Granthraj Vol 1 PDF

Preface
Anything in this material world, if used in the right way, can give us immense
benefit and if misused, will become a source of trouble. Over the years,
mankind has invented so many things, that led to the drastic material
advancement. At the same time, we have experienced that the same inventions
if not used properly, will be harmful to our existence. Internet is one such
invention that took communication to new heights through emails, chat, voice
communications etc. But over the years these facilities have been grossly
misused that the emails and chats have been used for porno, transmitting virus
programs, sending junk mails, the list is endless.
Srila Prabhupada is one of the greatest expounder who taught us the principle of
yukta-vairägya, detachment from matter by using it in Krsna’s service.
Applying the same principle, devotees all over the world have been using the
internet communication to intensify the discussion of Kåñëa-katha which is
the only panacea to the diseased material existence. His Divine Grace has given
us so much to relish in his books that even if we discuss for our entire lifetimes
we cannot be satiated by them.
My dear godbrother H G Devakinandan prabhu has been using the email

facility to pass on inspiring updates about the fiery preaching and various other
projects of our dearmost spiritual master H H Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj. I
was inspired to form an email discussion group initially with the members from
his list. My idea was to have a discussion forum where devotees from all over
the world can freely communicate their thoughts and realizations from the
Vaishnava scriptures like Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavat Gita and get
benefited by each other’s association. When I met H H Mahavishnu Goswami
Maharaj in Dwaraka in Jan 2002, I expressed my opinion to him and he whole-
heartedly blessed me to venture into this humble project.
On Feb 26th 2002, by the causeless and limitless mercy of Their Lordships Sri
Sri Rukhmini-Dwarakadish, Gurudev and Srila Prabhupada, I started an email
group named Granthraj in the internet with around 40 members in the list. The
members were from different parts of the world like Australia, New Zealand,
Singapore, Middle-east, UK, United States, India etc. Our idea was to delve
deep into the treasure that Srila Prabhupada has given to this whole world in the
form of his books. Anybody who has read his books seriously will agree that
every time we read his transcendental purports we get newer and higher
realizations. Srila Prabhupada himself once said that his purports are his
personal ecstasies. If not for his transcendental purports and lucid explanations
of the verses, we cannot have access to the mysteries of the spiritual subject
matters. Since the beginning, devotees have been taking part with great
enthusiasm in sharing their realizations through punching verses and purports
from Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavat Gita and various other relevant sources.
Our greatest encouraging factor was that our spiritual master was very much
pleased with this constant discussion of Kåñëa-katha. He himself had this
idea of establishing Bhagavat-bhavan all over the world where constant
recitation of Bhagavatam and Bhagavat-gita will go on. He considers this
Granthraj forum as a way to bring devotees from all over the world together
through discussion of Prabhupada’s vani. Although our attempts are very puny
and fraught with imperfections, Maharaj as a Sara-grahi Vaishnava, took only
the essence and kept encouraging us. It was simply impossible for us to
conceive his enthusiasm – wherever he travelled during his world tour, he
would ask the local devotees to take printouts of the latest Granthraj mails and
relish each and every devotee’s contribution. Whoever came in touch with him,
he was also canvassing them to join Granthraj and take part in it. He once made
a punching remark, “This Granthraj forum is a mouth-piece of Srila
Prabhupada.” As our spiritual father he has always been giving us more than
what we deserved – in terms of love, compassion, knowledge, realization and
mercy. We are eternally indebted to him for guiding us along the path of
devotional service.
It is almost two years now since we began Granthraj and we get at least a mail
everyday on an average. It is acting like a daily spiritual newspaper, some
inspiring message dropping in our email inbox to rekindle our love of Godhead.
The devotees have been very enthusiastic and very forgiving of our mistakes, at
the same time eagerly sharing their realizations and punching words of Srila
Prabhupada and other Acaryas. As of now, we have atleast 170 members in our
list from all over the world. Many of us do not know each other personally, still
we are all connected through the common unbreakable thread of the mercy of
Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev.
A special mention has to be made of H G Radhajivan prabhuji who has been

constantly encouraging and inspiring us since forum started. He originally
suggested me to transcribe the nectarian lectures of H H Mahavishnu Goswami
Maharaj and print them in the form of a book. As we were making preparations
for that, our Maharaj so humbly suggested that instead of his vani, we should
print a book out of the inspiring realizations of the devotees from Granthraj.
H G Radhajivan prabhuji graciously volunteered to take care of financing the
printing cost and have also been helping us in innumerous ways. Another
source of inspiration are my dear godbrothers H G Devakinandan prabhuji and
H G Viraja Krishna prabhuji who have been constantly guiding me and
suggesting me invaluable ideas in improving the standard of Granthraj. My
sincere thanks to all the members of our forum for their fantastic realizations.
As our Gurudev always says that devotional service infiltrates everywhere.
Some realization from a devotee in one corner of the world can inspire other
devotees from a different part of the world. Srila Prabhupada and Sri Krishna
dasa Kaviraja Goswami say in Sri Caitanya Caritamrita that ‘writing’ is an
important activity of a Vaishnava and one has to write not for sense-
gratification but for self-purification. Almost every acarya in our Vaishnava
sampradaya have left invaluable treasure in the form of their writings that
reveals the mysteries of the spiritual subject matter and makes it easy for us to
tread the path back home, back to Godhead.
I would like to quote Srila Prabhupada’s words on 'writing' from his lecture
given in Los Angeles on August 14, 1972.
“Realization means you should write, every one of you, what is your realization.
What for this Back to Godhead is? You write your realization, what you have
realized about Krishna. That is required. It is not passive. Always you should
be active. Whenever you find time, you write. Never mind, two lines, four lines,
but you write your realization. Sravanam kirtanam, writing or offering prayers,
glories. This is one of the function of the Vaishnava. You are hearing, but you
have to write also. Then write means smaranam, remembering what you have
heard from your spiritual master, from the scripture. Sravanam kirtanam
vishnoh. About Vishnu, not for others. Don't write any nonsense thing for any
nonsense man. Useless waste of time. Vishnu. Write about Vishnu, Krishna.
This is cultivation of Krishna consciousness. Hear, write, remember, try to
understand. Don't be dull, dull-headed. Very intelligent. Without being very
intelligent, nobody can have full Krishna consciousness. It is for the most
intelligent man. So that intelligence will come if you try to understand Krishna.
We have got so many books. Always try to understand Krishna.”
As Srila Prabhupada says, writing means smaranam. It is one of the most

intense activities in devotional service. If our sole purpose in writing is to
glorify the Lord and His devotees and also for our self-purification, then the
Lord gives us constant guidance as Paramatma in our hearts. We may commit
our mistakes, but if our goal is to glorify the Lord then we can render
devotional service even with our imperfect senses. At present our senses are
sleeping but when the Lord enters into them, we get the inspiration to glorify
the Lord as Dhruva Maharaj prays aptly in Srimad Bhagavatam 4.9.6 thus:
dhruva uväca
yo ’ntaù praviçya mama väcam imäà prasuptäà
saïjévayaty akhila-çakti-dharaù sva-dhämnä
anyäàç ca hasta-caraëa-çravaëa-tvag-ädén
präëän namo bhagavate puruñäya tubhyam
“Dhruva Maharaja said: My dear Lord, You are all-powerful. After

entering within me, You have enlivened all my sleeping senses—my hands,
legs, ears, touch sensation, life force and especially my power of speech. Let
me offer my respectful obeisances unto You.”
We admit that we are full of faults and our attempts to share our ‘so called’
realizations are filled with imperfections. At the same time we do lay our hope
and faith in the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna, Patita Pavana Srila Prabhupada,
Guru and Gauranga in making use of us in Their effort to take the suffering
souls back home, back to Godhead. By their mercy, even a dumb can speak and
a lame man can walk. It is very nicely said in CC Madhya Lila 17.80:-
mükaà karoti väcälaà

paìguà laìghayate girim
yat-kåpä tam ahaà vande
paramänanda-mädhavam
“The Supreme Personality of Godhead has the form of sac-cid-ananda-

vigraha-transcendental bliss, knowledge and eternity. I offer my respectful
obeisances unto Him, who turns the dumb into eloquent speakers and
enables the lame to cross mountains. Such is the mercy of the Lord.”
We sincerely hope that reading this collection of our reflections will be a source
of pleasure to you. We welcome any kind of suggestions or criticism that
would help us improve the quality of our forum. Granthraj is free and open to
everybody and anyone interested in joining us can just send an email to
[email protected]. You will be subsribed immediately.
We look forward to your blissful association.
Hare Krishna!
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada

Kalacakra Krsna das
Granthraj Moderator.
Introduction
No book on spiritual subject matter is complete without a special mention of
Granthraj Srimad Bhagavatam. Granthraj means ‘King of Scriptures’. Our
forum derived its name from this greatest of scriptures. Srimad Bhagavatam,
also known as Bhagavata Purana, is one of the eighteen Puranas written by Srila
Vyasadeva, an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna.
Srila Vyasadeva had initially written the four Vedas, Upanishads, Mahabharata,
the Puranas and other innumerable literature for the benefit of the general mass.
But even after writing so many scriptures, he was not satisfied. When he sat in
despondence, Sri Narada Muni, his spiritual master, informed him that he had
not described the transcendental pastimes of Lord Sri Krishna directly in his
other scriptures. He said :
bhavatänudita-präyaà
yaço bhagavato ’malam
yenaiväsau na tuñyeta
manye tad darçanaà khilam
“You have not actually broadcast the sublime and spotless glories of the
Personality of Godhead. That philosophy which does not satisfy the
transcendental senses of the Lord is considered worthless.” – SB 1.5.8.
He further says in Srimad Bhagavatam 1.5.10-11:
na yad vacaç citra-padaà harer yaço

jagat-pavitraà pragåëéta karhicit
tad väyasaà tértham uçanti mänasä
na yatra haàsä niramanty uçik-kñayäù
“Those words which do not describe the glories of the Lord, who alone can
sanctify the atmosphere of the whole universe, are considered by saintly
persons to be like unto a place of pilgrimage for crows. Since the all-perfect
persons are inhabitants of the transcendental abode, they do not derive any
pleasure there.”
tad-väg-visargo janatägha-viplavo
yasmin prati-çlokam abaddhavaty api
nämäny anantasya yaço ’ìkitäni yat
çåëvanti gäyanti gåëanti sädhavaù
“On the other hand, that literature which is full of descriptions of the
transcendental glories of the name, fame, forms, pastimes, etc., of the
unlimited Supreme Lord is a different creation, full of transcendental
words directed toward bringing about a revolution in the impious lives of
this world’s misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literatures, even
though imperfectly composed, are heard, sung and accepted by purified
men who are thoroughly honest.”
Srila Vyasadeva then sat down meditating on the Lord and His pastimes, and
wrote this most beautiful literature Srimad Bhagavatam. The greatness of
Srimad Bhagavatam is mentioned in numerous other Vedic scriptures and also
in Bhagavatam.
In the first chapter of Srimad Bhagavatam, Shaunaka Rsi, the head of the sixty
thousand sages who gathered in Naimisharanya to perform a thousand year
sacrifice, put forth six questions to Sri Suta Goswami. One of the questions was
“After Lord Sri Krishna departed for His own abode, whom did the
religious principles have gone for shelter.” Sri Suta Goswami answered in
Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.43 thus:
kåñëe sva-dhämopagate
dharma-jïänädibhiù saha
kalau nañöa-dåçäm eña
puräëärko ’dhunoditaù
“This Bhagavata Purana is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just
after the departure of Lord Krsna to His own abode, accompanied by
religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense
darkness of ignorance in the age of Kali shall get light from this Purana.”
This is explained very nicely in Sri Caitanya Caritamrita by Lord Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu to Srila Sanatana Goswami while He explained the different
meanings of a verse from Srimad Bhagavatam. He said,
kåñëa-tulya bhägavata——vibhu, sarväçraya

prati-çloke prati-akñare nänä artha kaya
“Srimad-Bhagavatam is as great as Krishna, the Supreme Lord and
shelter of everything. In each and every verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam and
in each and every syllable, there are various meanings.”
Sri Suta Goswami also says in Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.40 :-
idaà bhägavataà näma

puräëaà brahma-sammitam
uttama-çloka-caritaà
cakära bhagavän åñiù
niùçreyasäya lokasya
dhanyaà svasty-ayanaà mahat
“This Srimad-Bhagavatam is the literary incarnation of God, and it is

compiled by Srila Vyasadeva, the incarnation of God. It is meant for the
ultimate good of all people, and it is all-successful, all-blissful and all-
perfect.”
The glories of Srimad Bhagavatam is endless and we can’t fit everything in a

few pages of our introduction to this book. Hence, I would like to end with a
very important verse from Srimad Bhagavatam 12.13.18 :-
çrémad-bhägavataà puräëam amalaà yad vaiñëavänäà

priyaà
yasmin päramahaàsyam ekam amalaà jïänaà paraà géyate
tatra jïäna-viräga-bhakti-sahitaà naiñkarmyam
äviskåtaà
tac chåëvan su-paöhan vicäraëa-paro bhaktyä vimucyen
naraù
“Srimad-Bhagavatam is the spotless Purana. It is most dear to the

Vaishnavas because it describes the pure and supreme knowledge of the
paramahamsas. This Bhagavatam reveals the means for becoming free
from all material work, together with the processes of transcendental
knowledge, renunciation and devotion. Anyone who seriously tries to
understand Srimad-Bhagavatam, who properly hears and chants it with
devotion, becomes completely liberated.”
Table of Contents
1. Preface.……….………………………………………….…..... i
2. Introduction.….…………………………………………..….…v
3. Powerful Punches from Acaryas…………….………..…..........3

4. His Holiness Mahavishnu Goswami Nectar..…………………25
5. Enlightenments from Shastras...…………….……………….. 83
6. Interesting Reflections on Chanting ..……….………………133
7. The Glorious Lord and His Devotees………………………. 143
8. Interesting Anecdotes and Informations.…………...………. 171
9. Instructive Moral Stories…………………………………… 183
10. Inspiring Realizations.….…………………………………... 211
Favorable, Authorized Practices and Devotional Qualities
Bhaktivinoda Thakur says:
 I practice great humility in my dealings with everyone.
 I try to keep simplicity and purity prominent in all my practical
arrangements.
 I maintain extreme tolerance in all types of favourable or unfavorable
circumstances.
 I offer all respect unto others, regardless of who they are.
 I feel genuine compassion for all living entities and act accordingly.
- Radhajivan das, Alachua.

Punches from H D G Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Takur
 The root of it all is humility or the due realization of one's ineligibility. If
our unfitness for the devotional service is revealed to us either
automatically or by the instructions of others, then we are in a position to
appreciate the beauty of the lotus feet of the Lord's devotees.
 Look within. Amend yourself, rather than pry into the frailties of others.

Upadeshavali - Essential Instructions
by H D G Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur
 Those who don’t perform hari-bhajana are ignorant and murderers of their
own souls.
 The acceptance of sri harinama and direct realization of Bhagavan are one
and the same.
 We are not the doers of good or bad deeds, nor are we scholars or illiterate-
-- carrying the shoes of Hari’s pure devotees as our duty, we are initiates
into the mantra “kirtaniyah sada hari.”
 Preaching without proper conduct fall within the category of karma,

mundane activity. Without criticizing the nature of others, one should
correct one’s self—this is my personal instruction.
 If we desire to follow an auspicious course in life, then disregarding the
theories of even countless people we should hear only instructions from a
transcendental source.
 Life as an animal, bird, insect, or any other of the countless thousands of

species is acceptable, but taking shelter of deceit is thoroughly improper.
Only an honest person possesses real auspiciousness.
 Simple-heartedness is synonymous with Vaisnavism. Servants of a

paramahamsa Vaishnava should be simple-hearted, a quality, which makes
them the topmost brahmanas.
 Helping to draw conditioned souls away from their perverted attachment to

the material energy is the greatest compassion. If even one soul is rescued
from Mahamaya’s fortress, that compassionate act is infinitely more
benevolent than the construction of unlimited hospitals.
 We will not remain in this world for long. And by profusely performing
hari-kirtana, upon relinquishing these material bodies we will experience
the ultimate reward of embodied life.
 Krishna’s darsana can only be attained through the medium of the ear as
one hears hari-katha from pure Vaishnavas; there is no other way.
 We should understand that the loud calling out of Sri Krishna’s name is
bhakti.
 By sincerely endeavoring to chant harinama without offenses and

remaining fixed in chanting constantly, one’s offenses will fade and pure
harinama will arise on the tongue.


Srila Prabhupada’s Offering to his Spiritual Master
The following is an excerpt from His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada's offering to his spiritual master His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti
Siddhanta Saraswati Takur Prabhupada, on the eve of his Vyasa puja in
February 1936.
“Personally, I have no hope for any direct service for the coming crores of
births of the sojourn of my life, but I am confident that some day or other I shall
be delivered from this mire of delusion in which I am at present so deeply sunk.
Therefore let me with all my earnestness pray at the lotus feet of my divine
master to allow me to suffer the lot for which I am destined due to my past
misdoings, but to let me have this power of recollection: that I am nothing but
a tiny servant of the Almighty Godhead, realized through the unflinching
mercy of my divine master. Let me therefore bow down at his lotus feet with all
the humility at my command.”
- Kalacakra Krsna das, Minneapolis.


Srila Prabhupada Punches
 Devotional service, which is based on the foreground of full knowledge
combined with detachment from material association and which is fixed
by the aural reception of the Vedanta-sruti, is the only perfect method by
which the seriously inquisitive student can realize the Absolute Truth.-
SB 1.2.12 Purport.
 Unless one is in Krishna Consciousness there is no possibility of peace.

- BG 2.66 Purport.
 Let us all obey the Supreme Lord, whose hand is in everything, without
exception. - SB 2.10.51 Purport.
 If realization of the Absolute Truth is the ultimate aim of life, it must be

carried out by all means. – SB 1.2.14 Purport.
 Lord Krishna’s attraction is so powerful that once being attracted by Him

one cannot tolerate separation from Him. - SB 1.11.10 Purport
 A devotee desires only to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This

servitude exists eternally; the Lord exists eternally, His servitor exists
eternally, and the service exists eternally. - SB 3.29.45 purport.
 If happiness is the ultimate goal of life, one must be satisfied with the
position in which he is placed by providence. – SB 8.19.24 Purport.
 Consequently, the greatest welfare activity in this material world is the

furthering of the Krishna consciousness movement. – SB 4.28.10 Purport.
 Advancement in devotional service depends on the attitude of the

follower – “Nectar of Instruction” Preface.
 By hearing about and glorifying the Lord, all a person’s activities

become molded into spiritual activities, and thus all conceptions of
material miseries become completely vanquished. – SB 2.1.5 Purport.
 Humility means that one should not be anxious to have the satisfaction
of being honored by others. – BG 13.8-12 Purport.
 A devotee does not create enmity with anyone, but if someone becomes
his enemy, that person will be vanquished by the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. - SB 7.4.29 Purport.
 Morning is the best time to hold spiritual services. – SB 1.1.5 Purport.
 Ardent hearing from the bona fide master is the only way to receive
transcendental knowledge, and there is no need for medical
performances or occult mysticism for miraculous effects. The process is
simple, but only the sincere party can achieve the desired result. – SB
1.12.3 Purport.
 Anything material seen for a number of times ultimately becomes

unattractive by the law of satiation. The law of satiation acts materially,
but there is no scope for it in the spiritual realm. – SB 1.11.25 Purport.
 Either remaining at home, or leaving home, the real qualification of a

pure devotee is to become rapt in the thought of Krishna favorably, ie.,
knowing well that Lord Krishna is the Absolute Personality of Godhead.
– SB 1.13.11 Purport.
 Unless one is convinced of a better life after renunciation of the present

life, one cannot stick to the renounced order of life simply by artificial
dress or staying out of home. – SB 1.13.35 Purport.
 A devotee never finds faults with others, but tries to find his own and
thus rectify them as far as possible. – SB 1.13.33 Purport.
 The renounced order is meant for contributing something substantial to

society and not depending on the earnings of the householders. – SB
2.2.5 Purport.
 A pure devotee is a one hundred percent devotee of the Lord and nothing
more. – SB 2.2.31 Purport.
 The whole material creation is a jugglery of names only; in fact, it is

nothing but a bewildering creation of matter like earth, water and fire.
– SB 2.2.3 Purport.

Rapt Attention
In Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.44, Suta Goswami explains how he listened to
Bhagavatam with rapt attention, when it was recited by Sukadeva Goswami to
Maharaj Parikshit .
tatra kértayato viprä
viprarñer bhüri-tejasaù
ahaà cädhyagamaà tatra
niviñöas tad-anugrahät
so ’haà vaù çrävayiñyämi
yathädhétaà yathä-mati
“O learned brahmanas, when Sukadeva Gosvami recited Bhagavatam

there [in the presence of Emperor Pariksit], I heard him with rapt
attention, and thus, by his mercy, I learned the Bhagavatam from that
great and powerful sage. Now I shall try to make you hear the very same
thing as I learned it from him and as I have realized it.”
In the purport Srila Prabhupada has quantified further on ‘attention’.
“...Simple hearing is not all; one must realize the text with proper attention.
The word nivista means that Suta Gosvami drank the juice of Bhagavatam
through his ears. That is the real process of receiving Bhagavatam. One should
hear with rapt attention from the real person, and then he can at once realize
the presence of Lord Krishna in every page. The secret of knowing Bhagavatam
is mentioned here. No one can give rapt attention who is not pure in mind. No
one can be pure in mind who is not pure in action. No one can be pure in action
who is not pure in eating, sleeping, fearing and mating. But somehow or other if
someone hears with rapt attention from the right person, at the very beginning
one can assuredly see Lord Sri Krishna in person in the pages of
Bhagavatam.”


Punching Purports by Srila Prabhupada
This tie of affection in terms of material relation is the relation of maya because
the relations of the body or the mind are due to the influence of the external
energy. Relations of the soul, established in relation with the Supreme Soul, are
factual relations. When Kuntidevi wanted to cut off the family relation, she
meant to cut off the relation of the skin. The skin relation is the cause of
material bondage, but the relation of the soul is the cause of freedom. This
relation of the soul to the soul can be established by the via medium of the
relation with the Supersoul. Seeing in the darkness is not seeing. But seeing by
the light of the sun means to see the sun and everything else which was unseen
in the darkness. That is the way of devotional service.– SB 1.8.43 Purport.
- Viraja Krishna Das, Sydney.
When Bhisma and the others on the side of Duryodhana blew their respective
conchshells, there was no heart-breaking on the part of the pandavas. Such
occurances are not mentioned, but in this particular verse it is mentioned that
the hearts of the sons of Dhrtarashtra were shattered by the sounds vibrated by
the pandavas' party.This is due to the Pandavas and their confidense in Lord
Krishna. One who takes shelter of the Supreme Lord has nothing to fear,
even in the midst of greatest calamity. – BG 1.19 Purport.
- Yogesh Agarwal, Abu dhabi.
The popular saying is that a housewife teaches the daughter-in-law by teaching

the daughter. Similarly, the Lord teaches the world by teaching the devotee.
The devotee does not have to learn anything new from the Lord because the
Lord teaches the sincere devotee always from within. Whenever, therefore, a
show is made to teach the devotee, as in the case of the teachings of Bhagavad-
gita, it is for teaching the less intelligent men. A devotee’s duty, therefore, is to
ungrudgingly accept tribulations from the Lord as a benediction. – SB 1.9.17
Purport.

A Strong Punch to Our False Ego
Since the realizations that we get are directly supplied by Krishna, I was
thinking how valuable they are!! How much importance should we give to
those sublime and potent instructions that the Paramatma is constantly giving us
(even though we are so adamantly refusing to follow them) ? Yes! Those
instructions change the course of our lives tremendously. And as Srila
Prabhupada says in several places in his purports, that those instructions
sometimes come from the paramatma within, and also from the spiritual
master externally. The choice is with us to either follow them or not.
Here is a punch from Srila Prabhupada's purport to one of the verses in

Caitanya Caritamrita Madhya lila, Chapter 20, verse 6. This is a verse where
Sanatana Goswami's escape from the prison to meet Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
is narrated. The story goes like this:-
Sanatana Goswami was a minister working under the Nawab Hussain Shah.
Although he was involved in the state affairs, he was deeply interested in the
study of the scriptures. So he lied to the Nawab, took sick leave and stayed at
home discussing Krishna-katha with a few brahmanas. The Nawab went to his
home, finding that Sanatana Goswami lied to him and not willing to continue
his service to the Nawab, imprisoned Goswami. Sanatana Goswami then
secretly tries to convince the jailkeeper with sweet words and promising him
some rewards if he helps him to escape.
He speaks to the jailkeeper as follows: (CC Madhya, 20.5,6)
“Dear Sir, you are a saintly person and are very fortunate. You have full
knowledge of the revealed scriptures such as Koran and similar books. If
one releases a conditioned soul or imprisoned person according to religious
principles, he himself is also released from material bondage by the
Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
Then Srila Prabhupada punches in his purport: “The jailkeeper could not deny
that he was a learned scholar because when one is elevated to an exalted
position, one thinks himself fit for that position.”
This is a very strong punch, extremely painful to our false ego! But somehow if
we undergo that pain and apply the right medicine of Krishna-katha,
(bhavaushadhi - medicine that cures the material disease), we will remain
blissful always!


Plan-Making For More Suffering
Srila Prabhupada is showing us how the material intelligence is misused for
more and more suffering in his lecture on 12/17/76 in Hyderabad on
Bhagavad-gita 3.25:
saktäù karmaëy avidväàso
yathä kurvanti bhärata
kuryäd vidväàs tathäsaktaç
cikérñur loka-saìgraham
There are two classes of men: vidvan - learned, and the fools - not learned,
known as the fool. Human being, they are, of course, very intelligent than the
animals. But amongst themselves there are more intelligent, less intelligent. On
the whole, they are more intelligent than the animals. So far intelligence is
concerned, in the matter of considering eating, sleeping, sex, and defense,
that is equal either in the animal or in the human being. It doesn't require any
education. Even the dog knows how to use sex life. It doesn't require a Freud's
philosophy. But the rascal human society, they are thinking that “Here is a big
philosopher. He is writing about sex.” This is going on. Eating, simply eating...
Here is land. You work little, get your food grains produced and you can
sumptuously eat. But it doesn't require a scientific slaughterhouse for bringing
big, big cows and live in the city at the cost of the lives of the poor animals.
This is misuse of intelligence. This is not intelligence.
- Muralidhara das, Yugoslavia.



Writing
Here is a wonderful punch on 'writing' from Srila Prabhupada's lecture given in
Los Angeles on August 14, 1972.
“Realization means you should write, every one of you, what is your realization.
What for this Back to Godhead is? You write your realization, what you have
realized about Krishna. That is required. It is not passive. Always you should
be active. Whenever you find time, you write. Never mind, two lines, four lines,
but you write your realization. Sravanam kirtanam, writing or offering prayers,
glories. This is one of the function of the Vaisnava. You are hearing, but you
have to write also. Then write means smaranam, remembering what you have
heard from your spiritual master, from the scripture. Sravanam kirtanam
visnoh. About Visnu, not for others. Don't write any nonsense thing for any
nonsense man. Useless waste of time. Visnu. Write about Visnu, Krishna. This
is cultivation of Krishna consciousness. Hear, write, remember, try to
understand. Don't be dull, dull-headed. Very intelligent. Without being very
intelligent, nobody can have full Krishna consciousness. It is for the most
intelligent man. So that intelligence will come if you try to understand Krishna.
We have got so many books. Always try to understand Krishna.”
Personal Observation: Recently also I heard from one sannyasi H H Ganapati

Maharaj who visited Minneapolis, that, although every activity in devotional
service is blissful, writing needs a highly concentrated effort. So when we write
for Krishna, write about Krishna..., we are forced to put in an intense effort.
And as Prabhupada says, "writing means smaranam". Our remembrance of
the Lord becomes intense. That improves our devotional service immensely, in
leaps and bounds.
- Kalacakra Krsna das, Minneapolis.


There Is Another Nature
11/18/66 New York, Lecture by Srila Prabhupada on Bhagavad-gita 8.20-22:-
paras tasmät tu bhävo ’nyo ’vyakto ’vyaktät sanätanaù
yaù sa sarveñu bhüteñu naçyatsu na vinaçyati
avyakto ’kñara ity uktas tam ähuù paramäà gatim

yaà präpya na nivartante tad dhäma paramaà mama
puruñaù sa paraù pärtha bhaktyä labhyas tv ananyayä

yasyäntaù-sthäni bhütäni yena sarvam idaà tatam
So everyone should try to go there. God Himself comes to call you, He sends
His son to call you, and the literatures are there, the scriptures are there. We
should take advantage of this. This is meant for human body, human life, not
for the cats and dogs. So we should take advantage of it. Human life is meant
for that achievement. When we finish all this trouble... This trouble of repeating
birth and death, the cycle of birth and death, this should be stopped. This is the
information of Bhagavad-gita. This is the perfection. Any system, either yoga
system or jnana system or bhakti system -- anything, if you... whatever you like,
you can accept, but the ultimate goal is this paramam gatim. If this is not
achieved, then all yoga exercise and all philosophical speculation -- all
nonsense, simply waste of time, simply a waste of time. Aradhito yadi
haris tapasa tatah kim. If you can achieve this stage, that there is no
other necessity of philosophizing or yogic practice or anything, if you receive
that, if you reach that perfection. And if you do not reach that perfection, then it
is all useless.
So aradhito yadi haris tapasa tatah kim. Naradhito
yadi haris tapasa tatah kim: "One who reaches there, for him, all
kinds of penances, austerities -- no more required. And one who does not reach
that place, all these austerities, penances -- useless, simply waste of time." So
this should be the aim of human life. Human civilization, human society, should
be so formed that they should have the opportunity. The human form of life is
the opportunity to get this boon. So it is the duty of the state, duty of the
parents, duty of the guardians, duty of the husband, duty of the father --
everyone's duty is how to elevate a living creature who has got this fortunate
human form of life to understand this paramam gatim, highest perfection of
life. That should be the mode of thing. Simply have some eating and sleeping
and mating and some defense and quarreling like cats and dogs -- this is not
civilization. The human civilization is this, that he should properly utilize this
human form of life and take advantage of this knowledge and prepare himself
in Krishna consciousness so that always, twenty-four hours, cent percent, he
will be absorbed in Krishna and at the time of death at once transferred there.
This should be the process of life. Therefore we have taken this movement,
Krishna consciousness. Join us.
Cooperate with us. You'll... Yourself will be benefited, and the world will be
benefited, this Krishna consciousness.
Just like if there is electric energy, you can light up any lamp from anywhere,
similarly, if we are progressive, if we are advanced in devotional service, we
can see God everywhere, anywhere. We require to be qualified.
Premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah sadaiva
hrdayesu vilokayanti [Bs. 5.38]. Those who developed that love of
God, they are constantly, twenty-four hours, seeing God before him. Santah
sadaiva. Sadaiva means twenty-four hours, constantly. Not that “Oh, I
have seen God yesterday night. Now He is not.” No. He is always with you.
God is everywhere. You can see Krishna everywhere. But we have to develop
that eyes.


Attaining the Path of Salvation
In Srimad Bhagavatam, verse 1.9.27, Bhismadeva explains to Maharaj

Yudhistir, about the path of salvation .
däna-dharmän räja-dharmän
mokña-dharmän vibhägaçaù
stré-dharmän bhagavad-dharmän
samäsa-vyäsa-yogataù
In the purport Srila Prabhupada, highlights the following points.
1. To get freedom from anger one should learn how to forgive.
2. To be free from unlawful desires one should not make plans.
3. By spiritual culture one is able to conquer sleep.
4. By tolerance only can one conquer desires and avarice.
5. Disturbances from different diseases can be avoided by regulated diet.
6. By self-control one can be free from false hopes.
7. Money can be saved by avoiding undesirable association.
8. By practice of yoga one can control hunger.

9. Worldliness can be avoided by cultivating the knowledge of impermanence.
10. Dizziness can be conquered by rising up.
11. False arguments can be conquered by factual ascertainment.
12. Talkativeness can be avoided by gravity and silence.
13. By prowess one can avoid fearfulness.
14. Perfect knowledge can be obtained by self-cultivation.
15. One must be free from lust, avarice, anger, dreaming, etc., to actually
attain the path of salvation.


Radhashtami Lecture by Srila Prabhupada
I heard a very inspiring lecture by Srila Prabhupada on the Radhashtami day

sometime back. It was given on 5th September, 1973 in London. I am writing
the text of the lecture. The mood of Srila Prabhupada while he speaks cannot be
put in words. The lecture is 45 minutes in length, but Prabhupada talks about
Srimati Radharani only for the last 4-5 minutes. In that 5 minutes, Prabhupada
gives us thousand times more than what anyone else can give in a lengthy
pravacan.
“...So I am very pleased that you are keeping this center nicely in our own
standard by performing yajna, by sankirtana, and today is Radhastami. You
perform. Our yajna is sankirtana, and Srimati Radharani is the pleasure potency
of Krishna. Radha kåñëa-pranaya-vikrtir hladini saktir
asmad ekatmanav api bhuvi pura deha-bhedam gatau tau,
sri-caitanyakhyam prakatam adhuna tad-dvayam caikyam
aptam. When Krishna... Krishna is one. ekam advitiyam. But eko bahu
syat. He can expand Himself. So when He wants to enjoy, so the pleasure
potency is manifested from His personal body. That pleasure potency is
Radharani. Radharani is not ordinary living entity. Radharani is Krishna's
personal pleasure potency. Hladini-sakti.
So just today is the appearance day of hladini-sakti. So if you want to

please Krishna... Because our business is to please Krishna. Hari-tosanam.
Our this movement is hari-tosanam. Samsiddhir hari-tosanam.
Atah pumbhir dvija-srestha varnasrama-vibhagasah.
Varnasrama-vibhagasah. Svanusthitasya dharmasya
samsiddhir hari-tosanam. Not only our. This is the aim. In the
Bhagavad-gita it is also said, vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah.
The whole Vedic literature is meant for searching out Krishna and to satisfy. So
Krishna personally comes to give you the information. Sarva-dharman
parityajya mam ekam saranam: “You rascal, you give up all these
engagements. Simply you surrender unto Me.”
And what about other demigods? There are so many demigods. What we have
to do? Kamais tais tair hrta-jnanah. "This demigod is worshiped
by persons who have lost all intelligence." Hrta-jnana. Hrta-jnana
means nasta-buddhayah, one who has lost of intelligence. There is no
need. Simply mam ekam. That is the instruction of Bhagavad... That is the
sastra instruction. Visnur aradhyate pantha nanyat tat-tosa-karanam. na te
viduh svartha-gatim hi visnum. Om tad visnoh paramam
padam sada pasyanti. This is Rg Veda mantra. Actual aim of life is to
satisfy Lord Visnu, and Krishna is the origin of visnu-tattva. And He is
pleased through Radharani. Therefore we don't worship Krishna alone. No.
Radha-Krishna. First Radharani. So that day is today. First you have to worship
Radharani. If you go through Radharani...Therefore in Vrndavana you will see
all devotees, they will address one another, "Jaya Radhe." Still. Because they
know that "If Radharani is pleased, if I can please Radharani..." Radharani is
presented, the original pleasure potency, always absorbed in thought of
Krishna. So anyone who comes before Radharani to serve Krishna, oh, She
becomes so pleased, "Oh, here is a devotee of Krishna." She immediately
recommends, "Krishna, oh, here is a devotee. He is better than Me." This is
Radharani. I may be a, non-devotee. I may be most fallen rascal. But if I try to
reach Krishna through Radharani, then my business is successful. Therefore we
should worship Radharani first. That is our business. Instead of offering directly
one flower to Krishna, you just put it in the hands of Radharani: “My mother
Radharani, Jagan-mata, if you kindly take this flower and offer it to
Krishna.” “Oh,” Radharani says, “Oh, you have brought a flower?” Krishna
said, patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya
prayacchati, but don't offer Krishna directly. Just offer through Radharani.
It will be very much appreciated by Radharani. So this is our philosophy, to
please Krishna through Radharani, and just today is the auspicious day of
Radharani appearance. So we should offer puspanjali and pray to Radharani
that “Radharani, kindly be merciful and tell about me to Your Krishna. To Your
Krishna. Krishna is Yours.” Krishna, Radha-Krishna. Krishna is not
independent. Krishna is Radharani's property. So you have to approach
Krishna through Radharani. That is, today is the auspicious day. Worship
Radharani very nicely and be happy. Thank you very much. Hare Krishna."


Writing is Devotional Service
I thought of sharing this beautiful piece of purport from CC Adi lila 9.5. Srila
Krishna das Kaviraj Goswami submits the following prayer:
esaba-prasäde likhi caitanya-lélä-guëa

jäni vä nä jäni, kari äpana-çodhana
“It is by the mercy of all these Vaishnavas and gurus that I attempt to
write about the pastimes and qualities of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Whether I know or know not, it is for self-purification that I write this
book.”
Purport: This is the sum and substance of transcendental writing. One must be
an authorized Vaishnava, humble and pure. One should write transcendental
literature to purify oneself, not for credit. By writing about the pastimes of the
Lord, one associates with the Lord directly. One should not ambitiously think,
"I shall become a great author. I shall be celebrated as a writer." These are
material desires. One should attempt to write for self-purification. It may be
published, or it may not be published, but that does not matter. If one is
actually sincere in writing, all his ambitions will be fulfilled. Whether one is
known as a great author is incidental. One should not attempt to write
transcendental literature for material name and fame.



Saaram and Saarangas
A very nice piece from the purport in Srimad Bhagavatam 1.11.26.
çriyo niväso yasyoraù

päna-pätraà mukhaà dåçäm
bähavo loka-pälänäà
säraìgäëäà padämbujam
...The essence of everything is the Supreme Lord: He is called the saaram. And
those who sing and talk about Him are called the saarangas, or the pure
devotees. The pure devotees are always hankering after the lotus feet of the
Lord. The lotus has a kind of honey which is transcendentally relished by the
devotees. They are like the bees who are always after the honey. Srila Rupa
Gosvami, the great devotee acarya of the Gaudiya-Vaisnava-sampradaya, has
sung a song about this lotus honey, comparing himself to the bee: "O my Lord
Krishna, I beg to offer my prayers unto You. My mind is like the bee, and it is
after some honey. Kindly, therefore, give my bee-mind a place at Your lotus
feet, which are the resources for all transcendental honey. I know that even big
demigods like Brahma do not see the rays of the nails of Your lotus feet, even
though they are engaged in deep meditation for years together. Still, O infallible
one, my ambition is such, for You are very merciful to your surrendered
devotees. O Madhava, I know also that I have no genuine devotion for the
service of Your lotus feet, but because Your Lordship is inconceivably
powerful, You can do what is impossible to be done. Your lotus feet can deride
even the nectar of the heavenly kingdom, and therefore I am very much
attracted by them. O Supreme eternal, please, therefore, let my mind be fixed at
Your lotus feet so that eternally I may be able to relish the taste of Your
transcendental service." The devotees are satisfied with being placed at the
lotus feet of the Lord and have no ambition to see His all-beautiful face or
aspire for the protection of the strong arms of the Lord. They are humble by
nature, and the Lord is always leaning towards such humble devotees.
Personal Observation: Generally Vaishnavas are called Saara-grahi, meaning

"One who extracts the essence". As Prabhupada aptly says here, the Lord is
called Saaram or Essence. So devotees see (extract) the Lord (from) anywhere
and everywhere.


Srila Prabhupada Nectar
One time when Srila Prabhupada visited New Vrindavan. It was his last visit to
New Vrindavan and devotees were giving him a tour of the house they were
building for him which later became known as Srila Prabhupada's Palace of
Gold. A wonderful monument! Srila Prabhupada explained about the devotees
of New Vrindavan. He said, Throughout the world my disciples are building
beautiful temples for Radha and Krishna. But here they are building a palace for
their spiritual master". Srila Prabhupada said, They have understood the essence
of our Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy. To become the servant of the servant of
the servant of the Lord is the way to glorify Krishna." Srila Prabhupada was
asking so many questions about how this beautiful, wonderful facility would be
completed and one devotee said, "Srila Prabhupada. We have read in Srimad
Bhagavatam that in the palaces of Dwarka there was no electrical lighting.
Everything was lit with jewels. Jewels in the ceilings, jewels on the walls,
jewels on the floor. We are wondering if it is possible that we could light your
palace with jewels." And Srila Prabhupada's reply was "My devotees are my
jewels. It is through my devotees that not only will my own Palace be full of
light but through my devotees light will spread throughout the entire world."
- Gomathi Ganga devi dasi, Singapore.
Jai Srila Prabhupada!
Recently I was reading the book "Jaya Srila Prabhupada! " by H.H. Bhakthi
Vikasa Swami. It is really a wonderful book glorifying Srila Prabhupad. The
following note on big service versus sincere service really captures the mood of
the acharyas.
“Do we have to do something ‘big’ to please Srila Prabhupada? Prabhupada
himself always tried to do big things to please his spiritual master and wanted
us to do significant service also. He coaxed and pushed us to do big things in
Krishna's service, and was pleased when any of his disciples made solid
achievements. But most of all Srila Prabhupada wanted us to be pure devotees.
When asked what pleased him most, Prabhupada replied, “If you love Krishna.”
To chant the holy name of Krishna in complete purity even once is the
perfection of life. And commenting on Isvara Puri's gratefulness to Lord
Chaitanya for developing pure love of God, Srila Prabhupada wrote: "The
spiritual master is not actually happy if the disciple brings him money, but
when he sees that a disciple is following the regulative principles and advancing
in spiritual life, he is very glad and feels obliged to such an advanced disciple.”
Srila Prabhupada was pleased with his big-achiever disciples, but he was also
pleased whenever a devotee cooked a nice offering for Krishna, chanted Hare
Krishna sincerely, or brought up children carefully in Krishna Consciousness.
The conclusion is that although Prabhupada wanted his disciples to do big
things in Krishna's service - without which this movement could not have
spread as it did -he was also satisfied with sincere service rendered in any
capacity. Not everyone can perform spectacular service, but anyone can
perform sincere service.
Of course, this should not be taken as an excuse to serve with less than full
capacity. Srila Prabhupada was expert in bringing out the best in everyone and
getting devotees to do things which they had never imagined they could. He
pushed us beyond what we thought were our limits and thus proved that
devotional service is unlimited. Jai Srila Prabhupada!!"
-Vaijayanti mala devi dasi, Abu dhabi.

Satisfying Krishna and Guru is the Aim of Bhakti
The following is an excerpt from a lecture given by Srila Prabhupada in
Vrndavana on Aug 16th, 1974.
“You may say, "I do not see the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face.
How will I be able to know whether I am satisfying Him or dissatisfying Him
?" That you can know through your spiritual master. It is not very difficult. If
your spiritual master is satisfied, then you should know that Krishna is satisfied.
You cannot satisfy Krishna by dissatisfying your spiritual master. That is not
possible. You must satisfy him. Do not use the excuse that you do not know
God or do not see Him and thus you cannot know whether you have satisfied
Him or dissatisfied Him. We receive knowledge from Krishna, from Arjuna,
from Brahma, from Narada. It comes down to your spiritual master, and you
receive the knowledge in that way, step by step. That is called parampara,
disciplic succession. Similarly, you satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead
step by step. That is the process. Just as you go down stairs step by step, you
also go up step by step.
Our aim is bhagavat-toshanam or hari-toshanam. And we receive

knowledge from Bhagavan, God, in the parampara system. The parampara
system must be maintained. If you act within the parampara system and satisfy
the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then whatever you do is perfect. It
doesn't matter what you do. The test is whether Krishna is satisfied, whether
your spiritual master is satisfied. Then you are perfect.”
-Kalacakra Krsna das, Minneapolis.



The Supreme Lord Krishna Is the Only Controller
The following is an extract from one of Srila Prabhupada’s audio lectures. The
Yama dutas speak in SB 6.1.55 the following words to the Vishnu dutas:
eña prakåti-saìgena
puruñasya viparyayaù
äsét sa eva na ciräd
éça-saìgäd viléyate
“Since the living entity is associated with material nature, he is in an
awkward position, but if in the human form of life he is taught how to
associate with the Supreme Personality of Godhead or His devotee, this
position can be overcome.”
The word viparyaya means “an awkward postion” or “a situation of
forgetfulness”. Purusa, here, means the living entity. But, actually the Supreme
purusa is Krishna. He is param brahma param dhama pavitram
paramam bhavan purusham. The living entity, due to illusion, is in a
false understanding that he is purusa when his position is only prakriti-superior
prakriti In reality, he is only a part and parcel of Krishna- like the uncountable
atomic particles in the sunshine. The real enjoyer or bhokta is Krishna. The
only occupation of the living entity in the material body is to fulfill his desire.
But he tries to imitate Krishna thinking that he is purusa and that he is the
enjoyer when he is only being enjoyed. Even after passing through millions of
bodies he still is under the same misconception.
“The Supreme Lord Krishna is the only controller, and all living entities are
controlled by Him. These living entities are His superior energy because the
quality of their existence is one and the same with the Supreme, but they are
never equal to the Lord in quantity of power. While exploiting the gross and
subtle inferior energy (matter), the superior energy (the living entity) forgets
his real spiritual mind and intelligence. This forgetfulness is due to the
influence of matter upon the living entity.”(Bg.7.5, p.)
This disease can be rooted out only through isa-sanga or “association with
Krishna”. But, as Kunti says, even though You are existing both within and
without everything, yet You are invisible to all (alaksyam sarva-
bhutanam antar bahir avasthitam). This is due to the maya energy
of Krishna and it controls the vision the limited vision of the foolish living
entities. It is the spiritual master who opens one’s eyes through the torch of
knowledge.
The Supreme Lord can be seen only through association. Everything associated
with Krishna is Krishna Himself-His name, form, qualities etc. The Bhagavad-
Gita and Bhagavatam are Krishna Himself and therefore, by reading these
books we directly associate with Krishna. And through this association we will
realize our true position.
- Bharadwaj Ramakrishnan, Chennai.


Srila Prabhupada Glorifies the Supreme Goddess
Let us relish the nectarian description of Srimati Radharani from the lotus
mouth of Srila Prabhupada in his Radhashtami lecture on Aug 30, 1968 at
Montreal.
Srila Prabhupada's Lecture:
...Now there is a very nice song. I shall sing if you can play on the harmonium.
Yes. This is a Rupa Gosvami's song. (sings)
radhe jaya jaya madhava-dayite

gokula-taruni-mandala-mahite
damodara-rati-vardhana-vese
hari-niskuta-vrnda-vipinese
vrsabhanudadhi-nava-sasi-lekhe
lalita-sakhi guna-ramita-visakhe
karunam kuru mayi karuna-bharite

sanaka-sanatana-varnita-carite
radhe jaya jaya madhava-dayite
This song was sung by Rupa Gosvami. He is the real person, actual person, to
understand Radha and Krishna. So he says, “All glories to Radharani.” Radhe
jaya jaya madhava-dayite. “She's so dear to Krishna.” Krishna,
everyone is trying to love Krishna, but Krishna is trying to love somebody.
Now how great She is. Just try to understand. Everyone, the whole world, the
whole universe, all living entities, they are trying to love Krishna. Kåñëa-
prema. Lord Caitanya describes, prema-pumartho mahan. And Rupa Gosvami
described that “You are distributing kåñëa-prema.” So kåñëa-prema is so
valuable, but Krishna is after Radharani. Just see how Radharani is great. Just
try to understand the greatness of Radharani. Therefore She is so great, and we
have to offer our respect. Radhe jaya jaya madhava-dayite. How
She is? Gokula-taruni-mandala-mahite. Taruni, taruni means young
girls. You'll see the pictures, they are all young girls. But of all the young girls,
She is the most beautiful. She is enchanting to the young girls also. She is so
beautiful. Gokula-taruni-mandala-mahite. Damodara-rati-
vardhana-vese. And She always dresses Her so nicely that Damodara,
Krishna, becomes attracted by Her beauty. Hari-niskuta-vrnda-
vipinese. And She is the only lovable object of Krishna, and She is the
queen of Vrndavana. This queen of Vrndavana... You'll find in Vrndavana, if
you go to Vrndavana, everyone is worshiping Radharani. Rani means queen.
They are always speaking, “Jaya Radhe!” Radharani. All the devotees in
Vrndavana, they are worshiper of Radharani. Hari-niskuta-vrnda-
vipinese. Vrsabhanudadhi-nava-sasi-lekhe. And She appeared
as the daughter of King Vrsabhanu, and Her companion, Lalita-sakhi and
Visakha-sakhi, and the
devotees... So on behalf of the pure devotees of Krishna, Rupa Gosvami is
praying, karunam kuru mayi karuna-bharite. "Oh, my
worshipable Radharani, You are full of mercy. So I am begging of Your mercy
because You are so merciful, very easily You offer, bestow Your mercy. So I
am begging Your mercy." Karunam kuru mayi karuna-bharite,
sanaka-sanatana-varnita-carite. Now somebody may say, “Oh,
you are so great, learned scholar, you are so great saintly person, and you are
begging mercy from an ordinary girl? How is that?” Therefore Rupa Gosvami
says, “Oh, this is not ordinary girl.” Sanaka-sanatana-varnita-
carite. “This girl's description is possible to be made by great saintly persons
like Sanaka-Sanatana. She is not ordinary.” So the lesson is that we should not
treat Radharani as ordinary girl, or Krishna as ordinary man. They are the
Supreme Absolute Truth. But in the Absolute Truth, there is the pleasure
potency, and that is exhibited in the dealings of Radha and Krishna. And
Radha's expansion all the gopis, and Krishna is the Supreme Lord.
- Sudarshana devi dasi, Minneapolis.

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Suffering Is Purification
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur says in his book Jaiva Dharma:-
Gold is puried by heating and hammering. Being opposed to Krishna, the jiva
has become impure through engaging in mundane sense gratification.
Therefore, he must be purified by being beaten with hammers of misery on
the anvil of this material world. By this process, the misery of the jivas
opposed to Krishna, finally culminates in happiness. Suffering is therefore just
a sign of Bhagavan’s mercy. That is why intelligent people see the suffering of
jivas in Krishna’s pastime as auspicious though the foolish can see it as an
inauspicious source of misery.

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Nectar from H H Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj's diary
In his diary, Maharaj has referenced from Granthraj Srimad Bhagavatam,
purport for verse 1.9.26, when Bhishmadev instructs Maharaj Yudhistir in his
death-bed.
He prescribed nine qualifications for all human beings:
1. Not to become angry

2. Not to lie
3. To equally distribute wealth
4. To forgive
5. To beget children only by one's legitimate wife
6. To be pure in mind and hygiene in body
7. Not to be inimical toward any one
8. To be simple
9. To support-servants and subordinates.
- Samanjas das, Singapore.


Devotional Service Requires Endeavor
One day Maharaj was saying how the living entity's biggest problem in
devotional service is his laziness and lack of endeavour. Gurudev quoted from
Srimad Bhagavatam 2.8.4 particularly gåëataç ca sva-ceñöitam - that
until and unless one is serious in one's endeavour in studying Srimad
Bhagavatam, one cannot see Krishna in the heart. “Studying Bhagavatam does
not mean memorizing verses or spewing them like parrots”, he said. “It means
we should contemplate lovingly and deeply what Krishna is telling us!”
Gurudev pointed out that our everyday activities like sleeping and not waking
up for mangal arati, not cooking and offering prasadam and not reading require
no endeavour, so that is why Krishna does not come! But the moment we
somehow or other work little bit for Krishna, just see kälena näti
dérgheëa bhagavän viçate hådi- the Lord appears in the heart in no
time at all!
- Devakinandan Das, Singapore.


Maharaj tells a Funny Story
H H Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj shows a perfect balance of gravity and
humour in his lectures. In one of the lectures Maharaj mentions that yasoda-
nandana vraja-jana-ranjana. In Vraja-bhumi everybody walks.
Vraja means to walk and jana means everybody in general. Then he says that
this walking will keep one in good shape and will remove the fat from the body.
Once Maharaja and one of his servants were in a supermarket in a city in US to
buy yogurt and few other items. Every single item read on the label: non-fatty
or fat-free. Maharaj commented, “In the supermarket everything is labeled non-
fatty, but everybody who is walking around here is fat! Whereas in India all the
food is fatty, but everybody is thin.” So the ideal way of keeping in shape is
simply to walk. It is compulsory, in other words, to bring Vedic traditions in
your life, to be in contact with the natural elements.
Maharaj tells a very funny story about a pickpocket. Through this funny story,
he stressed on the point that “If one doesn't bring Vedic traditions in one's life
then naturally there will be some other traditions that will creep in.” The
pickpocket always went to temples because many devotees are gathering there,
and as soon as these devotees were bowing down: Dwarkadish, Dwarkadish,
Dwarkadish, and were involved in their worship, he robbed their necklaces and
wallets. So within a short period of time he became rich and was wondering
what to do next. He decided to get married and settle down. He started looking
for a pickpocket woman. Finally he found one and they decided to do business
together. In few months they were loaded with riches and they were wondering
what to do now. They thought, “Why not have a baby”, and they prayed to
Krishna that this child should become the biggest pick-pocket ever, and
maintain their tradition. After a year the baby was born, but to their surprise the
child was born with one hand closed. The parents were very much disturbed:
how he can pickpocket now!? Next they went to the best doctor in India, but
even he couldn't open his hand; the baby held it so very tight. Then the doctor
said them to go to a psychiatrist, because he sure will know some trick how to
open the hand. While arriving at the psychiatrist he told them that: You are a
pickpocket, your wife is also a pickpocket, so I am sure that the child must have
the same tradition. I will tell you what to do: you prepare a very nice necklace
which has rubies, diamonds and other valuable stones, and as soon as the child
will see it, he will open his hand to grab it. This instruction was followed by the
parents, and soon they prepared a most beautiful ornament. They brought it
before the eyes of the child and immediately his hand went open to snatch the
necklace. When he did that, they were surprised to see a ring falling from the
hands of the child. It was the ring of the nurse who delivered the child!
- Ramaniyangam krishna das, Belgium.

Krishna Conscious Pepsi
H H Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj recently gave a wonderful message in
Abudhabi from Srimad Bhagavatam 4.12.37:
çäntäù sama-dåçaù çuddhäù

sarva-bhütänuraïjanäù
yänty aïjasäcyuta-padam
acyuta-priya-bändhaväù
“Persons who are peaceful,equipoised, cleansed and purified, and who

know the art of pleasing all other living entities, keep friendship only with
the devotees of the Lord; alone can very easily achieve the perfection of
going back home, back to Godhead.”
Maharaj has beautifully put all the virtues of a pure devotee mentioned in this
verse in a single word “PEPSI”
P – Peaceful
E – Equipoised
P – Purified
S - Satisfying all the living entities
I – Intimate relationship with devotees of the Lord.
This is the PEPSI we should relish, not the bottled pepsi which is not good for
us. This pepsi will take us to Krishna (Ease) and the bottle pepsi will take us
away from Krishna (Disease).
- Sajjan Priya Krishna Das & Vaijayanti mala Devi Dasi, Abu Dhabi.

Loving Instructions from Maharaj
I would like to take this opportunity to share some of the beautiful pointers
Maharaj gave in my recent conversation with him. He gave powerful
instructions which would inspire us in our struggle to gain a stable footing in
our spiritual lives. Maharaj was telling that devotees' nature centers around 3
simple 'C's!! Cool, Calm and Composed.He was explaining very nicely that
come what may the material situation be, a devotee always maintains his cool,
calm and composed disposition because he sees Krishna's hand in everything.
Maharaj pointedly emphasized that a devotee ought to always bear in mind that
Krishna will never mean harm to His devotees in any circumstance. It is only
our minds that tosses and turns us topsy-turvy. He referred to 2 beautiful verses
in BG 2.2 and 2.3 (Prabhupad has provided thought-provoking purports to these
verses) as further evidence. Maharaj is most grave and so very scholarly but yet
he is able to inject a witty dose of humour amidst it. And how very lovingly he
speaks about devotees and Srimad Bhagavatam!! When I mentioned how
hesitant I am when it comes to calling him, he very lovingly mentioned, “I am
not your Guru, I don't believe in such things. I am actually your father.” And
with a further touch of sweetness he remarked, “Does a son need to fix an
appointment to see his father?!!” He oozes so much of love that it is so difficult
to pen it in words. Despite my wretched material existence, many times I have
wondered what little good fortune I must have done to have come under his
shelter. For the past 10 years, he has filled the deep vacuum in my heart with so
much of sweet memories. I can only thank him so much for that. I would like to
take the liberty and quote something very nice Subhadra Mataji had written in
an e-mail to me... “In San Diego, there are quite a few Prabhupada disciples,
and they always want to come see Gurudeva. Not only does Gurudeva himself
actually remind people of Srila Prabhupada, but the way Gurudeva speaks about
Srila Prabhupada actually makes Srila Prabhupada's disciples cry. Gurudeva is a
very special personality.”
- Samanjas Das, Singapore.


Faultfinding – A Dangerous Pitfall
Here is a wonderful piece of realization from Maharaj's lecture:
“As soon as you think bad, you speak bad, then you loose your own existence.
That is why we should completely avoid this. Krishna sees everything. Who are
we to judge anybody ? Who are we to criticize anybody ? That is the point to be
understood. And then once you free yourself from this bad thinking, then you
will definitely improve yourself. But if you start again, bad thinking or back-
biting or whatever it is , your ideas are going to be there. Those ideas always
stop the normal function of the body. That is the main thing to be understood.
We want to allow our body to function normally. And these bad ideas,
criticizing somebody, or speaking ill about somebody or this or that, it stops
your function. So don’t try to harm yourself. Before you harm others, you are
harming yourself. You know, if you want somebody to fall into the pit, you have
to dig the pit first. So you have to enter into it first. You have to be in the pit
first. And then somebody may fall. He may not fall even. You are already fallen
there. We have to stop pitfalls. We don’t want these pitfalls. Not for us also, not
for others also. And then the quality of your life, quality of your existence is
completely purifying. abhayaà sattva-saàçuddhir - you become
completely fearless, you are completely purified, and as soon as your existence
is completely purified, then there is knowledge, yoga and you are unflinchingly
situated. This is our goal of existence.”
Personal Observation: Bhagavat Gita has a nice reference to fault-finding in
verse 16.2 – ahiàsä satyam akrodha tyägaù çäntir
apaiçunam. The word apaiçunam means “aversion to fault-finding”. In
the purport Prabhupada says – “Apaishunam means that one should not find
fault with others or correct them unnecessarily. Of course to call a thief a thief
is not faultfinding, but to call an honest person a thief is very much offensive
for one who is making advancement in spiritual life.”


Relationship Between Spiritual Master and Disciple
This is an excerpt of a letter written by Gurudev as a reply to my question. In
my letter dated 30th March 1997, I had asked Gurudev a question as to what
was the nature of a disciple's relationship with his spiritual master. Gurudev
summed up everything so wonderfully.
- Radhika devi dasi, Singapore.
Excerpt of a letter dated 2.5.97

Lautoka, Fiji Islands
“Regarding spiritual master's relationship with disciples, we should always use

our common sense. Should never unnecessarily complicate the matter. Spiritual
Master - the term itself explains the relationship. It is fully and completely
spiritual, transcendental to all mundane matters and particularly to reactions
arising from the millions of mixtures of three modes of material nature. But in
order to fix the conditioned living entities, in unconditioned - transcendence -
certain wayward conditions (under the name of advancement) have got to be
legalised, if suitable or if unsuitable should have to be smashed, so that
unfavourable attitudes may not block the continuous flow of blissful devotion
to the Supreme Absolute truth, Krishna. To that extent only spiritual master is
supposed to sort out disciple’s problems.
Apart from the above mentioned clear (crystal clear) explanation, one special
qualification, naturally the spiritual master adopts and that is to be an
extremely, unselfish loving parent, spiritual father for all the conditioned souls.
In the whole world all the conditioned souls require loving guidance
particularly in their marital relationships. Therefore, he, being completely
unselfish and at the same time fully aware of the Vedic traditions, can
successfully guide the misguided modern society, provided the seeker is
obedient and submissive.
Taking into consideration the above mentioned two paras, each disciple may
appear to have different types of relationship with the spiritual master, because
each one faces different types of situations. But if we calmly think about the
whole matter, underneath of apparent differences, there is the BASIC UNITY-
and that is each conditioned soul, must leave the conditioned, hellish stage and
come to unconditional, blissful stage to get out of the vicious circle of birth,
death, disease and old age. That's it, dear daughter - nothing more and certainly
nothing less.
I sincerely hope this makes every point clear. Be blissful always. And
whenever possible, distribute that bliss to everybody and so doing, you will
experience that your blissful devotional service increases.”
Your Ever Wellwisher,

Mahavishnu Goswami
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Responsibility
Here is a very strong piece of instruction from Maharaj's diary.
The keyword is responsibility. Conditional souls are lazy. They have an inborn
tendency not to accept responsibility. Especially there is a tendency in the
conditioned soul not to accept responsibility for his spiritual growth, for
improving himself. A person may be busy, busy, busy doing so many tasks
putting in 70 hours a week, but if by doing so, he avoids the work of improving
himself, of refining his character, he is lazy.
Until you accept full responsibility of what you make of your life and take a
stand, you can take birth over and over and do the same useless programme of
laying blame elsewhere for lifetimes. What’s the use ? Why not shake off all
this ignorance in this life, tighten your belt and face the music ? Make a
decision that no matter what, I am going to mold my life to Krishna
Consciousness, this is success thinking in spiritual life.
Such success goes only to those who accept full responsibility and who makes a
firm, non-negotiable, non-retractable decision to do whatever it takes to
become Krishna Conscious, starting today.
- Kalacakra Krsna das. Minneapolis.


