Śrī Brahma-saṁhitā

Śrī Brahma-saṁhitā Lecture

Devotees: [chant Brahma-saṁhitā verses]

cintāmaṅi-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vṛkṣa- lakṣāvṛteṣu surabhīr abhipālayantam lakṣmī-sahasra-śata-sambhrama-sevyamānaṁ govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi [Bs 5.29]

[I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, the first progenitor who is tending the cows, yielding all desire, in abodes built with spiritual gems, surrounded by millions of purpose trees, always served with great reverence and affection by hundreds of thousands of lakṣmīs or gopīs.]

veṅuṁ kvaṅantam aravinda-dalāyatākṣam- barhāvataṁsam asitāmbuda-sundarāṅgam kandarpa-koṭi-kamanīya-viśeṣa-śobhaṁ govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi [Bs 5.30]

[I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is adept in playing on His flute, with blooming eyes like lotus petals with head decked with peacock's feather, with the figure of beauty tinged with the hue of blue clouds, and His unique loveliness charming millions of Cupids.]

ālola-candraka-lasad-vanamālya-vaṁśī- ratnāṅgadaṁ praṅaya-keli-kalā-vilāsam śyāmaṁ tri-bhaṅga-lalitaṁ niyata-prakāśaṁ govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi [Bs 5.31]

[I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, round whose neck is swinging a garland of flowers beautified with the moon-locket, whose two hands are adorned with the flute and jeweled ornaments, who always revels in pastimes of love, whose graceful threefold-bending form of Śyāmasundara is eternally manifest.]

aṅgāni yasya sakalendriya-vṛtti-manti paśyanti pānti kalayanti ciraṁ jaganti ānanda-cinmaya-sad-ujjvala-vigrahasya govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi [Bs 5.32]

[I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, whose transcendental form is full of bliss, truth, substantiality and is thus full of the most dazzling splendor. Each of the limbs of that transcendental figure possesses in Himself, the full-fledged functions of all the organs, and eternally sees, maintains and manifests the infinite universes, both spiritual and mundane.]

premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti yaṁ śyāmasundaram acintya-guṅa-svarūpaṁ govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi [Bs 5.38]

[I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is Śyāmasundara, Kṛṣṅa Himself with inconceivable innumerable attributes, whom the pure devotees see in their heart of hearts with the eye of devotion tinged with the salve of love.]

rāmādi-mūrtiṣu kalā-niyamena tiṣṭhan nānāvatāram akarod bhuvaneṣu kintu kṛṣṅaḥ svayaṁ samabhavat paramaḥ pumān yo govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi [Bs 5.39]

[I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who manifested Himself personally as Kṛṣṅa and the different avatāras in the world in the forms of Rāma, Nṛsiṁha, Vāmana, etc., as His subjective portions.]

goloka-nāmni nija-dhāmni tale ca tasya devi maheśa-hari-dhāmasu teṣu teṣu te te prabhāva-nicayā vihitāś ca yena govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi [Bs 5.43]

[Lowest of all is located Devī-dhāma [mundane world], next above it is Maheśa-dhāma [abode of Maheśa]; above Maheśa-dhāma is placed Hari-dhāma [abode of Hari] and above them all is located Kṛṣṅa's own realm named Goloka. I adore the primeval Lord Govinda, who has allotted their respective authorities to the rulers of those graded realms.]

[01:26]

Prabhupāda: Thank you. So govindam ādi-puruṣam tam ahaṁ bhajāmi. These verses, Brahma-saṁhitā, it was composed by Lord Brahmā. Therefore in the Vedic literature, this, this is called saṁhitā. Saṁhitā means part of the Vedic literature. So Lord Brahmā is describing about Kṛṣṅa. There are some foolish question that "Kṛṣṅa appeared five thousand years ago. How He became God?" Actually, that is not the fact. In the Brahma-saṁhitā, Brahmā is describing means from the very creation. Brahmā is the first creature of this universe. So he has explained about Kṛṣṅa by his experience, by his realization.

In the Vedānta-sūtra, Kṛṣṅa is described, janmādy asya yataḥ [SB 1.1.1]: the Supreme Person from whom everything has emanated. So that Kṛṣṅa has confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā, aham ādir hi devānām [Bg 10.2]. Devānām means in the beginning there was Brahmā, Viṣṅu, Maheśvara. And Kṛṣṅa is ādi of these devas also. Aham ādir hi devānām. Ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo: "Everything has emanated from Me."

ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate iti matvā bhajante māṁ budhā bhāva-samanvitaḥ [Bg 10.8]

[I am the source of all spiritual and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who know this perfectly engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts.]

So Kṛṣṅa is the ādi-puruṣa. In... Arjuna also confirms. After understanding Bhagavad-gītā, Arjuna also confirms:

paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma pavitraṁ paramaṁ bhavān puruṣaṁ śāśvatam ādyam... [Bg 10.12]

[Arjuna said: You are the Supreme Brahman, the ultimate, the supreme abode and purifier, the Absolute Truth and the eternal divine person. You are the primal God, transcendental and original, and You are the unborn and all-pervading beauty. All the great sages such as Nārada, Asita, Devala, and Vyāsa proclaim this of You, and now You Yourself are declaring it to me.]

Ādyam: the original person. Just like in our genealogical table, in each family there is a person who is the origin of the family—then his son, his son, his grandson, great-grandson. In this way, family expands. Similarly, this creation is from Kṛṣṅa. In the catuh-ślokī Bhāgavata also, aham eva āsam agre [SB 2.9.33/34/35/36]: "I, I was present before the creation." Even Śaṅkarācārya, who is impersonalist, he also says, nārāyaṅaḥ paro avyaktād: "The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṅa, He is beyond this material creation." Nārāyaṅaḥ paraḥ avyaktād. Avyaktād aṅḍa-sambhavaḥ. From the avyakta, nonmanifested material mahat-tattva, this material creation has been..., become possible. And before the material creation, beyond the material creation, there is Kṛṣṅa. Therefore in the Brahma-saṁhitā, Lord Brahmā is describing Kṛṣṅa in each verse: govindam ādi-puruṣam tam ahaṁ bhajāmi. Govindam ādi-puruṣam. He's the original person.

