Bhagvatam-DEVOTIONAL SERVICE is Dharma-23rd May

Srimad Bhagvatam

TRANSLATION:

THE SUPREME BEING, THE PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, IS THE ESSENCE OF ALL VEDIC KNOWLEDGE, THE ROOT OF ALL RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES, AND THE MEMORY OF GREAT AUTHORITIES. O KING YUDHISHTHIRA, THIS PRINCIPLE OF RELIGION IS TO BE UNDERSTOOD AS EVIDENCE. ON THE BASIS OF THIS RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLE, EVERYTHING IS SATISFIED, INCLUDING ONE'S MIND, SOUL AND EVEN ONE'S BODY.

PURPORT

As stated by Yamaraja, dharmam tu sakshad bhagavat-pranitam. YAMARAJA, THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LORD WHO TAKES CARE OF THE LIVING BEINGS AFTER THEIR DEATH, GIVES HIS VERDICT AS TO HOW AND WHEN THE LIVING BEING WILL CHANGE HIS BODY. HE IS THE AUTHORITY, AND HE SAYS THAT THE RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES CONSIST OF THE CODES AND LAWS GIVEN BY GOD.

NO ONE CAN MANUFACTURE RELIGION, AND THEREFORE MANUFACTURED RELIGIOUS SYSTEMS ARE REJECTED BY THE FOLLOWERS OF THE VEDIC PRINCIPLES. In Bhagavad-gita (15.15) it is said, vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyam: VEDIC KNOWLEDGE MEANS TO UNDERSTAND THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, KRSHNA. THEREFORE, WHETHER ONE SPEAKS OF THE VEDAS, SCRIPTURES, RELIGION OR THE PRINCIPLES OF EVERYONE'S OCCUPATIONAL DUTY, ALL OF THEM MUST AIM AT UNDERSTANDING KRSHNA, THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD.

Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.6) therefore concludes:

IN OTHER WORDS, RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES AIM AT LEARNING HOW TO RENDER TRANSCENDENTAL LOVING SERVICE TO THE LORD. THAT SERVICE MUST BE UNMOTIVATED AND UNCHECKED BY MATERIAL CONDITIONS. THEN HUMAN SOCIETY WILL BE HAPPY IN ALL RESPECTS.

The smrti, the scriptures following the principles of Vedic knowledge, are considered the evidence of Vedic principles. There are twenty different types of scripture for following religious principles, and among them the scriptures of Manu and Yajnavalkya are considered to be all-pervading authorities. In the Yajnavalkya-smrti it is said:

One should learn human behavior from sruti, the Vedas, and from smrti, the scriptures following the Vedic principles. Srila Rüpa Gosvami in his Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu says:

The purport is that to become a devotee one must follow the principles laid down in sruti and smrti. One must follow the codes of the Puranas and the pancharatriki-vidhi. One cannot be a pure devotee without following the sruti and smrti, and the sruti and smrti without devotional service cannot lead one to the perfection of life.

THEREFORE, FROM ALL THE EVIDENCE THE CONCLUSION IS THAT WITHOUT BHAKTI, DEVOTIONAL SERVICE, THERE IS NO QUESTION OF RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES. GOD IS THE CENTRAL FIGURE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES. ALMOST EVERYTHING GOING ON IN THIS WORLD AS RELIGION IS DEVOID OF ANY IDEA OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE AND IS THEREFORE CONDEMNED BY THE VERDICT OF SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM. WITHOUT DEVOTIONAL SERVICE, SO-CALLED RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES ARE ONLY CHEATING.

How unfortunate I am, मैं कितना अभागा हूँ #Blog0002

How unfortunate I am

राधे राधे ॥ आज का भगवद चिन्तन ॥

1.