Nectar Bits from Maharaj’s Class in London
Even though Guru Maharaj was not feeling well, He still gave a class on
Bhagavatam yesterday (8th July 2002) evening – it was extremely wonderful.
Guru Maharaj said that:
1st Canto: Adhikar Lila – qualifies one to understand rest of the 11 Cantos
2nd Canto: Gyan Lila – provides us thorough knowledge.
Srila Prabhupada gives a very strong punch in the purport for SB 1.2.12:
Devotional service, which is based on the foreground of full knowledge,

combined with material detachment, which is fixed by aural reception of the
Vedanta Sruti like Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam is the only perfect
method by which the seriously inquisitive student can realise the Supreme
Absolute Truth.
Some important points Guru Maharaj made from the above sentence:
1. To Realise the truth is our goal.
2. Some seva is to be performed. Every service is equally important whether

Pujari work or performing cleaning for Krishna in the temple etc.
3. Detachment should not be misunderstood. According to your age and

inclination you have to perform prescribed duties – there should not be any
laziness in carrying out such duties. Krishna consciousness is that whatever
new is purchased/performed, eg clothes, bhoga, carrying out building work – it
should be performed for Lord Krishna – that is detachment. If you can leave
everything, that is best because eventually we have to leave everything..
4. The essential thing is to become fixed – this can be done with the help of the
scriptures. Aural reception should continuously go on. You have to hear the
message of the Godhead again and again. Hear it only from the specified
scriptures.
5. Students should be seriously inquisitive.
- Amoghalila Das, UK.


Nectar from H H Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj’s Diary
Guru Maharaj made a note in his diary from Reader’s Digest (popular monthly
magazine in UK) during 1989 about something that is very common between
Western philosophy and Vedic Culture:
Piety cannot consist of specific acts only such as prayers or rituals only but is
bound up with all actions, concommitent with all doings, accompanying and
shaping all life’s businesses. Man’s responsibility to God is a scaffold on
which he stands as daily he goes on building his life. His every deed or
incident of mind takes place on the scaffold so that unremmitingly man is at
work either building up or tearing down his life, his home, his hope of God.
Devotional service requires sincerity and inquistiveness.


Class by H. H. Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj in London
1. The Importance of Recitation of the Slokas

Krishna is non-different from His sound vibration, because the vibration is
transcendental. Transcendental word is very important. For instance, vehicles
on the road are governed by traffic, but Helicopter is high up – it transcends.
He is Absolute, so everything regarding Him is perfect. Henceforth, Krishna’s
sound vibration is very pleasing.
Sukadeva Goswami very clearly states in SB 2.4.15:
yat-kértanaà yat-smaraëaà yad-ékñaëaà

yad-vandanaà yac-chravaëaà yad-arhaëam
lokasya sadyo vidhunoti kalmañaà
tasmai subhadra-çravase namo namaù
“Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the all-auspicious Lord Sri

Krishna, about whom glorification, remembrances, audience, prayers,
hearing and worship can at once cleanse the effects of all sins of the
performer.”
2. Devotees are very Peaceful
Srimad Bhagavatam (4.12.37) very nicely describes the wonderful qualities of
the devotee:
çäntäù sama-dåçaù çuddhäù
sarva-bhütänuraïjanäù
yänty aïjasäcyuta-padam
acyuta-priya-bändhaväù
“Persons who are peaceful, equipoised, cleansed and purified, and who
know the art of pleasing all other living entities, keep friendship only with
devotees of the Lord; they alone can very easily achieve the perfection of
going back home, back to Godhead.”
Qualities of a devotee can be easily remembered:
Peaceful (çäntäù)
Equipoised (sama-dåçaù)
Pure (çuddhäù)
art of Satisfying others (sarva-bhütänuraïjanäù)
association with Isvara-minded (acyuta-priya-bändhaväù).
Sukadeva Goswami and Srila Prabhupada are empowered living entities. Srila
Prabhupada said that do not create my Murti, and place it on the altar, otherwise
people in general will think that He is God. He said he is not God, He is
ordinary person like everyone, the difference is He said “I am sincere, but you
are not”.
3. Source Of Income and Source of Maintenance are different

One can be very rich, but that does not mean he can purchase life-air. One can
earn lots of money, but who will help blood circulation, grow nails, grow hair,
digest food – that source is Krishna! We eat brown chapatti, brown rice, green
vegetables, yet our blood is red – How? By Krishna’s arrangement.
prakåteù kriyamäëäni guëaiù karmäëi sarvaçaù – Everything

is happening by the will of the Lord. Supreme will works, our’s does not work.


Importance of Reciting Verses
Maharaj arrived in Minneapolis safely yesterday evening and right away gave a
powerful lecture on the second chapter of Gita, bhakti yoga section (verse 54-
72). It is so amazing to see how everytime Maharaj speaks on the same subject
matter, the powerful instructions and realizations make it so nectarian that we
wish he continue on and on. It was so full of wit and humour and very high
realizations. Beyond all those wonderful instructions and realizations, one thing
that struck me mainly was Maharaj's tireless preaching! Maharaj travelled all
the way from London to New York on a 8 hour long flight and had to take
another flight from NY to Minneapolis the next day for 3 hours. And he came
straight to H G Purnendu prabhu's place after an hour long drive. Without even
taking prasadam or rest, Maharaj started giving class for over 2 hrs. And in the
end, Maharaj was concerned about everyone's taking prasadam and requested
us to honour prasadam. But he himself didn't take any, instead waited till we
finished ours and we had to take him to his rest place. And there also we had so
many difficulties in getting him in and by the time Maharaj slept, it was 10:30
pm. I could only look at his tolerance and humility, and his focus on preaching
the message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu with awe and reverance, and pray that
one day I will be able to serve him in his mission. He is truly teaching all of us
both by his instructions and his actions.
Today morning, Maharaj trained us in reciting the prayers of Sukadeva

Goswami in second canto - 2.4.12-23. It is so pleasing to hear Maharaj singing
those verses in 'kavim puranam' tune. And then Maharaj went on to recite
another powerful verse from 5th canto from the prayers of Demigods - 5.18.26
– ‘antar bahiç cäkhila-loka-pälakair...’. In that Maharaj said the
second line is very important - adåñöa-rüpo vicarasy uru-svanaù.
adåñöa -rupah means 'not seen'. vicarasi means 'You wander' and
uru-svanah means 'whose sounds(Vedic mantras) are very great'. The
demigods say that the Lord wanders in the sound vibration of the Vedic
mantras(in other words, He is present personally in the verses of revealed
scriptures). Maharaj stressed on how important it is to recite the verses
attentively. He said, 'just by reciting the verses everyday, we can attain all-
perfections. But the recitation has to be done sincerely. Then Maharaj made an
interesting connection to the 18 verses in Gita we recited the previous day and
Bhagavatam prayers. He said, 'the verses 2.54 - 72 in Gita helps us behave
properly (by controlling the mind, senses and so on). But good behaviour alone
is not enough. We have to become devotees of Krishna. For that, we have to
recite nice prayers on Krishna from Srimad Bhagavatam, like 'krsnaya
vasudevaya devaki nandanaya ca..' etc. And when we sing those verses
sincerely with feeling, Krishna will reciprocate accordingly.


The Three Principles to Drive Away Despondency
Here is an interesting punch from Srila Prabhupada's purport in Srimad
Bhagavatam 1.9.12 as discovered by Maharaj in his latest visit to Minneapolis.
Lying on the bed of arrows, when Bhismadeva is passing away in the presence
of Lord Krishna, he told Yudishtira Maharaj ,
aho kañöam aho ’nyäyyaà

yad yüyaà dharma-nandanäù
jévituà närhatha kliñöaà
vipra-dharmäcyutäçrayäù
“Oh, what terrible sufferings and what terrible injustices you good souls
suffer for being the sons of religion personified. You did not deserve to
remain alive under those tribulations, yet you were protected by the
brahmanas, God and religion.”
Srila Prabhupada makes a very strong statement in his transcendental purport:
"As long as a person is fully in cooperation with the wishes of the Lord,
guided by the bona fide brahmanas and Vaisnavas and strictly following
religious principles, one has no cause for despondency, however trying the
circumstances of life."
Maharaj highlighted three aspects in this statement of Srila Prabhupada.
1. One should be fully in cooperation with the wishes of the Lord.
2. And he/she should do so guided by the bona fide Brahmanas and Vaishnavas.
3. He/She should strictly follow the religious principles (in terms of eating,
mating, sleeping etc).
Then he has no cause for distress or despondency – however trying the

circumstances of life may be!.


Sanskrit Is The Mother of All Languages
Maharaj gave some interesting findings of how many modern languages like
English were transformed from Sanskrit.
 The word Fever comes from the sanskrit word jvara which was initially used
as jever which means "an abnormal temperature".
 The word Dyspepsia (bad digestion) comes from dushpacanashaya.

 The word Know comes from jna.
 The word Muscle comes from mousal.
 The word Anasthesia (one lying in an improper state) comes from anastha-
shaayi.
 The word Surgeon (one who wields sharp instruments) comes from salya-
jana.
 The word Fertility comes from phalati-iti.
 The word Alopathy (technical meaning is 'treatment is different from the

symptom') comes from alagpathy.
 The word Move from muhyati
 The word Father from pithra
 The word Mother from mathra
 The word Sister from svastra
 The art of Navigation was born in the river Sindh 6000 years ago. The very
word Navigation is derived from the Sanskrit word navgatih. The word navy
is also derived from Sanskrit Nou..
These are just a few examples. If we keep our eyes open, we can find
innumerable such words that have spread from sanskrit all over the world.


An Instructive Letter by H H Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj
While browsing through an old but pricesless diary of Maharaj containing his
writings in the early 80s, I came across this interesting, inspiring and sweet
letter which he seemed to have written to a devotee residing in London though
it appears not to have been mailed out eventually. Expressed in simple English,
nevertheless it conveys a powerful, poignant and insightful message directed
not just towards the destined devotee but to all those of us aspirants who are
attempting to traverse the path of Krishna Consciousness.
1036, Harrow Road,

London N.W.10.
6-7-82
Dearest Sanat kumar Prabhu,
Read a kind letter from you. I was not keeping very well, hence delay in
replying you. Please excuse me – and do keep on writing to me about your
welfare etc.
Please accept my humble obeisances and convey my kind regards to your sister
& all. As we have known from Vedic literature, we should every second see
Krishna everywhere. You very well know that verse from Srimad Bh. Gita:-
bahünäà janmanäm ante

jïänavän mäà prapadyate
väsudevaù sarvam iti
sa mahätmä su-durlabhaù
Please read the translation from the text.
Myself, I am always very much pleased to see you and have a nice chat with
you about Krishna - Devotee doesn’t know anything else- and is there any need
to know anything else? No – never – just know Sri Krishna through holy
scriptures – experience Him always around you and remember Him through
chanting Maha Mantra – Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare
Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare – Nothing else, in this
human form is needed Prabhu. And if you or anybody follows this Royal Road,
happiness definitely will fall in his or her lap. Devotees don’t want anything
else Prabhu. As you know Prabhu a verse from Bhagavad Gita (10.9) :
mac-cittä mad-gata-präëä
bodhayantaù parasparam
kathayantaç ca mäà nityaà
+
tuñyanti ca ramanti ca
“The thoughts of my pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are surrendered to
Me, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss enlightening one another and
conversing about Me” – Prabhu what could be better than this? Nothing really.
We are all simply mad to run after a filthy garbage leaving aside the nectar.
Hare Krishna – the other day I read a very nice verse from Srimad Bhagavatam
(2.1.3) please try to learn this verse by heart & it would guide you throughout
the whole of your life :-
nidrayä hriyate naktaà
vyaväyena ca vä vayaù
divä cärthehayä räjan
kuöumba-bharaëena vä
nidrayä—by sleeping; hriyate—wastes; naktam—night;

vyaväyena—sex indulgence; ca—also; vä—either; vayaù—
duration of life; divä—days; ca—and; artha—economic;
éhayä—development; räjan—O King; kuöumba—family
members; bharaëena—maintaining; vä—either.
Translation: The lifetime of such an envious householder is passed at night

either in sleeping or sex indulgence and in daytime either in making money or
maintaining family members.
Prabhu, all living entities in this world are busy in completely temporary things
– Unless one, by the association of pure transcendentalist – is very keen to get
out of this nasty entanglement, there is no chance for him to go back to the
dearest Supreme Person Sri Krishna.
So much could be written or told about the Unlimited One. But He, as a whole
is in our Maha mantra : Please chant continuously and He will help you. He is
very kind. Hare Krishna.
I hope your leg is behaving alright. Slowly you are going to be alright, there is
no doubt about it. Hope everybody is well – For preaching, I long to come that
side sometime. Krishna will arrange. Now here, everything is normal.
Blackheat place is slowly coming up. And one nice sannyasi is here from India.
Param pujya Tirthapada is gone to America and is due here maybe within a
week or two.
You are a nice sincere soul, having a thirst to know Krishna & eventually go
back to Him. He will definitely be with you. As you have written, association is
very important – Keep in continuous association of Maha mantra, Bh. Geeta
etc. Hare Krishna Prabhu. Do write to me again. The address by Krishna’s
grace is same as yet.
Hare Krishna.
Ever Yours
(Signed)
Maha Vishnu dasa


Nectarian Letter from H H Mahavishnu Goswami
While rummaging through my cupboard, I stumbled upon this letter from
Maharaj dated 8/02/1997 and it caught my attention instantly by dint of the fact
that as a footnote of the letter, Maharaj had mentioned that this letter be printed
out and circulated to everybody. But somehow due to an unfortunate
combination of many factors, primarily laziness I failed to execute his
instruction then. Now I am 5 years late but I reasoned that better be late than
never at all!! I thought that this sanga might be an appropriate platform to host
the contents of this letter, which is remarkably illuminating the spiritual
precepts that we ought to adhere to in order to find success in devotional service
and yet simultaneously grope our way through the material mire.
Maharaj’s Letter
Dwaraka Dham
8-02-97 Sat
6:15
Dearest Samanjas,
Please accept my heartfelt blessings. A.G.T.S.P. All glories to Sri Sri Rukmini
Dwarkadhishji.
I am in receipt of your letter dated 22-01-97. Extremely pleased to go through

the contents. If you expertly manage your studies etc at present and do expertly
your material activities and in your spare time be sincere to chant 16 rounds and
scrutinizingly study B.G & S.B or any book written by him or about him, then
be sure dearest son, you are always with me, do not worry at all wherever you
may be. Four regulative principles must be very seriously and sincerely
followed.
You can serve by using your intelligence. I went through your notes on B.G
verses. You have nearly covered all important points. At the moment, please
concentrate on your studies. But soon Sri Krishna will give you sufficient time
to update your notes, by supplementing with B.G verses you have referred to
and relevant verses & stories from S.B regarding the same subject.
As soon as you settle in your service or any job, other developments are bound
to follow by Krishna’s mercy. Srila Prabhupad’s lectures are alive eternally.
Please grasp all inspiration and unlimited knowledge from them.
Please expertly do the material duties, that will bring you in the mode of
goodness and then in goodness, with full force and purity you chant and study
the scriptures scrutinizingly and as you intensely desire, prepare detailed notes.
In future we will have to print books.
Please keep all this ready in your mind – and Krishna will catch your finger and
lead you to enlighten the public at large.
I must stop here. Krishna willing see you in the end of March 97. I hope this
meets you in good health and KC.
I remain,
Yours Ever Wellwisher
(signed)
Mahavishnu Goswami

Loving Instructions from H H Mahavishnu Goswami
I have extracted and reproduced excerpts from a letter dated 8/11/1994 which
Maharaj wrote to me. They contain general instructions and are both
enlightening and enlivening. The common thread that weaves through almost
all of Maharaj’s letters is that a sadhaka ought to strive to seek a harmonious
balance between one’s material and spiritual aspirations. However as he ages,
the material fever should abate and in place the spiritual fever has to be upped
more fervently. Thanking one and all. Hari haribol !!

Maharaj’s Letter
Hare Krishna
London 8-11-94 Tuesday
5.30 am
Dear Kumar,
Dear Daya, Vicknesh, Aris, Ashok, Hari and Sri - Prabhus – Unni and all
Singapore Vaisnavas –
Please accept my heartfelt blessings. All glories to Srila Prabhupada, all glories
to Sri Guru and Gauranga.
I am pleased to acknowledge the receipt of your detailed, humble letter dated 9-

10-94. I was in Europe for two weeks hence bit delay in replying your letter.
Srila Prabhupad wanted everyone to understand the Vedic culture through our
scriptures. As it is, in the material existence everybody is suffering
unsurpassable miseries. And being ignorant, they are behaving like crazy
persons. Please request them all to add Krishna and Bhagavad Gita to their
disturbed miserable lives and they will find real solace with Krishna
Consciousness. But all of you please learn 4 seed verses i.e Ch 10 verses 8, 9,
10 and 11 and Ch 12 and 15 full. And then as time permits you all please go
through the whole Bhagavad Gita . May our Lord bless you all young persons
to genuinely help the public at large. Sincerity of purpose is required. Rest of it
is expertly managed by Krishna. My heart is really dancing in real ecstasy to
read that you are all managing Krishna temple programme in Dhotis and tilaks
etc. Please always try to be very punctual and serious in conducting the whole
programme. With all these activities genuinely conducted my long cherished
dreams seem to take definite shape. If all of you try genuinely, I guarantee you
all that soon there will be a very nice sparkling group – maybe Krishna’s grace
situated in some preaching center. Our nucleus will be at Valsad. I am going to
India in Jan,Feb 95 and staying there for 4/5 months this time to give definite
shape to Valsad project. On Sunday, we are flying to Nairobhi (Kenya) and
South Africa for two months. We will be back in London in the middle of Jan
95 and soon depart for India. So please write to me at London’s address.
Dear Kumar, as soon as time permits I am eager to write to your mother. Till
that time all of you, without neglecting your studies or prescribed duties,
genuinely further Srila Prabhupad’s movement as much as you can. May our
dearest Lord Krishna be with you always.
Your Ever well-wisher

(signed) Mahavisnu Goswami

Drops of Nectar
Normally, whenever I am fortunate enough to be in the association of Maharaj,
I would try as far as possible to jot down nice instructions of his or interesting
incidents revolving around him. They definitely serve as important landmarks
to guide us in our faltering spiritual odyssey. No doubt the imprints of these
instructions and incidents are of an everlasting nature but in this age we are
“blessed” with short-lived memories and time has the undesirable potency of
being able to wipe away the memories of these eternal and sweet moments. So
it would be judicious to pen them down quickly when they are fresh in our
minds. Certainly, I have not been very meticulous or successful in these
attempts but from what little I have garnered in the past decade that I have
come to know Maharaj, as a puny contribution I have strung together and am
presenting herein a few of these gems.
The Superiority of The Tract of Bharatvarsha

If my memory serves me correctly, I think this took place during Maharaj’s
second visit to Singapore after he took sannyas. We had just received Maharaj
in the arrival hall when he stood gazing upon the sparkling clean floor of our
renowned airport and with his endearing eyes wide open and his eyebrows
raised high, he remarked “Oh!! So very clean!!” And in the same breath,
looking at us benignly he quipped, “But you know a dirty India is far far better
than a clean Singapore!!” - He then broke into his trademark oceanic smile that
seemed to light up the entire airport before sauntering forward gingerly!!
Needless to say he completely floored the few of us who were fortunate enough
to be there, hovering around him with this very witty remark!!
The Hallmark of A True Devotee

For those who might be prescribing to the mistaken notion that being a true
devotee of Krishna means to be transferred to an esoteric dimension of sorts,
here is what Maharaj has to simply say as to what embodies the true spirit of
devotion to Krishna : “When one truly becomes a devotee of Krishna, the first
symptom that he exhibits is that he keeps himself happy ALWAYS in all
circumstances!! There should be never mental anguish and agitations. Worries,
anxieties, frustrations, sadness, despondency, melancholy and words to such
effect do not exist in the dictionary of a devotee!! He is so blissfully joyful and
radiates so much of aura that you have to wear sunglasses to be able to see
him!!”
The 3 Cs of a Devotee
Nowadays there is so much of harping on the 5 Cs pertaining to materialistic
living. But Maharaj belonging to the spiritual paradigm enumerates the
following 3 Cs that a devotee cultivates earnestly within himself:- A devotee is
COOL, CALM and COMPOSED always!! And for those who have been in the
association of Maharaj can certainly vouch for the fact that he never loses his
composure even in the face of difficulties and adversities. His super cool and
deeply thoughtful nature blended with a good sense of humour and wit is truly
amazing and overwhelming.
Devotional Service is Easy But Yet Difficult!

Maharaj once mentioned, “To become a devotee is easy since Krishna is all-
attractive. But to maintain being a devotee is difficult and it is most difficult to
quit this body as a true devotee. Life is bound to bounce up and down.. so
please tolerate and be humble in all endeavors.”
Krishna, The Meticulous Planner

Once a few of us were sitting with Maharaj atop a small cliff overlooking the
sea, when Maharaj motioned towards the huge waves at a distance that were
approaching the shores with great force but broke their momentum along the
way to die off innocuously once hitting the shores. Then he posed this
question.So who is stopping the thrust of these waves at the shores? - Seeing no
response forthcoming he delineated - The ocean is so huge and produces
powerful waves but Krishna stops them at the shores from causing further
destruction. Just see how meticulously Krishna arranges and manages the
affairs
of this material world. Likewise, a devotee also imbibes and assimilates this
trait and manages his duties expertly. A devotee acquires and maintains his
belongings in a manageable and commonsensical manner and this has to begin
right from his razor kit in that he disposes his unwanted razor blades, keeping in
possession those blades he needs to use only. Never too much and never too
little is the philosophy a devotee adheres to.
Sloka for Meditation

To round off this session, the following is a nice verse Maharaj once went
through. This is from Vidura Niti, spoken by Vidura.
satam vihaaya bhoktavyam

sahasram vihaaya snatavyam
laksam vihaaya daatavyam
kotim tyaktva harim bhajet
“Leave a hundred of engagements and take your prasadam. Leave a

thousand of engagements and take your shower or bath. Leave a hundred
thousand engagements and perform charity. And leave a million
engagements and perform devotional service i.e surrender to Lord Sri
Krishna with full heart !!”


Drinking the Nectar of Devotion Thru Compassion
Most of the devotee members of this list must be aware that today (actually it
was "yesterday" in Australia) is the auspicious Vyasa Puja of H H Mahavishnu
Goswami Maharaj. I happened to talk to Maharaj briefly to get His Holiness's
blessings on this auspicious day. Maharaj was all blissful as always, although
he just returned from the function in the temple. I could understand that he was
literally tired answering so many calls from all over the world, and constantly
meeting with people, providing them with spiritual solutions for their material
problems by giving enlightening realizations from the pages of Srimad
Bhagavatam and Srimad Bhagavad-gita, and many more. Even then, Maharaj
was so kind in giving me his invaluable association for that brief time. It only
dawned on me, that how important he has taken this task to be - "to have a
compassionate attitude towards all the living entities (dayaya sarva
bhutesu)"! It is generally said that all these important days for the
Vaishnavas like the appearance and dissappearance days of acaryas, Ekadasi,
Janmashtami, appearance days of various incarnations of the Lord etc, are
meant for us to give a chance to remember the glories of the Lord and His great
devotees! How pleasing is this service of remembering the glories of someone
who loves us!!! It is because they are showing so much love without any
expectation or reservation, that they are glorified in all places all the time! How
fortunate are we to come in contact with the Lord and His great/sweet devotees
?!!!
The idea is to somehow or other put into practice, the art of remembering the
Lord and His devotees and follow in their footsteps (of being lovingly
compassionate to all the living entities). Let us try to remember their glories to
purify our contaminated minds - SB 2.2.37:
pibanti ye bhagavata ätmanaù satäà

kathämåtaà çravaëa-puöeñu sambhåtam
punanti te viñaya-vidüñitäçayaà
vrajanti tac-caraëa-saroruhäntikam
“Those who drink through aural reception, fully filled with the nectarean
message of Lord Krishna, the beloved of the devotees, purify the polluted
aim of life known as material enjoyment and thus go back to Godhead, to
the lotus feet of Him [the Personality of Godhead].”


A Transcendental Class by Maharaj in Dwaraka
It is by the mercy of Sri Sri Rukmini-Dwarakadish and our beloved Guru
Maharaj that around 9 devotees from Abudhabi congregation attended the
Dwaraka Rath-Yatra on 26.01.2003. This was the first ISKCON Rath yatra we
all attended and it was totally blissful and transcendental. It was like being in
Vaikunta and we did not want to come back from that Vaikunta atmosphere.
We were also fortunate to have the association of our beloved Guru Maharaj
and some other sanyasis and it was really purifying. Devotees from different
parts of the world were there, so also from different places in India. Their
Lordships Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra were looking blissfully
beautiful showering their unlimited mercy on all the conditioned souls. The
ecstatic sankirtan was led by His Graces Gudakesha Prabhu and
Yashomatinandan Prabhu. Around 300 devotees participated in the Rath-yatra
and there was book distribution and Prasadam distribution.
Our Guru Maharaj H.H. Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj gave very very
instructing and enlightening discourses. In Srimad Bhagavatam, Sudama
glorifies the quality of Lord Sri Krishna by saying,
kiïcit karoty urv api yat sva-dattaà

suhåt-kåtaà phalgv api bhüri-käré
"The Lord considers even His greatest benedictions to be insignificant,

while He magnifies even a small service rendered to Him by His well-
wishing devotee."
Our Guru Maharaj is a living example of this great quality and Maharaj was
glorifying all the devotees for their smallest good quality. In return for our
insignificant surrender, Maharaj is bestowing on everybody so much of mercy
and knowledge that anybody who has even little gratitude cannot ever give up
the shelter of the lotus feet of this great Mahatma.The following are some of the
extracts from the discourses which Maharaj gave.
Maharaj says that to be serious about Devotional Service, we should know only
two things. One is that we are the servitor of the Supreme Absolute Truth,
Krishna. Second is that Krishna is the supreme master. Once we understand this
perfectly, it keeps us humble in all circumstances and as a servant we should
always be obeying and respecting the master and never try to be the master
ourselves.
Maharaj was saying that the main reason for our dissatisfaction is that we are
not sufficiently chanting Krishna's names or adequately glorifying Him. Our
mind is meant only for remembering Krishna and is not meant for anything
else. If the mind is filled with so many other things, then there will be no place
for Krishna and this makes us completely dissatisfied. Maharaj was taking class
on SB 9.10.53:
nädhi-vyädhi-jarä-gläni-
duùkha-çoka-bhaya-klamäù
måtyuç cänicchatäà näséd
räme räjany adhokñaje
“When Lord Ramachandra, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was the

King of this world, all bodily and mental suffering, disease old age,
bereavement, lamentation, distress,fear and fatigue were completely
absent. There was even no death for those who did not want it.”
Maharaj was expertly describing the threefold material miseries adhyatmika,

adhibautika and adhidaivika and also the way to counteract them.
Some of the important points mentioned were:
Adhyatmika
These are the sufferings from the body and the mind. Regulated rest and
regulated eating leads to a sound body which helps us in carrying out our
supreme goal i.e. Devotional service. In this regard, Maharaj was telling that the
mind is the main source of trouble and this is reflected in the body. Actually,
worry has no factual existence at all. The best way to cure the mentally
concocted worries is that we should make arrangements to carry
on our occupational duties in an honest and straight forward way. If we are not
able to arrange somethings with all our efforts, we should pray to Krishna
sincerely and chant His names. Krishna is an expert manager and He will take
care and we should not be unnecessarily taking on all these things and worry.
Adhibautika
These are the sufferings from other living entities. This is mainly because of
envy. Because of envious nature, one living entity tries to inflict misery on the
others and enjoys seeing the sufferings of others. In this regard, Maharaj was
telling the story of 3 friends who wanted to tease one man. When the man was
walking on the road, the first fellow went and shouted to the man that it was a
ghost . The man said that he was not a ghost and angrily started walking. After
a few kilometers, the second friend came and shouted that it was a ghost
walking. The man got really irritated and shouted saying that he was not a
ghost. After sometime the third fellow came, looked at the man and shouted
that it was a ghost. The man by now became almost mad since three people had
said the same thing and began to believe himself to be a ghost. To end this kind
of destructive mentality, we have to go to the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam
which provides solutions for all the problems. The seventh canto says,
"krpaya bhutajam dukham" - Instead of being envious, we should be
compassionate towards the other living entities and this way the other living
entity will slowly
change for the better, Even otherwise, by being nice, we will be completely
satisfied and peaceful. In this regard, Maharaj mentioned the advice which
Dhruva's mother Sunithi gave to him saying,
mämaìgalaà täta pareñu maàsthä

bhuìkte jano yat para-duùkhadas tat
"My dear son, don't wish for anything inauspicious for others. Anyone who
inflicts pain upon others suffers himself from that pain." As soon as we stop
retaliating, we stop suffering.
Adhidaivika
These are the sufferings from nature caused by the demigods like the
earthquake, flood etc., Srimad Bhagavatam seventh canto says daivaà
jahyät samädhinä. The only way is to chant lovingly and with
concentration the Holy names of the Lord.
Thus if we want to really purify ourselves and get rid of all kinds of miseries,
we should come to the pages of the scriptures. Otherwise this illuminated
existence would soon end and we will be put in some dark species of life. In
order to approach the scriptures, our thinking should be pure. For thinking to be
pure, the mind should be pure. For the mind to be pure, the actions should be
pure and for actions to be pure, there should be association with pure minded
people. If this process is perfect, then we can Real-ize. We can see the reality
that Krishna is the all in all. If we can see the Reality, then there is Real-ization.
- Sajjana priya krishna das, Vaijayanti mala devi dasi & Karthik, Abu dhabi.

Transcendental Gems
I would like to share another installment of some random picks from my diaries
in which I normally scribble notes of my own reflections as well as nice
narrations centering around Maharaj.
1. It’s the tail-end of 1996. I have travelled here to London and am with
Maharaj, basking in his association yet again and trying my level best to serve
him. One morning after mangala arati, I somehow helped Maharaj mount the
long, spiraling wooden staircase in the Manor but not without great difficulty.
Having reached the top of the stairs, Maharaj gasped for precious air before he
whispered in a low tone in my ears “Oh Samanjas! This old age is so very
troublesome, you know. Would you want to exchange my old age for your
bubbly youth like King Yayati did with his son?” Not in the least anticipating
such a question and being very naive then in my Krishna Consciousness, I stood
dumbstruck, rooted to the ground like a tree completely baffled as to what was
appropriate to say. Not mentioning anything further, Maharaj clasped his
powerful hands firmly on mine and dragged me along the corridor of the
Bhaktivedanta Manor which was set in the beautiful backdrop of the fresh rays
of the early morning sun pouring in.
2. Every other time since then whenever I witness helplessly Maharaj struggling
up a staircase my heart cringes and the memories of the aforementioned
incident gushes through my mind. A few years back when Maharaj was here in
Singapore, we were once confronted yet again with the daunting prospect of
having to help him climb up a flight of stairs. I politely suggested to him that
perhaps we could carry him up in a chair. In a mellifluous voice, he remarked,
“Oh! No no, not now at least. But there will come a time when you all would
have to do that for me.” We earnestly hope and pray that that day would never
dawn and Maharaj would be endowed with an everlasting healthy life so that he
can continue flooding the parched landscape of this material world with the
tidal waves of the ambrosial ocean of Krishna Katha.
3. The year 1993 has arrived and together brought Maharaj, the ambassador of
the spiritual world to us here in Singapore so that he can rain upon us his
showers of mercy and water the fledgling creepers of devotion in our hearts.
Once after an enthralling evening pravachan which the audience lapped up
eagerly, during the question and answer session one devotee posed this query as
to why Krishna hankers for the love of the living entities when he is Atmara,
fully-satisfied and Maharaj’s succinct reply is one that would remain firmly
etched in our memories. He replied “Yes, Krishna is not in want of your love.
He is Atmaram, self-satiated so he doesn’t need your love but still he very
much yearns for your love….that’s the speciality of Krishna!!”
4. We have arrived here one early morning in the ISKCON temple in KL,
Malaysia to pick Maharaj and fetch him over to Singapore. Maharaj has just
delivered the morning Bhagavatam class in his trademark endearing manner
and in the ensuing question and answer session, one devotee posed the query
“Scriptures enjoin that everything and anything can be dovetailed in the service
of Krishna. So would it be correct to say that even an unfavourable trait such as
anger can be employed by us to serve Krishna since we see a prime example of
this in Hanuman?” In a benevolent albeit grave voice, Maharaj counter-queried,
“But are you on the level of devotion of Hanuman to be able to imitate him?”
Then he elaborated further, “No no no we cannot do that. For us, ordinary
people the advice is there in B.G 4.10 wherein Krishna exhorts us to completely
do away with the quality of anger since the moment we fall prey to it, we glide
down to the lower modes of passion and ignorance.”
6. I was thumbing through the 9th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam and one
specific verse caught my attention. It was pregnant with meaning and expounds
the intimate relationship that bounds Krishna and His pure devotees.
sädhavo hådayaà mahyaà
sädhünäà hådayaà tv aham
mad-anyat te na jänanti
nähaà tebhyo manäg api
“The devotees are My heart and I am the heart of My devotees. My
devotees do not know anyone but Me; similarly I do not know anyone but
My devotees!!” - SB 9.4.68.
The common adage goes that not even a blade of grass moves without the
sanction of God. So its very interesting to note that in this verse the all-
knowing, omniscient, omnipresent Supreme Lord emphasizes that He is
unaware of everyone and everything else except for the affairs of His pure
devotees. Such is the unfathomable depth of the intimate love that exists
between Himself and His pure devotees!! As I ponder over what this verse is
explaining, I gaze up at the night sky peppered with twinkling stars and wonder
aloud how befittingly this verse applies to Maharaj, the quintessential devotee.

Cultivating the Fabric of Devotion
We were really fortunate to have the invaluable association of our beloved Guru
Maharaj in Chennai from 12.02.2003 to 16.02.2003. Maharaj flooded the
parched land of Madras with his nectarian Krishna katha. With His blessings, I
shall share with you the nectarian instructions as far as my intelligence allows.
Maharaj was telling that wherever there is Krishna-katha or Krishna Kirtan,
Krishna is personally present there whereas we have the wrong idea that we are
doing Krishna bhajan and Krishna is elsewhere. The shastras say,
harih sada vaset tatra yatra bhagavata janah
gayanti bhakti bhavena harer namaiva kevalam.
Hari is present where the devotees sing with loving devotion His glories. But if
the Bhakti-bhaava is not there, He is not pleased. He is Saragrahi
Janardana. The word “Bhava” has another meaning that is the price of a
thing. When we buy the cloth, we feel the fabric of the cloth. If the fabric is
fine, then the price is more. If the fabric is rough, then the price or bhaav is less.
In the same way we have our Devotional fabric. If the Devotional fabric is full
of understanding with feeling and devotional attitude then it is fine. On the
other hand if there is roughness then there is no bhakthi-bhava. The only way to
increase this bhav is to be more inclined in our devotional service and then all
the pastimes of the Lord will be eventually revealed to us automatically. This
bhava can never be
enforced from outside. The enrichment of our devotional fabric depends upon
our sincere performance of devotional service like doing mangala arathi,
reading of scriptures, following the regulative principles. This also includes
removal of unwanted tendencies in us like cheating, criticising others, being
envious and so on. Unless we genuinely try to weed these negative tendencies,
our Bhakti will not prosper.
Maharaj said that a simple thing like understanding the four seed verses of
Bhagavad Gita (10.8-11) can increase our bhakthi-bhaava. These seed verses
are present in all the verses of Bhagavad Gita, just as the seed of the mango tree
manifests the tree and is there everywhere. Krishna says in the first seed verse
“aham sarvasya Prabhavo” i.e He is the original source of everything.
If this idea can somehow or the other sink into our mind, then it will naturally
increase our Bhaava for Him. This should be conveyed to our mind
continously. Then we will come to understand "Nasty eva nasty eva
nasty eva gatir anyatha" that there is no other gathi for us other than
Krishna.That is why Srila prabhupad has so mercifully given us a program of
daily chanting and reading of the scriptures. Otherwise the mind is so foolish
that it gets entangled with so many nonsensical things and goes astray. That is
why H.D.G. Bhakthisiddhanta Sarasvati Takur asked us to beat our mind with a
shoe hundred times everyday. Otherwise the mind gets attached to the family or
the bank balance and our devotional service becomes completely bankrupt.
Krishna says "mattah sarvam pravartate"- everything emanates from
Me. Srimad Bhagavatam 3rd canto gives a nice description of how the material
creation takes place. Maharaj emphasised that our intelligence should be
utilised to read and understand these things. In one of the researches conducted
in US, it was found out that we use only 10% of our intelligence in our whole
lifetime and the remaining 90% we hand it over back to the Lord when we die.
Instead it should be utilised fully in reading and understanding the scriptures.
Just like BBC is the authority in news media, we also have our own spiritual
BBC i.e Bhagavad-gita, Bhagavatam and Chanting. Just as whatever is said in
the BBC is authentic, in the same way those who follow this transcendental
BBC are also authentic.
Devotional service to Krishna is like an intravenous injection. When the disease
is serious, ordinary injection will not work. We are all completely diseased and
we have to take this intravenous injection. With all the instructions at our
disposal because of the mercy and hard labour of Srila Prabhupad, we cannot
afford to close our eyes for our own interests. Maharaj ended the lecture with a
punch, “If we improve our fabric of devotional service we will all shine like the
Sun, that one may require goggles to see us!”
Transcendental Glorification of the Lord
It is really an out of the world experience to hear the singing of "Jaya Radha
Madhava...', by our beloved Guru Maharaj. How much ever times we hear him
sing that song with his transcendental voice, each time it is a new experience of
love for Krishna! We cannot vibrate the song the way he does at his advanced
age and that is because his entire being is filled with unadulterated love for the
Lord. Most of the times Maharaj is so engrossed with the song that he starts the
pravachan explaining each and every word of this song and each time it is a
spiritual treat to listen to the discourse on this. In Chennai also Maharaj gave an
enlightening explanation on "Jaya Gopijana Vallabha". A brief account of that:-
This "Jaya" or glorification has been nicely explained by the Gopis when they
were singing the Gopika Geetham out of feelings of separation from the Lord
just before the Rasa dance. The Gopis sing in SB 10.31.1:
jayati te ’dhikaà janmanä vrajaù

çrayata indirä çaçvad atra hi
dayita dåçyatäà dikñu tävakäs
tvayi dhåtäsavas tväà vicinvate
“The gopis said: O beloved, Your birth in the land of Vraja has made it
exceedingly glorious, and thus Indira, the goddess of fortune, always
resides here. It is only for your sake that we, your devoted servants,
maintain our lives. We have been searching everywhere for You, so please
show Yourself to us.”
It is the presence of Krishna that has made Vrajabhumi glorious. Maharaj said
that any other place like Chennai also has the same land, water and stones, but
Vrajabhoomi is especially glorious because of the birth of Krishna there.Every
living entity wants to be glorified but on our own, we do not have any value and
cannot be glorified. Srila Prabhupad went to America with few dollars in hand,
a kartal, a few Bhagavatam books and now we can see that in each longitude of
the earth there is an ISKCON temple and as the globe turns, it is continuously
Guru puja time in one temple or the other and as such effectively all the 24
hours, Srila Prabhupad is being worshipped with ghee lamps and obeisances.
The reason for this is that Srila Prabhupad had Krishna with him and thus there
is glorification for him. In the same way, all the living entities who carry
Krishna with them will be glorified. In SB 3.16.7 Krishna says:
yat-sevayä caraëa-padma-pavitra-reëuà
sadyaù kñatäkhila-malaà pratilabdha-çélam
na çrér viraktam api mäà vijahäti yasyäù
prekñä-lavärtha itare niyamän vahanti
“The Lord said: Because I am the servitor of My devotees, My lotus feet
have become so sacred that they immediately wipe out all sin, and I have
acquired such a disposition that the goddess of fortune does not leave Me,
even though I have no attachment for her and others praise her beauty and
observe sacred vows to secure from her even a slight favour.”
The Lord says that eventhough He has no attachment for Lakshmi, Lakshmi
always follows Him. Thus if we follow the devotional service properly, we
need not worry about the flow of Lakshmi. Everything will be nicely taken care
of. Thus we should sincerely carry on with devotional service and there should
be no pollution in the ultimate goal. Otherwise it becomes
vishuditaashaya i.e. polluted aim and the whole endeavour becomes sick.
The definition of the word "Gopi" is given in Srimad Bhagavatam as

"gaubhih bhakthi rasam pibathi iti gopih'- one whose senses
are completely employed in the devotional service of Krishna and are thus
drinking the nectarean juice of bhakti. If every second of our existence is
invested in the remembrance of Krishna, then we can also become Gopis. The
extent of their absorption is nicely described in the following verse from
Govinda damodara stotra:
vikretu kaamaa 'khila gopa kanya

muraari paadaarpita chitta vrittih
dadhyaadhikam moha vashaad avocad
govinda damodara madhaveti
When the Gopis went for selling butter and butter milk, their minds were so
much attached to the lotus feet of Murari, that instead of calling out 'butter' and
'buttermilk' for selling ,they were calling out, "Govinda' and 'Damodara'. The
gopis also sing in the gopika geetham:
aöati yad bhavän ahni känanaà

truöi yugäyate tväm apaçyatäm
kuöila-kuntalaà çré-mukhaà ca te
jaòa udékñatäà pakñma-kåd dåçäm
“When you go off to the forest during the day, a tiny fraction of a second
becomes like a millennium for us because we cannot see You. And even
when we can eagerly look upon Your beautiful face, so lovely with its
adornment of curly locks, our pleasure is hindered by our eyelids which
were fashioned by our foolish creators.”
When this much of absorption is there and we follow in the footsteps of the
Gopis, then we become Gopijana. Once we become gopi jana, Krishna is
attracted to us because He is Gopijana vallabha. We have to come to the
understanding that wealth, house etc are all by products of devotional service.
When Krishna thus becomes a Gopijana Vallabha, He comes running to help

us to get over any distress just as He carried the Govardhana hill for seven days
to protect the residents of Vraja from the wrath of Indra. Thus He becomes
Girivaradhari.
Devotional service is unlimited because the Lord Himself is Ananta. Once

when Prabhupada was in London, there was a Harinam party everyday going in
the Oxford street, which is one of the main streets where all the department
stores are located. One day, A Mauritius Parlimentarian who has come to
London was doing shopping in one of the departmental stores. When he heard
the Harinam in London he was quite surprised and thus came to meet Srila
Prabhupad. He was so pleased with the devotional service of Prabhupad and
invited Prabhupad to Mauritius. Srila Prabhupad agreed to come to Mauritius
and at the same time he requested the Parlimentarian to donate land to establish
a Radha-Krishna temple in Mauritius. He immediately accepted and donated a
nine-acre land. Now there is a nice thriving farm community in Mauritius.
Thus, Harinam in London was able to create a temple in Mauritius. This is

the potency of devotional service. It infiltrates everywhere!!
Jaya Gopijana vallabha! Jaya Girivaradhari! Jai Srila Prabhupada! Jai Srila
Gurudev!!
-Vaijayanti mala Devi Dasi, Abu dhabi.


A Powerful Prayer of Brahma
Maharaj gave us this verse in Rajkot, India and requested me to write to
granthraj. This is one of the Brahmas prayers the verse is very self explanatory-
SB 3.9.8 :-
kñut-tåö-tridhätubhir imä muhur ardyamänäù
çétoñëa-väta-varañair itaretaräc ca
kämägninäcyuta-ruñä ca sudurbhareëa
sampaçyato mana urukrama sédate me
“O great actor, my Lord, all these poor creatures are constantly perplexed
by hunger, thirst, severe cold, secretion and bile, attacked by coughing
winter, blasting summer, rains and many other disturbing elements, and
overwhelmed by strong sex urges and indefatigable anger. I take pity on
them, and I am very much aggrieved for them.”
Lord Brahma lists 10 items in this prayer:
1. kshut—hunger
2. trd—thirst
3. tri-dhathubhir - three humors, namely mucus, bile and wind
4. sita —winter
5. ushna —summer
6. vaata—wind
7. varashair—rains
8. kama-agnina—strong sex urges
9. acyuta-rusha—indefatigable anger
10. sudurbharena—most unbearable; manah—mind;
As you will notice number 9 and 10 are described as indefatigable and most
unbearable. Maharaj gave remedy for vaata dosa-air, all the organs in our body
function because of the air element inside our body and all disease are because
of disturbance in the same air element, and the remedy is black salt (ground,
stone salt) this salt controls the air in our body and it should be taken daily in
small quantity. Maharaj commented that the old age has no remedy but two
things are important in the old age:
1. To remain always peaceful, and
2. Use the black salt when the diseases come.
If black salt doesn’t help then we should tolerate the disease and it will go
automatically. There is no need for medical check-ups like - urine test, blood
test, sugar test, stool test. Try to relieve yourself from all of these miseries by
keeping yourself in a happy mood, Maharaj gave example of car driving - to
change the gears we have to use the clutch and when we change the gear we
release the clutch. So release your clutch from these 10 miseries by keeping
yourself in a happy mood. Our body car should be put in the top gear (Krishna-
katha) and we should release the clutch never to press again.
Even though the general mass is suffering so much from these miseries they
don’t become sedate rather they become despondent. Even though we are
suffering so much we are not tired of it instead we try to relieve ourself. In
winter we take cough syrup, in summer AC, when sick we take medical drugs,
when old and sexually impotent people take viagra but they do not come to real
remedy of Bhagavatam and chanting of His holy names which are the only
remedy to all these miseries.
Maharaj said, “With these 10 you can go on lecturing the whole of life time”
and he ended with a nice punch “Whatever is in Bhagavatam is needed and
what ever is not in Bhagavatam is not needed”.
- Murlidhara das, Yugoslavia.
The Vaishnava Etiquette
The recent mail from H.G. Murali Prabhu is really interesting and Maharaj so
effectively gives the practical solution the Bhagavatam way for all our miseries.
One more he gave in Chennai is as under:
Srimad Bhagavatam 11.23.42 says,
dvija uväca
näyaà jano me sukha-duùkha-hetur
na devatätmä graha-karma-käläù
manaù paraà käraëam ämananti
saàsära-cakraà parivartayed yat
“These people are not the cause of my happiness and distress. Neither are
the demigods, my own body, the planets, my past work, , or time. Rather ,
it is the mind alone that causes happiness and distress and perpetuates the
rotation of material life.”
Maharaj just took the first line of the verse which says, "These people are not
the cause of my happiness and distress" and gave supremely enlightening and
practical instructions.
We all have the wrong notion that the other living entities are the cause of our
distress. This is the most important stumbling block in our devotional service.
Unless we remove the blocks , we will not be able to do devotional service.
This removal of blocks is very well done by Srimad Bhagavatam. Blaming
others for everything, we may go on reading Bhagavatam for 10 or 20 years ,
but that is not going to be of any use. Life must change. Otherwise it will be a
show-off.
No human being should be blamed for our distress. The Bhagavatam way is to
stop blaming others and start blaming ourselves.If we deeply think, we are at
fault and this is correct and the real thing. Recognising this reality is Real -
isation. We are just groping in the dark without understanding the reality.
Bhagavatam gives the universal truth - "Do not blame others. Blame yourself."
This saves us so much time. This way we do not have any mental anguish. If we
blame others, we try to harm him and for this we have to plan and scheme. On
the other hand, if we blame ourselves, the thing stops there. Our material
entanglements have to be cut short and our time should be invested in the study
of Srimad Bhagavatam and then our eyes will sparkle and there will be no
cataract. Otherwise Krishna will cut our eyes.
The only remedy without side-effects for all our diseases is the holy names of
Krishna. This improves the circulation of blood and our figures change for the
better. We should not increase our own mentally concocted conditions. As it is
we are conditioned souls. Increasing these unwanted things, leads to mental
anguish, blood clots, blocks and strokes. Everything should be connected to the
Supreme Absolute Truth Krishna.
The Vaishnava etiquette is to recognise the Supreme authority Krishna, get
attached to Him and get out of this material world.

Practical Tips to Avoid Adhyatmic Miseries
The following are some of the points from the pravachan of Maharaj regarding
the remedy for our adhyathmic miseries:
Adhyathmic miseries are those miseries arising out of the body and mind
particularly. Some diseases which come during the young age are clear and they
are curable. But some of the limitations which come during the oldage can
never be cured. These diseases come to take us away. If we try to find the
remedies for them, the disease will only aggravate. It is better to submit to them
and tolerate them peacefully remembering Krishna.
Srimad Bhagavatam says, "atmajam yoga viryena". The remedy for the
diseases of the body and the mind are yogic exercises. Of all these walking is
the best. Swimming and sitting in the posture of padmasana are also very good.
Bhagavatam insists that all our activities should be connected to Krishna. The
exercise should not be done just for the sake of exercise. Like walking, we can
walk to the temple of Krishna. The temples are extensive and vast and there is
good circulation of air. There we pay loving attention to Krishna and sing His
Holy names. This singing of Holy names in a peaceful manner is in itself
Pranayama. In India, the population is generally peaceful whereas in foreign
countries, people are ageing very fast due to sinful activities like intoxication,
and complicated food habits.
The curative process is naturally there in our body and we should give it a
chance to work. If any disease comes we should learn to tolerate it and
eventually it will get cured. Maharaj was giving a very nice example in this
regard. If we go to somebody’s house and if they don’t give any attention to us,
like nobody welcomes us, or gives a glass of water, then there is no meaning in
staying there and we leave that place. Similarly those who have come to some
place are bound to go away . Why drive him immediately? If we drive, he may
revolt. If we do not care , then he will automatically go away. In the same way,
if the disease comes, we should not be paying attention to it by running to the
doctor and pouring in so many medicines. The doctor will first cut our pockets
and then bypass. So we should learn to tolerate the disease till it is there. The
best thing we can do is to stop eating. We should make it a rule that we will eat
only if we are hungry. If the input is stopped, the natural curative process starts
working and we will be alright.

Envy is Injurious to Spiritual Health
Our beloved Guru Maharaj gave extremely powerful instructions regarding the
uprooting of our unlimited inebrieties which are all stumbling blocks in our way
towards the ultimate goal of life which is love for Krishna and engaging in
sincere devotional service.
After the frustration of the sacrifice of Daksha, all the priests and other
members of the sacrificial assembly and all the demigods, having been defeated
by the soldiers of Lord Siva approached Lord Brahma with great fear and Lord
Brahma after hearing in detail about the happenings at the yajna, then
proceeded for the abode of Lord Siva and started speaking to the Lord in a
pacifying way. One of the most powerful verse by Brahma is 4.6.47. of Srimad
Bhagavatam.
påthag-dhiyaù karma-dåço duräçayäù
parodayenärpita-håd-rujo ’niçam
parän duruktair vitudanty aruntudäs
tän mävadhéd daiva-vadhän bhavad-vidhaù
“Persons who observe everything with differentiation, who are simply
attached to fruitive activities, who are mean minded, who are always
pained to see the flourishing condition of others and who thus give distress
to them by uttering harsh and piercing words have already been killed by
providence. Thus there is no need for them to be killed again by an exalted
personality like you.”
Maharaj was telling that the above tendencies are within us. We always
discriminate and we cannot tolerate at anytime the prosperity of others. When
somebody prospers more than us, we always try to minimise their stature.
Prahlad Maharaj says that till the time, we try to improve ourselves ,we are
alright. But as soon as we try to achieve happiness, the distress begins. When
somebody because of meagre income in his own country goes to a foreign
country for earning, nobody sees the pangs he undergoes, but everybody sees
only his prosperity and becomes envious of his position. This leads to hate and
discrimination.
Unless these unwanted tendencies are analysed carefully and discarded, Bhakthi
is impossible. That is why these are all included in Srimad Bhagavatam. We
should be clear with our ultimate goal, which is to engage in sincere devotional
service to Krishna without which there is no way out of Janma, Mrtyu Jara and
Vyadhi. Unless we are genuine with ourselves and try to remove these
impediments, Bhakthi will not prosper. Maharaj said, “Constitutionally we are
envious and to change that requires serious efforts.” Even if we remove them,
the subtle envy always flows inside us and again we think, that I am a Devotee
and I am not envious. We should always inspect our utterings and the safest
way to speak is to speak about Srimad Bhagavatam and try to reduce our own
tendencies. Everyday without fail we are coming in touch with material life and
this cannot be avoided. In other Yugas, the things were easy and we could
survive by leaving everything. In Kali yuga it is recommended to stay wherever
we are and carry on our devotional service.
We are never able to tolerate the prosperity of others because we are always in
the bodily level. Being prosperous or not being prosperous always counts for us
as we have not come out of bodily conception. There is no other way to come
out of it than to stick to Srimad Bhagavatam sincerely. There may be cultural
lag between the living entities, but the tenets of Srimad Bhagavatam are
eternal and transcendental and never change under any circumstances.
Each word in Srimad Bhagavatam gives us ocean of Knowledge.
Prthag-dhiyah: Discriminative Attitude
The tendencies are inherent and deep rooted because we have inherited them.
We may claim that it has been removed but actually it is there within us. Being
innocent like the child is the best because the child is always happy with his
parents and doesn’t leave them even if he sees somebody else is more
prosperous whereas we have left our Supreme Father Krishna and this is the
cause of all our distresses. Any discriminative attitude (påthag-dhiyaù)
should be avoided and the root for this discrimination is envy of other’s
prosperity. Other people may not leave their tendencies and they will always
find some fault with us, but we should not worry about that. No body is going
to accompany us at the time of death. All the unwanted tendencies arise because
we think that we are going to be here for ever. Our goal and endeavour should
be to uproot these tendencies and this can be done only if we stick to the pages
of Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad Gita, otherwise the life does not change.
It is very nicely said in Srimad Bhagavatam 2.8.3 in this connection:
çåëvataù çraddhayä nityaà

gåëataç ca sva-ceñöitam
kälena nätidérgheëa
bhagavän viçate hådi
“Persons who hear Srimad-Bhagavatam regularly and are always taking
the matter very seriously will have the Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna
manifested in their hearts within a short time.”
Because we are påthag-dhiyaù, we are criticising others thinking ourselves

to be self appointed judges. But mere thinking cannot make us a Judge or King.
So we have always to be on the ground , think about our own position and try to
improve our devotional service and not to worry about the external world. Only
one thing we have to be careful about is that we are not going against the
scriptural instructions. Because these tendencies are deep rooted, even if we try
to uproot it again and again, the piece of the root remains. To remove that piece
requires sincere efforts – drda vratah. As it is the impediments to
devotional service is pouring in daily and we are adding to them instead of
reducing the impediments. Reducing means winding up from the material
world.
Durashayah: Mean mindedness

Maharaj said, “Mean-mindedness is the best quality we possess.” We go on
developing mean mindedness and suffer from Heart attack, Stomach Ulcers,
Cancers etc. Mean Mindedness is the sign of advancement. As we move
towards the west, this quality becomes the topmost. Our constitutional position
is to be mean minded. Carrying all these burden, we think that we are all
devotees. Maharaj was telling that in his childhood days meanness was not
there at all. But still the elders were complaining that Kali Yuga was horrible.
When Maharaj was a young boy, he went and asked his grandfather as to
‘What is kali yuga?’ and then his grandfather replied that questioning like this
itself is a symptom of kali yuga! In those days the Vaishnavas were hale and
hearty and none had physical defects and they all had a peaceful death. Still the
elders were complaining about kali yuga. If they happen to take birth now and
remember their past life they would not tolerate it for a second and would tie a
stone and sink into the ocean . If you are safe with Srimad Bhagavatam, even
now kali yuga will not touch us. If there is a disease, then the patient should be
administered with regular doses of medicine otherwise there will be no cure.
We are all completely diseased and that is the reason Srila Prabhupad has given
us the Divya Ousadham of regular sravana and kirtana of Krishna’s Holy
names.
So we have to be very clear about the goal. Our goal is sincere devotional
service . For this we take an example of going to Punjab by the Punjab mail.
Supposing I have to catch the Punjab Mail and I am in the waiting room for the
Punjab mail, then all my attention and enquiries should be about the arrival of
the Punjab mail and nothing else. Somebody may be going to Ernakulam ,
somebody may be going to Rameswaram, but I am not concerned about all of
them. Since my destination is clear vyavasäyätmikä buddhir ekeha
kuru-nandana. The mind should be wound up. Bhishmadeva is a perfect
example for the wandering of the mati. He says in his death bed prayers:
iti matir upakalpitä vitåñëä bhagavati sätvata-

puìgave vibhümni
“Let me now invest my thinking, feeling and willing which were so long
engaged in different subject and occupational duties in the all powerful
Lord Krishna.”
As soon as Bhismadev was born he was separated from his father and brought
up by his mother alone. After the age of twelve years he was brought back to
his father but again he had to miss his mother. By this way the mind was
oscillating like a pendulum and throughout his life he was facing so many
difficulties and his mind was engaged in so many different subjects. But
ultimately he had the mind fixed on Krishna.
Therefore we should have the conception, that we are in a railway station
waiting room and as soon as the train comes, we are off never to meet again.
Somebody in the waiting room may have nice bedding and nice ornaments and
nice suitcases etc. We may be sitting on a bench and don’t have much things.
But still we do not envy them because we know that we are only waiting for the
train and as soon as the train comes, we are going to leave. It is difficult for a
man with lot of paraphernalia to get into the train whereas if we do not have
anything , it becomes easy for us. We may be waiting for two hours or or may
be seventy years, but time element has no value at all. It is all the same. The
actual point is that, we have to leave the place. No body can stick to this body
and it has to be forsaken at the end. We have to develop the waiting room
consciousness before we develop Krishna Consciousness. If this consciousness
is developed then we will not discriminate, mean minded and envious of others
prosperity. This idea has to be digested and has to sink into us or otherwise we
cannot progress an inch in devotional service.
This whole genuine attitude can develop only by the mercy of Srila Prabhupad
through his literatures. He has awakened our senses and brought us back to the
root Vedic culture and has given us the clear understanding.
Maharaj was requesting us to catch the dhoti of Srila Prabhupad to uproot all
these unwanted deep rooted tendencies and was pleading "Please be merciful to
your own self before being merciful to others".
-Vaijayanthi mala devi dasi, Abu dhabi.

Transcendental Reflections
A few beautiful and eternal memories as I walk you through my diary…
After clearing customs, Maharaj made his graceful appearance and hardly he
had been in our midst, when he quickly settled down into business, preaching
forcefully and launching salvos of firepower against Kali Yuga and its
pernicious effects characterized by our habits of constant, bitter in-fightings and
squabblings. "If you find yourself caught in a spat, you just do one
thing....accept squarely the responsibility of blame on your head and in this way
save your voice and energy. Instead saturate yourself fully in Krishna
Consciousness.", "Saturate yourself fully in Krishna Consciousness!!"
Saturation might be a buzzword in the scientific circles but to utilize it in the
context of devotional service and that too uttered from the mouth of Maharaj, I
found it very novel, unique and interesting. Saturation is a precept that forms
the bedrock from which numerous other theories are derived upon in physics. It
denotes the state where a solid such as salt is dissolved in a solvent such as
water till it reaches its maximum capacity and nothing more of the solid can be
added. So Maharaj was reinforcing the fact that a devotee’s foremost duty is to
always immerse all his/her faculties in the whole gamut of Krishna Conscious
activities and that will spare us from the doldrums of unnecessary bickerings
and quarrelings, the hallmarks of this age. Since then I have never heard him
repeat that expression again but his powerful words keep echoing wishfully in
our ears : "Saturate yourself fully in Krishna Consciousness!!"
If I recall correctly, it was sometime between 1991 and 1992 whence Maharaj
was in our midst and once when he was at ease, we eagerly stretched out to him
some photos we had taken of the programs we were doing then. With a
sprightly glow in his eyes and an occasional smile, Maharaj enthusiastically
looked through the photos as we sat in front of him, our eyes glued to him with
unabated breath, watching him rock his body slightly and nodding his head in
approval at times. In the end he spoke saying that we were doing well but then
pointing his powerful fingers pertinently at one of the photos he remarked
"Everything looks promising but the clothes you boys are wearing aren’t OK!!"
Well, we were actually decked in an array of clothes spanning from tattered
jeans and funky tee-shirts to loose slacks and even track suits....in short an
assortment of clothes that would surely have been the envy of a junkyard
clothes dealer! Then Maharaj continued further "You are representing
Prabhupada whilst preaching. And he wanted us attired properly in kurta and
dhoti or at least pyjamas. And yes tilak must be there too. If you can’t adhere to
this dress code, then its better to discontinue with the program!!" We were very
young boys then, practically in our teens but Maharaj said what he said
booming with so much force, authority and gravity that it kinda unnerved us but
we understood that preaching was no small, whimsical matter but serious
business.
Touching further on the issue of clothes, Maharaj once remarked "Even when
you are in karmi clothes, be it at home or outside, try to wear clothes of lighter
colours. You can’t wear saffron otherwise it’s the best and the most sattvic.
White comes next best as it represents purity. Otherwise lighter shades of
colours are quite allright. But this black colour should always be avoided. Black
colour is the perfect personification of tamasic guna!! You know, the colours
and types of clothes that you wear subtly but invariably influences the state of
your consciousness." Certainly I didn’t know that the tri-gunas could have such
a bearing even in a mundane domain as colours but I recalled reading in
Prabhupad’s books that a pure devotee is someone who sees the meticulous
application of the injunctions in the scriptures in all facets of our lives and of
course who a better devotee than Maharaj.
In English we often say "Better to forgive and forget". And Bhagavatam true to
its stature expresses the same notion but in a much more beautiful and refined
manner:
kñamayä rocate lakñmér
brähmé sauré yathä prabhä
kñamiëäm äçu bhagaväàs
tuñyate harir éçvaraù
“The duty of a brahmana is to culture the quality of forgiveness, which is

illuminating like the sun. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari is
pleased with those who are forgiving.” - S.B 9.15.40
Forgiveness is a very important quality of a devotee. Parikshit Maharaj and

Jesus Christ were two great personalities who exhibited this quality to such a
great extent. Although they were empowered souls, they did not counteract the
gravest sufferings meted out to them. In the end, their forbearance and
forgiveness only made them so famous, because the Lord was pleased! In the
purport Srila Prabhupada quotes Chanakya pandita - Different personalities
become beautiful by possessing different qualities. Brahmanas become
beautiful when they are forgiving.
-Samanjas Das, Singapore.