Kṛṣṅa also says, mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat kiñcid asti, asti dhanañjaya [Bg 7.7].

[O conqueror of wealth [Arjuna], there is no Truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread.]

There is no more parā-tattva, superior source, except Kṛṣṅa. This Kṛṣṅa consciousness movement is therefore..., we are trying to place before the civilized human society that the ādi-puruṣa, the original Supreme Personality of Godhead. They are searching after God. There are so many societies—theological society, theosophical society—they are searching after God. But here is God. Why don't you take reference from the Vedic literature? God's reference is there in the Vedic literatures, and God Himself appeared, and He explained Himself in the Bhagavad-gītā. And God is accepted...

Not now; even when Kṛṣṅa was present, five thousand years ago, all great sages, saintly persons, great ṛṣis, they also accepted. Nārada, Devala, Vyāsa. When Arjuna, in the Bhagavad-gītā... It is explained in the Tenth Chapter. You know, all, Kṛṣṅa as paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma pavitraṁ paramaṁ bhavān [Bg 10.12].

He, he is addressing Kṛṣṅa as person, bhavān. This bhavān śabda, this word is used, "person," not imperson. Bhavān. Paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma pavitraṁ paramaṁ bhavān, puruṣam [Bg 10.12]. He's not imperson. Puruṣam. Puruṣam means person. Not female also. Puruṣam means male. Puruṣaṁ śāśvatam. Śāśvatam, original; ādyam, the first. So in this way.

And Arjuna has also given reference that all the great sages... At that time, Vyāsadeva... Vyāsadeva is still present. So "Vyāsadeva accepts You, Nārada accepts You, and Asita, Devala, big, big, great sages accepts You. You are personally speaking, and I have realized that You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead." This is Kṛṣṅa. Kṛṣṅa is not manufactured, as nowadays it has become a fashion to manufacture God by votes. No. God is never manufactured. God is God. Not by mystic power one becomes God or by so-called meditation or magical arts. No. God is God. Nobody can become God. Asama urdhva.

In the Bhagavad-gītā, Kṛṣṅa is described as asama urdhva prapitāmaha ca [Bg 11.39].

[You are air, fire, water, and You are the moon! You are the supreme controller and the grandfather. Thus I offer my respectful obeisances unto You a thousand times, and again and yet again!]

In the Eleventh Chapter, you'll find these words. Prapitāmaha. Because Brahmā is considered... He's called pitāmaha, because the father of the father. If you search out the genealogical table of this universe, especially of the human society, then you go on searching. I am begotten by my father; my father is begotten by his father, his father, his father, his father—you go on. Then ultimately, if you have so much patience to make research, the..., you can get from the śāstras. You can get.

So the original father of this universe is Lord Brahmā; therefore he is addressed as Pitāmaha. But the father of Brahmā also, Brahmā, is also there: Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṅu. The Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṅu is expansion of Kāraṅodakaśāyī Viṣṅu, the original Viṣṅu, and Kāraṅodakaśāyī Viṣṅu is expansion of Saṅkarṣaṅa. Saṅkarṣaṅa is expansion of Nārāyaṅa. Nārāyaṅa is expansion of another Saṅkarṣaṅa, and that Saṅkarṣaṅa is expansion of Baladeva. And Baladeva is expansion of Kṛṣṅa. You'll find in the śāstras. Therefore Kṛṣṅa is the original person. Govindam ādi-puruṣam tam ahaṁ bhajāmi. It is not that some artist has manufactured a fashionable Kṛṣṅa, and we worship that. No. Kṛṣṅa's the original person. We find it, description, in the Saṁhitās, in the Vedas, in the Ṛg Veda: oṁ tad viṣṅoḥ paramaṁ padaṁ sadā paśyanti sūrayaḥ. And the explanation of Vedānta-sūtra, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, there it is explained: janmādy asya yataḥ [SB 1.1.1]. Because Vedānta-sūtra begins with this aphorism: janmādy asya yataḥ.

So Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the original explanation of Vedānta-sūtra. So in the Vedānta-sūtra, explanation of Vedānta-sūtra, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, it is said,

janmādy asya yataḥ anvayāt itarataś ca artheṣu abhijñaḥ tene brahma hṛdā ādi-kavaye muhyanti yatra sūrayaḥ [SB 1.1.1]

These descriptions are there. So ādi-kavi, ādi-kavi means Brahmā. Brahmā, ādi-kavi. So tene brahma. Brahmā means śabda-brahman, Vedic literature. So He instructed or imparted in the heart of Brahmā. Because when the creation was there, Brahmā was the only person, living entity, in the beginning. So the question may be that "How Brahmā learned Vedic knowledge?" That is explained: tene brahma... Brahmā. Brahmā means Vedic literature. Śabda-brahman. The information, the description of God, is also Brahman. Brahman is absolute. There is no difference between Brahman and the literature which is describing Brahman. The same thing: just like Bhagavad-gītā and Kṛṣṅa, there is no difference. Bhagavad-gītā is also Kṛṣṅa.

Otherwise why this book is worshiped since so..., for so long time, since five thousand years, unless the Bhagavad-gītā is Kṛṣṅa? There are so many literatures, books, are published nowadays. After one year, two years, three years—finished. Nobody cares for it. Nobody cares for it. Nobody reads for... Any literature you take in the history of the world, no literature can exist for five thousand years, repeatedly being read by many, many scholars, religionists and philosophers, all. Why? Because it is Kṛṣṅa. Kṛṣṅa... There is no difference between Bhagavad-gītā and Bhagavān. Śabda-brahman.

