Verse: Krishna's Pastimes Leicester
Transcription: Ramananda Raya Dasa
Editing: Ramananda Raya Dasa
So this session is going to be… The topic for this session is going to be: “Demons Of Kṛṣṇa’s Pastimes” We just spoke about one demon, demoness rather. Who is that? Pūtanā. And Pūtanā was killed. Pūtanā was the first demoness that Kṛṣṇa killed. Then the next one that Kṛṣṇa killed was Śakaṭāsura. Śakata means a cart, a bullock cart. Those days they used to carry things not in tractors or trucks and such vehicles. The mode of transportation was carts drawn by bullocks. I think in the Western world it was more horses that they used. And farming also they used to do with horses but in India they mainly used to work with cows and bulls. So there was a śakaṭā and … They used to keep all things on that cart and then they used to harness it with a bull or bulls. So it was an occasion when Kṛṣṇa was just turning to His side, which means about what? Three months or so? At three months or so the baby learns to turn to his side. So that is the occasion to celebrate. They were celebrating this occasion and when Mother Yaśodā was making all the arrangements. She thought that she would keep Kṛṣṇa under this cart. This kind of protected somehow. But a demon actually came and wanted to kill Kṛṣṇa. The idea actually was that Pūtanā assumed a form and therefore Kṛṣṇa could kill her. So this one decided not to take any form. But just go there and make the cart to collapse. And then he would put his pressure and strength on Kṛṣṇa to kill Him. Kṛṣṇa knew what was going on. So Kṛṣṇa was lying there and what He did, He just touched the cart with His baby foot, maybe just with the toe. And the cart immediately collapsed. And all these heavy articles were there and they just got scattered. Mother Yaśodā was in extreme anxiety. And she came and she found that although the cart collapsed, all the articles were scattered and fell but the baby was not harmed.
So that was one demon that Kṛṣṇa killed. Now Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura wrote a book, a very interesting book, called Kṛṣṇa-samhita, the scriptural treatise of pertaining to Kṛṣṇa. In this book Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura is giving different material aspects, you can say, to Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes. Like Nanda, the word Nanda is coming from ananda. What is ananda?
Devotees: Joy
BCS: Joy. So Nanda Mahārāja is joy personified. Joy personified tends Kṛṣṇa. Yaśodā. Yaś means?
Devotees: Fame
BCS: And dā?
Devotees: Giver
BCS: Giver. Yaśodā, mother Yaśodā is the giver of fame. So different personalities have been identified in this way. Now who is Kaṁsa? Kaṁsa. What is Kaṁsa? What is Kaṁsa’s business? His whole purpose is to kill Kṛṣṇa. Now who wants to kill God?
Devotees: The demons.
BCS: Atheism. Atheism wants to kill God. Kaṁsa is actually atheism personified. Then Śakaṭāsura, what does the śakaṭās do, the carts do? The carts carry the burden. So Śakaṭāsura is the personality that carries the heavy burden of materialistic existence. Doesn’t our material existence want to kill Kṛṣṇa? Our materialistic tendencies, our materialistic attitudes? But no matter how much they try to kill Kṛṣṇa, if we accept Kṛṣṇa then Kṛṣṇa will kill them. We have these tendencies in us, in our heart. In a way here we can consider, just consider that your heart is Vṛndāvana, your heart is Vṛndāvana and all these propensities are there in the heart. …One set of propensities are the devotional propensities. And the other propensities are the propensities that try to get rid of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The atheistic propensities what do they want to do? To get rid of Kṛṣṇa. Who is God? There is no God, kill God. God is dead. Don’t this kind of philosophies fly around? When we take shelter of Kṛṣṇa, then all these propensities tend to disappear. So here the topic has been given. The demons as different anarthas in the heart. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura of course mentioned about different aspects of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes but here we selected only the demons.