“हंसता हूं सोचता हूं, कि नाकाबिलियत पे रोऊँ या बदकिस्मती पे
हजूर ने कदम बोसी की इनायत की, नाचीज जूते सा ना हो सका”

हम आपके सन्मुख आए और हम आपके सन्मुख झुक भी ना पाए, ठीक तरह से प्रणाम भी नहीं कर सके

इतना अयोग्य है जीव

BEWILDERED, I INTROSPECT ON MY ILL FORTUNE OR MY INELIGIBILITY

LORD GRACED (इनायत) ME WITH A CHANCE TO KISS (बोसी) HIS FEET (कदम)

&

THIS IRREVERENTIAL BEING (ME) COULD NOT EVEN BE LIKE A SHOE

I CAME IN FRONT OF YOU & THIS LOWLY BEING (ME) COULD NOT EVEN BOW DOWN, COULD NOT EVEN JOIN MY HANDS IN PRAYER – HOW INCAPABLE & HOW INELIGIBLE A BEING IS

2.

Krishna tells the living entity "Don't worry, I am there, you chant my name, I will protect you, still how much we are trying to forget him and be in this world. Krishna is trying a million times harder to get us out BUT it is unfortunate that tears are not coming in my eyes.

https://youtu.be/UeZVfNGKifA?t=4819 1.20.19 till 1.21.21

3.

It is very difficult to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but in my case, although I have satisfied the Supersoul of the whole universe, I have prayed only for useless things. My activities were exactly like treatment given to a person who is already dead. Just see how unfortunate I am, for in spite of meeting the Supreme Lord, who can cut one’s link with birth and death, I have prayed for the same conditions again.

Purport

Sometimes it so happens that a devotee engaged in the loving service of the Lord desires some material benefit in exchange for this service. This is not the proper way to discharge devotional service. Out of ignorance, of course, sometimes a devotee does so, but Dhruva Mahārāja regrets his personal behavior in this connection.

https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/4/9/34/

4.

Chaitanya Mahāprabhu says, "My Lord, You are so merciful that in this age..." Why...? Not in this age; every age. "You are always in full potency in Your name. And I can associate with You simply by chanting Your holy name. But I am so unfortunate, I have no attraction for that." A simple thing, to chant the name. God has become so kind, "You simply chant My name." But I am so unfortunate, I have no attraction for that.

https://vedabase.io/en/library/transcripts/720813r1lon/

5.

So the life, they're missing the aim of life. Mandāḥ sumanda-matayaḥ. Why? Manda-bhāgyāḥ: they are unfortunate. So you take it for granted. We are trying, even our Kṛṣṇa consciousness mission, we are trying to awaken. Still, they are so unfortunate they cannot give up sense gratification. So unfortunate. Condemned, unfortunate. Repeatedly we are spending our gallons of blood, "Don't do this"; still they are doing. Cannot give up even sleeping. So condemned, Kali-yuga. Mandāḥ sumanda-matayaḥ.

https://vedabase.io/en/library/transcripts/730823bglon/

6.

Chaitanya Mahāprabhu says, etādṛśī tava kṛpā bhagavan mamāpi: "My dear Lord, although You are so much merciful upon me, still, I am so unfortunate." Etādṛśī tava kṛpā bhagavan mamāpi durdaivam īdṛśam, "I am so unfortunate," durdaivam īdṛśam ihājani na, "I could not be attached to chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. Oh, I am so unfortunate." You see? The things have been made so easy, actually, but unfortunate class of men, they cannot take to it.

https://vedabase.io/en/library/transcripts/720823sbla/

7.