So Bhagavad-gītā should not be taken as ordinary literature, that one can comment on it by so-called A-B-C-D knowledge. No. That is not possible. The fools and rascals, they try to comment on the Bhagavad-gītā by their A-B-C-D scholarship. That is not possible. It is śabda-brahman. It will be revealed to the person who has devotion to Kṛṣṅa. Yasya deve parā bhaktir yathā deve... These are the Vedic instruction.

yasya deve parā bhaktir yathā deve tathā gurau tasyaite kathitā hy arthāḥ prakāśante mahātmanaḥ [Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 6.23]

[Unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master, all the imports of Vedic knowledge are automatically revealed.]

They becomes revealed. Therefore Vedic literatures are called revealed. It is not that I can understand by your A-B-C-D knowledge; I can purchase one Bhagavad-gītā, and because I have grammatical knowledge, I can understand. No. Vedeṣu durlabha. In the Brahma-saṁhitā it is said, vedeṣu durlabha. You go on studying all Vedic literature by your literary capacity or scholarship—durlabha. It is not possible. Vedeṣu durlabha.

Therefore there are so many persons, they are trying to interpret Bhagavad-gītā by their so-called scholarship, but nobody cares for them. They cannot turn even one person a devotee of Kṛṣṅa. This is a challenge. In your Bombay there are so many persons, they are explaining Bhagavad-gītā for so many years, but they could not turn even a single person a pure devotee of Kṛṣṅa. This is our challenge. But this Bhagavad-gītā, now it is being explained as it is, and thousands and thousands of Europeans and Americans, whose forefathers or family never knew the name of Kṛṣṅa, they are becoming devotees. This is the secret of success. But these foolish people, they do not know. They think that by interpreting Bhagavad-gītā by their so-called rascaldom knowledge, they can reveal Bhagavad-gītā. That is not possible. Nāhaṁ prakāśaḥ yogamāyā-samāvṛtaḥ. Kṛṣṅa is not exposed to these foolish and rascals. Kṛṣṅa is never exposed. Nāhaṁ prakāśaḥ sarvasya [Bg 7.25].

[I am never manifest to the foolish and unintelligent. For them I am covered by My eternal creative potency [yoga-māyā]; and so the deluded world knows Me not, who am unborn and infallible.]

He's not so cheap thing that He'll be understood by these fools and rascals. It is not possible. Kṛṣṅa says, nāhaṁ prakāśaḥ sarvasya yogamāyā-samā... [Bg 7.25].

manuṣyāṅāṁ sahasreṣu kaścid yatati siddhaye yatatām api siddhānāṁ kaścid vetti māṁ tattvataḥ [Bg 7.3]

[Out of many thousands among men, one may endeavor for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth.]

So if we want to understand Kṛṣṅa, then we have to follow. Mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ [Cc Madhya 17.186].

[Dry arguments are inconclusive. A great personality whose opinion does not differ from others is not considered a great sage. Simply by studying the Vedas, which are variegated, one cannot come to the right path by which religious principles are understood. The solid truth of religious principles is hidden in the heart of an unadulterated self-realized person. Consequently, as the śāstras confirm, one should accept whatever progressive path the mahājanas advocate.]

Evaṁ paramparā-prāptam imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ [Bg 4.2].

[This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost.]

Kṛṣṅa says. And Kṛṣṅa says, bhakto 'si priyo 'si rahasyam etad uttamam [Bg 4.3].

[That very ancient science of the relationship with the Supreme is today told by Me to you because you are My devotee as well as My friend; therefore you can understand the transcendental mystery of this science.]

Kṛṣṅa says to Arjuna, "This science of God, Bhagavad-gītā, kṛṣṅa-tattva..." Caitanya Mahāprabhu said: yei kṛṣṅa-tattva vetta sei guru haya [Cc Madhya 8.128].

[Whether one is a brāhmaṅa, a sannyāsī or a śūdra—regardless of what he is—he can become a spiritual master if he knows the science of Kṛṣṅa.]

Guru does not become. Guru is not so cheap thing. One must know what is kṛṣṅa-tattva. One must know what is Kṛṣṅa. Kṛṣṅa says also,

manuṣyāṅāṁ sahasreṣu kaścid yatati siddhaye yatatām api siddhānāṁ kaścid vetti māṁ tattvataḥ [Bg 7.3]

[Out of many thousands among men, one may endeavor for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth.]

Nobody knows Kṛṣṅa. They may speculate by their so-called scholarship, A-B-C-D knowledge, but Kṛṣṅa, Kṛṣṅa is not there. They cannot turn even a single man to become a Kṛṣṅa devotee. That is not possible. They can befool. That is described in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam: śva-viḍ-varāha-uṣṭra kharaiḥ saṁstutaḥ puruṣaḥ paśuḥ. The..., one who is not devotee, he is described as a paśuḥ, as an animal. And such animal is eulogized, glorified, by another animal. What are they? Now, dogs, camels, asses and hogs. Śva-viḍ-varāha-uṣṭra kharaiḥ saṁstutaḥ puruṣaḥ paśuḥ. These description is there.

Therefore if we want to understand Kṛṣṅa, we have to follow these mahājana, just like Brahmā. Brahmā is the original. There are... Who is mahājana? Mahājana. In India, a mahājana is accepted who can give you loan, money. He's called mahājana. Not that, that all... It is, it is a perverted word. But mahājana means a..., one who is pure devotee of the Lord. Mahātmā means who is pure devotee of the Lord. Sādhu means who is a devotee—not these street beggars. Sādhu. Sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ samyag vyavasito hi... [Bg 9.30]. Who are they, sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ?

api cet su-durācāro bhajate mām ananya-bhāk sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ... [Bg 9.30]

[Even if one commits the most abominable actions, if he is engaged in devotional service, he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated.]

He's sādhu. Even if we find some discrepancies in the life of a devotee... Just like these Europeans, Americans. They're devotee. They are pure devotee of Kṛṣṅa. How? They have no other desire. They simply want to satisfy their spiritual master and Kṛṣṅa. Therefore they are pure devotee. They have no other business. They have sacrificed everything. They are coming from rich family, rich nation, educated, everything. There is no scarcity in their country. Everything's complete. But still, for Kṛṣṅa they have forsaken everything. That is pure devotion.

anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyaṁ jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam ānukūlyena kṛṣṅānu- śīlanam bhaktir uttamām [Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.1.11]

[One should render transcendental loving service to the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṅa favorably and without desire for material profit or gain through fruitive activities or philosophical speculation. That is called pure devotional service.]

Those who are trying to catch up here something, catch up here something, they have been described by Caitanya Mahāprabhu as khaḍajāṭhiyā beṭā. Khaḍajāṭhiyā beṭā. The khaḍajāṭhiyā... One, one of the devotee of Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Mukunda, he was very, I mean, confidential devotee. His class friend also, Caitanya Mahāprabhu's. So he was going sometimes here, sometimes there, sometimes here, sometimes there.

So Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very angry upon him and gave him the title khaḍajāṭhiyā beṭā. Khaḍajāṭhiyā beṭā. "Don't allow him to come here." He became so strict. So he was very sorry: "Caitanya Mahāprabhu has said not to come in His meeting." So he was asking other devotees that "I shall not be allowed?" So, "We can..., how we can allow you? Caitanya Mahāprabhu has forbidden." "So will you ask if there will be any time so that I can again come back?"

So some devotee inquired from Caitanya Mahāprabhu that "Mukunda is very sorry. You asked not to come. But he's asking whether there will be any day in future when he'll be allowed to come again." So Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, "After three thousands of births. After three thousands of births, he'll be allowed to come in." So when Mukunda inquired, "Did you inquire from Caitanya Mahāprabhu this question?" he said, "Yes, but He has said after your three thousands of repeated births, you'll be allowed." So he began to dance. He began to dance: "Oh, then I'll be allowed some day. Never mind, three thousand births. Never mind three thousand births." So when this, this, this was informed to Caitanya Mahāprabhu that "He's dancing now because You have..., You'll allow him to come in after three thousands of births," so Caitanya Mahāprabhu became very pleased and asked him to bring him immediately. [laughter]

So if we want to actually learn this... Just like there must be eka niṣṭha. Bhajanti mām ananya-bhāk. That is the qualification. [break] ...Kṛṣṅa. If you want to know Kṛṣṅa, it is very easy. Don't divert your attention to anything. "No, I, I worship this demigod, I worship that demigod, I..." Then your knowledge is gone. That is described in the Bhagavad-gītā. Kāmais tais tair hṛta-jñānāḥ yajante anya-devatāḥ [Bg 7.20]. Anya-devatāḥ: "other demigods." Devatāḥ is Kṛṣṅa, but others, they're demigods.

ekale īśvara kṛṣṅa āra saba bhṛtya yāre yaiche nācāya se taiche kare nṛtya [Cc Ādi 5.142]

[Lord Kṛṣṅa alone is the supreme controller, and all others are His servants. They dance as He makes them do so.]

God is one, Kṛṣṅa. Ekam evādvitīyam. All others, they are servants. This is our conclusion. This is śāstric conclusion. Eka brahma dvitīya... Brahman cannot be two. Param-brahman. Paraṁ brahma paramaṁ bhavān. Therefore Arjuna has addressed Him as bhavān, "Yourself." Not that "You have got many competitors." Just like we are, we find nowadays, in one street another God, another God; in another street, another God; another street, or another city. There are so many Gods. No. God is one. Ekam eva advitīya. And that is Kṛṣṅa. Kṛṣṅas tu bhagavān svayam [SB 1.3.28].

[All of the above-mentioned incarnations are either plenary portions or portions of the plenary portions of the Lord, but Lord Śrī Kṛṣṅa is the original Personality of Godhead. All of them appear on planets whenever there is a disturbance created by the atheists. The Lord incarnates to protect the theists.]

So this is Kṛṣṅa consciousness. So if we want to learn about Kṛṣṅa, then we have to follow the path of mahājanas, great personalities. Just like Brahmā is presenting Brahma-saṁhitā, describing; Vyāsadeva is presenting Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Bhagavān, Himself, is describing Himself in the Bhagavad-gītā. So where is the difficulty to understand Bhagavad-gītā or Bhagavān? We don't find any difficulty. Where is the difficulty?

The mahājana is there, the śāstra is there, the guru is there, the Veda is there. And why should we make research after God? What is this nonsense? Everything is there. Vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyam [Bg 15.15].

[I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas am I to be known; indeed I am the compiler of Vedānta, and I am the knower of the Vedas.]

The purpose of Vedas is to know Kṛṣṅa. Janmādy asya yataḥ [SB 1.1.1]. Athāto brahma jijñāsā, to inquire about Brahman. Brahman. So there is no need of searching out God. You can simply try to digest whatever is already there. The Bhagavad-gītā is there. All the ācāryas, they have accepted. They have written commentation on Bhagavad-gītā with reference to the Vedic knowledge. The Absolute—kṛṣṅas tu bhagavān svayam—is accepted everywhere, by all ācāryas. Why you are searching after God? I do not know.

So this Bhagavad-gītā and this Brahma-saṁhitā, and the description is about Kṛṣṅa and His abode:

advaitam acyutam anādim ananta-rūpam ādyaṁ purāṅa-puruṣaṁ nava-yauvanaṁ ca vedeṣu durlabham adurlabham ātma-bhaktau govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi [Bs 5.33]

[I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is inaccessible to the Vedas, but obtainable by pure unalloyed devotion of the soul, who is without a second, who is not subject to decay, is without a beginning, whose form is endless, who is the beginning, and the eternal puruṣa; yet He is a person possessing the beauty of blooming youth.]

