive actions is terminated when one sees the self as master.SB 1.2.22अतो वै कवयो नित्यं भक्तिं परमया मुदा ।वासुदेवे भगवति कुर्वन्त्यात्मप्रसादनीम् ॥ २२ ॥ato vai kavayo nityaṁbhaktiṁ paramayā mudāvāsudeve bhagavatikurvanty ātma-prasādanīmCertainly, therefore, since time immemorial, all transcendentalists have been rendering devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead, with great delight, because such devotional service is enlivening to the self.

8:52SB 1.2.23सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति प्रकृतेर्गुणास्तैर्युक्त: पर: पुरुष एक इहास्य धत्ते ।स्थित्यादये हरिविरिञ्चिहरेति संज्ञा:श्रेयांसि तत्र खलु सत्त्वतनोर्नृणां स्यु : ॥ २३॥sattvaṁ rajas tama iti prakṛter guṇās tairyuktaḥ paraḥ puruṣa eka ihāsya dhattesthity-ādaye hari-viriñci-hareti saṁjñāḥśreyāṁsi tatra khalu sattva-tanor nṛṇāṁ syuḥThe transcendental Personality of Godhead is indirectly associated with the three modes of material nature, namely passion, goodness and ignorance, and just for the material world’s creation, maintenance and destruction He accepts the three qualitative forms of Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva. Of these three, all human beings can derive ultimate benefit from Viṣṇu, the form of the quality of goodness.

8:52SB 1.2.24पार्थिवाद्दारुणो धूमस्तस्मादग्निस्त्रयीमय: ।तमसस्तु रजस्तस्मात्सत्त्वं यद्ब्रह्मदर्शनम् ॥ २४॥pārthivād dāruṇo dhūmastasmād agnis trayīmayaḥtamasas tu rajas tasmātsattvaṁ yad brahma-darśanamFirewood is a transformation of earth, but smoke is better than the raw wood. And fire is still better, for by fire we can derive the benefits of superior knowledge [through Vedic sacrifices]. Similarly, passion [rajas] is better than ignorance [tamas], but goodness [sattva] is best because by goodness one can come to realize the Absolute Truth.SB 1.2.25भेजिरे मुनयोऽथाग्रे भगवन्तमधोक्षजम् ।सत्त्वं विशुद्धं क्षेमाय कल्पन्ते येऽनु तानिह ॥ २५ ॥bhejire munayo 'thāgrebhagavantam adhokṣajamsattvaṁ viśuddhaṁ kṣemāyakalpante ye 'nu tān ihaPreviously all the great sages rendered service unto the Personality of Godhead due to His existence above the three modes of material nature. They worshiped Him to become free from material conditions and thus derive the ultimate benefit. Whoever follows such great authorities is also eligible for liberation from the material world.

8:52SB 1.2.26मुमुक्षवो घोररूपान् हित्वा भूतपतीनथ ।नारायणकला: शान्ता भजन्ति ह्यनसूयव: ॥ २६ ॥mumukṣavo ghora-rūpānhitvā bhūta-patīn athanārāyaṇa-kalāḥ śāntābhajanti hy anasūyavaḥThose who are serious about liberation are certainly nonenvious, and they respect all. Yet they reject the horrible and ghastly forms of the demigods and worship only the all-blissful forms of Lord Viṣṇu and His plenary portions.SB 1.2.27रजस्तम: प्रकृतय: समशीला भजन्ति वै ।पितृभूतप्रजेशादीन् श्रियैश्वर्यप्रजेप्सव: ॥ २७ ॥rajas-tamaḥ-prakṛtayaḥsama-śīlā bhajanti vaipitṛ-bhūta-prajeśādīnśriyaiśvarya-prajepsavaḥThose who are in the modes of passion and ignorance worship those in the same category — namely the forefathers, other living beings and the demigods who are in charge of cosmic activities — for they are urged by a desire to be materially benefited with women, wealth, power and progeny.