Uddhava lamented his own fortune also because although he knew Kṛṣṇa to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he could not properly use the opportunity to render devotional service to the Lord. He regretted everyone’s misfortune, including his own. The pure devotee of the Lord thinks himself most unfortunate. That is due to excessive love for the Lord and is one of the transcendental perceptions of viraha, the suffering of separation.

https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/3/2/8/

8

yad bhibheti svayaṁ bhayam - Fear personified is also afraid of Krishna and His names. Who are we, so we are very scared to come to Him. But we are so unfortunate that we don't realise the value of Holy Name and chant our rounds mechanically, without any feeling. When we take the name of Lord our sleeping spiritual nature is awakened. When we helplessly chant His names, we get liberated. 

http://mahavishnugoswami.com/gr/2287

Standby link (in case youtube link does not work)

Srimad Bhagavatam 6.2.23 by HG Amarendra Prabhu, 12 Sep 2022 (online-video-cutter.com).mp4

https://youtu.be/UeZVfNGKifA?t=4819 1.20.19 till 1.21.21

Bhakti (Devotion) brings all the desired best qualities naturally (सहज ही) automatically #Blog0001

Bhakti (Devotion) brings all the desired best qualities naturally (सहज ही) & automatically

भगवान से प्रीती ही भक्ति है
और
"भक्ति स्वतन्त्र सकल गुण खानी, बिन सत्संग ना पावे प्राणी"

Bhakti (Devotion) brings all the desired best qualities naturally (सहज ही) & automatically
&
bad qualities vanish - no need to make any efforts or निश्चय (whatever we achieve with our efforts - decays or we get fed up/tired in trying to maintain or keep up with our निश्चय

but whatever comes to us naturally as His प्रसाद (like all good qualities by भक्ति) is sustained without effort.

Bhakti comes ONLY through satsang:

Definition of what constitutes Satsang as per Srimad Bhagvat:
sravanam (listening), kirtanam (chanting His glories), visnoh smaranam (remembering), pada-sevanam (serving His feet), archanam (worship of the Deity), vandanam (offering prayer), dasyam(eternal servant of Krshna), sakhyam (eternal friend of Lord), atma-nivedanam (SURRENDER YOURSELF (,i.e., ALL YOUR THOUGHTS, WORDS & DEEDS TO THE LORD – THIS IS THE GIST OF GITA AS SAID BY LORD HIMSELF

As you must have noticed, sravanam (listening) is the first & main step & last step is SURRENDER (which is called the pinnacle of Bhakti)

in simpler words:
भगवान की लीला कथा का श्रवण कथन करना, किसी संत की वाणी का चिंतन करना, भगवान के नाम का जप करना, भगवान के रूप का चिंतन करना,पूजा करना, भगवान के धाम में वास करना, , गीता ,भागवत ,रामायण का अध्ययन करना, ये सब सत्संग है

,i.e.,
Listen to Lord’s / His kathas / His bhajans, to listen to His devotees’ devoted love & sayings for Him (,i.e., the systematic hearing of the transcendental activities, qualities and names of Lord Sri Krishna), take Lord’s name repeatedly / devotedly, to contemplate on Lord’s Face / Form, worship & offer prayers, to stay at Lord’s place (Vrindavan), read Gita, Srimad Bhagvat, Ramcharitmanas

Gist is that the necessary & sufficient condition is that if we are devoted lovingly to Lord sincerely (which develops once we start following the above broad guide), you override all the anxieties, worries & विकल्प (multiple options) of the world & easily achieve the goal of life, which is to find our lost relationship of love with Lord & thereby go back to Godhead (,i.e., beyond worldly birth death cycle)

BUT IF WE DO NOT DO HIS LOVING DEVOTION (,i.e., do not surrender to Him, NOT EVEN GOD CAN SAVE US from worldly birth death cycle & degradation to any of the 84 lakh species of lives) & whatever determinations we make with pen & paper, whatever & howsoever many pious & philanthropic deeds we do, are all of NO VALUE at all in achieving the goal of life which is to get out of worldly birth death cycle,old age & disease for ever.

Bhagvatam PATH OF LIBERATION 22nd May

Srimad Bhagvatam

TRANSLATION
MAHARAJA YUDHISHTHIRA SAID: MY DEAR LORD, I WISH TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT THE PRINCIPLES OF RELIGION BY WHICH ONE CAN ATTAIN THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF LIFE—DEVOTIONAL SERVICE. I WISH TO HEAR ABOUT THE GENERAL OCCUPATIONAL DUTIES OF HUMAN SOCIETY AND THE SYSTEM OF SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL ADVANCEMENT KNOWN AS VARNASRAMA-DHARMA.

