TO WHOM IS THE VEDIC KNOWLEDGE REVEALED?

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Just like in our Vedic system, first of all brahmacārī. That brahmacārī system is very nice. Even Kṛṣṇa, God Himself, He has nothing to learn. He is abhijñā. In the Vedas He is described as abhijñā: He knows everything. But just to teach us, He also became a brahmacārī in the Gurukula. Lord Rāmacandra, He also accepted a guru, Vasiṣṭha.

So that is our Vedic system. Anybody may be anything, but the process is tad vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet (MU 1.2.12): in order to learn the value of life, spiritual value of life, one must go to a guru. Tad vijñānārtham. In order to understand the spiritual value of life one must go to a guru. Gurum evābhigacchet. What is that guru? Śrotriyaṁ brahma-niṣṭham: “He is well learned in Vedic literature,” and brahma-niṣṭham, “and firm faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

These are the two qualification of guru. He must know all the Vedic conclusion, śrotriyam; not that he has to read, but he must hear from the authoritative sources. Just like Arjuna is hearing from Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is the most authoritative personality. So similarly, everyone has to hear either from Kṛṣṇa or from His bona fide representative. That is śrotriyam. And the result will be that after becoming student of such bona fide guru, one will be firmly fixed up in God consciousness. That is the result, firmly fixed up.

Now, these boys from foreign countries . . . according to our geographical arrangement, they are foreigners. But we don’t see anything foreign. We see every land belongs to Kṛṣṇa and everyone is part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa. So we have no such distinction. But still, from materialistic point of view, these boys and girls, they, three or four years ago they did not know what is this word Kṛṣṇa.

PRABHUPADA IS THE MOST COMPASSIONATE SOUL IN THE ENTIRE WORLD

By Niraj Bidawatka

🔔🔔🔔

Today is Prabhupada’s disappearance day. This is my offering in the honour of Prabhupāda.

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Dear Srila Prabhupada,

Please accept my humble obeisances.

Your Divine Grace is the most compassionate soul in this world, who for the well-being of the masses, did not care for Your own personal comfort. For eleven years Your Divine Grace continuously travelled around the world, which is extremely strainful and tiring. You had nothing to gain personally.

One may argue that even businessmen and politicians are travelling vigorously but they do so for their personal benefit. In Your case, You had no personal interest. You had nothing to gain because Krishna was already firmly in Your grip. The karmis travel for their own pleasure and for amassing wealth but Your Divine Grace went around the globe to distribute Your own wealth, which You possessed. In order to do this, every third day you had to adapt to new living conditions in a new city and in a new room with a different time-zone, which is extremely difficult, especially in advancing old age. Sometimes, while travelling You had to spend entire nights and long hours waiting on the airports. You endured such hardships so that the fallen souls could be rescued from the clutches of maya.

In the beginning, Your Divine Grace was single-handedly feeding two dozen students and You were cooking, serving, cleaning and washing the pots all by Yourself without any helping hand from any of Your students. You had no regular income and still You were feeding prasadam to so many people so that they may get Krishna in the form of prasadam.

You were staying blissfully in the holy Vrindaban dham but You gave up Your comforts so that the fallen souls could be benefited. This melts my heart. Nobody else could do what You did for the fallen souls.

Jai Srila Prabhupāda.
Hare Krishna.

Your fallen servant,
Niraj

VYASA PUJA OFFERING TO SRILA PRABHUPADA – 2022

All glories to Srila Prabhupāda

You have saved me from going to the darkest regions of hell, which I was destined to suffer on account of my extremely sinful activities. You came at the right time to rescue me. Your Divine Grace saved me from the word jugglery of the speculative scholars and delivered me the sublime essence of the Vedic literatures in a very simple and easy-to-understand language. Srila Prabhupada, this is Your USP – You present the highest knowledge effortlessly without any ostentatious show of scholarship. Though Your Divine Grace is the greatest scholar and the greatest devotee, You never claimed to be so and You have very mercifully associated with the fallen souls in order to deliver them. O Srila Prabhupāda, You are humility personified and a true example of “trnad api sunicena.”

I beg from you to bless me with a small fragment of your humility so that I may progress more on the path shown by you.

Your fallen servant,
Niraj

CRUEL DOCTORS

Tamala Krsna: Oh, one girl now . . . There’s a devotee named Madhusudana. You may remember one of your disciples, his name is Madhusudana. Anyway, his cousin has joined us in New York. So this boy, he’s married to a girl who was the chief nurse for the biggest neurosurgeon in America, who operated on Kennedy. A very big man. So she told us something about the medical profession, some examples. She said the American doctors are extremely cruel, and one time she . . .

Prabhupada: Cruel they must be. They’re eating meat, raksasas.