Vatsāsura, Vatsa means child. So Kṛṣṇa killed Vatsāsura. How many of you remember that pastime? How many of you want to hear about this pastime. So Kṛṣṇa is just about six years old, five, going on six. And at that time the children in the cowherd community were given the charge of the calves. Like apprentice, they were apprentices. They have to go out to take care of the cows, but as children they can take care of the children of the cows. So Kṛṣṇa was given charge with Balarāma to take care of the calves and with the friends they used to go to the forest. So once they went to the forest and here came this demon, Vatsāsura, disguised as a calf. In the middle of so many calves, this calf was there, which was actually a demon and his intention was to kill Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma. So Kṛṣṇa identified that demon. And He told Balarāma: “Balarāma, this character looks strange, you can’t trust him, he is not our regular calves. ... So who is this character? Balarāma asked: “Will You take care of him? Or should I take care of him?” Kṛṣṇa said: “Let Me take care of Him.” And then at one point this calf just came and charged towards Kṛṣṇa, it tried to kill Him. And Kṛṣṇa just grabbed the calf with his legs and started to swing him, swing him, swing him... This is Kṛṣṇa’s favorite way of killing the demons, especially when they come in the form of some animal. Do you remember what Kṛṣṇa did to Keśī? And then He threw the calf onto the space, it was already dead and it fell in the forest of kapittha trees. … Kapittha means, it is a type of bael fruit. Generally there are two types of bael. How many of you have seen bael fruits? Generally bael fruits are sweet and it is yellow inside, orange.[unclear] But the kapittha is actually brown coloured inside and it is sour. Very tasty, there is a way of making it into a very tasty paste, sweet and sour. Anyway… with a lot of chilly [laughter]. It fell on the kapittha tree and all the trees broke. This is how this Vatsāsura was killed. Vatsāsura came in the form of a calf. So what is this Vatsāsura in the heart?
It fell on the kapittha tree. What does this Vatsāsura stand for ? According to Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura’s Kṛṣṇa samhita? The childish defects, don’t our childish defects prevent us from becoming Kṛṣṇa conscious? So this is one demon…
Actually these two demons came together; one was Vatsāsura and nearby there was another demon. That was Bakāsura. Bakāsura came in the form of a crane. The crane is a bird that looks like a swan. A crane looks somewhat like a swan but the characteristics are completely different. The swan lives in a very quiet, serene atmosphere. This bird also lives in a watery atmosphere. And what does it do? It stands at one place as if it is meditating. And that also with one leg drawn up. How many of you have seen a crane? So you have seen how this crane stands in the water on one leg. Like sometimes the yogīs stand on one leg meditating. But what does the crane meditate on?
Devotees: Fish
BCS: It meditates on fish, very good. It is just watching, meditating on the fish. And the moment it sees a fish it just catches it. So apparently it meditates but what does it meditate on? Fish, its food. Anyway this Bakāsura was there. This demon came assuming a form of a crane, a huge crane. So they all were playing and they saw this beautiful, huge bird. They all out of curiosity came there. Bakāsura was just waiting, while they were all marveling at the sight of this huge bird, this bird just swallowed up Kṛṣṇa. And the bird what did it do? It just expanded himself but Kṛṣṇa expanded Himself the bird could not swallow Him. And Kṛṣṇa became so hot that it could not keep Kṛṣṇa in his mouth, it threw out Kṛṣṇa from his mouth. And then Kṛṣṇa just stood there but this bird again came to swallow Kṛṣṇa. But this time what did Kṛṣṇa do? Kṛṣṇa with his foot pressed his lower jaw and with His hand Kṛṣṇa pressed his upper jaw. And then Kṛṣṇa just pulled and its body tore into two pieces. The demon was dead. Are you happy about it? Are you happy about it?
Devotees: Yes. [Laughter]
BCS: What is this Bakāsura? This Bakāsura is false religiosity. It looks like religion but it is not religion. The person looks like a spiritual personality but he is not a spiritual personality. Don’t we come across many such personalities? Long beard, long hair, very calm and peaceful way of speaking. It teaches you how to meditate. But what is he meditating on? He is meditating on your pocket. [Laughter] So that is a demon that Kṛṣṇa killed.
Then Aghāsura, I told you about Aghāsura demon, how Kṛṣṇa killed Aghāsura? What is Aghāsura? Aghāsura is cruelty personified. In Kṛṣṇa samhita Bhaktivinoda Thakura describes this Aghāsura is cruelty personified. There is one demon that Balarāma killed. Who is that demon?