8:52SB 1.2.28वासुदेवपरा वेदा वासुदेवपरा मखा: |वासुदेवपरा योगा वासुदेवपरा: क्रिया: ॥ २८ ॥वासुदेवपरं ज्ञानं वासुदेवपरं तप: |वासुदेवपरो धर्मो वासुदेवपरा गति: ॥ २९ ॥vāsudeva-parā vedāvāsudeva-parā makhāḥvāsudeva-parā yogāvāsudeva-parāḥ kriyāḥvāsudeva-paraṁ jñānaṁvāsudeva-paraṁ tapaḥvāsudeva-paro dharmovāsudeva-parā gatiḥIn the revealed scriptures, the ultimate object of knowledge is Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead. The purpose of performing sacrifice is to please Him. Yoga is for realizing Him. All fruitive activities are ultimately rewarded by Him only. He is supreme knowledge, and all severe austerities are performed to know Him. Religion [dharma] is rendering loving service unto Him. He is the supreme goal of life.[SB 1.2.28–29]

8:52SB 1.2.30स एवेदं ससर्जाग्रे भगवानात्ममायया ।सदसद्रूपया चासौ गुणमय्यागुणो विभु: ॥ ३० ॥sa evedaṁ sasarjāgrebhagavān ātma-māyayāsad-asad-rūpayā cāsauguṇamayāguṇo vibhuḥIn the beginning of the material creation, that Absolute Personality of Godhead [Vāsudeva], in His transcendental position, created the energies of cause and effect by His own internal energy.SB 1.2.31तया विलसितेष्वेषु गुणेषु गुणवानिव ।अन्त: प्रविष्ट आभाति विज्ञानेन विजृम्भित: ।। ३१ ॥tayā vilasiteṣv eṣuguṇeṣu guṇavān ivaantaḥ-praviṣṭa ābhātivijñānena vijṛmbhitaḥAfter creating the material substance, the Lord [Vāsudeva] expands Himself and enters into it. And although He is within the material modes of nature and appears to be one of the created beings, He is always fully enlightened in His transcendental position.

8:52SB 1.2.32यथा ह्यवहितो वह्निर्दारुष्वेक: स्वयोनिषु ।नानेव भाति विश्वात्मा भूतेषु च तथा पुमान् ॥ ३२ ॥yathā hy avahito vahnirdāruṣv ekaḥ sva-yoniṣunāneva bhāti viśvātmābhūteṣu ca tathā pumānThe Lord, as Supersoul, pervades all things, just as fire permeates wood, and so He appears to be of many varieties, though He is the absolute one without a second.SB 1.2.33असौ गुणमयैर्भावैर्भूतसूक्ष्मेन्द्रियात्मभि: ।स्वनिर्मितेषु निर्विष्टो भुङ्क्ते भूतेषु तद्गुणान् ॥ ३३ ॥asau guṇamayair bhāvairbhūta-sūkṣmendriyātmabhiḥsva-nirmiteṣu nirviṣṭobhuṅkte bhūteṣu tad-guṇānThe Supersoul enters into the bodies of the created beings who are influenced by the modes of material nature and causes them to enjoy the effects of these modes by the subtle mind.

8:52SB 1.2.34भावयत्येष सत्त्वेन लोकान् वै लोकभावन: ।लीलावतारानुरतो देवतिर्यङ्नरादिषु ॥ ३४ ॥bhāvayaty eṣa sattvenalokān vai loka-bhāvanaḥlīlāvatārānuratodeva-tiryaṅ-narādiṣuThus the Lord of the universes maintains all planets inhabited by demigods, men and lower animals. Assuming the roles of incarnations, He performs pastimes to reclaim those in the mode of pure goodness.

8:52iti srimad-bhagavate maha-puraneparamahamsyam samhitayam vaiyasikyanprathama-skandhe naimise upakhyanebhagavat anuvarnanam rama dvitiyadhyayah

8:52** [Thus ends the second chapter in the First Canto of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavata** Mahā-Purāṇa, the Pāramahaṁsa-saṁhitā spoken by the son of Vyasa, entitled 'the secondary description of the Bhāgavatam', which comes in the narration about Naimisharanya.] One chapter. Just play it. [break] ...heard the sound only. [laughs] The explanation... I shall give you little explanation.

9:14Devotee: Isn't the sound, always good as the explanation?

9:18Prabhupāda: Yes. Hearing is always good.

9:21Devotee: Although we don't know what it means, but just the sound.

9:24Prabhupāda: Yes. Yes. Sound will act. Just like "Kṛṣṇa," "Hare Kṛṣṇa," is acting, similarly.

