Verse: Srimad Bhagvatam 01.02.18
Date: May 6th, 1988
Place: ISKCON Radhadesh
nañöa-präyeñv abhadreñu
nityaà bhägavata-sevayä
bhagavaty uttama-çloke
bhaktir bhavati naiñöhiké
TRANSLATION
By regular attendance in classes on the Bhägavatam 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.
We have to learn how to actually hear. We know that we have a memory and we can receive the information in our memory, but if don’t listen carefully then we cannot really register them or keep them in our memory.
We will listen to Srila Prabhupäda’s tape and discuss the points he makes.
When we hear, then we are supposed to remember, because our memory has the ability to store the information. But if we do not listen carefully we cannot keep the information in our memories. The more attentively we hear, the better we can remember.
One thing I was just considering is a tape recorder; although it is a machine it registers every single word. We never see that a tape recorder is skipping some sentences, but we skip in our memory, we skip the sentences and words. This actually shows that the tape recorder has a better memory than we have, although the tape recorder is a projection of our ability. The scientists are simply projecting the ability that they have. They are projecting that ability into a machine. They have created a machine with better ability than they have. We can say that instead of perfecting our ability, we are trying to perfect those abilities in matter. That is the difference between material side and spiritual side. On material side, people are taking great trouble to perfect the machines with the ability that they are endowed with; whereas on spiritual side, a man tries to perfect the abilities that he has already in him.
When one practices spiritual life then his memory becomes sharp. A perfect spiritualist can remember everything like a tape recorder. He can keep all the information like a computer without forgetting anything. Then, at any moment without any difficulty, he can call them back to his memory. He can store all the information and he can call them from his memory. The yogis are endowed with that ability. We have to practice also. Especially, want to fill our memory with transcendental information. It is important that we listen to the Bhägavatam class carefully, because that is what we are here for. We do not have any other business but to listen to Çrémad-Bhägavatam.
The verse we are going to discuss I am sure that you all know that verse. It is a very common and very important verse from the first canto, second chapter, verse number eighteen. nañöa-präyeñv abhadreñu nityaà bhägavata-sevayä, bhagavaty uttama-çloke bhaktir bhavati naiñöhiké. Does everybody know this verse? How many of you know this verse? Let us recite this verse together.
nañöa-präyeñv abhadreñu nityaà bhägavata-sevayä, bhagavaty uttama-çloke bhaktir bhavati naiñöhiké (x3)
By regular attendance in classes on the Bhägavatam 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.
Now we will listen to Srila Prabhupäda’s lecture on this verse. While listening we should be very attentive. We should try to understand the main theme of the verse and main points that Srila Prabhupäda mentions in his lecture. We should try to understand how the lecture relates to the verse. Also, we should try to understand the relevance of the verses Srila Prabhpada quotes while explaining the verse.
Srila Prabhupäda’s lecture on Çrémad-Bhägavatam 1.2.18 - Los Angeles, August 21, 1972
So, here it is said bhägavata-sevayä, not bhagavän-sevayä. Bhagavän is Kåñëa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and bhägavata means in relation with Bhagavän, who has got relationship with Bhagavän. So here it is recommended bhägavata-sevayä, not bhagavän-sevayä. The idea is that you cannot approach Bhagavän, God, directly. That is not possible. First of all, you have to serve bhägavata, the devotee bhägavata.
There are two kinds of bhägavata: book bhägavata and devotee bhägavata. So in the Çiva Puräëa, there was a question by Pärvaté to Lord Çiva. Lord Çiva and Pärvaté, husband and wife. Pärvaté means the material nature. Såñöi-sthiti-pralaya-sädhana-çaktir ekä chäyeva yasya bhuvanäni bibharti durgä [Bs. 5.44]. Durgä-devé. Durgä-devé is in charge of this material world. It is called durgä, durgä, just like fort. And the superintendent of this fort is Durgä. You cannot go out of this fort; you are imprisoned. So such Durgä-devé, who is so powerful energy—she can create, annihilate, maintain, såñöi-sthiti-pralaya-sädhana—she is always sitting by the side of her husband, Lord Çiva, and questioning about spiritual enquiries. Just see. Such powerful deity is also ignorant about spiritual life. So the husband, Lord Çiva, is Vaiñëava, and she's always asking, and sitting down underneath a bael tree. She can create so many universes, but for her, no building; only underneath a tree.
