Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.9.28

Anantarām Śāstrījī: Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. [Prabhupāda and devotees repeat] [chants verse; Prabhupāda and devotees respond] [break]

evaṁ janaṁ nipatitaṁ prabhavāhi-kūpe kāmābhikāmam anu yaḥ prapatan prasaṅgāt krtvātmasāt surarṣiṅā bhagavān gṛhītaḥ so 'haṁ kathaṁ nu visṛje tava bhṛtya-sevām [SB 7.9.28]

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṅa: [chants synonyms; Prabhupāda and devotees respond]

[05:12]

Translation: "My dear Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, on account of my association with material desires one after another, gradually I have now fallen in the blind well full of snakes. But Your servant Nārada Muni kindly accepted me as his disciple and instructed me how to achieve this transcendental position. Therefore my first duty is to serve him. And how can I leave it?"

Prabhupāda:

So this is Vaiṣṅava paddhati. Tava bhṛtya-sevām. Vaiṣṅava does not approach Kṛṣṅa directly. That is not Vaiṣṅava. This is impudency. You cannot approach Kṛṣṅa. Caitanya Mahāprabhu has taught us, gopī-bhartuḥ pada-kamalayor dāsa-dāsa-dāsānudāsaḥ [Cc Madhya 13.80].

[I am not a brāhmaṅa, I am not a kṣatriya, I am not a vaiśya or a śūdra. Nor am I a brahmacārī, a householder, a vānaprastha or a sannyāsī. I identify Myself only as the servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṅa, the maintainer of the gopīs. He is like an ocean of nectar, and He is the cause of universal transcendental bliss. He is always existing with brilliance.’]

This is the process. You have to... As you have to receive the perfect knowledge by the paramparā system—imaṁ vivasvate yogaṁ proktavān aham avyayam [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.]

similarly, you have to approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead through the paramparā system.

śrī-caitanya-mano-'bhīṣṭaṁ sthāpitaṁ yena bhū-tale svayaṁ rūpaḥ kadā mahyaṁ dadāti sva-padāntikam

We have to approach in that way. Śrī-caitanya-mano 'bhīṣṭam. The Gosvāmīs, they established the mission of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Therefore we have to receive the mercy of the six Gosvāmīs, and we have to receive the mercy of the six Gosvāmīs through my spiritual master. Bhṛtyasya bhṛtyaḥ. Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura says, rūpa-raghunātha pade, haibe ākuti, kabe hāma bujhabo, śrī yugala-pīriti [Lālasāmayī Prārthanā 4].

[When shall I be very much eager to study the books left by the Six Gosvāmīs? One has to learn of the conjugal loving affairs of Rādhā-Kṛṣṅa through the teachings of these Six Gosvamīs.]

Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, he is also ācārya. He is speaking, "When I shall be eager to serve the lotus feet of Rūpa Gosvāmī, Sanātana Gosvāmī," rūpa-raghunātha-pade, "six Gosvāmīs, beginning from Rūpa Gosvāmī to Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī?" Śrī-rūpa sanātana bhaṭṭa-raghunātha, śrī-jīva gopāla-bhaṭṭa dāsa-raghunātha.

So we have to go through the Gosvāmīs and the paramparā system. Then we can understand. Rūpa-raghunātha pade, haibe ākuti, kabe hāma bujhabo, śrī yugala-pīriti. Generally, some professional men, they chant rādhā-kṛṣṅa-praṅaya-vikṛtir. That is not the way. You cannot understand the loving affairs of Rādhā and Kṛṣṅa without understanding the path given by the Gosvāmīs. If you surpass in this way, avoid the way of approaching Rādhā-Kṛṣṅa by reading Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, The Nectar of Devotion, the Teachings of Lord Caitanya—all of a sudden if you become an upstart to understand Rādhā-Kṛṣṅa love—then you'll misunderstand. That is the way. And people, they try to understand Rādhā-Kṛṣṅa love affairs, jumping all of a sudden. This is not the way. One should be very much eager to understand. Rādhā-kṛṣṅa-praṅaya-vikṛtir hlādinī śaktir asmād ekātmānāv api deha-bhedaṁ gatau tau, śrī caitanya-prakaṭam adhunā tad-dvayaṁ caikyam āptaṁ rādhā-kṛṣṅa-bhāva-dyuti [Cc Ādi 1.5]. There is a... This is the verse by Jīva Gosvāmī that "Rādhā-Kṛṣṅa is one. Rādhārāṅī is the pleasure potency of Kṛṣṅa." Parasya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate sva-bhāvikī jñāna-bala-kriyā ca [Cc Madhya 13.65, purport]. Kṛṣṅa is the Supreme Being. When He wants to enjoy pleasure, no material things can supply that. That is not possible. He expands His own energy, and by His own energy He gets the pleasure. So Rādhārāṅī is not ordinary, as the sahajiyās, those who take Rādhā-Kṛṣṅa love affair very easily... No. Then you'll misunderstand. Rādhā-kṛṣṅa-praṅaya-vikṛtir āhlādini śaktiḥ. It is the expansion of pleasure potency of Kṛṣṅa.