9:40Devotee: What chapter is this, Swāmījī?

9:42Prabhupāda: This is Second Chapter, First Canto. Sūta Gosvāmī, before speaking to the audience, he is offering his respect to the spiritual master. To offer respect to anyone means to remember his qualification. Just like we sing...

10:35Just like you offer respect to your spiritual master. What is the meaning? nama oṁ viṣṇu-pādāya kṛṣṇa-preṣṭhāya bhū-taleśrīmad-bhaktivedānta-svāmin iti nāmine

10:54I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, who is very dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa on this earth, having taken shelter at His lotus feet.

11:04Yes. "I offer my respectful obeisances to Swami Bhaktivedanta, who is very dear to Kṛṣṇa, and has come before us to deliver." This is the meaning. So his qualification is described.

11:14Similarly, here also Sūta Gosvāmī is offering respect to his spiritual master, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, and he is repeating the history of Śukadeva Gosvāmī.

11:32Śukadeva Gosvāmī, just after taking birth from the mother's womb, immediately he started, without staying for a moment. Just see the brahmacārī. The... Father, they are naturally affectionate.

11:55So father saw that "This man, child, immediately after birth is going away? How is that? My dear boy, where you are going? Where you are going?" [laughter] [laughs] So that is being ex...

12:13Yaṁ pravrajantam anupetam apeta-kṛtyaṁ

12:16Śrīla Sūta Gosvāmī said: Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto that great sage [Śukadeva Gosvāmī] who can enter the hearts of all. When he went away to take up the renounced order of life [sannyāsa], leaving home without undergoing reformation by the sacred thread or the ceremonies observed by the higher castes, his father, Vyāsadeva, fearing separation from him, cried out, "O my son!" Indeed, only the trees, which were absorbed in the same feelings of separation, echoed in response to the begrieved father.

12:22The Śukadeva Gosvāmī, who was going without any ceremonial function... Because after birth there is ceremony, there is nāma-karaṇa, so many things to be done. But he didn't care for anything, any rituals.

12:35He immediately started. So it is specifically mentioned that he began to start without observing any formality, any rituals. Immediately started.

12:54Yaṁ pravrajantam anupetam apeta-kṛtyaṁ SB 1.2.2*. Kṛtyaṁ* means things which have to be done. Just like you are initiated, there are so many things to be done. So he didn't care for anything.

13:10Dvaipāyano ciraha-kātara ājuhāva. Dvaipayana is father's name, Dvaipayāna Vyāsa. Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsa, his father's name.

13:20So viraha-kātara, too much affected: "The son born and immediately he's going?" Just see how much he is... "My dear boy, where you are going?" Ājuhāva. He didn't care whether father or mother is cut.

Developing pure love for Godhead

13:40Putreti tan-māyātayā taravo 'bhinedus. And there was vibration. He was passing through the jungle, and the trees as he vibrated...

13:50He was asking, "My dear son, my dear son," and the vibration, "My dear son, my dear son." Like that.

14:06Taṁ sarva-bhūta-hṛdayaṁ munim ānato 'smi SB 1.2.2*.* So, "I am offering my respect to that saintly person." That means his qualification described and offered respect. And then next qualification, what is that?

14:34SB 1.2.3य: स्वानुभावमखिलश्रुतिसारमेकमध्यात्मदीपमतितितीर्षतां तमोऽन्धम् ।संसारिणां करुणयाह पुराणगुह्यं तम् व्याससूनुमुपयामि गुरुं मुनीनाम् ॥ ३yaḥ svānubhāvam akhila-śruti-sāram ekamadhyātma-dīpam atititīrṣatāṁ tamo 'ndhamsaṁsāriṇāṁ karuṇayāha purāṇa-guhyaṁtaṁ vyāsa-sūnum upayāmi guruṁ munīnāmLet me offer my respectful obeisances unto him [Śuka], the spiritual master of all sages, the son of Vyāsadeva, who, out of his great compassion for those gross materialists who struggle to cross over the darkest regions of material existence, spoke this most confidential supplement to the cream of Vedic knowledge, after having personally assimilated it by experience.

14:40And his other qualification is that he presented the gist, essence, substance, of Vedic knowledge for the persons who are eager to get out of the darkness of this material existence.