So the question was, "Which worship is best?" So Lord Çiva replied, ärädhanänäà sarveñäà viñëor ärädhanaà param: "My dear Pärvaté, of all methods of worship, Viñëu worship is the topmost." There are many demigods' worship, even Lord Çiva's worship, but Lord Çiva says, "Viñëu worship is the best." Then he says again, tasmät parataraà devi. "My dear Devi, better than that Viñëu worship is tadéyänäà samarcanam." Tadéya. Tadéya means those who are in relationship with Viñëu, tadéya. Just like His devotee, tadéya. Tulasé-våkña. Tulasé is tadéya. Or temple tadéya. Preaching tadéya. Tadéyänäà samarcanam. This is bhägavata. So Lord Çiva recommends that "Of all methods of worship, Viñëu worship is the best, and better than Viñëu worship is to worship His devotee or things in relationship with Him."
Tadéyänäm, that is bhägavata. Here it is also said, tadéyänäm, bhägavata-sevayä. This book bhägavata, spoken by the devotee bhägavata, this should be taken very seriously daily. Otherwise you..., we do not understand what is Bhagavän. Therefore it is recommended here: nityam, daily, or constantly, twenty-four hours. We have to mold our life in such a way that twenty-four hours, not a single moment leaving aside, we should be engaged in bhägavata-sevayä, in the service of Lord's relations. The Çrémad-Bhägavatam, Bhagavad-gétä, the spiritual master, tulasé-devé, the temple, the preaching, the books—these are all bhägavata. So nityaà bhägavata-sevayä. Nañöa-präyeñu. If we engage ourself in this bhägavata-sevayä... Just like we are doing daily, trying to read one verse of Çrémad-Bhägavatam, discussing amongst ourselves. This is bhägavata-sevayä. Nityam, daily, regularly. By this process, when the dirty things within the heart, nañöa-präyeñv abhadreñu [SB 1.2.18].
Abhadra means dirty things, inauspicious things. What is that inauspicious thing? Inauspicious things means the heart disease for sense enjoyment; this is inauspicious, Different varieties, abhadreñu. There are three modes of material nature. And multiply it three, mix it again, it becomes nine, and again multiplied, nine by nine, it becomes eighty-one. So these, this... Originally the three... Just like three colors, yellow, red and blue. These three colors, you mix... Those who are artists, those who know the color display... Simply you mix three colors in different way, and it becomes varieties of color. So our heart disease, dirty thing, varieties of sense enjoyment, varieties. So heart is full with varieties of sense enjoyment. Therefore by nityaà bhägavata-sevayä [SB 1.2.18], by daily, regular worshiping Bhägavatam, we become free from the dirty things.
In the previous verse we have read that çåëvatäà sva-kathäù kåñëaù puëya-çravaëa-kértanaù, hådy antaù stho hy abhadräëi [SB 1.2.17]. We have got abhadräëi, so many inauspicious things, within our heart. This can be cleansed simply by hearing the message of Kåñëa from Çrémad-Bhägavatam, from Bhagavad-gétä, from the lips of devotees. In this way, when almost the dirty things are cleared off—not all... As soon as all dirty things are cleared off, then we are liberated soul. Immediately love of God, the original consciousness. You become mad. Just like Caitanya Mahäprabhu,
yugäyitaà nimiñeëa
cakñuñä prävåñäyitam
çünyäyitaà jagat sarvaà
govinda-viraheëa me
"Feeling separation of Govinda." How? "One moment is equal to twelve years," yugäyitam. One yuga means twelve years. One moment appearing. Sometimes we have got experience, if we want to see something, it is called expectant psychology. I am expecting something, somebody, that my friend or my lover is coming. So on the door, if there is "koot," "Oh, you have come? No, no. He has not come." The one moment is twelve years. Such kind of separation, when we feel for Kåñëa, that means all dirty things are over. And something for Kåñëa, something for sense enjoyment, that means still the dirty things are there. But the more we engage our time, nityaà bhägavata-sevayä, the dirty things becomes cleansed, gradually. Just like when you are hungry, you are given foodstuff, you eat. The more you eat, your hunger is satisfied. You feel strength, you feel satisfaction. Similarly, the more you advance in Kåñëa consciousness, you feel comfortable, released from the material discomforts. In this way, nañöa-präyeñu. Gradual process.
