Bhagvatam : “ALL THAT YOU DO, ALL THAT YOU EAT, ALL THAT YOU OFFER AND GIVE AWAY, AS WELL AS ALL AUSTERITIES THAT YOU MAY PERFORM, SHOULD BE DONE AS AN OFFERING UNTO KRISHNA”, 1st Aug

Bhagvatam : “ALL THAT YOU DO, ALL THAT YOU EAT, ALL THAT YOU OFFER AND GIVE AWAY, AS WELL AS ALL AUSTERITIES THAT YOU MAY PERFORM, SHOULD BE DONE AS AN OFFERING UNTO KRISHNA”. "ONE WHO CANNOT DELIVER HIS DEPENDENTS FROM THE PATH OF REPEATED BIRTH AND DEATH SHOULD NEVER BECOME A SPIRITUAL MASTER, A FATHER, A HUSBAND, A MOTHER OR A WORSHIPABLE DEMIGOD.”

TRANSLATION

"ONE WHO CANNOT DELIVER HIS DEPENDENTS FROM THE PATH OF REPEATED BIRTH AND DEATH SHOULD NEVER BECOME A SPIRITUAL MASTER, A FATHER, A HUSBAND, A MOTHER OR A WORSHIPABLE DEMIGOD.

PURPORT

THERE ARE MANY SPIRITUAL MASTERS, BUT RSABHADEVA ADVISES THAT ONE SHOULD NOT BECOME A SPIRITUAL MASTER IF HE IS UNABLE TO SAVE HIS DISCIPLE FROM THE PATH OF BIRTH AND DEATH.

UNLESS ONE IS A PURE DEVOTEE OF KRSNA, HE CANNOT SAVE HIMSELF FROM THE PATH OF REPEATED BIRTH AND DEATH.

Tyaktvä deham punar janma naiti mäm eti so'rjuna.

ONE CAN STOP BIRTH AND DEATH ONLY BY RETURNING HOME, BACK TO GODHEAD.

HOWEVER, WHO CAN GO BACK TO GODHEAD UNLESS HE UNDERSTANDS THE SUPREME LORD IN TRUTH? Janma karma ca me divyam evam yo vetti tattvatah.

We have many instances in history illustrating Rsabhadeva's instructions.

Shukrächärya was rejected by Bali Mahäräja due to his inability to save Bali Mahäräja from the path of repeated birth and death.

Shukrächärya was not a pure devotee, he was more or less inclined to fruitive activity, and he objected when Bali Mahäräja promised to give everything to Lord Visnu.

Actually one is supposed to give everything to the Lord because everything belongs to the Lord.

Consequently, the Supreme Lord advises in Bhagavad-gitä (9.27):

"O SON OF KUNTI, ALL THAT YOU DO, ALL THAT YOU EAT, ALL THAT YOU OFFER AND GIVE AWAY, AS WELL AS ALL AUSTERITIES THAT YOU MAY PERFORM, SHOULD BE DONE AS AN OFFERING UNTO ME.”

THIS IS BHAKTI.

UNLESS ONE IS DEVOTED, HE CANNOT GIVE EVERYTHING TO THE SUPREME LORD.

UNLESS ONE CAN DO SO, HE CANNOT BECOME A SPIRITUAL MASTER, HUSBAND, FATHER OR MOTHER.

SIMILARLY, THE WIVES OF THE BRÄHMANAS WHO WERE PERFORMING SACRIFICES GAVE UP THEIR RELATIVES JUST TO SATISFY KRSNA.

This is an example of a wife rejecting a husband who cannot deliver her from the impending dangers of birth and death.

Similarly, Prahläda Mahäräja rejected his father, and Bharata Mahäräja rejected his mother (janani na sä syät).

The word daivam indicates a demigod or one who accepts worship from a dependent.

Ordinarily, the spiritual master, husband, father, mother or superior relative accepts worship from an inferior relative, but here Rsabhadeva forbids this.

FIRST THE FATHER, SPIRITUAL MASTER OR HUSBAND MUST BE ABLE TO RELEASE THE DEPENDENT FROM REPEATED BIRTH AND DEATH.

