Gita shloka 5.18, The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste], 8th Sept

Gita shloka 5.18, The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste]

TRANSLATION

The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste] .

PURPORT

A Krsna conscious person does not make any distinction between species or castes.

The brahmana and the outcaste may be different from the social point of view, or a dog, a cow, or an elephant may be different from the point of view of species, but these differences of body are meaningless from the viewpoint of a learned transcendentalist.

This is due to their relationship to the Supreme, for the Supreme Lord, by His plenary portion as Paramatma, is present in everyone's heart.

Such an understanding of the Supreme is real knowledge.

As far as the bodies are concerned in different castes or different species of life, the Lord is equally kind to everyone because He treats every living being as a friend yet maintains Himself as Paramatma regardless of the circumstances of the living entities.

The Lord as Paramatma is present both in the outcaste and in the brahmana, although the body of a brahmana and that of an outcaste are not the same.

The bodies are material productions of different modes of material nature, but the soul and the Supersoul within the body are of the same spiritual quality.

The similarity in the quality of the soul and the Supersoul, however, does not make them equal in quantity, for the individual soul is present only in that particular body, whereas the Paramatma is present in each and every body.

A Krsna conscious person has full knowledge of this, and therefore he is truly learned and has equal vision.

The similar characteristics of the soul and Supersoul are that they are both conscious, eternal and blissful.

But the difference is that the individual soul is conscious within the limited jurisdiction of the body, whereas the Supersoul is conscious of all bodies.

The Supersoul is present in all bodies without distinction.

Bhagvat: The Supreme Vishnu is Krshna. Krshna is the cause of Vishnu, not vice versa. Similarly, Brahman is not the cause of Krshna; Krshna is the cause of Brahman, 8th Sept

Bhagvat: The Supreme Vishnu is Krshna. Krshna is the cause of Vishnu, not vice versa. Similarly, Brahman is not the cause of Krshna; Krshna is the cause of Brahman. Therefore Krshna is the Parabrahman. Sisupäla and Dantavakra were formerly Jaya and Vijaya, the doorkeepers of Vaikuntha. Merging into the body of Krshna was not their final destination. For some time they remained merged, and later they received the liberations of särüpya and sälokya, living on the same planet as the Lord in the same bodily form. The sästras give evidence that if one blasphemes the Supreme Lord, his punishment is to remain in hellish life for many millions of years more than one suffers by killing many brähmanas.

TRANSLATION

Formerly, O King, when Mahäräja Yudhishthira was performing the Räjasüya sacrifice, the great sage Närada, responding to his inquiry, recited historical facts showing how the Supreme Personality of Godhead is always impartial, even when killing demons. In this regard he gave a vivid example.

PURPORT

This relates to how the Lord exhibited His impartiality even when killing Sisupäla in the arena of the Räjasüya yajïa performed by Mahäräja Yudhishthira.

TRANSLATION

O King, at the Räjasüya sacrifice, Mahäräja Yudhishthira, the son of Mahäräja Pändu, personally saw Sisupäla merge into the body of the Supreme Lord, Krshna. Therefore, struck with wonder, he inquired about the reason for this from the great sage Närada, who was seated there. While he inquired, all the sages present also heard him ask his question.

TRANSLATION

Mahäräja Yudhishthira inquired: It is very wonderful that the demon Sisupäla merged into the body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead even though extremely envious. This säyujya-mukti is impossible to attain even for great transcendentalists. How then did the enemy of the Lord attain it?

PURPORT

There are two classes of transcendentalists—the jnänis and the bhaktas. The bhaktas do not aspire to merge into the existence of the Lord, but the jnänis do. Sisupäla, however, was neither a jnäni nor a bhakta, yet simply by envy of the Lord he attained an exalted position by merging into the Lord's body. Certainly this was astonishing, and therefore Mahäräja Yudhishthira inquired about the cause for the Lord's mysterious mercy to Sisupäla.

TRANSLATION

O great sage, we are all eager to know the cause for this mercy of the Lord. I have heard that formerly a king named Vena blasphemed the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that all the brähmanas consequently obliged him to go to hell. Sisupäla should also have been sent to hell. How then did he merge into the Lord's existence?

TRANSLATION

From the very beginning of his childhood, when he could not even speak properly, Sisupäla, the most sinful son of Damaghosha, began blaspheming the Lord, and he continued to be envious of Sri Krshna until death. Similarly, his brother Dantavakra continued the same habits.

TRANSLATION

Although these two men—Sisupäla and Dantavakra—repeatedly blasphemed the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Vishnu [Krshna], the Supreme Brahman, they were quite healthy. Indeed, their tongues were not attacked by white leprosy, nor did they enter the darkest region of hellish life. We are certainly most surprised by this.