Devotees: Dhenukāsura
BCS: Dhenukāsura This Dhenukāsura is a very beautiful pastime which happened after Kṛṣṇa saved the cowherd boys from the devastating forest fire. You remember the forest fire? They got caught up. They were tending the cows. Then all of a sudden they found themselves trapped within the forest fire. And this forest fire was surrounding them from all sides. There was no way to escape. If you came from one side it would run to the other side. But it surrounded them from all sides as if it was going to engulf them totally. So naturally the boys were very afraid and naturally they approached Kṛṣṇa. “Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa save us!” From this did you learn you something? When you are in difficult, what are you going to do?
Devotees: Call for Kṛṣṇa.
BCS: Or are you going to call for Kṛṣṇa or are you going to roll up your sleeves?
So, will you do that? “Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa, save us!” So then Kṛṣṇa said: “Close your eyes!” And they closed their eyes. And when they closed their eyes what did Kṛṣṇa do? He swallowed the forest fire. “Okay, now you can open your eyes.” What did they see? The forest fire is completely gone. This is how Kṛṣṇa protects His devotees.
Then after a while they were feeling very, very hungry. They said: “Kṛṣṇa we are feeling very, very hungry.” Then somebody says: “I am smelling some beautiful fragrance of ripe tāla fruit. How many of you have seen tāla fruits? Tāla fruits have a very sweet flavor. It’s a big purple fruit like this, it grows about this big and it has a very sweet flavor. But somebody said: “No,no don’t go there, that tāla forest is garded by a demon called Dhenukāsura. And because of fear of him, nobody goes near. Because if you go there, then he will eat you up, Dhenukāsura. Balarāma said: “What? Who cares about this Dhenuka, the demon? Come let’s go. We are hungry!” Balarāma said: “let’s go!” And the tāla trees are huge, very tall and very wide. Balarāma grabbed that tāla tree and started to shake it. Do you remember why He has the name Balarāma? And all the tāla fruits started to fall with a tud, big fruits falling with a sound. And Dhenukāsura woke up: “Who dares to come to my forest?” Who dares to enter into my territory? I will take care of them. And unconcerned about Dhenukāsura or whatever, Balarāma kept on shaking and the tāla fruits kept on falling one after another. And the boys, exited, started to pick them up and eat them. In the mean time Dhenukāsura came and he attacked Balarāma. How do the donkeys attack?
Devotees: hind legs
BCS: Yes, their strength is in the hind legs. Okay, now let us talk about Dhenukāsura and Balarāma. Who is a donkey? Do you know what the donkeys are famous for? First of all the donkeys are famous for their stupidity. Don’t we say:”He is an ass or he is a donkey?” They are famous for their stupidity. Because the donkey needs just some grass and there is plenty of grass everywhere. But because he is a donkey he thinks that he has to work for his master and he carries this big burden everywhere, food to eat. And the donkeys are famous for carrying huge loads; they can carry huge loads, five, six times the weight of their body, the donkeys can carry. But in return … what does the donkey get? A little grass. But the donkey thinks that unless he carries this big load he won’t get any grass to eat. There is another saying, another proverb about donkey’s intelligence, I am sorry, donkey’s stupidity. The saying goes: “Do you know why a donkey becomes thin in monsoon and fat in summer?” A donkey becomes fat in summer and thin in monsoon. Because in monsoon when the whole field is green with grass, the donkey thinks: “O, I have so much to eat that I have so much to do, that he cannot eat it and there is so much to eat. And in summer when he sees the whole field is dry. He thinks:”Oh, I have eaten up all the grass and he becomes fat.” So anyway, these are some wise things to know about a donkey. Now we have a donkey in us also; What does that donkey think? That unless I work for my boss I won’t get any money to eat. Although Kṛṣṇa is taking care of everyone, but we think that unless we work like a donkey we won’t get the food at the end of the day. Another thing, the donkey carries a big burden. And what is that burden? This burden is unnecessary materialistic karma, materialistic activities. We can so easily get rid of our karmic reactions, just by surrendering to Kṛṣṇa. When you surrender to Kṛṣṇa, will you have any karma left? Ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ… Kṛṣṇa is giving us our assurance but our donkey propensity does not allow us to do that. Another thing about this donkey demon. What is he doing? He is protecting this tāla fruit, the fruits of his activities, which are actually meant to be offered to Kṛṣṇa. But instead we are saying nobody should come and take it. All our possessions, we are guarding, saying: “Don’t come, don’t try to take my propenstity.” Are these the propensities of a donkey demon, Dhenukāsura? And this demon is killed by Balarāma. Who is Balarāma? Balarāma is the original spiritual master. This demon is killed by the spiritual master. Our donkey propensities are destroyed by the bonafide spiritual master. He teaches us about the importance of surrendering to Kṛṣṇa and becoming free from the unnecessary burden of our karmic reactions. Balarāma, the original spiritual master teaches us that there is no need to unnecessary carry the big burden of our materialistic responsibilities. And there is no need to carry the fruits of our activities, our possessions for our own enjoyment, offer it to Kṛṣṇa. This is how Dhenukāsura or the donkey demon is killed by Balarāma.