Tamala Krsna: She was describing that one time they were all looking at this x-ray of one of the patients who had had severe pain. And inside the x-ray they saw that during the operation they had left the scissors and scalpel in the man’s body. And all the doctors were standing there laughing, as if it was a big joke. They thought it was a big joke. For a long time this patient had had much pain in the side, and he did not know why. Then they took x-ray, and they found a scissors and a scalpel left inside, and the doctors thought it was a big joke.

Prabhupada: Then again operated.

Tamala Krsna: Yes, another operation. Then another thing they were describing that there was a patient who was dying. There was no chance of his recovery, but still, in order to get . . . The man was a big man. So the television was covering because he was an important political figure. So the doctor performed this big brain operation, even though there was no purpose whatsoever, so that he could get advertised on the television as a very important doctor. And at one point he said, “Now bring in the television,” and he cut the man’s head and did a whole operation for no purpose at all. The person died anyway. But he was given advertisement that he was the most important surgeon. And they talk amongst themselves. She knew all this.

KRISHNA IS THE SUPREME CONTROLLER BUT YET HE IS UNDER THE CONTROL OF HIS DEVOTEES

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedānta Swami Prabhupāda

Translation: “Mahārāja Parīkṣit heard that out of His causeless mercy Lord Kṛṣṇa, or Viṣṇu, who is universally obeyed, rendered all kinds of service to the malleable sons of Pāṇḍu by accepting posts ranging from chariot driver to president to messenger, friend, night watchman, etc., according to the will of the Pāṇḍavas, obeying them like a servant and offering obeisances like one younger in years. When he heard this, Mahārāja Parīkṣit became overwhelmed with devotion to the lotus feet of the Lord.” (SB 1.16.16)

Prabhupāda: So this is the exchange of love between the Lord and the devotee. It is not Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead… He’s master, the Supreme, but we may not calculate the master and the Supreme by our material experience. Just like in our material experience we see the master is always master and the servant is always servant. But in the spiritual world, sometimes the master is the servant also. This is called Absolute, Absolute world. Here there is distinction between master and the servant, but in the spiritual world there is no such distinction. Sometimes the servant is rendering service to the Lord, and sometimes the Lord is serving to the master. Just like Kṛṣṇa, when He was playing with His friends, so they were sporting, and in the sporting there is defeat and victory. So if some of the friends would become victorious, then the challenge was that one who will be defeated, the victorious person will ride on his shoulder. That was the challenge. So when Kṛṣṇa became defeated, the other boys, they rose up and got up on the shoulder of Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa had to carry them.

Copyright The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International Inc – www.krishna.com

So although Kṛṣṇa is master, but He became a servant. Just like Kṛṣṇa, when He was playing as a child of Mother Yaśodā, so He was taken with stick, “Kṛṣṇa, if you become again very naughty, then see the stick.” So Kṛṣṇa used to cry. There are very nice verses in the Kuntī’s prayer, that “The whole universe is afraid of Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa is afraid by the stick of Mother Yaśodā.” (laughter) Just see. This is Kṛṣṇa. This is spiritual world. When Kṛṣṇa was a little boy playing, Nanda Mahārāja, father of Kṛṣṇa… Yaśodā and Nanda Mahārāja, they are foster father and mother. Real mother, father, is Vasudeva and Devakī. So Nanda Mahārāja came within the house and saw little Kṛṣṇa, “Yes.” He was playing. So Nanda Mahārāja challenged Yaśodāmāyi, “Your Kṛṣṇa can do something work.” “Oh, yes, why not? He can do anything.” Immediately Yaśodā-mātā, Mother Yaśodā, ordered Kṛṣṇa, “Just carry the wooden slipper of Your father and go there.” So Kṛṣṇa immediately took the slipper on His head and brought it to Mahārāja Nanda. Then Nanda Mahārāja said, “Oh, your Kṛṣṇa is very good. Come on, come on, come on.” These were, that, the childhood pastimes of Kṛṣṇa was enjoyed by the foster father and mother.

Bharat – The Unsung Brother

By Uma Rajaram

This is the story of Bharat, the very submissive brother of Lord Rama and his unique story of perfection in devotion unto Lord Rama in pāda-sevanam mode.

Bharat’s father, King Dasharatha, who ruled Ayodhya, belonged to an impressive lineage/dynasty of King Raghu who believed in the maxim ‘prāṇa jāye par vachan na jāye’. Rama, the principled eldest son and heir to the kingdom of Ayodhya, was exiled for 14 years with a heavy heart, under compulsion, by his own father, King Dasaratha. Rama was a father figure to his brothers and all of them loved and respected him dearly. Unable to bear the consequences of his own decision-making King Dashratha passed away soon after.

Message was sent to Kaikeya, where Bharat and Shatrugana had gone to visit their maternal grandfather’s home, and were summoned to Ayodhya.