Deer – A Symbol of Lust

The following is some interesting writing I found from H H Mahavishnu
Maharaj's diary. This is from one of HH Sivarama Swami's books .
"While absorbed in exchange of love, Sri Hari was approached by forest deer
who had witnessed His dancing pastime. Although the gopis felt despondent at
their own condition, when they saw the deer in the close proximity of Sri
Krishna, they became hopeful. Like the gopis, the deer had a long history of
suffering before gaining His affection in His form of Shyam and Gaur.
Long ago at the beginning of creation, Lord Brahma became sexually inclined
towards his own daughter Vak, who, having no such attraction, turned away to
take shelter elsewhere. When she adopted the guise of a hind, impelled as he
was, he followed her in the form of a stag. As a universal controller, Brahma
was not to be judged by the dictates of ordinary man. However deer as a species
became commonly accepted as a symbol of passionate lust.
In Treta yuga, the sorcerer Marica was forced by Ravana to participate in the
abduction of Sita and taking the form of a golden deer, he brought further
disgrace upon their kin. Marica's disguise brought great suffering to Sita and
Rama. Thus deers, although innocent animals eating the tender shoots of trees,
continued to live in shame, their species always identified with Ravana's
conspiracy.
Then the renowned emperor of the world Maharaj Bharat, having left behind
his godly opulence, beautiful queens and affectionate subjects, retired to the
Himalayas to gain admittence into the retinue of Sri Krishna, taking pity on a
newly born fawn, he became distracted from his advance sadhana, and fell
down one evening while in search of his pet. For the third time, deer came
under condemnation for ensnaring the emperor in the net of illusion.
Greatly disturbed by the infamy of their race, stags and deers became the most
timid of creatures, residing within the depth of the forest, invisible to all.
Reluctant to look at others, haunted by historical anomalies, deer became a
species hidden from view, known only for the attractive scent of their musk.
On the day Krishna entered the forest, the doe and ducks were naturally
attracted to the sweet vibration of His flute.When they felt the touch of His
lotus hands, they were released from all sense of guilt, and when they heard the
admiration of the gopis, they were freed from their shame. By the gopis
admiration of their pure devotional sentiments, deers became reinstated as
qualified devotees and, vindicated of their past, they raised their noble heads
once again.
At the turn of Kali yuga, taking the golden complexion of Sri Radha,
Shyamasundar wandered through the forest of Jharikhanda and made all forest
animals chant His holy names. At that time, the fortunate deer danced in great
bliss along with tiger and other wild animals."
Personal Observation: The deers being representatives of 'Passionate lust' is

interesting to note. Recently in Minneapolis, I heard from H H Ganapati
Maharaj, (a disciple of Prabhupada who has been distributing His
DivineGrace's transcendental books for the last 25 years, driving all over the
United States), that there are so many deers get hit and killed on the highways
by the vehicles. Most of the time, these deers follow their opposite sex so
blindly that when their partner is on the other side of the road, they don't even
care for the traffic. Their focus is just to somehow or other get united with their
mate and have sex. With this intent, they blindly cross the road and get killed.
Do we need a better example to illustrate the result of 'Passionate Lust' ?



No Counteraction is the Best Counteraction
I was listening to a lecture of H H Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj and found
some interesting point he made about 'counteraction'. I transcribed it for the
pleasure of granthraj devotees.
"We are entangled ino the material activities for our maintenance so on and so
forth. But please follow this formula and save your time. Use this time to
increase your awareness of the Supreme Absolute Truth. He says in a beautiful
verse - it starts as..., there are five relationships..., our relationships with the
society. This society will definitely defame you without any reason. That is
going on. saptah ksipta hata api. Defamation is there. Then cursing
each other is there. Disrespect is there because all our relationships are based on
the envious nature of the living entities. Defamation will be there, disrespect
will be there, cursing unnecessarily..., we see somebody very happy and
immediately think, "Oh, he must suffer from tension". By his suffering from
tension we don't gain anything but we curse each other like this. We cannot
see anybody happy unless we come to the real knowledge of Krishna
Consciousness in which we realize everybody as part and parcel of
Krishna...mama eva amsah jiva bhuta sanatanah. Then ksipta
api. Somebody will definitely neglect you. And that neglection, many times
knowingly or unknowingly disturbs the other party. We are sitting here and
discussing Bhagavatam. We see each other daily and sometimes we may be in
New york or some other city on this planet. And knowingly or unknowingly we
may not talk to each other. But the other person may think, "Oh! So nicely we
know each other. Now he is neglecting me!". But that is the way we behave
with each other. And the party is completely disturbed because of neglection.
Then he/she decides the next time when we meet, "I will not look to him." So
the next time they both meet, they walk like bamboo sticks.(laughter). They
don't look at each other and then slowly they become enemies. "He is a very
proud man! I don't want to talk to him at all." And in the end hata api. They
will kill you if they can. Christ is the best example of the last disturbance. He
was requesting all the living entities,
"Please come to your father and you will be very happy." They caught him and
nailed him on the cross. And while they were nailing, Christ was praying,
"Please...Lord! They don't know what they are doing. Please excuse them." This
is Bhagavatam. Bhagavatam insists that these five relationships with the
society, we will have to have. We are staying in the society, we are staying in
the family. But Bhagavatam advises like Christ..."Please, na asya prati
kurvanti - don't counteract these things." You just ignore and forget. No
counteraction. Because if you want to counteract... means, you have to plan
how to defame the other person. Or how to disrespect him, or how to curse him,
or how to disturb him by neglecting, or kill him. In this planning, the valuable
human existence and time will be wasted unnecessarily. Every second is meant
for increasing our awareness of the Supreme Absolute Truth, nothing else at
all. Please..., somehow or other make yourself free from the material
inebrieties. And as soon as you don't counteract, you are completely peaceful.
na asya prati kurvanti tad bhaktah prabhavo 'pi hi -
"Devotees are powerful enough to counteract, but they will never counteract."
tiraskåtä vipralabdhäù
çaptäù kñiptä hatä api
näsya tat pratikurvanti
tad-bhaktäù prabhavo ’pi hi
“The devotees of the Lord are so forbearing that even though they are
defamed, cheated, cursed, disturbed, neglected or even killed, they are
never inclined to avenge themselves.” – SB 1.18.48.
It is advised by Bhagavatam that you please don't waste your time in

counteraction. And this is how we slowly get out of all inebrieties of our
material existence. And save your time and come to the pages of Srimad
Bhagavatam."
Personal Observation: An interesting point to note - We know that there are

five kinds of relationships (rasa) with Krishna in the spiritual world on the basis
of Love - Shanta, Dasya, Sakya, Vatsalya and Madhurya. Similarly, we also
have five kinds of relationships with other living entities in the material world,
based on Envy - Defame, Disrespect, Curse, Neglect and Kill.


The Hallmark of Devotional Behaviour
Gurudev emphasised very much the verse 4.21.44 in Srimad Bhagavatam as the
hallmark of devotional behaviour.
guëäyanaà çéla-dhanaà kåta-jïaà

våddhäçrayaà saàvåëate ’nu sampadaù
prasédatäà brahma-kulaà gaväà ca
janärdanaù sänucaraç ca mahyam
“Whoever acquires the brahminical qualifications- whose only wealth is

good behaviour, who is grateful and who takes shelter of experienced
persons-gets all the opulence of the world. I therefore wish that the
Supreme Personality of Godhead and His associates be pleased with the
brahmana class, with the cows and with me.”
It is guëäyanaà, çéla-dhanaà and kåta-jïaà that Gurudev

emphasised on. We may be materially not well off, but as devotees our real
and only wealth is guëäyanaà and çéla-dhanaà " - stock of good
qualities and behaviour. Only if we have these two can we have the third
qualification - kåta-jïaà - i.e be grateful to Krishna and His devotees for
our spiritual life and all that we are.
Good behaviour and qualities may entail so many elements but the key to
obtaining them is when we do not pre-suppose people situations and all
manner of things that we experience - meaning to say that for example we see
a devotee and immediately through his behaviour or instinctively we form pre-
suppositions about him and we judge him to be like this like that etc. But
factually there is nothing really that he is doing to us - yet we concoct in our
manner and that impression or one off behaviour that a devotee may display
may not really be his fullest potential - yet thereafter what we do is that we do
not respect or love or serve him - this makes us lose our wealth and stockpile of
qualities - because the greatest defect is the lack of tolerance and mercy to
accept all living entities as part and parcel of Krishna - this in turn shows how
proud subtly we really are.
The way therefore to become a devotee is to tolerate, accept and be merciful

and compassionate to everyone! Gurudev always says - except for ourselves
everyone else is a great devotee! If we lived that maxim -then all wealth of
good behaviour will automatically manifest in our hearts!
On a personal note, it is important in our devotional service not to expect and

presuppose that this devotee and that devotee must behave nicely to us and
give us respect because we are giving them respect - that is subtle craving for
adoration - and we lose our peace of mind and sadhana when we presuppose
someone to behave in a certain manner -then he or she does not - that we
criticise them in our hearts - smiling outside all the time - and the road to
losing our wealth begins. Gurudev is a wonderful example of wealth and
reservoir of good qualities and behaviour because he genuinely does not
expect anything from anyone - if the temple comes very good; if it does not -
that is also very good! Everything is up to Krishna! How peaceful and
sublime life in devotional service becomes!
- Devakinandana Das, Singapore.



Material (vs) Spiritual Life
Here is a nice little trivia I heard from one of H H Mahavishnu Maharaj's
lectures.
“"Our material life is always miserable because it is full of Lamentation,

Illusion, Fear and Envy.”
“On the other hand, our spiritual life is transcendentally blissful because it is
full of Love, Inspiration, Freedom and Enthusiasm.”



Nectar from Prahlad Maharaj
I just had a wonderful phone conversation with H H Mahavishnu Goswami
Maharaj and Maharaj gave nectarian points from SB 7.9.9:- Prahlada’s Prayers:
manye dhanäbhijana-rüpa-tapaù-çrutaujas-
tejaù-prabhäva-bala-pauruña-buddhi-yogäù
närädhanäya hi bhavanti parasya puàso
bhaktyä tutoña bhagavän gaja yütha päya
“One may possess wealth, an aristocratic family, beauty, austerity,

education, sensory expertise, luster, influence, physical strength, diligence,
intelligence and mystic yogic power, but I think that even by all these
qualifications one cannot satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
However, one can satisfy the Lord simply by devotional service. Gajendra
did this, and thus the Lord was satisfied with him.”
1. dhana- riches
2. abhijana- aristocratic family
3. rupa- personal beauty
4. tapah- austerity
5. sruta- knowledge from studying the Vedas
6. ojas-sensory prowess
7. tejah-bodily effulgence
8. prabhava- influence
9. bala-bodily strength
10. paurusa-diligence
11. buddhi-intelligence
12. yogah-mystic power
Maharaj said that this verse is very important, and added that one need not
possess all these 12 qualities to perform bhakti. We should not complicate
bhakti. Everyone can perform bhakti. He referred to the two physcially
challenged boys (in wheel chair) who were present during our Ratha Yatra in
Dwaraka. Before entering into devotional service they where almost dead and
once they started practising Krishna Consciousness, the Lord protected them,
and now they are doing nice service on magazine printing. Maharaj said that the
word Radha comes from the word aradhanaya mentioned in this verse in
Bhagavatam, (Radha-means intensified prayer). Maharaj ended by saying, “We
should not waste our time in trying to attain these 12 qualities, as they will
have no meaning in our devotional service. If we have them, we can use them
in devotional service, if not we can just forget about them, and just go
straight to the Lord and He will pick us up from any position provided our
bhakti is sincere.”


Fearlessness
Here is a nice realization taken from H H Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj's
diary:
When one is aware of one’s self as spirit soul, and when one understands the
soul’s eternal relationship with Krishna, then only does well-being begin.
Otherwise everyone in the world is in anxiety and everyone is terribly alone and
isolated, regardless of how they try to cover it up. Whether a person appears to
be very popular and dominating in the midst of social settings or whether he or
she is a loner, everyone is factually alone. No other person or group can take an
individual’s karma and share it completely and no one dies with us within our
own consciousness when we die. No one appreciates exactly how nice we are,
and no one knows the long history of our sorrow. Krishna Consciousness
therefore not only provides association with spiritual persons, it also gives the
solution to loneliness. That solution is self-realization by understanding that
Krishna is one’s best friend, and the devotee feels immense relief. We must
thus have firm conviction that Krishna as Paramatma will take care of a
surrendered soul to him. “I shall never be alone. Even if I live in the darkest
region of a forest I shall be accompanied by Krishna, and He will give
protection.” One should think like this. This conviction is called Abhayam or
Fearlessness.


The Fall and Redemption of Soul
I found the following nice poem in Maharaj's diary. It was actually written by
H G Dravida prabhu, a senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada, who played a major
role in finishing the last three cantos of Srimad Bhagavatam.
Where Krishna lies, felicity

abounds with pure simplicity
with loving sensibility
and all serve Him with humility
But when a living entity

rejects his true identity
and out of sheer stupidity
surrenders to cupidity
He looses all sagacity

and with it, all capacity
to understand reality
or curb his sensuality
Abandoning humility
he touts(praises) his own ability
forgetting his capability
and fortune's volatility(changeability)
Immersed in assimility (stupidity)

for what seems an infiinity
of lives of piety
he suffers in anxiety
Till contact with God's devotee

perhaps of utmost brevity (short time)
awakens his affinity
for words of divinity
Perceiving the futility
of all his imbecility (stupidity)
the soul regains his sanity
and cast away his vanity
Endowed with more humility

he serves with all ability
and growing spontaneity
his guru and deity
Regaining his identity

the wayward living entity
returns to the fraternity
of Krishna, for eternity.



Glorification of Srila Prabhupada
Here is a very grave and deep realization on Srila Prabhupada from the pages of
H H Mahavishnu Maharaj's diary.
Pure devotion acknowledges no technique while humility and absolute

surrender are the stage on which the drama of divine love is eternally
performed. His Divine Grace had such humility, such surrender, although he
was at the same time often very demanding, insisting on high standard from his
disciples. Yet his assertiveness was all on behalf of Krishna and therefore is
justified. His assertiveness was an example of the dynamic phase of humility,
not an abstract sterile humility, but the concrete and productive humility for
doing Krishna's bidding. Aggression against illusion is the highest service to
humanity. It is the dignity of the soul that has got to be established by bringing
dignity to all souls and we should try to do this with all the humility at our
command.
The Acarya is not frozen in time. He has melted in love of Krishna and flows
without restriction to anyone and everyone who shows even the slightest
interest in pure devotion. This was the work of His Divine Grace. He left a
legacy of love and not law, for any and all of his immediate followers to
embrace and continue. He gave it to all and looked for one, who can actually
understand his message.


An Example of Maharaj's Unflinching Faith
Devotees at the New Ramanreti community in Alachua, Florida are blessed

with invaluable association of H.H. Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj. Following
are short notes of his discussion about how appearance of Sri Sri Rukmini-
Dwarakadhish solved all the problems that he and his team had to face in
Dwaraka.
Our Gurudev met with his first problem in Dwaraka as the person who
occupied the building donated to ISKCON will not evacuate the place.
Moreover he threatened Maharaj of his death if he ever stepped back into that
street again. (Jinda rehna hai tho is gali me fir kabhi mat aana.) Maharaj was
very peaceful even after listening to such non-sense from the tenant there. He
kindly told him to understand that the tenant's fight is not with him, but with
Krishna. So its up to tenant to decide whether he wants to fight with Krishna or
surrender himself at His lotus feet. Maharaj also told him that Krishna happens
to be one of those persons who doesn't like to lose (laughter). And secondly,
Maharaj said, “If things go according to your plan, and you kill me, then its
also very auspicious. Not everyone gets a chance to die in Dwaraka dham.”
From this one incident we could understand that how many troubles Maharaj
must have gone through to build the temple in Dwarka.
- Jay Shri Krishna Das, Alachua.


Sri Mathura Dham's Speciality
The following is an interesting note about Sri Mathura dham from H H
Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj’s diary.
“During the time of Lord Rama's advent, after Ravana had been destroyed and
peace was restored to the heritage of the sages, prince Shatrugna travelled to the
area of Mathura Mandala under orders from his kind-hearted brother. In the
forest of Madhuvana, lived the powerful demon of the name Lavana, the son of
demon Madhu. After a terrible fight which lasted for a very long time that
caused the entire earth to tremble, Shatrugna killed the thorn to the brahminical
order. In that place he built the beautiful city of Mathura. As the eternal abode
of Sri Krishna, Mathura city is neither created nor destroyed, but like the
Lord, it appears and disappears by His own sweet will.
Even the name "Mathura" is equal to the Vedic hymn aum (Om) for it contains
the letters 'ma', 'u' and 'a', which are the sound representation of the Absolute
Truth. The syllable 'ma' represents Maharudra Siva, 'thu' represents Lord
Vishnu standing near Vishraam-sthaana and 'ra' represents Lord Brahma, the
creator. As the topmost abode, these three deities - Brahma, Vishnu and Siva
always reside there.”
Sri Krishna Janma Mathuraji Dham ki Jai!!!


Krishna Reciprocates According to Our Sincereity
I was listening to a very interesting lecture of H H Mahavishnu Goswami

Maharaj today. Here is an important point he made in that lecture:-
The way we approach Krishna, He will reciprocate accordingly - ye yathä

mäà prapadyante täàs tathaiva bhajämy aham This point is
very nicely ubstantiated in the 10th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, verse
10.43.17. This describes how the different people of Mathura saw Krishna
when He entered the wrestling arena of Kamsa along with His brother
Balarama.
mallänäm açanir nåëäà nara-varaù stréëäà smaro

mürtimän
gopänäà sva-jano ’satäà kñiti-bhujäà çästä sva-pitroù
çiçuù
måtyur bhoja-pater viräò aviduñäà tattvaà paraà
yoginäà
våñëénäà para-devateti vidito raìgaà gataù sägrajaù
There are 10 situations described in this verse in which Krishna appears

differently to different living entities. The way we want to see Him, He will
appear before us like that.
1. mallänäm açanir - For powerful wrestlers like Chanura and Mushtika

He appeared as a strong and well-built fighter
2. açanir nåëäà nara-varaù - Surrendered men saw Him as a nice

gentleman coming
3. stréëäà smaro mürtimän - The ladies saw Him as the most attractive
and beautiful personality.
4. gopänäà sva-janah - The cowherd boys and men saw Him as their nice
cowherd friend.
5. ’satäà kñiti-bhujäà çästä - The impious kings who wanted to

lord it over, saw Him as a Supreme king coming to punish them.
6. sva-pitroù çiçuù - Elderly people saw Him as their own

child approaching them.
7. måtyur bhoja-pater - To Kamsa He appeared as the death-personified.
8. viräò aviduñäà - For the speculative jnanis He appeared as the viraat-

purusha.
9. tattvaà paraà yoginäà - He appeared as the Supreme Absolute

Truth to the yogis.
10. våñëénäà para-devateti - The Vrsnis saw Him as their most

worshippable deity.
Bhagavat Gita gives us the preliminary philosophical principle - ye yathä

mäà prapadyante and Bhagavatam enhances it further thru His
pastimes. Whatever He says in Gita, He proves it in Srimad Bhagavatam thru
various episodes. This is how we should study Srimad Bhagavatam and
Bhagavat Gita. These scriptures are very nicely arranged for our own elevation
and at the same time with the spiritual upliftment of our existence, they guide
us for every second of our existence. This is the best way of performing
devotional service.


Improving Our Behaviour
I had a phone conversation with H H Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj and he

was giving me some deep, thought-provoking instructions. I wanted to share
with you all whatever I could grasp, because I am not sure if I will follow them,
at least you all can get benefitted.
When I was calling Maharaj, I was disturbed in my mind for some reason and
the moment Maharaj heard my voice, he said, “Is everything alright Kalacakra ?
You sound different than usual!”. Of course, the spiritual master knows
everything! He is directly in touch with Krishna!
He didn't ask me what was troubling me, (of course he must be knowing my
problem already, due to his transcendental disposition), but gave me kind and
loving advice based on shastras and personal experience. Every word he spoke
was so nectarian! During the conversation, I strongly felt that, Maharaj was
making me understand how low and fallen I am (of course with his love and
purity), at the same time was helping me to realize that the Lord is mercifully
waiting to help us always! This is a very tricky and almost an impossible task,
especially in the spiritual life. It is not too difficult to advice or give instructions
to others, but the special qualification of the spiritual master is that his purity
induces us to take those instructions and strive to put them into practice.
Additionally, if we waver away (as it always happens) from following the
instructions, with utmost patience and compassion, he grabs us and leads us
again back home, back to Godhead.
Coming back to his instructions..., Maharaj started with the quote, "kotim
tyaktva harim bhajet" - Give up millions of activities and take up
devotional service to Lord Hari. He was relating this to a very interesting verse
in Srimad Bhagavatam 4.22.32, “There is no stronger obstruction to one's
self-interest than thinking other subject matters to be more pleasing than
one's self-realization.” He said, “How important it must be to perform
devotional service ? kotim tyaktva harim bhajet! But our mind
wanders all over, not showing any interest in Krishna consciousness!”. I told,
“Maharaj, it is not difficult for me to chant some extra rounds, but my mind is
not in the names! It runs all over!”.
Maharaj stopped briefly and continued, “The important thing is that we have to
engage ourselves in the service. Our behaviour is not improving. We do so
many things in the name of devotional service, but as a devotee we are not
improving our character. That is why if you see, 90% of the scriptures are
instructions for us to improve our character and behaviour! Only 10% of the
verses are descriptions of Krishna, Spiritual world etc.”
Seeing that I am not getting the point, he continued, “Yesterday also we saw
here, in Bhagavat gita, we read the 19 verses from 2.54 to 2.72. Out of these 19
verses, 18 verses are general instructions to improve our own behaviour. Only
in the last verse, ‘eñä brähmé sthitiù pärtha...brahma-
nirväëam åcchati’- we are given a slight glimpse of Krishna's
transcendence. The essence is that, unless we improve our behaviour, we
cannot attain Krishna.”
He went on quoting a deeply introspective verse in SB 11.2.49, "Everything has

its own dharma. We cannot separate the dharma from the entity. We cannot
separate the heat and light from the fire. It is its nature. A child's nature also is
to go to its mother. And for our soul also, it is natural to go to Krishna. It is its
dharma. We cannot separate it. Similarly, this samsara also has its dharma,
the modes of material nature. Since we are in this material world, invariably, it
comes in between us and Krishna. But we should not be bewildered by this.
avimuhyamanah (one who is not bewildered), is a very important word.
Everything in this world is decaying - time, money, health, beauty everything!
Our body is decaying, the life air is harassed by hunger and thirst, the mind is
always in anxiety, intelligence always hankers for that which cannot be
obtained (shocati, kankshati). But an unbewildered person always
knows the inevitable miseries of the material existence, remains aloof from it
and engages always in remembering the Lotus feet of the Lord. If we are
situated like that, then there is no Kali Yuga at all!! We will be always happy!
Now..., I am not interested in Television. So this whole Television
industry does not touch me at all! So many advertisements, so many different
brands, competition,
confusions..., nothing is affecting me. I am totally free! Just see, if by giving up
this one attraction to television, we can become so relaxed, then how happy we
can become by giving up all the desires!?"
He finally ended the conversation with the most loving words, “Don't worry my
son! Please keep calling me whenever you feel like. May Lord bless you!”
It is easy to write fancy words to describe the love of such pure devotees, but to
actually feel them in the core of our heart requires genuine humility and
surrender to such an extraordinary love. I hope by the mercy of all you
wonderful devotees, I may get it some day!

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Enjoying Our Material Miseries
Yesterday, I had the good fortune of speaking to Gurudev on the phone, and I
asked Gurudev how his health was. Gurudev replied that it was quite alright
except that he was very very tired. He said this body we have to somehow
endure and he said it is full of miseries just like our lives in this material world.
I said “Yes Maharaj, there is always misery here.” Gurudev remembered one
letter I had written to him many years ago, where I said at every juncture of our
lives there is some misery.
When Gurudev said that, I felt very happy that he remembered what I had
written - but Gurudev immediately smashed my ego by saying, “Yes you know
the miseries very well - you ENJOY your miseries and then claim you are
miserable! Son, come to your senses!”
I realised then the true import of Gurudev's statement - that we live side by side
with miseries in this world, we loath it yet we embrace it - we preach so much
about leaving these miseries yet we somehow have got so used to it that we
just LIVE with it - forgetting that these miseries are here because we do not
genuinely want to get out of them and perform service to Krishna and Gurudev
- that is the hallmark of genuine service.
I am reminded of the prostitute Pingala in Chapter 8 of 11th Canto - for years

she had thrown herself at so many different kinds of men just to find pleasure
and obtain money - until years later at the tail end of her life when she was
becoming decrepit and haggard - she found herself one night standing by the
doorway of her house and seeing all the men pass her by. She felt intense pain
that her desires could not be satisfied and gradually her morose feelings
made her face dried up to the point that at the height of her disappointment -
she experienced a great detachment from her situation and felt disgusted with
her situation and she sang a beautiful prayer in SB 11.8.31:-
santaà samépe ramaëaà rati-pradaà
vitta-pradaà nityam imaà vihäya
akäma-daà duùkha-bhayädhi-çoka-
moha-pradaà tuccham ahaà bhaje ’jïä
“I am such a fool that I have given up the service of that person who, being
eternally situated in my heart, is actually most dear to me. That most dear
one is the Lord of the Universe who is the bestower of real love and
happiness and the source of all prosperity. Although He is in my own
heart, I have completely neglected Him. Instead I have ignorantly served
insignificant men who can never satisfy my real desires and who have
simply brought me unhappiness, fear, anxiety, lamentation and illusion.”
This is my condition - like a prostitute my mind has become many branched -

because I am not resolute in my determination to serve Gurudev and Krishna
even more than I can even now and I subtly serve my own interests and senses
and desires while couched in the guise of beauty. Pingala is exalted in
Bhagavatam because she is one of the 24 gurus of the avadhuta in Lord
Krishna's story to Uddhava - she reminds us that as long as we do not serve
Krishna and His devotees genuinely, our heart has actually no place for
Them, even though apparently it appears to be so - instead we complain about
the situations in life that make us miserable and then continue to take shelter of
them, or worse still as Vaijayantimala Mataji so nicely pointed out - “we find
material solutions to material problems - the result being more problems - in the
form of unhappiness, anxiety, lamentation and illusion.”
When will we really give Krishna His due credit - and really serve Him better
than we can actually do even now? when we absorb this deep prayer of Pingala
with full velocity into our hearts and be prepared to die serving Him.
- Devakinandana Das , Singapore.
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Glorifying According to One’s Capacity
Maitreya muni states in SB 3.6.36 :-
tathäpi kértayämy aìga

yathä-mati yathä-çrutam
kértià hareù sväà sat-kartuà
giram anyäbhidhäsatém
“In spite of my inability, whatever I have been able to hear [from the
spiritual master] and whatever I could assimilate I am now describing in
glorification of the Lord by pure speech, for otherwise my power of
speaking would remain unchaste.”
Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport: “It is also not possible to repeat all that
one has heard from his spiritual master, but one can narrate as far as
possible by one's honest endeavor. It does not matter whether the Lord's
glories are fully explained or not. One must attempt to engage one's bodily,
mental and verbal activities in the transcendental glorification of the Lord,
otherwise such activities will remain unchaste and impure. By unchaste
speech we can conceive of gramya katha or speculation or any form of
prajalpa.”
I had the good fortune of taking first initiation from Maha-Visnu Maharaj in
Dwaraka in April last year. It was a long wait for me as I first met Maharaj in
Australia in 1998. I joined the ISKCON in 1994 and lived in the ashram as a
brahmacari since then. My life before has no great significance except that I
was always searching for Krishna without knowing it or where to look. I first
met Maharaj in the form of his disciple who inspired me with His good qualities
and who became my friend. I was always asking this devotee about his guru
and when he told me I felt a strong desire to meet Guru Maharaj. I did in
Brisbane in 1998 as mentioned and Maharaj left His strong impression with me.
So I followed Guru Maharaj to Sydney and attended His programs there. On the
way to Sydney Maharaj visited the New Govardhana farm community. The
association and instruction that He gave to the devotees there touched me very
deeply and revealed to me the true meaning of compassion. By Guru Maharaj's
unfathomable mercy I had genuine insight into the meaning of trnad api
sunicena and felt that I could go on chanting eternally. Although there was a
very urgent and serious side to the message being given by Guru Maharaj [At
that time the community was experiencing many problems] He managed to
make light of things on a number of occasions and bring his wonderful humour
to everyone. It seemed like despite all the problems that prevailed there, when
Maha-Visnu Maharaj was there “everything would be alright” By Krishna's
grace and Guru Maharaj's mercy I was fortunate to beformally initiated on
April 23 2002, five years after Maharaj sowed the bhakti lata bhija in my heart.
- Madana Gopal das, Vrindavan.


A Letter of Humility
The following is a letter written by H G Kaveri mathaji to H H Mahavishnu
Goswami Maharaj when he visited Sydney, Australia in June 2003. Mathaji
lives in Adelaide.
My dearest Maharaj,
I beg to offer my heartfelt humble obeisance at the dust of your most effulgent
lotus feet, which are the treasure of this whole world!
All glories, all glories to your divine grace.
I am sad to hear about your health condition and pray that you recover quickly.
I am equally sad and disheartened that I am not able to have the darshan of your
lotus feet. It is my greatest misfortune and just proves my insincerity.
I am eternally indebted to your divine grace for giving me the shelter of your
lotus feet. I can never repay this eternal debt. Whatever I try to offer will be like
offering a paper flower in return for thousands of golden skyscrapers. However,
there really is no comparison. In the assembly of your disciples, I am a black
sheep. I lack everything that all your disciples possess. I am only an example of
your unconditional, causeless mercy.
Day by day I come to realize your greatness and my insignificance and I cannot
forgive myself for asking shelter of your lotus feet. Please dear father, forgive
me for offending you. I have no right to ask your divine grace for anything but
the truth is, after Srila Prabhupada, you are the only paramahamsa who I have
faith in. I have no other shelter other than your lotus feet.
One of the many sweetest things that I realized to be prominent about your
divine grace is the way you sing ‘jaya radha madhava’. I have heard many sing
this song but when you sing it, it is wonderfully beautiful. As you sing this song
one has no doubt in his mind that Krishna is remaining by your side.
Dear father, if you again wish to come back to this planet for the benefit of all
the fallen souls, please if you so desire, I pray that I may be born immediately
to be your servant wherever you go to serve Srila Prabhupada’s mission. So I
may get the fortunate opportunity to carry out duties like polishing your shoes
etc.
Many instances I wished to talk to your divine grace just to convey my

obeisances and gratitude but I always felt that I would be a nuisance to you,
wasting your valuable time. My inebrieties are unlimited that I cannot properly
speak to you. I am also bereft of pious merits or qualities to approach your
divine grace who has conquered Lord Krishna through body, words and mind. I
am eternally grateful for what you sacrificed for me.
Seeing the superior command of the English language, Sanskrit and the
knowledge of scriptures your divine grace acquire, many flee in different
direction. Yet this stupid, useless soul was given the chance to be your disciple.
I am overwhelmed by your mercy my dear father! Whatever qualifications
others may see in me is due to the effulgence reflected at me from your divine
grace’s lotus feet. My recent contribution to Granthraj Internet forum is just a
humble attempt for your pleasure. Please forgive this useless soul for not
having the ability to write meaningfully as you want your disciples to do.
I thank your divine grace eternally for appearing in this planet, selflessly taking
up all kinds of pains at this wondrous age, to deliver perpetually, wretched
souls like me from the clutches of maya. All glories, all glories to you father!
Hare Krishna.
Your unworthy servant always,

~Kaveri devi dasi.
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Secret of Receiving the Lord’s Mercy
Lord Krishna gives a very fitting answer in Srimad Bhagavatam 3.9.29, to Lord
Brahma when he prays to the Lord for His mercy.
çré-bhagavän uväca
mä veda-garbha gäs tandréà
sarga udyamam ävaha
tan mayäpäditaà hy agre
yan mäà prärthayate bhavän
“The Supreme Personality of Godhead then said: O Brahma, O depth of

Vedic wisdom, be neither depressed nor anxious about the execution of
creation. What you are begging from Me has already been granted
before.”
Purport: Any person authorized by either the Lord or by His bona fide
representative is already blessed, as is the work entrusted to him. Of course, the
person entrusted with such a responsibility should always be aware of his
incapability and must always look for the mercy of the Lord for the successful
execution of his duty. One should not be puffed up because he is entrusted with
certain executive work. Fortunate is he who is so entrusted, and if he is always
fixed in the sense of being subordinate to the will of the Supreme, he is sure to
come out successful in the discharge of his work. Arjuna was entrusted with the
work of fighting on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, and before he was so
entrusted, the Lord had already arranged for his victory. But Arjuna was always
conscious of his position as subordinate to the Lord, and thus he accepted Him
as the Supreme Guide in his responsibility. Anyone who takes pride in doing
responsible work but does not give credit to the Supreme Lord is certainly
falsely proud and cannot execute anything nicely. Brahma and persons in the
line of his disciplic succession who follow in his footsteps are always
successful in the discharge of loving transcendental service to the Lord.


The Supreme Lord’s Plans are Inconceivable
H H Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaj passed away due to an unfortunate car
accident that happened in March of 2002 in the outskirts of Mayapur.
Following is a relevant instruction from Srimad Bhagavatam 3.16.37 purport:
“When something is arranged by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one

should not be disturbed by it, even if it appears to be a reverse according to
one's calculations. For example, sometimes we see that a powerful preacher
is killed, or sometimes he is put into difficulty, just as Haridasa Thakura was.
He was a great devotee who came into this material world to execute the will
of the Lord by preaching the Lord's glories. But Haridasa was punished at
the hands of the Kazi by being beaten in twenty-two marketplaces. Similarly,
Lord Jesus Christ was crucified, and Prahlada Maharaja was put through so
many tribulations. The Pandavas, who were direct friends of Krishna, lost
their kingdom, their wife was insulted, and they had to undergo many severe
tribulations. Seeing all these reverses affect devotees, one should not be
disturbed; one should simply understand that in these matters there must be
some plan of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
Personal Observation: While we see that all these great devotees had to go
through so many tribulations, we can further understand that even in their
troubles they were undeviatedly attached to the Lotus feet of the Lord. And that
is why their glories are being discussed eternally.
“dhautätmä puruñaù kåñëa-päda-mülaà na muïcati”
“A pure devotee of the Lord whose heart has once been cleansed by the
process of devotional service never relinquishes the lotus feet of Lord
Krishna.” - SB 2.8.6.
- Subhadra devi dasi, Alachua.


Fifteen Points For A Successful Life
Srimad Bhagavatam 7.15.22-25 --Instructions for Civilized Human Beings:
1. By making plans with determination, one should give up lusty desires for
sense gratification.
2. By giving up envy one should conquer anger.
3. By discussing the disadvantages of accumulating wealth one should give

up greed.
4. By discussing the truth one should give up fear.
5. By discussing spiritual knowledge one can conquer lamentation and

illusion.
6. By serving a great devotee one can become prideless.

7. By keeping silent one can avoid obstacles on the path of mystic yoga.
8. Simply by stopping sense gratification one can conquer envy.
9. By good behavior and freedom from envy one should counteract sufferings
due to other living entities.
10. By meditation in trance one should counteract sufferings due to

providence.
11. By practicing hatha-yoga, pranayama and so forth one should counteract

sufferings due to the body and mind.
12. By developing the mode of goodness, especially in regard to eating, one

should conquer sleep.
13. By developing the mode of goodness one must conquer the modes of
passion and ignorance.
14. One must become detached from the mode of goodness by promoting
oneself to the platform of suddha-sattva.
15. All this can be automatically done if one engages in the service of the
spiritual master with faith and devotion.


Effects of Hearing from the Pure Devotee
I find King Prthu's instructions of the unique effects of hearing from the pure
devotee very instructive in SB 4.20.25:
sa uttamaçloka mahan-mukha-cyuto
bhavat-padämbhoja-sudhä kaëänilaù
småtià punar vismåta-tattva-vartmanäà
kuyoginäà no vitaraty alaà varaiù
“My dear Lord, You are glorified by the selected verses uttered by great
personalities. Such glorification of Your lotus feet is just like saffron
particles. When the transcendental vibration from the mouths of great
devotees carries the aroma of the saffron dust of Your lotus feet, the
forgetful living entity gradually remembers his eternal relationship with You.
Devotees thus gradually come to the right conclusion about the value of
life. My dear Lord, I therefore do not need any other benediction but the
opportunity to hear from the mouth of Your pure devotee.”
Srila Prabhupada elaborates in his purport:

“The transcendental sound vibration from the mouth of the pure devotee is so
powerful that it can revive the living entity's memory of his eternal relationship
with the Supreme Personality of Godhead..For a conditioned soul therefore, it is
very important to hear from the mouth of a pure devotee who is fully
surrendered to the lotus feet of the Lord without any material desire, speculative
knowledge or contamination of the modes of material nature...One may stay in
his positon of life - it does not matter what it is but if one hears from the mouth
of the pure devotee, he gradually comes to the understanding of his
relationship with the Lord and thus engages in His loving service, and his life
becomes completely perfect.”


Some Punching Verses from the Scriptures
 A nice verse that Gurudev has pointed out in Srimad Bhagavatam 3.29.20:-
yathä väta-ratho ghräëam

ävåìkte gandha äçayät
evaà yoga-rataà ceta
ätmänam avikäri yat
“As the chariot of air carries an aroma from its source and immediately
catches the sense of smell, similarly one who constantly engages in
devotional service, in Krishna consciousness can catch the Supreme Soul,
who is equally present everywhere”.
 Srimad Bhagavatam 4.30.35:-

yatreòyante kathä måñöäs
tåñëäyäù praçamo yataù
nirvairaà yatra bhüteñu
nodvego yatra kaçcana
“Whenever pure topics of the trasncendental world are discussed, the

members of the audience forget all kinds of material hankerings, at least
for the time being. Not only that, but they are no longer envious of one
another, nor do they suffer from anxiety or fear.”
 Srimad Bhagavatam 7.15.8:
naitädåçaù paro dharmo
nåëäà sad-dharmam icchatäm
nyäso daëòasya bhüteñu
mano-väk-käyajasya yaù
“Persons who want to advance in superior religion are advised to give up

all envy of other living entities, whether in relationship to the body, words
or mind.There is no religion superior to this.”
When asked why this translation and verse had no purport, Gurudev replied,
because the translation had no room for ambiguity! Envy, subtle or gross will
cause us to lose our advancement in bhakti immediately.
 The Lord says to the Demigods who approached Him to kill the demon
Vrtrasura in SB 6.9.48:-
kià duräpaà mayi préte
tathäpi vibudharñabhäù
mayy ekänta-matir nänyan
matto väïchati tattva-vit
“O best of the intelligent demigods, although it is true that nothing is
difficult for one to obtain when I am pleased with him, a pure devotee,
whose mind is exclusively fixed upon Me, does not ask Me for anything but
the opportunity to engage in devotional service.”
Vrtrasura advises Indra very nicely in this verse. Although externally Vrtrasura
was a demon, in his mentality he was a pure devotee and hence although being
killed by Indra, he went back home, back to Godhead. His instruction in this
verse has so much to offer to us in our devotional service.
puàsäà kilaikänta-dhiyäà svakänäà

yäù sampado divi bhümau rasäyäm
na räti yad dveña udvega ädhir
madaù kalir vyasanaà samprayäsaù
“Persons who fully surrender at the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality
of Godhead and always think of His lotus feet are accepted and recognised
by the Lord as His own personal assistants or servants. The Lord never
bestows upon such servants the brilliant opulences of the upper, lower and
middle planetary systems of this material world. When one possesses
material opulence in any of these three divisions of the universe, his
possessions naturally increase his enmity, anxiety, mental agitation, pride
and belligerence. Thus one goes through much endeavour to increase and
maintain his possessions, and he suffers great unhappiness when he loses
them.”
mägära-därätmaja-vitta-bandhuñu
saìgo yadi syäd bhagavat-priyeñu naù
yaù präëa-våttyä parituñöa ätmavän
siddhyaty adürän na tathendriya-priyaù
“My dear Lord, we pray that we may never feel attraction for the prison of
family life, consisting of home, wife, children, friends, bank balance,
relatives and so on. If we do have some attachment, let it be for devotees,
whose only dear friend is Krishna. A person who is actually self-realized
and who has controlled his mind is perfectly satisfied with the bare
necessities of life. He does not try to gratify his senses. Such a person
quickly advances in Krishna consciousness, whereas others, who are too
attached to material things, find advancement very difficult.”
 I would like to share this nice verse with you – SB 1.18.13:-

tulayäma lavenäpi
na svargaà näpunar-bhavam
bhagavat-saìgi-saìgasya
martyänäà kim utäçiñaù
“The value of a moment’s association with the devotee of the Lord cannot
even be compared to the attainment of heavenly planets or liberation from
matter,and what to speak of worldly benedictions in the form of material
prosperity ,which are for those who are meant for death.”
 Srimad Bhagavatam 4.6.48. This is told by Lord Brahma to Lord Siva:-
yasmin yadä puñkara-näbha-mäyayä
durantayä spåñöa-dhiyaù påthag-dåçaù
kurvanti tatra hy anukampayä kåpäà
na sädhavo daiva-balät kåte kramam
“My dear Lord, if in some place materialists, who are already bewildered
by the insurmountable illusory energy of the Supreme Godhead,
sometimes commit offenses, a saintly person, with compassion, does not
take this seriously. Knowing that they commit offenses overpowered by the
illusory energy,does not show his prowess to couteract them.”
(Prabhupad beautifully writes in the puport that the beauty of a saintly person
is forgiveness)
- Karthik (Age 10), Abu dhabi.
 Srimad Bhagavatam 6.16.34 :-

citraketur uväca
ajita jitaù sama-matibhiù
sädhubhir bhavän jitätmabhir bhavatä
vijitäs te ’pi ca bhajatäm
akämätmanäà ya ätmado ’ti-karuëaù
“Citraketu said: O unconquerable Lord, although You cannot be

conquered by anyone, You are certainly conquered by devotees who have
control of the mind and senses. They can keep You under their control
because You are causelessly merciful to devotees who desire no material
profit from You. Indeed, You give Yourself to them, and because of this
You also have full control over Your devotees.”
 Srimad Bhagavatam - 3.7.14:-
açeña-saìkleça-çamaà vidhatte
guëänuväda-çravaëaà muräreù
kià vä punas tac-caraëäravinda-
paräga-sevä-ratirätma-labdhä
“Simply by chanting and hearing of the transcendental name, form, etc., of

the Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna, one can achieve the cessation of
unlimited miserable conditions. Therefore what to speak of those who have
attained attraction for serving the flavor of the dust of the Lord’s lotus
feet?”
- Viraja Krishna das, Sydney.

 Narada muni's instructions in Srimad Bhagavatam are so powerful and
potent. Here is a gem from his instruction to Dhruva Maharaj in Srimad
Bhagavatam 4.8.34:-
guëädhikän mudaà lipsed
anukroçaà guëädhamät
maitréà samänäd anvicchen
na täpair abhibhüyate
“Every man should act like this: when he meets a person more qualified
than himself, he should be very pleased; when he meets someone less
qualified than himself, he should be compassionate toward him; and when
he meets someone equal to himself, he should make friendship with him. In
this way one is never affected by the threefold miseries of this material
world.”
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Forbearance of a Vaishnava
In Bhagavatam there is a nice historical account between Lord Siva and Daksa.
Daksa had offended Lord Siva by harsh words. Lord Siva did not take any
offense but his followers did. As a result both parties started to curse and
counter-curse each other.
Srimad Bhagavatam 4.2.33 says: “When such cursing and countercursing

was going on between Lord Siva’s followers and the parties of Daksa and
Bhrgu, Lord Siva became very morose. Not saying anything, he left the
arena of the sacrifice, followed by his disciples.”
In the purport Srila Prabhupada writes how Lord Siva counteracted the
situation in a proper way:-
“Here Lord Siva’s excellent character is described. In spite of the cursing and
countercursing between the parties of Daksa and Siva, because he is the greatest
Vaisnava he was so sober that he did not say anything. A Vaisnava is always
tolerant, and Lord Siva is considered the topmost Vaisnava, so his character, as
shown in this scene, is excellent. He became morose because he knew that
these people, both his men and Daksa’s, were unnecessarily cursing and
countercursing one another, without any interest in spiritual life. From his
point of view, he did not see anyone as lower or higher, because he is a
Vaisnava. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (5.18), paëòitäù sama-darçinaù:
one who is perfectly learned does not see anyone as lesser or greater, because
he sees everyone from the spiritual platform. Thus the only alternative left to
Lord
Siva was to leave in order to stop his follower, Nandesvara, as well as Bhrgu
Muni, from cursing and countercursing in that way.”
In this connection, we also always find ourselves harassed and provoked by

other living entities. Counteracting this often results in a never ending cycle of
inflicting physical or mental pain. This can never result in any good. Lord Siva
through his actions exemplifies that advancement of spiritual life should be
of prime consideration.
In this regard, Bhagavatam gives the best solution in 7.15.24 - kåpayä

bhütajaà duùkhaà- 'By good behaviour and freedom from envy one
should counteract sufferings due to other living entities.' There is always five
different kinds of troubles given by other living entities in this material world.
This is very nicely stated in Srimad Bhagavatam 1.18.48:
tiraskåtä vipralabdhäù
çaptäù kñiptä hatä api
näsya tat pratikurvanti
tad-bhaktäù prabhavo ’pi hi
"The devotees of the Lord are so forbearing that even though they are
defamed, cheated, cursed, disturbed, neglected or even killed, they are
never inclined to avenge themselves.”
Guru Maharaj has always emphasised the above point from Bhagavatam and
we have on various occassion seen how he has imbibed this in his own life.
By associating with Bhagavatam and persons who are attached to

Bhagavatam it is possible to develop such consciousness in which our deeds
will always reflect genuine compassion for living entities, even if we are
harassed by them. Such consciousness will give us and others peace and not
hamper our spiritual advancement.


How to Keep Our Minds Focussed on the Absolute Truth ?

A little practical application for having faith and keeping our minds fixed and
focused on the absolute, the supreme truth, with support from the Gita and Srila
Prabhupada’s purport for BG: 4.40.
ajïaç cäçraddadhänaç ca
saàçayätmä vinaçyati
näyaà loko ’sti na paro
na sukhaà saàçayätmanaù
“But the ignorant and faithless persons who doubt the revealed scriptures
do not attain God consciousness; they fall down. For the doubting soul
there is happiness neither in this world nor the next.”
Purport: Out of many standard and authoritative revealed scriptures, the

Bhagavad-gita is the best. Persons who are almost like animals have no faith in,
or knowledge of, the standard revealed scriptures; and some, even though they
have knowledge of, or can cite passages from, the revealed scriptures, have
actually no faith in these words. And even though others may have faith in
scriptures like Bhagavad-gita , they do not believe in or worship the Personality
of Godhead, Sri Krishna. Such persons cannot have any standing in Krishna
consciousness. They fall down. Out of all the above mentioned persons, those
who have no faith and are always doubtful make no progress at all. People
without faith in God and His revealed word find no good in this world, nor in
the next. For them there is no happiness whatsoever. One should therefore
follow the principles of revealed scriptures with faith and thereby be raised to
the platform of spiritual understanding. In other words, doubtful persons have
no status whatsoever in spiritual emancipation. One should follow in the
footsteps of great acaryas or teachers who are in the disciplic succession and
thereby attain success.
- Bhagavadashraya das, Minneapolis.



The Covering Influence of Illusiory Energy of the Lord
(avaranatmika shakti)
Something for all of us to cherish in Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.7.44:
vidyädharä ücuù
tvan-mäyayärtham abhipadya kalevare ’smin
kåtvä mamäham iti durmatir utpathaiù svaiù
kñipto ’py asad-viñaya-lälasa ätma-mohaà
yuñmat-kathämåta-niñevaka udvyudasyet
“The Vidyadharas said: Dear Lord, this human form of body is meant for
attaining the highest perfectional objective, but, impelled by Your external
energy, the living entity misidentifies himself with his body and with the
material energy, and therefore, influenced by maya, he wants to become
happy by material enjoyment. He is misled and always attracted by
temporary, illusory happiness. But Your transcendental activities are so
powerful that if one engages in the hearing and chanting of such topics, he
can be delivered from illusion.”
In the process of evolution from the lower to the higher grade of living, the
human form of life is a great boon. But maya is so strong that in spite of
achieving this great boon of the human form of life, we are influenced by
temporary material happiness, and we forget our goal of life. We are attracted
by things which will cease to exist. The beginning of such attraction is the
temporary body. In this horrible condition of life there is only one way of
liberation - to engage in the activities of transcendental chanting and hearing of
the holy name of the Supreme Lord: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna
Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare....
The illusion is that the conditioned soul does not try to understand this spiritual
identity. He is more interested in his external body, which is only a flash and
which will be finished as soon as the time is designated.
The whole atmosphere will change when the living entity has to transmigrate
from one body to another. Under the spell of maya, he will again be satisfied in
a different atmosphere. This spell of maya is called avaranatmika
shakti because it is so strong that the living entity is satisfied in any
abominable condition. Even if he is born as a worm living within the intestine
or abdomen in the midst of urine and stool, still he is satisfied. This is the
covering influence of maya. But the human form of life is a chance to
understand, and if one misses this opportunity, he is most unfortunate.
The way to get out of illusory maya is to engage in the topics of Krishna. The
International Society for Krishna Consciousness is operating for this purpose.
We do not ask anyone to first change his position and then come to us. Instead
we invite everyone to come with us and simply chant Hare Krishna Hare
Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama Rama Rama,
Hare Hare, because we know that if one simply chants and hears the topics of
Krishna, one's life will change; he will see a new light, and his life will be
successful.
A fitting verse from Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.3:
jïäne prayäsam udapäsya namanta eva

jévanti san-mukharitäà bhavadéya-värtäm
sthäne sthitäù çruti-gatäà tanu-väì-manobhir
ye präyaço ’jita jito ’py asi tais tri-lokyäm
“Those who, even while remaining situated in their established social
positions, throw away the process of speculative knowledge and with their
body, words and mind offer all respects to descriptions of Your personality
and activities, dedicating their lives to these narrations, which are vibrated
by You personally and by Your pure devotees, certainly conquer Your
Lordship, although You are otherwise unconquerable by anyone within the
three worlds.”
- Jagjeevan das, Auckland.



The Supreme Mercy of Lord Ramachandra
Let us remember Lord Ramachandra in His most wonderful verse that Srila
Prabhupada quotes in Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya lila, 22.34:
sakrdeva prapanno yas

tavasmiti ca yacate
abhayam sarvada tasmai
dadamy etad vratam mama
“‘It is My vow that if one only once seriously surrenders unto Me, saying
“My dear Lord, from this day I am Yours,” and prays to Me for courage, I
shall immediately award courage to that person, and he will always remain
safe from that time on.’
This verse from the Ramayana (Yuddha-kanda 18.33) was originally spoken by
Lord Ramacandra when Vibhishana surrenders unto the Lord just before the
war began.


Lord Krishna Directly Controls the Senses of His Devotees
In B.G 1.15, I would like to share the punch in the purport of this verse.
päïcajanyaà håñékeço
devadattaà dhanaïjayaù
pauëòraà dadhmau mahä-çaìkhaà
bhéma-karmä våkodaraù
“Then, Lord Krishna blew His conchshell, called Pancajanya; Arjuna blew
his, the Devadatta; and Bhima, the voracious eater and performer of
Herculean tasks, blew his terrific conchshell called Paundram.”
Purport: Lord Krishna is referred to as Hrsikesa in this verse because He is the
owner of all senses. The living entities are part and parcel of Him, and therefore
the senses of the living entities are also part and parcel of His senses.
The Lord, situated in the hearts of all living entities, directs their senses. But He
directs in terms of the surrender of the living entity, and in the case of a pure
devotee He directly controls the senses.
Personal Observation: From this punch, we can understand that the acts of
pure devotees are controlled by Krishna Himself.
- Girivaradari Das, Abu Dhabi

Happiness in Distress
In the Antya lila of Caitanya Caritamrta, we can find the highest form of bhakti
exhibited by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He showed personally how a
perfect devotee feels so much separation from Krishna and although that
separation is the most painful still he accepts it as a mercy of the Lord.
CC Antya Lila 20.52:

nä gaëi äpana-duùkha, sabe väïchi täìra sukha,
täìra sukha ämära tätparya
more yadi diyä duùkha, täìra haila mahä-sukha,
sei duùkha mora sukha-varya
“I do not mind My personal distress. I only wish for the happiness of

Krishna, for His happiness is the goal of My life. However, if He feels great
happiness in giving Me distress, that distress is the best of My happiness.”
Purport: Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura says that a devotee does not
care about his own happiness and distress; he is simply interested in seeing that
Krishna is happy, and for that purpose he engages in various activities. A pure
devotee has no way of sensing happiness except by seeing that Krishna is happy
in every respect. If Krishna becomes happy by giving him distress, such a
devotee accepts that unhappiness as the greatest of all happiness. Those who are
materialistic, however, who are very proud of material wealth and have no
spiritual knowledge, like the prakata-sahajiyas, regard their own happiness as
the aim of life. Some of them aspire to enjoy themselves by sharing the
happiness of Krishna. This is the mentality of fruitive workers who want to
enjoy sense gratification by making a show of service to Krishna.
- Pandava Sakha Das, Singapore.


Compassion of Philanthropic Souls
Here is a beautiful verse from Srimad Bhagavatam 3.5.3 which glorifies the
compassion of the philanthropic souls who travel all over the world with the
mission of bringing souls back to Godhead.
janasya kåñëäd vimukhasya daiväd

adharma-çélasya suduùkhitasya
anugrahäyeha caranti nünaà
bhütäni bhavyäni janärdanasya
“O my lord, great philanthropic souls travel on the earth on behalf of the

supreme Personality of Godhead to show compassion to the fallen souls
who are averse to the sense of subordination to the Lord.”
How befitting this is for our Guru Maharaj,who is so compassionate to fallen

souls like us.
- Vaijayantimala devi dasi, Abu dhabi.


The Six Symptoms of Surrender
When a person becomes firmly convinced about the importance of devotional
service, he surrenders unto the Supreme Lord. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
instructed Srila Sanatana Goswami elaborately on various subject matters. One
of the important instruction He gives is the six symptoms of a surrendered
devotee. It appears in CC Madhya lila 22.100:-
änukülyasya saìkalpaù
prätikülyasya varjanam
rakñiñyatéti viçväso
goptåtve varaëaà tathä
ätma-nikñepa-kärpaëye
ñaò-vidhä çaraëägatiù
“The six divisions of surrender are the acceptance of those things favorable
to devotional service, the rejection of unfavorable things, the conviction
that Krishna will give protection, the acceptance of the Lord as one’s
guardian or master, full self-surrender, and humility.”
Excerpt from the Purport:
One who is fully surrendered is qualified with the six following characteristics:
1. The devotee has to accept everything that is favorable for the rendering of
transcendental loving service to the Lord.
2. He must reject everything unfavorable to the Lord’s service. This is also
called renunciation.
3. A devotee must be firmly convinced that Krishna will give him protection.
No one else can actually give one protection, and being firmly convinced of
this is called faith. A devotee wants to remain always in the Lord’s service
4. The devotee should accept Krishna as his supreme maintainer and master.
The devotee must be firmly convinced that within the three worlds he has no
protector or maintainer other than Krishna.
5. Self-surrender means remembering that one’s activities and desires are not
independent. The devotee is completely dependent on Krishna, and he acts
and thinks as Krishna desires.
6. The devotee is meek and humble.
A Powerful Instruction from Hitopadesha
This is a nice verse from Hitopadesa.

na svalpam apy adyavasaya-bhiroh karoti vijnana-
vidhir gunam hi
andhasya kim hasta-tala-sthito'pi prakasayaty
artham iha pradipah
Just as lamp in the hand of a blind man cannot help him see, so scriptural
instruction yields no fruit for he who does not act on it with determination.
Sastra is like a lamp, yet one who studies it without putting it to practical use, is
compared to blind man, because although the lamp sheds light, the blind man
cannot take advantage. As a lamp only serves those who have the power to see,
so the sastra enlightens those who understand it and have the intelligence,
courage, and faith to put it into practice. The knowledge of one who fails to
act is like a load of books on the back of an ass. To be fruitful, sastric
knowledge must be put into practice.
– Radhajivan das, Alachua.

The Missing Link Between Knowledge and Realization
Such a nice instruction Radha Jivan Prabhuji has given. This instruction from
Hitopadesha is affirmed by Bhagavad Gita also as our Vedic system of
enlightenment. Krishna says in BG 9.2 jnanam vijnana-sahitam -
Only 'jnana' - knowledge is not enough. It has to be 'vijnanam-
sahitam' - supplemented with realization. And realization cannot come
about until and unless one properly acts on scriptural injunctions with faith
and determination.
This nice instruction from Hitopadesh explains our missing link between
knowledge and realised knowledge, and between entanglement in material
world and liberation from its miseries. Knowledge devoid of actions will keep
us entangled in this material world - infact it will make us more miserable.
However when that scriptural knowledge is acted upon then the actual
realisation comes about - the actual substance of which is love for Godhead,
love for Krishna and the by-product of which is liberation from the miseries of
the material world.
Therefore we should not get only stuck on talk. Let us walk the talk of
scriptures by acting on the instructions of Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad
Gita.
- Viraja Krishna Das, Sydney.



Glorification of Ganges in Srimad Bhagavatam
River Ganges is glorified in Srimad Bhagavatam 9.9.14 as follows:
na hy etat param äçcaryaà

svardhunyä yad ihoditam
ananta-caraëämbhoja-
prasütäyä bhava-cchidaù
“Because mother Ganges emanates from the lotus toe of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, Anantadeva, she is able to liberate one from
material bondage.”
In BG 10.14 Lord Krishna says:

pavanaù pavatäm asmi
rämaù çastra-bhåtäm aham
jhañäëäà makaraç cäsmi
srotasäm asmi jähnavé
“The Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna: Of purifiers I am the
wind, of the wielders of weapons I am Rama, of fishes I am the shark, and
of flowing rivers I am the Ganges.”



Material Opulence is not a Result of Devotional Service
Gurudev gave a few verses in Dwaraka while travelling and requested that these
verses be his contribution to granthraj! Gurudev Ki Jai!
I will put one of the verses here (SB 5.24.19):

no evaitat säkñätkäro bhümi-dänasya yat tad bhagavaty
açeña-jéva-nikäyänäà jéva-bhütätma-bhüte paramätmani
väsudeve térthatame pätra upapanne parayä çraddhayä
paramädara-samähita-manasä sampratipäditasya säkñäd
apavarga-dvärasya yad bila-nilayaiçvaryam
“My dear King, Bali Maharaj donated all his possessions to the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, Vamanadeva, but should certainly not conclude that he
achieved his great worldly opulence in bila-svarga as a result of his
charitable disposition. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the source
of life for all living entities, lives within everyone as the friendly Supersoul, and
under His direction a living entity enjoys or suffers in the material world.
Greatly appreciating the transcendental qualities of the Lord, Bali Maharaj,
offered everything at His lotus feet. His purpose, however, was not to gain
anything material, but to become a pure devotee. For a pure devotee, the door
of liberation is automatically opened. One should not think that Bali Maharaj
was given so much material opulence merely because of his charity. When
one becomes a pure devotee in love, he may also be blessed with a good
material position by the will of the Supreme Lord. However, one should not
mistakenly think that the material opulence of a devotee is the result of his
devotional service. The real result of devotional service is the awakening of
pure love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, which continues under all
circumstances.”

The Lord Is The Servant of His Pure Devotees
Here is another verse from Gurudev's arsenal. This verse shows the sheer
compassion of the Lord! - SB 5.24.27:
tasyänucaritam upariñöäd vistariñyate yasya bhagavän

svayam akhila-jagad-gurur näräyaëo dväri gadä-päëir
avatiñöhate nija-janänukampita-hådayo yenäìguñöhena
padä daça-kandharo yojanäyutäyutaà dig-vijaya
uccäöitaù
“Sukadev Gosvami continued: My dear King, how shall I glorify the

character of Bali Maharaj? The Supreme Personality of Godhead the master
of the three worlds, who is most compassionate to His own devotee, stands
with club in hand at Bali Maharaj's door. When Ravana, the powerful
demon, came to gain victory over Bali Maharaj, Vamanadev kicked him a
distance of eighty thousand miles with His big toe. I shall explain the
character and activities of Bali Maharaj later[in the 8th Canto of Srimad
Bhagavatam].”
How kind the Lord is to His devotees! It is our shortcoming that we do not see
His mercy on us always!


Power of Hearing from a Pure Devotee
Gurudev said that each verse in Bhagavatam has the potency to purify our
sinful existence the moment we hear and chant and study the verse. When we
hear or read these verses aloud or in our hearts, we feel a sense of undescribable
bliss and peace that cannot be replaced nor found anywhere. The reason for
these is not only because the words from Bhagavatam are about Krishna, but
more importantly these words have been chewed, digested and given to us
through the lips of the pure devotee - Srila Prabhupada!
And Gurudev quoted the next verse as our prayer to Krishna - SB 4.20.24:
na kämaye nätha tad apy ahaà kvacin

na yatra yuñmac-caraëämbujäsavaù
mahattamäntar-hådayän mukha-cyuto
vidhatsva karëäyutam eña me varaù
“My dear Lord, I therefore do not wish to have the benediction of merging into
Your existence, a benediction in which there is no existence of the nectarean
beverage of Your lotus feet. I want the benediction of at least one million ears,
for thus I may be able to hear about the glories of Your lotus feet from the
mouths of Your pure devotees”
Gurudev said Prabhupada's purity has the following effect on us even without
our realising it - SB 4.20.25:
“My dear Lord You are glorified by the selected verses uttered by great
personalities. Such glorification of Your lotus feet is just like saffron particles.
When the trancendental vibration from the mouths of great devotees carries
the aroma of the saffrom dust of Your lotus feet, the forgetful living entity
gradually remembers his eternal relationship with You. Devotees thus
gradually come to the right conclusion about the value of life. My dear Lord, I
therefore do not need any other benediction but the opportunity to hear from
the mouth of Your pure devotee.”
What really is the value of our life without hearing and reading from
Prabhupada's Bhagavatam and Gita?


The Lord Protects Us Eternally
Srila Prabhupada gives a nice explanation of devotional service and how it
should be rendered in the purport of 4.9.17. This is a prayer sung by Dhruva
Maharaj when the Lord appears before him.
satyäçiño hi bhagavaàs tava päda-padmam

äçés tathänubhajataù puruñärtha-mürteù
apy evam arya bhagavän paripäti dénän
väçreva vatsakam anugraha-kätaro ’smän
“My Lord, O Supreme Lord, You are the Supreme Personified form of all
benediction. Therefore, for one who abides in Your devotional service with
no other desire, worshiping Your lotus feet is better than becoming king
and lording it over a kingdom. That is the benediction of worshiping Your
lotus feet. To ignorant devotees like me, You are the causelessly merciful
maintainer, just like a cow, who takes care of the newly born calf by
supplying milk and giving it protection from attack.”
Excerpts from Purport:
Pure devotional service is without material form and is not covered by mental
speculation or fruitive activities. Pure devotional service is therefore called
ahaituki - unmotivated. Dhruva Maharaj knew that he had come to
worship the Lord in devotional service with a motive - to get the kingdom of
his father. Such an adulterated devotee can never see the Supreme
Personality of Godhead face to face. He therefore felt very grateful for the
causeless mercy of the Lord.
The Lord is so merciful that not only does He fulfill the desires of a devotee
who is driven by ignorance desiring material benefit, but He also gives such a
devotee all protection, just as a cow gives milk to the newly born calf. In the
Bhagavad Gita it is said that the Lord gives intelligence to the constantly
engaged devotee so that he may gradually approach the Lord without
difficulty. A devotee must be very sincere in his devotional service; then,
although there may be many things wrong on the devotee's part, Krishna will
guide him and gradually elevate him to the highest position of devotional
service."
- Devakinandana Das, Singapore.



Pleasing and Displeasing the Spiritual Master
Narada Muni is an exalted spiritual master and studying his qualities and
greatness is so important for our devotional life - because it is fairly easy to
minimise the spiritual master's position when one is swimming the quagmire of
maya - so easy to see him through the defective senses and judge him based on
the defective experiences.
The fact remains that just with the spiritual master being pleased or
displeased, one's spiritual life can rise or fall deeper into the material modes
of nature.
Ramachandra Puri was disciple of Madhavendra Puri, as was Iswara Puri, the
spiritual master of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Formerly when Madhavendra Puri
was at the last stage of his life, Ramachandra Puri came to where he was
staying. Madhavendra Puri was chanting the Holy Name of Krishna and
sometimes he would cry out in separation from the Lord. Ramachandra Puri
was so foolish that he fearlessly dared to instruct his spiritual master and
admonished him by saying, "If you are in full transcendental bliss, why are
you crying?" Madhavendra Puri rebuked him and cursed him because of
incurring his displeasure. Ramachandra Puri glided into material desires and
was bound by the modes of material nature. Iswara Puri, on the other hand,
served his gurudev without any comments but would do great menial service
like cleaning up his stool and urine with his own hands when Madhavendra
Puri was ill. He was always chanting the Holy Names of the Lord and in this
way, he helped his spiritual master remember the holy name and pastimes of
Lord Krishna at the time of his death. Pleased with his disciple, Madhavendra
Puri embraced him and gave him the benediction that he would be a great
devotee of the Lord.
Thus, as Antya Lila 8.31-32 state:

“Thus Iswara Puri became like an ocean of ecstatic love for Krishna,
whereas Ramachandra Puri became a dry speculator and a critic of
everyone else.”
“Iswara Puri received the blessings of Madhavendra Puri, whereas

Ramachandra Puri received a rebuke from him. Therefore these two
persons are examples of objects of a great personality's benediction and
punishment.”
From the above instructive incident, we learn the effects and symptoms of
pleasing or displeasing the guru. Pleasing the spiritual master is the goal and
breath of our existence.Therefore it is imperative that we follow Bhagavatam in
the treatment and service of the spiritual master - SB 7.15.26:
yasya säkñäd bhagavati

jïäna-dépa-prade gurau
martyäsad-dhéù çrutaà tasya
sarvaà kuïjara-çaucavat
"The spiritual master should be considered to be directly the Supreme Lord

because he gives transcendental knowledge for enlightenment. Consequently
for one who maintains the material conception that the spiritual master is an
ordinary human being, everything is frustrated. His enlightenment and his
Vedic studies and knowledge are like the bathing of an elephant."
– Devakinandana das, Singapore.

Krishna is our Ultimate Protector
Excerpts from “The Path of Perfection” by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada.
If one is convinced that “I am part and parcel of Krishna,” one is not

disturbed even in the midst of the greatest difficulties, because one knows that
Krishna will give protection. That is surrender. To attain this position, one
must try his best, use his intelligence, and believe in Krishna. SB 7.9.19 says :-
bälasya neha çaraëaà pitarau nåsiàha

närtasya cägadam udanvati majjato nauù
taptasya tat-pratividhir ya ihäïjaseñöas
tävad vibho tanu-bhåtäà tvad-upekñitänäm
If Krishna does not protect us, nothing can save us. If Krishna neglects us, there
is no remedy, and whatever measures we take to try to protect ourselves will be
ultimately defeated. There may be expert physicians treating a diseased man,
but that is no guarantee that he will live. If Krishna so wills, a person will die
despite the best physicians and medicines. On the other hand, if Krishna is
protecting us, we will survive even without medical treatment. When one is
fully surrendered to Krishna, he becomes happy, knowing that regardless of
the situation, Krishna will protect him. He is just like a child who is fully
surrendered to his parents , confident that they are there to protect him. As
stated by Yamunacarya in his Stotra-ratna (43), kadaham aikantika-
nitya-kinkarah prahasayisyami sanatha-jivitam:- “O Lord
when shall I engage as Your permanent, eternal servant and always feel joyful
to have such a perfect master ?” If we know that there is someone very
powerful who is our patron and savior, aren’t we happy? But if we try to act on
our own and at our own risk, how can we be happy? Happiness means being in
Krishna consciousness and being convinced that “Krishna will give me
protection,” and being true to Krishna. It is not possible to be happy
otherwise.
Of course, Krishna is giving protection to all living entities, even in their

rebellious condition (eko bahünäà yo vidadhäti kämän). Without
Krishna’s protection, we cannot live for a second. When we admit and
recognize Krishna’s kindness, we become happy. Krishna is protecting us at
every moment , but we do not realize this, because we have taken life at our
own risk. Krishna give us a certain amount of freedom, saying , “All right, do
whatever you like. As far as possible, I will give you protection.” However,
when the living entity is fully surrendered to Krishna, Krishna takes total
charge and gives special protection. If a child grows up and doesn’t care for
his father and acts freely , what can his father do ? He can only say “Do
whatever you like.” But when a son puts himself fully under his father’s
protection, he receives more care. As Krishna states in the Ninth Chapter of
Bhagavad-gita (9.29),
samo ’haà sarva-bhüteñu
na me dveñyo ’sti na priyaù
ye bhajanti tu mäà bhaktyä
mayi te teñu cäpy aham
“I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all. But whoever
renders service unto Me in devotion is a friend, is in Me, and I am also a
friend to him.”
How can Krishna be envious of anyone? Everyone is Krishna’s son. Similarly,

how can Krishna be an enemy toward anyone? Since all living entities are
Krishna’s sons, He is everyone’s friend. Unfortunately, we are not taking
advantage of His friendship, and that is our disease. Once we recognize
Krishna as our eternal father and friend, we can understand that He is
always protecting us , and in this way we can be happy.


Krishna is the Supreme Spiritual Master
Today is a very auspicious day because traditionally it is Guru Purnima - in

honour and observance of the exalted position of the spiritual master.
Gurudev, whenever asked about the exalted position of the spiritual master is so
humble yet so realised that he instructs us to remember the significance of the
spiritual master and Krishna as thus:
Srimad Bhagavatam 8.24.48:

yat-sevayägner iva rudra-rodanaà
pumän vijahyän malam ätmanas tamaù
bhajeta varëaà nijam eña so ’vyayo
bhüyät sa éçaù paramo guror guruù
"One who wants to be free of material entanglement should take to the

service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and give up the
contamination of ignorance, involving pious and impious activities. Thus one
regains his original identity, just as a block of gold or silver sheds all dirt and
becomes purified when treated with fire. May that inexhaustible Supreme
Personality of Godhead become our spiritual master, for He is the original
spiritual master of all other spiritual masters.”
- Devakinandana das, Singapore.

Pathetic Condition of a Materialist
Srimad Bhagavatam 5.18.3:

aho vicitraà bhagavad-viceñöitaà
ghnantaà jano ’yaà hi miñan na paçyati
dhyäyann asad yarhi vikarma sevituà
nirhåtya putraà pitaraà jijéviñati
“Alas! How wonderful it is that the foolish materialist does not heed the
great danger of impending death! He knows that death will surely come,
yet he is nevertheless callous and neglectful. If his father dies, he wants to
enjoy his father’s property, and if his son dies, he wants to enjoy his son’s
possessions as well. In either case, he heedlessly tries to enjoy material
happiness with the acquired money.”
Excerpts from Purport: Sukadeva Gosvami says, “How wonderful are these
pastimes of material happiness transacted by the will of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead!” In other words, materialistic persons want to commit
all kinds of sinful activities, but without the sanction of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead no one can do anything.Why does the Supreme
Personality of Godhead permit sinful activities? The Supreme Lord does not
want any living being to act sinfully, and He begs him through his good
conscience to refrain from sin. But when someone insists upon acting sinfully,
the Supreme Lord gives him the sanction to act at his own risk (mattaù
småtir jïänam apohanaà ca [Bg. 15.15]). No one can do anything
without the sanction of the Lord, but He is so kind that when the conditioned
soul persists in doing something, the Lord permits the individual soul to act at
his own risk.


Krishna Can Be Controlled Only By His Devotee
Lord Krishna says in Srimad Bhagavatam 9.4.66 very wonderfully:
mayi nirbaddha-hådayäù
sädhavaù sama-darçanäù
vaçe kurvanti mäà bhaktyä
sat-striyaù sat-patià yathä
“As chaste women bring their gentle husbands under control by service,
the pure devotees, who are equal to everyone and completely attached to
Me in the core of the heart, bring Me under their full control.”
Krishna is the master, but who can control Krishna? His devotee. There is a
story of Prime Minister Gladstone, whom a big dignatory came to see. Mr
Gladstone's secretary informed him that the Prime Minister was very busy in
his office and he would have to wait. He waited for hours, and became curious -
"What is the Prime Minister doing?" So he looked inside the office and to his
surprise he saw Prime Minister Gladstone, the most powerful man of the lands
on his hands and knees pretending to be a horse, with his little son on top of
him! The son was shouting and commanding his "horse" to gallop and Mr
Gladstone was smiling cheerfully and doing so!
Krishna is master but He is controlled by devotees who are:-
1. Equal to all persons and loving and kind in their dealings with all living
entities, seeing Krishna in them;
2. Completely attached to Krishna in their hearts - they want and have no other
desire but to perform every activity to please Krishna and not themselves
3. By service - service that is service for its sake and not for cultivation of
knowledge, austerities, penance, meditation, power false prestige etc. -
"vasudeva parayanah - SB 6.1.15"
The combined effect of all these qualities represents the devotee's genuine
affection and love for the Lord. It is this affection that binds Krishna to His
devotees!
In a few days time, we are going to celebrate Janmashtami the appearance of

the Lord and Srila Prabhupada's appearance too. It is a good time for me to take
stock of my devotional service and where it is going. Am I doing all these
wonderful activities that we have planned for Janmashtami to please Krishna
and Prabhupada and Gurudev, or has it got more to do with increasing my false
prestige or sense of worth or even pleasing myself? We are so busy doing
service but it is good to bear in mind who the service is for and in what mood it
must be done. Otherwise, as Gurudev so rightly points out - one can be 20- 30
years in devotional service and still feel no attraction and enthusiasm for
Krishna.



Fruitive Activities Cannot Relieve our Sufferings
In Srimad Bhagavatam there is a nice historical account of King
Pracinabarhisat - a descendant of one of the most celebrated devotees
of Krishna, Dhruva Maharaj. Seeing the King wasting his life in fruitive
activities not desiring for liberation from material world Sri Narada Muni
felt compassion for the descendent of his disciple and approached him.
He says in SB 4.25.4:-
çreyas tvaà katamad räjan
karmaëätmana éhase
duùkha-häniù sukhäväptiù
çreyas tan neha ceñyate
Sri Narada asked him King Pracinabarhisat: “My dear King, what do you
desire to achieve by performing these fruitive activities? The chief aim of
life is to get rid of all miseries and enjoy happiness, but these two things
cannot be realized by fruitive activity.”
Srimad Bhagavatam 4.25.(5-6) King Pracinabarhisat replied: "Those who are

interested only in a so-called beautiful life—namely remaining as a householder
entangled by sons and a wife and searching after wealth—think that such things
are life’s ultimate goal. Such people simply wander in different types of bodies
throughout this material existence without finding out the ultimate goal of
life. O great soul, Narada, my intelligence is entangled in fruitive activities;
therefore I do not know the ultimate goal of life. Kindly instruct me in pure
knowledge so that I can get out of the entanglement of fruitive activities. "
In the purport Srila Prabhupada writes: "As long as a person is entangled in

fruitive activities, he is bound to accept one body after another. This is called
karma-bandha-phansa—entanglement in fruitive activities. It does not matter
whether one is engaged in pious or impious activities, for both are causes for
further entanglement in material bodies..... Such activities simply cause
entanglement and transmigration from one body to another."
Fruitive activity means working hard for material enjoyment but actually
undergoing various pangs, difficulties and distresses in its pursuit. As Prahlada
Maharaj says 'sankalpa iha karminah sada apnoti ihaya duhkham' - that
from the very onset (sankalpa) of such an endeavour only misery is
guaranteed and that too without fail. Why? Because it binds us to the future
material bodies through births, deaths diseases and old age, which in itself
is all distressful.
However King Pracinabarhisat found the best spiritual master, Narada Muni,
who narrated to him an historical account of a king named Puranjana. Upon
hearing this historical account Pracinabarhisat was able to know the true value
of life and set forth on the path of self-realization and achieved all success.


Purification
Here is a gem that was quoted in Maharaj's diary - Srimad Bhagavatam 10.5.4.
kälena snäna-çaucäbhyäà
saàskärais tapasejyayä
çudhyanti dänaiù santuñöyä
dravyäëy ätmätma-vidyayä
“O King, by the passing of time, land and other material possessions are
purified; by bathing, the body is purified; and by being cleansed, unclean
things are purified. By purificatory ceremonies, birth is purified; by
austerity, the senses are purified; and by worship and charity offered to the
brahmanas, material possessions are purified. By satisfaction, the mind is
purified; and by self-realization, or Krishna consciousness, the soul is
purified.”
Purport: These are sastric injunctions concerning how one can purify
everything according to Vedic civilization. Unless purified, anything we use
will infect us with contamination. In India five thousand years ago, even in the
villages such as that of Nanda Maharaja, people knew how to purify things, and
thus they enjoyed even material life without contamination.



Discontent Can Never Bring Happiness
Today is the auspicious occasion of Vamana Dvadasi, the appearance day of
Lord Vamanadeva.
After His appearance, the Lord assumed the form of a Dwarf (Vamana). Then
He entered the sacrificial arena of Maharaja Bali. Bali Maharaja after properly
honouring and welcoming the Lord inquired of His welfare and requested the
Lord to ask him for money, jewels or anything He might desire.The Lord
replied that He wanted only three paces of land, to the “measurement of My
steps." (sammitäni padä mama). The Lord specifically mentioned this as
He is a sathyavratha and nobody can question that He has cheated by taking His
unlimited expansion of footsteps. When Maharaja Bali, who was possessing all
the islands in space, saw that Lord Vamana is only asking three paces of land,
he said that the Lord was not prudent in regard to His self interest and
considered Him not very intelligent. To this the Lord replied nicely which is
contained in the verses from 8.19.21 to 8.19.27. They convey deep meaning and
significance to all of us. The gist of them is that, for a person whose senses are
uncontrolled, even the entirety of whatever there may be in the three worlds
cannot give satisfaction and this is the cause for the continuation of material
life, which is full of repeated birth and death. But a satisfied person is fit for
liberation from this material existence. In the verse 8.19.24, the Lord says,
yadåcchayopapannena
santuñöo vartate sukham
näsantuñöas tribhir lokair
ajitätmopasäditaiù
“One should be satisfied with whatever he achieves by his previous destiny,

for discontent can never bring happiness. A person who is not self-
controlled will not be happy even with possessing the three worlds.”
Let us comtemplate on this important instruction of the Lord on this auspicious

occasion.
- Vaijayanthi mala devi dasi, Abu dhabi.


Atomic Time
Srimad Bhagavatam covers almost all the topics under the sky, that here is one
completely scientific approach (SB 3.11.4) to the concept of time and space.
Prabhupada's purport is as good as a thesis submitted by research scientist - so
full of authoritative facts.
sa kälaù paramäëur vai
yo bhuìkte paramäëutäm
sato ’viçeña-bhug yas tu
sa kälaù paramo mahän
“Atomic time is measured according to its covering a particular atomic

space. That time which covers the unmanifest aggregate of atoms is called
the great time.”
Purport: Time and space are two correlative terms. Time is measured in terms
of its covering a certain space of atoms. Standard time is calculated in terms of
the movement of the sun. The time covered by the sun in passing over an atom
is calculated as atomic time. The greatest time of all covers the entire existence
of the nondual manifestation. All the planets rotate and cover space, and space
is calculated in terms of atoms. Each planet has its particular orbit for
rotating,in which it moves without deviation, and similarly the sun has its orbit.
The complete calculation of the time of creation, maintenance and dissolution,
measured in terms of the circulation of the total planetary systems until the end
of creation, is known as the supreme kala.
Personal Observation: Time is a personal weapon of the Lord. Throughout the

Vedic scriptures, time is given utmost importance. There are so many
enlightening verses in Srimad Bhagavatam that helps us realize the power of
time. One very instructive verse is found in the 6th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam
when Narada Muni advices King Citraketu who was lamenting for his dead son.
Srimad Bhagavatam 6.15.3: -

yathä prayänti saàyänti
sroto-vegena bälukäù
saàyujyante viyujyante
tathä kälena dehinaù
“O King, as small particles of sand sometimes come together and are

sometimes separated due to the force of the waves, the living entities who
have accepted material bodies sometimes come together and are sometimes
separated by the force of time.”


Lessons To Be Learned From Animals
Chanakya Niti Sastra:
1. Just as a calf goes to its mother, seeking her out from among thousands of
cows, so does every action follows the doer.
2. Just as a pigeon which has lived on the holy fig tree is a source of constant
danger to the silk cotton tree, so does a person who has come back after
living with the enemy is a source of constant danger.
3. These are the six qualities of a dog: desire for much, satisfaction with a little,
deep slumber, quick awakening, and devotion to master and bravery.
4. From the donkey three things should be learnt: to carry the burden even
though tired, not to mind heat or cold, and to trudge ever satisfied.


Greed - The Origin of All Sins
Yudishtir Maharaj enquired various questions to Bhishmadev just before
Bhishmadev left his body. Here is one of those important question and the
Mahajana’s answer.
What is the origin of all sins ?
Greed, the hankering to possess more than one's naturally ordained quota is the
origin of all sins. The desire to possess that which belongs to another is
insatiable and gives rise to anger, lust, loss of judgement, arrogance,
miserliness, lack of compassion, enviousness, mistrust and many other evils.
Lord Siva, another exalted Mahajana also refers to ‘greed’ in his prayer to Lord
Krishna in Srimad Bhagavatam 4.24.66:
pramattam uccair iti krtya-cintaya

pravrddha-lobham visayesu lalasam
tvam apramattah sahasa bhipadyase
ksul-lelihano 'hir ivakhum antakah
“My dear Lord, all living entities within this material world are mad after
planning for things, and they are always busy with a desire to do this or
that. This is due to uncontrollable greed. The greed for material enjoyment
is always existing in the living entity, but Your Lordship is always alert,
and in due course of time You strike him, just as a snake seizes a mouse
and very easily swallows him.”


The Three Requests of Parikshit Maharaj

Pariksit Maharaj, even before meeting the liberated pure devotee, Sukadev
Gosvami, showed the world what a realized personality he already was by
giving us all, a prayer to pray and ask for, if we somehow or other do not go
back to Krishna in this life itself - Srimad Bhagavatam 1.19.16:
punaç ca bhüyäd bhagavaty anante

ratiù prasaìgaç ca tad-äçrayeñu
mahatsu yäà yäm upayämi såñöià
maitry astu sarvatra namo dvijebhyaù
“Again, offering obeisances unto all you brahmanas, I pray that if I should
again take my birth in the material world I will have complete attachment
to the unlimited Lord Krishna, association with His devotees and friendly
relations with all living beings.”
 Complete attachment to the unlimited Lord Krishna
 Association with His devotees
 Friendly relations with all living beings.
If we have these three components in our lives and if we endeavor very hard to
maintain them in our lives, by the Lord's mercy, even if we do not leave this
material world, we will always be in the spiritual world, because connection to
these components is direct connection to the Supreme Lord!



Understanding Krishna Requires a Kind-heart
This a verse from Srimad Bhaghavat Gita 1.46:
saïjaya uväca
evam uktvärjunaù saìkhye
rathopastha upäviçat
visåjya sa-çaraà cäpaà
çoka-saàvigna-mänasaù
“Sanjaya said: Arjuna, having thus spoken on the battlefield,cast aside his
bow and arrows and sat down on the chariot , his mind overwhelmed.”
Purport: While observing the situation of his enemy,Arjuna stood up on the

chariot,but he was so afflicted with lamentation that he sat down again,setting
aside his bow and arrows. “Such a kind and softhearted person, in the
devotional service of the lord, is fit to receive self knowledge.”
Personal Observation: To my limited understanding a person who is soft

hearted is compassionate and whenever someone tries to hurt him he forgives
that person. And he also forgets it. So his heart is free. As Maharaj used to say
that our heart must be vacant and open to receive self-knowledge. So Arjuna's
heart is free (of ill-feelings like envy, hatred etc). That is why he is fit to receive
self knowledge.


Everything Emanates from the Lord
This is a verse from Srimad Bhagavatam 5.18.32
jaräyujaà svedajam aëòajodbhidaà

caräcaraà devarñi-pitå-bhütam aindriyam
dyauù khaà kñitiù çaila-sarit-samudra-
dvépa-graharkñety abhidheya ekaù
“My dear Lord, You manifest Your different energies in countless forms:
as living entities born from wombs, from eggs and from perspiration; as
plants and trees that grow out of the earth; as all living entities, both
moving and standing, including the demigods, the learned sages and the
pitas; as outer space, as the higher planetary system containing the
heavenly planets, and as the planet earth with its hills, rivers, seas, oceans
and islands. Indeed, all the stars and planets are simply manifestations of
Your different energies, but originally You are one without a second.
Therefore there is nothing beyond You. This entire cosmic manifestation is
therefore not false but is simply a temporary manifestation of Your
inconceivable energy.”
Purport Punch: In other words, the energy of the Supreme Lord is as

permanent as the Lord Himself, although His energy is sometimes manifest
and sometimes not.
In this verse we learn that

 Krishna is the one and only Supreme Lord.
 We also learn that Krishna is asamurdhvah – He has no one greater or
equal to Him.


Govinda – The Enlivener of Our Senses
This is verse from Srimad Bhaghavat Gita 2.9:
saïjaya uväca
evam uktvä håñékeçaà
guòäkeçaù parantapaù
na yotsya iti govindam
uktvä tüñëéà babhüva ha
Sanjaya said: Having spoken thus, Arjuna, chastiser of enemies, told
Krishna, “Govinda, I shall not fight,” and fell silent.
In the previous verses,we see that Arjuna says "Oh! this is drying up my senses,
my mouth is drying up (verses 1.28,2.8) etc.
na hi prapaçyämi mamäpanudyäd
yac chokam ucchoñaëam indriyäëäm
aväpya bhümäv asapatnam åddhaà
räjyaà suräëäm api cädhipatyam
“I can find no means to drive away this grief which is drying up my senses.
I will not be able to destroy it even if I win an unrivalled kingdom on the
earth with sovereignty like the demigods in heaven.”
Govinda means “One who gives pleasure to the senses (Krishna)”. And now
we see that Arjuna's senses are numb. So Govinda (the giver of pleasure to
senses) is going to enliven the senses of Arjuna through His transcendental
instructions in Bhagavat Gita.

Krishna Conscious Enjoyment

Living in a society surrounded by material pleasures, a thought came on me
“Am I really Krishna conscious?” It is said that the happiness of material
enjoyment generally drags one to the lowest grade of life, namely degradation
to animal life (or even less than animal life), because of unrestricted sense
enjoyment. To be in Krishna consciousness, one need not go to the strict saintly
life. Srimad Bhagavatam 3.22.34 says,
niñëätaà yogamäyäsu
munià sväyambhuvaà manum
yad äbhraàçayituà bhogä
na çekur bhagavat-param
“Maitreya to Vidura: Thus Svayambuva Manu was a saintly king.

Although absorbed in material happiness, he was not dragged to the lowest
grade of life, for he always enjoyed his material happiness in a Krishna
conscious atmosphere.”
In purport Srila Prabhupada says, Krishna consciousness does not stop one in
his/her propensity for material enjoyment, but simply regulates one's habits in
the life of sense enjoyment. Inspite of their enjoying the material advantages,
they can be liberated in this very life by practicing Krishna consciousness by
the simple method of chanting the holy names of the Lord—Hare Krishna,
Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama
Rama, Hare Hare.
- Poorna Pragna Das, Abu dhabi.


Mind is the Supreme Cause of All Our Miseries
I was talking with Maharaj recently and got this powerful punch from Srimad
Bhagavatam 11.23.42:
dvija uväca
näyaà jano me sukha-duùkha-hetur
na devatätmä graha-karma-käläù
manaù paraà käraëam ämananti
saàsära-cakraà parivartayed yat
“The Brahmana said: These people are not the cause of my happiness and
distress. Neither are the demigods, my own body, the planets, my past
work or time. Rather it is the mind alone that causes happiness and
distress and perpetuates the rotation of material life.”
This verse says that "Mind is the supreme cause (paraà käraëam) of our
distress and happiness and perpetual rotation in this material world". I
questioned myself, “If mind is the ultimate cause, then what about the other
people around me, kaala, graha, devataa and my own body ?” Indeed in
scriptures these are mentioned as the cause of our happiness and distress. For
eg., we have the threefold miseries - adhyathmika (distress caused by our
own body and mind), adhibhautika (caused by other living entities - ayam
janah) and adhidaivika (caused by higher beings - devata). And we also
have instances like Bishmadev talking to Yudhistir Maharaj in his deathbed -
sarvam kälam krtam manye (“I consider all the sufferings you went
thru was due to the inexplicable time”). In another place in 1.5.17 it is said,
kälena sarvatra gabhira ramhasa (“In due course of time we will
get both happiness and distress”). And all of us are also aware of the effects of
the positions of the planetary system (graha) and our own actions and
reactions (karma). How do we reconcile these apparently contradictory
statements ?
It is true that these different factors like devata, karma, kaala etc do play their
role, but in the verse 11.23.42 mind is mentioned as the ultimate/supreme cause
- param karanam. why ? If we take any example, we will see that ultimately we
have the choice to be happy or unhappy. For eg., In due course of time, I may
lose the association of my dear associate (which may bring me misery) or I may
get some nice advancement in my life (source of happiness). In either case, it is
my mind (with its function of thinking, feeling and willing) that is dictating me
to be happy or unhappy. So according to my karma or the position of the
grahas, or kala, I may be put in a situation which may be an apparently happy
one or unhappy one. But I have the independence and the power to tell the mind
to be happy or unhappy.
How to do that is very nicely expressed by Jada Bharat Maharaj to king

Rahugana in SB 5.11.17:
bhrätåvyam enaà tad adabhra-véryam

upekñayädhyedhitam apramattaù
guror hareç caraëopäsanästro
jahi vyalékaà svayam ätma-moñam
"This uncontrolled mind is the greatest enemy of the living entity. If one
neglects it or gives it a chance, it will grow more and more powerful and will
become victorious. Although it is not factual, it is very strong. It covers the
constitutional position of the soul. O King, please try to conquer this mind by
the weapon of service to the lotus feet of the spiritual master and of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. Do this with great care."
So, the crux is to conquer the mind (jahi vyalikam). How ? by the weapon
(astra) of service to the Lotus feet (caraëopäsana) of the spiritual master
(guru) and the Supreme Lord (hari). One simple and sublime way to serve
them is by following their instructions.


Nourishing the Creeper of Devotional Service
These are the excerpts from Teachings of Lord Caitanya.
“Lord Caitanya said that by the mercy of the spiritual master one can achieve
the causeless mercy of the Lord, and by the mercy of the Supreme Personality
of Godhead, one can attain the mercy of the bona fide spiritual master.
Thus by the mercy of the spiritual master and Krishna, one receives the seed of
devotional service. He has only to sow the seed in the field of his heart, just as a
gardener sows the seed of a valuable tree. After sowing this seed, one has to
water it in the form of chanting and hearing the holy name of the Supreme Lord
or by taking part in discussions about the science of devotional service in a
society of pure devotees. When the plant of devotional service sprouts up from
the seed of devotion, it begins to grow freely. When it is full grown, it surpasses
the length and breadth of this universe and enters into the transcendental
atmosphere, where everything is bathed in the effulgence of the brahmajyoti.
The plant even penetrates this brahmajyoti and gradually enters the planet
known as Goloka Vrndavana. There the plant takes shelter at the lotus feet of
Krishna. That is the ultimate goal of devotional service. After attaining this
position, the plant produces fruit, which is known as the fruit of love of
Godhead. However, it is necessary for the devotee, or transcendental gardener,
to pour water on the plant daily by chanting and hearing. Unless one waters the
plant by chanting and hearing, there is every chance that it will dry up.
Lord Caitanya pointed out to Rupa Goswami that there was a certain danger to
be encountered while watering the root of the devotional plant. After the plant
has grown some bit, an animal may come and either eat or destroy it. When
green leaves of a plant are taken by some animal, the plant generally dies. The
most dangerous animal is considered a mad elephant, for if a mad elephant
enters into a garden, it causes tremendous damage to plants and trees. An
offense to a pure devotee of the Lord is called Vaishnava aparada, the
mad elephant offense. In the discharge of devotional service, an offense to the
feet of a pure devotee can create havoc. Thus one has to defend the plant of
bhakti by tending it properly and taking care not to commit offenses. If one is
cautious, the plant can properly thrive.”
- Radha Madan Mohan Das, Abu dhabi.


Real Understanding
This is a verse from Srimad Bhagavad Gita 2.28 spoken by Krishna :-
avyaktädéni bhütäni
vyakta-madhyäni bhärata
avyakta-nidhanäny eva
tatra kä paridevanä
“All created beings are unmanifest in their beginning, manifest in their

interim state, and unmanifest again when annihilated. So what need is
there for lamentation.”
In the purport Srila Prabhupad nicely explains why Arjuna should not
lament.The first and the last line of the purport convey the same meaning
nicely.
The first line of the purport says, “Accepting that there are two classes of
philosophers one believing in the existence of the soul, and the other not
believing in the existence of the soul, there is no cause of lamentation in
either case". The last line of the purport says, "Therefore, in either case,
whether one believes in the existence of the soul or one does not believe in the
existence of the soul, there is no cause for lamentation for loss of the body.”
So in this verse the last and the first line of the purport are the Srila Prabhupada
punches!
One interesting example for this verse is last year's World Trade Center crash in
the United States. The buildings were unmanifest before a few years, came into
being at certain time and on 9/11/01, they were unmanifested again. The matter
is still present in a different form, but the way it was existing until 9/11/01, it is
not existing in that same form now.



We Want Poison But the Lord Gives Us Nectar
This is a nectarian verse from Srimad Bhagavatam 5.19.27:
satyaà diçaty arthitam arthito nåëäà

naivärthado yat punar arthitä yataù
svayaà vidhatte bhajatäm anicchatäm
icchäpidhänaà nija-päda-pallavam
“The Supreme Personality of Godhead fulfills the material desires of a

devotee who approaches Him with such motives, but He does not bestow
benedictions upon the devotee that will cause him to demand more
benedictions again. However, the Lord willingly gives the devotee shelter at
His own lotus feet, even though such a person does not aspire for it, and
that shelter satisfies all his desires. That is the Supreme Personality's
special mercy.”
In this regard Srila Prabhupad has included in his purport, a beautiful

explanation from Caitanya Caritamrta ( Madhya 22.37-39,41):
anyakami - a devotee may desire something other than service to the lotus
feet of the Lord.
yadi kare kåñëera bhajana - but if he engages in Lord Krishna's
service
na magiteha kåñëa tare dena sva-carana - Krishna gives him
shelter at His lotus feet, even though he does not aspire for it.
kåñëa kahe - the Lord says
ama bhaje -"He is engaged in My service";
mage visaya-sukha - "but he wants the benefit of material sense
gratification".
amrta chadi visa mage - "Such a devotee is like a person who asks for
poison instead of nectar."
ei bada murkha - " He is a great fool"
ami-vijna- "But I am experienced."
ei murkhe 'visaya' kene diba - " Why should I give such a foolish
person the dirty things of material enjoyment?"
sva-caranamrita- " It would be better for Me to give shelter at My lotus
feet."
visaya bhulaiba - " I shall cause him to forget all material desires."
kama lagi Kåñëa bhaje - leaving sense gratification if one engages in
the service of the Lord
paya kåñëa-rasa- the result is that he ultimately gets the taste for serving
the lotus feet of the Lord.
kama chadi 'dasa' haite haya abhilase - He then gives up all
material desires and wants to become an eternal servant of the Lord.
The Lord is so unlimitedly merciful that we go seeking poison and the Lord
bestows us the nectar of service at His lotus feet. What more can we say other
than repeating the words of Sri Uddhava who says, "tato anyam kam va
dayalum saranam vrajema?" - How can we take the shelter of any
person other than this Lord who is so merciful?

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Pure Devotees are not Affected by Material Modes
This is a verse from SB 2.6.34 spoken by Lord Brahma to Narada Muni:-
na bhäraté me ’ìga måñopalakñyate
na vai kvacin me manaso måñä gatiù
na me håñékäëi patanty asat-pathe
yan me hådautkaëöhyavatä dhåto hariù
“O Narada, because I have caught hold of the lotus feet of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, Hari, with great zeal, whatever I say have never
proved to be false. Nor is the progress of my mind ever deterred. Nor are
my senses ever degraded by temporary attachment to matter.”
This is a very important verse, which clearly emphasizes how the pure devotees
of the Lord are always protected so that they may remain infallible.
Prabhupada writes in the purport :
“Anyone, therefore, who is earnestly serious in heart and soul about being in
intimate touch with the Personality of Godhead in the relationship of
transcendental loving service will always be infallible in words and action. The
reason is that the Supreme Lord is Absolute Truth, and anything earnestly
dovetailed with the Absolute Truth attains the same transcendental quality.”
Prabhupad totally condemns mental speculation on the basis of material
knowledge and affirms nicely that "A grain of devotion is more valuable than
tons of faithlessness.”
-Vaijayanthi mala devi dasi, Abu dhabi.
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Lord Balarama – The Source of All Spiritual Power
Following is an excerpts from Krishna Book, Vol 1:
The Lord Krishna declared to Yogamaya, “My plenary expansion, Ananta or
Sesa, is within the womb of Devaki. On account of being forcibly attracted to
the womb of Rohini, He will be known as Sankarsana and will be the source of
all spiritual power, or bala, by which one can attain the highest bliss of life,
which is called Rama. Therefore the plenary portion Ananta will be known after
His appearance either as Sankarsana or as Balarama.” In the Upanisads it is
stated, one cannot attain the supreme platform of self-realization without being
sufficiently favored by Balarama. Bala does not mean physical strength. No one
can attain spiritual perfection by physical strength. One must have the spiritual
strength which is infused by Balarama, or Sankarsana. Ananta, or Sesa, is the
power which sustains all the planets in their different positions. Materially this
sustaining power is known as the law of gravitation, but actually it is a display
of the potency of Sankarsana. Balarama, or Sankarsana, is spiritual power, or
the original spiritual master. Therefore Lord Nityananda Prabhu, who is also the
incarnation of Balarama, is the original spiritual master. And the spiritual
master is the representative of Balarama, the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, who supplies spiritual strength. In the Caitanya-caritamrta it is
confirmed that the spiritual master is the manifestation of the mercy of
Krishna.
- Radha Madan Mohan Das, Abu dhabi.
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A Devotee is Never Alone
Here is a powerful purport from Srila Prabhupada in Srimad Bhagavatam
8.21.32:-
"Devotees solely engaged in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality

of Godhead, Narayana, never fear any condition of life. For them the heavenly
planets, liberation and the hellish planets are all the same, for such devotees are
interested only in the service of the Lord."(SB. 6.12.28). A devotee engaged in
the service of Narayana is always in equilibrium. A devotee actually lives
transcendentally. Although he may appear to have gone to hell or heaven, he
does not live in either place; rather, he always lives in Vaikuntha (sa gunan
samatityaitan brahma-bhuyaya kalpate [Bg. 14.26]).
Vamanadeva asked Bali Maharaja to go to the hellish planets, apparently just to
show the entire universe how tolerant he was, and Bali Maharaja did not
hesitate to carry out the order. A devotee does not live alone. Of course,
everyone lives with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but because the
devotee is engaged in His service, he actually does not live in any material
condition. Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, kita janma hao yatha tuya
dasa. Thus he prays to take birth as an insignificant insect in the association
of devotees. Because devotees are engaged in the service of the Lord, anyone
who lives with them also lives in Vaikuntha.
- Abhira Kanya Devi Dasi, Abu dhabi.
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Understanding Our Limited Power of Enjoyment
An enlightening section from Srila Prabhupada's book "Path of Perfection":
“People do not stop to consider that they are actually working very hard for
nothing. One who earns millions of pounds cannot really eat much more than a
man who makes ten pounds. A man who earns millions of pounds cannot mate
with millions of women. That is not within his power. His mating power is the
same as one who earns ten pounds, just as his power of eating is the same. This
is to say that our power of enjoyment is limited. One should therefore think,
"My enjoyment is the same as that of the man who is earning ten pounds daily.
So why am I working so hard to earn millions of pounds ? Why am I wasting
my energy ? I should engage my time and energy in understanding God. That is
the purpose of life."If one has no economic problems, he has sufficient time to
understand Krishna Consciousness. If he wastes this precious time, he is
called a mudha, a rascal or an ass.”
Lord Rshabhadev gives a very relevant instruction to his sons in Srimad
Bhagavatam 5.5.1:
näyaà deho deha-bhäjäà nåloke
kañöän kämän arhate viò-bhujäà ye
tapo divyaà putrakä yena sattvaà
çuddhyed yasmäd brahma-saukhyaà tv anantam
“My dear boys, of all the living entities who have accepted material bodies
in this world, one who has been awarded this human form should not work
hard day and night simply for sense gratification, which is available even
for dogs and hogs that eat stool. One should engage in penance and
austerity to attain the divine position of devotional service. By such
activity, one’s heart is purified, and when one attains this position, he
attains eternal, blissful life, which is transcendental to material happiness
and which continues forever.”

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Purifying Our Speech by Glorifying the Lord
In the 3rd Canto of Granthraj Srimad Bhagavatam is the nectar of conversation

between the two great souls Vidura and Maitreya Muni. Maitreya Muni after
sharing descriptions of the universal form says the following words which
inspired me to write this mail. The verse is SB 3.6.36:-
athäpi kértayämy aìga
yathä-mati yathä-çrutam
kértià hareù sväà sat-kartuà
giram anyäbhidhäsatém
“In spite of my inability, whatever I have been able to hear [from the
spiritual master] and whatever I could assimilate I am now describing in
glorification of the Lord by pure speech, for otherwise my power of
speaking would remain unchaste.”
Excerpts from Purport: One should not become unchaste by stopping the
activities of pure consciousness. If the activities of pure consciousness are
stopped, certainly the conscious living force will be otherwise engaged because
unless engaged the consciousness has no standing. Maitreya's statement is that
in order to avoid unchaste conscious activities, he was trying to describe the
unlimited glories of the Lord, although he did not have the ability to describe
them perfectly. This glorification of the Lord is not a product of research, but
the result of hearing submissively from the authority of the spiritual master. It is
also not possible to repeat all that one has heard from his spiritual master, but
one can narrate as far as possible by one's honest endeavor. It does not matter
whether the Lord's glories are fully explained or not. One must attempt to
engage one's bodily, mental and verbal activities in the transcendental
glorification of the Lord, otherwise such activities will remain unchaste and
impure.The existence of the conditioned soul can be purified only by the
method of engaging mind and speech in the service of the Lord.
-Madana-Gopal das, Vrndavan.
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The Right Way to Approach the Lord
The best way to establish our relation in transcendental sweetness is to
approach Him through His recognized devotees. Casually talking material
matters to a devotee friend of mine, he asked me “Are you reading
Bhagavatam everyday? At least one verse a day ?”. He pointed out that our
Maharaj used to stress the importance of Bhagavatam. He used to say it has its
good effect even if one reads without understanding the meaning(bhagavata
karnamrutam). With the same spirit I opened the Bhagavatam, and came
across this relevant verse.
In Srimad Bhagavatam 1.9.22:
tathäpy ekänta-bhakteñu
paçya bhüpänukampitam
yan me ’süàs tyajataù säkñät
kåñëo darçanam ägataù
“Yet, despite His being equally kind to everyone, He has graciously come
before me while I am ending my life, for I am His unflinching servitor.”
Purport: The Supreme Lord, the Absolute Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna
although equal to everyone, is still more inclined to His unflinching devotee
who is completely surrendered and knows no one else as his protector and
master. Having unflinching faith in the Supreme Lord as one's protector, friend
and master is the natural condition of eternal life. A living entity is so made by
the will of the Almighty that he is most happy when placing himself in a
condition of absolute dependence.The opposite tendency is the cause of
falldown. The living entity has this tendency of falling down by dint of
misidentifying himself as fully independent to lord it over the material world.
The root cause of all troubles is there in false egotism. One must draw towards
the Lord in all circumstances.The appearance of Lord Krisha at the deathbed of
Bhismaji is due to his being an unflinching devotee of the Lord. Arjuna had
some bodily relation with Krishna because the Lord happened to be his
maternal cousin. But Bhisma had no such bodily relation. Therefore the cause
of attraction was due to the intimate relation of the soul. Yet because the
relation of the body is very pleasing and natural, the Lord is more pleased when
He is addressed as the son of Maharaja Nanda, the son of Yasoda, the lover of
Radharani. This affinity by bodily relation with the Lord is another feature of
reciprocating loving service with the Lord. Bhismadeva is conscious of this
sweetness of transcendental humor, and therefore he likes to address the Lord
as Vijaya-Sakhe, Partha-Sakhe, etc., exactly like Nanda-nandana or Yasoda-
nandana. The best way to establish our relation in transcendental sweetness is to
approach Him through His recognized devotees. One should not try to establish
the relation directly; there must be a via medium which is transparent and
competent to lead us to the right path.
- Poorna pragya das, Abu dhabi.

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The Inconceivable Potency of the Lord
In Srimad Bhagavatam, verse 3.6.39 gives a very deep insight into the
inconceivable potency of the Lord.
ato bhagavato mäyä
mäyinäm api mohiné
yat svayaà cätma-vartmätmä
na veda kim utäpare
“The wonderful potency of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is
bewildering even to the jugglers. That potential power is unknown even to
the self-sufficient Lord, so it is certainly unknown to others.”
Purport: The froggish philosophers and mundane wranglers in science and
mathematical calculation may not believe in the inconceivable potency of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, but they are sometimes puzzled by the
wonderful jugglery of man and nature. Such jugglers and magicians of the
mundane world are actually puzzled by the jugglery of the Lord in His
transcendental activities, but they try to adjust their bewilderment by saying that
it is all mythology. There is, however, nothing impossible or mythological in
the Supreme Omnipotent Person. The most wonderful puzzle for the mundane
wranglers is that while they remain calculating the length and breadth of the
unlimited potency of the Supreme Person, His faithful devotees are set free
from the bondage of material encagement simply by appreciating the wonderful
jugglery of the Supreme in the practical field. The devotees of the Lord see the
wonderful dexterity in everything with which they come in contact in all
circumstances of eating, sleeping, working, etc. A small banyan fruit contains
thousands of small seeds, and each seed holds the potency of another tree,
which again holds the potency of many millions of such fruits as causes and
effects. So the trees and seeds engage the devotees in meditation about the
activities of the Lord, while the mundane wranglers waste time in dry
speculation and mental concoction, which are fruitless in both this life and the
next. In spite of their pride in speculation, they can never appreciate the simple
potential activities of the banyan tree. Such speculators are poor souls destined
to remain in matter perpetually.
- Madana-Gopal das, Vrndavan.
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The Lord Helps Those Who Are Sincere In Their Purpose
Here is an interesting verse from 3.13.49. Somehow I felt that the verse,
translation as well as the purport are really punching.
tasmin prasanne sakaläçiñäà prabhau

kià durlabhaà täbhir alaà lavätmabhiù
ananya-dåñöyä bhajatäà guhäçayaù
svayaà vidhatte sva-gatià paraù paräm
“Nothing remains unachieved when the Supreme Personality of Godhead

is pleased with someone. By transcendental achievement one understands
everything else to be insignificant. One who engages in transcendental
loving service is elevated to the highest perfectional stage by the Lord
Himself, who is seated in everyone's heart.”
Purport: As stated in Bhagavad-gita (10.10), the Lord gives intelligence to the

pure devotees so that they may be elevated to the highest perfectional stage. It
is confirmed herein that a pure devotee, who constantly engages in the loving
service of the Lord, is awarded all knowledge necessary to reach the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. For such a devotee there is nothing valuable to be
achieved but the Lord's service. If one serves faithfully, there is no possibility
of frustration because the Lord Himself takes charge of the devotee's
advancement. The Lord is seated in everyone's heart, and He knows the
devotee's motive and arranges everything achievable. In other words, the
pseudo devotee, who is anxious to achieve material gains, cannot attain the
highest perfectional stage because the Lord is in knowledge of his motive. One
merely has to become sincere in his purpose, and then the Lord is there to
help in every way.

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An Easy Way to Realize the Absolute Truth
The following sloka says the importance of devotees and by getting their mercy
nothing is impossible to achieve. So, by serving these great personalities we can
achieve any thing, especially in the path of devotional service, so service to the
devotees is very important. It does not matter what we do but the important
thing is how we serve them.
Srimad Bhagavatam.5.12.12:
rahügaëaitat tapasä na yäti
na cejyayä nirvapaëäd gåhäd vä
na cchandasä naiva jalägni-süryair
vinä mahat-päda-rajo-’bhiñekam
“My dear King Rahugana, unless one has the opportunity to smear his
entire body with the dust of the lotus feet of great devotees, one cannot
realize the Absolute Truth. One cannot realize the Absolute Truth simply
by observing celibacy (brahmacarya), strictly following the rules and
regulations of householder life, leaving home as a vanaprastha, accepting
sannyasa, or undergoing severe penances in winter by keeping oneself
submerged in water or surrounding oneself in summer by fire & the
scorching heat of the sun. There are many other processes to understand
the Absolute Truth, but the Absolute Truth is only revealed to one who has
attained the mercy of a great devotee.”
-Sundergopal das, Auckland.
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Srimad Bhagavatam – The Literary Incarnation of God
SB verse 1.3.40 sums up very nicely the importance of Srimad Bhagavatam:
idaà bhägavataà näma

puräëaà brahma-sammitam
uttama-çloka-caritaà
cakära bhagavän åñiù
niùçreyasäya lokasya
dhanyaà svasty-ayanaà mahat
“This Srimad-Bhagavatam is the literary incarnation of God, and it is

compiled by Srila Vyasadeva, the incarnation of God. it is meant for the
ultimate good of all people, and it is all successful, all blissful and all
perfect.”
Srila Prabhupada explains the purport of this verse very nicely:-
“Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu declared that Srimad Bhagavatam is the
spotless sound representation of all Vedic knowledge and history. There are
selected histories of great devotees who are in direct contact with the
Personality of Godhead. Srimad Bhagavatam is the literary incarnation of Lord
Krishna and therefore is non different from Him. Srimad Bhagavatam should
be worshiped as respectfully as we worship the Lord. Thereby we can derive
the ultimate blessings of the Lord through its careful and patient study (PS: This
is the point our Gurudev has always stressed very strongly). As God is all light,
all bliss and all perfection, so also is Srimad Bhagavatam. We can all have the
transcendental light of the Supreme Brahman Sri Krishna from the recitation of
Srimad Bhagavatam, provided it is received through the medium of the
transparent spiritual master. Lord Caitanaya's private secretary Srila
Svarupa Damodara Goswami advised all intending visitors who came to see the
Lord at Puri to make a study of the Bhagavatam from the person Bhagavatam.
Person Bhagavatam is the self-realised bona fide spiritual master, and through
him only can one understand the lessons of Bhagavatam in order to receive the
desired result. One can derive from the study of the Bhagavatam all benefits
that are possible to be derived from the personal presence of the Lord. It carries
with it all the transcendental blessings of Lord Sri Krishna that we can expect
from His personal contact”.
All glories to Granthraj Srimad Bhagavatam and all glories to our Gurudev who
brings this most precious message to us fallen souls
- Sila Sampana das, Sydney.

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The Lord’s Supreme Weapon - Serpent of Eternal Time
Here is a beautiful verse from Srimad Bhagavatam - 8.2.33,
yaù kaçcaneço balino ’ntakoragät

pracaëòa-vegäd abhidhävato bhåçam
bhétaà prapannaà paripäti yad-bhayän
måtyuù pradhävaty araëaà tam émahi
“The Supreme Personality of Godhead is certainly not known to everyone,

but He is very powerful & influential. Therefore, although the serpent of
eternal time, which is fearful in force, endlessly chases everyone, ready to
swallow him, if one who fears this serpent seeks shelter of the Lord, the
Lord gives him protection, for even death runs away in fear of the Lord. I
therefore surrender unto Him, the great & powerful supreme authority
who is the actual shelter of everyone.”
Personal Observation: Always there is one question in our mind that
although Kali yuga is not very advanced, (it is only 5000yrs), then too people
are getting so degraded that they are really worse than animals. They live a
luxurious life with so many material advancements, but it is really a big zero.
Fast life, Instant food, God knows what happens after it goes inside the
stomach. Maharaj always says in his lecture, “microwave, i.e. my crow
way...that means rubbish. What will crow leave after eating rubbish ?...still
more rubbish. So these are the conditions of our life. So the real question
is...,people are so boorish, political, envious of each other, every one wants to
pull the another one down, bossing over, jealous, robbing, killing, every time
they want to hurt other, doing all kind of nonsensical work they can do.. There
is no end for this fallen condition. Seeing this present messy situation we
sometime think... is this a start or a end of kali yuga ? So seeing all this hellish
activities why God does not come and clean all this unwanted things ? This
question always arise in our mind.
So here, in this verse, king of the elephant Gajendra's prayer, it is stated that :
antaka-uragat from the great serpant of eternal time, which brings death;
pracanda-vegat--whose force is fearful; abhidhavatah--who is
chasing; bhrsam--endlessly (every hour and every minute), those miscreant
are being chased by the eternal time. Every second they are swallowed by this
eternal time, infact they are swallowed very fast. So here it is clear, and that
God is also not so cheap to come every now and then for help, but His agent,
that is eternal time works upon us. Kala is so powerful and perfect that no one
can escape from him, this is the indirect way God acts. Everybody think that he
can escape by making plans or by doing this or that but it doesn’t happen. All of
us are under the control of antaka-uragat--the great serpent of time.
- Sunder Gopal das, Auckland.

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Staying Fixed in Chanting
Here is a nice realization from 'Begging for the Nectar of the Holy Name' by
H H Satsvarupa Maharaj. The focus of this book is mainly on chanting and how
to improve it.
Srila Prabhupada expresses my mentality when he says some people object to

Krishna’s order, “Surrender unto Me.” They think, “Who is Krishna that I
have to surrender to Him ? I am as good as Krishna.” You feel selfish and
tired and don’t want to serve Him. Better wake up spirit soul. The stakes are
high. If out of laziness and false ego you don’t want to serve Krishna, do you
know what the alternatives are ? The way to serve is by prayerfully saying His
names.Don’t do it, looking for your own bliss and thereby thinking, “The
chanting is not working,” when you don’t feel “something”. If all you want is
to feel something, you can take a shot of whiskey. When you chant, be aware
that you are serving Krishna, serving nama, and that you want to do it. I truly
want to serve with bhava, but because I cannot serve Him in that way right
now, still I will serve with whatever I have.
This day has been given to you. It is given to the sparrows and worms and
trees and flowers also. But the gift of a day in human life is a rare chance.
Don’t think all you need to do is eat two meals and rest and fill up the other
hours in a routine way. It may be possible today to make a serious
improvement in japa. Even if it is a small step forward, you may be able to do
it. Speak to your mind. Tell him the benefits of staying fixed in harer nama.
And then stay fixed.

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Parroting The Holy Names
Here is another deep thought by H H Satsvarupa Maharaj regarding chanting.
"ante narayana smrtih, your devotional service will be tested at the

time of death. Practice to chant the Hare Krishna mantra. Do not chant like
the parrot who may learn to utter "Hare Krishna," but when grabbed at the
throat cries, "Caw, caw!" Prabhupada said practice so that when death
comes you will chant Hare Krishna."


Chanting Rounds (vs) Chanting Japa
I was reading Japa Reform Notebook by H H Satsvarupa Maharaj today and
found the following honest introspection worthwhile to meditate upon.
"O my Lord, when will my eyes be decorated with tears of love flowing
constantly when I chant Your holy name ? When will my voice choke up, and
when will the hairs of my body stand on end at the recitation of Your name
?" - Sikshastaka 6.
When will the day come when I chant the holy name and not just "my
rounds" ? Meditating on the "second round", "the third round", and "the
fourth round" is to mix the pure sound of Krishna's name with the thought of
an ordinary number. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten,
eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen. But these numbers are in
themselves niyama aagraha - following the rules without realization. "Now I
am on the second round," "Oh, this is the third round" - what kind of
chanting and hearing is this ?
How often do we say with foolish satisfaction, "I got my rounds done," "I
finished chanting," or "I did my rounds." But did you chant as Lord
Caitanya prays ? No, you were too busy trying to stay awake, trying to keep
your mind on the right track. Where was the time for crying at the feet of the
holy name ? You didn't "finish chanting." You haven't even started! Chant
humbly and pray, for forgiveness for your offensive chanting and for a
chance to improve.

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Chanting is Enchanting
I was looking into some different words that are expressive in nature and the
word 'enchanting' really attracted me (true to its meaning).
I looked into the dictionary and got the following meanings.
1."To cast a spell over; bewitch."

2."To attract and delight"
Then it said, "See synonyms at charm".

I then looked into the meaning of charm and here is what is said:
1."Charm: The power or quality of pleasing or delighting; attractiveness"

2."To be alluring or pleasing".
I then wanted to find out where generally the prefix 'en' is used. The dictionary
says that the prefix 'en' is often used to intensify what it refers to. Like we have
these words - 'encourage', 'entangle', 'entice'. It is used to make the word mean
"Thoroughly" or "Completely", just like we have the word 'sankirtanam' which
means "Complete glorification of the Lord". Isn't it amazing to see that the
very word chanting itself mean ‘pleasing’ and ‘attractive’ and ‘charming’
? Since Krishna is all-attractive, His names being non-different from Him are
also all-attractive and all-pleasing. As the absolute nature of devotional service
goes, the very process of chanting His names is also enchanting.
No wonder why Srila Sukadeva Goswami recites the following verse (SB
6.3.31) to Parikshit Maharaj.
tasmät saìkértanaà viñëor
jagan-maìgalam aàhasäm
mahatäm api kauravya
viddhy aikäntika-niñkåtam
“Sukadeva Gosvami continued: My dear King, the chanting of the holy

name of the Lord is able to uproot even the reactions of the greatest sins.
Therefore the chanting of the sankirtana movement is the most auspicious
activity in the entire universe. Please try to understand this so that others
will take it seriously.”


Attention
Today morning I was thinking about the word 'attention'. So many times Srila
Prabhupada has used the word 'attention' in his lectures, purports etc. We also
use this word so commonly in our preaching and even in our daily life.
Generally all living entities need 'attention'. We do most of our activities so that
it is ultimately noticed by somebody, if not all. But actual attention means,
showing compassion and care to other living entities - "dayaya sarva bhutesu".
What does it mean ? Instead of expecting that others should care/attend us, we
should be caring/attentive to others. Suddenly I found myself going through all
these thought processes in the middle of my Japa! It struck me that I was
thinking so much about the word 'attention', but hardly did I pay attention to the
Mahamantra during that time! - It is also an offense to be inattentive while
chanting.
I then looked into the dictionary for the meaning of the word 'attention'. It
said,
1. The ability or power to concentrate mentally.
2. To apply the mind, or pay attention, with a view to perceive, understand, or
comply; to pay regard; to heed.
3. Consideration or courtesy: attention to others' feelings.
When I looked into the root of this word, it gave another interesting point. ad-
+ tendere to stretch. So, it actually means we have to stretch our mind, body
and senses if we have to be attentive to anything or anybody. We also have
other interesting words in this regard - extend, intense etc. “We have to extend
ourselves to help others”, “chanting is an intense activity. So it is a common
understanding that it is natural for mind to be inattentive/wayward (cancalam
hi manah kåñëa) but we have to stretch ourselves to make it more
attentive to Krishna - " sa vai manaù kåñëa-padäravindayoh!"


Harinama is the Last Mercy
I came across the following nice reflection by H H Satsvarupa das Goswami in

his book Japa Reform Notebook:-
“I remember when Srila Prabhupada came to the humble little temple we had in
Boston. We had advertised all over the town, painted and cleaned the building,
and made so many different arrangements for the arrival of Krishna's pure
devotee. We worked and worked and worked, and in the process, our hearts
were cleansed. And when he actually came, Prabhupada was praising the
glories of the holy name, how Krishna appears in the holy name in this fallen
age. Krishna's pure devotee was telling us," What if Krishna Himself were to
come - and Krishna can come through that door just like we can -how would
you receive Him ?" So what if you heard this ? What could you do? You
wouldn't know how to prepare. Certainly you would try to make gorgeous
reception, the greatest welcome; the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself
is coming . There is no limit of things you would do or the extent to which you
would go to make a wonderful reception for Krishna. The point is that Krishna
does come in the form of His holy name and because He is very kind, He
doesn't even require a reception. You can just chant Hare Krishna.
Krishna wants to make it easy in this age - there are no hard and fast rules for
chanting. Srutadeva was very poor, but certainly he did everything he could to
receive the Lord. We are poor in heart, but because we are lazy and envious, we
don't even invite the Supreme Personality of Godhead - but He comes anyway.
His pure devotee carries the holy name - "Please you are suffering from
material disease, and this is the best medicine." Except for he who is carrying
the medicine what friend do you have in this material world ? Please take the
medicine - hari nama mahamantra, and be happy. So He comes to your door.
You don't even want to receive the holy name, but He induces you to accept
Him. "I am so unfortunate that I have no attraction for the holy name." I am
supposed to be a devotee, but when I hear that the Supreme Personality of
Godhead is coming - I remain rascal number one. By my inattentiveness the
reception is ruined. Krishna is coming and you remain inattentive; therefore it
is called nama-aparadha. If you make an offense in cooking or Deity worship,
what do you do ? You chant Hare Krishna. But if you make offenses to the holy
name, then what do you do ? There is nothing! There is no other way, no other
way, no other way! This is the last mercy, and if you don't take this mercy
then there is no other mercy. A Vaishnava poet says that, "What is the value of
my living ?" Better I were dead!
We should learn how to make our hearts pure and avoid the offenses in
chanting, so Krishna can come home. The spiritual master is representing Lord
Caitanya in delivering this holy name to us and by accepting his guidance, we
can chant Hare Krishna and go back to Godhead.”

Practice Makes Chanting Perfect
The following is an interesting note that I came across in,"Japa Reform
Notebook" by Satsvarupa das Goswami.
I became determined to reform to chant my japa pronouncing each word and

syllable. My japa improved immediately. I then understood the chanting was
most important and could not be neglected. I felt I was learning a crucial,
confidential secret, although Srila Prabhupad is constantly repeating it,
"Chant 16 rounds and avoid the offenses in chanting. It is a practice. It takes
practice. Whatever u practice the body can learn to do. Chant, chant, chant!”
Observation: “It is a practice. It takes practice .Whatever u practice the body

can learn to do." These lines were very thought provoking. I was watching a
documentary wherein one of Prabhupad's disciple was being interviewed and he
was saying how His Divine Grace had spent all his time in devotional activities
and in translating the scriptures all night, and had slept hardly for 3 to 4 hrs a
day in the last 12 years of his life when he was preaching all over the world
whereas here I am such a lazy soul, giving lame excuses to myself of being
tired and doing nothing and not even relishing his books which he has given to
us.
In the successive paragraphs Satsvarupa dasa Goswami has referred to
Bhagavad Gita (6.35) where Lord Sri Krishna says:
asaàçayaà mahä-bäho
mano durnigrahaà calam
abhyäsena tu kaunteya
vairägyeëa ca gåhyate
“O mighty armed son of Kunti, It is undoubtedly, very difficult to curb this

restless mind, But it is possible by practice and detachment.”
The word abhyäsa is worth noting. When we practice devotional service,

with sincerity, without giving way to flickering mind, the Lord help us to
advance in our spiritual journey.


Chanting is the Foundation of our Spiritual Life
A nice realization from 'Begging for the Nectar of the Holy Name' by His
Holiness Satsvarupa Maharaj.
"Since so much of our energy is dedicated to helping others, we have to do

regular internal work through japa. Otherwise, always helping others, always
preaching – so many bad habits can develop. We may begin to think ourselves
better than those we help. Or we may become passionate do-gooders and lose
our inner focus. We may also fall victim to superficiality because we have to
repeat ourselves so many times. This is a real danger for lecturers: they speak
profound and sensitive truths so often that they can lose touch with what they
are saying. Or they emote and speak rhetoric. It is hard to constantly go to the
heart in our preaching. Therefore a preacher’s only recourse is to be himself
in touch with the holy names."


Chanting is Deceptively Simple
When I was going to start my chanting today, I thought of reading a little bit of
Japa Reform Notebook by H H Satsvarupa Maharaj. I came across a very deep
thought provoking point that made me put in more effort in my chanting. Here
is the quote.
"The chanting is deceivingly simple - just repeat some names. But the mind is
rebellious because of you say these names, then all sense gratification will go
away and you will become a devotee of Krishna. The mind wants us to be a
devotee of our nonsense mind. So although it is deceptively simple, it is hard to
actually chant. Therefore, we stress it always. It is a simple process, and if you
try it in a simple way it will not be difficult. But if you go on listening to your
mind, it will be very difficult."
Observation: I found the phrase "deceptively simple" very interesting. It

proved a very important point to me. The transcendental seed words "hare",
"krishna" and "rama" that form the mahamantra, are non-different from the
Lord Himself, i.e., the Holy Name is a person (Nama-prabhu). Generally as
human beings, we tend to show more importance to personal entities than
impersonal entities. (Just to give a crude example, when a person driving a
vehicle meets with an accident, the person is given more attention that the
vehicle itself.)
So many days I had "finished" my sixteen rounds and felt good about it. But the
fact that I did not hear the words 'krishna', 'rama' and 'hare' , has proved that I
am not considering the names of Krishna as non-different from Him. In other
words, I have been having an impersonal careless attitude towards the Nama-
prabhu...I think, "After all they are only some names of Krishna". If only I pay
personal attention to the holy name, I will be actually chanting.
Paying personal attention to the holy name is non-different from paying

personal attention to Krishna. Because, the holy name is non-different from
Krishna!



Purity of a Vaishnava
A perfect realization from the book “Begging for the Nectar of the Holy Name”
by H H Satsvarupa Maharaj.
The purity of a Vaishnava is judged by how much attraction or rati he has for
the holy name. It has nothing whatsoever to do with his official status as a
Vaishnava, or his wealth, erudition, youth, pleasing appearance, strength or
following.
- Kalacakra Krsna das, Minneapolis.


 
Narada Muni’s Speciality
Narada Muni plays a very important role in devotional service. In one sense, he
is the starting point of Srimad Bhagavatam. It is only after his strong
instructions that Vyasadev compiled Bhagavatam. There are so many glorious
pastimes he is associated with and he has so many exalted disciples - Dhruva
Maharaj, Prahlad Maharaj, Vyasadev, Chitraketu, the list goes on.
Some punches from Prabhupada’s purport in SB 1.9.6-7.
"Narada Muni is inevitably associated with the narrations of the Puranas."
And here is a wonderful purport of Srila Prabhupada giving the meaning of the
name Narada (SB 3.12.23)
"Narada was born from the best deliberation of Brahma because Narada was
able to deliver the Supreme Lord to anyone he liked. The Supreme Personality
of Godhead cannot be realized by any amount of Vedic knowledge or by any
number of penances. But a pure devotee of the Lord like Narada can deliver the
Supreme Lord by his good will. The very name Narada suggests that he can
deliver the Supreme Lord. Nara means the "Supreme Lord," and da means
"one who can deliver." That he can deliver the Supreme Lord does not mean
that the Lord is like a commodity that can be delivered to any person. But
Narada can deliver to anyone the transcendental loving service of the Lord as a
servitor, friend, parent or lover, as one may desire out of one's own
transcendental love for the Lord. In other words, it is Narada only who can
deliver the path of bhakti-yoga, the highest mystic means for attainment of the
Supreme Lord."


Krishna’s Glorification of Narada Muni
What else can we hear about Srila Narada Muni than that comes directly from
the Lotus mouth of the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna ? The following (SB
10.10.25) is a verse spoken by the Lord Himself glorifying Srila Narada Muni,
just after delivering the two sons of Kuvera who were cursed by the Deva-Rsi
to stand as Arjuna trees.
devarñir me priyatamo
yad imau dhanadätmajau
tat tathä sädhayiñyämi
yad gétaà tan mahätmanä
“Although these two young men are the sons of the very rich Kuvera and I
have nothing to do with them, Devarsi Narada is My very dear and
affectionate devotee, and therefore because he wanted Me to come face to
face with them, I must do so for their deliverance.”
Purport: Nalaküvara and Maëigréva actually had nothing to do with
devotional service or seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face,
for this is not an ordinary opportunity. It is not that because one is very rich or
learned or was born in an aristocratic family one will be able to see the
Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face. This is impossible. But in this
case, because Närada Muni desired that Nalaküvara and Maëigréva see
Väsudeva face to face, the Supreme Personality of Godhead wanted to fulfill
the words of His very dear devotee Narada Muni. If one seeks the favor of a
devotee instead of directly asking favors from the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, one is very easily successful. Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura
has therefore recommended: vaiñëava öhäkura tomära kukkura
bhuliyä jänaha more, kåñëa se tomära kåñëa dite pära.
One should desire to become like a dog in strictly following a devotee. Kåñëa
is in the hand of a devotee. Adurlabham ätma-bhaktau. Thus without
the favor of a devotee, one cannot directly approach Kåñëa, what to speak of
engaging in His service. Narottama däsa Öhäkura therefore sings,
chäòiyä vaiñëava-sevä nistära päyeche kebä: unless one
becomes a servant of a pure devotee, one cannot be delivered from the material
condition of life. In our Gauòéya Vaiñëava society, following in the
footsteps of Rüpa Gosvämé, our first business is to seek shelter of a bona
fide spiritual master (ädau gurv-äçrayaù).


Narada Muni – The Transcendental Spaceman
All glories to Srila Narada Muni! Here is an interesting verse from SB 1.6.38
spoken by Sri Suta Goswami to the sages gathered in Naimisaranya to hear.
aho devarñir dhanyo ’yaà

yat-kértià çärìgadhanvanaù
gäyan mädyann idaà tantryä
ramayaty äturaà jagat
“All glory and success to Srila Narada Muni because he glorifies the
activities of the Personality of Godhead, and so doing he himself takes
pleasure and also enlivens all the distressed souls of the universe.”
Purport: Sri Narada Muni plays on his instrument to glorify the transcendental
activities of the Lord and to give relief to all miserable living entities of the
universe. No one is happy here within the universe, and what is felt as
happiness is maya's illusion. The illusory energy of the Lord is so strong that
even the hog who lives on filthy stool feels happy. No one can be truly happy
within the material world. Srila Narada Muni, in order to enlighten the
miserable inhabitants, wanders everywhere. His mission is to get them back
home, back to Godhead. That is the mission of all genuine devotees of the
Lord following the footsteps of that great sage.


Transcendental Quality of a Spiritual Master – Part 1
Maitreya Muni speaks the following verse (SB 4.12.40) about Narada Muni.
mahimänaà vilokyäsya närado bhagavän åñiù
ätodyaà vitudaï çlokän satre ’gäyat pracetasäm
“After observing the glories of Dhruva Maharaja, the great sage Narada,
playing his vina, went to the sacrificial arena of the Pracetas and very
happily chanted the following three verses.”
Purport: The great sage Narada was the spiritual master of Dhruva Maharaja.
Certainly he was very glad to see Dhruva's glories. As a father is very happy to
see the son's advancement in every respect, so the spiritual master is very
happy to observe the ascendancy of his disciple.
Personal Observation: It is really astonishing to observe the love of a spiritual
master towards his disciple. It is totally devoid of any personal motive.When
Prahlad Maharaj submits his prayers to the Lord, the Lord calls him to come
with Him back to Godhead. Prahlad Maharaj gently refuses the offer saying that
he would prefer to serve his spiritual master Narada Muni who saved him from
the material conditional life which he compares to a blind well filled with
snake. The exact words Prahlad Maharaj uses in that context to address Narada
Muni was kåtvätmasät–“causing me to acquire spiritual qualities like
himself”. Normally in this material world, people become envious if someone
becomes equally qualified (or more qualified) as themselves in any field. So
they try all sorts of ways to push that person down. Whereas in the spiritual
world, devotees become very glad to see someone render better service to the
Lord than themselves. That is a very important quality of a spiritual master and
it is perfectly exhibited here by Srila Narada Muni.



There are three very interesting verses spoken by Narada Muni just after
Dhruva Maharaj goes back to Godhead. Narada Muni speaks to the group of
Rsis glorifying Dhruva Maharaj.
These three verses have immense meaning in them and they also show the
greatness of Srila Narada Muni. Srila Prabhupada's translation and purport are
so absorbing! Infact, as Maharaj says, "Srila Prabhupada brought life to this
dead language (English) by translating Srimad Bhagavat-gita and Srimad
Bhagavatam!!"
This is the first verse – SB 4.12.41:-

närada uväca
nünaà sunéteù pati-devatäyäs
tapaù-prabhävasya sutasya täà gatim
dåñöväbhyupäyän api veda-vädino
naivädhigantuà prabhavanti kià nåpäù
“The great sage Narada said: Simply by the influence of his spiritual
advancement and powerful austerity, Dhruva Maharaja, the son of Suniti,
who was devoted to her husband, acquired an exalted position not possible
to attain even for the so-called Vedantists or strict followers of the Vedic
principles, not to speak of ordinary human beings.”
Personal Observation: When I read this verse (and the following verses) I
could only feel awed by the magnanimity of Srila Narada Muni. He is so happy
at seeing the advancement of his disciple Dhruva Maharaj. This pastime of
Narada Muni with Dhruva Maharaj is one of the best examples of the spiritual
master-disciple relationship. A perfect disciple in Dhruva Maharaj who is very
sincere to see the Lord (no matter if he had initial material desires or whatever)
and is ready to do anything for that. And a perfect spiritual master in Srila
Narada Muni, who is willing to do anything to solve the miseries of the living
entities.
Maharaj quotes a very interesting conversation between Mother Parvati and

Lord Siva. Parvati asks Lord Siva, "There are so many Gurus in this world.
How to identify a bona fide guru ?" Lord Siva replies very nicely -
guravo bahavo santi

sishya vitapa harakah
sad guro durlabam devi
sishya santaapa harakah
“There are so many gurus in this world, but they all steal away the
richess/wealth of the disciple. A genuine guru is one who steal away the
miseries/distress of the disciple and such gurus are very rare, O Parvati.”
Here we can see the perfect spiritual master in Srila Narada Muni. He is so
joyful on seeing his disciple going back to Godhead! There is envy in almost all
of us in the subtlest of form. There is always a feeling of envy that burns us
deep in our heart when someone progresses in front of our eyes - whether he is
the best of friends or worst of enemies. But to be a guru one of the most
important qualifications is 'nirmatsara' - to be non-envious! Only such a
living entity can become a guru! anyad atra vidanbanam - "everything
else is just a show"!
It is so blissful to even think that we are all in the glorious disciplic succession
of this great acharya who is so free of duplicity!!!


Continuing with Narada Muni, here is the second verse – SB 4.12.42. It has a
deep and absorbing purport. It is such an amazing concept that the Lord is ajita
(unconquerable) but He can certainly be conquered by pure devotion!
In the following translation, it sank so deep in my heart when I read the words,
“Just see how Dhruva Maharaja...”. Srila Prabhupada has so perfectly portrayed
the feelings of a spiritual master who is extremely joyful and proud for having a
disciple like Dhruva Maharaj.
Srila Prabhupada ki Jai!!! Srila Narada Muni ki Jai!!! Sri Dhruva Maharaj ki
Jai!!!
yaù païca-varño guru-dära-väk-çarair
bhinnena yäto hådayena düyatä
vanaà mad-ädeça-karo ’jitaà prabhuà
jigäya tad-bhakta-guëaiù paräjitam
“The great sage Narada continued: Just see how Dhruva Maharaja,
aggrieved at the harsh words of his stepmother, went to the forest at the
age of only five years and under my direction underwent austerity.
Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead is unconquerable, Dhruva
Maharaja defeated Him with the specific qualifications possessed by the
Lord's devotees.”
Purport: The Supreme Godhead is unconquerable; no one can conquer the
Lord. But He voluntarily accepts subordination to the devotional qualities of
His devotees. For example, Lord Krishna accepted subordination to the control
of mother Yasoda because she was a great devotee. The Lord likes to be under
the control of His devotees. In the Caitanya-caritamrta it is said that everyone
comes before the Lord and offers Him exalted prayers, but the Lord does not
feel as pleased when offered such prayers as He does when a devotee, out of
pure love, chastises Him as a subordinate. The Lord forgets His exalted position
and willingly submits to His pure devotee. Dhruva Maharaja conquered the
Supreme Lord because at a very tender age, only five years old, he underwent
all the austerities of devotional service. This devotional service was of course
executed under the direction of a great sage, Narada. This is the first principle
of devotional service--adau gurv-asrayam. In the beginning one must
accept a bona fide spiritual master, and if a devotee follows strictly the
direction of the spiritual master, as Dhruva Maharaja followed the
instruction of Narada Muni, then it is not difficult for him to achieve the
favor of the Lord.
The sum total of devotional qualities is development of unalloyed love for

Krishna. This unalloyed love for Krishna can be achieved simply by hearing
about Krishna. Lord Caitanya accepted this principle--that if one in any
position submissively hears the transcendental message spoken by Krishna or
about Krishna, then gradually he develops the quality of unalloyed love, and by
that love only he can conquer the unconquerable. The Mayavadi philosophers
aspire to become one with the Supreme Lord, but a devotee surpasses that
position. Not only does a devotee becomes one in quality with the Supreme
Lord, but he sometimes becomes the father, mother or master of the Lord.
Arjuna also, by his devotional service, made Lord Krishna his chariot driver; he
ordered the Lord, "Put my chariot here," and the Lord executed his order. These
are some examples of how a devotee can acquire the exalted position of
conquering the unconquerable.


This is the last of the three verses spoken by Narada Muni – SB 4.12.43. Srila
Prabhupada explicitly says how transcendentally proud Srila Narada Muni was,
for having such a sincere and dedicated disciple like Dhruva Maharaj. Please
relish it.
yaù kñatra-bandhur bhuvi tasyädhirüòham
anv ärurukñed api varña-pügaiù
ñaö-païca-varño yad ahobhir alpaiù
prasädya vaikuëöham aväpa tat-padam
“Dhruva Maharaja attained an exalted position at the age of only five or
six years, after undergoing austerity for six months. Alas, a great ksatriya
cannot achieve such a position even after undergoing austerities for many,
many years.”
Purport: Dhruva Maharaja is described herein as ksatra-bandhuh, which

indicates that he was not fully trained as a ksatriya because he was only five
years old; he was not a mature ksatriya. A ksatriya or brahmana has to take
training. A boy born in the family of a brahmana is not immediately a
brahmana; he has to take up the training and the purificatory process.
The great sage Narada Muni was very proud of having a devotee-disciple like
Dhruva Maharaja. He had many other disciples, but he was very pleased with
Dhruva Maharaja because in one lifetime, by dint of his severe penances and
austerities, he had achieved Vaikuntha, which was never achieved by any
other king's son or rajarsi throughout the whole universe. There is the
instance of the great King Bharata, who was also a great devotee, but he
attained Vaikunthaloka in three lives. In the first life, although he executed
austerities in the forest, he became a victim of too much affection for a small
deer, and in his next life he had to take birth as a deer. Although he had a deer's
body, he remembered his spiritual position, but he still had to wait until the next
life for perfection. In the next life he took birth as Jada Bharata. Of course, in
that life he was completely freed from all material entanglement, and he
attained perfection and was elevated to Vaikunthaloka. The lesson from the life
of Dhruva Maharaja is that if one likes, one can attain Vaikunthaloka in one
life, without waiting for many other lives. My Guru Maharaja, Sri Srimad
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada, used to say that every one
of his disciples could attain Vaikunthaloka in this life, without waiting for
another life to execute devotional service. One simply has to become as
serious and sincere as Dhruva Maharaja; then it is quite possible to attain
Vaikunthaloka and go back home, back to Godhead, in one life.


Conquering the Modes of Material Nature
In Bhagavad Gita, Krishna Himself warns us of the difficulty in overcoming the
modes of material nature which are part and parcel of His material energy.
Krishna says in BG 7.14:-
daivé hy eñä guëa-mayé
mama mäyä duratyayä
mäm eva ye prapadyante
mäyäm etäà taranti te
This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material
nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me
can easily cross beyond it.
Krishna says we have to surrender to Him. On the living entity's own

endeavour it is very difficult because Krishna is jagat pavitram -
Supreme Pure and the living entity is supreme impure because of conditioning
in the material modes. So how?
In Srimad Bhagavatam, 7.15.25, Narada Muni gives us the wonderful secret to

cross these modes:
rajas tamaç ca sattvena
sattvaà copaçamena ca
etat sarvaà gurau bhaktyä
puruño hy aïjasä jayet
"One must conquer the modes of passion and ignorance by developing the
mode of goodness,and then one must become detached from the mode of
goodness by promoting oneself to the platform of suddha-sattva. All this can
be automatically done if one engages in the service of the spiritual master
with faith and devotion. In this way one can conquer the influence of the
modes of nature.”


Narada Muni – The Travelling Preacher
Here is an awesome purport by Srila Prabhupada in Srimad Bhagavatam 4.31.3
glorifying Narada Muni.
än nirjita-präëa-mano-vaco-dåço
jitäsanän çänta-samäna-vigrahän
pare ’male brahmaëi yojitätmanaù
suräsureòyo dadåçe sma näradaù
“After practicing the yogasana for mystic yoga, the Pracetas managed to
control their life air, mind, words and external vision. Thus by the
pranayama process they were completely relieved of material attachment.
By remaining perpendicular, they could concentrate their minds on the
uppermost Brahman. While they were practicing this pranayama, the
great sage Narada, who is worshiped both by demons and by demigods,
came to see them.”
Purport: The great sage Narada travels everywhere. He goes to the demons and
the demigods and is equally respected. He is consequently described herein as
surasuredya, worshiped both by demons and by demigods. For Narada Muni,
the door of every house is open. Although there is perpetual animosity between
the demons and demigods, Narada Muni is welcomed everywhere. Narada is
considered one of the demigods, of course, and the word devarsi means "the
saintly person among the demigods." But not even the demons envy Narada
Muni; therefore he is equally worshiped both by demons and by demigods. A
perfect Vaisnava's position should be just like Narada Muni's, completely
independent and unbiased.
Personal Observation: The words independent and unbiased are very

interesting. Generally we are biased towards somebody only so long as we are
getting some benefit from them (in other words we are dependent on them).
This is because we are not totally dependent on the Lord. Whereas mahatmas
like Narada Muni are fully dependent on the Lord which makes them
completely independent of others. Hence they are also unbiased. As a result,
they are completely nirapeksha-they have no expectations from others. If we
dont have any expectation from others, then others won’t be anxious in our
association and we will have a pleasing relationship with everyone. Narada
Muni is a practical example.

Narada Muni – The Sun in the Spiritual Sky
In SB 4.31.5 purport, Prabhupada makes an excellent remark about Srila

Narada Muni as follows:
“Because of the night's darkness, everyone is afraid of rogues and thieves,

especially in great cities. People are often afraid to go out on the streets, and we
understand that even in a great city like New York people do not like to go out
at night. More or less, when it is night everyone is afraid, either in the city or in
the village. However, as soon as the sun rises, everyone is relieved. Similarly,
this material world is dark by nature. Everyone is afraid of danger at every
moment, but when one sees a devotee like Narada, all fear is relieved. Just as
the sun disperses darkness, the appearance of a great sage like Narada
disperses ignorance. When one meets Narada or his representative, a spiritual
master, one is freed from all anxiety brought about by ignorance.”


Narada Muni – The Glorious Vaishnava
In Srimad Bhagavatam 6th canto, the 5th chapter is titled, "Narada Muni cursed
by Prajapati Daksha". This is an amazing chapter revealing one of the most
powerful quality of Narada Muni as a Vaishnava.
Summary of the chapter in brief: Daksha, being ordered by Lord Brahma,

procreates thousands of children (Haryasvas) and advises them to procreate and
increase the population. When the Haryasvas go to Himalayas to meditate on
the advice of their father, Narada Muni advices them to perform devotional
service and not to engage in material activities like procreation. On seeing that
all his ten-thousand sons were delivered by Narada muni, Daksha becomes very
upset. He then begets one thousand more sons and instructs them to procreate.
But these sons also become devotees on the advice of Narada Muni. Daksha
becomes very angry at this and curses Narada Muni, that he will not be able to
stay in one place for more than a few moments. Narada Muni, being a perfect
Vaishnava, does not react to Daksha. Rather, he takes the curse as a blessing
and starts travelling all over the universe delivering innumerable souls.
In Srimad Bhagavatam 6.5.22, Prabhupada gives a very enlightening purport,

glorifying Srila Narada Muni to the best.
svara-brahmaëi nirbhäta-
håñékeça-padämbuje
akhaëòaà cittam äveçya
lokän anucaran muniù
“The seven musical notes--sa, r, ga, ma, pa, dha and ni--are used in musical
instruments, but originally they come from the Sama Veda. The great sage
Narada vibrates sounds describing the pastimes of the Supreme Lord. By
such transcendental vibrations, such as Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna,
Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare
Hare, he fixes his mind at the lotus feet of the Lord. Thus he directly
perceives Hrsikesa, the master of the senses. After delivering the Haryasvas,
Narada Muni continued traveling throughout the planetary systems, his mind
always fixed at the lotus feet of the Lord.”
Purport: The goodness of the great sage Narada Muni is described herewith.
He always chants about the pastimes of the Lord and delivers the fallen souls
back to Godhead. In this regard, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has sung:
närada-muni, bäjäya véëä, ‘rädhikä-ramaëa’-näme

näma amani, udita haya, bhakata-géta-säme
amiya-dhärä, variñe ghana, çravaëa-yugale giyä
bhakata-jana, saghane näce, bhariyä äpana hiyä
mädhuré-püra, äsaba paçi’, mätäya jagata-jane
keha vä käìde, keha vä näce, keha mäte mane mane
païca-vadana, närade dhari’, premera saghana rola
kamaläsana, näciyä bale, ’bola bola hari bola’
sahasränana, parama-sukhe,’hari hari’ bali’ gäya

näma-prabhäve, mätila viçva, näma-rasa sabe päya
çré-kåñëa-näma, rasane sphuri’, purä’la ämära äça
çré-rüpa-pade, yäcaye ihä, bhakativinoda däsa
The purport of this song is that Narada Muni, the great soul, plays a stringed
instrument called a vina, vibrating the sound Radhika-ramana, which is
another name for Krishna. As soon as he strokes the strings, all the devotees
begin responding, making a very beautiful vibration. Accompanied by the
stringed instrument, the singing seems like a shower of nectar, and all the
devotees dance in ecstasy to the fullest extent of their satisfaction. While
dancing, they appear madly intoxicated with ecstasy, as if drinking the beverage
called madhuri-pura. Some of them cry, some of them dance, and some of
them, although unable to dance publicly, dance within their hearts. Lord Siva
embraces Narada Muni and begins talking in an ecstatic voice, and seeing Lord
Siva dancing with Narada, Lord Brahma also joins, saying, "All of you kindly
chant `Hari bol! Hari bol!' " The King of heaven, Indra, also gradually joins
with great satisfaction and begins dancing and chanting "Hari bol! Hari bol!" In
this way, by the influence of the transcendental vibration of the holy name of
God, the whole universe becomes ecstatic. Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, "When
the universe becomes ecstatic, my desire is satisfied. I therefore pray unto the
lotus feet of Rupa Gosvami that this chanting of harer nama may go on nicely
like this."
Lord Brahma is the guru of Narada Muni, who is the guru of Vyasadeva, and
Vyasadeva is the guru of Madhvacarya. Thus the Gaudiya-Madhva-sampradaya
is in the disciplic succession from Narada Muni. The members of this disciplic
succession--in other words, the members of the Krishna consciousness
movement--should follow in the footsteps of Narada Muni by chanting the
transcendental vibration Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare
Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. They should go
everywhere to deliver the fallen souls by vibrating the Hare Krishna mantra and
the instructions of Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam and Caitanya-
caritamrta. That will please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One can
spiritually advance if one actually follows the instructions of Narada Muni. If
one pleases Narada Muni, then the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
Hrsikesa, is also pleased (yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadah).
The immediate spiritual master is the representative of Narada Muni; there is
no difference
between the instructions of Narada Muni and those of the present spiritual
master. Both Narada Muni and the present spiritual master speak the same
teachings of Krishna, who says in Bhagavad-gita (18.65-66):
man-manä bhava mad-bhakto mad-yäjé mäà namaskuru

mäm evaiñyasi satyaà te pratijäne priyo ’si me
sarva-dharmän parityajya mäm ekaà çaraëaà vraja

ahaà tväà sarva-päpebhyo mokñayiñyämi mä çucaù
"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. Abandon all varieties of religion and just
surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear."


Secret Behind Chanting the Holy Names

The pure devotees of the Lord conclusively affirm that the Lord can be seen and
heard by persistent chanting of the trascendental sound composed of His holy
names. That is the reason Srila Narada muni, the dearmost devotee of the Lord
says that the constant chanting of the transcendental names and activities of
Lord Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the only way to get out of the
cares and anxieties due to desiring contact of the senses with their objects. Srila
Narada muni instructs in Srimad Bhagavatam 1.6.33:
pragäyataù sva-véryäëi
tértha-pädaù priya-çraväù
ähüta iva me çéghraà
darçanaà yäti cetasi
“The Supreme Lord Sri Krishna, whose glories and activities are pleasing
to hear, at once appears on the seat of my heart, as if called for, as soon as I
begin to chant His holy activities.”
Srila Prabhupada says in his purport that, “It is a natural psychology in every
individual case that a person likes to hear and enjoy his personal glories
enumerated by others. That is a natural instinct, and the Lord, being also an
individual personality like others, is not an exception to this psychology
because psychological characteristics visible in the individual souls are but
reflections of the same psychology in the Absolute Lord.” The Lord is stotra
priyah.
There is a common saying that the sweetest word for any one is his or her own
names. Our attention immediately goes to the place where our names are heard.
But then there is a difference between the Lord and the individual soul in this
regard. Prabhupad beautifully says that as follows:
"The only difference is that the Lord is the greatest personality of all and
absolute in all His affairs. If, therefore, the Lord is attracted by the pure
devotee's chanting of His glories, there is nothing astonishing. Since He is
absolute, He can appear Himself in the picture of His glorification, the two
things being identical."
Padma purana says:

nama cintamanih krishnas caitanya -rasa- vigrahah
purnah suddho nitya mukto abhinna-tvat nama –naminoh
Krishna's name is always liberated and spiritual. It is never conditioned by the

laws of material nature. This is because the name of Krishna and Krishna are
identical. Srila Narada muni very feelingly says ahuta iva which means ‘as
if called for’, the Lord appears on the seat of the heart. Whereas in the material
world, if my son is away in a foreign country, even if I call his names with great
love, I cannot feel his presence. The Lord is in the waiting for His devotee and
as soon as His names are lovingly called out by a pure devotee, he makes His
presence as He did for Draupadi, Gajendra and so many devotees in the line.
Thus the glorifications of the Lord are identical with the Lord. This
understanding will help us to chant His names lovingly and with devotion.
- Vaijayanti mala devi dasi, Abu dhabi.

Kindness of the Lord and His Devotees
When Dhruva was only a boy of about 5 years of age, one day he saw his step-
mother’s son Uttama sitting on the lap of his father King Utttanapada and he
also wanted to sit on his father’s lap. But his step-mother Suruci stopped him
and insulted him by saying that he is not qualified to do so as he is not born
from her womb. Insulted Dhruva Maharaj, on the advice of his saintly mother,
left for the forest all alone, a small vulnerable child barely 5 years of age, to
worship the Supreme Lord Krishna.
When the boy left for the forest, the King came to his senses and became
morose and greatly aggrieved! Narada Muni, who had just initiated Dhruva
Maharaj in the forest on how to worship the Lord, then went to the King
Uttanapada’s palace. What he said to the King then was recorded in Srimad
Bhagavatam 4.8.68:
närada uväca
mä mä çucaù sva-tanayaà
deva-guptaà viçämpate
tat-prabhävam avijïäya
prävåìkte yad-yaço jagat
“My dear King, do not be aggrieved about your son. Although you have no
actual information of his influence, his reputation is already spread all
over the world”.
Why did Narada Muni say that is nicely explained by Srila Prabhupada in his
purport:
"...How can one live in the forest and not be taken care of by anyone? But the
answer, given by the great authority, Narada Muni, is that such persons are
well protected by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Sharanagati, or
surrender, means acceptance or firm belief that wherever the surrendered
soul lives he is always protected by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; he
is never alone or unprotected. Dhruva Maharaj's affectionate father thought of
his young boy, only five years old to be in a very precarious position in the
jungle, but Narada Muni assured him, "You do not have sufficient information
about the influence of your son." Anyone who engages in devotional service
anywhere within this universe, is never unprotected."
We may sometimes be facing great difficulties and harassment from all

quarters, but Krishna assures us that if we have that firm belief and are trying to
be devoted to Him, even if like Dhruva Maharaj we start with material desires
and aspirations, then Krishna subsidises the suffering to the extent that we are
protected. There is no limit to His kindness really.
And we are never really alone either - Krishna is our constant companion, the
silent witness to every event in our lives and the silent guest in our heart.


Perseverance of Dhruva Maharaj
Dhruva Maharaj went into the forest and wanted to pray to Lord Krishna for an
exalted position in the material universe, higher than that of his father and even
Lord Brahma! Narada Muni advised him to not put himself through so much
trouble as a little boy in a deep and dark forest just to see the Lord, whom even
the great sages could not see after years and years of austerities, Dhruva
nevertheless with the single minded conviction so uncharacteristic of a child,
perservered.
In the 1st month, he ate only fruits and berries on every 3rd day. In the 2nd
month, he ate only every 6 days dry grass and leaves. In the 3rd month he drank
water every 9 days. In the 4th month, he inhaled air every 12th day! In the 5th
month, he controlled his air so well he could stand only on one leg without
motion and fully concentrate on the Lord. By the 6th month, because he
realized the presence of the Lord within his heart, his big toe pushed down
half the earth, and he closed all the holes of his body and choked the entire
universe!
All this could be done by a 5 year old child - because of only one reason -
because the Lord became very merciful to see a 5 year determined little boy go
to a deep and dark forest alone to render devotional service to Him.
As Srila Prabhupada so nicely pointed out in his purport to SB 4.9.29:
“...that although the motive might be impure, the Lord does not consider the
motive; He is concerned with the service”
Krishna is so kind that He only sees the service that the living entity does for
Him and not the motive behind it.

Gajendra’s Prayer of Surrender
As we mature in our devotional service, we understand that our activities
should be done ultimately for the purpose of pleasing Krishna and not for any
other fruitive results. The mere reading of the verses in the scriptures puts us in
so much of transcendental bliss. All the verses in Srimad Bhagavatam are living
personalities who always charge us with so much of devotion everytime we
read them. One of the verses in the Gajendra's prayers of surrender is 8.3.17:-
mädåk prapanna-paçu-päça-vimokñaëäya
muktäya bhüri-karuëäya namo ’layäya
sväàçena sarva-tanu-bhån-manasi pratéta-
pratyag-dåçe bhagavate båhate namas te
“Since an animal such as I have surrendered unto You, who are supremely
liberated, certainly You will release me from this dangerous position.
Indeed, being extremely merciful, You incessantly try to deliver me. By
your partial feature as Paramatma, You are situated in the hearts of all
embodied beings. You are celebrated as direct transcendental knowledge,
and You are unlimited. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
What a powerful prayer!! Each and every word of this verse which describes
the transcendental qualities of the Lord is so overwhelming.
muktäya- unto the Supreme, who is untouched by the contamination of

material nature. Srila Prabhupad says in his purport that God is liberated , and
He tries to make us liberated.
bhüri-karuëäya - who are unlimitedly merciful. The lord is adhabra-daya,

adhabra-karuna and adhabra-sauhrda. He is unlimitedly merciful, unlimitedly
compassionate and unlimited well wisher for all the living entities. How He is
merciful is explained by the next quality.
alayäya- who are never inattentive or idle (for the purpose of my

deliverance) Srila Prabhupad so beautifully explains in the purport that He is
within our hearts and is not at all inattentive. His only aim is to deliver ud from
material life. It is not that He becomes attentive to us only when we offer prayer
to Him. Even before we offer our prayers He incessantly tries to deliver us. He
is never lazy in regard to our deliverance.
pratyag-dåçe - as a direct observer ( of all activities) Krishna as a

Paramatma is situated in the hearts of all embodies beings. That is why the
acaryas have assured us that the essence of Krishna Consciousness is life long
devotional activities and sentiment. We dont have to request Krishna to
remember all that we have done. Krishna will not disqualify or discount our
accumulated devotional activities due to a last moment epileptic fit or sudden
heart failure.
båhate - Who are unlimited. Krishna is the possesor of unlimited opulence

and He is the origin of everyone.
This unlimited Lord with His unlimited Mercy is trying to make us liberated
from this miserable material condition. The rememberance of this point is sure
to make us more committed and dedicated in our devotional service.


The Lord Always Answers Our Sincere Prayers
The last verse, in Gajendra's prayers (8.3.32)is one more gem of prayers. The
verse is so self-explanatory and the purport is crystal clear, that I dont want to
meddle with it. Only thing I felt when I read this prayer is that devotees are so
wonderful!!! Even in the worst of pains they want to give some gift to the
Lord!! Being an Elephant, Gajendra is able to offer a lotus flower to the Lord
even in the most acute of pains - not an ordinary pain, but the pain of death!
Hope one day I can offer a flower to the Lord with a millionth part of the
devotion with which Sri Gajendra offers the lotus flower!!!
so ’ntaù-sarasy urubalena gåhéta ärto
dåñövä garutmati harià kha upätta-cakram
utkñipya sämbuja-karaà giram äha kåcchrän
näräyaëäkhila-guro bhagavan namas te
“Gajendra had been forcefully captured by the crocodile in the water and
was feeling acute pain, but when he saw that Narayana, wielding His disc,
was coming in the sky on the back of Garuda, he immediately took a lotus
flower in his trunk, and with great difficulty due to his painful condition,
he uttered the following words: “O my Lord, Narayana, master of the
universe, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful
obeisances unto You.”
From Srila Prabhupada’s purport we learn two things here about a true devotee:
 A devotee regards danger as a good opportunity. The King of the elephants

was so very eager to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead that when he
saw the Lord coming in the sky, with great pain and in a feeble voice he
offered respect to the Lord. A devotee does not consider a dangerous
position to be dangerous, for in such a dangerous position he can
fervently pray to the Lord in great ecstasy.
 A devotee does not accuse the Supreme Personality of Godhead for having
let His devotee fall into such a dangerous condition. Rather, he considers
that dangerous condition to be due to his past misdeeds and takes it as an
opportunity to pray to the Lord and offer thanks for having been given such
an opportunity. When a devotee lives in this way, his salvation--his going
back home, back to Godhead--is guaranteed. We can see this to be true from
the example of Gajendra, who anxiously prayed to the Lord and thus
received an immediate chance to return home, back to Godhead.

Service to Spiritual Master
Prahlad Maharaj is one of the foremost devotee of the Lord as you can see that
he is being glorified all over the world 24 hours a day. This was also nicely
predicted by Kasyapa Muni in SB 3.14.45 where he says bhagavad-yaçasä
samam (such pure devotees like Prahlad Maharaj are glorified to the same
extent as the Lord). Such an exalted devotee of the Lord expresses his one of
the fine instructions to us in SB 7.9.28 as follows:
evaà janaà nipatitaà prabhavähi-küpe

kämäbhikämam anu yaù prapatan prasaìgät
kåtvätmasät surarñiëä bhagavan gåhétaù
so ’haà kathaà nu visåje tava bhåtya-seväm
“My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, because of my

association with material desires, one after another, I was gradually falling
into a blind well full of snakes, following the general populace. But your
servant Narada Muni kindly accepted me as his disciple and instructed me
how to achieve this transcendental position. Therefore, my first duty is to
serve him. How could I leave his service?”
We can see so much of humility and respect is expressed by Prahlad Maharaj

for his Spiritual Master eventhough the Supreme Lord has offered all the
invaluable benedictions to him.
Prabhupad explaining nicely in the purport the real position of a disciple and
symptom of a pure devotee thus:
“He asked the Lord to engage him in the service of His servant Narada Muni.
One should serve the spiritual master first. It is not that one should bypass the
spiritual master and desire to serve the Supreme Lord. This is not the principle
of Vaishnava. Narottama Dasa Thakura says: täìdera caraëa sevi
bhakta-sane väsajaname janame haya, ei abhiläña.
One should not be anxious to offer direct service to the Lord. Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu advised that one becomes a servant of the servant of the servant of
the Lord (gopé-bhartuù pada-kamalayor däsa-däsänudäsaù).
This is the process for approaching the Supreme Lord. The first service should
be rendered to the spiritual master so that by his mercy one can approach the
Supreme Personality of Godhead to render service. While teaching Rupa
Gosvami, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, guru-kåñëa-prasäde päya
bhakti-latä-béja: one can achieve the seed of devotional service by the
mercy of the guru, the spiritual master, and then by the mercy of Krishna. This
is the secret of success. First one should try to please the spiritual master, and
then one should attempt to
please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura
also says, Yasya prasadad bhagavat prasado. One should not
attempt to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead by concoction.
One must first be prepared to serve the Spiritual Master, and when one is
qualified he is automatically offered the platform of direct service to the Lord.
Therefore Prahlad Maharaj proposed that he engage in the service of Narada
Muni. This is the right conclusion. Therefore he said, “so ’haà kathaà
nu visåje tava bhåtya-seväm- How can I give up the service of my
spiritual master, who has favored me in such a way that I am now able to see
you face to face ?.” Prahlad Maharaj prayed to the Lord that he might continue
to engage in the service of his spiritual master, Narada Muni.”
Prahlad Maharaj being such a pure devotee (also a mahäjana) expressing

through his prayers, we can understand our position and should try to follow the
instructions of the great mahäjana, (mahäjano yena gataù sa
panthäù).
- Sajjan Priya Krishna Das, Abu dhabi.



The Lord Reveals Himself Through His Mercy
The following verse is from the prayers of Gajendra in Srimad Bhagavatam

8.3.10 :-
nama ätma-pradépäya
säkñiëe paramätmane
namo giräà vidüräya
manasaç cetasäm api
“I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, the self-effulgent Supersoul, who is the witness in everyone's
heart , who enlightens the individual soul and who can not be reached by
exercises of the mind, words or consciousness.”
If we think deeply on this verse, we can understand the extent of humility
expressed in this verse, understanding the real position of the individual soul.
No wonder, these prayers are rightly named "Gajendra's Prayers of
Surrender".
Srila Prabhupad writes in the purport: “The Supreme Personality of Godhead,
Krishna, cannot be understood by the individual soul through mental,
physical or intellectual exercises. It is by the grace of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead that the individual soul is enlightened. The Lord is
like the Sun, which illiminates everything and cannot be illuminated by
anyone.”
How true it is! Supposing we want to show the sun to somebody, do we need a
torchlight or a candle ? We just open the curtains and the sunlight is there for
everyone of us to see. Similarly, if the Sun is in the other side of the world and
if we want to search for it with our torchlight or candle, is it possible for us to
trace the Sun that way? Will it not be utter foolishness on our part? The next
morning the Sun by its own will is going to be there for us and how much ever
endeavour we do in the night to see or show the sun is not going to help us in
anyway.
In the same way, Krishna reveals Himself to those who are constantly engaged
in loving devotional service by being ätma-pradépa - enlightener of the
individual soul. But our own mental, physical or intellectual gymnastics is not
going to help us in anyway in understanding the verses.
This understanding of who is the real enlightener, will be of great help to those
of us who are trying to preach because it puts down all our subtle pride which is
natural to crop up. We were recently talking to a devotee and he was telling an
extremely nice point. He said that how much our preaching on a verse will
reach the people's heart, depends upon how much surrendered we ourselves
are to these verses we are preaching, and this is being observed by Krishna
every moment who is the Supreme witness (säkñi) and if we are really
surrendered, Krishna as paramatma- the Supersoul in the preacher's heart will
convince the Supersoul in the listener's heart and thus there is perfect
understanding of the message.
I pray to the Lord, Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev that in the New Year let
this forum of Granthraj, continue with reinforced commitment to give us the
spiritual enlightenment and this is the only way that makes everyone of us
"tushyanti ca ramanti ca"- satisfied and blissful.

Devotee Relieves the Anxiety of the Lord
I just came across a very very special purport in Sri Caitanya Caritamrta, Antya
lila 3.52. This chapter is about the glories of Namacharya Srila Haridas Takura.
Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, to show to the world, the magnanimity of His
dearest devotees, have talks and discussions at times with them. From these
transcendental talks, questions and answers, we get a very good idea about
devotional service, the Lord, His devotees and many other things. Srila
Prabhupada says in one of his purports in Srimad Bhagavatam, "The popular
saying is that a housewife teaches the daughter-in-law by teaching the
daughter". Sometimes Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu taught His disciples like
Srila Saarvabhauma Bhattacarya, Srila Rupa Goswami, Srila Sanatana
Goswami etc. and sometimes the Lord asked questions from His devotees like
Srila Ramananda Raya and Srila Haridas Takura and inspired them to speak on
the transcendental subject matter.
In this chapter, the Lord asks a question to Srila Haridas Takura:
“My dear Takura Haridasa, in this Age of Kali most people are bereft of
Vedic culture, and therefore they are called yavanas. They are concerned
only with killing cows and brahminical culture. In this way they all engage
in sinful acts. How will these yavanas be delivered? To My great
unhappiness, I do not see any way.”
For this Srila Haridas Takura replied, “My dear Lord, do not be in anxiety.
Do not be unhappy to see the condition of the yavanas in material
existence. Because the yavanas are accustomed to saying ‘haa raama, haa
raama’ [‘O Lord Ramacandra’], they will very easily be delivered by this
naamabhasa. A devotee in advanced ecstatic love exclaims, ‘O my Lord
Ramacandra! O my Lord Ramacandra!’ But the yavanas also chant, ‘ha
raam, ha raam!’ Just see their good fortune!”
In the purport for text 52, Srila Prabhupada is so deep in his devotional service
to the Lord. He says as follows:
"These words of Haridasa Takura are just befitting a devotee who has dedicated
his life and soul to the service of the Lord. When the Lord is unhappy because
of the condition of the fallen souls, the devotee consoles Him, saying, “My
dear Lord, do not be in anxiety.” This is service. Everyone should adopt the
cause of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to try to relieve Him from the anxiety He
feels. This is actually service to the Lord. One who tries to relieve Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu’s anxiety for the fallen souls is certainly a most dear and
confidential devotee of the Lord."
From these transcendental purports, we can get a slight peek into the
inconceivable mood of our acaryas who travel all over the world taking so
much pain to relieve the anxiety of the Lord in saving the suffering conditioned
souls like us.

A Powerful Prayer by Prahlad Maharaj
Today is Lord Nrsimhadev's Appearance day. The Lord's and His devotee's
appearance and disappearance days are the most important festival days for all
of us. Lord Krishna says in Bhagavata Gita 4.9, 'janma karma ca me
divyam'- My appearance and activities are transcendental'. As Srila
Prabhupada says in his purports in several places that the Lord has no business
with the demons. His business is only with His devotees. He need not come
personally to vanquish the demons - just one of the agents of His agents will do
the job. But the Lord comes personally out of His own sweet will, just to please
His devotees. He did this in the case of Sri Prahlad Maharaj, one of His pure
devotees. The 7th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam is full with the nectarian
pastime of Sri Nrsimhadev and the transcendental qualities of Sri Prahlad
Maharaj. The Lord is so kind and loving to His devotees that He likes it very
much when His devotees are glorified than Himself. This is very evident from
the fact that in the whole of 7th canto, only one or two chapters are dedicated to
the Lord's activities, whereas more than 6 chapters are dedicated to His devotee
Sri Prahlad Maharaj!
This day is one of the most important festive day for aspiring Vaishnavas like
us and it will be apt to sing the glories of the Lord and His dearmost devotee Sri
Prahlad Maharaj from the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. Especially, the 9th
chapter of 7th canto contains very sweet and nectarian prayers by Sri Prahlad
Maharaj. I am just mentioning one of those here in SB 7.9.11 on this most
auspicious day.
naivätmanaù prabhur ayaà nija-läbha-pürëo
mänaà janäd aviduñaù karuëo våëéte
yad yaj jano bhagavate vidadhéta mänaà
tac cätmane prati-mukhasya yathä mukha-çréù
“The Supreme Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is always fully

satisfied in Himself. Therefore when something is offered to Him, the
offering, by the Lord's mercy, is for the benefit of the devotee, for the Lord
does not need service from anyone. To give an example, if one's face is
decorated, the reflection of one's face in a mirror is also seen to be
decorated.”


 
Prahlad Maharaj’s Teachings and His Qualities

His Teachings - SB 7.6.1:
kaumära äcaret präjïo
dharmän bhägavatän iha
durlabhaà mänuñaà janma
tad apy adhruvam arthadam
“Prahlada Maharaja said: One who is sufficeintly intelligent should use the
human form of body from the very beginning of life-- in other words,from
the tender age of childhood--to practise the activities of devotional service,
giving up all other engagements.The human body is most rarely achieved,
and although temporary like other bodies, it is meaningful because in
human life one can perform devotional service.Even a slight amount of
sincere devotional service can give one complete perfection.”
The Glorious Qualities of Prahlad Maharaj - SB 7.4.31-32:
brahmaëyaù çéla-sampannaù
satya-sandho jitendriyaù
ätmavat sarva-bhütänäm
eka-priya-suhåttamaù
däsavat sannatäryäìghriù
pitåvad déna-vatsalaù
bhrätåvat sadåçe snigdho
guruñv éçvara-bhävanaù
vidyärtha-rüpa-janmäòhyo
mäna-stambha-vivarjitaù
“He was completely cultured as a qualified brahmana, having very good
character and being determined to understand the Absolute Truth. He had
full control of his senses & mind. Like the Supersoul, he was kind to every
living entity and was the best friend of everyone. To respectable persons he
acted exactly like a menial servant, to the poor he was like father, to his
equals he was attached like a sympathetic brother, and he considered his
teachers, spiritual masters and older godbrothers to be as good as the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. He was completely free from unnatural
pride that might have arised from his good education, riches, beauty,
aristocracy and soon.”
-Sundergopal das, Auckland.

The Inconceivable Relationship Between the Lord and His Devotee
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna, seeing the twin arjuna trees
spoke as follows in SB 10.10.25:-
devarñir me priyatamo
yad imau dhanadätmajau
tat tathä sädhayiñyämi
yad gétaà tan mahätmanä
“Although these two young men are the sons of the very rich Kuvera and I
have nothing to do with them, Devarshi Narada is My very dear and
affectionate devotee, and therefore because he wanted Me to come face to
face with them, I must do so for their deliverance.”
Srila Prabhupada explains in his purport that “if one seeks the favor of a
devotee instead of directly asking favors from the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, one is very easily successful. Krishna is in the hand of a devotee.
Without the favor of a devotee, one cannot directly approach Krishna, what to
speak of engaging in His service. Unless one becomes a servant of a pure
devotee, one cannot be delivered from the material condition of life”.
A pure devotee is full of mercy. And through a pure devotee we realize what
mercy really is. When approached, a pure devotee gives very easily the
opportunity to attain Krishna, even though one may be bereft of good merits or
qualities. If one is fortunate to see such a soul and take shelter at his lotus feet,
then by his mercy, our lives gets rearranged in such a way that our very
existence becomes meaningful.
In Kaliyuga all living entities are degraded and fallen, so what hope do we have
other than the compassion and causeless mercy of pure devotees.
In this verse, the word 'saadhayishyaami' is very interesting. Prabhupada writes

in the word-word equivalents as , "I shall execute (because he wanted Me to
come face to face with the yamala-arjuna, I shall do so)". Grammatically also
it is like saying - "I have been made to do so", which actually shows the
inconceivable love of the Lord towards His devotees.
- Kaveri Devi dasi, Adelaide

Real Service
A very instructive pastime of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His personal
servant Govinda das is narrated in C.C Antya Lila Chapter 10:-
Once after a long ecstatic kirtan, Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu lay down after
prasada at the doorway. Govinda, the Lord's intimate associate came over to
massage His legs, as was his daily service. It was a rule that after Govinda had
massaged the Lord's feet and legs he would then proceed to take remnants
(prasada) of Mahaprabhu. This time when the Lord lay down, He occupied the
entire doorway. Govinda could not enter the room and therefore he requested
Mahaprabhu to turn on one side so that he could pass to enter the room. The
Lord replied, “I have no strength to move My body”. Govinda told the Lord,
“My Lord, I cannot cross over the Your body as it is an offense”. The Lord
replied, “Do it or don't do it. It depends upon your mind.”
Govinda then spread the Lord's wrapper on the Lord's body and in this way he
entered the room by crossing over Him. Govinda then massaged the Lord's feet
until His fatigue left Him. The Lord slept very nicely for about 45 mins and
when He woke up, He saw to His surprise that Govinda had not moved at all
from his position. “Why did you not take your meal after I slept”, the Lord
asked. Govinda replied, “You were lying down blocking the door and there
was no way to go.” The Lord said, “How did you enter the room? Why did you
not go out the same way?”
Govinda mentally replied, “My duty is to serve, even if I have to commit

offenses or go to hell. I would not mind committing hundreds and thousands
of offenses for the service of the Lord, but I greatly fear committing even a
glimpse of an offense for my own self.”
This story is so sweet because it shows the mood of the humble servant of the
Lord - he is prepared to serve the Lord and in that process suffer anything. But
he would not do that same action if it is only going to serve his own senses.
It is also easy to initially fault Govinda for crossing over the Lord's body - but it
was done for the Lord's satisfaction and the price was Govinda's "offense", for
which he was more than ready to suffer as long as he could serve the Lord.
Last but not the least, we can understand the ultimatum of his humility from the
fact that he answered the Lord’s question within his mind. He did not find a
need to prove to the Lord explicitly that he has entered the room only to serve
Him. He was completely convinced of the Lord’s omnipotency.


The Lord is Supremely Grateful
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna, has sixty-four qualities. One
of the qualities is gratefulness. The Nectar of Devotion explains as follows:
“In the Mahabharata, Krishna says, “When I was away from Draupadi, she
cried the words, `He Govinda!' This call for Me has put Me in her debt, and that
indebtedness is gradually increasing in My heart!” This statement by Krishna
gives evidence of how one can please the Supreme Lord simply by addressing
Him, “He Krishna! He Govinda!” The maha-mantra (Hare Krishna, Hare
Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama,
Hare Hare) is also simply an address to the Lord and His energy. So to anyone
who is constantly engaged in addressing the Lord and His energy, we can
imagine how much the Supreme Lord is obliged. It is impossible for the Lord to
ever forget such a devotee. Anyone who addresses the Lord immediately
attracts the attention of the Lord, who always remains obliged to him.”
When we see through the eyes of Srimad Bhagavatam the description of our
Lord's creation, both material and spiritual worlds, we soon understand how
insignificant we are. We can hardly imagine a minute portion of the Lord's
greatness, yet we insignificant souls in this planet can get His attention just by
uttering His name. All glories to Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who
distributed the maha-mantra! By the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and our
Gurudev, we will be able to chant the Lord's name with great affection.
In Srimad Bhagavatam verses 4.31.21 and 4.31.22, two interesting words are
used - rasa-jïaù and kåta-jïaù. rasa-jïaù means “One who
accepts the essence of life.” Or in other words, “One who can taste the
devotional mellow”. The next verse uses the word kåta-jïaù which means,
“One who is grateful” or “One who remembers the favour done to him.” It is
imperative that, unless we feel grateful to all the favours the Lord (or anyone
else) has done to us, we cannot taste the mellow of devotional service.
- Kaveri devi dasi, Adelaide.


The Middle-East Mela
The Avatari desh congregation, in the Middle East is an amazing one. Despite
being in a country where tilak, kanti mala and all other forms of religious
insignias are totally banned outside the house, where devotees have to wear
pants and shirts to go for programme, then once there, quickly change and put
on the necessary paraphernalia, then after programme to change again, is at the
least, tiring and draining. If any body complains of any congregational
activities to the authorities, then the authorities will raid the house and next
day, the devotee will be out of job and deported to India!
Despite all these reverses, there are at least 150 enthisiastic devotees attending
95% fo the programmes! There are 100 children attending three Gokulnandan
classes co-ordinated by Matajis – H G Abhira Kanya mathaji, Shanti mathaji
and a few others. They teach nice stories and verses from Bhagavatam and
Bhagavat-Gita to the kids. The kids put up wonderful Krishna Lila plays for
Gurudev's pleasure and he was truly pleased.
The devotees headed by H G Sajjan priya krishna prabhu, H G Girivaradhari

prabhu, H G Poorna prajna prabhu, H G Prashantatma prabhu, H G Radha
madanmohan prabhu and many others have Bhaktiyoga classes on weekdays to
preserve personal interaction among the congregation through indepth study of
Srila Prabhupada’s books. and decentralise their activities over the city on
weekends!
The Mathajis also very enthusiastically get together during the day every week
to discuss and relish Srimad Bhagavatam in their Rukhmini Sabha class. Their
main speaker is H G Vaijayanti mala mathaji although every mathaji take part
very enthusiastically in the classes and discuss the different prayers in the King
of scriptures!
There is a very active group of devotees getting together every week end for
mangala arati. They also have a weekly satsang program where over 100
devotees attend regularly. And the pioneer of the group, H G Svayam sphurty
krishna prabhu tirelessly preaches all the time inspite of his hectic schedules.
By his preaching he has gathered a big group of Bangladeshi workers. Needless
to say that all these programs are being run under the blessings and guidance of
Gurudev!
Yes, the speciality of Gurudev is that he always recognizes the unique potency
of each and every disciple and devotee, and fans that fire of enthusiasm for that
potency to grow into devotional service. Such expertise can only be done
through the transparent via medium of the spiritual master who is so full of
compassion for the living entities!
In Damodar desh, the conditions are not so strict, but still bad enough. Yet there
are 600 devotees there with almost 200 children attending classes!!
Gurudev gave powerful classes in Damodar desh and Avatari desh - he spent
many hours with devotees giving them personal attention, love and care always.
To watch him produces a warm indescribable glow in one's self - that walking
on this earth is a pure devotee of Lord Krishna who cares nothing for his
comforts, but only for the living entities who have fallen away. No matter how
tired Gurudev was, how painful the advances of old age are, he is completely
transcendental and so, he tolerates everything, and being constantly with
Krishna, he is ever joyful.
Gurudev had one ongoing theme in his lectures - that the devotional service is
done for the pleasure of Krishna, and not ourselves. He said repeatedly that
because we make the devotional service into our entertainment, we are unable
to please Krishna and so miss the point, that service is to Krishna and not to
ourselves!



Minneapolis Yatra: Snow on the Outside, Warmth on the Inside
by Kaunteya das
(This article appeared in the Congregation Preaching Journal run by H G

Kaunteya das, the head of Congregational Preaching Ministry).
It's the 4th February 2002. This morning I left Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA,
and I wish to share some impressions with you. I was recently with His
Holiness Candramauli Maharaja in Chicago when I asked him if there was a
place nearby that I could visit to give a Bhakti-vriksha presentation. He advised
me to go to Minneapolis. So I had the chance to spend five days there and it
was a very pleasing and encouraging experience. There is no ISKCON temple
or official preaching center, nonetheless there are quite a few devotees who are
active in practicing and preaching Krishna consciousness.
My main contact there was Purnendu Krishna Prabhu and his enthusiastic wife
Anasuya Mataji, both initiated by the elder Maha Visnu Goswami. They came
from India and their house is the main venue for the programs of the local
Vaisnava community; they also generally host the traveling preachers and other
guests of the Yatra. I was impressed by how strictly they follow the instruction
of their spiritual master to hold mangala-arati every day, even when taking rest
at midnight due to some late program. I am writing an article for the
Congregational Preaching Journal on sleeping habits and I plan to use them as a
good example of early-morning time management for grihastha couples.
The community is quite colorful, with devotees coming from different
backgrounds: North America, India, Trinidad, Dominican Republic (Central
America), Bulgaria, and Bosnia. There are local students of the Minnesota State
University (who were attracted by college preaching of His Holiness Ganapati
Maharaja) and also a devotee from Israel, Saguna Mataji, who regularly teaches
Bhagavad-gita course at the university. Many devotees have been cultivated
and mobilized by the efforts of Purnendu Krishna Prabhu. There are devotees
who are around since Srila Prabhupada's times or soon after he left, and others
who recently connected with ISKCON. There is a wealth of experience and
cultural diversity. The various age groups include teenagers-and even children-
who are serious about spiritual life. We had a seven-hour presentation, with
active, attentive participation.We discussed principles of healthy community
development and explained the six parts of the Bhakti-vriksha meeting-with
practice sessions on icebreakers and discussion time. We also covered the Each-
One-Teach-One system of studying Srila Prabhupada's books in pairs. The
devotees expressed the desire to implement such ideas to improve their sat-
sangas and get-togethers. This visit gave me a glimpse of a community of souls
who sincerely want to be Krishna conscious: there is no institutional or social
pressure to be a devotee- whatever they do is because they want to do it. I
felt this is a mature platform and a solid ground for further growth. I look
forward to hear from them about their individual and collective development.

Spiritual Science is Inconceivable to Our Imperfect Senses
Srimad Bhagavatam is known as Maha Purana - Purana means historical
accounts. It does not mean mythology. Unfortunately because of our limited
mind we cannot comprehend certain things, which we then label it as
mythology. But actually Vedas are absolute, non-fiction and true. The
following article confirms this fact which is otherwise beyond our
comprehension. This is just one of thousands of example that the limited and
puny scientific minds have confirmed. So just imagine the great fund and depth
of knowledge present in Vedas which our puny minds can never come to
understand or comprehend.
The Vedas describe Krishna and His various energies of different categories.
Two of Krishna's names are 'Ananta' and 'Acintya' meaning He is unlimited and
inconceivable. As such descriptions of Krishna or various categories of His
energies is also unlimited and inconceivable. This has to be understood. The
Vedas are non-different from Krishna. The Vedas provide the knowledge of the
inconceivable and unlimited Krishna. Therefore naturally one will not be able
to understand everything. However Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita –
“bhaktyä mäm abhijänäti- a devotee can come to know Me.”
Thus if one wants to have proper vision of understanding everything he has to
undertake devotional service unto Krishna - Bhakti yoga. This will put
everything - that which is conceivable and that which is inconceivable into
proper perspective. A devotee always knows this thus he is not perplexed when
something is beyond his comprehension. He contributes his inability to the
greatness of His Lord and as such sings His magnanimous glories.
A doubting mind however will obviously be perplexed. But for him this article
regarding scientific community affirming that such technology existed will/may
assist in increasing faith in Vedas or in Srimad Bhagavatam(which is the
essence of all Vedas). So next time he comes across anything which he is not
able to comprehend, he can naturally understand it to be due to his limitation as
being the insignificant and infinitesimal part and parcel of absolute, unlimited
and inconceivable Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna.
Thank you.
Here is the article...
Kauravas were cloned, says scientist PTI
[Saturday, May 04, 2002 5:10:27 PM] Hyderabad: The science of cloning
and test-tube baby was known to Indians of Mahabharata age (3000 BC),
according to a scientist who told a conference on stem cell research here on
Saturday that the Kauravas “were products of a technology that modern science
has not even developed yet”. The epic Mahabharata describes Gandhari as a
mother of 100 sons who were called Kauravas, the eldest of them being
Dhuryodhana. “No woman can give birth to 100 children in her lifetime, that
too all males and of the same age,” B G Matapurkar, a surgeon with the
Maulana Azad Medical College in New Delhi told the conference organised by
the southern chapter of the All India Biotech Association. Matapurkar, who
holds a US patent on organ regeneration technique that he developed 10 years
ago, said that he was thrilled when he stumbled on a verse in Mahabharata
under the chapter Adiparva that actually describes how the Kauravas were
created from a single embryo from Gandhari. He said that according to the
description in Mahabharata, the Kauravas were created by splitting the single
embryo into 100 parts and growing each part in a separate kund or container.
“In other words,” Matapurkar said, “they not only knew about test-tube babies
and embryo spliting but also had the technology to grow human foetuses
outside the body of a woman-something that is not known to modern science,”
he added.
- Amoghalila das, UK.


Interesting Feedbacks from Granthraj Members
I just joined the granthraj email group today. It is 2.30 am in the morning and
for the past 2 hours I am relishing all the messages very much that I am not
sleepy.I guess I will skip my sleep for tonite and proceed with mangala arati
later on and tomorrow is the auspicious day of Ekadasi.
This email group that you have started on granthraj Srimad Bhagavatam is
fantastic. I get to know nice and beautiful verses and purport and
realizations from all exalted devotees which would not have been possible
otherwise.
I would like to thank everyone so much for engaging my stubborn and unsteady
mind in granthraj Srimad Bhagavatam. It is so relishable that it brings great
satisfaction to the heart as reading SB is associating with Krishna directly.
Please accept my humble obeisance again and again to all devotees for helping
this fallen soul to develop a taste for reading Srimad Bhagavatam.
I am writing all the nice verses in a book which I read regularly and I would
like to show to Gurudev at the end of the year in Australia Krishna willing.
Prabhuji, this granthraj email group should live forever. All glories to all the
devotees for their wonderful contributions. I always look forward for new
message anxiously.
On my one volume SB, Gurudev has autographed on 21st Dec 1998 as follows:
"The perfection of human existence is to always study Srimad Bhagavatam.

Please utilize every second at your disposal to learn this great scripture"
Thank you so much once again for engaging me in this great scripture.


Thank you for starting and maintaining the Granthraj and the nice quotations
you have been sending. I look forward to receiving something from you
everyday morning when I come to my office.


I am very happy to take shelter of Granthraj, and that's due to the blessing of all
you great Vaishnavas. I am really enjoying the real nectar from these pages.
This nectar started by H.G.Kalacakra prabhu, with Maharaj's blessings is really
wonderful. I think this is the only way to make Maharaj's dream true. Maharaj
always had a dream for 24 hour recitation, and granthraj is making it true.
Maharaj was planning to make a big Bhagavat Bhavan, wherein 24 hour
recitation will go on. I don't know whether I am right or wrong, but Granthraj
is the one. A famous verse from Srimad Bhagavatam 3.25.25 gives the real
effects of discussion on transcendental topics of the Supreme Lord:-
satam prasangan mama virya-samvido

bhavanti hrt-karna-rasayanah kathah
taj-josanad asv apavarga-vartmani
sraddha ratir bhaktir anukramisyati
“In the association of pure devotees, discussion of the pastimes and
activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is very pleasing and
satisfying to the ear and the heart. By cultivating such knowledge one
gradually becomes advanced on the path of liberation, and thereafter he is
freed, and his attraction becomes fixed. Then real devotion and devotional
service begin.”
Thanks for hearing me.
- SunderGopal Das, Auckland.


Death is Waiting at Our Doors
A few days ago, our elderly godsister, Srimati Devaki Mata Devi Dasi left her
body in Baroda, Gujarat. Devaki Mata and her husband, Vasudev Prabhuji took
shelter of Gurudev some years ago, after their son, Gaur Sunder Prabhuji,
disciples of His Holiness Bhakti Vikas Maharaj, joined the Dwaraka temple,
where he has been serving most lovingly Their Lordships Sri Sri Rukmini
Dwarakadish.
Mataji was young relatively early 50s, when one morning she felt some chest
pains. Immediately she chanted the Holy Name of the Lord, even as her
children tried to get a doctor. In that state she left her body. Daily before, she
was regularly attending mangal arati at ISKCON Baroda temple, chanting 16
rounds, had read the Gita twice over and was at 2.9.24 of the Srimad
Bhagavatam. A few hours before her death, she had made sweetmeats to be
offered to Gurudev, urging Vaishnava Seva Prabhuji, who had visited Baroda
and had prasadam with her, to take them to Guru Maharaj.
Devaki mata's death is a practical experience that awaits everyone of us - the
only thing is we do not know when. If we think that today death may come, we
become very fixed up in devotional service, at least for that day!
But for devotees, we need not fear death, which is described in sastras as being
as painful as a 36000 scorpion stings at one time!
Yamaraj gives us this assurance, and also warning in one of Gurudev's favourite
verses: SB 6.3.29:
jihvä na vakti bhagavad-guëa-nämadheyaà
cetaç ca na smarati tac-caraëäravindam
kåñëäya no namati yac-chira ekadäpi
tän änayadhvam asato ’kåta-viñëu-kåtyän
“My dear servants, please bring to me only those sinful persons who do not
use their tongues to chant the holy name and qualities of Krishna, whose
hearts do not remember the lotus feet of Krishna even once, and whose
heads do not bow down even once before Lord Krishna. Send me those
who do not perform their duties toward Visnu, which are the only duties in
human life. Please bring me all such fools and rascals.”
Yamaraj has warned us very nicely, now all we can do is pray for the strength
to ensure that we comply and not end up at the wrong end of the stick!
-Devakinandana Das, Singapore.



Dwaraka Dham
We recently visited Dwaraka Dhama and thought it would be nice to share with
all of you our first impressions of the Dham. Indeed, Dwaraka is the dham as
we all know Lord Krishna resided over 100 years in this Dham. H H Maha
Vishnu Goswami Maharaj has established a nice Rukmini Dwarakadish Temple
in this holy dham. The speciality of this temple is that it is made entirely of
stone - the first of its kind in the history of ISKCON.
The glory of Dwaraka dham is very nicely mentioned in SB 1.10.27:
aho bata svar-yaçasas tiraskaré

kuçasthalé puëya-yaçaskaré bhuvaù
paçyanti nityaà yad anugraheñitaà
smitävalokaà sva-patià sma yat-prajäù
“Undoubtedly it is wonderful that Dvaraka has defeated the glories of the

heavenly planets and has enhanced the celebrity of the earth. The
inhabitants of Dvaraka are always seeing the soul of all living beings
[Krishna] in His loving feature. He glances at them and favors them with
sweet smiles.”
In the purport Prabhupada says astoundingly - "But the celebrity of earth has
defeated that of the heavenly planets because of Dvaraka, where Lord Sri
Krishna reigned as King. Three places, namely Vrndavana, Mathura and
Dvaraka, are more important than the famous planets within the universe. These
places are perpetually sanctified because whenever the Lord descends on earth
He displays His transcendental activities particularly in these three places. "
A Brief Description of the current atmosphere of Dwaraka Dham:

Dwaraka is not so much visited by tourist, the atmosphere is relaxed, people
like devotees and will not cheat you, all in all it is very safe to move around.
The main Dwarakadhish temple is very old (some people say 4000 years ago it
was build by Lord Krishna’s nephew). Unlike other Hindu temples, Non-
Hindus are welcome to enter in any temple in Dwaraka dham. There are no
restrictions as Dwarakadhishji is very merciful. Dwaraka also has to offer its
wonderful natural sand beaches, what to speak of unpolluted Arabian Sea, the
holy river Gomati Ganga which merge into the Arabian sea.
As already mentioned, this dham is not overcrowded by pilgrim people, has

nice devotional atmosphere The residents of the dham are very religious
minded. Close to our ISKCON temple there is a Lord Rama temple
where devotees are singing Sri Rama Jaya Rama Jaya Jaya Rama non-stop for
30 years. Every morning at 4 AM they have street harinam and they wake up all
inhabitants of Dwaraka by their melodious harinam. Dwaraka travel office
offers you an unforgettable trip to original Lord Krishna’s Dwaraka city which
is some 20 miles. On the way you can see many old temples. We strongly
recommend everybody to visit Dwaraka Dham and take darshan of Lord
Dwarakadish. Last but not the Least, the Annual Iskcon Dwaraka Ratha-Yatra
that is celebrated on the 26th Jan is a feast to take part. Hundreds of devotees
from all over the world take part in it every year. For further information please
contact:
ISKCON DWARAKA
Bharatiya Bhavan
Devi Bhavan Road
Dwaraka Dham 361335
Gujarat, India
Tel: + 91 2892 234606.
- Murlidhara das (Yugoslavia) and Kalacakra Krsna das (Minneapolis)
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Amazing Atma
This is a verse from Srimad Bhagavad Gita 2.29:
äçcarya-vat paçyati kaçcid enam

äçcarya-vad vadati tathaiva cänyaù
äçcarya-vac cainam anyaù çåëoti
çrutväpy enaà veda na caiva kaçcit
“(Krishna says this to Arjuna) Some look on the soul as amazing ,some
describe him as amazing,some hear of him as amazing, while others, even
after hearing about him ,cannot understand him at all.”
Prabhupada says that owing to a strong material conception, people in general

are not able to comprehend the inconceivable nature of the Soul. Our
perceptions are so limited that we outrightly deny anything our senses cannot
conceive. But the fact is still a fact. For eg., I cannot conceive how such a small
entity like the soul, being only of the size of 1/10000 th part of the tip of the hair
can make such a big body do so many activities and perform so many
wonderful things! Prabhupada punches in the purport – “But if, somehow or
other, one is able to understand the subject matter of the soul, then one’s life
is successful.”
Karthik (Age 10), Abu dhabi.

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Activities of a Pure Devotee
Srimad Bhagavatam 6.9.39 gives a very good idea about a pure devotee’s
position.
atha ha väva tava mahimämåta-rasa-samudra-vipruñä
sakåd avaléòhayäsvamanasi niñyandamänänavarata-
sukhena
vismärita-dåñöa-çruta-viñaya-sukha-leçäbhäsäù parama-
bhägavatäekäntinobhagavati sarva-bhüta-priya-suhådi
sarvätmani nitaräà nirantaraà nirvåta-manasaù
kathamuhaväetemadhumathana punaù svärtha-kuçalä hy
ätma-priya-suhådaù sädhavas tvac-caraëämbujänuseväà
visåjantinayatrapunar ayaà saàsära-paryävartaù.
“Therefore, O killer of madhu demon, incessant transcendental bliss flows

in the minds of those who have even once tasted but a drop of the nectar
from the ocean of Your glories. Such exalted devotees forget the tiny
reflection of so called material happiness produced from the material
senses of sight and sound. Free from all desires, such devotees are the real
friends of all living entities. Offering their minds unto You and enjoying
transcendental bliss, they are expert in achieving the real goal of life. O
lord, You are the soul and dear friend of such devotees, who never need,
return to this material world. How could they give up engagement in Your
devotional service ?”
From the translation we see one quality of the material world (it gives us ‘so
called’ happiness and it is small) and one quality of the spiritual world (it gives
us eternal bliss and it is big). These two are exact opposites.
Srila Prabhupada makes three important points in his purport:
1. A devotee, even if once he had tasted the nectar from the Lord’s lotus feet
can realize the transcendental pleasure that can be obtained from devotional
service.
2. A devotee is the real friend of all living entities.
3. Only a pure devotee can preach the glories of the Lord for the benefit of all
conditioned souls.
These three points are related to one another and they follow a sequence. Even
once if one had tasted the pleasure of devotional service, then he would want to
share it with everybody and would want all others to taste it. This is because
devotional service is devoid of envy and competition which are overflowing in
this material world. As one wants to share his happiness with everybody
without any reservation, he naturally becomes their real friend (sauhrdam).
Once he becomes a real friend, then others will start trusting him and
attentively listen to his words. Thus he can entertain all the conditioned souls
with Krishna-katha (sarva-bhütänuraïjanäù). Srila Prabhupada and
other acaryas who preach pure Krishna-katha are practical examples of such
pure devotees.
- Karthik (Age 10), Abu dhabi.
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The Story of Three Boons
Once upon a time there lived an ugly boy named Haru. He had a tiny nose and
was very poor. The other boys in the village used to tease him for his tiny nose.
As time passed, Haru's mother died and there was nobody to look after him.
Haru decided to marry a girl with a little nose or otherwise she would also tease
him. Then he got married as per his desire . Now the village boys started calling
them “The Noseless Couple”. He and his wife were very much perturbed.
He decided to pray to God for remedy and so he went to the forest. God was
very much pleased with his prayers and gave him three boons to ask with three
throws of dice. He rushed home and told his wife about the boons.His wife
asked him to cast the first dice for wealth but he was insisting for beautiful
noses. Because of the fight, he angrily threw the dice exclaiming, “Let us both
have beautiful noses and nothing but noses”. At once their bodies were covered
all over with innumerable noses. They got beautiful noses, no doubt, but they
proved such nuisance that both of them agreed to throw the dice the second
time asking for their removal. It was done, but alas, they also lost their own
little noses and looked uglier than before.
He asked his wife if he could cast the last dice for beautiful noses. But his wife
said that if they had beautiful noses, the people would ask about the change and
when they learn the truth, they would laugh at us that we could not mend our
circumstances even with three boons. Moreover she felt that even rich people
cannot live without noses. So she asked him to be careful in the last chance and
ask for their own little noses back in their proper places. Haru realised his
mistake and lamented that he had been a great fool to have lost the opportunity.
He prayed to the Lord for their own little noses and his prayers were answered.
This reminds us of the verse in Srimad Bhagavatam 11.20.17 (Uddhava gita):
nå-deham ädyaà sulabhaà sudurlabhaà

plavaà sukalpaà guru-karëadhäram
mayänukülena nabhasvateritaà
pumän bhaväbdhià na taret sa ätma-hä
“The human body which can award all benefit in life, is automatically
obtained by the laws of nature, although it is a very rare achievement. This
human body can be compared to a perfectly constructed boat having the
spiritual master as the captain and the instructions of Personality of
Godhead as favourable winds impelling it on its course. Considering all
these advantages, a human being who does not utilise his human life to
cross the ocean of material existence must be considered the killer of his
own soul.”
As in the story above, we have got the three boons
1. The human body which is like a perfectly constructed boat

2. The spiritual master as the captain of the ship
3. The instructions in the Vedic literature as favourable winds.
If with all these boons we do not cross over the material ocean then we would
be lamenting and suffering like Haru who could not make judicious use of a
nice opportunity.
- Karthik & Vaijayanti Mala devi dasi, Abu dhabi.
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The Story of a Foolish Brahmana
Once there was a Brahmana who had a wife and three daughters. He took good
care of them. All of a sudden, one day the brahmana died. His wife and his
children were lamenting over his death. Meanwhile, the Brahmana was reborn
as a golden swan. Because of his good fortune he could remember his previous
life. So he wanted to go and see how his family was getting along. The swan
flew to the village where his previous life's family were living. Then he saw
that his family was in a very poor condition and were begging for a living.
Because of his foolish attachment he wanted to help his previous life's family.
He flew upto them and told them that he was her husband reborn as a swan. So
he told them that every week he would give one of his golden feathers by
selling which they can maintain themselves. Thereafter every week the swan
would deliver a golden feather to his previous life's family and they became
rich in due course. But because of the avaracious greed, she decided to pluck all
the feathers of the golden swan doubting that the swan being a mere bird may
cheat them. So the next time the swan came, she caught the swan's neck and
plucked all the golden feathers of the swan forcibly. But suddenly to her dismay
all the golden feathers turned into white feathers. The swan shouted at her and
said that if the feathers are plucked forcibly then it would not be golden. On
saying so the swan's wife with frustration threw away the golden swan in the
dust bin. Alas! the swan lamenting for his foolishness in trying to help his
family died a slow death.
Bali Maharaj at the time of surrender of his life to Lord Vamana says in Srimad
Bhagavatam 8.22.9.
kim ätmanänena jahäti yo ’ntataù
kià riktha-häraiù svajanäkhya-dasyubhiù
kià jäyayä saàsåti-hetu-bhütayä
martyasya gehaiù kim ihäyuño vyayaù
“What is the use of material body , which automatically leaves its owner at
the end of life and what is the use of all one's family members, who are
actually plunderers taking away money that is useful for the service of the
Lord in spiritual opulences? What is the use of wife? She is only the source
of increasing material conditions. And what is the use of family home,
country and community? Attachment for them merely wastes the valuable
energy of one's life time.”
The swan in the story because of the foolish attachment wanted to help his
previous life’s family and we can see the fate he met. Thus the people are in
darkness of goal of life and there is a continuous struggle for existence until we
surrender unto the lotus feet of Lord Krishna.
And we can also see the avaracious greediness of the brahmana wife had
resulted in lamentation and hankering for material opulences.
In Srimad Bhagavatam, we have a prayer from Lord Brahma in 3.9.6.
tävad bhayaà draviëa-deha-suhån-nimittaà

çokaù spåhä paribhavo vipulaç ca lobhaù
tävan mamety asad-avagraha ärti-mülaà
yävan na te ’ìghrim abhayaà pravåëéta lokaù
“O my Lord, people of the world are embarassed by all material anxieties -

they are always afraid. They always try to protect wealth, body and
friends, they are filled with lamentation and unlawful desires and
paraphernalia, and they avaraciously base their undertakings on the
perishable conceptions of “ my” and “ mine”. As long as they do not take
shelter of Your lotus feet, they are full of such anxieties”.
We can observe the poor brahmana wife because of her avaracious nature,
laments for the loss of golden feathers of the swan and she threw away her
previous husband who has made her rich by supplying golden feathers.
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The Story of the King and the Brahmana
Once there lived a poor Brahmana named Vasudeva. He went to his friend's
house to ask him for a loan. His friend said that he had no money to spare and
told Vasudeva that the King of the city, gave two gold coins to the first
Brahmana he meets in the morning. Then Vasudeva said that he would spend
the night there, and go to the palace before dawn.That night,he could not sleep
at all because he thought that suppose if he gets up late, another brahmana
might go and receive the two gold coins from the King. So he decided to go
to the palace right away so that he can be sure that he is the first brahmana to
meet the King.The guards who stood outside the palace, mistook him to be a
spy and put him in the jail.The next morning, the soldiers brought Vasudeva
before the King and told the King that Vasudeva was a spy. Vasudeva told the
King that he was not a spy and was waiting at the gates to ensure that he would
be the first person to receive the two gold coins. The King told him that he shall
give anything Vasudeva wanted. Vasudeva told the King that he wanted some
time to decide what he needed.
He decided to ask for twenty gold coins and then he thought he could perhaps
make it two thousand. And then he thought that the King could surely afford
more. so he decided to make it Two crore. Then he saw that a monk was
instructing his disciples, “All desires bring pain”. On hearing this, Vasudeva
realized that he got into all the troubles only because he wanted money and first
he wanted only two coins but now even a crore seemed too little. So he went
back to the King and told the King that he did not want anything , as he had
realized that money would give him more unhappiness and happiest is he, who
does not want anything. (santhushtah). He blessed the King and went away.
This story reminds us of the quote from Srimad Bhagavatam 11.8.44:
äçä hi paramaà duùkhaà

nairäçyaà paramaà sukham
“Material desire is undoubtedly the cause of the greatest unhappiness, and

freedom from such desire is the cause of the greatest happiness.”
So the brahmana in this story has realised that for this money he had to spend
sleepless nights and was put in the jail, (dukha sanchitam) but it had no
potency to give him any happiness. Whereas, - brahma-bhütaù
prasannätmä na çocati na käìkñati - one who is transcendentally
situated is always joyful and he never laments or desires to have anything.
- Karthik & Vaijayanti Mala devi dasi, Abu dhabi.
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Harinama Cintamani
Sanatana Gosvami was the perfect example of the spiritual master for he
imparted the real value of the devotional service to the living entities not only
by his preaching but also by his actions.
Once a poor brahmana worshipped Lord Siva and asked him for the best
benediction. Lord Siva advised him that he would get the best benediction from
one Sanatana Gosvami. Sanatana had a touchstone with him which he kept in
the garbage. The poor brahmana approached the Gosvami and asked him for
that touchstone for it possessed the ability to change iron to pure gold!!
Sanatana said, “Yes you can have it. Please get it from the garbage dump
nearby.” Elated the brahmana went and rummaged through the garbage and
finally found the touchstone. As he was leaving, he suddenly thought, “If a
touchstone is the best benediction, why has Sanatana Gosvami kept it in the
garbage?”. He asked Sanatana, “Sir if this is the best benediction, why is it in
the garbage?” The Gosvami replied that “This is not the best benediction, but
are you prepared to take the best benediction from me?” “Yes!” said the
brahmana. Then the Gosvami asked him to throw the touchstone into the water
and come back. When he returned Sanatana initiated him with the Hare Krishna
mantra, the highest benediction!!
Many living entities come searching for some kind of touchstone from
the spiritual master - but by his mercy and kindness they are made to
gradually realise that the best benediction is the Hare Krishna mantra - and
the best benedictor is the kind, causelessly merciful spiritual master.
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The Story of a Blind Well
In Mahabharata, after the war, Dhrtarashtra was living under the care of
Yudhistir Maharaj and one day Vidura came back from his pilgrimage.
Everyone in the kingdom was so glad to receive the great well-wisher Vidura.
After exchanging greetings, he went and talked to Drtharashtra in private. He
advised him to give up the royal life in the kingdom and go to the forest to
prepare for his final moments. To instruct him, Vidura told a very nice
allegorical story:-
Once there was a man walking in a desert. He felt thirsty and tired due to heat.
To his surprise he suddenly found a lush green forest nearby and with great
haste he ran towards it. When he went near, he suddenly saw a fence separating
the forest from the desert. He tried climbing over the fence, but to his surprise
he found the fence growing higher and higher as he climbed. He somehow
managed to jump into the forest. He was happy to get into the forest, but
suddenly he saw some tigers, lions and other wild animals chasing him. He ran
for his life and just when he thought he saved himself from the wild animals, a
big creature that looked like a dangerous old witch, tried to grab and swallow
him. Out of fear he ran again to the other side, with both the wild animals and
the old witch chasing him. While he was running, suddenly he tripped over the
veins of a tree and found himself hanging upside down. To his fortune, his legs
were caught by the veins of the tree. He thought that he was saved. But as he
saw down, he could understand that he was hanging directly above a big deep
well. The well was so deep that he could not see its bottom. Deep in the well he
saw two bright lights which were the eyes of a huge serpent that was living in
the well. For a moment he felt relieved as he thought that he was saved from the
animals, the witch and the snake by the veins of the tree. When he looked
above, to his dismay, he could see a group of black and white rats that were
chewing away the thick veins that were holding him. On the top of the tree,
there was a bee-hive and there were lot of bees that were flying around and
stinging on his body which caused him severe pain.
His condition was so precarious because the animals and the witch were waiting
on the edge of the well to catch him. The bees were stinging him and the snake
in the well was waiting for him to fall down. The rats on the tree were chewing
away the veins slowly. He had no way to escape and his death was also sure.
But even at this critical juncture, the man was smiling. Vidura said that the
reason for his smile was the drops of honey that were falling momentarily from
the bee-hive into his mouth as he was hanging from the tree. Vidura ended the
story and told his brother the real meaning of the story.
He related the different characters in the story to our real life as follows.
 The man in the forest is the spirit soul embedded in material body
 The wild animals are the three modes of material nature that keep
troubling our existence.
 The old witch represent old age. We all have to become old one day, no
once can escape from it.
 The veins represent our life span in this material body.
 The blind well represents the cycle of repeated births and deaths.
 The snake represents the death that is waiting for our final moment.
 The lack and white rats represent the days and nights. Just as the rats
chew away the veins, similarly the passing away of each day and night
decreases our life span in this world.
 The bees represent our family, friends and relatives who are always a
source of trouble.
 The honey represents the sense gratification we get through our family,
friends and relatives.
Vidura told Drtarashtra, “This is exactly the situation we are put in this material
world. We falsely think that there is happiness in this world but we constantly
faced troubles from all corners.”
Vidura urged Drtarashtra to take up devotional service and leave for the forest
to give the life entirely to the Lord. Drtarashtra, for once, listened to his true
well-wisher Vidura and achieved perfection in the end.
This reminds of the two verses in Srimad Bhagavatam .The first verse is the
Prahlad first instruction to his father in SB 7.5.5:
tat sädhu manye ’sura-varya dehinäà

sadä samudvigna-dhiyäm asad-grahät
hitvätma-pätaà gåham andha-küpaà
vanaà gato yad dharim äçrayeta
Prahlad Maharaj replied, “O best of the asuras , King of the demons, as

far as I have learned from my spiritual master, any person who has
accepted a temporary body and temporary household life is certainly
embarassed by anxiety because of having fallen in a dark well where there
is no water but only suffering. One should give this position and to the
forest. More clearly one should go to Vrndavana, where only Krishna
consciousness is prevalent, and should thus take shelter of the Supreme
Personality of Godhead Hari.
The second one is SB 11.20.16 which says:
aho-rätraiç chidyamänaà
buddhväyur bhaya-vepathuù
mukta-saìgaù paraà buddhvä
niréha upaçämyati
“Knowing that one’s duration of life is being similarly cut down by the
passing of days and nights, one should be shaken by fear. In this way,
giving up all material attachments and desires, one understands the
Supreme Personality of Godhead and achieves perfect peace.”
Another relevant verse is from Krishna Karnamrtam by Sri Bilvamangala

Takur:
samsaara kupe patitoty aghaade

mohaanda purne vishaayabhi tapte
karaavalambham mamdehi vishno
govinda damodara madha veti
“I am fallen into the deep, dark well of material life, which is full of illusion
and blind ignorance, and I am tormented by sensual existence. O my Lord,
Vishnu, Govinda, Damodara, Madhava, please grant me Your supporting
hand to uplift me.”
All these three verses are coming to one conclusion that we have to understand
our constitutional position always and our desire for sense gratification should
be burnt by our qualitative devotional service.
- Karthik & Sajjan Priya Krishna das, Abu dhabi.
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Wealth Leads to Worries and Devotion Leads to Peace
Kesari, the incorrigible thief, had been banished from the city by the king with
the warning that if he returned and was caught, he would be hanged. Kesari
thought that he should not go back to the city for a few days. Suddenly, he
noticed that a man came down from the air, then he found out that the man
could not touch the earth without removing the sandals. The man removed the
sandals and went away. Kesari, immediately put on the magic sandals and rose
into the sky. Then he thought that the king had done a good turn in banishing
him. Then he saw that a poor man was worshipping goddess kali and praying
her for wealth. Kesari thought that since God had been kind to him, he should
do some of His jobs. So Kesari rose into the air and before dawn the next day,
he kept some precious gems in the temple for the poor man. Meanwhile at the
palace, some of the people reported that some of their precious gems had been
stolen. One of the guards of the city said that he saw a man trying to steal some
precious gems and when he was about to catch him, he rose into the air. Then
the king decided to bring the flying thief to book.
One day, the king dressed himself as a soldier and began to search the forest for
the flying thief. Then he noticed that a man was worshipping the Goddess Kali.
When the man's worship was over, the king asked the man if he was a priest ,
on which the man said that he was a merchant and was a poor wretch a few
days ago and then the Goddess answered his prayers with a heap of gems. He
also said that everyday Goddess Kali honours him by accepting the food he
offers. The king asked that how did he know that she accepted
them. On this the merchant replied that when he came the next day, the
offerings were all gone.
The king guessed that this should be the work of the flying thief and so he
waited there to catch him. Kesari came there and began to eat the offerings and
when he was about to leave, the king tried to catch Kesari. Kesari fled away on
seeing the king. On the way, he realized that he had left the magic sandals and
that the king would not give up until he caught him and punished him. Then he
realized that there is no use of the wealth he accumulated and it has rather
become a burden. On the way, he met a monk who was meditating. He saw that
the monk had no wealth but he was completely peaceful. So Kesari sat near him
and practiced the monk’s process of meditation. He gradually became peaceful.
When the king and his men came to catch him, they found Kesari to be a
transformed personality and went away leaving him in peace. Srimad
Bhagavatam 11.3.19 says,
nityartidena vittena
durlabhenatma mrtyuna
grhapatyapt pasubhih
ka pritih sadhitais calaih
Wealth is a perpetual source of distress, it is most difficult to acquire, and it is

virtual death for the soul. What satisfaction does one actually gain from his
wealth? Similarly, how can one gain ultimate or permanent happiness from
one's so called home, children, relatives and domestic animals, which are all
maintained by one's hard earned money? Kesari acquired the wealth with so
much difficulty and anxiety, but realized that it could not save his life and infact
proved to be a burden.
- Karthik and Vaijayanti Mala devi dasi, Abu dhabi.
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Honesty is the Best Policy
Once there was an emperor who had no heirs. Seeking to find a suitable
successor to his vast kingdom, he decided to find someone from the mass of
common people. He called for all the youths of the kingdom in the court.
Then he gave each one of them some seeds and a pot with soil. He told them to
grow the seeds in the soil and show him the results of their tendering the seeds
in 6 months. Based on the result, one of them would become emperor!
Everyone went home with the seeds with great enthusiasm and they started
nurturing and taking care of the seed lovingly. One boy, however much he tried,
unfortunately could not do anything to make the seeds grow into plants. Day by
day he watched with a growing sense of despair as the other youths would
compare their fast growing plants and say “The best cared for plant will make
me the emperor!”
Six months came finally, and that day all the boys trooped into the place before
the emperor with abated breaths. The emperor surveyed all the plants -
all sprouting healthily with bright flowers and healthy leaves etc. Each boy
thought that he stood at the threshold of glory!
All except the one boy with just seeds to show, stood there petrified that he
would incur the anger of the emperor. Suddenly the emperor called harshly for
the boy without a plant! The boy knew then that he would get a tongue lashing!
The boy came forward and the emperor asked him fiercely why he failed to
grow the plant! The boy trembling, replied meekly, “Your majesty, I tried so
hard to grow a plant from these seeds – I watered them I fed them and I gave
them enough sunlight. With all my efforts I am still a failure ...”
The emperor paused for a moment, then said "You shall be the new emperor!"
The Boy was wonderstruck. The emperor said, "I gave all of you boiled seeds -
which if planted, watered and given sunlight can never grow into plants! But all
of you wanted results and in your greed you lied and cheated and obtained new
seeds and pretended that it was your plant. This boy worked very hard all day
but he only blamed himself for his failure, whereas you refused to accept the
harsh reality and were dishonest. For his honesty and hard work, he has won
my sympathy and mercy and he deserves to be the Lord of the land!"
Lord Brahma prayed to Krishna after he was bewildered by the Lord's illusory
energy after having manifested Himself as hundreds and thousands of calfs and
gopas, whom Brahma had earlier impudently stolen.In Srimad Bhagavatam
10.14.3. , his prayer so nicely reflects the story above and gives us something to
ponder - that result is not as important as honest hard work - for Krishna
sees the service and the attempts and not the result - for He is the giver and
bestower of that result - but the devotee's love for Him is seen in his efforts.
jïäne prayäsam udapäsya namanta eva
jévanti san-mukharitäà bhavadéya-värtäm
sthäne sthitäù çruti-gatäà tanu-väì-manobhir
ye präyaço ’jita jito ’py asi tais tri-lokyäm
"O my Lord Krishna, a devotee who abandons the path of empiric philosphical
speculation aimed at merging in the existence of the Supreme and engages
himself in hearing Your glories and activities from a bona fide sadhu, or saint,
and who lives an honest life in the occupational engagement of his social life,
can conquer Your sympathy and mercy even though You are ajita, or
unconquerable."
- Sunayana Devi dasi, Singapore.



Alexander’s Only Defeat
There is an amusing story concerning Alexander, the Great. When he came to

India, he found that the Indians were a race of brave, fearless people. He made
friends with them.
When he was about to return to his country, he remembered that his people had
asked him to bring to them an Indian yogi. They had heard a lot about yogis and
were very desirous to associate with them and receive their blessings.
Alexander was told that the yogis dwell in the forest.
In quest of a yogi he went to a forest. Sure enough, he found one sitting

underneath a tree, in deep meditation. He waited patiently until the yogi opened
his eyes. They shone with a strange, mystic light.
With great reverance, Alexander requested the yogi to accompany him to

Greece, saying. "I will give you everything you need or ask for. But, pray, do
come with me. My people would love to meet you!"
The yogi quietly answered, "I need nothing, I am happy where I am!"
This was the first time that anyone had turned down Alexander's request. He
could not control himself. He flew into a rage.
And unsheathing his sword, he thundered, "Do you know who is speaking to
you? I am the great king Alexander. If you will not listen to me,I shall kill you -
cut you into pieces!"
Unperturbed, the yogi answered. "You cannot kill me! You can only kill my
body. And the body is but a garment I have worn. I am not the body. I am that
which dwells within the body! I am not the deha. I am the dehin - the in-
dwelling one!"
The yogi continued, "You say you are a king. May I tell you, who you are? You
are a slave of my slave!"
Stunned. Alexander asked. "How am I a slave of your slave?"
In a voice tender with compassion, the yogi explained. "I have mastered anger.
Anger is my slave. See, how easily you gave way to anger. You are a slave of
anger, and, therefore, a slave of my slave!"
- Bhagavad ashraya das, Minneapolis.

Devotional Service Reflects on our Regular Activities
A simple villager once picked up some English words just by listening here and
there. He only knew "Yes", "No" and "Very good". But he never attempted to
serious understand the application of these words in their proper context. He
only thought that a sort of respect for an "English speaking person" could be
attained by using these words in front of others!
Once some robbers killed a man while escaping with the loot from his house
and made it look like the villager was the culprit. When the villager was
brought before the judge in court, the Judge asked him in Bengali, "Did you
commit the murder?"
The foolish villager thought that if he could speak some English in front of the
judge, then he would be impressed and have great respect for him. He may be
relieved of these allegations. So the villager replied "Yes!"
The judge asked "Was there anyone else with you?" The villager replied "No!"
Then the judge said , "Do you realise that you will have to go to jail?"
Now the villager thought that he should put forth his protest against such
injustice by applying his last resort. To show he was the perfect educated
gentleman, he said loudly, "Very Good!"
Needlessly to say, he was thrown into prison!

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Maharaj, Srila Prabhupada's spiritual
master quoted this story to illustrate that even in the field of devotional service,
scriptural quotes without proper understanding of the instructions, and true
purport but quoted in parrot like fashion is just a subtle way for devotees to
receive respect and adoration from the masses.
Gurudev remarked in Vrndavana that the true test of whether we have ingested
the true purports of Srila Prabhupada in Srimad Bhagavatam is how we apply
the verses and their purports to our daily lives - especially in moments of
reversals, adversities and difficulties.
The way to do that lies in the last line of S.B 12.13.18:
“... tac chåëvan su-paöhan vicäraëa-paro bhaktyä

vimucyen naraù”
First we must hear (såëvan) Srimad Bhagavatam very properly and

submissively, not in a challenging or fault-finding manner. Then whatever we
hear we must properly chant with devotion (su-paöhan), then finally
whatever we have heard and are chanting (which includes writing, preaching
etc) we must vicäraëa-paro - being very serious about understanding -
vicäraëa - digest it and ingest it into our daily life - then only we will be
freed from the cycle of birth and death.
If we have digested Bhagavatam, then we will display the characteristics of

Bhagavatam otherwise we will be like the villager and tie ourselves into a knot
- In Srimad Bhagavatam 7.1.9, Narada Muni states very correctly that "...one
can understand whether a living entity is a demon or demigod by
understanding that living entity's devotional performance. A thoughtful man
can understand how much a person is favoured by the Supreme Lord by
seeing his actions."



The Story of a Brahmana and the Cobbler
This is a verse from Srimad Bhaghavat gita 2.8:
na hi prapaçyämi mamäpanudyäd
yac chokam ucchoñaëam indriyäëäm
aväpya bhümäv asapatnam åddhaà
räjyaà suräëäm api cädhipatyam
“Arjuna said: I can find no means to drive away this grief which is drying
up my senses. I will not be able to dispell it even if I win a prosperous,
unrivaled kingdom on earth with sovereignty like the demigods in heaven.”
In the purport of this verse, Srila Prabhupad quotes a very nice verse from the
vedas:
ñaö-karma-nipuëo vipro mantra-tantra-viçäradaù
avaiñëavo gurur na syäd vaiñëavaù çvapaco guruù
“A scholarly brahmana, expert in all subjects of Vedic knowledge, is unfit
to become a spiritual master without being a Vaishnava, or expert in the
science of Krishna Consiousness. But a person born in a family of lower
caste can become a spiritual master if he is a Vaishnava or in Krishna
consiousness “
Here is a nice story which is relevant to this verse:
Once there lived a brahmana and a cobbler. Once Narada Muni went to see the
Brahmana. The brahmana asked Narada Muni "O great sage Narada, please let
me know what Mahavishnu is doing and when I will get liberation.” Then
Narada Muni went to the cobbler. The cobbler asked Narada Muni the same
question which the brahmana asked. Then Narada Muni went to Vishnuloka.
Then Narada Muni told his experience to Maha Vishnu. And Maha Vishnu
asked Narada Muni to tell the brahmana that He was entering an elephant into a
hole of a needle. And then he said "If the Brahmana or the cobler tells you that
he is delighted by that action you tell him that he will get liberation after this
janma.If anyone of them laughs tell him that he will get liberation after 1000
janmas.
So Narada Muni went to the brahmana and told him that the Lord was entering
an elephant into the hole of the needle. The Brahmana laughed and said, “How
can an elephant enter into the hole of a needle ? You must be joking”.
Then Narada Muni went to the cobbler and said the same thing.The cobbler was
delighted and said, “Oh!My lord is doing such an amazing activity.” After
saying this he fell into trance. When he came back to his senses, Narada Muni
wanting to testify him further, asked, “How did you believe what I said was a
fact ?”. The cobbler replied, “O Great sage, if the Lord is capable of creating
innumerous pomegranate trees in the form of seeds within a Pomegranate fruit,
Why is it not possible for Him to insert an Elephant thru the eye of a needle ?”.
Then Narada Muni understood the cobbler’s pure devotion and told him that he
will get liberation after this janma.
So we learn that a person is fit to become a pure devotee even if he is born in a
low caste family.
- Karthik & Prashanth (Age 10), Abu dhabi.

The Significance of the Dust of the Devotee’s Lotus feet
This verse is from the fourth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam.4.21.43
teñäm ahaà päda-saroja-reëum
äryä vaheyädhi-kiréöam äyuù
yaà nityadä bibhrata äçu päpaà
naçyaty amuà sarva-guëä bhajanti
“(Prthu Maharaj gives instruction to his family members) O respectable
personalities present here, I beg the blessings of all of you that I may
perpetually carry on my crown the dust of the lotus feet of such brahmanas
and vaishnsvas until the end of my life.He who can carry such dust on his
head is very soon relieved of all the reactions which arise from sinful life,
and eventually he develops all good and desirable qualities.”
Prthu Maharaj was the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Still
He wanted to carry the dust of the lotus feet of His devotees. If the Supreme
Personality gives so much importance to the dust of the lotus feet of His
devotees, then don't we also require the dust of the lotus feet of His devotees?
Actually, if we see it is the duty of all of us to become devotees and our
Supreme occupation is to worship Krishna. So the devotees are doing it as their
duty towards Krishna.They feel that they are indebted to Him.And yes, all of us
are indebted to Him.But while the devotees are thanking Krishna in that way,
He wants to take the dust of His devotee's lotus feet.
There is a nice story in this regard:
Once Krishna got a headache. All the great physicians tried to cure Him but
they couldn’t. Narada muni came there at that time. He enquired Krishna about
His health. Krishna said He is having severe headache. Narada Muni asked
Him, what can cure Him. Krishna told Narada, "There is only one way I can be
cured. Bring the dust of the lotus feet of my Devotee and apply it on my
forehead."
Narada Muni went to a group of sages who were performing severe austerities
and sacrifice. He told them that Krishna is having severe headache and to cure
that He wants the dust of His devotee to be applied on His forehead. When the
sages heard this, they were astonished. They told Narada muni, "Oh Narada, do
you know what kind of a sin it is to put our dust on Krishna's forehead? We will
go to hell if we did that. We can't do that."
Narada then went to Vrindavan and the Gopis immediately surrounded him and
enquired about the welfare of Krishna. Narada muni told them about Krishna's
headache and how it can be cured. As soon as the Gopis heard of this, all of
them stretched their legs and said, "Oh great sage, please take how much ever
dust you want. It doesn't matter if we have to go to hell for this action, but we
want Krishna to be relieved of His headache."
The above story illustrates how much importance Krishna gives to His
devotees.
- Karthik & Prashant (Age 10), Abu dhabi.


The Story of the Snake and the Mouse
When the demigods were cursed by Durvasa Muni and the demons were being
favored by time, a large number of demigods were killed in the battle. At last,
they went to Brahma for help. Brahma took them to the Causal Ocean and
prayed to Lord Vishnu for help. When Brahma finished offering prayers to the
Lord , the Lord replied in SB 8.6.20:-
arayo ’pi hi sandheyäù

sati käryärtha-gaurave
ahi-müñikavad devä
hy arthasya padavéà gataiù
“The Lord said to the demigods: O demigods, fulfilling one’s own interests
is so important that one may even have to make a truce with one’s own
enemies. For the sake of one’s self-interest ,one has to act according to the
logic of the snake and the mouse.”
The following story illustrates this point very nicely.
A snake charmer once caught a snake and put it into a cane basket. Then he
caught a mouse and put it into the basket too. Inside the basket when the snake
was about to eat the mouse , the mouse told the snake to spare it’s life because
it could save the life of the snake.The snake did not believe the mouse but the
mouse assured the snake, “If you leave me now then I will save your life and
you can get out of the basket and eat better food like lizards etc.”The snake
agreed and the mouse said that it would stand on the snake’s head and recite a
mantra by which both of them could get out ,but the snake had to close his eyes
when the mouse was chanting the mantra.So the mouse jumped on top of the
snake’s head ,gnawed a hole in the basket and escaped through it.
After some time the snake opened his eyes and slid through the hole.Now the
snake became hungry and decided to eat the mouse which escaped from the
basket . After a long search ,he found the mouse but the mouse ran into his
hole. Then the snake tried to get him out of the hole by telling the mouse that he
wanted to say thank you to the mouse and be the mouse’s friend. But the mouse
replied, “We are not friends. You are my enemy and you will eat me up.I
pretended to be your friend because I wanted to save my life.Friendship is only
between equals. You are not my equal so we can never be friends.”
The snake thought that the mouse was too wise for him and he should look for
some other prey and went away.
Thus, for “karya-artha –gaurave”-for performing an important duty, a

truce has to be made even with an enemy. Just as both the snake and the mouse
entered into a truce and were able to escape, the demigods and the demons were
instructed to enter into a truce for the purpose of producing the nectar .
- Karthik (Age 10), Abudhabi.



The Story of a Sadhu and the Horse
When Sri Prahlada Maharaj pacified Lord Narasimhadev, he recited wonderful
instructive prayers. One of them is in SB 7.9.17:-
yasmät priyäpriya-viyoga-saàyoga-janma-
çokägninä sakala-yoniñu dahyamänaù
duùkhauñadhaà tad api duùkham atad-dhiyähaà
bhüman bhramämi vada me tava däsya-yogam
“O great one, O Supreme Lord, because of contamination with pleasing

and displeasing circumstances and because of separation from them, one is
placed in a most regrettable position, within heavenly or hellish planets, as
if burning in a fire of lamentation. Although there are many remedies by
which to get out of miserable life, any such remedies in the material world
are more miserable than the miseries themselves. Therefore I think that
the only remedy is to engage in Your service. Kindly instruct me in such
service.”
The punchline in this verse which makes us understand that there can be no
happiness in changing one's material conditions is “duhkhaushadam tad
api duhkham” - any remedy in the material world to get out of miserable
life are more miserable than the miseries themselves.
The following story illustrates this..

Once upon a time, a sadhu was climbing a mountain. Finding the climb
laborious , he thought how nice it would be if he could climb the mountain on
horseback. He therefore started singing, "Hey Rama ghodi dila de, hey Rama
ghodi dila de"("O Lord Rama please give me a horse"). And lo and behold!
While he was thus praying, a passerby came and seeing a sadhu struggling to
climb the mountain, he donated a horse to the sadhu. The sadhu was very happy
that the Lord had fulfilled his desire immediately. He promptly mounted the
horse and continued climbing up the mountain. After sometime, all of a sudden,
the horse stopped and, despite repeated proddings, would not budge even an
inch. When he got down to see what was wrong, he noticed that the horse was
actually a mare. She had been pregnant and had just given birth to a baby horse.
And due to her natural maternal affection for her offspring, she was not ready to
leave it. Perplexed, the sadhu wondered how to make the horse move. Suddenly
an idea struck him and he picked up the baby horse and started walking. Being
attached to her offspring, the mare quietly followed him. The sadhu was very
pleased with himself , "Just see how clever I am! I have tricked the horse into
walking." But after just a few steps he started panting due to the weight of the
foal. He then started thinking, "Hey! wait a minute! I wanted a horse to carry
me, but I have ended up carrying a horse! I was much better off earlier. At least
I did not have any burden to carry."
This is exactly the position we are in! We have increased all our facilities to
enjoy life, but at the end we find that these facilities have become sources of
trouble. We have all become slaves of these facilities. How wonderful is
Prahlad Maharaj that He is praying for dasya yogam to the Lord so that we can
be exalted slaves and servants of the dear Lord instead of being the slaves of all
these facilities which are all ‘duhkhaushadam tad api duhkham.’
Another interesting verse, Srimad Bhagavatam 4.29.33, throws light on this

same point from another angle.
yathä hi puruño bhäraà
çirasä gurum udvahan
taà skandhena sa ädhatte
tathä sarväù pratikriyäù
“A man may carry a burden on his head and when he feels it to be too
heavy, he sometimes gives relief to his head by putting the burden on his
shoulders.In this way he tries to relieve himself from the burden. However,
whatever process he devises to counteract the burden, does nothing more
than put the same burden from one place to another.”
Therefore, in this way we increase our facilities[burden] in order to enjoy

life but end up becoming the slaves of the facilities.
- Abhira Kanya devi dasi, Abu dhabi.

The Foolishness of Imitation Followers
Srimad Bhagavatam, Tenth canto chapter thirty three describes Lord Sri
Krishna's Rasa dance in the company of the gopis. When Maharaja Parikshit
heard the narration of Krishna's conjugal pastimes with the gopis, which
superficially resemble the activities of lusty, wanton persons, he expresses a
doubt to the great devotee Srila Sukadeva Goswami. Sukadeva Goswami
dispelled this doubt by stating that since Sri Krishna is the absolute enjoyer,
such pastimes as these can never be contaminated by any fault. Then he
proceeds to say in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.33.30:-
naitat samäcarej jätu

manasäpi hy anéçvaraù
vinaçyaty äcaran mauòhyäd
yathärudro ’bdhi-jaà viñam
“One who is not a great controller should never imitate the behaviour of
ruling personalities, even mentally. If out of foolishness an ordinary person
does imitate such behaviour,he will simply destroy himself, just as a person
who is not Rudra would destroy himself if he tried to drink an ocean of
poison.”
Srila Prabhupad writes in the purport that if we were to drink even a drop of
poison which Lord Siva drank, then we would die immediately. Just as we
should not imitate this pastime of Siva's, we should not imitate Lord
Krishna's activities with the Gopis. Should we try to imitate, then we will
suffer severely. The Lord is Atmaraama - fully self satisfied and all the
pastimes of the Lord have an inconceivable spiritual potency to attract the
polluted heart of conditioned souls.
To illustrate the foolishness of imitative followers, Srila Prabhupad used to tell

the story about a doctor and his apprentice.
There was a famous veterinarian who travelled to many farms and had good
success in curing the illnesses of animals. He also had an assistant who
accompanied him, but this apprentice had an envious and ambitious desire to
replace his master and to prematurely become a master veterinarian himself. On
one occasion, the veterinarian was called to a farm where there was a valuable
horse whose neck was greatly swollen. The vet. opened the mouth of the horse,
examined inside, and then asked the apprentice to hand him his work bag.
Taking out his hammer, the vet. proceeded to smash at the horse's neck. Very
soon after this unusual action, the horse's swelling subsided, and the farmer
thanked and paid the vet. for his work.
Almost immediately after this incident, the apprentice deserted the doctor and
decided to become a vet. himself. Word soon reached the master vet. that his
apprentice was running around presenting himself as a genuine vet. , but was
causing havoc wherever he went. The report was that the so-called vet. was
actually killing the animals whenever he attempted to treat them. Finally, the
master vet. caught up with his rascal apprentice and challenged him, "What do
you think you are doing? I hear that you are imitating my practice , but as a
result you are killing animals wherever you go."
"But I am only doing what I saw you do.", protested the apprentice. He
explained that wherever he went to see an ailing animal, he would smash on
that animal with a hammer, but unfortunately, he did not get good results.
"You fool! " said the vet. "What you saw was a very special case. That horse
had swallowed a water melon , so I had to break the watermelon by hitting him
from the outside. That was not a practice to be repeated in every case."
Finally all the farmers whose animals had died because of this foolish imitator,
gave him a good thrashing and that was his end.
- Vaijayanti mala devi dasi, Abudhabi.


The Significance of Vandanam
In the purport to the SB 1.8.36 from ‘Teachings of Queen Kunti’ Srila
Prabhupada says:
“Two plus two equals four” is science. If I believe that two plus two equals five
or three, does it become true? No.So there are laws of God and, and when there
is dharmasya glanih, deviation from these laws, we suffer. Just as we
might suffer by violating the laws of the state, as soon as we violate the laws of
God we are subjected to so many tribulations.
Now, how are we to get free from these tribulations? Krishna comes to free us
from them by giving us bhakti-yoga. Krishna recommends, ”Do this,” and if we
do it we shall get relief. Prahlada Maharaja mentions that this bhakti-yoga
consists of nine items in SB 7.5.23-24:-
çré-prahräda uväca
çravaëaà kértanaà viñëoù
smaraëaà päda-sevanam
arcanaà vandanaà däsyaà
sakhyam ätma-nivedanam
iti puàsärpitä viñëau
bhaktiç cen nava-lakñaëä
kriyeta bhagavaty addhä
tan manye ’dhétam uttamam
“Hearing and chanting about the transcendental holy name, form,

qualities, paraphernalia and pastimes of Lord Visnu, 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 Krishna through these nine
methods should be understood to be the most learned person, for he has
acquired complete knowledge.”
Here is a story that glorifies vandanam: There was a great devotee of the Lord
Panduranga, by the name Yoga Paramananda living on the banks of the
Chandra Bhaga river in the pilgrimage place of Pandripur. Every morning he
used to come to river banks and recite the 700 verses of the Bhagavad Gita and
at the end of each verse he used to say ‘Om Pandurangaya namah’ and
prostrate on sand. He did this everyday, without fail. One day there was a heavy
rain in the town. As it happened, a shawl merchant was passing by the town. As
he did not want to make his precious goods wet he went house by house
seeking shelter for the night. But no one was willing to give him a place to stay.
Finally he knocked at the doors of Yoga Paramananda’s hut. Yoga
Paramananda immediately let him. The hut was a sufficient cover for the rain
and the entire hut was damp except a small corner where he slept. Seeing the
merchant having some goods he allowed him keep it in that corner and slept on
the wet floor along with the merchant, not caring for his comfort.
This is the quality of a devotee. He cares for the well being of others but does
not worry his own. Early the next morning the merchant was about to leave the
place. He was very grateful to Yoga Paramananda and wanted to show his
gratitude towards him. He selected the most expensive and beautiful shawl and
presented it to Yoga Paramananda. He accepted it and the next morning as he
went to the river to recite the Bhagavad Gita he wore it around his waist. As he
was prostrated every time, he was so conscious of the shawl and kept adjusting
it so that it not get wet or soiled. Because of this he did not not concentrate on
the slokas and was so dejected on realizing this. He felt very guilty and wanted
to punish himself for this offence. So he tied himself to a plough and began
dragging it across the rice fields when a small boy stopped him and began to
untie the rope that bound Yoga Paramananda to the plough. Yoga Paramananda
said, “ Don’t do that, boy. Nobody has done this to me. I am punishing myself
for a serious offense I have committed .” And he told him the whole story.
The boy then revealed himself as Lord Panduranga Himself and told a
bewildered Yoga Paramananda, ”I will, by no cost allow you do this. You are
My devotee and so your body belongs to Me and I will not allow you to bring
any harm to it.” Yoga Paramananda fell at the Lord’s feet and begged for
forgiveness.
In the Bhagavad Gita 9.32 it is stated, kaunteya pratijanihi na me

bhakta pranasyati. “O, son of Kunti, declare it boldly that My
devotee never perishes.” This is quite evident here in this story.
- Radhika Ramakrishnan, Chennai


The Story of a Clerk and the Diamond Necklace
I would like to share this story told by gurudev on 24th Jan 1998 during a
Bhagavad gita class in Dwaraka Dham.
Once there was a king who had presented his daughter, with a beautiful
diamond necklace. The necklace was stolen and his people in the kingdom
searched everywhere but could not find it. Some said a bird may have stolen it.
The king then asked them all to search for it and put a reward for $50,000 for
anyone who found it.
One day a clerk was walking home along a river next to an industrial area. This
river was completely polluted and filthy. As he was walking, the clerk saw a
shimmering in the river and when he looked, he saw the diamond necklace. He
decided to try and catch it so that he could get the $50,000 reward. He put his
hand in the filthy, dirty river and grabbed at the necklace, but some how missed
it and didn't catch it. He took his hand out and looked again and the necklace
was still there. He tried again, this time he walked in the river and dirtied his
pants in the filthy river and put his whole arm in to fetch the necklace. But
strangely, he still missed the necklace! He came out and started walking away,
feeling depressed. When he looked at the river again, he saw the necklace, right
there. This time he was determined to get it, no matter what. He decided to
plunge into the river, although it was a disgusting thing to do as the river was
polluted, and his whole body would become fillthy. He plunged in, and
searched everywhere for the necklace and yet he failed. This time he was really
bewildered and came out feeling very depressed that he could not get the
necklace that would get him $50,000.
Just then a saint who was walking by, saw him, and asked him what was the
matter. The clerk didn't want to share the secret with the saint, thinking the saint
might take the necklace for himself, so he refused to tell the saint anything. But
the saint could see this man was troubled and being compassionate, again asked
the clerk to tell him the problem and promised that he would not tell anyone
about it. The clerk mustered some courage and decided to put some faith in the
saint. He told the saint about the necklace and how he tried so many times to
fetch it, but kept failing. The saint then told him that perhaps he should try
looking upwards, toward the branches of the tree, instead of looking down into
the filthy river. The clerk looked up and true enough, the necklace was dangling
on the branch of a tree. He had been trying to capture a mere reflection of the
real necklace all this time.
Moral of the Story: Material happiness is just like the filthy, polluted river;
because it is a mere reflection of the TRUE happiness in the spiritual world. We
can never achieve the happiness we are looking for no matter how hard we
endeavour in material life. Instead we should look upwards, toward Lord
`Krishna, who is the source of real happiness, and stop chasing after the
reflection of this happiness in the material world. This bhakti is the only thing
that can satisfy us completely.
- Gomathi Ganga devi dasi, Singapore.
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The Story of a Sandalwood Merchant
Once King Mahendra went on his rounds with his minister in disguise. On the
way they saw a man sitting and thinking deeply. Again next day they saw him
in the same posture. On seeing him again the King remarked,"I feel like
punishing this guy even though he has not done anything wrong".
The minister wisely replied, I shall find all about him first.
Later they came to know through the spies that he is a sandalwood merchant.
The minister then asked the King's permission to make some furniture and a car
for temple made in sandalwood. The king agreed and asked him to go ahead.
He appreciated the work.
Few days later, as they again went on rounds they found the same person. Now
the king remarked,"Do you recognize this person. I have no ill feelings for him
today."
Minister replied, "Yes, he is a sandalwood merchant. His business was very dull
that day, so his thoughts were also bad. He thought if you die, his sandalwood
would be purchased to burn your body. This affected you psychologically and
you naturally developed aversion towards him. Today we have given good
business to him, he thanks you now and wishes you to live long."
The King then remarked, "If someone thinks ill of us we unknowingly develop
ill feeling towards him. Is it your explanation ?".
Minister replied,"Not only that, if we always think good of others, others too
will feel good towards us."
This message was told by H H Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj in Dwaraka in

very simple words:
"Always feel good about others and you will be happy. If you are nice to
others and do good to others you will never be in trouble. And if everything is
good, no scope for mind to deviate."
Suniti, Dhruva Maharaja’s mother is best example of morality. When Dhruva

Maharaj came to her crying after being insulted by his step-mother, she says in
SB 4.8.17:
dérghaà çvasanté våjinasya päram

apaçyaté bälakam äha bälä
mämaìgalaà täta pareñu maàsthä
bhuìkte jano yat para-duùkhadas tat
“She also was breathing very heavily, and she did not know the factual remedy
for the painful situation. Not finding any remedy, she said to her son: My dear
son, don’t wish for anything inauspicious for others. Anyone who inflicts
pains upon others suffers himself from that pain.”
- Abhira kanya devi dasi, Abu dhabi.