So this science one has to learn from the authorities: Rūpa Gosvāmī, Sanātana Gosvāmī and others. Then it is possible to understand what is loving affairs of Rādhā-Kṛṣṅa.

rūpa-raghunātha pade rahu mora āśa prārthanā koroye sadā narottamo dāsa

We should not jump over. There are so many literatures, they place Rādhārāṅī as ordinary baladar[?] woman because they do not understand. So therefore Sanātana Gosvāmī has forbidden strictly, that avaiṣṅava-mukhodgīrṅaṁ pūtaṁ-hari-kathāmṛtam, śravaṅaṁ na kartavyam [Padma Purāṅa]: "Don't hear from the professional men who are not situated in the Vaiṣṅava behavior." One must be..., behavior in Vaiṣṅava. Sadācāra-sampannaḥ. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura has warned that "Don't mix it with Vaiṣṅava who is not well trained up, well behaved." You can offer him respect. A Vaiṣṅava offers respect even to the ant. That is another thing. But he has warned, "Don't mix with them, these professional, so-called Vaiṣṅava, sahajiyās." This is warned. Avaiṣṅava-mukhodgīrṅaṁ pūta-hari-kathāmṛtam, śravaṅaṁ na kartavyam: "You should not hear." "Eh? What is the wrong there? The Kṛṣṅa-kathā is there." No, Kṛṣṅa-kathā is there just like milk is there, but if it is touched by the lips of a serpent, it is no more to be taken. It has become poison. So unless one is situated as pure Vaiṣṅava in his dealing, in his behavior, inside and outside, he should not become a preacher because it will not be effective; neither one should hear from such person. But people in general, they cannot understand, but those who are preaching, they must be very sincere, the same way, rūpa-raghunātha pade, haibe ākuti. They should read the literatures, the instruction, just like Upadeśāmṛta, The Nectar of Instruction. We should follow, strictly follow. Then pṛthivīṁ sa śiṣyāt [Upadeśāmṛta 1]. Then you'll be able to preach and make disciples all over the world. This is the injunction. That is called gosvāmī. Don't be cheap preacher, cheap guru. No. That is not good. It is not possible.

So Prahlāda Mahārāja is one of the mahājana, authorities. How he has gotten this authority? Here it is said, so 'haṁ kathaṁ nu visṛje tava bhṛtya-sevām. So everyone must have his position by giving service to the spiritual master. And who is spiritual master? Tava bhṛtya: who is a servant of Kṛṣṅa.

yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo yasyāprasādād na gatiḥ kuto 'pi kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya

Guru is described, yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādaḥ: "By the mercy of guru one can achieve the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead." Yasya prasāda. Yasya aprasādāt: "If guru is not pleased, then he has no place." Na gatiḥ kuto 'pi.

sākṣād dharitvena samasta-śāstrair uktas tathā bhāvyata eva sadbhiḥ kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya

Why the spiritual master position is so great? Because he is very, very confidential servant of Kṛṣṅa; therefore his position is so great.

So this is the process: tava bhṛtya-sevā. We have to... Ādau gurvāśrayam. First beginning of Vaiṣṅava life is to accept guru, spiritual master, ādau gurvāśrayam, then other things. Because who will teach you? So we have to approach a pure Vaiṣṅava as spiritual master, follow his instruction. And what is his instruction? His instruction is as he was instructed by his spiritual master. He does not invent instruction. This is instruction. The pure Vaiṣṅava, he does not invent anything new. Yāre dekha tāre kaha kṛṣṅa upadeśa [Cc Madhya 7.128].

[Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṅa as they are given in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land.]

Caitanya Mahāprabhu says that "You all, every one of you, become guru, everyone." Āmāra ājñāya guru haña tāra ei deśa. Wherever you are living, it doesn't require that you have to travel all over the world. If you have no such capacity, it doesn't matter. You remain wherever you are, but you become a guru. "How I become a guru?" Yāre dekha tāre kaha kṛṣṅa upadeśa [Cc Madhya 7.128]: "Very simple thing. You instruct only what is instructed by Kṛṣṅa. That's all." Don't invent. Don't become overintelligent. Remain a poor fool. Guru more mūrkha dekhi śāsana, karila śāsana [Cc Ādi 7.71]. Caitanya Mahāprabhu also presenting Himself as a great fool, because He says, "My Guru Mahārāja found Me a great fool." He was a fool? He was Kṛṣṅa Himself. But one should remain always a fool before Guru Mahārāja. That is progress. If he thinks, "I know more than my Guru Mahārāja," then he's fallen. Yasyāprasādād na gatiḥ kuto 'pi. Then he is finished.

So we should always remain a fool before the spiritual master, even though one is incarnation. Not that "I am incarnation; therefore I have become God." No. Even if you are incarnation, you should remain a humble servant. That is that: tava bhṛtya-sevām. Prahlāda Mahārāja is... Daityānāṁ prahlādo 'smi. The Supreme Personality of Godhead incarnates in different societies, different platforms, and He says, "Amongst the Daityas..." Amongst the Daityas, there are also devotees. So prahlādo 'smi. Prahlāda Mahārāja is saktyāveṣāvatāra, but still, he says that kathāṁ nu visṛje tava bhṛtya-sevām: "How can I give up this service?" Prahlāda Mahārāja does not say, "My Lord, Nṛsiṁhadeva, I am now so competent. Give me Your service directly." No. Tava bhṛtya-sevām: "First of all give me the opportunity to serve Your servant." This is Vaiṣṅavism.

So why it is required to serve Vaiṣṅava? If you want to get relief from this conditional life, then you have to serve Vaiṣṅava. Chādiyā vaiṣṅava sevā, nistāra payeche keba [Prema-bhakti-candrikā]. This is the... "Who has got," I mean to say, "liberty from this entanglement of material existence"—chādiyā vaiṣṅava sevā—"if you do not serve a pure Vaiṣṅava?" Mahat-sevāṁ dvāram āhur vimukteḥ [SB 5.5.2]. This is everywhere. If you want liberation from this material entanglement, then you must take to mahat-sevāṁ dvāram āhur vimukteḥ. You must. There is no alternative. Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta jijñāsuḥ śreya uttamam [SB 11.3.21]:

[Therefore any person who seriously desires real happiness must seek a bona fide spiritual master and take shelter of him by initiation. The qualification of the bona fide guru is that he has realized the conclusions of the scriptures by deliberation and is able to convince others of these conclusions. Such great personalities, who have taken shelter of the Supreme Godhead, leaving aside all material considerations, should be understood to be bona fide spiritual masters.]

"If you are actually interested to inquire about the transcendental subject matter, you must accept a guru." Tasmād guruṁ prapadyeta.

tad viddhi praṅipātena paripraśnena sevayā upadekṣyanti tad jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva-darśinam [Bg 4.34]

[Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.]

So these are the ways. You cannot understand by your erudite scholarship what is Kṛṣṅa. It is not possible. Then Kṛṣṅa would have instructed Bhagavad-gītā to..., finding out a very great Vedāntist. No. Kṛṣṅa found Arjuna. What was Arjuna? Arjuna was a gṛhastha. Arjuna was a kṣatriya, an ordinary soldier. A soldier is not expected to become a Vedāntist. We recruit soldiers not from the Vedāntists' group. One who can fight, one who has got strength—we recruit soldier. So Arjuna was not very qualified in that way to understand Bhagavad-gītā or instruction, but Kṛṣṅa said, "Yes, I will speak..., speak to you. This Bhagavad-gītā, the paramparā is lost, so I shall again speak the old thing to you." "Why to me?" Bhakto 'si priyo 'si me [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.]