IF HE CANNOT DO THIS, HE PLUNGES HIMSELF INTO THE OCEAN OF REPROACHMENT FOR HIS UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES.

EVERYONE SHOULD BE VERY RESPONSIBLE AND TAKE CHARGE OF HIS DEPENDENTS JUST AS A SPIRITUAL MASTER TAKES CHARGE OF HIS DISCIPLE OR A FATHER TAKES CHARGE OF HIS SON.

ALL THESE RESPONSIBILITIES CANNOT BE DISCHARGED HONESTLY UNLESS ONE CAN SAVE THE DEPENDENT FROM REPEATED BIRTH AND DEATH.

BHAGVAT  GOD SOMETIMES PUTS A DEVOTEE TO SEVERE TESTS THAT ARE ALMOST UNBEARABLE, THE LORD CERTAINLY APPRECIATES THE DEVOTEE'S FORBEARANCE, AND IT IS RECORDED FOR THE FUTURE GLORIFICATION OF THE DEVOTEE,  30TH JULY

TRANSLATION

Although bereft of his riches, fallen from his original position, defeated and arrested by his enemies, rebuked and deserted by his relatives and friends, although suffering the pain of being bound and although rebuked and cursed by his spiritual master, Bali Maharaja, being fixed in his vow, did not give up his truthfulness. It was certainly with pretension that I spoke about religious principles, but he did not give up religious principles, for he is true to his word.

PURPORT

BALI MAHARAJA PASSED THE SEVERE TEST PUT BEFORE HIM BY THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD. THIS IS FURTHER PROOF OF THE LORD'S MERCY TOWARD HIS DEVOTEE. 

THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD SOMETIMES PUTS A DEVOTEE TO SEVERE TESTS THAT ARE ALMOST UNBEARABLE. ONE COULD HARDLY EVEN LIVE UNDER THE CONDITIONS FORCED UPON BALI MAHARAJA. THAT BALI MAHARAJA ENDURED ALL THESE SEVERE TESTS AND AUSTERITIES IS THE MERCY OF THE SUPREME LORD. THE LORD CERTAINLY APPRECIATES THE DEVOTEE'S FORBEARANCE, AND IT IS RECORDED FOR THE FUTURE GLORIFICATION OF THE DEVOTEE. 

THIS WAS NOT AN ORDINARY TEST. AS DESCRIBED IN THIS VERSE, HARDLY ANYONE COULD SURVIVE SUCH A TEST, BUT FOR THE FUTURE GLORIFICATION OF BALI MAHARAJA, ONE OF THE MAHAJANAS, THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD NOT ONLY TESTED HIM BUT ALSO GAVE HIM THE STRENGTH TO TOLERATE SUCH ADVERSITY. THE LORD IS SO KIND TO HIS DEVOTEE THAT WHEN SEVERELY TESTING HIM THE LORD GIVES HIM THE NECESSARY STRENGTH TO BE TOLERANT AND CONTINUE TO REMAIN A GLORIOUS DEVOTEE.

TRANSLATION

THE LORD CONTINUED: BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT TOLERANCE, I HAVE GIVEN HIM A PLACE NOT OBTAINABLE EVEN BY THE DEMIGODS. HE WILL BECOME KING OF THE HEAVENLY PLANETS DURING THE PERIOD OF THE MANU KNOWN AS SAVARNI.

PURPORT

THIS IS THE MERCY OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD. EVEN IF THE LORD TAKES AWAY A DEVOTEE'S MATERIAL OPULENCES, THE LORD IMMEDIATELY OFFERS HIM A POSITION OF WHICH THE DEMIGODS CANNOT EVEN DREAM. THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES OF THIS IN THE HISTORY OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE. ONE OF THEM IS THE OPULENCE OF SUDAMA VIPRA. SUDAMA VIPRA SUFFERED SEVERE MATERIAL SCARCITY, BUT HE WAS NOT DISTURBED AND DID NOT DEVIATE FROM DEVOTIONAL SERVICE. 

