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

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.

I AM TRYING TO TEACH WHAT YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN

His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krṣṇa Consciousness

Reporter: What do you try and teach, sir?

Prabhupāda: I am trying to teach what you have forgotten.

Devotees: Haribol! Hare Kṛṣṇa! (laughter)

Reporter: Which is what?

ONE WHO TAKES BIRTH IN INDIA, GETS FULL FACILITY TO DEVELOP THE HUMAN FORM OF LIFE

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktvedanta Swami Prabhupada

The tract of land south of the Himalaya Mountains is the land of India, which was known as Bhārata-varṣa. When a living entity takes birth in Bhārata-varṣa he is considered to be most fortunate. Indeed, Caitanya Mahāprabhu has stated:

bhārata-bhūmite haila manuṣya-janma yāra

janma sārthaka kari’ kara para-upakāra

(CC Adi 9.41)

Thus whoever takes birth in the land of Bhārata-varṣa attains all the facilities of life. He may take advantage of all these facilities for both material and spiritual advancement and thus make his life successful. After attaining the goal of life, one may distribute his knowledge and experience all over the world for humanitarian purposes. In other words, one who takes birth in the land of Bhārata-varṣa by virtue of his past pious activities gets full facility to develop the human form of life. In India, the climatic condition is such that one can live very peacefully without being disturbed by material conditions. Indeed, during the time of Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira or Lord Rāmacandra, people were free from all anxieties. There was not even extreme cold or extreme heat. The three kinds of miserable conditions-adhyātmika, adhibhautika and adhidaivika (miseries inflicted by the body and mind itself, those inflicted by other living entities, and natural disturbances)—were all absent during the reign of Lord Rāmacandra or Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira. But at present, compared to other countries on earth, India is artificially disturbed. Despite these material disturbances, however, the country’s culture is such that one can easily attain the goal of life—namely salvation, or liberation from material bondage. Thus in order to take birth in India one must have performed many pious activities in a past life.

PROSTITUTES ARE NECESSARY CITIZENS FOR THE PROPER UPKEEP OF SOCIETY

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Srimad Bhagavatam | Canto 1 | Chapter 11

TEXT 19

vāramukhyāś ca śataśo

yānais tad-darśanotsukāḥ

lasat-kuṇḍala-nirbhāta-

kapola-vadana-śriyaḥ

TRANSLATION

At the same time, many hundreds of well-known prostitutes began to proceed on various vehicles. They were all very eager to meet the Lord, and their beautiful faces were decorated with dazzling earrings, which enhanced the beauty of their foreheads.

Krishna enters Dvaraka
(Copyright The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International Inc – http://www.krishna.com)

PURPORT

We may not hate even the prostitutes if they are devotees of the Lord. Even to date there are many prostitutes in great cities of India who are sincere devotees of the Lord. By tricks of chance one may be obliged to adopt a profession which is not very adorable in society, but that does not hamper one in executing devotional service to the Lord. Devotional service to the Lord is uncheckable in all circumstances. It is understood herewith that even in those days, about five thousand years ago, there were prostitutes in a city like Dvārakā, where Lord Kṛṣṇa resided. This means that prostitutes are necessary citizens for the proper upkeep of society. The government opens wine shops, but this does not mean that the government encourages the drinking of wine. The idea is that there is a class of men who will drink at any cost, and it has been experienced that prohibition in great cities encouraged illicit smuggling of wine. Similarly, men who are not satisfied at home require such concessions, and if there is no prostitute, then such low men will induce others into prostitution. It is better that prostitutes be available in the marketplace so that the sanctity of society can be maintained. It is better to maintain a class of prostitutes than to encourage prostitutes within society. The real reformation is to enlighten all people to become devotees of the Lord, and that will check all kinds of deteriorating factors of life.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DEVOTEE AND A DEMON

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

This is a very instructive struggle between the atheist and the theist. This story of Prahlāda Mahārāja is eternally true. There is always a struggle between the atheist and the theist. If a person becomes God conscious, Kṛṣṇa conscious, so he will find many enemies, because the world is full of demons. What to speak of the devotee of Kṛṣṇa, even Kṛṣṇa, when He personally came, He had to kill so many demons. There was His maternal uncle, His mother’s brother, very keenly related. Still, he wanted to kill Kṛṣṇa. As soon as any son was born to Devakī, immediately he killed, because he did not know who will be Kṛṣṇa. The prediction was that the eighth child of his sister will kill Kaṁsa. So he began to kill all the children. At last, Kṛṣṇa came. But he could not kill Kṛṣṇa. He was killed by Kṛṣṇa.