Then one day, when Kṛṣṇa came to the Yamunā with His calves and some of the calves went to the river and drank the water, all these calves died. And Kṛṣṇa noticed thatYamunā’s water has become poisonous. So poisonous that even when the birds which are flying above the Yamunā, just by inhaling the fumes of the poison these birds are falling dead on the river. Kṛṣṇa could understand. This is due to Kāliya. So Kāliya also has a history. Kāliya was a serpent who used to live in Ramaṇaka island, where the serpents used to live and they had a condition with Garuḍa. Garuḍa’s food is snakes. There is also another history to that. In the Vedic history we notice that everything has a link in the past. Every happening has a link. That’s how it becomes very, very obvious that these are factual statements and these are not some fictitious presentations.
So, Garuḍa, Garuḍa’s food was snakes. You know why Garuḍa’s food was snakes? Garuḍa’s stepmother was Khadru. Garuḍa’s mother is Vinatā, one wife of Kaśyapa and his stepmother is Kadrū. Kadrū gave birth to many, many children, they are snakes. Big, big snakes with hundreds of heads, thousands of heads and so forth, headed by Vāsuki. Snakes are envious, as you know, so Kadrū was also envious. They had … Kadrū and Vinatā while they are watching the setting sun. At the time the sun sets you cannot make out the colour of the sun’s horses. Vinatā said the colour of the sun’s horses are white. But Kadrū said: “No they are black” So then they got into an argument and they said: “Okay, if you are right, then I will become your maidservant and if I am right then you have to become my maidservant. So then Kadrū went and she discussed with her son: “You know, today we got into an argument with my co-wife and she said the colors of the horses of the sun is white and I said it is black. They said: “It is actually white.” Then she said: “You will have to do something, otherwise I will become enslaved by her.” So then they decided that all the snakes will go and wrap themselves around the body of the horses. So in the morning when the sun arises it will appear that the colour of the horses is black. They did that and as a result of that Vinatā became Kadrū’s slave. And Garuḍa also became their slave. And they used to use Garuḍa, the snakes used to use Garuḍa as their servant. They used to order them: “Carry us there, do this for us, do that for us.” So one Garuḍa asked his mother: “Mother, why do they treat me like this? And why are they treating you also like this?” So Vinatā said: “This is the reason”. Then Garuḍa went to the snakes and said: “Look, we heard that you have enslaved my mother and me because of this. Now can you tell me, what price I can pay to free us from this slavery?” They said:” Okay, if you can bring the nectar from heaven, then we will free you.” Garuḍa said: “Okay.” So he went to heaven, to Svarga loka and this pot of nectar was kept in a very, very secured way. But Garuḍa with his mystic power he managed to get the pot of nectar. All demigods attacked him. Indra hurled the thunderbolt to Garuḍa. Nothing happened to Garuḍa . But Garuḍa considered that this thunderbolt is actually made from the bones of Dadichi, a great sage. So in order to show respect to Dadichi, Garuḍa let one feather fall from his body. So then Garuḍa was advised by the Lord: “Garuḍa, don’t give this nectar to the snakes, because if the snakes become immortal then the creation will be in difficulty. The creation will be in trouble. Garuḍa said: “Look, I will give it to them and then free myself at that cost, at paying the price. But then whatever You want to do you do it.