So nañöa-präyeñv abhadreñu nityaà bhägavata-sevayä [SB 1.2.18]. Not all cleansed, but präya, say, seventy-five cleansed. At that time, you become fixed-up in devotional service, naiñöhiké. There are different stages of devotional service. That I have explained several times. First of all, çraddhä, sädhu-saìga, bhajana-kriyä, anartha-nivåttiù syät. When anartha-nivåttiù syät, all unwanted things are finished, at that time, niñöhä, firm faith. So bhagavaty uttama-çloke bhaktir bhavati naiñöhiké. So, so long there are dirty things, our faith and devotion in Kåñëa is not very fixed up, sometimes we deviate, we go away. But then nañöa-präyeñu, when seventy-five percent of the dirty things are cleansed, then our faith in God becomes fixed up. Bhagavaty uttama-çloke.
Uttama, uttama means udgata-tama. This material world is tama, ignorance, darkness. And Kåñëa is beyond this material world; therefore He is called para. Para means transcendental. So uttama-çloka. So when we offer our prayers to Kåñëa, they are not ordinary words. Therefore those who are not liberated soul, they cannot offer prayers actually. We have to repeat the prayers offered by liberated soul, not by ordinary man. Because he is not yet uttama, he is not yet in the transcendental platform. Therefore we don't allow songs which are not sung by liberated souls like Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura, Narottama däsa Öhäkura. They are liberated souls. We don't allow any literature which is not given by liberated soul. Literatures, they are always following Vedic principles. Vedas, the original transcendental literature, and any literature which is produced under the guidance of Vedic literature, that is also nice. That is perfect. Therefore whenever we write something, we give immediately Vedic evidence. We give some Sanskrit verse. This means that we are not manufacturing ourself. What we have heard from the paramparä system, from higher authorities, we are presenting, simply, in our own language, and the evidence is this Vedic verse. This is perfect literature.
So whimsically, we cannot write any poetry for Kåñëa. That is not possible. That will create havoc. Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé says,
çruti-småti-puräëädi-
païcarätra-vidhià vinä
aikäntiké harer bhaktir
utpätäyaiva kalpate
[Brs. 1.2.101]
Any devotional sentiment which is not supported by Vedas, çruti... Çruti means Veda, and småti means corollary to the Veda, or things which are written in corroboration with the Vedic ideas... That is called småti. Just like Bhagavad-gétä is småti. Bhagavad-gétä, the purpose of Bhagavad-gétä is the same as the Vedas, but it is not directly Veda; therefore it is called småti. Çruti-småti-puräëädi [Brs. 1.2.101]. The Puräëas, there are eighteen Puräëas. Puräëädi means Rämäyaëa, Mahäbhärata also. Çruti-småti-puräëädi-païcarätra-vidhià vinä [Brs. 1.2.101]. Païcarätra-vidhi, given by Närada Muni for worshiping the Deity. We are worshiping the Deity under the païcarätra-vidhi. So Rüpa Gosvämé says that "Any devotional service which has no reference with çruti, småti, puräëa, païcarätra, that is simply a disturbance. Simply disturbance, creating disturbance." We cannot manufacture. Sometimes we are questioned, "Can we do this? Can we do that?" Of course, it is good. But there is no need of manufacturing some idea. Whatever idea is already there, follow strictly.