Advaita. Advaitam acyutam anādim ananta-rūpam. He has got ananta-rūpam. There is no limit, He has got so many. Because each..., in each and every brahmāṅḍa there is Kṛṣṅa avatāra. Kṛṣṅa avatāra... Just like in this brahmāṅḍa there was Kṛṣṅa avatāra in..., five thousand years ago, similarly Kṛṣṅa avatāra is going on just like... The same example as I have given you many times, that the sun, sun, sun planet is there in the sky, but sun is visible when he is in our front. Otherwise sun is there. Similarly, Kṛṣṅa is always there, but when He descends, incarnates, He becomes visible to us, exactly like the sun. At the present moment, it is night. Sun is not visible. But in due course of time, say after eight hours or ten hours, in the morning, the sun will be visible.

Similarly, there is scheduled time when Kṛṣṅa becomes visible on this planet, on this universe. And there are, there are innumerable universes. They..., therefore He's called nitya-līlā. Nitya-līlā means eternal pastime. Kṛṣṅa is born as Yaśodā..., Devakī-nandana. Immediately He begins to grow. But that birth is taking another planet, another universe. Just like six-thirty, sunshine, it is now visible on this planet, or on this city; but again six-thirty, again, in another city, six-thirty in another city, six-thirty another city. It is not very difficult to understand. That six-thirty's continued. That seven-thirty's continued. That eight-thirty's continued. Every minute and second is continued. Simply you have to know where it is. You immediately try to know by phoning the other city, other, on the other country, you'll know that this six-thirty or seven-thirty or twelve-thirty or the set-up or rising of the sun is continually going on, here or there.

Similarly, Kṛṣṅa's appearance, Kṛṣṅa's pastimes, everything is continually going on: sometimes in this universe, sometimes in another universe, sometimes another universe. In this way it is going on. Therefore Kṛṣṅa's līlā is called nitya-līlā. Nitya-līlā, eternal. It is not that for the time being Kṛṣṅa appeared. That nitya-līlā, as we have seen within this planet, Kṛṣṅa, that will come again. Just like we saw the sun in the daytime. Now it is not visible, but in due course of time, again we shall see; next morning we shall see sun. Similarly, we shall see again Kṛṣṅa, and that rotation takes place according to Vedic calculation after forty-three crores of years. That is the explanation we get from Vedic śāstra.

So Kṛṣṅa's līlā, it is not an invented, we are worshiping Kṛṣṅa as something imaginary, some artistic picture. No. It is nitya-līlā. Kṛṣṅa is fact. Govindam ādi-puruṣam. He's ādi. Advaitam acyutam ādyaṁ purāṅa-puruṣam. Purāṅa-puruṣam: the oldest man. Purāṅa means oldest. Oldest, purāṅa-puruṣam. Puruṣam means person. Nava-yauvanaṁ ca. But whenever you'll see Kṛṣṅa, He's just a perfect young boy, nava-yauvanaṁ ca. You'll never see Kṛṣṅa's picture as He has become old, He has grown some big, big beard and... No. Kṛṣṅa, you'll never see. Kṛṣṅa is just like a twenty-years-old young boy. Nava-yauvanaṁ ca. Vedeṣu durlabham adurlabham ātma-bhaktau [Bs 5.33].

He is not to be found in the Vedas. There is, but we miss. In the Ṛg Veda, in the Atharva Veda, Kṛṣṅa is there. Vedeṣu durla...

But the ordinary man cannot find. Just like the people, they're reading Bhagavad-gītā, but they do not understand Kṛṣṅa. There are so many people, they are very proud of reading Bhagavad-gītā daily, but they do not understand Kṛṣṅa. The only thing is, they're missing Kṛṣṅa. Except Kṛṣṅa, all rubbish thing they are talking. This is their vision. Because vedeṣu durlabha. For the rubbish person, rascal person, Kṛṣṅa is durlabha. Adurlabha ātma-bhaktau. But Kṛṣṅa is available. Kṛṣṅa has to be seen from the Kṛṣṅa's devotee, not from others. Therefore Kṛṣṅa said to Arjuna that "I am again explaining to you this Bhagavad-gītā because bhakto 'si priyo 'si rahasyaṁ hy etad uttamam [Bg 4.3].

There is a very nice mystery in this Bhagavad-gītā, and that will be understood by you because you are My devotee. You are My very dear." So in order to understand Kṛṣṅa, one has to first of all become a great devotee, dear friend of Kṛṣṅa. Then he can understand. Otherwise, vedeṣu durlabham adurlabham ātma-bhaktau [Bs 5.33].

So this Brahma-saṁhitā describes about Kṛṣṅa. Brahmā is mahājana. I've already told you: mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ [Cc Madhya 17.186].

So in the śāstras, twelve mahājanas are accepted:

svayambhūr nāradaḥ śambhuḥ kumāraḥ kapilo manuḥ prahlādo janako bhīṣmo balir vaiyāsakir vayam [SB 6.3.20]

[Lord Brahmā, Bhagavān Nārada, Lord Śiva, the four Kumāras, Lord Kapila [the son of Devahūti], Svāyambhuva Manu, Prahlāda Mahārāja, Janaka Mahārāja, Grandfather Bhīṣma, Bali Mahārāja, Śukadeva Gosvāmī and I myself know the real religious principle. My dear servants, this transcendental religious principle, which is known as bhāgavata-dharma, or surrender unto the Supreme Lord and love for Him, is uncontaminated by the material modes of nature. It is very confidential and difficult for ordinary human beings to understand, but if by chance one fortunately understands it, he is immediately liberated, and thus he returns home, back to Godhead.]