15:00Atititīrṣataṁ tamo 'ndham saṁsariṇaṁ karuṇayāha SB 1.2.3*.* And purāṇa guhyam. This Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is called the mahā-purāṇa, I mean to say, "the greatest history." Purāṇa means history, old history; guhyam, very confidential.

15:27He explained this great, confidential history for the people who are suffering the repeated birth and death. For their purpose he is so kind that he explained.

15:50Saṁsariṇaṁ karuṇayā. Karuṇayā means out of compassionate..., compassion for the persons who are suffering continually birth and death.

16:05Taṁ vyāsa-sūnam upayāmi guruṁ munīnām. So "I offer my respect to that son of Vyāsa, who is spiritual master of many other saintly persons."

16:23SB 1.2.4नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् ।देवीं सरस्वतीं व्यासं ततो जयमुदीरयेत् ॥ ४nārāyaṇaṁ namaskṛtyanaraṁ caiva narottamamdevīṁ sarasvatīṁ vyāsaṁtato jayam udīrayetBefore reciting this Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which is the very means of conquest, one should offer respectful obeisances unto the Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa, unto Nara-nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi, the supermost human being, unto mother Sarasvatī, the goddess of learning, and unto Śrīla Vyāsadeva, the author.

16:31Now after... This is the process. He... First of all, he offered his respect to his spiritual master, then Nārāyaṇa. Yes. Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

16:49Not first to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but first to the spiritual master, and then Nārāyaṇa. Yes. Just like he was asking.

16:59Gargamuni: Yes.

17:00Prabhupāda: Through. Nārāyaṇaṁ namaskṛtya naraṁ caiva narottamam SB 1.2.4*.* Yes.

17:08Gargamuni: Oh, that's his master.

17:11Prabhupāda: Thank you very much. Naraṁ caiva narottamam devīṁ sarasvatīṁ. Sarasvatī, the goddess of learning. And vyāsam, and then Vyāsadeva, who is the master of Vedic literature. One after another. This is...

17:37Vyāsaṁ tato jayaṁ udīrayet. Then he is... He was questioned by the audience that "What is the most important religion in this age?" That was their question.

17:56"There are many types of religious principle, so what is the best one for this age?" So he is replying that question. Munayaḥ sādhu pṛṣṭo 'haṁ bhavadbhir loka-maṇgalam SB 1.2.5*.*

Purpose of religion and happiness

18:16"You have put very nice question, because you have put the question that 'What is the best religion for the people of this age?' " Yat-kṛtaḥ kṛṣṇa-sampraśno yenātmā suprasīdati. "And you have..., you are very much anxious to understand the activities of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

18:41It is very nice. By this discussion everyone will become actually peaceful and satisfied." So the answer, "What is the best religious principle?" he is answering.

18:59Sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhokṣaje SB 1.2.6 "My dear brāhmaṇas..." in that meeting all the audience were great learned sages and brāhmaṇas. So he is addressing them.

19:16"That is the best form of religion which, performing, one becomes elevated to devotional service of the Lord." Not religious formalities. One has to test by the result. Phalena paricīyate.

19:43You are Christian, I am Hindu, or he is Muhammadan. That's all right. You are very good, I am very good, he is very good. But what is the result of your following religion? Have you attained love of God?

20:04Simply I go to church, I go to temple, and I do all kinds of nonsense; I have no love for God, I have love for my māyā, and I go simply...," that is useless. Religious principle means...

20:26It doesn't matter whether you are Hindu or Christian or Muslim or anything. It doesn't matter.

20:30Just see Bhāgavata. Sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo SB 1.2.6*.* "That sort of religion is nice, best, by which you can develop love of Godhead." It doesn't mention that "This religion is best," "That religion is best." That religion is best which helps someone, the religionist, to develop love of God, Godhead.

21:00Just see. If you put to test all kinds of religion in this formula of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, you'll understand which religion is best. You haven't got to ask anybody.

21:20Simply by testing how much one has developed love of Godhead, how much one has learned to love Kṛṣṇa, or God.

21:31If, following any type of religion, if you get this result, then you have performed your religious principle very nicely. This is the answer. And what kind of love? Ahaitukī: without any cause.

21:53"Oh, I love God because I want something from Him." Generally, as they love God, distress, they want something. "My dear Lord, I am very unhappy. Please help me." That is also good. That is not bad.

22:14That is accepted in Bhagavad-gītā. But that is not pure love. Pure love means there is no reason. "Why I am loving Kṛṣṇa? Oh, there is no reason. I love Kṛṣṇa. I want Kṛṣṇa." This is love.

22:35Just like Caitanya Mahāprabhu says... You have got this translation in my first book, that..., that Advaita has quoted that śloka in his sermon[?], that "Whatever You do, You are my Lord.

22:58I don't mind whether You put me into distress or You put me into happiness, or if You don't help me in realizing You. It doesn't matter. Still I love You. Whether I am going to hell or heaven, it doesn't matter.

Regulated living and spiritual inquiry

23:15But I love You." Just like Cowper said, "England, with all thy fault, I love you." This is love. This is material, crude. Ahaitukī apratihatā. Apratihatā means that business, "I love Kṛṣṇa," cannot be stopped.

23:38"I could not love Kṛṣṇa because I was busy in doing this thing or that thing, or because..." So many reason we can put forward. No. Love of Kṛṣṇa cannot be stopped by any material reason. That is love.

24:02Nobody can say that "For this reason I could not love Kṛṣṇa." There is no reason. There is no impediment for anyone. Any circumstances.

24:16So any religious principle which helps a person to love Kṛṣṇa and God, in that way, without any reason, without any impediment... Just like flow of the river.

24:36There is no impediment in this world which can stop the flow of the river or the waves of the Pacific Ocean. There is no power in the material world which can stop the waves going on, going on, going on. You see?

25:10Similarly, that is the best type of religion. Now just see how Bhāgavata is liberal in the description of religion. Religion... You are religious, you are very pious man—how it will be tested?

25:19How much you have developed love of God. That's all. Without any reason, without any impediment. This is test of best religion. Vāsudeve... [aside:] Guru dāsa, you can hear? Yes.

25:43SB 1.2.7वासुदेवे भगवति भक्तियोग: प्रयोजित: ।जनयत्याशु वैराग्यं ज्ञानं च यदहैतुकम् ॥ (७)vāsudeve bhagavatibhakti-yogaḥ prayojitaḥjanayaty āśu vairāgyaṁjñānaṁ ca yad ahaitukamBy rendering devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, one immediately acquires causeless knowledge and detachment from the world.

25:44Now, what is the purpose of religion? Why human society...? In human society, why there is some sort of religion? The animals, they have got no religion. Therefore if human society gives up the process of religion...

26:23Doesn't matter what religion he professes. It doesn't matter. If he doesn't care for religion, that society is no better than animals. That is animal society. Because animals, they have got no religion.

26:38So human society, if they have no religion... Must have some religion. It doesn't matter whether Christian or Buddhism or Hinduism or anything, a human being must follow. That is civilized.

26:58That is the behavior of civilized world. At the present moment they are neglecting. But in every country, either there may be temples or churches or mosque, people were very religious-minded before this age.

27:15I was very much satisfied when I came to New York... No, not only New York. First of all, I went to Pittsburgh, Butler. In that Butler County there were at least one dozen churches, very nice churches. That's a small county.

27:37So I was very much satisfied: "Oh, the American people are very religious. They have got these churches." And I saw on Sunday people were attending churches. And in New York also I saw.

27:56They may understand or not understand, but that religious spirit is there. You are responding to my appeal because you have got that spirit. Otherwise, why should you come and waste your time with me?

28:16So religious principle must be there in the human society. And what is the purpose? Why? The religious principle means that this material life is not happy. And we are searching after happiness.

28:44So real happiness is not in this world. You take any, I mean to say, messiah.

28:56You take Lord Jesus Christ or Buddha or Lord Caitanya or Kṛṣṇa, or anyone you take, nobody says that "You make adjustment here and live peacefully." No. Nobody says. You know that.

29:14So religious principle means to know that this is not the place to live happily. This is the principal aim of teaching religion. We are trying to live here, making things nicely adjusted, peace and prosperity.

29:44That will never be possible. This is foolishness. So religion means..., religiously trained mind means he will know that "This is not the place for me.

29:58I should [with]draw my attachment for this place, and I must know what is my necessity. I am a spirit soul. I am not this body. Therefore bodily necessities are not all my demands. I must have spiritual necessities also.