So bhagavaty uttama-çloke bhaktir bhavati naiñöhiké. That fixed up bhakti is required, not oscillating: sometimes this side, sometimes that side. So this can be possible, fixed up devotional service, by nityaà bhägavata-sevayä [SB 1.2.18], regularly worshiping the bhägavata-grantha and the devotee bhägavata. Because without hearing about God authentically, how we can fix up? So we should hear, çåëvatäà sva-kathäù kåñëaù. Sva-kathäù kåñëaù [SB 1.2.17]. Kåñëa's word is given by Kåñëa. Just like Bhagavad-gétä. Sva-kathäù means "His own words." So this is bhägavata. And sva-kathäù, Çrémad-Bhägavatam is also sva-kathäù. The Puräëas also, sva-kathäù. Because all these books are given by Vyäsadeva. Vyäsadeva is incarnation of Kåñëa. So that is also sva-kathäù. So we have to hear about Kåñëa which is given by Kåñëa. Bhagavad-gétä is given by Kåñëa, and Bhägavata and other Puräëas and Vedic literature given by Kåñëa Dvaipäyana Vyäsa. And the method is taught by Kåñëa Caitanya Mahäprabhu. So therefore, everything is Kåñëa's. Kåñëa directly, Kåñëa as Vyäsadeva; Kåñëa as Caitanya Mahäprabhu devotee.
So we have to follow this. Çré-kåñëa-caitanya prabhu nityänanda, çré-advaita gadädhara çréväsädi-gaura-bhakta-vånda. Kåñëa is teaching how to approach Kåñëa. That is bona fide. We cannot take any other method. This is the authorized method. The, the person concerned, He is teaching how to worship Kåñëa, how to become devotee. Kåñëäya kåñëa-caitanya-nämne. Rüpa Gosvämé said,"Lord Caitanya, You are Kåñëa, but You have appeared as Kåñëa Caitanya." Kåñëäya kåñëa-caitanya-nämne. Namo mahä-vadänyäya kåñëa-prema-pradäya te [Cc. Madhya 19.53]. "You are distributing love of Kåñëa." How it is possible for ordinary man? "But Kåñëa, because You are Kåñëa, simply You are in the name of Kåñëa Caitanya. So therefore You can distribute. Your thing, You can distribute."
çåëvatäà sva-kathäù kåñëaù
puëya-çravaëa-kértanaù
hådy antaù stho hy abhadräëi
vidhunoti suhåt satäm
[SB 1.2.17]
Nañöa-präyeñv abhadreñu. A little, maybe; not all. There may be some habitual... But still, even there are some flaws in the beginning, if we fix up our devotion to Kåñëa... That is also confirmed in the Bhagavad-gétä:
api cet su-duräcäro
bhajate mäm ananya-bhäk
sädhur eva sa mantavyaù
samyag vyavasito hi saù
[Bg. 9.30]
kñipraà bhavati dharmätmä
çaçvac-chäntià nigacchati
kaunteya pratijänéhi
na me bhaktaù praëaçyati
[Bg. 9.31]
So, in the beginning we must be sincere, very sincere, to follow the rules and regulations. But due to our past habits, if there is some flaw, that is excused. Not intentionally. Because I am habituated to something, and I am, although engaged in Kåñëa consciousness, my past habits sometimes becomes manifest. So Kåñëa says, "All right, you try your best. It will be rectified." Kñipraà bhavati dharmätmä. Kñipram means "Very soon, you'll be dharmätmä, perfect, religious." Kñipraà bhavati dharmätmä çaçvac-chäntià nigacchati: "And you'll be elevated to the eternal platform of peace and tranquillity." Kaunteya pratijänéhi na me bhaktaù praëaçyati: [Bg. 9.31] "If one is sincere devotee, he'll be not lost. He'll make progress." But if there is any ulterior motive, then he'll be lost. Mäyä is there. The mäyä, just like shadow and light, they're side by side. A little crossing the marginal line between shadow and light, you are in the darkness. Similarly, a little crossing of the marginal line from the darkness to light, you are in light.