PURPORT
SANATANA-DHARMA MEANS DEVOTIONAL SERVICE. THE WORD SANATANA REFERS TO THAT WHICH IS ETERNAL, WHICH DOES NOT CHANGE BUT CONTINUES IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. We have several times explained what the eternal occupational duty of the living being is. Indeed, it has been explained by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Jivera 'svarüpa' haya—krshnera 'nitya-dasa': THE REAL OCCUPATIONAL DUTY OF THE LIVING ENTITY IS TO SERVE THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD.

EVEN IF ONE PREFERS TO DEVIATE FROM THIS PRINCIPLE HE REMAINS A SERVANT BECAUSE THAT IS HIS ETERNAL POSITION; BUT ONE SERVES MAYA, THE ILLUSORY, MATERIAL ENERGY. THE KRSHNA CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT, THEREFORE, IS AN ATTEMPT TO GUIDE HUMAN SOCIETY TO SERVING THE PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD INSTEAD OF SERVING THE MATERIAL WORLD WITH NO REAL PROFIT. OUR ACTUAL EXPERIENCE IS THAT EVERY MAN, ANIMAL, BIRD AND BEAST—INDEED, EVERY LIVING ENTITY—IS ENGAGED IN RENDERING SERVICE. EVEN THOUGH ONE'S BODY OR ONE'S SUPERFICIAL RELIGION MAY CHANGE, EVERY LIVING ENTITY IS ALWAYS ENGAGED IN THE SERVICE OF SOMEONE. THEREFORE, THE MENTALITY OF SERVICE IS CALLED THE ETERNAL OCCUPATIONAL DUTY.

THIS ETERNAL OCCUPATIONAL DUTY CAN BE ORGANIZED THROUGH THE INSTITUTION OF VARNASRAMA, IN WHICH THERE ARE FOUR VARNAS (BRAHMANA, KSHATRIYA, VAISYA AND SÜDRA) AND FOUR ASRAMAS (BRAHMACHARYA, GRHASTHA, VANAPRASTHA AND SANNYASA). Thus, Yudhishthira Maharaja inquired from Narada Muni about the principles of sanatana-dharma for the benefit of human society.

TRANSLATION
O best of the brahmanas, you are directly the son of Prajapati [Lord Brahma]. Because of your austerities, mystic yoga and trance, you are considered the best of all of Lord Brahma's sons.

TRANSLATION
No one is superior to you in peaceful life and mercy, and no one knows better than you how to execute devotional service or how to become the best of the brahmanas. Therefore, you know all the principles of confidential religious life, and no one knows them better than you.

PURPORT
YUDHISHTHIRA MAHARAJA KNEW THAT NARADA MUNI IS THE SUPREME SPIRITUAL MASTER OF HUMAN SOCIETY WHO CAN TEACH THE PATH OF SPIRITUAL LIBERATION LEADING TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD.

Actually, it is for this purpose that Narada Muni compiled his Bhakti-sütra and gave directions in the Narada-pancharatra. To learn about religious principles and the perfection of life, one must take instruction from the disciplic succession of Narada Muni. Our Krshna consciousness movement is directly in the line of the Brahma-sampradaya. Narada Muni received instructions from Lord Brahma and in turn transmitted the instructions to Vyasadeva. Vyasadeva instructed his son Sukadeva Gosvami, who spoke Srimad-Bhagavatam.

The Krshna consciousness movement is based on Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita. Because Srimad-Bhagavatam was spoken by Sukadeva Gosvami and Bhagavad-gita was spoken by Krshna, there is no difference between them. If we strictly follow the principle of disciplic succession, we are certainly on the right path of spiritual liberation, or eternal engagement in devotional service.