 

So nobody can kill God. The demons, godless society, they simply want to kill God. But actually, God is never killed, but the demon is killed by God. That is the law of nature. This is the instruction from Prahlāda Mahārāja’s life. We can understand that, as it is stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, mṛtyuḥ sarva-haraś cāham (BG 10.34). In the Bhagavad-gītā it is said that “I am also death in the shape of taking away everything, whatever you possess.” We are very much proud of possessing material things, material acquisitions, but when Kṛṣṇa comes… Just like Prahlāda Mahārāja saw, Hiraṇyakaśipu, his father, also saw Nṛsiṁha-deva. This Hiraṇyakaśipu was very clever as the materialists, scientists, are very clever. Cleverly they are inventing so many things. What is the idea? The idea is, “We shall live forever and enjoy sense gratification more and more.” This is called atheistic advancement of civilization. So Hiraṇyakaśipu was typical materialist. Hiraṇya means gold, and kaśipu means soft bed, cushion. So materialist persons, they are very much fond of gold and enjoying sex. That is their business. So Hiraṇyakaśipu is the typical example of this materialistic person. And Prahlāda Mahārāja, prakṛṣṭa-rūpeṇa āhlāda: Āhlāda means transcendental bliss.

ANY SERVICE RENDERED TO GOD IS NEVER LOST

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Śrimad Bhāgavatam

Canto 5  | Chapter 14

TEXT 43

yo dustyajān dāra-sutān

suhṛd rājyaṁ hṛdi-spṛśaḥ

jahau yuvaiva malavad

uttamaśloka-lālasaḥ

TRANSLATION

While in the prime of life, the great Mahārāja Bharata gave up everything because he was fond of serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Uttamaśloka. He gave up his beautiful wife, nice children, great friends and an enormous empire. Although these things were very difficult to give up, Mahārāja Bharata was so exalted that he gave them up just as one gives up stool after evacuating. Such was the greatness of His Majesty.

LORD BUDDHA CHEATED THE ATHEISTS BY STATING THAT THERE IS NO GOD

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

About Lord Buddha is also mentioned in the śāstra that Lord Buddha will appear in Gayā Pradesh, in the province of Gayā, and his business will be to cheat the atheists. That is described. Now, how he is cheating? He is the incarnation of God, but he is preaching amongst people who don’t believe in God. So he is cheating in this way, that “Yes, there is no God. You hear me.” But he is God.

The people amongst whom he is preaching, they don’t believe in God, but they accept Lord Buddha. But he is God. So by cheating, he is making others to worship God. God is there. But superficially they think, “We don’t believe in God. We believe in Lord Buddha.” And Lord Buddha is God. Therefore, in the Bhāgavata, it is said that his business will be to cheat the atheist class of men. Sura-dviṣām. Sammohita-sura-dviṣām. Sammohita means bewilder. But his philosophy is that to make the people sinless. Ahiṁsā. “Don’t kill.” That is the greatest sin. So he is propagating that “Let these people be saved from the greatest sinful activities.”

Lord Buddha appeared in India. Why? He was also Hindu. He was kṣatriya, king. He promulgated this philosophy, ahiṁsā, when there was unnecessary killing of animals. According to Vedas, animals can be killed in sacrifice. That also to give a new life. But people misinterpreted and they began to kill animals like anything with the evidence of…, “In the Vedas animal killing is sanctioned.” So Lord Buddha appeared, just being compassionate to the poor animals. Sadaya-hrdaya-darśita-paśu-ghātam. Sadaya. He became very compassionate, that “All these poor animals are being killed unnecessarily.”

Appearance Day of Balarama, the Elder Brother of Krishna

Today is Balarama Jayanti, the appearance day of Lord Balarama.

Without the mercy of Balarama, we cannot achieve Krishna. (heno nitāi bine bhai radha krishna paite nai)

Balarama is the source of all happiness. Rāma means the reservoir of happiness.

Bala means strength. Balarama give us spiritual strength so that we may steadily make progress on our way back to Godhead. (nāyam ātmā bala hīnena labhyah)

The spiritual master is an expansion of Lord Balarama. Thus Lord Balarama is the ādi-guru, the original Spiritual Master

Balarama is also known as Haladhara because he carries a plough (hala).

Rāma in the Hare Krishna mantra stands for Balarama.

For those who may object to the averment that Rāma stands for Balarāma, the following verse from the Srimad Bhagavatam (10.2.13) makes the subject matter crystal clear: