Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.15.51

Pradyumna: Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. [leads chanting of verse] [Prabhupāda and devotees repeat]

yaḥ śraddhayaitad bhagavat-priyāṅāṁ pāṅḍoḥ sutānām iti samprayāṅam śṛṅoty alaṁ svasty-ayanaṁ pavitraṁ labdhvā harau bhaktim upaiti siddhim [SB 1.15.51]

[break]

Prabhupāda: Hmm.

Pradyumna: yaḥ—anyone; śraddhayā—with devotion; etat—this; bhagavat-priyāṅām—of those who are very dear to the Personality of Godhead; pāṅḍoḥ—of Pāṅḍu; sutānām—of the sons; iti—thus; samprayāṅam—departure for the ultimate goal; śṛṅoti—hears; alam—only; svasty-ayanam—good fortune; pavitram—perfectly pure; labdhvā—by obtaining; harau—unto the Supreme Lord; bhaktim—devotional service; upaiti—gains; siddhim—perfection. [break]

[04:10]

Translation: "The subject of the departure of the sons of Paṅḍu for the ultimate goal of life, back to Godhead, is fully auspicious and is perfectly pure. Therefore anyone who hears this narration with devotional faith certainly gains devotional service of the Lord, the highest perfection of life."

Prabhupāda: Hm. Yaḥ śraddhayaitad bhagavat-priyāṅām. Bhagavat-priyāṅām. There is a common word in English, "If you love me, love my dog." That is very important. So bhagavat-priyāṅām, one who is very dear to Kṛṣṅa, if you love such person, then Kṛṣṅa is more pleased. Kṛṣṅa is more pleased. Bhagavat-priyāṅām.

There is a version in the Purāṅas, Devī Purāṅa. Pārvatī was asking questions to Lord Śiva, and Lord Śiva was replying. This is the process at home. The wife is supposed to inquire from the husband about spiritual advancement of life, and the husband must be competent to reply all the questions of wife. That will keep relation very nice. Śravaṅaṁ kīrtanam [SB 7.5.23].

[Prahlāda Mahārāja said: Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Viṣṅu, remembering them, serving the lotus feet of the Lord, offering the Lord respectful worship with sixteen types of paraphernalia, offering prayers to the Lord, becoming His servant, considering the Lord one's best friend, and surrendering everything unto Him (in other words, serving Him with the body, mind and words)—these nine processes are accepted as pure devotional service. One who has dedicated his life to the service of Kṛṣṅa through these nine methods should be understood to be the most learned person, for he has acquired complete knowledge.]

That is bhakti. So Pārvatī was asking... Because according to Vedas, there are so many demigods. Viṣṅu is sometimes taken, but Viṣṅu is not... Brahmā, Viṣṅu, Maheśvara. They are the principal deities. So the inquiry was, "Which worship is the best? Viṣṅu or Lord Śiva or Brahmā or Candra?" There are so many demigods. Sometimes they are misunderstood that all of them are Gods. No. They are called demigods. God is one. That is... Originally, God is Kṛṣṅa. Īśvaraḥ paramaḥ kṛṣṅaḥ [Bs 5.1].

[Kṛṣṅa who is known as Govinda is the Supreme Godhead. He has an eternal blissful spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin and He is the prime cause of all causes.]

So the inquiry was, "There are so many gods. So which worship is the best?" So Lord Śiva replied,

ārādhanānāṁ sarveṣāṁ viṣṅor ārādhanaṁ param tasmāt parataraṁ devi tadīyānāṁ samarcanam [Padma Purana, Laghu-bhāgavatāmṛta 2.4]

Means "My dear wife, Devī..." Wife is addressed "devi," not by name. The husband should address the wife, "devi." They must be like devi. Devi means goddess. And the wife must address the husband as "lord." This is the system. So he replied, "Devi, ārādhanānāṁ sarveṣām. There are many kinds of recommendation. 'If you want this, you worship this God. If you want this, if you worship...' " These are described in the Bhāgavatam. "So of all different types of worship, the worshiping of Lord Viṣṅu is the best," he said. Ārādhanānāṁ sarveṣāṁ viṣṅor ārādhanaṁ param. And again he said, tasmāt parataraṁ devi: "There is still better worship." What is called? What is that?

Tadīyānāṁ ārādhanānāṁ: "To worship the devotee of Viṣṅu, Vaiṣṅava." Tadīyānāṁ ārādhanānāṁ. That is the best. First of all he said, viṣṅor ārādhanaṁ param: "That is the supreme." Then again he said, tasmāt, "From that," tasmāt parataram, "still better," tadīyānāṁ ārādhanānāṁ, "to worship the devotee of God." So this is very simple method. You cannot approach God. It is not very easy thing. But God's representatives, God's devotee, on behalf of God, who is canvassing, tadīyānām—that worship is better. Tadīyānāṁ ārādhanānāṁ.

Therefore here it is said that bhagavat-priyāṅām. These Pāṅḍavas... Why one should be interested in the Pāṅḍavas' activities, Arjuna's fight with his brothers? There are so many other people, they are fighting with their brother, with their enemies. Why we are not recommended to hear about that thing? Why the Battle of Kurukṣetra? Because Arjuna is there, tadīyānām. We are not interested with..., in any battlefield stories. Why we should be interested? There are so many cats and dogs fighting. So we are not interested. But why you are interested in the Bhagavad-gītā, Battlefield of Kurukṣetra? Tadīyānāṁ samarcanam. Because there is Arjuna. He is fighting.

So to worship God is very good, but to worship the devotee of God is still very good. This is the... That is also admitted in the Bhagavad-gītā, na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu kaścin me priya-kṛttamaḥ [Bg 18.69]. Kṛṣṅa says, yo māṁ mad-bhakteṣu: "Now, this Bhagavad-gītā... Anyone who is preaching this Bhagavad-gītā," na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu kaścin me priya-kṛttamaḥ. Bhagavat-priyāṅām. Priya-kṛt. Priya means dear, very dear. So Kṛṣṅa said that na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu [Bg 18.69]: "Anyone who is preaching the message of Bhagavad-gītā to the suffering people of the world," Kṛṣṅa says, na ca tasmāt priya-kṛt, "nobody is dearer to Me than him."

So how to become very dear to God? Don't try to see God. Even if you see... You can see God everywhere if you have got eyes to see. But the real business is not to see. God wants to see you, what you are working for God. That He wants to see. To see God is not very difficult business. Anyone with eyes to see, he can see God. But to be seen by God, do something by which you can draw the attention of God and He can see you, "Oh, here is My devotee," that is wanted. Let God see you! Don't try to see God. That is foolishness. Let God see you. This is our philosophy.

My Guru Mahārāja used to say that, that "Don't try to see God, but try to do something so that God can see you." This is the philosophy. And whom God will see? As soon as... Just like any business firm, any man who is working very sincerely, it comes to the notice of the master, "Oh, this man is doing very nice." That is wanted. That is wanted. So a devotee is not very much anxious to see God. God is there. Simply... And one who has become devotee, he always sees God. Premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santaḥ sadaiva [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.]

Sadaiva, twenty-four hours he sees. That is not very difficult job. But do something so that God will see you, "Oh, here is... Here is My devotee."

So He... Therefore here it is called, yaḥ śraddhayaitad bhagavat-priyāṅām. The Pāṅḍavas were so dear to Kṛṣṅa. So it is better to hear about the Pāṅḍavas than to hear about Kṛṣṅa. To hear about Kṛṣṅa, people may be very much inclined, but the śāstra says, "To hear about the devotees of Kṛṣṅa is still better." Therefore in the... You chant daily, yasya prasādāt. Sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair uktaḥ. The spiritual master, it is said that "He is directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead." Sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstraiḥ. Ukta, "said."

Sākṣād-dharitvena samasta-śāstrair uktas tathā bhāvyata eva sadbhiḥ: "It is not only said, but it is accepted by sadbhiḥ, those who are actually advanced in spiritual life, sadbhiḥ." Why? Why the spiritual master should be accepted as directly as the Supreme God? Kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya. This priya, again, priyāṅām: "Because he is very, very dear to Kṛṣṅa." Not that because he is worshiped as Kṛṣṅa, therefore he thinks himself Kṛṣṅa and declares, "Now I am Kṛṣṅa." No. Kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya. This priya. Priya is word. So therefore try to become priya of Kṛṣṅa. Do, act in such a way that Kṛṣṅa can understand that you are very dear to Him.

And the very simple thing is that ya idaṁ guhyaṁ mad-bhakteṣv abhidhāsyati. This confidential service, preaching of Bhagavad-gītā... What is that? Bhagavad-gītā preaching essence: sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṅaṁ vraja [Bg 18.66].

[Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.]

Simply go and preach. This very thing. Kṛṣṅa says, man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru [Bg 18.65].

[Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.]

This is Kṛṣṅa's desire. Preach to the world, "Just be Kṛṣṅa conscious." Man-manāḥ. "Just become Kṛṣṅa's devotee." Man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī. "Just worship Kṛṣṅa." Mad-yājī mām... "Just offer your obeisances to Kṛṣṅa." Four words. Then you become a preacher. It is not very difficult to become a preacher and to become a spiritual master. How?

Very simple thing: go and speak what Kṛṣṅa says. That's all. You have nothing to manufacture, Dr. Frog. [laughs] There is no need of manufacturing. We are very safe because we don't manufacture. We simply repeat, parrotlike, what Kṛṣṅa has said. That's all, finished. Kṛṣṅa says, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṅaṁ vraja: "Let aside everything. Just become My devotee, surrendered soul." So we are preaching that. We don't make any compromise. Therefore all people are against me, because "This man simply says, 'Kṛṣṅa.' " Yes. But I cannot say anything more. That's all.

So to become priya, very dear to Kṛṣṅa, is very easy. That is siddhi, perfection. Labdhvā harau bhaktim upaiti siddhim. Perfection, highest perfection: to become dear to Kṛṣṅa. That's all. You become dear to Kṛṣṅa, that is your perfection, highest perfection, supreme perfection. So such easy thing, and such highest perfection. Why people should not accept this? And it is practical. It is... Just last night I was talking with Śrutakīrti that this church, nobody was coming. Therefore they were obliged to sell it off, and we purchased. So the church is the same, building is the same, and you are all Americans. But you did not come before, so that it was to be sold. Now everywhere it is packed up. Why? Because Kṛṣṅa is there. This is practical. This is practical. There is no question of enviousness. It is practical.

In Boston one Christian priest said frankly that "These boys, girls, they are our boys, our girls. Either coming from Christian group or Jew's group, they are, after all, Americans. So they did not care for anything about God. Now they are mad after God. What is this?" This is practical. There is no question of competition. It is practical. Because they are trying. They are trying. Our only business is, "Just become dear to Kṛṣṅa." That's all. Kṛṣṅa consciousness movement means "You are trying to be dear to so many things." Somebody is trying to be dear to his father, to his mother, or to his family, children, or country, community, society, nation. Everyone is trying to be dear. "I will do such-and-such thing for you. Please give me vote. Please make me president." They are trying. And after all, the president also is not dear, neither people is not dear. The real fact becomes disclosed after a few days when the, what is called, face covering, ah, mask, is over. That's all.

So this kind of trying to become dear is no use. It is simply waste of time. So if you try to become dear to Kṛṣṅa, that is siddhi. That is perfection. You are trying to become dear to so many objective. At last, to become dear to a dog, ferocious dog. He does not say anything to the master. That means the master has become dear to him. So we are trying to become dear to somebody. That is our desire, dormant desire. But that is being misplaced. We do not know where to become dear. That we do not know. That is Kṛṣṅa. If you become dear to Kṛṣṅa, that is the highest perfection. That is explained in the Bhagavad-gītā. Manuṣyāṅāṁ sahasreṣu kaścid yatati siddhaye [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.]

Siddhi, this siddhi, perfection. Out of millions and millions of person, one is interested to become perfect. Because this world is imperfect. So everyone is imperfect, all of us. So neither they do know what is perfection.

But here is described, here is perfection. What is that perfection? Yaḥ śraddhayā etad bhagavat-priyāṅāṁ pāṅḍoḥ sutānām iti samprayāṅaṁ śṛṅoti. Śṛṅoti. You simply hear about the Pāṅḍavas. Practically the whole Vedic literature, the Purāṅas, the Mahābhārata especially, those were narration, the Vedic knowledge... Vedic knowledge, directly, it is very difficult to understand. Just like in the Vedānta-sūtra. The sūtra, the code words are there. Athāto brahma jijñāsā: "Now it is the time for inquiring about the Absolute Truth." This is sūtra, code word. But that is described in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, in narration. This is brahma-jijñāsā. The whole Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is brahma-jijñāsā. Athāto brahma jijñāsā. Only this code is being... Therefore Bhāgavata begins, janmādy asya yataḥ anvayād itarataś cārtheṣv abhijñaḥ sva-rāṭ [SB 1.1.1]. Because Vedānta-sūtra says, "The Absolute Truth is that supreme source of everything." So Bhāgavata begins from that word, janmādy asya yataḥ, explaining. Explaining.

So Purāṅa means supplementary to the Vedas, to explain the knowledge. That is Purāṅa. Mahābhārata. Mahābhārata is also explanation of the Vedic knowledge, but through history. Because Vyāsadeva found it that directly to understand Vedic knowledge will be difficult for three classes of men. Trayī na śruti-gocarā. Strī-śūdra-dvija-bandhūnāṁ trayī na śruti-gocarā [SB 1.4.25].

[Out of compassion, the great sage thought it wise that this would enable men to achieve the ultimate goal of life. Thus he compiled the great historical narration called the Mahābhārata for women, laborers and friends of the twice-born.]

Trayī. Trayī means Vedas, dealing with the three guṅas. Traiguṅya-viṣayā vedāḥ. In the Bhagavad-gītā, traiguṅya-viṣayā vedāḥ. Trayī. There are three subject matters in the Vedas. The first subject matter is to know God and what is my relationship with God. This is the first subject matter. Then second subject matter is that what is the ultimate goal of life, and the third subject matter is how to attain it. To know God, my relationship with God, and what is my ultimate goal of life and how to attain it—these three subject matters are Vedic knowledge. That is everywhere. Another subject matter is... Trayī, means Veda is dealing with this material world. There is spiritual knowledge in glance.

Therefore Vyāsadeva, after compiling all Vedic literatures, so many Purāṅas, so many Upaniṣads, Vedānta philosophy and four Vedas, but he was not satisfied. He was not satisfied. So when Nārada Muni, his spiritual master, came, he inquired that "Why you are not satisfied?" So Vyāsadeva said, "My dear sir, yes, as you say, I have done so many activities. I have written so many book. But still, I don't feel any satisfaction. So I do not know why it is. You can direct me. You are my spiritual master." So he said that "You have done, you have labored so hard in writing so many books, but you have not glorified the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Simply ordinary dealings with man to man, how to deal, dharma, artha, kāma, mokṣa [SB 4.8.41, Cc. Ādi 1.90],

[Any person who desires the fruits of the four principles religiosity, economic development, sense gratification and, at the end, liberation, should engage himself in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for worship of His lotus feet yields the fulfillment of all of these.]

how to make people religious, how to develop economic position, how to satisfy senses, how to go to the heavenly planet to enjoy more and..., these things you have described. But you have not described about yena ātmā samprasīdati, by which your ātmā, your soul, will be satisfied. That you have done nothing." You have read in the First Canto, jugupsita-dharma. "You are diverting the attention of the people to the dharma, artha, kāma, mokṣa, never to the bhakti. Then in future, if people are advised, 'Come to the bhakti platform, not on the platform of this dharma, artha, kāma, mokṣa, cātur-varṅyam—they will not take it. So whatever you have done, it is not very good. Better simply try to explain about Bhagavān." That is Bhāgavata. That is Bhāgavatam.