The Story of a King and His Four Wives
Once there lived a King and he had four wives. He loved the fourth wife the
most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies.
He gave her nothing but the best.
He also loved the third wife very much and was always showing her off to
neighboring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him
for another.
He also loved his second wife. She was his confidante and was always kind,
considerate and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem, he could
confide in her to help him get through the difficult times.
The King's first wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions
in maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not love the first wife
and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her.
One day, the King fell ill and he knew his time was short. He thought of his
luxurious life and pondered, "I now have four wives with me, but when I die,
I'll be all alone. Feeling deeply distressed, he asked his fourth wife, “I have
loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great
care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?”
“No way!” replied the fourth wife and she walked away without another word.
Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart.
The sad King then asked the third wife, “I have loved you all my life. Now that
I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?” “No!” replied the third
wife. “Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to remarry!” His heart sank
and turned cold.
He then asked the second wife, “I have always turned to you for help and
you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me
company?” “I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!”, replied the second wife.
“At the very most, I can only send you to your grave.” Her answer came like a
bolt of thunder and the King was devastated.
Then a voice called out: “I'll leave with you and follow you no matter where
you go.” The King looked up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny,
she suffered from malnutrition.
Greatly grieved, the King said, “I should have taken much better care of you
when I had the chance!”
In Truth, we all have four wives in our lives ...
Our fourth wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in
making it look good, it'll leave us when we die. Our third wife is our
possessions, status and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others. Our second
wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for
us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave. And our first wife is the
soul, often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the ego.
However, the soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go.
There is a very relevant instruction from the shastras:-
dhanani bhumau pashavo hi goshthe

nari grha-dvari sakha-smashane
dehoshcitaayaam dharmo go gaccati jiva ekah
The meaning of this verse is, “At the time of death, all the wealth a person
collects stays in the safe place where he was preserving it. The cows and
goats that he had remain in their dwelling places. His wife accompanies
him only upto the doorway. His friends and relatives come with him only
upto the funeral ground. His body accompanies him only upto the funeral
pire. Only thing that assist him beyond that is his dharma.”
The dharma that assist the jiva is his eternal occupational activity and it cannot
be changed. This dharma is aptly defined in the verse SB 1.2.6:-
sa vai puàsäà paro dharmo

yato bhaktir adhokñaje
ahaituky apratihatä
yayätmä suprasédati
“The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men
can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such
devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely
satisfy the self.”
Just like the first wife of that king, the only thing that will come with us after
we leave this body is the amount of devotional activity we have done during
this life time. That and only that alone can satisfy the self.
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Gatir-Krishna, Matir-Krishna, Ratir-Krishna, Patir-Krishna
gatir - kåñëa, matir - kåñëa, ratir - kåñëa and patir
- kåñëa
These are the only four things we need to know in devotional service -
In BG 9.18 Krishna says gatir bhartä prabhuù säkñé - I am the

goal, the sustainer, the master, the witness. As Maharaj always says we should
lovingly contemplate and try to understand what Krishna is saying. Just
meditating on the first word, gatih - where Krishna says, 'I am the goal' - is
enough to set us on the path to attaining this goal. Then it should naturally
follow that we be attentive to this goal.
Kunti Maharani very nicely prays for this attentiveness which is matih -
tvayi me ’nanya-viñayä matir madhu-pate ’sakåt. Srila
Prabhupada punches the importance of this particuar prayer by Kunti
Maharani in the first line of the purport :-
“Perfection of pure devotional service is attained when all attention is

diverted towards the transcendental loving service of the Lord.”
Kunti Maharani then further says ratim udvahatäd addhä

gaìgevaugham udanvati- “Let my attraction be constantly drawn unto
You as the Ganges forever flows to the sea without hindrance.” This
attraction for Krishna is ratih.
Devakinandana Prabhuji once rightly pointed out that very often we find the
devotional process to be dry and a real struggle. But there is no reason why it
should be so. The only reason we feel so is because either all other things but
Krishna is our goal (gatih), or we do not apply our attentiveness (matih) to
that goal and therefore it follows naturally that we do not have attraction
(ratih) for Krishna. Thus devotional path instead of being relishable is a
struggle and a painful process.
But if we make Krishna our goal, and be attentive to devotional service, which
is both the means and the end of achieving the goal, then we will find our
attraction is being constantly drawn towards Krishna. Devotional service then
is relishable and is no longer a struggle but performed ever joyfully su-
sukhaà kartum avyayam (BG 9.2).
We need only to know this and follow - that gatir - kåñëa, matir
- kåñëa and ratir kåñëa -then as Srila Prabhupda says that this will
assure 'Perfection of pure devotional service.' Because, if we perfect ourselves
in these three things, then automatically Krishna becomes the Lord (patih) for
us. This patih word is very nicely used by Sri Sukadeva goswami in his
prayer to the Lord in
Srimad Bhagavatam 2.4.20 :-
çriyaù patir yajïa-patiù prajä-patir

dhiyäà patir loka-patir dharä-patiù
patir gatiç cändhaka-våñëi-sätvatäà
prasédatäà me bhagavän satäà patiù
“May Lord Sri Krishna, who is the worshipable Lord of all devotees, the
protector and glory of all the kings like Andhaka and Vrsni of the Yadu
dynasty, the husband of all goddesses of fortune, the director of all
sacrifices and therefore the leader of all living entities, the controller of all
intelligence, the proprietor of all planets, spiritual and material, and the
supreme incarnation on the earth (the supreme all in all), be merciful upon
me.”


A Grain of Devotion Is Better Than Tons of Faithlessness
A nice punch from Srila Prabhupada's purport on SB-2.6.34:
“A grain of devotion is more valuable than tons of faithlessness.”
The secret of giving up the taste for material activities, is said in the purport of
SB 8.1.14: “The Supreme Personality of Godhead is actually the enjoyer, and
therefore if we begin our activities for His satisfaction, we will gradually lose
our taste for material activities.”
But what happens if despite all our attempts, still we are unable to renounce
sense enjoyment? The Supreme Lord says in SB 11.20.28:-
“Having awakened faith in the narrations of My glories, being disgusted

with all material activities, knowing that all sense gratification leads to
misery, but still being unable to renounce all sense enjoyment, My devotee
should remain happy and worship Me with great faith and conviction.
Even though he is sometimes engaged in sense enjoyment, My devotee
knows that all sense gratification leads to a miserable result, and he
sincerely repents such activities.”
So sincere repentance is critical to the seed of devotional service sprouting in

our hearts, for only then will Lord appear before the soul, as the unborn child in
the womb of the mother declares in SB 3.31.13:
“I, the pure soul, appearing now bound by my activities, am lying in the
womb of my mother by the arrangement of maya. I offer my respectful
obeisances unto Him who is also here with me but who is unaffected and
changeless. He is unlimited, but He is perceived in the repentant heart. To
Him I offer my respectful obeisances.”
At the end of the day, as our Gurudev says sincerity of the heart is the supreme
qualification for surrender to Krishna. Srila Prabhupada punches us again in
Gita purport for verse 3.31:
“In the beginning of Krishna consciousness, one may not fully discharge the
injunctions of the Lord, but because one is not resentful of this principle and
works sincerely without consideration of defeat and hopelessness, he will
surely be promoted to the stage of pure Krishna consciousness.”
We should never feel discouraged, nor discourage any living entity in his
honest, albeit imperfect pursuit of the Absolute Truth. Fan the fire of
enthusiasm as Gurudev says, “and Krishna will be pleased!”
- Devakinandan das, Singapore.


Those Who Give, They Get
I had promised one of my friends in Seattle US, that I will send him copies of
H H Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj's lectures. Somehow due to my laziness
and imperfect time management, I could not do that. Last sunday my friend
again called and insisted me to send the lectures soon. I told him that I won’t be
able to send immediately due to my hectic work schedule. Somehow, just after
the call, I questioned myself why am I postponing this service? I felt ashamed
for giving such a low priority for such an important service - a sincere devotee
is asking for the nectar of a pure and exalted Vaishnava (who is showering
mercy on me always) and I have such a low priority for this...!? Then on the
same day, I made a copy of a few casettes. I could not mail them on the
following day as I had to rush to work, but decided for sure that I will mail at
least the day after. Then when I went back home, I was pleasantly shocked to
see the long awaited MP3 lectures of Maharaj that my dear god-brother H G
Murlidhar prabhu sent me. What a shower of mercy !!! I just had to show little
sincereity in passing on the mercy to others and the Lord and spiritual master
are taking care of giving me more and more of it.
May be this is what it means when we say, "Those who give, will get". Another
interesting proverb that came to my mind was the one that our Maharaj always
quotes - "Kaal kare tho aaj kar aaj kare tho ab" - What has to be done
tomorrow, do it today and what has to be done today, do it now!!
Another interesting thing also happened. When I went to mail the casette today,
I met another person in the post office and was curious to see shika on his head.
I passed by and was waiting for my turn to mail and he came over. He saw my
tilak and kanti-mala and asked me if I was a Hare Krishna. I said ‘yes’ and
enquired about him. He said that he is a Sri Vaishnava, but likes Hare Krishna
devotees very much. He was saying that he has been trying to be in touch with
the devotees since he came to Minneapolis. I told him about the devotional
activities in our city and immediately he took my address and details to come
over to associate with us for the satsang.
It was so amazing and astounding to think how Krishna plays perfectly in the
background of every single tiny incident.
mayädhyakñeëa prakåtiù
süyate sa-caräcaram
hetunänena kaunteya
jagad viparivartate
“This material nature is working under My direction, O son of Kunti, and

it is producing all moving and unmoving beings. By its rule this
manifestation is created and annihilated again and again.” – BG 9.10.


Human Beings are More Passionate than the Animals
An interesting verse and purport is from the 3rd canto, 10th chapter of Srimad
Bhagavatam. In this chapter Maitreya Muni is explaining to Vidura, the
different beings created by Lord Brahma. He explains the different classes of
living entities like the trees (which are immovable), lower animals like goats,
buffalo (which have two hooves), horse, mule, ass (which has five nails), the
birds like heron, vulture, hawk etc. He then explains the human beings as the
ninth created species.
Srimad Bhagavatam 3.10.26 :-

arväk-srotas tu navamaù
kñattar eka-vidho nåëäm
rajo ’dhikäù karma-parä
duùkhe ca sukha-mäninaù
“The creation of the human beings, who are of one species only and who
stock their eatables in the belly, is the ninth in the rotation. In the human
race, the mode of passion is very prominent. Humans are always busy in
the midst of miserable life, but they think themselves happy in all
respects.”
Purport: The human being is more passionate than the animals, and thus the
sex life of the human being is more irregular. The animals have their due time
for sexual intercourse, but the human being has no regular time for such
activities. The human being is endowed with a higher, advanced stage of
consciousness for getting relief from the existence of material miseries, but due
to his ignorance he thinks that his higher consciousness is meant for advancing
in the material comforts of life. Thus his intelligence is misused in the animal
propensities—eating, sleeping, defending and mating—instead of spiritual
realization. By advancing in material comforts the human being puts himself
into a more miserable condition, but, illusioned by the material energy, he
always thinks himself happy, even while in the midst of misery. Such misery of
human life is distinct from the natural comfortable life enjoyed even by the
animals.
Personal Observation: In this purport, Srila Prabhupada very interestingly

says that human beings are more passionate than the animals. He quotes by
saying that the sex life is very irregular in human species, unlike in animal
kingdom. This indicates very much the practical situation in the current modern
world, where people hanker after sex all the time, that they don't care for
anything and have sex whenever and wherever they feel like. It is such a
shameful situation that we have to become complete slaves of our senses!
Since our activities are irregular, in Krishna Consciousness we practise the four
regulative principles to elevate our standard of living. Lord Sri Krishna very
nicely says to Arjuna in this regard in Bhagavat Gita 2.64:
räga-dveña-vimuktais tu
viñayän indriyaiç caran
ätma-vaçyair vidheyätmä
prasädam adhigacchati
“One who can control his senses by practicing the regulated principles of
freedom can obtain the complete mercy of the Lord and thus become free
from all attachment and aversion.”


Blaspheming a Vaishnava – The Greatest Offense
Blaspheming a Vaishnava is one of the greatest offense in devotional service.
All the austerity and penance we performed to elevate ourselves, becomes
completely null and void.
A very nice example is given in the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam - the duel
between Sri Ambarish Maharaj and Durvasa muni. Ambarish Maharaj was an
exalted devotee of Lord Vishnu and was also the King of the entire world.
Durvasa Muni, a mystic yogi visited Ambarish Maharaj once on a Dwadasi day.
At that time Ambarish Maharaj was doing fasting for Ekadasi and was about to
break the fast on Dwadasi. Since Durvasa Muni had come, he welcomed him
and invited him for a feast. Durvasa Muni wanted to refresh himself before the
feast and went to take bath. There he started meditating and Ambarish Maharaj
had to break his fast at the right time. He consulted his ministers and took water
so that it will account for breaking the fast and at the same time it won’t
displease Durvasa Muni. When Durvasa Muni came back he was enraged to
find that the King had broken his fast without feeding him, the guest. He cursed
Ambarish Maharaj and tried to kill him with his mystic powers. The Lord, on
seeing His noble devotee being harassed by Durvasa Muni, sent His Sudarshana
cakra to finish him. The Cakra chased Durvasa Muni who fled for his life all
over the three worlds. Not finding anybody to go for shelter, incuding Brahma
and Siva, he finally went to Vaikunta requesting Lord Vishnu to protect him.
The Lord said that unless he ask for forgiveness from Ambarish Maharaj, His
Sudarshana Cakra will not leave him. Durvasa Muni finally understood his
mistake of finding fault with a pure Vaishnava and surrendered to him.
Ambarish Maharaj, being an extremely compassionate devotee, prayed on
behalf of Durvasa Muni to the Sudarshana Cakra and finally relieved him of
danger.
We find examples of two different personalities here – one, that of Durvasa

Muni, who had great mystic powers to go all around the world, including
Vaikunta, but still could not find shelter anywhere due to his grave offense of
blaspheming a Vaishnava. The other is that of a simple-hearted Vaishnava,
Ambarish Maharaj who was only a Kshatriya King, was personally protected by
the Lord, due to his unalloyed devotion.
We should always remember Prabhupada's heavy statement on the actions of

the pure Vaishnavas in the purport of 9.4.68 – “Even the most learned or
experienced person cannot understand the movements of the Vaishnava, a
pure devotee. No one, therefore, should criticize a pure Vaishnava. A
Vaishnava knows his own business; whatever he does is precisely right because
he is always guided by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
Let us be like the long grass in the wind on a summer day - wherever the gentle
breeze blows, it just moves in that direction - it is fixed and attentive in its
matih at the same time, it never has a mind of its own - it does not care to
deliberate or speculate on why the wind must blow in this direction or that - no
mano-gatän. Before the spiritual master let us be the complete fool, as
Mahaprabhu so nicely taught us - then because our cups are empty and no ego
runneth over, the spiritual master can fill up our receptacle with his mercy - he
can give us Krishna even now.
- Devakinandan Das, Singapore.

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Krishna’s Magnanimity
“Any person who is very charitably disposed is called magnanimous.
When Krishna was reigning over Dvaraka, He was so magnanimous and
charitably disposed that there was no limit to His charity. In fact, so great was
His charity in Dvaraka that even the spiritual kingdom, with all of its opulence
of cintamani (touchstone), desire trees and surabhi cows, was surpassed. In the
spiritual kingdom of Lord Krishna, named Goloka Vrndavana, there are surabhi
cows which give unlimited quantities of milk. There are desire trees from which
anyone can take all kinds of fruits, as much as he may desire. The land is made
of touchstone, which when touched to iron will transform it into gold. In other
words, although in the spiritual kingdom, the abode of Krishna, everything is
wonderfully opulent, still when Krishna was in Dvaraka His charity exceeded
the opulences of Goloka Vrndavana. Wherever Krishna is present, the limitless
opulence of Goloka Vrndavana is automatically present.
It is also stated that while Lord Krishna was living in Dvaraka, He expanded
Himself into 16,108 forms, and each and every expansion resided in a palace
with a queen. Not only was Krishna happily living with His queens in those
palaces, but He was giving in charity from each palace an aggregate number of
13,054 cows completely decorated with nice clothing and ornaments. From
each of Krishna’s 16,108 palaces, these cows were being given in charity by
Krishna everyday. This means that 13,054 multiplied by 16,108 cows were
being given in charity by Krishna everyday (210,273,832). No one can
estimate the value of such a large number of cows given in charity, but that was
the system of Krishna’s daily affairs while He was reigning in Dvaraka.”
- Nectar of Devotion, “The Qualities of Krishna”.
I am sure that if we gather the cows in the whole of India today we cannot
collect 210 million cows (which is only sufficient for one day of charity) what
to speak of clothing them and putting on the ornaments in each of 210 million
cows? Let’s do a little math here: For one year Krishna was giving in charity
365 * 210 million cows = 76,650,000,000 cows, and our Lord Krishna was
residing in Dwaraka for over 100 years (He is known for not breaking the
religious principles). So 100 years = 36500 days * 210 million cows!! I leave it
to the reader to calculate this. All this is completely inconceivable to me.
At this moment, I cannot stop but asking my mind only one question...
My dear and most foolish mind do you think that by serving and fully
dedicating ourself to such a great Lord we will starve ? My dear mind, I have
just described you only one quality of our Lord. Do not forget that He has 63
more!
Many times we quickly overlook the magnanimous qualities and greatness of
our Lord Sri Krishna. Instead we should very carefully contemplate on each
quality our Lord reveals to us and proudly broadcast ourself as His servant
when so many foolish people are proud of serving their imaginative lords of
this material world. We must be even more proud and loud on broadcasting the
charitable characteristic of our great Lord Sri Krishna.

Srimad Bhagavatam – The Supreme Medicine
Just as breathing of fresh air is essential for the healthy upkeep of the body, the
intake of air carrying the sound vibrations of Srimad Bhagavatam verses is
essential for the healthy upkeep of the soul.
- Samanjas das, Singapore.

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Only a Devotee can get Guidance from the Lord
I came across this nice punch by Srila Prabhupada in purport of verse in Srimad
Bhagavatam 1.9.32 – Bhismadeva’s prayers:-
"Unless one is purified from all sorts of material desires, the Lord does not
become one's leader."
This is most of the time the reason why we are not progressing unflinchingly
towards pure devotional service. Srila Prabhupada describes all jivas from
Brahma to the ant as prisoners. Until such prisoners don't wake up and ask for
something better than changing their prison cell from cell C to cell B or A, the
Lord will not become our leader in getting us out of the prison house.
Continuing the purport…

“It is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gita by the Lord Himself that He gives His
instruction from within the heart of a pure devotee who is constantly engaged
in the service of the Lord. Such instruction is given not for any material
purpose but only for going back home, back to Godhead (Bg. 10.10). For the
ordinary man who wants to lord it over material nature, the Lord not only
sanctions and becomes a witness of activities, but He never gives the
nondevotee instructions for going back to Godhead.”
Many times I ask myself why Paramatma does not give me direct instructions,
and the answer is given very clearly in the above piece of purport.
1. I am far from being pure
2. I still want to lord over prison house and try to change my cell from A to B to
C.
That is the difference in dealings by the Lord with different living beings, both
the devotee and the nondevotee. He is the leader of all the living beings, just as
the king of the state rules both the prisoners and the free citizens. But His
dealings are different in terms of devotee and nondevotee (free citizens-nitya
siddhas, and prisoners-nitya baddha). Nondevotees never care to take
any instruction from the Lord, and therefore the Lord is silent in their case,
although He witnesses all their activities and awards them the necessary results,
good or bad. The devotees are above this material goodness and badness. They
are progressive on the path of transcendence, and therefore they have no desire
for anything material.

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Real Preaching
For real preaching to take place we have to somehow separate the personality
from the message. People like to glorify personality for two reasons. One,
because of what they are getting from the other person (love, adoration,
companionship whatever) and two, because they are happy just being the
wagon while building the other person to be an engine.
Thus very often they are most ready to glorify the preacher, forgetting that his
message is for them and the poor preacher thinks he is getting across to people
and one fine day wakes up to see nothing has changed.
There is of course one more form of glorification. This form is by molding our
lives (and encouraging others to mold their lives) according to the guidance of
the preceptor. In the first two forms we continue being the center of the
universe, while in the later we realise the guide's position as the center of our
existence.
- Purnendu Krishna das, Minneapolis.

Mitigation of Material Miseries
A nice purport by Srila Prabhupada from SB 1.2.3:-
“There is no point in arguing that a materialistic man can be happy. No

materialistic creature—be he the great Brahma or an insignificant ant—can be
happy. Everyone tries to make a permanent plan for happiness, but everyone is
baffled by the laws of material nature. Therefore the materialistic world is
called the darkest region of God’s creation. Yet the unhappy materialists can
get out of it simply by desiring to get out. Unfortunately they are so foolish
that they do not want to escape. Therefore they are compared to the camel who
relishes thorny twigs because he likes the taste of the twigs mixed with blood.
He does not realize that it is his own blood and that his tongue is being cut by
the thorns. Similarly, to the materialist his own blood is as sweet as honey,
and although he is always harassed by his own material creations, he does
not wish to escape.”
Why? Mostly because no other option is known to the general mass of people.
Bhagavatam 1.7.6 says:
anarthopaçamaà säkñäd bhakti-yogam adhokñaje

lokasyäjänato vidväàç cakre sätvata-saàhitäm
The material miseries of the living entity, which are superfluous, can be
directly mitigated by the linking process of devotional service-
anarthopaçamaà säkñädbhakti-yogam adhokñaje. And because
this is lokasyäjänato - unknown to the general mass, Srila Vyasadev
wrote Srimad Bhagavatam - vidväàçcakre sätvata-saàhitäm.
Srila Vyasadev presents a viable alternative in the form of Srimad Bhagavatam.

The verdict of Suta Goswami in SB 1.7.7 is :
yasyäà vai çrüyamäëäyäàkåñëe parama-püruñe

bhaktir utpadyate puàsaùçoka-moha-bhayäpahä
“Simply by giving aural reception to this Vedic literature (Srimad
Bhagavatam), the feeling for loving devotional service to Lord Krishna, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, sprouts up at once to extinguish the fire of
lamentation, illusion and fearfulness.”
Submissiveness to the aural reception of Bhagavatam is key to mitgate the

problems faced by materialists. However, this eradication of problems is just a
by-product of the Bhagavatam process. The actual substance is attainment of
devotional service to the Lord. It is self-satisfying and it makes the living entity
transcend the effects of material world even when living in it.


Krishna Knows What is Best for Us
Prthu Maharaj submits this wonderful prayer to Lord Vishnu in SB 4.20.31:
tvan-mäyayäddhä jana éça khaëòito

yad anyad äçästa åtätmano ’budhaù
yathä cared bäla-hitaà pitä svayaà
tathä tvam evärhasi naù saméhitum
“My Lord, due to Your illusory energy, all living beings in this material
world have forgotten their real constitutional position, and out of
ignorance they are always desirous of material happiness in the form of
society, friendship and love. Therefore please do not ask me to take some
material benefits from You, but as a father not waiting for the son's demand,
does everything for the benefit of the son, please bestow upon me whatever
You think best for me.”
Krishna really knows what we all need - our inebrity is that sometimes our faith
in Him dips - and even when bad things happen to us, we do not realise that
Krishna's hand is there protecting us, minimising the effects of this material
world. Prabhupada says in his purports that just we go take the shelter of a
shady tree in the hot sun, and automatically without asking the tree, we obtain
its shelter, so too, if we just render loving unalloyed devotional service to
Krishna, we will always be under His shelter, even without asking -because
Krishna knows what is best for us.

Perfect Master and Perfect Disciple
When Sanatana Gosvami went to meet Mahaprabhu and Haridasa Thakur in
Jagannath Puri, he had made a long and austere travel from Mathura. Because
of bathing in bad water and not getting enough food every day through
Jarikhanda forest, he developed a disease that made his body itch and produced
wet sores on his body. When Sanatana Gosvami met Mahaprabhu, he resolved
not to be touched by Him because of his dirty condition. But Maharaprabhu
embraced very tightly and proceeded to have nice conversation with him.
Sanatana Goswami due to his meek and humble nature, felt himself to be a
disturbance to the Lord. But the Lord made him understand His actual mood.
Mahaprabhu said very nicely in the course of his conversation in Antya lila
4.46-47:
sei bhakta dhanya, ye nä chäòe prabhura caraëa
sei prabhu dhanya, ye nä chäòe nija-jana
durdaive sevaka yadi yäya anya sthäne
sei öhäkura dhanya täre cule dhari’ äne
“Glorious is that devotee who does not give up the shelter of his Lord, and
glorious is that Lord who does not abandon His servant. If by chance a
servant falls down and goes somewhere else, glorious is that master who
captures him and brings him back by the hair.”
This verse is very deep because, besides giving us a glimspe into the sweet
loving transcendental exchange between the Lord and His devotee, more
importantly it reveals to us, the causeless mercy of the spiritual master. Maharaj
took sannyasa not for himself, for he was already an exalted devotee of Krishna
and never gave up His shelter, rather he took sannyasa to save fallen entities
like me, who tried for years to elude his mercy many times, but at each turn of
my life, he grabbed me by my hair and pulled me back to Krishna
consciousness.
Many times we subtly avoid the spiritual master and his instructions, content to
have a show-bottle relationship at an arm's length, but we do not realise that we
are subtly drifting - the spiritual master is so kind that he captures such an
errant disciple. Despite all the sores of material lust and desires on our bodies,
the spiritual master still embraces us to encourage our devotional service .
- Devakinandan das, Singapore.

Solution to Our Material Suffering
Despite being the novice in spiritual life, we still fall into the trap of our
everyday’s material dealings, and that is why our devotional life is sometimes
frustrated.
Gurudev refers to the solution found in Srimad Bhagavatam's two wonderful

verses 3.7.11 and 3.7.12:
yathä jale candramasaù
kampädis tat-kåto guëaù
dåçyate ’sann api drañöur
ätmano ’nätmano guëaù
“As the moon reflected on water appears to the seer to tremble due to
being associated with the quality of water, so the self associated with
matter appears to be qualified as matter.”
This verse is so wonderful because it gives all dull headed living entities the
supreme chance to grasp the mistake we make everyday in qualifying our life as
matter, and not spirit.
But still the fact remains that theoritically it is easier to understand but
practically, it requires supreme endeavour and effort. The solution is brilliantly
said in the next verse.
sa vai nivåtti-dharmeëa
väsudevänukampayä
bhagavad-bhakti-yogena
tirodhatte çanair iha
“But that misconception of self-identity can be diminished gradually by the

mercy of the Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva, through the process of
devotional service to the Lord in the mode of detachment.”
So finally, everything depends on the Lord's causeless mercy. No artificial

endeavour is needed, because the secret to His mercy lies in us sincerely
practicing devotional service without attachment to any by-products
whatsoever, just devotion - feelingly addressing and working for Krishna with
intense prayers.


Transcendental Gossip
I was listening to a lecture of Maharaj today morning and came across an
astounding statement – “As soon as two people meet each other. They talk
about a third person. And when one of those two meet the third person, they
talk about the other one!” This may be a very normal statement from an
outward look, but pondering on this point a little more, I felt how true it is, we
always have this gossiping nature. If we don't find anybody to gossip, we gossip
to our minds. How do we control it ? The immediate answer that struck me was,
‘dove-tail it’. yukta-vairägya. Instead of talking about a mundane person,
why not talk about devotees and the Lord ? We may not be able to curtail the
talking propensity, but we can certainly change the subject matter. The power
of listening to Krishna-katha is very aptly mentioned in SB 10.31.9:
tava kathämåtaà tapta-jévanaà

kavibhir éòitaà kalmañäpaham
çravaëa-maìgalaà çrémad ätataà
bhuvi gåëanti ye bhüri-dä janäù
“The nectar of Your words and the descriptions of Your activities, are the
life and soul of those suffering in this material world. These narrations,
transmitted by learned sages, eradicate one's sinful reactions and bestow
good fortune upon whoever hears them. These narrations are broadcast all
over the world and are filled with spiritual power. Certainly those who
spread the message of Godhead are most munificient.”
The same thing Bilvamangala Thakura sings in Krishna Karnamrtam:
grhe grhe gopa vadhu kadamba

sarve militva sama vapya yogam
punyani namani patanti nityam
govinda damodara madhaveti
“In house after house, groups of cowherd ladies gather on various

occasions, and together they always chant the transcendental names of
Krishna--'Govinda, Damodara, and Madhava'“.
So the gopis were also doing the same thing! Gossiping. But gossiping about
the Lord. "Do you know what Gopal did today!?", "See! Today, our naughty
Gopal stole the butter!" etc, etc. By reading Srimad Bhagavatam we can also do
the same transcendental gossip!


Govinda – The Enlivener of Cows
There is a wonderful sloka in Queen Kunti's prayers that H H Mahavishnu
Goswami Maharaj often quotes. It has a very simple lyric, glorifies the Supreme
Personality of Godhead very nicely and is very easy to remember, since most
part of the sloka contains different beautiful names of Lord Krishna.
kåñëäya väsudeväya
devaké-nandanäya ca
nanda-gopa-kumäräya
govindäya namo namaù
“Let me therefore offer my respectful obeisances unto the Lord, who has
become the son of Vasudeva, the pleasure of Devaki, the boy of Nanda and
the other cowherd men of Vrndavan, and the enlivener of the cows and the
senses.” - SB 1.8.21.
Srila Prabhupada states in the purport that Mother Kunti adores the incarnation
of Lord Krishna above all other incarnations, because He is more approachable
in that particular incarnation. There is nothing equal to Krishna lila (Krishna’s
childhood pastimes) exhibited at Vrajabhumi, which are the prototypes of His
eternal affairs in the original Krsnaloka described as the cintamani-dhama in the
Brahma samhita.
cintämaëi-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-våkña-
lakñävåteñu surabhir abhipälayantam
lakñmé-sahasra-çata-sambhrama-sevyamänaà
govindam ädi-puruñaà tam ahaà bhajämi
“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 laksmis or gopis.” -
Brahma Samhita Text 29.
Lord Govinda is inclined to the Brahmanas and the cows indicating that human
prosperity depends more on cow protection and Brahminical culture.
Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj mentioned in one of his lecture that COWBC
should always be protected.
COWBC stands for
C - Cows
O - Old people
W - Women
B - Brahmanas
C - Children.
Chakankya says in his Niti Shastra:
ätma-mätä guroù patné brähmaëé räja-patnikä

dhenur dhätré tathä påthvé saptaitä mätaraù småtäù
One’s own mother, the wife of the guru, the wife of a brahmana, the wife of
a king, the cow, the nurse, and the earth are known as the seven mothers of
a man.


We Can Know Krishna Only by Service
A nice pastime of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura:
The vice-chancellor of Benares University, a very famous man of his time,

named Madan Mohan Molaviya came to the Gaudiya Matha to ask Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati (Spiritual Master of Srila Prabhupada) some very
intricate questions. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta said, “I won't answer you. You
should ask the pujaris who are washing the arati paraphernalia.” The scholar
insisted I am asking very difficult questions on Vedanta. They won't be able to
answer.” However Sarasvati Thakur insisted that he go and ask those pujaris.
Being submissive to the will of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, he went to ask them.
They said, “well, we're busy now washing these plates, but please help us and
when we've finished then your questions will be solved.” Even though he was
such a famous, respectable man he agreed to join in and help do this humble
service. After all the brass was cleaned he returned to Sarasvati Thakur without
saying anything more to the pujaris. Sarasvati Thakur asked him, “Did you get
the answer to your questions?” Madan Mohan Molaviya replied, “Yes, even
without discussion. When I was helping to clean the arati paraphernalia the
answers automatically came in my mind.” Sarasvati Thakur then replied, “Yes.
The philosophy of Krishna consciousness can be understood by a service
attitude, not by any amount of intellectualism - sevonmukhe hi jihvadau.
Serving God will give us all the answers to the questions in the sastras. My
guru, Gaura Krishore das Babaji, was not literate, not a pandit, but all the slokas
and siddhanta came to his mouth, because he was sevonmukha - inclined to
serve Krishna.”
Indeed, service is the symptom of devotion. Service cannot be seperated from
devotion. There is no question of devotion without service. And there is no
question of knowing the conclusive truths of the scriptures without devotional
service.


Chanting is a Necessity
Today I was reading the second canto first chapter and there is a very powerful
statement from Srila Prabhupada in SB 2.1.11.
etan nirvidyamänänäm
icchatäm akuto-bhayam
yoginäà nåpa nirëétaà
harer nämänukértanam
“O King, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord after the ways of
the great authorities is the doubtless and fearless way of success for all,
including those who are free from all material desires, those who are
desirous of all material enjoyment, and also those who are self-satisfied by
dint of transcendental knowledge.”
Here is what Prabhupada says in his purport:
“..Hearing of the holy name gradually promotes one to the stage of hearing
about His form, His attributes, His pastimes and so on, and thus the necessity
of the chanting of His glories develops successively.”
When I read this statement, I stopped and looked at the word, 'necessity' again.
It was so punching for me. I have been doing my japa as a matter of 'duty' all
these days and not as a necessity for my spiritual life. Chanting is so necessary
for our spiritual life. It is just like 'water' and 'air' - the necessities of our
material life.
Another interesting thing in this statement is Srila Prabhupada says that the
chanting gradually promotes one to the stage of hearing about His form,
attributes etc.., but then he ends up saying, “...and thus the necessity of the
chanting of His glories develops successively”. As Prabhupada often says,
“Chanting results in more chanting.” This is the power of any spiritual activity.
We will start doing something and will finally end up doing the same thing over
and over again because the taste is unending.
Sri Harinam Sankirtan Yajna ki Jai!!! Hare Krishna Mahamantra ki Jai!!!


Dharma – That Which Sustains One’s Existence
Kalachakra Prabhuji so nicely put our spiritual lives into proper perspective by
pointing out the word “necessity”. In the purport of 1.2.6 - Prabhupada
comments on the famous verse
sa vai puàsäà paro dharmo

yato bhaktir adhokñaje
ahaituky apratihatä
yayätmä suprasédati
“The supreme occupation for all humanity is that by which men can attain
to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional
service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the
self.”
What struck me is Prabhupada defining dharma as “that which sustains one's

existence.” Factually speaking, even the materialist does not work as a matter
of duty even in this material world - he works because if he did not - he would
perish! Therefore that which sustains one's existence is so because of its sheer
necessity and not duty. As Kalachakra Prabhuji pointed out in his deep
realization, our real dharma of chanting is not a duty but that which sustains our
very existence not only in this material world, but more significantly in the
spiritual world! The basis of our entire sanity in this world is our devotional
service., i.e our chanting of the Lord's glories and activities and Names -
otherwise we will wilt.
But Prabhupada says so nicely that this does not mean that our material
activities are shirked. Rather in the same purport he defines dharma further by
stating that “A living being's sustenance of existence is to coordinate his
activities with his eternal relation with the Supreme Lord Krishna.”
Simply put, as Gurudev always says, “simply see the hand of Krishna in
everything we do and everyone we meet. Just increase the quality of our
devotional service while maintaining the status quo of our material
activities.”



Source of Income (vs) Source of Maintenance
Mrigari the hunter was very sinful in his behaviour of killing animals by
maiming them and making them die a slow death. But the powerful and
purifying association of a pure devotee like Narada Muni transformed him from
a killer to a devotee. When Narada Muni instructed him to please give up the
killing of animals, Mrigari felt repentant and asked Naradaji what he should do
first to change his sinful ways.
Naradaji said that he should first of all break his bow. Mrigari was shocked and
lamented that without his bow, how would he earn and maintain his family?
Naradaji told him “Do not worry, I shall supply you food every day.” Mrigari
had faith in his spiritual master and broke his bow and surrendered to him.
At this juncture, Prabhupada raises a very sublime point in Madhya Lila 24.257:
“The source of our income is not actually the source of our maintenance.
Every living being - from the great Brahma down to an insignificant ant - is
being maintained by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. eko bahünäà yo
vidadhäti kämän - The one supreme being, Krishna, maintains
everyone.
Our so-called source of income is our own choice only. If I wish to be a

hunter, it will appear that hunting is the source of my income. If I become a
brahmana,and completely depend on Krishna, I do not conduct a business, but
nonetheless my maintenance is supplied by Krishna. The hunter was disturbed
about breaking his bow because he was worried about his income. Narada
Muni assured the hunter because he knew that the hunter was not being
maintained by the bow but by Krishna. Being the agent of Krishna, Narada
Muni knew very well that the hunter would not suffer by breaking the bow.
There was no doubt that Krishna would supply him food.”
To end the episode, the news that the hunter had become a Vaishnava spread all
over the village. Indeed, all the villagers brought him alms and presented them
to the Vaishnava who was formerly a hunter. No bow was needed!



Way to Get Out of Fear and Anxiety
The people in the material world are always in the grip of fear and anxieties,
more so in the Kaliyuga. Lord Brahma while offering prayers to the Supreme
Lord Krishna for creative energy, recites the following verse in SB - 3.9.6.
tävad bhayaà draviëa-deha-suhån-nimittaà

çokaù spåhä paribhavo vipulaç ca lobhaù
tävan mamety asad-avagraha ärti-mülaà
yävan na te ’ìghrim abhayaà pravåëéta lokaù
“O My Lord, the people of the world are embarrassed by all material

anxieties - they are always afraid. They always try to protect wealth, body
and friends, they are filled with lamentation and unlawful desires and
paraphernalia and they avariciously base their undertakings on the
persihable conceptions of ‘My’ and ‘Mine’. As long as they do not take
shelter of your safe lotus feet they are full of such anxieties.”
This is also repeated by Prahalad Maharaj - 7.5.5 - His first instruction to his
father.
tat sädhu manye ’sura-varya dehinäà
sadä samudvigna-dhiyäm asad-grahät
hitvätma-pätaà gåham andha-küpaà
vanaà gato yad dharim äçrayeta
“Prahlad Maharaj replied: O best of the asuras, King of the demons as far
as I have learned from my spiritual master, any person who has accepted a
temporary body and temporary household life is certainly embarassed by
anxiety because of having fallen in a dark well where there is no water but
only suffering. One should give up this position and go to the forest. More
clearly one should go to Vrindavan, where only Krishna consciousness is
prevalent and should thus take shelter of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead.”
So the best solution for getting out of the fear is as follows:
Once we take the shelter of Krishna who is abhaya carana-aravinda

then what happens ? Brahma himself is answering to this question in the
10.14.58 :-
samäsrita ye padapallavamplavam
mahatpadam punyayaço murareù
bhavämbudhir vatsapadam param padam
padam padam yat vipadäm ne teçäm
“For those who have accepted the boat of the lotus feet of the Lord, who is
the shelter of the cosmic manifestations and is famous as Murari, the
enemy of the Mura Demon, the ocean of the material world is like the
water contained in a calf's hoof print. Their goal is param padam,
Vaikuntha the place where there are no material miseries, not the place
where there is danger at every stage.”
Also one more verse quoted by Suta Gosvami to the Sages of Naimisaranya in
SB1.7.7.
yasyäà vai çrüyamäëäyäà
kåñëe parama-püruñe
bhaktir utpadyate puàsaù
çoka-moha-bhayäpahä
“Simply by giving aural reception to this Vedic literature, the feeling of

devotional service to Lord Krishna , the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
sprouts up at once to extinguish the fire of lamentation,illusion and
fearfulness.”
- Sajjan Priya Krishna das & Vaijayanti Mala devi dasi, Abudhabi.


Srila Prabhupada’s Purports are Shastras
A couple of days back, I happened to speak with Maharaj and Maharaj gave a
nectarian verse SB 2.2.37. When we were in Singapore, Maharaj gave us some
tips on how to study Bhagavatam. One interesting thing Maharaj said was to
write the sanskrit equivalent for the important words in the translation. This will
help us concentrate on the important aspect of the verse. I tried to do that for
this verse and to my astonishment, all the sanskrit words got fit into the
translation! And when I read the purport, it was much more astounding because,
for each word in the verse, Prabhupada had given explanation in the purport.
The verse is so clear and nectarian. It is really amazing to see the authority of
Srila Prabhupada! He just lived these verses!
It is said that, “In Vrindavan every word is a music, every step is a dance”, and
so on. I think we can extend this boldly to say - “Every line of Srila
Prabhupada's purport is a verse in the scripture!!”
Srila Prabhupada ki Jai!!! Granthraj Srimad Bhagavatam ki Jai!!!

Here is the verse...
pibanti ye bhagavata ätmanaù satäà
kathämåtaà çravaëa-puöeñu sambhåtam
punanti te viñaya-vidüñitäçayaà
vrajanti tac-caraëa-saroruhäntikam
pibanti—who drink; ye—those; bhagavataù—of the

Personality of Godhead; ätmanaù—of the most dear;
satäm—of devotees; kathä-amåtam—the nectar of the
messages; çravaëa-puöeñu—within the earholes;
sambhåtam—fully filled; punanti—purify; te—their;
viñaya—material enjoyment; vidüñita-äçayam—polluted
aim of life; vrajanti—do go back; tat—the Lord’s;
caraëa—feet; saroruha-antikam—near the lotus.
“Those who drink (pibanti ye) through aural reception (çravaëa-

puöeñu), fully filled (sambhåtam) with the nectarean message of Lord
Krishna (kathämåtaà), the beloved of the devotees (ätmanaù satäà),
purify(punanti) the polluted aim of life (vidüñitäçayaà) known as
material enjoyment (viñaya) and thus go back to Godhead (vrajanti),
to the lotus feet of Him(tac-caraëa-aroruhäntikam)[the Personality
of Godhead (bhagavata)].”
Excerpts from Purport:
 The sufferings of human society are due to a polluted aim of life, namely
lording it over the material resources. – viñaya-vidüñitäçayaà
(Maharaj said this is one of the key point in the verse).
 The highest perfectional thinking for human society is suggested here by

Sukadeva Gosvami, namely, sufficiently hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam. –
kathämåtaà çravaëa-puöeñu sambhåtam.
 For a pure devotee of the Lord, any topics in relation with His name, fame,
quality, entourage, etc., are all pleasing, and because such topics have been
approved by great devotees like Narada, Hanuman, Nanda Maharaja and
other inhabitants of Vrndavana, certainly such messages are transcendental
and pleasing to the heart and soul. pibanti ye bhagavata
ätmanaù satäà.
 And by the constant hearing of the messages of the Bhagavad-gita, and

later of Srimad-Bhagavatam, one is assured herein by Srila Sukadeva
Gosvami that he will reach the Personality of Godhead and render Him
transcendental loving service in the spiritual planet of the name Goloka
Vrndavana, which resembles a huge lotus flower. – vrajanti tac-
caraëa-saroruhäntikam.
 Srila Prabhupada glorifies Bhagavatam in the following lines:-The highest
perfectional thinking for human society is suggested here by Sukadeva
Gosvami, namely, sufficiently hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam. For men in
this age of Kali, when they have lost the perfect vision of life, this Srimad-
Bhagavatam is the torchlight by which to see the real path.



Envy – A Great Impediment for Devotional Service
One of the greatest impediments to the progress of our devotional service is the
creeping in of envy in the hearts of the aspiring devotees.
H G Kalacakra prabhu very nicely said, “...But to be a guru one of the most
important qualifications is 'nirmatsara' - to be nonenvious! Only such a living
entity can become a guru! anyad atra vidanbanam - Everything else is
just a show!”
This nirmatsara quality is derived from the Supreme Lord Himself actually -
because He is equal to everyone, even though we think, “Why Krishna seems
to be favouring others but not me?!”
SB 7.1.9 answers our question thus:

jyotir-ädir iväbhäti
saìghätän na vivicyate
vidanty ätmänam ätma-sthaà
mathitvä kavayo ’ntataù
“The all-pervading Personality of Godhead exists within the heart of every

living being, and an expert thinker can perceive how He is present there to
a large or small extent. Just as one can understand the supply of fire in
wood, the water in a waterpot, or the sky within a pot, one can understand
whether a living entity is a demon or demigod by understanding that living
entity's devotional performances. A thoughtful man can understand how
much a person is favoured by the Supreme Lord by seeing his actions.”
In the purport, Srila Prabhupada states:

“A teacher instructs his students if the student is capable of taking more and
more instructions. Otherwise, inspite of being instructed by the teacher, the
student cannot make strides in his understanding. This has nothing to do with
partiality. When Krishna says teñäà satata-yuktänäà bhajatäà
préti-pürvakam dadämi buddhi-yogaà taà, this indicates that
Krishna is prepared to give bhakti yoga to everyone, but one must be capable
of receiving it. That
is the secret. Thus when a person exhibits wonderful devotional activities, a
thoughtful man understands that Krishna has been more favourable to this
devotee.”
This is not difficult to understand, but envious persons do not accept that
Krishna has bestowed His favour upon a particular devotee in accordance
with his advanced position. Such foolish persons become envious and try to
minimise an advanced devotee's position. That is not Vaishnavism. A
Vaishnava should appreciate the service rendered to the Lord by other
Vaishnavas. Therefore a Vaishnava is described in Srimad Bhagavatam as
nirmatsara. Vaishnavas are never envious of other Vaishnavas or of anyone
else, and therefore they are called nirmatsaräëäà satäà.
Gurudev says, “Before we criticise a devotee or anyone about anything and in

that process attempt to throw him into a hole, we have to dig that hole
ourselves. When we dig that hole to bury him with criticism, we do not realise
that we are actually in that hole first before he got in!”




Krishna Gives Us What We Want
Dhruva Maharaj says in 4.9.9:
nünaà vimuñöa-matayas tava mäyayä te
ye tväà bhaväpyaya-vimokñaëam anya-hetoù
arcanti kalpaka-taruà kuëapopabhogyam
icchanti yat sparçajaà niraye ’pi nèëäm
“Persons who worship You simply for the sense gratification of this bag of
skin are certainly influenced by Your illusory energy. In spite of having
You, who are like a desire tree and are the cause of liberation from birth
and death, foolish persons, such as me desire benedictions from You for
sense gratification, which is available even for those who live in hellish
conditions.”
Everyone has Krishna as the Supersoul residing within him. And Krishna
supplies all necessities to everyone, even the atheist, demons etc - He gives
them oxygen, food , shelter and everything else that they desire. We as aspiring
devotees also have Krishna giving us all these necessities - so what is the
difference?
It is what we ask from Krishna that makes the difference as Dhruva Maharaj
so nicely pointed out.
Prabhupada gave this story of an old woman in the forest. Once she was
carrying a big bundle of dry wood and somehow or the other it fell down. It was
very heavy, so the old woman became very much disturbed – “Who will help
me to get this bundle on my head? Oh God! Why don't you help me?” And
God immediately came to her rescue. “What do you want?”. He asked.
“Kindly help me to get this bundle on my head!” replied the woman!!
“Just see”, Srila Prabhupada said, “God came to give her benediction and
she wanted to get Him to put the bundle again on her head!”
So we are doing the same thing. When we go to God, we ask Him kindly give
me the bundle on my head. My family wil be happy and I may have large
amount to enjoy.” “Please engage me in Your service” This is the prayer.
This is true value of having Krishna!



De-termination
In Minneapolis, we are blessed with the invaluable association of a nice senior

disciple of Srila Prabhupada - H G Janananda prabhu. He is so full of devotion,
love and realizations. He made an interesting analysis of the word
'determination'. Determination means de-termination, which means 'no
termination' or 'no break'. I just happened to read the first instruction in the
instruction of Srila Narada Muni to Yudisthir Maharaj in 7.15.22-26. The
translation is,”By making plans with determination, one should give up lusty
desires for sense gratification”.
If we look into ourselves, the lusty desires crops up only when our plans are
‘not made with determination’. In other words, our vratha is not strong. So long
as we stick to our planned chanting and reading, lusty desires for sense
gratification does not crop up. But as soon as our plans ‘terminate’, these
anarthas arise in our hearts. As Bhagavatam says, “nityaà bhägavata-
sevayä”, we should try to constantly engage in the service of the Lord.
How to constantly engage in the service of the Lord especially when engaged
in our daily occupational activities ? We will see that in the next posting.


Constant Engagement in Devotional Service
“How to constantly engage in the service of the Lord especially when engaged
in our daily occupational activities ? We will see that in the next posting.”
.... This is what I wrote in yesterday's mail. Today when I revisited this mail, I
felt, “what kind of a hypocrit am I !? On the one hand, I am struggling to think
of the Lord even once a day, and here I am dare to talk about constant
engagement in the service of the Lord”. At times, I think it is best to just repeat
what the acaryas say and leave the rest for Krishna to take care. This prevents
so much of useless mental concoction, development of pride, so on and so forth.
Hence I decided to quote what H G Janananda prabhu narrated from Srila
Prabhupada's pastime.
H G Yamuna mathaji was personally trained by Srila Prabhupada in cooking

service in the early days of the movement. After a few years Prabhupada
enquired her why other devotees are not cooking. Yamuna mathaji answered
that anyway she knows to cook for Prabhupada and what is the need for others
also to cook. But Prabhupada insisted that she should train others nicely in the
service of cooking. When questioned, Prabhupada replied, “If you don't spread
your knowledge to others, you will develop envy and pride!” So H G Janananda
prabhu pointed out that Srila Prabhupada insisted on preaching not just for
other's benefit, but for our own personal growth and protection from anarthas
like envy, pride and so on. We will get the best of realizations when we go out
on sankirtan and share this transcendental treasure that Srila Prabhupada has
left behind for us! Once if we preach to somebody, Krishna will mercifully
supply us with nice realization, and if we see, both the cause (preaching) and
the effect (realization/bliss) reminds us of Krishna. And this will propel us to
preach more and it goes on and on. This results in constant engagement in the
service of the Lord. We should earnestly pray to the Lord to give us that
eagerness/enthusiasm to serve Him faithfully.



Unchanging Nature of Devotional Service
Srila Prabhupada used the idea of a mango to explain to us the unchanging
nature of devotional service in Srimad Bhagavatam 4.9.11:
bhaktià muhuù pravahatäà tvayi me prasaìgo

bhüyäd ananta mahatäm amaläçayänäm
yenäïjasolbaëam uru-vyasanaà bhaväbdhià
neñye bhavad-guëa-kathämåta-päna-mattaù
“Dhruva Maharaja continued: O unlimited Lord, kindly bless me so that I
may associate with great devotees who engage in Your transcendental
loving service constantly, as the waves of a river constantly flow. Such
transcendental devotees are completely situated in an uncontaminated
state of life. By the process of devotional service I shall surely be able to
cross the nescient ocean of material existence, which is filled with the waves
of blazing, firelike dangers. It will be very easy for me, for I am becoming
mad to hear about Your transcendental qualities and pastimes, which are
eternally existent.”
In the purport Srila Prabhupada writes:

“... devotional service in the association of devotees is the cause of the
development of further devotional service. By devotional service only is one
elevated to the transcendental planet Goloka Vrndavana, and there also these is
only devotional service, for the activities of the devotional service both in this
world and in the spiritual world are one and the same. Devotional service
does not change. The example of a mango can be given here. If one gets a
unripe mango, it is still a mango, and when it is ripe it remains the same mango,
but it has become more tasteful and relishable. Similarly there is devotional
service performed according to the direction of the spiritual master and the
injunctions and regulative principles of sastras, and there is devotional service
in the spiritual world, rendered directly in association with the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. But they are both the same. There is no change. The
difference is that one stage is unripe and the other is ripe and more
relishable. It is possible to mature in devotional service only in the association
of devotees.”
Srila Prabhupada is very clear here of the power of association - that it is the
sole factor for increasing our devotional service. Prabhupada also clarifies that
devotional service is the means and the end - as it continues to be our activity
in the spiritual world. Though we live in a world where the only unchangeable
thing is change itself - Krishna has so nicely arranged devotional service for us
- because it is the only thing that will never change - for it has directly
descended from His spiritual nature and has nothing to do with the modes of
material nature. Even if we are in situations where we cannot get much
association of living entities as devotees, still, as Gurudev has always pointed
out, we can take the association of Srila Prabhupada in his purports of
Srimad Bhagavatam, and the glories of the pure devotees in the pages of
Bhagavatam - by constantly reading and absorbing we will attain that
association that Srila Prabhupada has described so nicely, and Krishna will
make arrangements for us to always remember Him!
- Devakinandana Das, Singapore.


Effects of Bhakti is Mysterious and Subtle
Gurudev tells that how bhakti actually works in our lives and purifies us is
mysterious and subtle - somehow or other we cannot perceive it but it works
on us.To this effect, Gurudev quotes 1.5.18 of Srimad Bhagavatam:
tasyaiva hetoù prayateta kovido

na labhyate yad bhramatäm upary adhaù
tal labhyate duùkhavad anyataù sukhaà
kälena sarvatra gabhéra-raàhasä
“Persons who are actually intelligent and philosphically inclined should

endeavor only for that purposeful end which is not obtainable even by
wandering from the topmost planet (Brahmaloka) down to the lowest
planet (Patala). As far as happiness derived from sense enjoyment is
concerned, it can be obtained automatically in course of time, just as in
course of time we obtain miseries even though we do not desire them.”
Gurudev stated that the last line of this verse, in the transliteration, is
significant because the words gabhéra-raàhasä mean ‘subtly’ and
‘progress’ - this is how bhakti devoid of sense enjoyment works on the living
entity - subtly and in time - kälena.
Prabhupada gave this nice story:

“There was a thief who heard the description of Krishna and how richly
decorated He was with all the different kinds of jewels when He goes to tend
His cows. So the thief thought that he should go after this boy and steal His
jewels. He went to Vrndavana, all the time meditating on one objective “I must
see the boy. I must see the boy.” When he saw Krishna, he began to sweetly
talk and flatter Him and asked baby Krishna for His jewels. Krishna acted like a
child, so He said, “No.My mother will scold Me!” So like this for the whole day
the thief tried to persuade Krishna. At the end of the day, Krishna suddenly
turned and told the thief, “Here! take the jewels now!” By then , the thief had
become purified somehow or other by Krishna and he became a devotee instead
of a thief!”
Prabhupada points out that the thief's qualification was his eagerness to see
Krishna. Then when He saw Him, he became purified.
That is the subtle way association with Krishna i.e devotional service penetrates
our lives! Elsewhere in CC Madhya lila 20:63, Prabhupada states that Krishna,
“...staying in the heart of everyone, works very gravely. No one can
understand how He is working, but as soon as the Lord understands the
sincere activity of a person in devotional service, He helps him in such a way
that the devotee cannot understand how things are happening. If the devotee
is determine to serve the Lord, the Lord is always prepared to help him....”
“...Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is telling Sanatana Gosvami how merciful the

Lord is. Sanatana Gosvami was a minister in service of Nawab Hussain
Shah. He was always mixing with people materially inclined, particularly
meat-eaters. Although he was in intimate touch with them, by Krishna's
mercy he came to find such association distasteful. Therefore he left them.
Krishna enlightened Sanatana Gosvami in such a way that he was able to
give up his exalted post as minister...."
This is the import of gabhéra-raàhasä - the subtle effects of bhakti on the

living entity - and the mercy of our spiritual master for revealing this to our
dull and materially inclined minds!



Need for Preaching Krishna Consciousness
If a person takes to Krishna consciousness based on his or her prior karma,then
what is the need to preach to them?
In response to the above question, the following answer was provided:

“One gets the seed of bhakti from another bhakta. When one meets a devotee
carrying bhakti in his/her heart, one is entitled to receive that seed of bhakti if
one responds favorably to that association, irrespective of what their previous
pious/impious credits are. So the conclusion is there is actually great need to
'preach' or distribute Krishna consciousness.”
Based on my personal experience and realizations, I strongly agree with the

above answer. I was in the Border's bookstore near my house in Minneapolis
(USA), and accidentally saw His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada's “Bhagavad-
Gita As It Is” on the shelf. I bought that paperback edition. For the first time, I
found the Absolute Truth explained by one of the purest devotees of the Lord.
That was two years ago. His Divine Grace's work planted the seed of bhakti in
my heart. My subsequent association with His Holiness Mahavishnu Goswami
Maharaja's humble disciples in Minneapolis (USA) provided the support I
needed to continue on the path of Krishna consciousness. His Grace Kalacakra
prabhu has played - and continues to play - the blessed role of patiently guiding
me every time I have doubts.
I am taking the liberty of quoting His Divine Grace's few words on

“preaching.” Your graces have read these words earlier, but I'm sure your
graces will cherish the warmth these blessed words will bring to hearts.
"The highest perfectional project of philanthropic activities is to engage
everyone in the act of PREACHING bhakti-yoga all over the world because
that alone can save the people from the control of maya, or the material
nature represented by kala, karma and guna."- SB 1.13.46 Purport.
"Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted to purify the whole atmosphere of

the polluted world by sending qualified PREACHERS all over the world...it is
quite fit and proper to take up the PREACHING of Srimad-Bhagavatam all
over the world without delay." - SB 1.18.18 Purport.
"...There are different climates and situations in different parts of the world,
and if one has to discharge his duties to PREACH the message of the Lord,
he must be expert in adjusting things in terms of the time and place..." -
Purport to Srimad-Bhagavatam. – SB 1.9.9 Purport.
My heartfelt thanks to your graces for preaching the Lord's blessed message.
- Suk Shah, Minneapolis.



Krishna Always Gives Us Long Term Benefits
Krishna's way of working into a “devotee's case” is beautiful. When Bali
Maharaj was arrested by Lord Vamanadev and deprived of all his possesions
his grandfather and great devotee, Prahlada Maharaj said to the Lord
tvayaiva dattaà padam aindram ürjitaà
håtaà tad evädya tathaiva çobhanam
manye mahän asya kåto hy anugraho
vibhraàçito yac chriya ätma-mohanät
“Prahlada Maharaja said: My Lord! it is Your Lordship who gave this

Bali the very great opulence of the post of heavenly king, and now, today, it
is You who have taken it all away. I think You have acted with equal beauty
in both ways. Because his exalted position as King of heaven was putting
him in the darkness of ignorance, You have done him a very merciful favor
by taking away all his opulence.” - SB 8.22.16.
In the purport Srila Prabhupada writes:

“Material opulence is sometimes dangerous because it diverts one’s attention to
false prestige by giving one the impression that he is the owner and master of
everything he surveys, although actually this is not the fact. To protect the
devotee from such a misunderstanding, the Lord, showing special mercy,
sometimes takes away his material possessions. Yasyäham anugåhëämi
hariñye tad-dhanaà çanaiù- (Srimad Bhagavatam 10.88.8)
The purport to SB 8.22.11 states:

“Bali Maharaja appreciated how the Lord had saved him from such a
bewildered life of ignorance. He therefore said that his intelligence had been
stunned. Stabdha-matir na budhyate. He could not understand how the
Supreme Personality of Godhead favors His devotees by forcibly stopping their
materialistic activities.”
The important point to note here is that although Bali Maharaj appreciated the
Lord's action he still could not comprehend it.
Srila Prabhupada himself tells his life story that he could never comprehend
taking sannyasa to preach Krishna Conciousnesss. But he goes to say ‘By
the grace of Krishna’ he was a failure in both his family and business life. So
sannyasa followed.
For the benefit of a sincere devotee Krishna mercifully removes all obstacles
on the path of devotional service mercilessly. And before the devotee comes
to know as to what has hit him, he finds himself fully surrended unto the
lotus feet of the Lord - from where päda-mülaà na muïcati - he never
relinquishes the lotus feet of Krishna again.



Honesty is Mandatory for our Spiritual Upliftment
Honesty is so important for our spiritual life. In one of the most important
verses in Srimad Bhagavatam 1.5.11:
tad-väg-visargo janatägha-viplavo
yasmin prati-çlokam abaddhavaty api
nämäny anantasya yaço ’ìkitäni yat
çåëvanti gäyanti gåëanti sädhavaù
Prabhupada uses this word both in the translation as well as purport.
Here is the last statement in the translation – “...Such transcendental literatures,
even though imperfectly composed, are heard, sung and accepted by purified
men who are thoroughly honest.”
And in the purport Prabhupada says, “We know that our honest attempt to
present this great literature conveying transcendental messages for reviving the
God consciousness of the people in general and respiritualizing the world
atmosphere is fraught with many difficulties. Our presenting this matter in
adequate language, especially a foreign language, will certainly fail, and there
will be so many literary discrepancies despite our honest attempt to present it
in the proper way. But we are sure that with all our faults in this connection the
seriousness of the subject matter will be taken into consideration, and the
leaders of society will still accept this due to its being an honest attempt to
glorify the Almighty God.”
Honesty needs a lot of introspection and the more time we spend in searching
within our own hearts for faults, the more chance we will get to rectify
ourselves. Worst come worst, even if we don't find any fault in ourselves, we
would have atleast not spent that valuable time in finding fault with others.


Offering Food to Krishna and Avoiding Meat-Eating
On my way to work today I was listening to one of Prabhupada's lecture in
Hindi. Prabhupada was emphasising the importance of being vegetarian. Earlier
he spoke strongly against meat eating and bluntly called those who indulged in
meating eating as persons bereft of intelligence. Prabhupada was extremely
critical of meat-eaters and made that very clear in no uncertain terms.
However Prabhupada also emphasised the need to offer food to Krishna before
eating it, as eating even vegetables without Lord's permission is sinful. And
offering prasadam to Krishna does not mean simply offering 'patram and
pushpam' at the altar while we sit down to eat puri, sabji and kheer ourselves.
One should first offer a full feast with tulsi patra included, before honouring the
'food turned prasadam'. Here Prabhupada gives an excellent analogy to explain
how 'food turned prasadam' benefits one spiritually. He says that when one eats
too much milk product like kheer and is unable to digest it then one develops
stomach pain and diarrhoea. Doctor then recommends yogurt as an effective
remedy and yogurt is just another milk product. Likewise, the food offered to
Krishna also acts as an effective cure to our material condition and simply by
eating prasadam one can make spiritual advancement.
Few important points come out of this extract of Prabhupada's lecture:
 Meat eating is a total "No No" under all circumtances.

 Eating vegetarian food without offering it to Krishna first is also sinful.
 Dont just offer few pieces of leaves and water at the altar. Offer a full feast
and everything (vegetarian) that you eat, with tulsi patra included, to Krishna
first.
 Eating 'food turned prasadam' is totally different from eating unoffered food.
Eating prasadam does actually help one make spiritual progress.
- Purnacandra Das, Sydney.