"Because you are My bhakta. You are My priya." So by scholarship one cannot understand Bhagavad-gītā. That is not possible. One must become a servant of the servant of Kṛṣṅa [Cc Madhya 13.80].

Then one can understand what is Bhagavad-gītā. Otherwise it is not possible.

So evaṁ janaṁ nipatitaṁ prabhavāhi-kūpe. Ahi kūpa. Ahi means the serpent. So we have got these serpents surrounded by us; surrounded, all round. What are the serpents? The senses. Everyone, we are in the dark well surrounded by serpents, this body. Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura has sung this song, śarīra avidyā-jāl, jaḍendriya tāhe kāla. Kāla means serpents, kāla-sarpa. Kāla-sarpa, it can bite at any moment and finish you. We are being bitten every moment. It is Kṛṣṅa's grace that we are living. Otherwise, our senses are so dangerous that it can bring me down at any moment, kāla-sarpa. There are many places, kāla-sarpa-paṭalī protkhāta-daṁstrāyate. One devotee says, "Yes, I am surrounded by kāla-sarpa, the serpent, that's nice; but I can break the teeth." But if kāla-sarpa is the... What is called, that? Fangs? If they are broken—they are taken out—they are no more dangerous. Dangerous. They are dangerous so long the fangs are there. So protkhāta-daṁstrāyate. Śrī Prabodānanda Sarasvatī said, kāla-sarpa-paṭalī protkhāta-daṁstrāyate [Caitanya-candrāmṛta 5]: "Yes, I have got my kāla-sarpas, but by the grace of Caitanya Mahāprabhu I have broken the fangs, so it is no more fearful." How it is possible? By the mercy of Caitanya Mahāprabhu it is possible. Just like you can break the fangs of the... There are expert snake charmer. Because this poison is required for some medicinal purpose, so they take it out. Then it is useless. But they again grow. The body is so made of the snake, even if you take once the fangs, again it grows. That is stated here, that how it is possible? Kāmābhikāmam anu yaḥ prapatan prasaṅgāt. Once it may be broken, but if you have bad association, then again it will grow. Kāmābhikāmam. One kāma, one lusty desire, produces another lusty desire. In this way, one after another, this is going on. That is the cause of our repeated birth and death. Bhūtva bhūtvā pralīyate [Bg 8.19]. So therefore, if we want to enter into bhakti platform, then we should give up this. Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam [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.]

Anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam.

So "How it can be zero? I am a living being. How it can be zero? I am always thinking, planning. I have got so many desires." They say... One who does not know what is the position of a living being, they say that "Give up desires. Desireless." That is not possible. Desirelessness is not possible. Because I am a living being, I must desire. Therefore desires may be purified. That is wanted. You cannot make the desires zero. That is not possible. Sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ tat-paratvena nirmalam [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.]

Now our desires are there according to my designated position. "I am Hindu," "I am Muslim." "Why shall I take Kṛṣṅa consciousness?" Because I am designated, I have taken this designation, "I am Hindu," "I am Muslim," "I am Christian." Therefore we cannot take Kṛṣṅa consciousness. "Oh, this is... Kṛṣṅa is Hindu God. Kṛṣṅa is Indian. Why shall I take Kṛṣṅa?" No. "You have to be desireless" means you have to purify your this false understanding that "I am Hindu," "I am Muslim," "I am Christian," "I am Indian," "I am this." This has to be purified. One has to understand that "I am gopī-bhartur pada-kamalayor dāsa [Cc Madhya 13.80]. I am the servant of the servant of the servant of Kṛṣṅa."

That is purification. Then desire. Then you'll not desire anything except Kṛṣṅa's service. That is perfection. When you come to that platform, that you desire nothing but to serve Kṛṣṅa, always, twenty-four hours, then you are liberated. Sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ tat-paratvena nirmalam [Cc Madhya 19.170]. Then you become nirmalam, without any material tinge. In that position only, hṛṣīkena hṛṣīkeśa-sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate. Then... My senses will be there; not that I become senseless nonsense. No. My senses are there. They will act. They'll act for simply to serve Kṛṣṅa. That is wanted. So that can be possible when you are trained up by the servant of Kṛṣṅa. Otherwise it is not possible.

Thank you very much.

Devotees: Jaya Prabhupāda. [end]