30:22So all this means that I must give up my attachment for this body and I must develop my spiritual needs." That is the purpose of religion.

30:41So here it is stated that vāsudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogaḥ prayojitaḥ SB 1.2.7*.* All these religious principle can be achieved immediately if you place your love unto Kṛṣṇa.

30:58Vāsudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogaḥ. Bhakti-yogaḥ means devotional... If you try to serve, in devotional service, Kṛṣṇa, then all these principles of religions will automatically come.

Guidance through the spiritual master

31:13You will know that "I am not this body; I am a spirit soul. I have... The material attachment is useless for me.

31:22My real business is spiritual advancement of life." Everything will be clear if you simply execute devotional service of Kṛṣṇa. Vāsudeve bhagavati. Dharmaḥ svanuṣṭhitaḥ puṁsāṁ viṣvaksena kathāsu yaḥ

31:44Again, it is stated, one may execute very nicely his prescribed duties according to his religion—very good boy—but if he does not develop to hear about Kṛṣṇa, or God, this propensity...

32:06Just like you are sitting here to hear about Bhāgavata. Why? This is very nice symptom. You are developing to hear some things about God, or Kṛṣṇa. These tendencies. The temple, somebody comes to hear.

32:25Not all, because they have no development. Life is wasted. So dharmaḥ svanuṣṭha... You may do your duty very nicely, you may be very moralist or philanthropist or so many they have manufactured. You may become everything.

32:46But if you have not that propensity to hear something about God, then all these are śrama eva hi kevalam SB 1.2.8*,* simply laboring, laboring, laboring. That's all. That means wasting time. Dharmasya hy āpavargyasya

33:11Now, people are generally inclined to execute religious principles to make economic development.

33:19Just like in your Christian religion they go to church and pray, "O God, give us our daily bread." That is mean economic development.

33:32Not only here; in India also the temple go, "My dear Kṛṣṇa, please keep my family well," or this or that. Economic problem. Generally, people, they become religionist...

33:51Therefore modern politicians, they say, "Why should you..." Just like the Russians. They say, "Why should you go to church for begging, 'Give us our daily...'? Oh, you come to us.

34:07We shall give you sufficient bread." The Bolshevists, they make propaganda like this.

34:13They go to village to village and ask the village men, "Oh, you pray to your church, pray, 'O God, give us our daily bread,' so have you got your bread?" "No, sir." "All right.

34:38Pray to us." They have taken a truck full of bread, and... "Take bread. Take bread. As much as you like, you take." "So whom do you like?" Oh, they will naturally say, "I like you." [laughter]

34:46Because they are not intelligent enough to answer, "You rascal, wherefrom you have brought this bread, from your father's house?" [laughter] "Can you manufacture the bread in the factory, rascal?

35:02It is God's bread." But they have no intelligence. They cannot say like that. If they had presented to me, I would have at once said, "Rascal, this is not your father's bread. It is God's bread.

35:17You have stolen the property." You cannot manufacture bread or wheat. It is sent by God. That answer we have to give to these so-called Communists and rascals, godless people, that "You are not proprietor.

35:41You are all rascals. Everything belongs to God." That is Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So we have to present scientifically. We have to present by reason, by argument. Not that if we say somebody, "You are rascals..." No.

36:02You have to place the matter, that he is rascal. So that... Bhāgavata says that for economic solution... Religion is not meant for economic solution. Economic solution is there, either you be religious or not religious.

36:22In God's kingdom there is wheat, there is rice, there is water, rainfall, and the production. Everything is there. There is fruit, there is flower. So either you be religious or not religious, it doesn't matter.

36:38Your economic problem is settled already. Just like in the prison house, they are all criminals. That does not mean they will starve to death. The government has all arrangement to feed them.

36:56Similarly, although this material world is prison house—all criminals are here, revolt, to a person are here, those who do not care for God—but still, their fooding problem, their lodging problem is there by arrangement of God.

37:16Everything is there. So Bhāgavata says, dharmasya hy āpavargyasya nārtho 'rthāyopakalpate SB 1.2.9: don't execute religious principles for making your economic problem solved. Then? "We require some money." Yes.