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Material Designation Has Nothing To Do With Devotion
The following verse occurs in the 1st canto 10th chapter entitled, “Departure of
Lord Krishna for Dwaraka”. The Lord leaves Hastinapura for Dwaraka after the
war and Sri Suta Goswami narrates that incident. He exclaims, how fortunate
are the Queens of Dwaraka who were formerly kidnapped by Bhaumasura and
held as captive, but were gloriously freed and accepted by the Lord as His
wives. SB 1.10.30:-
etäù paraà strétvam apästapeçalaà
nirasta-çaucaà bata sädhu kurvate
yäsäà gåhät puñkara-locanaù patir
na jätv apaity ähåtibhir hådi spåçan
“All these women auspiciously glorified their lives despite their being
without individuality and without purity. Their husband, the lotus-eyed
Personality of Godhead, never left them alone at home. He always pleased
their hearts by making valuable presentations.”
Purport: The devotees of the Lord are purified souls. As soon as the devotees
surrender unto the lotus feet of the Lord sincerely, the Lord accepts them, and
thus the devotees at once become free from all material contaminations. Such
devotees are above the three modes of material nature. There is no bodily
disqualification of a devotee, just as there is no qualitative difference between
the Ganges water and the filthy drain water when they are amalgamated.
Women, merchants and laborers are not very intelligent, and thus it is very
difficult for them to understand the science of God or to be engaged in the
devotional service of the Lord. They are more materialistic. By engagement in
the service of the Lord, the designative disqualifications are removed, and as
pure souls they become eligible to enter into the kingdom of God. The fallen
girls under the clutches of Bhaumasura sincerely prayed to Lord Sri Krishna for
their deliverance, and their sincerity of purpose made them at once pure by
virtue of devotion. The Lord therefore accepted them as His wives, and thus
their lives became glorified. Such auspicious glorification was still more
glorified when the Lord played with them as the most devoted husband.
Personal Observations:
1. Sincerity is one of most powerful virtue of true devotees. Many times we
pretend that we are advanced and we may even go covering up for many years
being in different ashrama and Lord also permits such show for a while, but
sooner or later like every show it also ends. There are many reasons why we
should be sincere. First, Vaishnava is supposed to be truthful. How can he lie
that he is so and so advanced ? Second and more important is that we forget
many times that Lord Krishna is the witness of all our activities from time
immemorial and as a father knows his child, Lord also knows us better than we
do, instead of lying to ourselves and to others also, better be sincere and pray to
the Lord to help us so that we can overcome all impediments which are
imposed upon us in different forms by material nature. Just see how nicely by
sincerity Lord Krishna’s wives have overcome these designative
disqualifications of being women.
2. Prabhupada’s usage of the word “designative disqualifications” is very
interesting. There is no designation for the soul, other than being the eternal
servant of the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna (jivera svarupa haya krsnera nitya
dasa). All the designations that we see in this world are pertaining to the body.
So whatever disqualifications pertain to the body, they will disappear once we
engage in the devotional service of the Lord. In this regard I am reminded of a
conversation of one devotee mathaji with Prabhupada. The mathaji asked, “Is it
true Prabhupada, that women are not intelligent” ? Prabhupada replied, “Yes.
As long as you think you are a woman!”. That’s what Prabhupada means in the
purport when he says, “There is no bodily disqualification of a devotee.”
3. Another point to note is Shastras always say, striyo vaiçyäs tathä
çüdräs (women, merchant and labourers are the less intelligent class) and
corroborates with another fact that, in Kali yuga there is only sudras (kalau
çüdra sambhava). Where is the question of man being better than woman
or vice-versa? So the designative disqualification applies to both man as well
as woman.
- Muralidhara das, Yugoslavia.

The Awakening Voice of A Pure Devotee Will Save Us
Srila Prabhupada always stresses in every one of his lectures on the spiritual
qualities to be acquired by us and emphasises that our life must change.
Maharaj also says so many times that the whole point of all the instructions in
the shastras is to improve our behaviour.
Srila Prabupada writes in the purport that these qualities cannot develop unless
one becomes a pure devotee of the Lord. The first step towards that is hearing
Krishna katha.
Prthu Maharaj asks only for this benediction from the Lord in SB 4.20.25:-
“My dear Lord, You are glorified by the selected verses uttered by great
personalities. Such glorification of Your lotus feet is just like saffron
particles. When the transcendental vibration from the mouth of the great
devotees carries the aroma of the saffron dust of your lotus feet, the
forgetful living entity gradually remembers his eternal relationship with
You. Devotees thus gradually come to the right conclusion about the value
of life. My dear Lord, I therefore do not need any other benediction but the
opportunity to hear from the mouth of Your pure devotee.”
Srila Prabhupada writes in his incomparable purport that the awakening voice
comes through the mouth of a pure devotee. A pure devotee always engages in
the service of the Lord, taking shelter of His lotus feet, and therefore he has a
direct connection with the saffron mercy-particles that are strewn over the lotus
feet of the Lord. Although when a pure devotee speaks,the articulation of his
voice may resemble the sound of this material sky, the voice is spiritually very
powerful because it touches the particles of saffron dust on the lotus feet of the
Lord. As soon as a sleeping living entity hears the powerful voice emanating
from the mouth of a pure devotee, he immediately remembers his eternal
relationship with the Lord, although up until that moment he had forgotten
everything.
May this be our sincere prayer at the lotus feet of the Lord so that we may
develop all the good qualities so that the Lord is captivated by them. Our sata
koti dandavat pranams at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada, whose awakening
voice alone can do this wonder for all of us.

Who is a Mahatma?
The shastras say, “The word mahatma refers to those who are broad-minded.”
The opposite of broadminded is cripple-minded. Cripple minded persons
always engaged in satisfying their senses. One may argue saying that I never
intend to satisfy my senses. Sometimes expanding ones activities in order to do
good for others through some “ism” like nationalism, humanitarianism or
altruism are also extended sense gratification. This may all be very good from
the material point of view, but such activities have no spiritual value. The basis
of such activity is sense gratification, either personal or extended. Only when a
person gratifies the senses of the Supreme Lord, he can be called a mahatma or
broad-minded person. In the Bhagavat Gita 9.13:
mahätmänas tu mäà pärtha
daivéà prakåtim äçritäù
bhajanty ananya-manaso
jïätvä bhütädim avyayam
“O son of Prtha, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the
protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional
service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
original and inexhaustible.”
Srila Prabhupada explains in the purport that, “The mahatma does not divert
his attention to anything outside Krishna”.
- Purna-prajna das, Abu dhabi.


Royal Road To Peace
Krishna consciousness is essentially filled with activity and never non-activity.
It is very common for us to carry our material baggage of seeing everything in
this material world in terms of dualities -good, bad, victory, defeat. And being
human, we always want to be good and victorious. But when we lose anything,
we become very sad. Even while executing devotional service, we want to
"win" i.e see an expected positive result always.
Lord Indra, when he fought Vrtrasura, also wanted victory very badly. Indeed,
Indra believed that he would achieve victory as he had the powerful thunderbolt
weapon at his disposal. However, in the fight with Vrtrasura, it is explained in
the 6th Canto of Bhagavatam that Indra at one point found himself without his
powerful weapon, which dropped out of his hands.
So Indra became morose. Vrtrasura, the enemy, however advised Indra as

follows in Srimad Bhagavatam 6.12.7:
“O Indra, no one is guaranteed of being always victorious but the original

enjoyer, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavan. He is the cause of
creation, maintenance and dissolution, and He knows everything. Being
dependent and being obliged to accept material bodies, belligerent
subordinates are sometimes victorious and sometimes defeated.”
What does this mean to us as aspiring devotees who are always facing such a
battle every day of our lives?
Prabhupada instructs us in the last paragraph of his purport:
“Vrtrasura encouraged Indra, saying, 'Don't be morose because of my victory.

There is no need to stop fighting. Instead, you should go on with your duty.
When Krishna desires, you will certainly be victorious.' This verse is instructive
for sincere workers in Krishna consciousness movement. We should not be
jubilant in victory or morose in defeat. We should make a sincere effort to
implement the will of Krishna, or Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and we should not
be concerned with victory and defeat. Our duty is to work sincerely, so that
our activities may be recognised by Krishna.”
This is the royal road to peace and equipoise in our lives!


The Real Barometer of Our Devotion
The real barometer for the measurement of success of a devotee is that he
“remains unaffected by whatever good or evil he may obtain, neither praising
it or despising it" (BG 2.57).
On board Jaladuta going to America, Srila Prabhupada submits a prayer unto

the lotus feet of Krishna -
“In spite of my shortcomings, O' Lord, You have somehow or other brought
me here to speak about You. Now it is up to You, my Lord, to do with me
as You like.”
When Srila Prabhupada was successful in preaching the glories of Lord Krishna
- he still remained aloof from the success and any prestige that came with
success. He writes in the purport to Bhag 7.14.41:
“Although a brahmana or Vaisnava is worshiped as being as good as the

Supreme Personality of Godhead, such a devotee always remains a faithful
servant of the Lord and never tries to enjoy the prestige that might accrue to
him from being the Supreme Lord’s representative.”
What about when things are not going our way ?
When Vrtrasura is fighting in the battle with Indra, he very well knows that
Lord Visnu had taken Indra's side and therefore his death is eminent. Indra was
infatuated with the desire to kill Vrtrasura so that he enjoy the opulence of the
heavenly planets without any disturbance. Vrtrasura however was not at all
interested in such enjoyment. And therefore he accepted even the so called
defeat ordained for him by his beloved Lord by fighting courageously and
dying a glorious death in the battlefield.
Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport:

“Indra wanted to gain victory over Vrtrasura and thereby become happy, but
that would not at all be happiness. By killing Vrtrasura, Indra would not
actually gain; he would remain in the material world for repeated birth and
death. Vrtrasura, however, would go to the spiritual world. Therefore victory
was destined for Vrtrasura, not for Indra.”
Such is the formula for real victory - with a transcendental vision we must
penetrate the material calculations of success and defeat. This is possible when
one is always fixed in Krishna Consciousness.
We pray that the Lord and His unalloyed devotees bestow their mercy upon us
and always guide us personally - may we all realise that we are very
insignificant tiny part and parcel of Krishna and are entirely dependent on
Krishna's mercy for His disposition. May we all in all circumstances remain
His servant, steady in rendering loving service unto Him always and without
any exception.


Rough Seas Make Efficient Sailors
Here is an interesting verse from SB 1.6.21 that caught my attention. Narada

Muni speaks to Vyasadev about his previous life.
hantäsmiï janmani bhavän

mä mäà drañöum ihärhati
avipakva-kañäyäëäà
durdarço ’haà kuyoginäm
“O Narada [the Lord spoke], I regret that during this lifetime you will not
be able to see Me anymore. Those who are incomplete in service and who
are not completely free from all material taints can hardly see Me.”
The interesting word here is 'avipakva' which Prabhupada translates as

'immature' in the word-word equivalents. The etymology of the word is
interesting. The word 'pakva' means 'mature'. Literally speaking, we use the
word 'pakva' in a slightly modified way in the colloquial Hindi and other Indian
languages as 'pakhana' (like khana-pakhana meaning 'cooking food'). Generally
cooking process like baking, frying or boiling involves heating. When a
vegetable, say potato, is fresh, it is not edible. But when it is cooked nicely, it
becomes palatable. The idea behind this word being used in two closely related
meanings is that, unless one (whether it is a vegetable or living entity) goes
through the painful process of heating (in case of living entities, it is the
burning pains in his life), he does not become mature. That's why generally
maturity builds with age and experience. This gives all the more reasons to
respect and listen to the elders' words of wisdom, because those words come as
a result of personal experiences and realizations from those experience. In
devotional service also, we go thru the same process. So maturity is very
important for devotional service. That happens over time, by going thru severe
painful experiences in this world, patiently tolerating them, by getting hit in all
corners and then finally surrendering unto the Lord saying ‘väsudevaù
sarvam iti’. Krishna says that 'such a great soul is very rare'. How
fortunate are we to take to such a powerful process ?!



Krishna and the Spiritual Master
The following is from the purport by Srila Prabhupad for SB 8.3.2:
The material body certainly consists only of material elements, but when one
awakens to Krishna conscious understanding, the body is no longer material but
becomes spiritual. The material body entangles us in sense enjoyment, whereas
the spiritual body engages us in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.
Therefore, a devotee who engages in the service of the Supreme Lord and who
constantly think of Him should never be considered to have a material body. It
is therefore enjoined, gurusu nara matih : one should stop thinking of
the spiritual master as an ordinary human being with a material body. arcaye
visnau sila dhih: everyone knows that the Deity in the temple is made
of stone, but to think that the Deity is merely a stone is an offense. Similarly, to
think that the body of the spiritual master consists of material ingredients is
offensive. Atheists think that the devotees foolishly worship a stone statue as
God and an ordinary man as the Guru. The fact is, however, that by the grace of
Krishna's omnipotence, the so called stone statue of the Deity is directly the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the body of the spiritual master is
directly spiritual.
A pure devotee who is engaged in unalloyed devotional service should be
understood to be situated on the transcendental platform as quoted in Bhagavad
Gita 14.26 :-
mäà ca yo ’vyabhicäreëa bhakti-yogena sevate
sa guëän samatétyaitän brahma-bhüyäya kalpate
“One who engages in full devotional service, who does not fall down in any
circumstance, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus
comes to the level of Brahman.”
Thus Srila Prabhupada has clearly stated the supreme position of a guru. This is
the reason that in the Sri Guru ashtaka, we sing during mangala aarati, it is said,
yasya prasadad bhagavad prasado yasyaprsadan na

gatih kutopi
By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Krishna.
Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement.
- Sajjan priya Krishna das, Abu dhabi.


Art of Living
Seeing certain physical and habitual changes in me recently (particularly after
initiation) some of my friends asked, "Have you joined “Art of living” class or
some sort of yoga class?" I said ‘yes’ and closed the topic. Interestingly I was
listening to H D G Srila Prabupada's explanation of the art of living in his
lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam 7.9.8 on Feb 28, 1977 at Mayapura.
brahmädayaù sura-gaëä munayo ’tha siddhäù
sattvaikatäna-gatayo vacasäà pravähaiù
närädhituà puru-guëair adhunäpi pipruù
kià toñöum arhati sa me harir ugra-jäteù
Srila Prabhupada explains:-

"So ugra-jäteù means demonic family, passionate. Ugra. There are three
qualities within this material world. Therefore it is said guna-mayi. Daivi hy
esa guna-mayi. Guna-mayi means three gunas, three modes of material
nature: sattva-guna, rajo-guna and tamo-guna. So our mind is jumping.
Everyone knows the nature of the mind, sometimes accepting one thing, again
rejecting it, sankalpa-vikalpa. This is the quality of the mind or nature of
the mind.
Sometimes the mind is jumping over sattva-guna, sometimes on the rajo-guna,
and sometime on the tamo-guna. In this way we are getting different types of
mentality. In this way, at the time of death the mentality which is just at the
moment of leaving this body will carry me to a different body of sattva-guna,
rajo-guna, tamo-guna. This is the way of transmigration of the soul. Therefore
we have to train up the mind until we get another body. That is the art of living.
So if you train up your mind simply to think of Krishna then you are safe.
Otherwise there is chance of accidents. In Bhagavad Gita (8.6) we have ,
yaà yaà väpi smaran bhävaà

tyajaty ante kalevaram
taà tam evaiti kaunteya
sadä tad-bhäva-bhävitaù
“Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state
he will attain without fail.”



Importance of Devotional Service
I liked this point regarding the relationship between Bhagavad Gita and the
Srimad Bhagavatam. As we have learnt from Srila Prabhupada, “Bhagavad Gita
is the ABC of spiritual life and the Srimad Bhagavatam is the degree course.” A
devotee of Lord Krishna is he who believes sincerely that by becoming a
devotee of the Lord one becomes fully equipped with everything spiritual. This
teaching is imparted by the Lord Himself in the pages of the Bhagavad-Gita.
This unflinching faith in Lord Krishna prepares one to become a student of
Srimad-Bhagavatam, as quoted in SB verse 2.1.11 :
etan nirvidyamänänäm
icchatäm akuto-bhayam
yoginäà nåpa nirëétaà
harer nämänukértanam
“O King, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord after the ways of
the great authorities is the doubtless and fearless way of success for all,
including those who are free from all material desires, those who are
desirous of all material enjoyment, and also those who are self-satisfied by
dint of transcendental knowledge.”
Also in the following quote from Srimad Bhagavatam 2.2.3 Srila Prabhupada
explains in the purport "Every second of human life is important, an
enlightened man should be very careful to utilize time very cautiously. One
second of human life wasted in the vain research of planning for happiness
in the material world can never be replaced, even if one spends millions of
coins of gold." I pray to develop this strength of faith and conviction.
- Madana Gopal das, Vrindavan.



All Glories to Srila Prabhupada
As you all know, today is the disappearance day of Srila Prabhupada. There is
no practical difference between appearance day and disappearance day of the
acaryas, because both give us a chance to remember them more intensely with a
deeper sense of gratitude. Srila Prabhupada has done so much for all of us that
as Maharaj used to say, “His glorification is going on 24 hours continuously
all over the world”. Today, we may just stop for a moment to think, what do we
exactly mean when we say, "All glories to Srila Prabhupada!"? We say this so
many times (some of us have stopped doing this too) that it becomes
mechanical at some point. We even end up writing PAMHOs and AGTSPs to
save our time and energy! When I say "All glories to Srila Prabhupada", it will
make sense if I actually think so in my heart! As Maharaj said in one lecture
last year, "We all like to hear our own praises!". How true this is ? If we truly
introspect in our hearts, we will see that even in devotional service we do a lot
of activities with 'pratishta asha'(desire for fame). This is the last snare
of Maya! And from this emanates pride, envy, anger, attachment and all the
anarthas. Hence it is advisable to at least mentally offer all the glories to Srila
Prabhupada. Today we can go to any part of the world, look into the BTG
Magazine and dial a local number to get the association of devotees or visit a
temple! If not for Prabhupada can we ever imagine getting this comfort ? There
was a recent article in a magazine which said that in US alone there were over 5
million copies of Bhagavat Gita sold in the last few decades out of which more
than 50% are that of Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavat Gita As It Is! He has made
devotional service so easily available to everyone. We all can feel grateful for
every single thing His Divine Grace did for us and truly say, “All glories to
Srila Prabhupada!”. We will get a chance to feel so, if we try to put into
practice, His Divine Grace's transcendental instructions!
We sing, “yasya prasadad bhagavad prasado yasya

aprasadan na gati kuto ‘pi”- By pleasing the spiritual master the
Supreme Lord is pleased, whereas if we displease our spiritual master, our
spiritual life is doomed. By pleasing our Jagad Guru Srila Prabhupada, Lord
Krishna will be extremely pleased.


Damodara Month
The month of Damodara is very dear to Radharani. In this month (Oct-Nov)

whatever bhakti we do, will be multiplied thousands of times. Also this month
is very special because the Lord, in this month, showed through His pastimes
that Bhakti is greater than Him!! This He practically proved by letting Himself
'bound' by the devotion and love of mother Yasoda. This pastime is very
sweetly narrated by Srila Jiva Goswami in one of his commentaries.
Some Excerpts from H H Candramouli Maharaj’s discourse in Minneapolis:-
Little child Krishna was stealing butter from the neighbour houses and Yasoda
was getting frequent complaints on this issue. Mother Yasoda and Nanda
Maharaj wanted to put an end to it. They thought that if Krishna is fed the best
milk and butter in our home, then why should He go to other houses and steal?
Nanda Maharaj had 900,000 cows in his possession!! He selected the 1000 best
cows out of those and fed them extra rich grass. The milk that was given by
those cows were fed to the 100 best cows among them. And the milk that was
given by those 100 cows was then fed to the 10 best cows. Then the milk given
by them was given to 'the' best cow among those 10 cows. Finally the milk that
was given by that best cow was taken and Mother Yasoda was boiling the milk
to feed Krishna! Meanwhile little Krishna started crying out of hunger and
Yasoda matha felt that she should feed Him milk. Then she laid Him on her lap
and started feeding her breast milk.
In spiritual world, both living and non-living entities have consciousness. When
mother Yasoda was feeding Krishna, the milk that was boiling in the stove,
started thinking, "Oh, I would have had the greatest fortune of being drunk by
Lord Krishna! Now mother Yasoda is feeding Him. Now what is the use of my
life ? Let me commit suicide!". Thinking this way, the milk in the stove started
boiling and flowing out of the vessel to fall into the fire. Mother Yasoda saw
the milk boiling and felt that she should take care of the milk and hence put
Krishna down and went to the kitchen. Little Krishna became very angry at
being neglected by His mother. He wanted to do some mischief to grab the
attention of mother Yasoda! [How fortunate and exalted Mother Yasoda should
be ? Here we are trying in our puny little ways to grab the attention of the
Supreme Lord with our inattentive chanting, whereas in the spiritual world, the
Lord wants to have the attention of His devotees ?!!].
So the Lord went to the store room and found pots of butter hanging from the
top. He took a piece of stone and broke one of the pots. He then called the
'celebrated monkeys of Vrindavan' that are always eagerly waiting to get the
'butter mercy' from the butter thief. The Lord uses the grinding mortar to climb
up and take the butter from the pot and distribute it to the monkeys. Meanwhile
mother Yasoda was searching for Krishna and became very angry at the
mischief He created! She took a stick and approached Krishna to catch Him.
Seeing this, all the monkeys ran away. The Lord, seeing His mother with a
whipping stick, became fearful and started running fast. But mother Yasoda ran
faster than Him.
When she was chasing Krishna, the flowers she wore on her head started
thinking in astonishment," Who is this mother Yasoda ?! Our Lord is so
powerful! The wind blows out of fear of Him! Death personified is afraid of
Him! And she is fearlessly chasing Him ? We dont have the authority to stay on
her head. We should fall at her feet and pay our obeisances!". Thinking this
way, the flowers on mother Yasoda's head started falling down to the ground.
Then Yasoda caught Krishna and brought some ropes to bind Him to the
grinding mortar. To her astonishment the rope was two fingers too short. She
brought more and more ropes but each time the length of the rope was always
two fingers too short. Yasoda became very tired and almost gave up and then
the Lord felt sorry for her and allowed Himself to be bound! The 'two fingers
short' indicate that to bind the Lord ( or bring the Lord under control ) we need,
1. To put in our Endeavor and

2. The Mercy of the Lord.
Without these two our devotion is not complete.
The Lord's pastime as a child is so sweet that how much ever we hear it, we
never get tired! He is so merciful to display some of His unlimited pastimes to
us and capture our otherwise wavering minds!



Vedic Teaching Encompass All Religions
An amazing realization came to me, thru a religious group called Orthodox
Christian monks living in Decane Monastery 80 km from my home town (in
Yugoslavia). Their religion is majority in Russia and East Europe.
I will briefly describe their life-style. Both male and female can be monks -
pure brahmacari life - pure celibacy. If they want to marry, they cannot live in
monastery. There is no such thing as racism or meat eating - They do fasting
twice every week, avoid intoxication and gambling. Going out from the
monastery is restricted but for service. They live separated by large distance in
different isolated monasteries and they never mix intimately (hard to
believe!!!). They live the life that Srila Prabhupada had wished for us - “simple
living and high thinking” fully independent. They have land and cows, they
make beautiful hand made paintings icons, wood carving etc. One thing very
interesting to note is that they don’t have any collecting or preaching projects
outside of monastery. Only a few of them sometimes go in public and preach
but they have many visitors who give some donation, buy books etc. When I
told Mahavishnu Maharaj previously that such Christian people exist and that
this monastery was 700 years old and that how much tapasya- austerity they
follow, Maharaj was so impressed that he said, “Just see how Lord Krishna
instructed Brahma to do tapa and it is prevailing even in other religions”. All
of them must pass three years of testing period before accepting the monk
initiation. What is more interesting is that many of these monks are highly
educated people- doctors, engineers etc. Monastery has many rules like; visitor
woman can not move around alone. A candidate for becoming monk has to
have permission from his wife in writing (when couples are young and wife
depend financially on husband) if she approves her husband to become monk,
candidate should have finished army service prior etc., To make the long story
short, as I was talking to one of the monks I noticed that his face was shining
and that he was peaceful and happy even though they had constant physical
threats from the neighbouring nations and groups. Imagine yourself serving
Lord in such environment and still remaining peaceful and continuing with
daily service uninterruptedly. Even so I come from their enemy side Muslim
people, I was still accepted as there friend all this shows remnants of Vedic
culture, and guess who build this monasteries and who protected them during
this 700 years - saintly Kings!
I asked a question to the monk in a slightly provoking manner. I asked him,
“Father, how do you manage to control your senses?”. To impress him with my
knowledge, foolishly I made a Biblical comment, I said “Father it must be by
fasting and prayers that you have managed to keep pure celibacy!”. But to my
surprise, the monk who was by age younger than me, turned back at me and
with full compassion said something which even in my dreams I did not expect
– “No murli! it is not just fasting & prayers. For sure this helps a lot but the real
key to our success in spiritual life is only because we fully follow the
instructions of our spiritual master. I am in this monastery to follow His
instructions and not for any other reason”. Then he made another punching
remark, “If we want to know how much we progress in spiritual life Murli,
we should just look to what extent we follow our spiritual master's desire and
to what extent we follow our selfish desires”. In a deep shock, I thought to
myself, “Alas oh! Lord Krishna how sinful am I!, how fallen am I!, that You
had to speak to me through this person just to help me rectify myself, You have
given me a pure devotee to follow and what do I do 24 hours ? I am just
engaged in sleeping, eating, defending, thinking about women and trying to
collect money for sense enjoyment!”
- Muralidhara das, Yugoslavia.

Real Detachment is based on Scriptural Injunctions
Many people try to draw their family tree and do a nice sketch with big chains
going unto great, great, grandfathers. But I have never seen one who completes
this sketch. Lord in BG tells us how this can be done (BG 15-3/4)
na rüpam asyeha tathopalabhyate

nänto na cädir na ca sampratiñöhä
açvattham enaà su-virüòha-mülam
asaìga-çastreëa dåòhena chittvä
tataù padaà tat parimärgitavyaà

yasmin gatä na nivartanti bhüyaù
tam eva cädyaà puruñaà prapadye
yataù pravåttiù prasåtä puräëé
“The real form of this tree cannot be perceived in this world. No one can
understand here it ends, where it begins, or where its foundation is. But
with determination one must cut down this strongly rooted tree with the
weapon of detachment. Thereafter, one must seek that place from which,
having gone, one never returns, and there surrender to that Supreme
Personality of Godhead from whom everything began and from whom
everything has extended since time immemorial.”
In the purport Srila Prabhupada adds “If we keep tracing the origin we end up
with Brahma, who is generated by the Garbodakasayi Vishnu.” The
word “asanga” is very important in this connection because the attachment
for sense enjoyment and lording it over the material nature is very strong.
Therefore one must learn detachment by discussion of spiritual science based
on authoritative scriptures, and one must hear from persons who are actually in
knowledge. As a result of such discussion in the association of devotees, one
comes to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then the first thing one must do
is surrender to Him.
H H Bhakti Purushottama Maharaj who visited Avataridesh last week told a
nice story in this connection:-
Once there was a rich man who spent all his wealth on a prostitute. At last he
was left with nothing to give her. Somehow he found three roses which he
thought he would give her. On the way while crossing a river, one flower got
washed away. Unable to recover, he told within his mind, that is for Govinda.
When he died he was given a judgement of long stay in hell and a 10 minutes
stay in heaven. Not knowing what gave him that 10 minute heavenly abode, he
inquired the Yamdhutas. He was told that his uttering of the word Govinda one
time while crossing the river gave him that. He opted to take up the heaven stay
first and reached heaven. There he saw full of rose gardens. Immediately he
took a knife and started cutting all the roses saying “Govindaya svaha”.
The understanding is that one must learn detachment by discussion of spiritual

science based on authoritative scriptures, and one must hear from persons who
are actually in knowledge. As a result of such discussion in the association of
devotees, one comes to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then the first
thing one must do is surrender to Him.


Getting Stripped of Material Attachments
(The following is a mail sent to H G Radhajivan prabhuji by H H Mahanidhi
Swami stating the importance of Karthika month.).
This is the month to meditate on Srimad Bhagavatam, ch 22 and ch 12 of

Ananda Vrndavana Campu which describe the pastime of krishna stealing the
clothes of the unmarried gopis of Vrndavana, the vraja kumarikas. This story is
relevant to all of us because these gopis are the sages of Dandakaranya who fell
in love with Rama in Treta Yuga. By reading and reflecting on this pastime you
will increase your determination to attain Krishna's eternal loving service and
increase your power to perform austerities to please Radhe-Shyam. Pleae read
the verses deeply and you will see how first Krishna stole their minds (kåñëa
cetasah) then He captured their voices, mind and words. The gopis would
loudly chant (uccaih kåñëa nama) Krishna’s names as they ran down the
path to bathe in the Yamuna. Then Krishna stole their clothes. Taking their
clothes represents taking away all their material attachments.
Then He took their attachments on various dharmas. This lila perfectly

illustrates the philosophy of Gita told in ch. 18- sarva dharman
paritajya. Everyone must ultimately stand naked before the Lord,
completely stripped of all material attacments, mind, body and words totally
dedicated in love to Krishna. One SB verse in this lila says the gopis had
suddha bhava, pure love pure consciousness for krishna's service. May you and
me also some day attain suddha bhava and pure love for Radha-Shyama.
yours with affection

Mahanidhi Swami
Personal Observation: I found this interesting purport in SB 1.15.29 about

'getting stripped of all material attachments':-
“Material desires in the mind are the trash of material contamination. By such
contamination, the living being is faced with so many compatible and
incompatible things that discourage the very existence of spiritual identity.
Birth after birth the conditioned soul is entrapped with so many pleasing and
displeasing elements, which are all false and temporary. They accumulate due
to our reactions to material desires, but material desires in the mind are the trash
of material contamination. By such contamination, the living being is faced
with so many compatible and incompatible things that discourage the very
existence of spiritual identity. Birth after birth the conditioned soul is entrapped
with so many pleasing and displeasing elements, which are all false and
temporary. They accumulate due to our reactions to material desires, but when
we get in touch with the transcendental Lord in His variegated energies by
devotional service, the naked forms of all material desires become manifest,
and the intelligence of the living being is pacified in its true color. As soon as
Arjuna turned his attention towards the instructions of the Lord, as they are
inculcated in the Bhagavad-gita, his true color of eternal association with the
Lord became manifest, and thus he felt freed from all material contaminations,
and the intelligence of the living being is pacified in its true color. As soon as
Arjuna turned his attention towards the instructions of the Lord, as they are
inculcated in the Bhagavad-gita, his true color of eternal association with the
Lord became manifest, and thus he felt freed from all material contaminations.
After hearing the entire instructions of Bhagavat-gita, he declares to the Lord,
“My dear Krishna, O infallible one, my illusion is now gone. I have regained
my memory by Your mercy. I am now firm and free from doubt and am
prepared to act according to Your instructions”.”



Srimad Bhagavatam and Krishna Are the Sum Total of All Things
Whenever any one has had problems in life and approached Gurudev, Gurudev
has one very central advice - please bury your head in reading Srimad
Bhagavatam and do not look up. Dig into your heels and hear Srimad
Bhagavatam! Srila Prabhupada's purport in SB 1.2.5 bears testimony to this
point. This should never be taken for granted as it is essential for the salvation
of our souls.
munayaù sädhu påñöo ’haà
bhavadbhir loka-maìgalam
yat kåtaù kåñëa-sampraçno
yenätmä suprasédati
"Krishna is our most intimate master, friend, father or son and object of
conjugal love. Forgetting Krishna, we have created so many objects of
questions and answers, but none of them are able to give us complete
satisfaction. All things - but Krishna - give temporary satisfaction only, so if
we are to have complete satisfaction, we must take to the questions and answers
about Krishna. We cannot live for a moment without being questioned or
without giving answers. Because the Srimad Bhagavatam deals with questions
and answers that are related to Krishna, we can derive the highest satisfaction
only be reading and hearing about this transcendental literature. One should
learn the Srimad Bhagavatam and make an all-around solution to all
problems pertaining to social, political or religious matters. Srimad
Bhagavatam and Krishna are the sum total of all things.”



Unflinching Faith in Shastras is Essential for Bhakti
All of us are bitten by the serpent of doubts, no matter if we are an atheist or a
neophyte devotee. The only difference between the two is that atheists are
scared to clear their doubts as it will ultimately challenge their false ego,
whereas on the other hand, neophyte devotees though they have doubts, it is on
the positive side - toward Krishna consciousness,and if they take proper shelter
of of Sadhu and Shastra, then their doubts will ultimately be removed. Of
course, there is one problem with all of us (especially neophytes) - we, out of
our ego, start using our so called common sense, to clear our doubts without
obeying the instruction given by great acharyas. This happens because of our
self-confidence (which quite often transforms into over-confidence in a subtle
way) and with our very limited knowledge we start analysing the scripture on
our own whims neglecting the truth given by shastras. While doing this we just
forget our insignificant existence compared to the vast ocean of knowledge
given in the scripture. It is here that we start using our ‘so called’ common
sense, which is very dangerous as it leads to false interpretetion of the facts,
deviating us from the real truth. Srila Prabhupad has warned such over-
confident devotees, not to use their ‘so called’ common sense while reading the
scripture. We just have to to take it for granted that whatever is said in the
scripture is 100% true and we have no business to twist the truth. But if we read
the scripture with conviction and in a humble state of mind taking each word to
be factual then surely there will be no need to use our imperfect senses, for the
Lord being pleased by our devotion will automatically clear all our doubts.
Lord Krishna Himself says in B.G 10.11 :-
teñäm evänukampärtham
aham ajïäna-jaà tamaù
näçayämy ätma-bhäva-stho
jïäna-dépena bhäsvatä
“Out of compassion for them, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the
shining lamp of knowledge the darkness born of ignorance.”
Let me confess that I too have doubts and as others I too used my so called
imperfect common sense to convince myself (untill I read Srimad Bhagavatam
2nd canto first chapter) after that I took a vow that from now onwards I shall
not use my imperfect common sense while reading the scriptures and will stick
to whatever written in the scripture and in the purport so nicely explained by
Srila Prabhupad.
- Ramasare, Abu dhabi.


Mu-Ra-Li
In a recent Bhagavatam class, we studied the following verse taken from
Bhishmadev’s prayers. On the Battlefield of Kurukshetra, Bhishmadev, whilst
lying on a bed of arrows, has given a beautiful series of prayers to Lord
Krishna, which, apart from their unique devotional flavour, also give practical
instruction on everyday concerns.
vijaya-ratha-kuöumba ätta-totre
dhåta-haya-raçmini tac-chriyekñaëéye
bhagavati ratir astu me mumürñor
yam iha nirékñya hatä gatäù sva-rüpam
“At the moment of death, let my ultimate attraction be to Sri Krishna, the
Personality of Godhead. I concentrate my mind upon the chariot driver of
Arjuna who stood with a whip in His right hand and a bridle rope in His
left, who was very careful to give protection to Arjuna's chariot by all
means. Those who saw Him on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra attained their
original forms after death.” – SB 1.9.39.
This verse is relevant because it tells us three things, as outlined in Srila
Prabhupad’s purport:
1. Our current predicament, situation or location… whatever we would like to

call, we are all “mumursoh”(who are about to die). It is not only for
Bhishmadev, but all of us, have to die one day. From the moment we are
born, there is no question that we are moving inexorably towards death. The
only uncertainty is when. And in the BG (Ch 8.5-7) Lord Krishna
emphasises that the perfection of life is encapsulated by remembering him at
the time of death. This is only possible through a lifelong cultivation and
commitment to the process of devotional service.
2. The goal of life is, therefore, to rekindle our original, eternal constitutional
relationship (sva-rupam) with Lord Krishna. This is recorded in the
Chaitanya caritamrta [Madhya 20.108] “jivera svarupa haya –
kåñëera nitya dasa”: it is the living entity’s constitutional position to
be an eternal servant of Krishna.
3. How to get there:- “let my attraction (ratih) be towards Krishna”. All our
activities are made perfect when they are dovetailed around pleasing the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna “hari tosanam”. Indeed, the
sastras emphasise that there is no higher occupational duty for all of us than
this. Through devotional service, we can come to such an attraction of
Krishna.
So, in the end, we just have to remember “Mu-Ra-Li” to achieve life’s goals:
Mumumursoh: we are all “about to die”
Ratih: so if we let our attraction be towards Krishna, we can achieve.
Life’s goal: our original svarupam
- Tarun and Sarandha, Sydney.



Seeing the Hands of Krishna in Everything
In SB 11.7.37, the formula to living and existing daily in this wretched material
existence is given. This instruction also helps us to understand that it is not
sufficient that we say that Krishna is the source of everything and that He is all
in all for us. In good times, Krishna is wonderful. But the real test is how do we
weather the storm of harassment and difficulties caused to us by others?
bhütair äkramyamäëo ’pi

dhéro daiva-vaçänugaiù
tad vidvän na calen märgäd
anvaçikñaà kñiter vratam
“A sober person, even when harassed by other living beings, should

understand that his aggressors are acting helplessly under the control of God,
and thus he should never be distracted from progress on his own path. This
rule I have learnt from the earth.”
The import of this verse is that we must grow to realise, not just see, the hand
of Krishna in every situation in our life, good or bad. Gurudev very often says
that even when things go awry for us, that is also Krishna's plan, and we must
submit to it. Not to submit means to deviate and that brings only misery. To
submit means to find peace. So, Gurudev says, the next time someone irritates
you causes you difficulties brings about misunderstanding (all forms of
harassment), do not get angry witrh him/her! Because that poor soul is also
helplessly swaying under the modes of nature like puppets in the hands of the
puppet master, reaping their karmas. Rather, we should see Krishna in these
people, and appreciate the length and breadth that He is in the very fabric of
our lives. Otam and Protam - cross wise and length wise (see 6.3.12) , the
Lord pervades everything - so when we begin to see the world through this
kind of lens, as explained in the verse, then we become sober amidst all
harassment, become more compassionate to living entities who are causing us
difficulties and most critically - continue unabated without deviation our
devotional service.
What stops us really from performing devotional service to Krishna? Only

ourselves, not others, not conditions, definitely not! As Srila Prabhupada
said in his purport to 2.7.46 – “Surrendering oneself is in one's own hand. If
one likes, he can surrender immediately, without delay, and that begins his
spiritual life.”
So the next time you feel harassed, please please remember this verse and see
the hand of Krishna in it - dig in your heels even more and perform quality
devotional service!
-Devakinandana Das, Singapore.



Medicine for Immortalization
It is our practical experience that every living entity wants to live for ever, no
matter how much sufferings they may face. Is it possible though ? Our
maximum resources and efforts in modern days are spent to find out a cure for
old age, disease and death. Are we making progress in this direction or are we
hopeful that such cure will be available in the future ? How long are we going
to wait for that ? Are we going to survive long enough to avail such facility?
Well, the answer is “we don't know”. At least, it has not happened yet. It may
or may not happen in the future as well. The most important thing in this
regard is the term “we don't know” that clearly indicates a limit to our
knowledge and understanding about the future. However, we should not think
that there is no way of getting out from the clutches of the old age, disease and
death. We are wasting our time in search of new medicines for these problems
and ignoring that which is already available from the time immemorial. That
medicine is Srimad Bhagavatam. How Srimad Bhagavatam is “the only
medicine or cure” for our problems is nicely and clearly explained here (SB
1.16.8) -
na kaçcin mriyate tävad
yävad ästa ihäntakaù
etad-arthaà hi bhagavän
ähütaù paramarñibhiù
aho nå-loke péyeta
hari-lélämåtaà vacaù
“As long as Yamaraja, who causes everyone’s death, is present here, no
one shall meet with death. The great sages have invited the controller of
death, Yamaraja, who is the representative of the Lord. Living beings who
are under his grip should take advantage by hearing the deathless nectar
in the form of this narration of the transcendental pastimes of the Lord.”
His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, who discovered this hidden medicine,
distributed among us for our benefit. He confirms that the surest remedy to
avoid death is to accustom oneself to hearing the nectarean pasttimes of Lord
Sri Krishna as they are systematically narrated in the texts of Srimad-
Bhagavatam. The word “systematically” is very significant here. One should
take the medicine as it is advised by the expert physician otherwise the
consequences could be anything other than the cure of the problem. Thus,
every human being who desires freedom from death should take to this course
of life as recommended by Srila Prabhupada and the expert rsis (highly
qualified physicians) headed by Saunaka.
One of the expert physicians of the present time, His Divine Grace Srila
Mahavishnu Gowsami Maharaj, prescribed the same medicine to the fortunate
souls at the Srimad-Bhagavatam Saptah in Sydney, Australia in 2001. Maharaj
explained that by devotional service to Lord Sri Krishna, confidentially the
immortality is established. Then he added how to use the prescription for
attaining the immortality. He advised that one should become a sincere devotee
of the Lord, perform sincere devotional service unto Him with best of his/her
ability then one wouldn't have to come back to this material world. One may
remain in the eternal service of the Lord Sri Krishna and that is the immortality,
a perfect and only solution of one's freedom from repeated birth, death, disease
and old age. So, we got the perfect medicine and perfect prescriptions of how
to use it. Now, it is up to us whether to follow the directions of our expert
physician and get rid-off the material miseries or to go further from one
physician to another to try new prescriptions whose validity are even unproven.
- Sarvaishwarya Krishna Das, Gainesville.

A Punch from Ramayana

“Cursed be that happiness which leads to forgetfulness of Lord Sri Ram, and
blessed be that sorrow which leads to constant remembrance of Him !!”

Govinda
Govinda is the colour of raincloud blue,

A glowing beautiful darkish hue.
He plays beneath the kadamba tree
And loves the cows and calves you see.
The Music from His flute is sweet

And bangles jingles on His dancing feet
Swans are drinking the happy sound
Of the flute notes floating all around
Birds and butterflies laugh with joy,

When they look upon this cowherd boy!
His eyes are charming, His smile is sweet
Attracting to His lotus feet.
Govinda is a charming cowherd boy

His cows and calves are full of joy
His face, like a lotus encircled by curl
Shines like a moon on the cowherd girls
When Mother Yashoda churns butter so sweet,

Govinda likes to have some to eat.
He will steal the butter and hide in fear
And cry frightened tears, when mother Yashoda comes near.
The rope is always a bit too small

to tie up her naughty little, Govinda.
His mother is quick to forget and forgive,
without little Govinda how could she live?
The prince of Braja,Govinda-Gopala,

Is so attractive He's loved by all.
The sun set on pastures, the cows cease to roam
Flutes play and cowbells ring all the way home.
Note: The above poem was written by Sriman Ramasrai prabhu’s son Prayag
who is yet to complete 9 years. Isnt' it amazing that these kids have such
amazing talents and more importantly, using it directly in the service of Lord
Sri Krishna ?



Glory of Srimad Bhagavatam
I just want to share some of the points regarding Srimad Bhagavatam.
Actually in Vedic literatures there are three kinds of scriptures.
1. Sruti prasthana
2. Smriti prasthana
3. Nyaya prasthana.
These are technically called Prasthana traya.
The sruti (that which is heard) prasthana are the vedas and upanishads
which are learnt by aural reception and which are considered as the highest
authority in spiritual knowledge.
The smriti (that which is remembered) prasthana refers to Puranas and

Itihasas (Ramayana and Mahabharata) and they're authored by flawless people
like Valmiki and Sage Vyasa. The Bhagavad gita is also considered as part of
smriti prasthana.
The nyaya prasthana refers to the Brahma sutras which try to establish the
absolute truth by logical analysis of sruti and smriti.
Though Srimad Bhagavatam is one of the Puranas and comes under the
category of smritis, the Vaishnava acharyas consider it as the fourth
prasthana. Thus Srimad Bhagavatam is a scripture in a class of its own.
Acharyas like Madhva, Baladeva and Nimbarka have profusely quoted from
Bhagavatam and estimated Bhagavatam to be at a higher pedestal than all the
Puranas. The vedas speaks like elders and teachers (in a commading voice), the
Itihasas speak like a friend and Puranas speaks like one's wife, but Bhagavatm
speaks like all these three. So whatever is there in the prasthana traya it
is there in Srimad Bhagavatam plus there is something more in it, because it is
the scripture which reveals the glories of the Lord and His devotees than any
other scripture.
- Harikumar, Chennai.


Arrows of Mercy
In Krishna's absence, Lord Brahma stole the cowherd friends and calves of
Krishna and when he returned he saw that Krishna was still engaged as usual
with His friends and the calves. Then Krishna exhibited all the calves and
cowherd boys as four-armed forms of Narayana. Brahma could then understand
Krishna's potency and he was astonished by the pastimes of Krishna, his
worshipable Lord. Krishna bestowed His causeless mercy upon Brahma and
released him from illusion. Thus, Brahma began to offer prayers to glorify the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. Here is one of that prayers.
Srimad Bhagavatam 10.14.8:-
tat te ’nukampäà su-samékñamäëo

bhuïjäna evätma-kåtaà vipäkam
håd-väg-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te
jéveta yo mukti-pade sa däya-bhäk
“My dear Lord, one who earnestly waits for You to bestow Your causeless
mercy upon him, all the while patiently suffering the reactions of his past
misdeeds and offering You respectful obeisances with his heart, words and
body, is surely eligible for liberation, for it has become his rightful claim.”
In the purport Prabhupada explains:- “Just as a legitimate son has to simply

remain alive to gain an inheritance from his father, one who simply remains
alive in Krishna consciousness, following the regulative principles of bhakti-
yoga, automatically becomes eligible to be promoted to the kingdom of God.
Lord Krishna explains in the Bhagavad-gita that a devotee who fully surrenders
unto Him is no longer liable to suffer the reactions of his previous karma.
However, because in his mind a devotee may still maintain the remnants of his
previous sinful mentality, the Lord removes the last vestiges of the enjoying
spirit by giving His devotee punishments that may sometimes resemble sinful
reactions. This unhappiness suffered by a sincere devotee is not technically a
karmic reaction; it is rather the Lord's special mercy for inducing His devotee to
completely let go of the material world and return home, back to Godhead.”
Personal Observation: At times, a devotee may find it difficult to embrace the

sufferings. But the suffering itself can be considered as a medium to
reciprocate to the Lord. The sufferings should immediately remind us of the
Lord's anxiety to see us and we should take the opportunity to also
reciprocate to Him our anxiety to see Him by tolerating, His arrows of mercy,
equipoised.
- Kaveri devi dasi, Adelaide.



Glorifying the Lord According to our Capacity
There is an interesting phrase used in Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.44 – “yatha
adhitam yatha matih” meaning “as far as my realization allows”. The
same
thing is expressed by Prahlada Maharaj in his prayers to Lord Narasimha:-
tasmäd ahaà vigata-viklava éçvarasya

sarvätmanä mahi gåëämi yathä manéñam
“Therefore, although I was born in a demoniac family, I may without a

doubt offer prayers to the Lord with full endeavor, as far as my intelligence
allows.”
This is because no one can fully exhaust the glories of the Lord as the Lord
himself says in Gita (10.19), "nästy anto vistarasya me - My
opulence is limitless". However just because He cannot be glorified fully, we
shouldn't stop glorifying the Lord. We should glorify to the best of our ability
and when the Lord is pleased with the glorification, He bestows His mercy.
This is what Prahlad Maharaj continues to say in the next words of the same
above sloka.
néco ’jayä guëa-visargam anupraviñöaù

püyeta yena hi pumän anuvarëitena
“Anyone who has been forced by ignorance to enter into the material
world can be purified by glorifying the Lord and hearing His glories.”
The word anuvarëitena is very significant. varnitah means describing

and anu means to follow. anuvarnitah means glorifying the Lord as the
previous acharyas and devotees have glorified. As Bhagavatam is replete with
glorification of the Lord by His great devotees, reading and discussing
Bhagavatam is the perfect anuvarnitah.

Praise – The Deceiving Agent
I was reading Srimad Bhagavatam 4th canto 15th chapter titled, "King Prthu's
Appearance and Coronation". There is a thought provoking message from
the very first words that Prthu Maharaj speaks (verses 22-26).
On the eve of Prthu Maharaj's appearance, the professional reciters sing His
praises. But Prthu Maharaj shows His humility in not accepting their praises
saying that it is improper for them to praise about qualities which He did not
possess.
In verse 4.15.24 He says:
mahad-guëän ätmani kartum éçaù

kaù stävakaiù stävayate ’sato ’pi
te ’syäbhaviñyann iti vipralabdho
janävahäsaà kumatir na veda
“How could an intelligent man competent enough to possess such exalted

qualities allow his followers to praise him if he did not actually have them?
Praising a man by saying that if he were educated he might have become a
great scholar or great personality is nothing but a process of cheating. A
foolish person who agrees to accept such praise does not know that such
words simply insult him.”
When I meditated on these verses, they gave a deeper insight to me. Prthu
Maharaj really had great qualities but He did not accept the praise of the
reciters. On the other hand I thought how deeply eager I am in hearing about
my praises from others. It just tastes sweeter than honey! And the important fact
is that I don't actually possess those qualities. When Maharaj was here in
Minneapolis few months back, he said, “We always have the grabbing
mentality.” At first I thought he is mentioning about the general tendency to
grab other's possessions. But yesterday it struck me that we also have this
grabbing tendency when it comes to receiving praises and honours which we
are not worthy of.
Once I have heard H H Radhanath Maharaj speaking on this point in a

humourous but highly introspective way thus: If someone praises us, “Oh
prabhu! You are so humble”, externally as a Vaishnava etiquette we may say,
“No , No prabhuji! I am not at all humble! I am rascal number one!”. But
internally we think, “Oh, prabhu it is so nice of you to think like that. Actually,
you are the only person who have understood me correctly!”. This is the
grabbing tendency that H H Mahavishnu Maharaj spoke about. We are not
actually humble, but we want the honour of being humble. And Prthu Maharaj
so punchingly says, “A foolish person who agrees to accept such praise does
not know that such words simply insult him.”
It also occurred to me how far away am I in my thoughts compared to Krishna's

charioter Daruka, who while serving Krishna intensely, thought of the
transcendental ecstatic symptoms that arose in him, as a great disturbance and
prayed to the Lord to get rid of them so that he can serve the Lord
undeviatingly. Here I am, hankering to get the praises of being a devotee, when
in reality I do not possess any good quality!
Srimad Bhagavatam is the amala purana which can purify our contaminated
dirty hearts and make it shine brilliantly. I hope and pray that one day I will
become clean in my heart too!


Beautiful Intelligence
H.G Kalacakra prabhu wrote a nice mail on the deceiving nature of “Praise”. In
the sloka he mentioned (SB 4.15.24), the word kumatir is very significant.
kumatih means "crooked intelligence". So as long as our intelligence is
crooked, we will always hunt for our own glorification and we'll tend to ignore
our faults. We will also hate to glorify others and dig deep to find faults in
them. The opposite of kumatih is ‘sumatih’. Shastras say, “shobhanam
yasya dhiya iti sumatih - One whose intelligence is beautiful
(without any crookedness) is called sumatih”. When a person’s intelligence
becomes sumatih, what he does is he stops all non-sense talks and starts
glorifying the Lord whole-heartedly. In otherwords, unless one's intelligence
becomes purified, he cannot glorify the Lord whole-heartedly. However as the
Lord is merciful, He accepts our glorification and purifies our intelligence. The
Rigveda uses this word "sumatih".
tamu stotaarah purvyam yathavida

rtasya garbham janusha pipartana
aasya jaananto naama cidvivaktana
mahas te vishno sumatim bhajaamahe
- Rig veda-2.2.26.
“O hymnists!Put an end to your recurring births by attaining the real

knowledge of that ancient being who is eternal and true.Understanding
these names of Vishnu, repeat them always. O Vishnu, we, shall adore thy
charming intelligence.”
So the activity of persons endowed with beautiful intelligence is to chant the

glories of the Supreme Lord, Whose intelligence is also charming!
L.Harikumar, Chennai.

Endeavor (vs) Mercy
There is a nice verse from from Bhagavad Gita 8.8 that gives an understanding
about our endeavor and the Lord’s mercy.
abhyäsa-yoga-yuktena
cetasä nänya-gäminä
paramaà puruñaà divyaà
yäti pärthänucintayan
“He who meditates on Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his

mind constantly engaged in remembering Me, undeviated from the path,
he, O Partha, is sure to reach Me.”
Here the word abhyäsa is stressed. However the word abhyäsa in this verse
has a different meaning when compared to abhyäsa in other paths of spiritual
life. In bhakti, though we do abhyäsa, we do it in a mood of surrender and we
pray for the mercy of the Supreme Person to deliver us. Whereas in other
practices such as karma yoga, jnana yoga and ashtanga yoga, the practice is
done with full vigour without praying for the Lord's mercy. Whereas in bhakti,
the whole success depends on the Lord's causeless mercy. Srila Prabhupada
writes in his Bhagavatam purport for the verse “anarthopaçamaà
säkñäd” (SB 1.7.6) as follows:
"The chanting and hearing is not a mechanical and meditative process but
fully and wholly depends on the causeless mercy of the Lord".
So whatever may be our pratice, it is nowhere compared to the role of Lord's

mercy in our success. In the case of jnana and yoga also, though they don't pray
for the Lord's mercy, without Lord's mercy they also cannot succeed. Then one
may ask, what is the role of our endeavour?
The acharyas give an example:- To save water we need lakes, ponds and water-
bodies. In olden days, kings used to create lakes and ponds to store water when
rain comes. However, the fact that we create lakes and ponds cannot force rain
to come. Rain comes on its own schedule whether we have ponds or not.
However, if we create ponds and lakes, when the rain comes, we can store
water nicely. Our endeavour is equivalent to creating ponds. and Lords mercy is
like the rain. So when we qualify ourselves by developing spiritual qualities,
when Lord showers his mercy we'll be in a proper mood to accept it and not get
puffed up.
Compared to the support Lord has been giving us from time immemorial, any
amount of endeavour is nothing. And the Lord is not obligated to be pleased by
any amount of endeavour. However He reciprocates with the devotee's sincerity
due to His infinite compassion. Whatever the amount of endeavour may be in
getting His mercy, it is equivalent to giving a rotten piece of lemon and asking
for a big empire in return. The more we realise this, the more our practice will
become perfect. The perfection of all our practices is to realise that nothing but
Lord's mercy can deliver us.

The Peace Formula
Srila Prabhupada often quotes the last verse of the 5th chapter in the Gita the
peace formula for the entire world.
bhoktäraà yajïa-tapasäà
sarva-loka-maheçvaram
suhådaà sarva-bhütänäà
jïätvä mäà çäntim åcchati
“The sages, knowing Me as the ultimate purpose of all sacrifices and

austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods and the
benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attain peace from the
pangs of material miseries.”
I heard a very nice realisation on this verse from H .G. Jahnava nitai das.
 When Krishna says, “bhoktäraà yajïa-tapasäà”, he rejects the
path of karma kanda. Because the followers of the karma kanda have the
idea that by performing sacrifices and austerities, they can attain heaven and
enjoy. But Krishna says, “No. I'm the enjoyer of all austerities and
sacrifices”.
 When He says, “sarva-loka-maheçvaram”, He rejects the path of

speculative knolwedge which is aimed at becoming self-realised but not to
attain god-realisation. The impersonalists being devoid of their service
attitude to the Supreme, try to merge into the Lord and become God
themselves. But Krishna says, “No. At any situation, I'm the only Lord of all
the universe. Nobody can become equal to or greater than Me.”
 When He says, "suhådaà sarva-bhütänäà", He rejects the path of

ashtanga yoga which is aimed at gaining mystic powers. Such yogis,
impress people with mystic powers and use them to cure diseases and help
them advance materially. Thus they act as well-wishers of the common
masses. But Krishna says here,No. You cannot be the real well-wisher for
I'm the real well-wisher”.
So these three categories of people do not understand Krishna to be the
beneficiary of all austerities and sacrifies, Supreme Lord of all universes and
well-wisher of everyone. Because of this lack of understanding, they do not
attain lasting peace. However the devotees accept Krishna as the source of
everything. So they attain complete peace. Now we may get a question, “Do not
the devotees perform sacrifices? Are they not ruling the worlds? Are they not
practising ashtanga yoga?”. The answer is ‘yes’. Devotees like Prthu Maharaj,
Yudhistira and Parikshit performed great austerities and sacrifices. Devotees
like Priyavrata, Ambarish were ruling the entire world and devotees like
Dhruva, sage Yajnavalkya and Vashishta performed ashtanga yoga. However
these devotees performed these various acts as an offering to the Lord with the
understanding that the Supreme Lord is the goal of all these practices. So
performing austerities, cultivation of knowledge and ruling the country and
performing ashtanga yoga, in themselves are not rejected, but if they're not
aimed at Lord Vasudeva, then they cannot make the practitioner peaceful,
whereas a devotee who may not be doing any of these things attain complete
peace just by understanding Krishna as mentioned in the above sloka.
There is a very interesting verse in CC Madhya lila 19.149 that proves this
point nicely. This verse is an instruction given by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu to
Srila Rupa Goswami.
kåñëa-bhakta——niñkäma, ataeva ‘çänta’

bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kämé——sakali ‘açänta’
“Because a devotee of Lord Krishna is desireless, he is peaceful. Fruitive

workers desire material enjoyment, jnanis desire liberation, and yogis
desire material opulence; therefore they are all lusty and cannot be
peaceful.”
- L.Harikumar, Chennai.

The Lord Makes the Plan for His Surrendered Devotees
I was reading Srimad Bhagavatam first canto chapters 18 and 19. The chapters
explain how Maharaj Parikshit was cursed by a Brahmana boy to die within 7
days, how Parikshit Maharaj renounced his family life and sat on the holy
Ganges to spend his remaining days in remembering the Lord, and how at the
right time Sri Sukadeva Goswami also appeared on the scene. On hearing about
this situation the best of sages from all over the universe gathered at that place
to hear the transcendental talks between the two great souls about the greatest
subject matter which is meant for all those who are about to die.
While thinking about this situation, I realised that how Lord Sri Krishna is so
merciful to His devotees - those who have completely surrendered to Him. Of
such Devotees Lord Krishna directly takes the charge, and to such devotees
whatever happens in their life - good or bad (as it appears from material point
of view) is always auspicious and are welcomed by such exalted devotees like
Pariksit Maharaj. Any inauspicious things in their life ultimately becomes a
boon by the mercy of Lord, as it happened with Pariksit Maharaj. For such
surrendered devotees Lord Krishna makes the plan, either during the life span
or at the end, and He makes the best arrangement for them to return back to
Him, that too with full of glories as it happened with Maharaj Pariksit. For
those who are not his devotees, who are bound by the actions of the three
modes, maya devi takes the charge. Just because of the curse, Maharaj Pariksit
got the opportunity to be associated with such exalted devotees who mercifully
by their presence turn any place into a place of pilgrimage! and just from his
curse we fallen souls got the nectar in the form of Srimad Bhagavatam. It all
happened just by the curse of the brahmana boy Srngi. How merciful is Lord !!!
What a glorious arrangement He made for His beloved devotee!? Prabhupada
has written in his purport many times that those devotees who have taken
shelter of His lotus feet, will always be protected by Him. By their purity they
also liberate their family members, even if they happen to be an athesist, as in
the case of Hiranyaksipu. He was awarded liberation even though he was
envious of Lord Krishna, just because he was the father of Prahlad Maharaj, His
sincere devotee.
Anything that happens in the life of a devotee is always auspicious and even by
hearing such narration it gives pleasure and increases one's devotion toward
Lord Krishna (because such topics are in relation with Lord's wonderful
pastimes).
- Ramasare, Abu dhabi.


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Preface

My dear godbrother H G Devakinandan prabhu has been using the email

A special mention has to be made of H G Radhajivan prabhuji who has been

As Srila Prabhupada says, writing means smaranam. It is one of the most

“Dhruva Maharaja said: My dear Lord, You are all-powerful. After

mükaà karoti väcälaà

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead has the form of sac-cid-ananda-

Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada

He further says in Srimad Bhagavatam 1.5.10-11:

na yad vacaç citra-padaà harer yaço

kåñëa-tulya bhägavata——vibhu, sarväçraya

Sri Suta Goswami also says in Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.40 :-

idaà bhägavataà näma

“This Srimad-Bhagavatam is the literary incarnation of God, and it is

The glories of Srimad Bhagavatam is endless and we can’t fit everything in a

çrémad-bhägavataà puräëam amalaà yad vaiñëavänäà

“Srimad-Bhagavatam is the spotless Purana. It is most dear to the

3. Powerful Punches from Acaryas…………….………..…..........3

 Preaching without proper conduct fall within the category of karma,

 Life as an animal, bird, insect, or any other of the countless thousands of

 Simple-heartedness is synonymous with Vaisnavism. Servants of a

 Helping to draw conditioned souls away from their perverted attachment to

 By sincerely endeavoring to chant harinama without offenses and

- Radhajivan das, Alachua.

- Kalacakra Krsna das, Minneapolis.

 Unless one is in Krishna Consciousness there is no possibility of peace.

 If realization of the Absolute Truth is the ultimate aim of life, it must be

 Lord Krishna’s attraction is so powerful that once being attracted by Him

 A devotee desires only to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This

 Consequently, the greatest welfare activity in this material world is the

 Advancement in devotional service depends on the attitude of the

 By hearing about and glorifying the Lord, all a person’s activities

 Morning is the best time to hold spiritual services. – SB 1.1.5 Purport.

 Anything material seen for a number of times ultimately becomes

 Either remaining at home, or leaving home, the real qualification of a

 Unless one is convinced of a better life after renunciation of the present

 The renounced order is meant for contributing something substantial to

 The whole material creation is a jugglery of names only; in fact, it is

“O learned brahmanas, when Sukadeva Gosvami recited Bhagavatam

In the purport Srila Prabhupada has quantified further on ‘attention’.

- Kalacakra Krsna das, Minneapolis.

- Viraja Krishna Das, Sydney.

- Yogesh Agarwal, Abu dhabi.

The popular saying is that a housewife teaches the daughter-in-law by teaching

- Viraja Krishna Das, Sydney.

Here is a punch from Srila Prabhupada's purport to one of the verses in

- Kalacakra Krsna das, Minneapolis.

- Muralidhara das, Yugoslavia.

Personal Observation: Recently also I heard from one sannyasi H H Ganapati

- Kalacakra Krsna das, Minneapolis.

avyakto ’kñara ity uktas tam ähuù paramäà gatim

puruñaù sa paraù pärtha bhaktyä labhyas tv ananyayä

In Srimad Bhagavatam, verse 1.9.27, Bhismadeva explains to Maharaj

In the purport Srila Prabhupada, highlights the following points.

1. To get freedom from anger one should learn how to forgive.

2. To be free from unlawful desires one should not make plans.

3. By spiritual culture one is able to conquer sleep.

4. By tolerance only can one conquer desires and avarice.

5. Disturbances from different diseases can be avoided by regulated diet.