This was explained by Yamarāja to his servants, that these are mahājanas. Who? Svayambhūr, Brahmā. Svayambhūr nāradaḥ. And śambhuḥ, Lord Śiva. Svayambhūr nāradaḥ śambhuḥ kumāraḥ. The Kumāras, the four Kumāras; Kapila, Kapiladeva, Lord Kapila. Manu, Svāyambhuva Manu. In the Bhagavad-gītā also, accepted this: imaṁ vivasvate yogaṁ proktavān aham avyayam, vivasvān manave prāhur [Bg 4.1].

[The Blessed Lord said: I instructed this imperishable science of yoga to the sun-god, Vivasvān, and Vivasvān instructed it to Manu, the father of mankind, and Manu in turn instructed it to Ikṣvāku.]

This Manu. So in this way, we have to approach the right person, evaṁ paramparā-prāptam [Bg 4.2],

who is coming in the line of Brahmā, who is coming in the line of Lord Śiva, in the line of Nārada.

In this way, we have to accept a guru from the disciplic succession, which is called paramparā, guru-paramparā. Then we can understand what is Kṛṣṅa. Otherwise not. Now so many people are explaining Bhagavad-gītā. If you ask him, "Who is your guru?" he has no guru. He's himself guru. So you..., what he can understand, Bhagavad-gītā? It is not possible. So try to understand Bhagavad-gītā from the bona fide person and follow the principles, rules and regulation, and chant Hare Kṛṣṅa mantra. Your life will be successful.

Thank you very much.

[break] ...for persons who are too much bodily concept. One who is thinking that "I am this body," for him, this yoga system is prescribed, so that he can control the senses. Yoga indriya-saṁyamaḥ. By controlling the senses... Because we are disturbed by our senses. So there is process, how to come to the platform of prāṅāyāma. You have to find out a secluded place, and you should sit down there alone in perpendicular stature; you cannot close your eyes fully—half—then you'll have to see the tip of the nose. In this way, you have to concentrate your mind on Viṣṅu or Kṛṣṅa. This is prāṅāyāma. So... But actually when one becomes already attracted to Kṛṣṅa by devotional service, then the prāṅāyāma process is already there. Therefore Kṛṣṅa says in the Bhagavad-gītā:

yoginām api sarveṣāṁ mad-gata antarātmanā śraddhāvān bhajate yo māṁ sa me yuktatamo mataḥ [Bg 6.47]

[And of all yogīs, he who always abides in Me with great faith, worshiping Me in transcendental loving service, is most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all.]

The real fact is to concentrate your mind upon Kṛṣṅa.

So these boys, they have been trained up. This ārotik, this arcana, this distribution of literature, reading Kṛṣṅa books, hearing about Kṛṣṅa—that means they are not allowed to think anything else except Kṛṣṅa. That is perfect. They are... The prāṅāyāma process, you can do it for one hour, two hour or, say, one day, two days, but this, this prāṅāyāma process, who are always engaged in Kṛṣṅa's service, that is natural. You cannot think. Sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṅa-padāravindayor [SB 9.4.18].

[Mahārāja Ambarīṣa always engaged his mind in meditating upon the lotus feet of Kṛṣṅa, his words in describing the glories of the Lord, his hands in cleansing the Lord's temple, and his ears in hearing the words spoken by Kṛṣṅa or about Kṛṣṅa. He engaged his eyes in seeing the Deity of Kṛṣṅa, Kṛṣṅa's temples and Kṛṣṅa's places like Mathurā and Vṛndāvana, he engaged his sense of touch in touching the bodies of the Lord's devotees, he engaged his sense of smell in smelling the fragrance of tulasī offered to the Lord, and he engaged his tongue in tasting the Lord's prasāda. He engaged his legs in walking to the holy places and temples of the Lord, his head in bowing down before the Lord, and all his desires in serving the Lord, twenty-four hours a day. Indeed, Mahārāja Ambarīṣa never desired anything for his own sense gratification. He engaged all his senses in devotional service, in various engagements related to the Lord. This is the way to increase attachment for the Lord and be completely free from all material desires.]

If you simply engage your mind on the lotus feet of Kṛṣṅa, that is perpetual prāṅāyāma. Not for one hour, two hour or a minute.

Indian reporter: But as some yogīs say that...

Prabhupāda: Some yogī may say whatever he likes, but what Kṛṣṅa says, we have to accept.

Indian reporter: In the modern..., in the modern terminology, they say this, this technique of prāṅāyāma...

Prabhupāda: But the modern terminology, that is not..., that is not a principle.

Indian reporter: No, but they say it is a rocket way to God.

Prabhupāda: Eh?

Indian reporter: They say it is a rocket way to God, doing prāṅāyāma.

Prabhupāda: [aside:] What is it?

Tamāla Kṛṣṅa: A rocket, rocket ship way to God.

Indian reporter: Rocket.

Prabhupāda: But we don't find so long yogīs and prāṅāyāma-wallas know anything about God. We have tested so many. They remain the same rascal. I have seen it. They do not... Ask him, any yogīs, "What do you know about God?" Ask him. You can ask. You are press reporter. You can ask, "What do you know about God? Describe Him." So what is the rocket? Rocket means you should do immediately. But if you do not know, then what is the use of this rocket? If you do not know what is God, then what is the use of this rocket? Just like they are going to the rocket planet, moon planet.

Now the American government stopped announcing this rascaldom. You know that? Yes. So if you actually have got rocket, then you must approach that you must know the thing. But simply waste your money and come back... So any sensible man will not allow this. This is good, prāṅāyāma. Rocket process, it may be. But we don't think that it is rocket process at the present age. Because in the śāstras it is said:

kṛte yad dhyāyato viṣṅuṁ tretāyāṁ yajato makhaiḥ dvāpare paricaryāyāṁ kalau tad dhari-kīrtanāt [SB 12.3.52]

[Whatever result was obtained in Satya-yuga by meditating on Viṣṅu, in Tretā-yuga by performing sacrifices, and in Dvāpara-yuga by serving the Lord's lotus feet can be obtained in Kali-yuga simply by chanting the Hare Kṛṣṅa mahā-mantra.]