37:48"What for?" Nārthasya dharmaikāntasya kāmo lābhāya hi smṛtaḥ. And even if you get money, that is not for your sense gratification.

38:00Nārthasya dharmaikāntasya. If you are religious, really, actually a man of religiosity, then your money is not for sense gratification, as we are teaching our boys.

38:16They are working hard, they are getting money, and they are spending for Kṛṣṇa. You see? Because they have understood that "My energy spent for Kṛṣṇa's cause is really utilized.

38:35And if I utilize my energy for sense gratification, then I am cats and dogs." So nārthasya. If you get money—you must get money—but it is not meant for sense gratification. "Then what is the..., it is meant?

38:58We have got senses. We have to satisfy it." Yes. You have to satisfy it, but not for enjoyment. As far as you require it. You require fooding? Yes, for maintaining your bod, not for satisfying the tongue.

39:24"This, I want to eat this, I want to eat that, I want to eat that." No. Eat something. Just maintain your body. That's all. You sleep just to keep yourself fit to work. Not that sleeping for twelve hours, fourteen hours. No.

39:40Six, seven, utmost eight. That's all. Then eating, sleeping; defending—that's also required. Defend yourself. Not to encroach upon others' property. Just like people are sending soldiers in others' country. Why?

39:58You defend your own country. That's all right. You defend your home. That is not prohibited. The śāstra allows it. If somebody comes to encroach upon your property, you kill him immediately. That is said.

40:15But not kill unnecessarily. Just like Arjuna was taught, "Kill them. They have insulted your wife, they have encroached upon your property. They must be killed." That is allowed. But you don't be aggressive.

40:37So ahāra-nidrā-bhaya, and sex, sex life. Yes. Just get yourself married and have sex life only for children, not for other purpose. So kāmasya nendriya-prītiḥ. Kāma means we have got some demands of the body.

41:01That is called kāma, or lust. So that does not mean that we have to gratify the senses. As far as necessary, we shall utilize it. Nendriya-prītiḥ. Then how to live?

41:19Now, kāmasya, that satisfaction of the senses should be allowed just to keep myself fit. I must live. Even if I become Kṛṣṇa consciousness, I must work. So that is allowed. But what is my... What is your main business?

41:43Jīvasya tattva-jijñāsā nārtho yaś ceha kārmabhiḥ. Your only business is to understand what you are, what God is, what is this world, what is your relationship. This is your main business. This is your main business.

41:59Not that you earn money and employ it for sense gratification, as it is going on in this materialistic way of life. Nobody is inquisitive to know what he is. How can he?

42:20Very big businessman or very rich man or so-called advancement, can you say what you are? What is your duty? Nobody can say. So that is the main business, that jīvasya tattva-jijñāsā nārtho yaś ceha kārmabhiḥ. By your...

42:44By the result of your activity... Or your main activity should be inquiring about your spiritual existence. So this should be our inquiry. I think we should stop here. Yes. [break] [devotees offer obeisances] Govinda dāsī? Where is Govinda dāsī?

43:31You take these two fruits, offer, cutting, and distribute prasādam.

43:39Gargamuni: Thank you for chanting Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

43:43Prabhupāda: Śrīmad-bhāgavatam amalaṁ purāṇam SB 12.13.18*.* You have got Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Read very carefully. All these things are already explained there. [aside:] Cut it into pieces and distribute.

44:01Devotee: Swāmījī? Should we read, like, one chapter a day or...

44:05Prabhupāda: It is very nice if you read one chapter Bhāgavatam daily. It is very nice. You make it a point to read one chapter daily. That is very nice.

44:21Devotee: No more?

44:26Prabhupāda: No, if you can do more, that's all right. Just like I ask everybody to chant sixteen rounds. But if you can chant sixteen hundred rounds, then who prohibits you? You can do that.

44:39Devotee: What I meant is that...

44:39Prabhupāda: But we should make a regulation of our life, that "So many times I chant. One chapter I shall read. I shall go to the temple at this time." In this way we must have routine work. Then we'll get practiced automatically. Yes.

45:07And Gosvāmīns, the six Gosvāmīns, they were following routine work. Even they... Sāṅkhyā-pūrvaka-nāma-gāna-natibhiḥ [Ṣaḍ-gosvāmy-aṣṭaka] . They were doing regularly counting, just like you are counting sixteen rounds.