So then it was arranged that Garuḍa would go, give it to them and at that time the Lord with His yoga-maya made the arrangement to tell the snakes: “Go and take a bath, because you are going to take the nectar, before that you have to become purified, you have to become sanctified. So you go and take bath in the river” So when the snakes would take bath, at that time the demigods would steal the pot of nectar. So that’s what they did. Garuḍa became free along with his mother and the snakes went to take bath. When they came back they found that the pot of nectar was gone. Now being extremely frustrated by loosing this wonderful opportunity of drinking the nectar, they thought that the nectar was kept on a bunch of kusa grass, they thought that maybe some nectar fell onto the kusa grass. So they started to lick the nectar on the kusa grass. Now kusa grass is very sharp. Therefore because the snakes were licking the kusa grass their tongues got bifurcated. The snakes’ tongues are split? It is because of licking the kusa grass thinking that there was nectar. And because nectar was spilt on the kusa grass, the kusa grass became sanctified. Therefore in all spiritual activities kusa grass is used. Anyway, so these are some backgrounds. So Kṛṣṇa subdued Kāliya. Now what does this Kāliya personify?
Devotees: Envy
BCS: No, Kāliya personifies wickedness. Snakes are wicked, very wicked.
Another demon that was killed by Balarāma was Pralambāsura. This Pralambāsura came in the disguise of a cowherd boy. And they were playing that one set of boys will carry in the game, they will carry the other set of boys. So Pralambāsura chose to take Balarāma. He disguised himself as a cowherd boy and he sided with Kṛṣṇa’s team. There were two teams, Kṛṣṇa’s team and Balarāma’s team. And he decided to carry Balarāma and he thought that he will kidnap Balarāma and if Balarāma can be killed then Kṛṣṇa will die due to His intense separation from Balarāma. So He decided to kill Balarāma. Because all the demons are being killed one after another by Kṛṣṇa. So they thought: “Okay, let’s not try to deal with Kṛṣṇa but indirectly we will get rid of Kṛṣṇa by stealing Balarāma. So Pralambāsura carried Balarāma and as he got Balarāma on his back he just ran and then while he was running, he assumed his demoniac form. From a little cowherd boy he became a huge demon. At first Balarāma got a little worried: ” Hey, what’s happening?” So Kṛṣṇa reminded him :”Hey, You are Balarāma, don’t forget Who You are!” So then Balarāma got back to His senses and Balarāma hit him on the head and Pralambāsura was dead.
So this is anoher demon that Balarāma killed. And Who is this Pralambāsura according to Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura’s Kṛṣṇa-saṁhitā? This Pralambāsura is impersonalism. This is impersonalism also is killed by Balarāma, the original spiritual master. The bonafide spiritual master gives us the understanding that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. There is no impersonalism. He removes our impersonalism: nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi pāścātya-deśa-tāriṇe, nirviśeṣa-śūnyavādi. Śrīla Prabhupāda as the most bonafide spiritual master, he freed us from this terrible influence of impersonalism. How many of you were following this process of personalism before coming to the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement? How many of you were following the process of impersonalism before you came to the movement? And how many of you are following nothing?