Kaikeyi goes on to tell the whole story. The ever principled Bharat enquires. What wrong did my brother do? What mistake did he do for which he is punished? Thunders Bharat….

After fully listening to her and turning around in the direction Rama left he pays his respectful obeisance’s and first asked for forgiveness. Then like a chained animal he screams….. He asked her why did she do this? He questions his mother that who called her Sulochini and Sumukhi.He felt she should be addressed as Kumukhi and Kulochani.

Bharat is a man of character who upholds dharma even in difficult times.

When the time for coronation arrives Bharat declines the proposal. He felt the most virtuous person has to be the king and he felt he was inferior to Lord Rama. He also felt his mother s act was adharmic and tainted the kingdom with his father’s blood. He convinced all that he will not accept the kingdom.

I want to bring Rama back. I will go to the forest and bring Rama back. I will win Rama’s confidence. He invited Ayodhya wasis to come to the forest. With a grand cavalcade of 9000 elephants, 60000 chariot and 10000 foot soldiers and citizens he set out to get virtuous and the glorious Rama back.

He reached the river Ganges. There he met the boatman Guha a devotee He arranged for the boats for crossing.

Next day morning he decides to go to Chitrakoot. He decides to sleep on a bed of grass just like Rama and Sita and eat roots and fruits and wear crude bark clothes

Bharat is on his way to reach Chitrakoot.Laxman spots him from afar from a higher vantage point.Laxman at once is angered as he thinks herein comes Bharat who is now intoxicated with power and is likely to fight with Lord Ram.

In complete contrast is Lord Ram who is peaceful and smiling. On Laxman’s recurrent fears he says I can never doubt Bharat. The great Lord Ram says anybody accusing Bharat I will take it personally as an attack on me.

Bharat in the meantime arrives wearing clothes of bark and falls at the lotus feet of Lord Ramachandra. He embraces his dear brother.

Rama on meeting congratulates him and embraces him. Rama asks him why did you leave father alone. When Bharat informs him of his father’s demise and Rama breaks down.

Bharat now convinces Rama to come back and take the kingdom as he was the rightful heir. He says mother asked something, father gave something…. …why should I suffer.

To this Rama gave a very nice reply. He said we are all puppets in the hand of destiny and dharma and everything is temporary. The king’s orders have to be carried out and that is Dharma..

Bharat later accepts Rama’s decision with maturity wisdom and submissive attitude. He gives the golden sandals to Lord Rama to step in. He proposes to coronate the sandals as Rama’s deputy during his absence in exile.

In due course Bharat the very devoted and dutiful brother of Lord Rama stays in Nandigram while he worships the Padukas of Lord Ram. Daily he reports his small and big achievements of his governance at Ayodhya to the Padukas placed on the throne.

His lifestyle is very simple. He sleeps two feet beneath the earth as he thinks he is junior to Lord Rama.Many nights he would cry whole night out of intense feelings of separation from his dear brother . His diet too was extremely simple.

He however continues to govern the kingdom of Ayodhya expanding it in four directions while he waits for Lord Ram’s exile to be over and for him to return.As far as he was concerned he was merely a custodian of the kingdom of Ayodhya in Lord Rama’s absence

DOES THE BHAGAVAD GITA MENTION ABOUT THE SUPERSOUL’S EXISTENCE IN THE HEART?

READER’S QUESTION:

Hare Krishna Prabhuji,

After reading Chapter 2 of Bhagavad Gita, I have two queries out of curiosity:

1. In Text-17 of Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita, the soul is said to pervade the whole body but Purport says it is located in the heart.

2. Besides, I cannot find Bhagavad Gita saying that there is a Supersoul besides the soul. But in the Purport it is said that both, the soul and the Supersoul are present in each heart giving reference of Katha and Mundaka Upanishad. Why Bhagavad Gita does not give indication of presence of both soul and Supersoul but says only soul. Or am I in ignorance?

Can you please quell my queries!!!

Thank you.
Rajeev Gupta

EDITOR’S ANSWER

Query No. 1: In Text-17 of Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita, the soul is said to pervade the whole body but Purport says it is located in the heart.

Answer: The soul is situated in the region of the heart but its consciousness pervades the entire body. Just as the sun is located at one place but its sunshine pervades the entire universe or the lamp is situated in one corner of the room but its light pervades the entire room.

Since the consciousness is pervading throughout the body, we feel pain and pleasure. When somebody pinches us, we feel pain and when someone caresses we feel pleasure. Such feelings are due to the presence of the soul.