PURPORT

Krshna is described by Arjuna in Bhagavad-gitä (10.12) as follows: param brahma param dhäma pavitram paramam bhavän. "You are the Supreme Brahman, the supreme abode and purifier." Herein this is confirmed. Vishnum yad brahma param avyayam. The Supreme Vishnu is Krshna. Krshna is the cause of Vishnu, not vice versa. Similarly, Brahman is not the cause of Krshna; Krshna is the cause of Brahman. Therefore Krshna is the Parabrahman (yad brahma param avyayam).

TRANSLATION

How was it possible for Sisupäla and Dantavakra in the presence of many exalted persons, to enter very easily into the body of Krshna, whose nature is difficult to attain?

PURPORT

Sisupäla and Dantavakra were formerly Jaya and Vijaya, the doorkeepers of Vaikuntha. Merging into the body of Krshna was not their final destination. For some time they remained merged, and later they received the liberations of särüpya and sälokya, living on the same planet as the Lord in the same bodily form. 

The sästras give evidence that if one blasphemes the Supreme Lord, his punishment is to remain in hellish life for many millions of years more than one suffers by killing many brähmanas. Sisupäla, however, instead of entering hellish life, immediately and very easily received säyujya-mukti. That such a privilege had been offered to Sisupäla was not merely a story. Everyone saw it happen; there was no scarcity of evidence. How did it happen? Mahäräja Yudhishthira was very much surprised.

TRANSLATION

This matter is undoubtedly very wonderful. Indeed, my intelligence has become disturbed, just as the flame of a candle is disturbed by a blowing wind. O Närada Muni, you know everything. Kindly let me know the cause of this wonderful event.

PURPORT

The sästras enjoin, tad-vijnänärtham sa gurum eväbhigacchet: when one is perplexed by the difficult problems of life, to solve them one must approach a guru like Närada or his representative in the disciplic succession. Mahäräja Yudhishthira therefore requested Närada to explain the cause for such a wonderful event.

Gita shloka 5.17, One whose mind, intelligence, faith and refuge are always in Krsna, or, in other words, one who is fully in Krsna consciousness, is undoubtedly washed clean of all misgivings and is in perfect knowledge,7th Sept

Gita shloka 5.17, One whose mind, intelligence, faith and refuge are always in Krsna, or, in other words, one who is fully in Krsna consciousness, is undoubtedly washed clean of all misgivings and is in perfect knowledge in everything concerning transcendence. A Krsna conscious person can thoroughly understand that there is duality (simultaneous identity and individuality) in Krsna, and, equipped with such transcendental knowledge, one can make steady progress on the path of liberation.

TRANSLATION

When one's intelligence, mind, faith and refuge are all fixed in the Supreme, then one becomes fully cleansed of misgivings through complete knowledge and thus proceeds straight on the path of liberation.

PURPORT

The Supreme Transcendental Truth is Lord Krsna.

The whole Bhagavad-gita centers around the declaration of Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

That is the version of all Vedic literature.

Paratattva means the Supreme Reality, who is understood by the knowers of the Supreme as Brahman, Paramatma and Bhagavan.

Bhagavan, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the last word in the Absolute.

There is nothing more than that.

The Lord says, mattah parataram nanyat kincit asti dhananjaya.

Impersonal Brahman is also supported by Krsna: brahmano pratisthaham.

Therefore in all ways Krsna is the Supreme Reality.

One whose mind, intelligence, faith and refuge are always in Krsna, or, in other words, one who is fully in Krsna consciousness, is undoubtedly washed clean of all misgivings and is in perfect knowledge in everything concerning transcendence.

A Krsna conscious person can thoroughly understand that there is duality (simultaneous identity and individuality) in Krsna, and, equipped with such transcendental knowledge, one can make steady progress on the path of liberation.

Bhagvat: In a perfect human civilization there must be a class of men fully trained as perfect brähmanas. Similarly, there must be kshatriyas to rule the country very nicely according to the injunctions of the shästras, and there must be vaishyas who can protect the cows, 7th Sept

Bhagvat: In a perfect human civilization there must be a class of men fully trained as perfect brähmanas. Similarly, there must be kshatriyas to rule the country very nicely according to the injunctions of the shästras, and there must be vaishyas who can protect the cows. Because the Vedic civilization is lost, cows are not protected, but instead indiscriminately killed in slaughterhouses. Such are the acts of demons. Therefore this is a demoniac civilization. The cutting of trees is prohibited unless necessary for the service of Lord Vishnu.

TRANSLATION

(Hiranyakasipu, demon telling his juniors) : Immediately go wherever there is good protection for the cows and brähmanas and wherever the Vedas are studied in terms of the varnäsrama principles. Set fire to those places and cut from the roots the trees there, which are the source of life.