And Pralambāsura is killed. Then one day one demon came to Kamsa. He told Kamsa: “Kamsa, why you look so worried?” You got rings around your eyes. You lost your luster. You are looking so dishevelled. Kamsa said: “Look, Kṛṣṇa is causing us so much distress. And I have been told that He is going to kill me. Although He is just about fourteen years old, but he is so powerful. From the time of His birth I have been trying to kill Him but I did not succeed. And the more the time is passing, the number of demons are being annihilated. And my days seem to be numbered. Kesi said: “Kamsa, you said ‘What’s His name? Kṛṣṇa right? Where does He live? Okay, I will take care of Him. You are my friend also. Then Kamsa said: “Look, so many other demons have been killed by Him.” Kesi said: “Well that may be, but Kesi is Kesi. No one can deal with Kesi.”You know that what is my power. Then Kamsa told him: “Look, so many demons have been killed and so many…, no one can actually deal with this Kṛṣṇa Trinvarta went without assuming any form. Trinavarta went in the form of a whirlwind, as a tornado. And this boy Kṛṣṇa killed him when He was just about one year old. It’s a terrible Personality, you know, I don’t know how to deal with Him also. And you are saying that you will do it, I don’t think…”
Kesi said: “Kamsa, don’t worry, I am your friend!” A friend in need is a friend indeed. So I will relieve you from your anxiety. Then Kamsa said: “Okay, Kesi, you want to go, go! But, be careful! Kesi said: “Don’t worry.” Then Kesi, as you know, went in the form of a huge horse, a gigantic horse. He was blowing out a fire from his mouth. From his mouth, from his nostrils the fire was coming out, such a terrible demon. And the cowherd boys were so much in anxiety, so upset.. But Kṛṣṇa said:”Don’t worry, I will deal with him.” So Kṛṣṇa just stood there, tying up his utariya, tying up his waist. When Kesi came. Kesi came to swallow Kṛṣṇa up. This huge demon just wanted to swallow Kṛṣṇa up. But what did Kṛṣṇa do? Kṛṣṇa stretched His left hand. … His left hand. And that hand went into Kesi’s mouth. But Kṛṣṇa’s hand expanded to such a degree that Kesi’s throat got choked. And then this hand started to emanate fire, it became so hot. Kesi was dying. Kesi wanted to get the hand out of his mouth but he could not. Then Kṛṣṇa grabbed him by his hind legs and started to swing him overhead. And as a result of that Kesi left his body.
And as I was discussing this morning. Kṛṣṇa, by just swinging Kesi’s body left him dead. Then Kesi’s body went flying all over Mathura and then it landed right in front of Kamsa in Vrindavan. Kamsa could not identify first. What was that? He was startled. But then he realized that it was Kesi. So when he realized that this is what happened to one of his most powerful associate, in fear his hair stood up. His hair stood up with such ferocity that his crown went flying. And Vasudeva was there. And just seeing Kamsa’s condition he was smiling. And Kamsa wanted to kill him. At that time Nārada Muni appeared. And he said: “Killing Vasudeva is not going to serve your purpose. Try to kill Kṛṣṇa. And he pointed out that “your mistake is that you are sending one after another demon to kill Kṛṣṇa.” But when the enemy is so strong, is it worthwhile? Is it advisable to fight Him one by one? It is better to gather all your strength together. So gather all your strength together. And Kamsa said: “How am I going to do that?” Then Nārada Muni said: “You arrange this bow that you have?” It is difficult for anybody to string that bow. You make a condition that whoever will be able to string that bow, you give Him half of your kingdom. And this is how you will allure them to come to your capital. And then you invite Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma. And when all your strength is together then you tried to kill Kṛṣṇa. First through Kuvalayapida. So anyway, this is how Kamsa made the arrangement. And that is how Kṛṣṇa was invited by Kamsa to come to Mathura. And that is why at that time Kamsa did not deal with Vasudeva . Kamsa arrested Him. When Kṛṣṇa killed Kamsa, Vasudeva was not there, because Vasudeva was in prison at that time. This is how Kṛṣṇa dealt with Kesi and eventually Kamsa. So who is Kesi now? I am sure it is quite clear. Kesi is pride personified. So this is how Kṛṣṇa dealt with all the demons. And we also have to deal with all these demons that are within our hearts. And if we take shelter of Kṛṣṇa, will Kṛṣṇa take care of them?
Devotees: Yes
BCS: So what will you do?
Devotees: surrender
BCS: I can’t hear you.
Devotees: surrender !
BCS: Take shelter of Kṛṣṇa and let Him take care of these demons.
Thank you very much. Hare Kṛṣṇa.
Does anybody have any question? I have a about ten, fifteen minutes.
Question : [unclear]
BCS: Don’t worry about others’ heart condition. Consider the condition of your heart. That’s the one heart that you can deal with. Let’s consider seriously, what is the condition of our hearts? Is it soft or hard? So what to do about others? When it is so full of pride, when it is so full of envy, when it is so full of anger, So on our part let us try to make it as soft as butter. And then if you see what Kṛṣṇa does? Kṛṣṇa may steal some butter. Kṛṣṇa steal some other butter, right? Okay, yes Hare Kṛṣṇa?