THUS HE WAS ULTIMATELY GIVEN AN EXALTED POSITION BY THE MERCY OF LORD KRSHNA. Here the word mad-ashrayam is very significant. Because the Lord wanted to give Bali Maharaja the exalted position of Indra, the demigods might naturally have been envious of him and might have fought to disturb his position. BUT THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD ASSURED BALI MAHARAJA THAT HE WOULD ALWAYS REMAIN UNDER THE LORD'S PROTECTION (mad-ashrayam).

दो बातें दिल की सुन जाओ, हमारे यार मन मोहन Vinod Agarwal Bhajan lyrics - do batein dil ki san jao, hamare yar Man Mohan

दो बातें दिल की सुन जाओ, हमारे यार मनमोहन

https://youtu.be/aBh50bmJsEg?t=165

दो बातें दिल की सुन जाओ हमारे यार मन मोहन          

जरा हंस के इधर देखो मेरे दिलदार मनमोहन 

लगा है इश्क अब तुमसे अब तो मगरूर (proud) क्यों हमसे 

ना रख दिल में कपट नटखट 

मिलो, कर प्यार मनमोहन 

निहारा (seen) जब से तूं जानी 

हुई छवी देख दीवानी 

गुमानी (proud) बोल कुछ मुख से 

मेरे सरकार मनमोहन 

परेशान हुआ हूं भारी 

बिहारी बेरहम मत बन 

भटक भारी फिरी बन बन 

हुई लाचार मनमोहन 

रही नहीं खाक की, घर की 

कसम मुझको मेरे सर की 

रहूँ नित इंतजारी में 

मेरे सरदार मनमोहन 

भई जब से तेरी चेरी 

हुए सब आशना (all acquaintances) बैरी 

मेरे घर आ, ना कर देरी 

दे दीदार मनमोहन 

कहां जाऊं किधर ढूँढू 

मिलो तुम किस जगह मुझसे 

बता दो कुछ पता अपना 

तजो इसरार (obstinacy) मनमोहन 

भई बेकल बड़ी भारी 

कलेजा थाम के बैठी हूं 

लबों पर आ रहा है दम 

मरी मतवार मनमोहन 

फंसी हूँ आज घर बेढब (ugly) 

यहाँ अब ग़ैर जन (amongst unknown people) सों में 

पकड़ सिर खूब रोती हूं 

दया उर धार (have a heart) मनमोहन 

जुदाई फिर ना हो जानी 

करो इतनी मेहरबानी 

जिऊँ तुमको निरख निश दिन 

करूँ उर हार (taken you in heart) मनमोहन 

लगा लो हंस के सीने से 

लबों का दीजिए बोसा  (kiss)

सरस की अर्ज़ है तुमसे 

ये बारंबार मनमोहन   

(Vinod Agarwal Bhajan Lyrics)

#blogva026 

LIFE IS NOT HAPPENING BY CHANCE, LIFE IS HAPPENING BY YOUR CHOICE #Blog0024

LIFE IS NOT HAPPENING BY CHANCE, LIFE IS HAPPENING BY YOUR CHOICE

आपके जीवन में जो भी कुछ आया है  

जो व्यक्ति जो वस्तु या जो परिस्थिति है  

ना तो वह व्यक्ति है ना वह वस्तु है ना परिस्थिति है  

वह आपका कर्म आकार लेकर आपके सामने आया है,    

Whatever you are facing at any time in life, be it a person, a thing or a circumstance, it is all caused by your own karma and due to nothing else. 

It is wrong to blame anyone else for your fate  which you have written yourself.

यह सब किसी के भेजे नहीं आया है  

Life is not happening by chance, Life is happening by your choice  

कुछ भी अकारण नहीं होता कुछ भी बेवजह नहीं होता,  कोई भी परिस्थिति बिना कारण नहीं आती 

There is nothing happening without a reason

आप ही का संकल्प है यह, यह आप ही के विचार हैं 

This was all bred by your own thoughts, determinations and actions

और आप यदि आज अभी इसी समय अपने प्रति सजग (aware) नहीं होते, तो इसकी क्षति (loss / harm) भी आप ही को है   

and if you have not awaken yourself up to this fact, then the loss is only yours

जो आज सुधार नहीं कर सकता,  वह कभी नहीं सुधर सकता 

One who cannot improve today,  can never improve 

गीता में श्रीकृष्ण अर्जुन को भी यही बता रहे हैं, समझा रहे हैं कि “अर्जुन, तेरा अभी आज इस समय क्या कर्तव्य है, तू वह कर”