So Kåñëa and mäyä are side by side. As soon as you forget Kåñëa, or as soon as you want to utilize Kåñëa for your sense gratification, it is immediately mäyä, darkness. And as soon as you want to serve Kåñëa, immediately it is light. So if we keep ourself on this side, light side, always serving Kåñëa, then there is no possibility of our being in contact with mäyä.
daivé hy eñä guëamayé
mama mäyä duratyayä
mäm eva ye prapadyante
mäyäm etäà taranti te
[Bg. 7.14]
This mäyä is very strong. The same example yesterday we were giving. The sun, little deviation, the whole world, universe, becomes frozen, and little deviation, the whole universe becomes ablaze. This is the position, very... Therefore our position is marginal. We are called marginal energy. We may be dark side or in the light side. So Kåñëa consciousness means to keep always in the light side. If we always think of Kåñëa, by chanting Hare Kåñëa mantra, then we shall keep ourself on the light side. And as soon as we think of sense gratification, immediately we are on the dark side. So our... We should be very cautious that we may not fall down on the dark side. We can keep ourself in the light side by nityaà bhägavata-sevayä [SB 1.2.18]. Simply studying Çrémad-Bhägavatam, Bhagavad-gétä, try to understand, chanting Hare Kåñëa mantra. Twenty-four hours be engaged in this way. You'll be on the light side.
[End of Srila Prabhupäda’s lecture.]
Interactive discussion between HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja (“BCS”) and the devotees present
BCS: This is a very nice verse. So who will say what the theme was? What is the main theme of Prabhupäda’s lecture?
Devotee: Bhägavata-seva.
BCS: Yes, but what was the main point?
Devotee: Devotion to Srila Prabhupäda.
BCS: Yes. Some more light on Bhägavatam. Yes?
Devotee: By hearing the Bhägavatam all the unwanted things become removed from the heart.
BCS: Right, by bhägavata-seva for twenty four hours our heart becomes purified from all the dirt.
Devotee: He said we should mould our lives in such a way that we are hearing 24 hours a day.
BCS: Right, and now that we have become devotees our main business is to render bhägavata-seva; render service to the grantha bhägavata and the person bhägavata. We should mold our life in such a way that we become engaged twenty four hours a day in rendering service to Kṛṣṇa the bhägavata and…. So this is the main thing. Will somebody else throw some more light? Yes Mother Arana.
Arana Dasi: (indistinct) … first explains that it is not bhagavän-seva it is bhägavata-seva.
BCS: Yes, very good. In the beginning Prabhupäda mentions that we cannot actually approach Kåñëa directly. Not bhagavän-seva, but bhägavata-seva and bhägavata, Prabhupäda defines are of two kinds, the person bhägavata and the book bhägavata. Any more light?
Devotee: He referred to Durgä- devé. She creates so many opportunities for us and she could create opportunities for herself in the material world but still she sits under a tree serving Çiva... (indistinct)
BCS: Yes, That is, I would say, more of a sub point or a main point, not the theme. We will go to the points afterwards. So I think it’s more or less clear that the theme is that we can approach Kṛṣṇa by rendering service to bhägavata twenty four hours a day; because when we render service unto Çrémad-Bhägavatam or person bhägavata by hearing and rendering direct service, then the impurities from our hearts become purified, become cleansed. What are those impurities? Impurities are? Visnu Stuta?
Visnu Stuta Dasa; Desire for sinful activities.
BCS: Very good. Desire for sinful activities, which actually means desire for sense gratification. Sense gratification is sinful activity. Yes Mother Arana?
Arana Dasi: Prabhupäda says varieties, he goes on from that to say different varieties of sense enjoyment. This is how he explains it, according to the three modes.
BCS: Right, exactly. So now we can go to the main points that Srila Prabhupäda made. Lets hear what are the main points. To throw a light, I would say that the first point Prabhupäda made was bhägavata-sevayä, not bhagavän-sevayä. That is we cannot approach Kṛṣṇa or please Kṛṣṇa by rendering direct service unto Him. The best way to please Kṛṣṇa is by serving bhägavata. That is, one, by hearing Çrémad-Bhägavatam and by directly rendering service to the devotees and the objects related to Kṛṣṇa. Bhägavata, Prabhupäda is defining, bhägavata means related to Bhagavän. So now, who will give some other points? Yes, Panduraja?