Bhāgavatam means... Bhagavata. Bhagavata means the Supreme Lord, and bhāgavata means about Him, or about His devotees. That is bhāgavata. Because a devotee is called bhāgavata. This is book Bhāgavata, and a devotee is person bhāgavata. So according [to] our Caitanya Mahāprabhu's cult, the Bhāgavata should be studied from the person bhāgavata, not from the professional reciters. No. Therefore Svarūpa Gosvāmī... One... Because when Caitanya Mahāprabhu was present at Jagannātha Purī, many people used to come, present so many literature, so many commentaries, but Caitanya Mahāprabhu will not hear them unless it is passed by His secretary, Svarūpa Dāmodara. First of all Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī will see whether it is written properly, according to siddhānta. Then he will allow. That was the business.

So one brāhmaṅa came. So there was many discrepancies in his writing. So Svarūpa Dāmodara chastised him, that "You do not know how to write. Why you have attempted this?" So he said, bhāgavata paḍā giyā bhāgavata sthāne[?]: "If you want to know about Bhāgavata, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, then you study Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from a person bhāgavatam, whose life is Bhāgavatam. From such person if you read, if you understand Bhāgavata, then you will benefit." It is not a scholarship. Because you know, "ungwang,"[?] that is not the qualification. Bhāgavata should be studied from the person whose life is Bhāgavata. This is the instruction of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu's personal secretary.

So here it is said, yaḥ śraddhayā. And what is that śraddhā?

tac chraddadhānā munayo jñāna-vairāgya-yuktayā paśyanty ātmānaṁ ātmani bhaktyā śruta-gṛhītayā [SB 1.2.12]

[The seriously inquisitive student or sage, well equipped with knowledge and detachment, realizes that Absolute Truth by rendering devotional service in terms of what he has heard from the Vedānta-śruti.]

Bhaktyā śruta-gṛhītayā. You can realize. God realization is possible by a person who is faithful, tac chraddadhānāḥ. And what is that faith? That faith is explained in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta: śraddhā-śabde viśvāsa sudṛḍha niścaya [Cc Madhya 22.62]. One who has been firmly convinced... What is that conviction? Kṛṣṅa says,

sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṅaṁ vraja ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi... [Bg 18.66]

[Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.]

One who has got firm faith in declaration, that "If I become devotee of Kṛṣṅa, if I fully surrender to Kṛṣṅa, then all perfection is there," this is called faith. This is called faith. Not flickering faith: "Let me adopt this Kṛṣṅa consciousness movement, and when there is opportunity, let me go to some rascal who has appeared as Bhagavān." That kind of faith will not help. That will not help. Śraddhā-śabde viśvāsa sudṛḍha niścaya. That is śraddhā, firm faith. It cannot be changed at any cost, at any circumstances. That is called firm faith. If that firm faith is not obtained, then we are still on the imperfection platform. But when there is firm faith, śraddhā, śraddhayā...

Now, if anyone accepts that Pāṅḍava... These Pāṅḍavas, five brothers, son of Mahārāja Paṅḍu, they are very, very dear to Kṛṣṅa. And they are as good or sometimes better than Kṛṣṅa. Because Lord Śiva, authority... There are twelve authorities. Lord Śiva is one of the authorities. Svayambhūr nāradaḥ śambhuḥ [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.]

Śambhu. Śambhu is authority. He says that tasmāt parataraṁ devi tadīyānāṁ samarcanam: "Better worship... Kṛṣṅa worship, Viṣṅu worship is good, but still better worship is to worship the kṛṣṅa-bhaktas." Because he is very dear to Kṛṣṅa. Kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya [Śrī Gurv-aṣṭaka 7].

Why spiritual master is very dear to Kṛṣṅa? Because his only anxiety is how Kṛṣṅa will be known all over the world. That's all. He has no ambition, pounds, shilling, pence. He only wants to know, only wants to see that everyone is devotee of Kṛṣṅa and they are happy.

Thank you very much.

Devotees: Jaya... [end]