PURPORT

The picture of a proper human civilization is indirectly described here. In a perfect human civilization there must be a class of men fully trained as perfect brähmanas. Similarly, there must be kshatriyas to rule the country very nicely according to the injunctions of the sästras, and there must be vaisyas who can protect the cows. 

The word gävam indicates that cows should be given protection. Because the Vedic civilization is lost, cows are not protected, but instead indiscriminately killed in slaughterhouses. Such are the acts of demons. Therefore this is a demoniac civilization. The varnäsrama-dharma mentioned here is essential for human civilization. Unless there is a brähmana to guide, a kshatriya to rule perfectly, and a perfect vaisya to produce food and protect the cows, how will people live peacefully? It is impossible.

Another point is that trees also should be given protection. During its lifetime, a tree should not be cut for industrial enterprises. In Kali-yuga, trees are indiscriminately and unnecessarily cut for industry, in particular for paper mills that manufacture a profuse quantity of paper for the publication of demoniac propaganda, nonsensical literature, huge quantities of newspapers and many other paper products. 

This is a sign of a demoniac civilization. The cutting of trees is prohibited unless necessary for the service of Lord Vishnu. Yajnärthät karmano'nyatra loko'yam karma-bandhanam: "Work done as a sacrifice for Lord Vishnu must be performed, otherwise work binds one to this material world." 

But if the paper mills stop producing paper, one may argue, how can our ISKCON literature be published? 

The answer is that the paper mills should manufacture paper only for the publication of ISKCON literature because ISKCON literature is published for the service of Lord Vishnu. This literature clarifies our relationship with Lord Vishnu, and therefore the publication of ISKCON literature is the performance of yajna. Yajnärthät karmano 'nyatra loko 'yam karma-bandhanam. 

Yajna must be performed, as indicated by the superior authorities. The cutting of trees simply to manufacture paper for the publication of unwanted literature is the greatest sinful act.

Gita shloka 5.16, Those who have forgotten Krsna must certainly be bewildered, but those who are in Krsna consciousness are not bewildered at all, 6th Sept

Gita shloka 5.16, Those who have forgotten Krsna must certainly be bewildered, but those who are in Krsna consciousness are not bewildered at all. And what is that knowledge? Perfect knowledge is achieved when one surrenders unto Krsna After passing through many, many births, when one perfect in knowledge surrenders unto Krsna, or when one attains Krsna consciousness, then everything is revealed to him, as the sun reveals everything in the daytime. one has to seek out such a bona fide spiritual master and, under him, learn what Krsna consciousness is. One can know God and one's relationship with God only when one actually meets a representative of God.

TRANSLATION

When, however, one is enlightened with the knowledge by which nescience is destroyed, then his knowledge reveals everything, as the sun lights up everything in the daytime.

PURPORT

Those who have forgotten Krsna must certainly be bewildered, but those who are in Krsna consciousness are not bewildered at all.

It is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, "sarvam jnana-plavena," "jnanagnih sarva-karmani" and "na hi jnanena sadrsam." Knowledge is always highly esteemed.

And what is that knowledge? Perfect knowledge is achieved when one surrenders unto Krsna, as is said in the Seventh Chapter, 19th verse: bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate.

After passing through many, many births, when one perfect in knowledge surrenders unto Krsna, or when one attains Krsna consciousness, then everything is revealed to him, as the sun reveals everything in the daytime.

The living entity is bewildered in so many ways.

For instance, when he thinks himself God, unceremoniously, he actually falls into the last snare of nescience.

If a living entity is God, then how can he become bewildered by nescience? Does God become bewildered by nescience? If so, then nescience, or Satan, is greater than God.

Real knowledge can be obtained from a person who is in perfect Krsna consciousness.

Therefore, one has to seek out such a bona fide spiritual master and, under him, learn what Krsna consciousness is.

The spiritual master can drive away all nescience, as the sun drives away darkness.

Even though a person may be in full knowledge that he is not this body but is transcendental to the body, he still may not be able to discriminate between the soul and the Supersoul.

However, he can know everything well if he cares to take shelter of the perfect, bona fide Krsna conscious spiritual master.

One can know God and one's relationship with God only when one actually meets a representative of God.

A representative of God never claims that he is God, although he is paid all the respect ordinarily paid to God because he has knowledge of God.

One has to learn the distinction between God and the living entity.

Lord Sri Krsna therefore stated in the Second Chapter (2.12) that every living being is individual and that the Lord also is individual.

They were all individuals in the past, they are individuals at present, and they will continue to be individuals in the future, even after liberation.

At night we see everything as one in the darkness, but in day when the sun is up, we see everything in its real identity.

Identity with individuality in spiritual life is real knowledge.