Panduraja dasa: Daily worship for twenty four hours.
BCS: Yes, very good. Nityaà bhägavata-sevayä. Nityaà Prabhupäda says, constantly, all the time. That means without any stop. Ananyäç cintayanto mäà [BG 9.22] or ahaituky apratihatä [SB 1.2.6]. Apratihatä means without interruption. So our bhägavata-seva should be without interruption, not, as Prabhupäda was saying sometimes Kṛṣṇa and sometimes mäyä; sometimes rendering service and sometimes sense enjoyment. That should not be. Of course, in the beginning our mood is like that. We are not so fixed-up. Sometimes we render service to Kṛṣṇa and sometimes we fall into mäyä. But, as we become fixed up, naiñöhiké means becoming fixed-up; and fixed up means without interruption, twenty four hours a day in rendering service to Kṛṣṇa
Devotee: (indistinct)
BCS: Yes, right, that actually comes much later, so I will go to that. Let’s go gradually, point by point. Yes Gangadhara Prabhu?
Gangadhara Dasa: (indistinct)
BCS: Also that comes much later. What we are doing now is, through these main points, we are trying to follow how Srila Prabhupäda is actually approaching. How the lecture relates to the verse, and through the points we can see how Srila Prabhpada is actually developing the theme. So Prabhupäda then comes to establishing the fact that how bhägavata-seva is more important that bhagavän-seva; and what example Prabhupäda gives? Yes?
Devotee: ärädhanänäà sarveñäà.
BCS: Very good. Prabhupäda is mentioning about Durgä asking Lord Çiva. Prabhupäda is pointing out that Durgä- devé, although she is the controller of the universe; she can create the universes and destroy the universes, but still she does not know Kṛṣṇa. Although she is a great personality, but she does not know Kṛṣṇa or spiritual life, for that she is sincerely asking Lord Çiva, who is a devotee. So, this is the proof that we have to approach a devotee of Kṛṣṇa in order to understand Kṛṣṇa. Then Prabhupäda is pointing out… yes?
Devotee: (indistinct)
BCS: Yes, right. Prabhupäda is pointing out through Lord Çiva that of all the worships, Viñëu worship is the best, highest. But even better than that is tadéyänäà samarcanam, to render service or worship the objects and persons related to Kṛṣṇa or Viñëu. Then, to define Durgä’s potency, Srila Prabhupäda quotes a çloka from Brahma-saàhitä, Ramanada Raya, what Sloka did Prabhupäda quote? såñöi-sthiti-pralaya-sädhana-çaktir ekä chäyeva yasya bhuvanäni vibharti durgä. [BS 5.44] Then Prabhpada is pointing out that Durgä is controlling the såñöi, sthiti and pralaya, creation, maintenance and destruction, and this Durgä is the chäya, the shadow of Kṛṣṇa. Durgä is the shadow of Kṛṣṇa, chäyeva. So mäyä, Prabhupäda is pointing out, is the shadow of Kṛṣṇa. Who will make the next point? Yes?
Devotee: I just saw in the last point … (indistinct) … it is a small but it is actually important, is how the preaching is possible … (indistinct)
BCS: Yes, right. About tadéya Prabhupäda mentions Tulasé, then Bhägavatam, preaching, books and temples. So Prabhupäda is pointing out that these are all the tadéyas. So actually we can see that Prabhupäda is personifying all these. To Prabhupäda even preaching is personification, and we must worship the personality of preaching by worshiping Him, by preaching ourselves, by giving Kṛṣṇa consciousness to others. That is the most wonderful way of rendering service to Kṛṣṇa. Then? Yes Mother Arana.
Arana Dasi: Srila Prabhupäda goes on to say that it is almost … (indistinct)
BCS: Yes, Prabhupäda is saying if we engage ourselves in bhägavata-sevayä daily, by this process the dirty things, inauspicious things, the heart disease, will be cleansed, but not fully. Prabhupäda says about seventy five percent, but he says when it is cleansed by seventy five percent, it is almost clean.
Devotee: One point that I thought … (indistinct) … Srila Prabhupäda says in Bhagavatam fifth canto, is that when one is free from sex desire he is seventy five perecent liberated.
BCS: Tåëäd api sunécena taror iva sahiñëunä, amäninä mänadena and kértanéyaù sadä hariù [Çikñäñöaka 3]. Then anartha-nivåtti is describing the fourth verse, na dhanaà na janaà na sundaréà, kavitäà vä jagad-éça kämaye [Çikñäñöaka 4] Then mama janmani janmanéçvare bhavatäd bhaktir ahaituké tvayi [Çikñäñöaka 4] is the niñöhä bhakti. In my life after life let me become engaged in your devotional service.
Devotee: (indistinct) … one moment is like … (indistinct)
BCS: Yes, yugäyitaà nimeñeëa cakñuñä prävåñäyitam, çünyäyitaà jagat sarvaà govinda-viraheëa me [Çikñäñöaka 7] Although Prabhupäda mentions that would be more on the bhäva platform. He is developing the love and because of that love, nimeñeëa yugäyitaà, cakñuñä prävåñäyitam.
Devotee: (indistinct)
BCS: Yes, right. So then Prabhupäda goes to another point, What is the next point, Visnu Stuta?
Visnu Stuta Dasa: We must repeat the prayers… (indistinct) … by liberated souls.
BCS: Yes, very good, but I would say that is also later. Before that Prabhupäda gave a very nice simile; where Prabhupäda actually compared the three modes of material nature with the three colours and how the colours are mixing. three into three is nine, nine into three is eighty one and how an artist can very expertly mix the colours and create a painting. So this is how the variety in the material nature is created by the mixture of different modes of material nature. Prabhupäda is saying as soon as the dirty things are cleansed we become liberated. Actually when the heart is purified from all the dirt, then we become liberated. Prabhupäda is giving a symptom, like Caitanya Mahäprabhu, he became like a mad man due to his love for Kṛṣṇa. When one feels such separation from Kṛṣṇa, that is the state of liberation; when the dirty things are completely cleansed. Then, uttama-çloka, Prabhupäda is describing bhagavaty uttama-çloke bhaktir bhavati naiñöhiké. Prabhupäda is describing the word uttama-çloka. How is Prabhupäda defining the word uttama?
Devotee: Darkness ... (indistinct) ... udgata.
BCS: Udgata-tama. When the ignorance has been dispelled. The person who has become free from ignorance, free from the influence of the mode of ignorance, he is an uttama. Only a person like that can offer glorification to Kṛṣṇa, prayers to Kṛṣṇa. The conditioned souls cannot really offer prayers to Kṛṣṇa. Prabhupäda is saying that is why we have to follow the prayers; we have to recite and repeat the prayers sung by pure devotees like Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura, Narottama däsa Öhäkura. Those who are not liberated souls cannot offer prayers. We do not allow any literatures that are not written by liberated souls. So it is not that Srila Prabhupäda is not allowing us to read the books other than his books, but he is restricting us from reading the books written by conditioned souls. Actually, Prabhupäda was so strict about that because most the books that are available in English nowadays, besides Srila Prabhupäda’s books, are written by conditioned souls. So that is why Prabhupäda was so strict about our devotees not reading books written or translated by others. Yes?
Devotee: What about Prabhupada has made many comments that we shouldn’t read anything by Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura … (indisctinct)
BCS: Because they are translated by people, those who are not pure.
Devotee: (indisctinct)
BCS: About Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura himself? Anyway, let’s not get into that. My immediate reaction, as I told before, that Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura presented the books according to time, place and circumstances, especially his English writing. Not only his, even Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura’s presentation was actually meant for certain class of people. That is why, unless and until they are properly explained by someone who has the right understanding, it is better not to read those books. Then what is the next point Srila Prabhupäda made? Yes, Bhakta Marcel?
Bhakta Marcel: (indisctinct)… Prabhupada also quoted… (indistinct) …Śruti-småti-puräëädi … (indistinct)
BCS: Śruti-småti-puräëädi. That is coming afterwards, but before that Srila Prabhupäda makes a very beautiful point.