Indian reporter: No, they compare it to rocket only because of the two stages that a rocket has to drop. They say by doing prāṅāyāma you'll drop material stages, that you...

Prabhupāda: That's all right, but we have to see practically what he has become. Simply talking will not do.

Indian reporter: Talking. Talking won't do.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Simply talking will not do. That, that... Just, these boys, they did not practice prāṅāyāma system, but bring anyone who knows about God better than him. Bring anyone. Any yogīs, bring, and talk with them. They are neophytes. They are simply practicing three or four years. And talk with them. And what he knows about, he knows it will be proved. That is not rocket system. This is rocket system: Hare Kṛṣṅa mantra. [laughter] That is not possible.

That he cannot find out a secluded place to practice yoga. Where is secluded place in the city? Whole day and night, these cars are going and there is huge sound. Where is secluded place? And, and it is recommended in Bhagavad-gītā, secluded place and sacred place. And he should remain alone. Where is such yogī? Find out. Where is such yogī? He should remain alone, and in a secluded place and a sacred place. And he should not change his āsana. Then he becomes a yogī. These are the preliminary things. But who is practicing these preliminary even? They cannot. Especially in the cities, there are so many yoga societies, but in the..., it is stated that it should be practiced in a secluded place. So how it is possible in the city? So if you follow the instruction, it will be very difficult. It is very difficult.

Indian reporter: For a city-dweller.

Prabhupāda: Oh, yes. Not only difficult for us, but five thousand years ago, Arjuna was talking with Kṛṣṅa face to face. Such a exalted personality, and he was a kṣatriya. He said, "Kṛṣṅa, it is not possible to practice this." He said. We have become more than Kṛṣṅa, Arjuna? Do you think? He said. You'll find in the Bhagavad-gītā. Eh?

Devotee: Cañcalaṁ hi manaḥ kṛṣṅa...

Prabhupāda:

...kṛṣṅa pramāthi balavad dṛḍham tasyāhaṁ nigrahaṁ manye vāyor iva su-duṣkaram [Bg 6.34]

"Oh, it is not possible." He was frank enough gentleman. "Oh, this is not possible. This is not possible." And these foolish persons, because they want to cheat others, they cheat themselves, they cheat others, they follow this system. It is not possible. It is not possible, frankly speaking. Do we think we are better than Arjuna?

Devotee: In Bhagavad-gītā, Arjuna's called Guḍākeśa, or one who has conquered sleep.

Prabhupāda: So this yoga process is there, but it is very, very difficult. Very, very difficult, especially in this age. Therefore in the śāstra it is said, kṛte yad dhyāyato viṣṅu [SB 12.3.52].

The dhyāyato viṣṅu, that is yoga system. Dhyānāvasthita-tad-gatena manasā paśyanti yaṁ yoginaḥ [SB 12.13.1].

[Sūta Gosvāmī said: Unto that personality whom Brahmā, Varuṅa, Indra, Rudra and the Maruts praise by chanting transcendental hymns and reciting the Vedas with all their corollaries, pada-kramas and Upaniṣads, to whom the chanters of the Sāma Veda always sing, whom the perfected yogīs see within their minds after fixing themselves in trance and becoming fully absorbed in thoughts of Him, and whose limit can never be found by any demigod or demon—unto that Supreme Personality of Godhead I offer my humble obeisances.]

Yoginaḥ, being absorbed in meditation, they see. Dhyānāvasthita-tad-gatena manasā. Mind, being absorbed in the Supreme, they can see. Yaṁ paśyanti yoginaḥ. The yogī sees. That is samādhi. That is... Prāṅāyāma, of course, they controlling the breathing. So these things are very difficult in this age. Therefore śāstra says,

harer nāma harer nāma harer nāma eva kevalaṁ kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā [Cc Ādi 17.21]

[In this Age of Kali there is no other means, no other means, no other means for self-realization than chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name, chanting the holy name of Lord Hari.]

Three times. When we stress upon some important point, we say three times, "Do it, do it, do it!" It is like that. Kalau nāsty eva nāsty eva nāsty eva gatir anyathā. So yoga practice is approved process, but it requires long, long period time, and the time is not at all suitable in this age. And persons are differently cultured. They are eating everything, they are drinking everything, smoking. And it is not possible. It is not possible. Simply childish. It is not possible. And you can see practically. Just like I have given the example. Bring any so-called yogī, mystic practitioner...

Indian reporter: As you, yourself, have said: What is talking? What is lies?

Prabhupāda: What is the use of that persons? Here, the mass of people take. All over the world. Suppose if there is some process, if..., and one percent of the whole population, what is the use of such process? So that is very important thing. That is important process also, but it is not possible to be practiced by the present age. This is... [break] ...become purified, you understand that Kṛṣṅa is present on your tongue. [break] ...waterpot, you put it in the water. So long it is not filled up, it will make some sound. And when it is filled up and goes down, down to hell, then there is no cut-cut-cut.

Indian reporter: Then, as you say...