BCS: Thanks Mahārāja… Lord Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Why does the Supreme Personality of Godhead have to wear tilak? Why … [unclear]
BCS: To remind us that we should wear tilak.
Devotee: Thank you very much, Mahārāja.
Question : What does it mean to take shelter of Kṛṣṇa in our daily life?
BCS: What’s that ? In daily life ? our existence has three aspects: the body, manah and karmana, manasah, girah. The body’s business is to act. Mind’s business is to think. And … is So these three faculties have to be engaged for the purpose of Kṛṣṇa’s pleasure. With the body we should act to serve Kṛṣṇa. And with our speech we should always glorify Kṛṣṇa or chant His Holy Name. So these are the ways by which we can become Kṛṣṇa conscious. Become aware of Kṛṣṇa and surrender. So we first make it a point with our body, whatever we do is for Kṛṣṇa. With our mind, whatever we do, we think of Kṛṣṇa. All Krishna. How to serve Kṛṣṇa, And with our words we should chant Kṛṣṇa’s Holy Name. Then if you have any free time you think of Kṛṣṇa?
BCS: Yes, Sacimata, you have any question?
Devotee: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Mahārāja, ….[unclear]
BCS: What can I do? [devotee laughter] All I can say you try your best to become engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. You try your best. These things are happening. Material nature is like that. [unclear] Like things you have to do, try to make it a point to do it for Kṛṣṇa. Say, you have to cook, cook for Kṛṣṇa! This is how you become Krishna conscious. You have to go out shopping. Buy things in a consciousness that is favourable towards Kṛṣṇa. Somebody has to work to earn money. Make it point that you are buying for Kṛṣṇa. So this is how, as Śrīla Prabhupāda said, we can dovetail, dovetail our activities in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Devotee: [unclear]
BCS: Well Kṛṣṇa will watch. [unclear] That’s one way of looking at it. Another way of looking at it is: Yes, provided our senses are becoming spiritualized. With our material senses we won’t perceive that. Therefore to see Kṛṣṇa [unclear] we have to have spiritual senses. [unclear] The only thing is that when Kṛṣṇa is present on the planet, performing His pastimes, those who are present will [unclear]. But for us now, I mean, unfortunately we are not here.. But anyway we are here now. And we are still very fortunate, because we are here at the time when Mahāprabhu came, Prabhupāda came, Kṛṣṇa consciousness spread by His divine arrangement. And now at least we understand the importance of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Because coming in contact with Śrīla Prabhupāda, did you ever consider, At least that is our good fortune.
Devotee: I have another question. [unclear]
BCS : Kaṁsa. Atheism. Now that Kaṁsa has been killed… [unclear]
Devotee: [unclear]
BCS: Okay, good point, when you go out shopping what do you shop? What do you like?
Devotee: I like to eat… [unclear]
BCS: Okay, say [unclear]. When you buy things to eat what are you going to do with it?
Devotee: Offer it to Kṛṣṇa.
BCS: For whom you are buying it?
Devotee: For Kṛṣṇa. Okay, I am buying it and throw it away. [huge laughter]
BCS: You consider that this body has been given to Kṛṣṇa. To act with this body you need shoes and clothes, right? The body has been given to Kṛṣṇa. You use the body to buy shoes and clothes
Devotee: [unclear]
BCS: Right, that is called dovetailing. Prabhupāda used the expression dovetailing. Fit into Kṛṣṇa consciousness. All glories to
Okay, I will stop now.
Hare Krishna
Internet Devotee : How can we make our heart simple and soft like butter for Kṛṣṇa?
BCS: To make it soft is to develop our love for Kṛṣṇa. In order to develop our love for Kṛṣṇa we have to get rid of all our anarthas like greed, lust, anger, which make our heart hard. So get rid of them, then the heart will become very soft. Okay? Hare Kṛṣṇa. Thank you very much.
Devotees : His Holiness Bhakti Charu Mahārāja ki jaya!
BCS: Śrīla Prabhupāda ki jaya!