Devotee: Just after he said we should not hear from conditioned souls, he said therefore whatever we write, whenever we write something we immediately offer evidence … (indistinct)
BCS: Right, exactly. That’s a very, very important point. Prabhupäda says that we must repeat what we heard from the paramparä system. That is our process. We do not concoct something new. We simply repeat our paramparä. So that is why, to address that point, Srila Prabhu, anybody, with proper understanding, will not accept that point that Srila Prabhupäda is restricting us from reading Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura, because Prabhupäda is actually repeating what Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura said, but since we do not have the ability to discriminate or understand what Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura is actually saying. That is why Prabhupäda made that restriction, because we may get bewildered. We may say that Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura is actually saying that. Somebody may think that Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura is actually saying that all the Vedic scriptures are full of errors. If somebody gets into that understanding, then whole understanding is spoilt. It is like a drop of wine falling into a boiling pot of milk. So that is why we have to understand as Prabhupäda says, like a Paramahaàsa. The Paramahaàsa is a person who can separate the milk from water. A swan has the ability to separate milk from water. So some literatures may be mixed with some water, given in a diluted way, so that a person with a bad digestive system can digest it. But an advanced devotee should know how to separate the milk from the water. Actually Prabhupäda is repeating what Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura said, what Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura said, what Viçvanätha Cakravati said. Prabhupäda is simply repeating the paramparā. Prabhupäda often said, “That is my qualification. I am simply presenting what I learnt from my Guru Maharaja without any deviation”. He said, “That is my only qualification, I am simply repeating my spiritual master”.
Then comes çruti-småti-puräëädi-païcarätra-vidhià vinä, aikäntiké harer bhaktir utpätäyaiva kalpate [Brs. 1.2.101]. If somebody says something that has not been justified, or if somebody does not practice according to the instructions given by çruti, småti, puräëa and päïcarätriké-vidhi and he displays a very elevated devotion, he simply creates a disturbance, because that person is actually pretending. He is not a devotee. Next. Some more points? Yes?
Devotee: He said that in the beginning one must be very sincere to follow the Vedic principles but there can be some... (indistinct) ... due to past habits … (indistinct)
BCS: Very good. Yes. Mother Arana.
Arana Dasi: (indistinct)
BCS: Right. Sva-kathäù. Śåëvatäà sva-kathäù kåñëaù [SB 1.2.17}. Prabhupäda is saying that Kṛṣṇa’s words, and what are Kṛṣṇa’s words?
Devotee: (indistinct)
BCS: sruti smriti purana.
Devotee: (indistinct)
BCS: Yes. Very good He is saying that Kṛṣṇa Himself gave the literatures. Kṛṣṇa Himself came as Vyasadeva and He wrote them down and Kṛṣṇa Himself came as Caitanya Mahaprabhu and He taught the process. So that is the most bona fide process. Then comes Bhaktin Carolyn’s point, even if there are some flaws in the beginning, but a person will become purified. But, Prabhupäda makes one condition here, that fall down should not be deliberate. If there is an accidental fall down due to previous bad habits and so on and so forth or if there is some discrepancy, then it is all right, but not somebody deliberately falling down and thinks well, in Bhagavad-gétä Kṛṣṇa says api cet su-duräcäro [BG 9.30]. So that should not be the mood. One should try to never fall down, but if there is a fall down, and he is fixed in devotional service, we should still consider him as a sadhu. But one should not think that now I am a sadhu, I can fall down. Then?
Devotee: (indistinct) …Prabhupada makes the point that Kṛṣṇa and mäyä are side by side.
BCS: Very good. Chäyä. Mäyä is the shadow of Kṛṣṇa and the way light and shadow stay side by side, the same way Kṛṣṇa and mäyä are side by side. If we look at that side then we see light, if we look at this side then we see the shadow. Visnu Stuta?
Visnu Stuta Dasa: Then he explained how if we are always seeing Kṛṣṇa then there is no chance of contact with mäyä.