45:18Not only chanting in that counting, but they were offering obeisances also by counting, that "Hundred times I shall offer my obeisances." You see? This is regular routine. Yes.

45:41Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Swāmījī, can you tell me about what you said, going through the spiritual master, not directly to Kṛṣṇa; through the spiritual master.

45:49Prabhupāda: Yes.

45:50Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Can you just tell me something about it?

45:57Prabhupāda: Spiritual master is the representative of God, or Kṛṣṇa. Just like if you work in some office, so there is one head man, representative of the proprietor of the company. You have to work under him.

46:20If you satisfy that person who is in charge of that department, that means you are satisfying the proprietor of the company. Is it clear? And he can give you direction how to work nicely because he's experienced. The boss.

46:46So spiritual master is external manifestation of God. God is within and without. Within, He is Supersoul. He will give you...

47:05If you are sincere, He will give you good counsel, "You do like this." You'll get dictation from within. That requires advancement of spiritual life. Then you get from within dictation.

47:18So God is helping from within and without. Within, as Paramātmā, and without, as spiritual master. Both ways. As soon as you are sincere, then God will send you to somebody who is His bona fide spiritual representative.

47:45And if you take help from him, and help within and without... Just like a person going..., or a boy going to a school, he's getting training in the school as well as home, both sides. Then his chance is very good.

48:09So we have to take both ways: from inside, from outside. You are doing some things in the service of the Lord. How you'll know that you are doing it properly or improperly? This you will know from the spiritual master.

48:30If he says, "It is all right," then it is all right. If he says, "It is not good," then it is not good.

48:39Just like the same way: the officer in charge, if he is satisfied [with] your work, that means you have satisfied the government or the supreme company, arranger, with whom you have no direct connection.

48:57Yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo. Therefore it is said that if you satisfy your spiritual master, that means you have satisfied Kṛṣṇa.

49:09And yasya prasādād na gatiḥ kuto 'pi: and if you have not satisfied your spiritual master, then you must know that you are, what is called, there is no certainty about your whereabouts, what you are doing.

Supreme duty and devotional service

49:25Na gatiḥ kuto 'pi. Therefore, dhyāyan stuvaṁs tasya yaśas tri-sandhyaṁ vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam. So spiritual master is necessary and his direction is necessary. That is the system of disciple succession.

49:48In the Bhagavad-gītā also, Arjuna is surrendering. He was Kṛṣṇa's friend. Why he surrendered himself, "I am Your disciple"? You see in the Bhagavad-gītā. He had no necessity.

50:04He was personal friend, talking, sitting, eating together. Still, he accepted Kṛṣṇa as spiritual master. So that is the way. There is a system to understand.

50:27It is specifically mentioned, śiṣyas te 'ham: "I am Your disciple now." Śiṣyas te 'haṁ śādhi māṁ prapannam [Bg. 2.7] [Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me clearly what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me.]

50:34"You kindly instruct me." And then He began teaching Bhagavad-gītā. Unless one becomes a śiṣya, or disciple, it is prohibited, not to instruct. Not to inst... That instruction is useless. That is the system.

50:59We are instructing in the class because there are few disciples who have taken vow to learn from me. Otherwise, I have no business to teach the public. The public may come, but actual interest is to teach my disciples.

51:20But that is secondary. For the public, secondary. But real business is to teach the disciples. Just like Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam was meant for Parīkṣit Mahārāja, Śukadeva Gosvāmī's disciple.

51:41But there were many others present; they also heard. Yes?

51:52Gargamuni: Well, how can we begin to serve you so that you'll be pleased? [laughs]

52:04Prabhupāda: That I shall tell you later on. [laughter] Do you think I am not pleased?

52:13Gargamuni: I don't know.

52:15Prabhupāda: Oh, you must know it. How can you say that I am not pleased? How you know it that I am not pleased?

52:29Gargamuni: Well, we cause you so much anxiety and everything.

52:32Prabhupāda: Huh?

52:33Gargamuni: We cause you so much anxiety due to our faults. [laughter]

52:39Prabhupāda: Therefore I am pleased with you. Why I have given up all my anxieties of the sons and daughters who is born by my body, and why I am taking anxieties for you? That means I am pleased with you. [laughter] I am... [indistict] [end]