Prabhupāda: Eh? [break] ... that your, this so-called talk will not help you. But that does not mean that in the spiritual life there is no talk. But Kṛṣṅa, Kṛṣṅa is spirit. So why He's talking Bhagavad-gītā? What is... What do you think of Kṛṣṅa's talking? [break] ...nāma cintāmaṅiḥ kṛṣṅa. Nāma cintāmaṅiḥ kṛṣṅa..., rasa-vigraha, caitanya-rasa-vigrahaḥ.

nāma cintāmaṅiḥ kṛṣṅaś caitanya-rasa-vigrahaḥ pūrṅaḥ śuddho nitya-mukto 'bhinnatvān nāma-nāminoḥ [Cc Madhya 17.133]

[The holy name of Kṛṣṅa is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all spiritual benedictions, for it is Kṛṣṅa Himself, the reservoir of all pleasure. Kṛṣṅa’s name is complete, and it is the form of all transcendental mellows. It is not a material name under any condition, and it is no less powerful than Kṛṣṅa Himself. Since Kṛṣṅa’s name is not contaminated by the material qualities, there is no question of its being involved with māyā. Kṛṣṅa’s name is always liberated and spiritual; it is never conditioned by the laws of material nature. This is because the name of Kṛṣṅa and Kṛṣṅa Himself are identical.]

This is nāma. Abhinnatvād nāma-nāminoḥ. There is no difference between the name and the person. Here, in this material world, there is difference between the name and the thing. Just like if I want water, if I simply chant "water, water, water..." Sometimes some rascals, these, give the example that if we chant "Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola..." [laughter] It is not like that. They do not know, and they, they, they dare to explain this nāma. Such a rascal they are. They do not know what is name. Here is a description of the name: nāma cintāmaṅiḥ kṛṣṅaś caitanya-rasa-vi... This is caitanya. This is not dead stone. This body is dead stone. Caitanya means the living force. That is caitanya. So nāma is caitanya.

nāma cintāmaṅiḥ kṛṣṅaś caitanya-rasa-vigrahaḥ pūrṅaḥ śuddho nitya-mukto 'bhinnatvān nāma-nāminoḥ [Cc Madhya 17.133]

This name is not ordinary name. This is absolute.

Indian reporter: How is that they say that in some of the mantras they are śata cakras and all that?

Prabhupāda: Hmmh?

Indian reporter: Some of the mantras...

Prabhupāda: No, no. We have nothing to do with cakra. These cakras are concerned who are in the bodily concept of life. The bhaktas, they do not accept that "I am body." The śata cakra is concerned with this body, not with the soul. Yes. So these, the yoga process is prescribed for them who are too much in con..., bodily concept of life. Otherwise, those who are spiritually advanced, they're..., they do not have to practice this yoga. This, simply name, if we follow... Actually, practically, you see. You practically see that all over the world, these boys, how they're advancing simply by chanting Hare Kṛṣṅa mantra.

So this is fact. It is not imagination. How they're advancing, how they're becoming... Now, sarvopādhi-vinirmuktam, to make zero [Cc Madhya 19.170].

[Bhakti, or devotional service, means engaging all our senses in the service of the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of all the senses. When the spirit soul renders service unto the Supreme, there are two side effects. One is freed from all material designations, and one’s senses are purified simply by being employed in the service of the Lord.]

They've made everything zero. They don't consider that they're Americans. Yes. They don't consider that "I am this body. I have to eat flesh, meat and wine; therefore my body will be maintained." They never think like that. This is mukti. Simply talking will not do. Practically. "I practice yoga, and immediately my throat has become dried. Please give me cigarette. Please give me." There are so many. I have seen.

Indian reporter: So they are not yogīs.

Prabhupāda: You will find, if you analyze, you'll find so many. They're, at least, they smoke gañjā. There are so many yogīs, I have seen, they smoke gañjā. You have not seen? Gañjā-smoker yogīs?

Indian reporter: Yes.

Prabhupāda: Eh?

Indian man (2): Number of them.

Prabhupāda: Number of them. I do not know how you have studied. So many rascals, smoking gañjā and talking of yoga.

Devotee: Drinking tea.

Prabhupāda: Taking tea, that is common affair. Big, big jug, tea.

Indian man: [indistinct]

Prabhupāda: So see practically. Simply talking will not help. Practically see how this system is perfect. Thousands and thousands; not only one, two. If you travel all over the world and see our temples, you'll find in each and every temple, two hundred, hundred and fifty, fifty—all devotees. All these boys and girls, nice. They, their countrymen, astonished. They ask them, "Are you American?" They ask them. How this transformation has come into existence?

nāma cintāmaṅiḥ kṛṣṅaś caitanya-rasa-vigrahaḥ pūrṅaḥ śuddho nitya-mukto 'bhinnatvān nāma-nāminoḥ [Cc Madhya 17.133]

It is nondifferent from Kṛṣṅa. So by chanting "Kṛṣṅa" means they are associating Kṛṣṅa directly. There is no question of śata cakra or this cakra. No. It is direct contact with Kṛṣṅa. And if one is in direct contact with Kṛṣṅa, what other method does he require? Everything is... Ārādhito yadi haris tapasā tathā kim. If you are in direct touch with Kṛṣṅa, then where is the necessity of other tapasya? Everything is finished.

Your ultimate goal is obtained. And nārādhito yadi haris tapasā tathā kim: and if you could not touch Kṛṣṅa, then where is this nonsense, yoga and jñāna? They're useless. You could not touch Kṛṣṅa. These things are... Ārādhito yadi haris tapasā tathā kim, nārādhito yadi haris tapasā tathā kim [Nārada Pañcarātra].

Indian reporter: And that is why He's called Yogeśvara.

Prabhupāda: Yes. If you are in touch with the Yogeśvara, then your all austerities, penances, finished. Now you enjoy life with Yogeśvara. That is the position of the devotees. Ānandamaya...

ānanda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhāvitābhis tābhir ya eva nija-rūpatayā kalābhiḥ goloka eva nivasaty akhilātma-bhūtaḥ... [Bs 5.37]

[I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, residing in His own realm, Goloka, with Rādhā, resembling His own spiritual figure, the embodiment of the ecstatic potency possessed of the sixty-four artistic activities, in the company of Her confidantes [sakhīs], embodiments of the extensions of Her bodily form, permeated and vitalized by His ever-blissful spiritual rasa.]

This is a great science. So we have described all this in our books. They are reading, and public is very much appreciating.

All right. [end]