WHAT IS THE USE OF KRISHNA? WE CAN VERY WELL PROTECT OURSELVES

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

So we should remain tad-adhīna, always under Kṛṣṇa. That is our perfection. If we remain . . . just like in Western countries, they rebel. If a woman is advised to remain under the control of the husband, that is insult to them. They cannot tolerate it. But actually we see in India that a wife who remains under the guidance of the husband, she is happy. That is a practical fact. And therefore in the Manu-saṁhitā it is advised, na striyam svatantram arhati: Women should always be protected. That is . . . protection does not mean negligence. No. Protection means to give her all facilities. That is protection. Just like father gives protection to the child but that does not mean neglecting. Similarly, a woman should be protected. It is not that neglecting. They misunderstand. In the Western countries maybe there is misbehavior, but actually we have seen, still going on in India, the woman is . . . that is the ideal given by Lord Rāmacandra, how woman is given protection by the husband. Sītādevī was kidnapped. Rāmacandra is the Supreme Lord; He could have married many thousands of Sītā. But as the dutiful husband, to rescue one wife He killed the whole family of Rāvaṇa. This is protection. He killed the whole family of him. He became . . . this is. So woman requires protection, and the husband is responsible to give protection, the father is responsible to give protection, and the elderly children, they are responsible to give protection.

His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda

KRISHNA CANNOT BE COMPARED WITH ANYONE ELSE – HE IS THE SUPREME LORD

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Lord. That is the verdict of the śāstra. In the Brahma-saṁhitā it is said. In the Bhāgavata also it is said:

ete cāṁśa-kalāḥ puṁsaḥ

kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam

indrāri-vyākulaṁ lokaṁ

mṛḍayanti yuge yuge

(SB 1.3.28)

So try to understand. And Kṛṣṇa said, mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat (BG 7.7): “No more superior.” You don’t misunderstand that there is something superior to Kṛṣṇa. That is rascaldom. So long we shall remain such rascal we shall not surrender to Kṛṣṇa. Therefore Kṛṣṇa said, Na māṁ duṣkṛtino mūḍhāḥ prapadyante narādhamāḥ (BG 7.15). Prapadyante. Who does not surrender to Kṛṣṇa? He’ll say that, “There are so many big, big person, and they do not surrender to Kṛṣṇa. So they are all mūḍhas?” Yes, they are all mūḍhas. That is the verdict of the śāstra. We cannot make any compromise. That is not possible, against the principle of the śāstra. If we keep one competitor of Kṛṣṇa, then we are mūḍha. Here it is said, advitīya. Not that there is another Kṛṣṇa, dini Kṛṣṇa, no. There is no . . . there cannot be any competitor of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore Kṛṣṇa says, mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat: “There is no more anyone, bigger authority than Me.” And here is also, Caitanya-caritāmṛta kār, Kavirāja Gosvāmī, says, advitīya: no competitor, sir.

Here we are all Gods, the rascaldom that, “Everyone is God.” But there is competition of Gods. But in case of Kṛṣṇa there is no such possibility, no competition. Nobody can compete with Kṛṣṇa. When Kṛṣṇa was present He showed it by practical example. Nobody could compete Him in either knowledge, either strength or love affairs or any field of activities. There was no competition. Now, Kṛṣṇa, when He was present, He married sixteen thousand wives. Where is competition? One cannot marry even sixteen wives—and he becomes God. Just see the foolishness. Even from materialistic view, who is that God who can marry sixteen thousand wives? Is there any God, so-called rascal God? Is there any possibility? Kṛṣṇa showed, yes.

GOD AND THE LIVING ENTITIES ARE DIFFERENT INDIVIDUAL PERSONS

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Kṛṣṇa says in the Bhagavad-gītā, vedāhaṁ samatītāni (BG 7.26). He knows past, present and future. He says, therefore, that “All these, My dear Arjuna—yourself, Myself and all the soldiers and kings who have assembled here—it is not that we were not existing before. We are existing at the present moment also, and in future also we shall continue to exist.” And how we shall exist? Individually. Otherwise Kṛṣṇa would have said that in future, when we become liberated, then we shall become one. No. He says: “Even in future also, we shall continue to exist like this. You are individual. You are Arjuna. I am Kṛṣṇa. And all other living entities . . .” That is real understanding.

Copyright The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International Inc – www.krishna.com

Every one of us living entities, we are all individual person, and Kṛṣṇa is also individual person. This is knowledge. Nityo nityānāṁ cetanaś cetanānām eko yo bahūnāṁ vidadhāti kāmān (Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.2.13). Kṛṣṇa, or God, He’s also nitya, eternal. We are also nitya, eternal. Na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre (BG 2.20). We do not die. That is the preliminary knowledge of spiritual understanding, that “I am not this body; I am spirit soul, ahaṁ brahmāsmi, but I am individual.” Nityo nityānām. Kṛṣṇa is individual person; I am also individual person. When Kṛṣṇa says that sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja (BG 18.66), it does not mean that I become one with Kṛṣṇa or merge into the existence of Kṛṣṇa. I keep my individuality, Kṛṣṇa keeps His individuality, but I agree to abide by His order.