In Gita, Krishna is advising Arjuna “This is your duty and you must do it”

DIFFERENCE BETWEN FATE & DESTINY < click to read

BHAGVAT: GOD CREATED THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF YOUR PERSONAL PASTIMES, BUT FOOLISH, UNINTELLIGENT MEN WITH DEMONIAC NATURE HAVE CLAIMED PROPRIETORSHIP FOR MATERIAL ENJOYMENT, 27TH JULY

TRANSLATION

Shrimati Vindhyavali said: O MY LORD, YOU HAVE CREATED THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF YOUR PERSONAL PASTIMES, BUT FOOLISH, UNINTELLIGENT MEN HAVE CLAIMED PROPRIETORSHIP FOR MATERIAL ENJOYMENT. CERTAINLY THEY ARE SHAMELESS AGNOSTICS. FALSELY CLAIMING PROPRIETORSHIP, THEY THINK THEY CAN GIVE CHARITY AND ENJOY. IN SUCH A CONDITION, WHAT GOOD CAN THEY DO FOR YOU, WHO ARE THE INDEPENDENT CREATOR, MAINTAINER AND ANNIHILATOR OF THIS UNIVERSE?

PURPORT

BALI MAHARAJA'S WIFE, WHO WAS MOST INTELLIGENT, SUPPORTED THE ARREST OF HER HUSBAND AND ACCUSED HIM OF HAVING NO INTELLIGENCE BECAUSE HE HAD CLAIMED PROPRIETORSHIP OF THE PROPERTY OF THE LORD. SUCH A CLAIM IS A SIGN OF DEMONIAC LIFE. ALTHOUGH THE DEMIGODS, WHO ARE OFFICIALS APPOINTED BY THE LORD FOR MANAGEMENT, ARE ATTACHED TO MATERIALISTIC ENJOYMENT, THEY NEVER CLAIM TO BE PROPRIETORS OF THE UNIVERSE, FOR THEY KNOW THAT THE ACTUAL PROPRIETOR OF EVERYTHING IS THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD. THIS IS THE QUALIFICATION OF THE DEMIGODS. 

BUT THE DEMONS, INSTEAD OF ACCEPTING THE EXCLUSIVE PROPRIETORSHIP OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, CLAIM THE PROPERTY OF THE UNIVERSE FOR THEMSELVES THROUGH DEMARCATIONS OF NATIONALISM. "THIS PART IS MINE, AND THAT PART IS YOURS," THEY SAY. "THIS PART I CAN GIVE IN CHARITY, AND THIS PART I CAN KEEP FOR MY ENJOYMENT." 

THESE ARE ALL DEMONIAC CONCEPTIONS. 

THIS IS DESCRIBED IN BHAGAVAD-GITA (16.13): IDAM ADYA MAYA LABDHAM IMAM PRAPSYE MANORATHAM. "THUS FAR I HAVE ACQUIRED SO MUCH MONEY AND LAND. NOW I HAVE TO ADD MORE AND MORE. IN THIS WAY I SHALL BE THE GREATEST PROPRIETOR OF EVERYTHING. WHO CAN COMPETE WITH ME?" THESE ARE ALL DEMONIAC CONCEPTIONS.

Bali Maharaja's wife accused Bali Maharaja by saying that although the Supreme Personality of Godhead had arrested him, showing him extraordinary mercy, and although Bali Maharaja was offering his body to the Supreme Lord for the Lord's third step, he was still in the darkness of ignorance. Actually the body did not belong to him, but because of his long-standing demoniac mentality he could not understand this. He thought that since he had been defamed for his inability to fulfill his promise of charity, and since the body belonged to him, he would free himself from defamation by offering his body. Actually, however, the body does not belong to anyone but the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by whom the body is given. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (18.61):

The Lord is situated in the core of everyone's heart, and, according to the material desires of the living entity, the Lord offers a particular type of machine—the body—through the agency of the material energy. The body actually does not belong to the living entity; it belongs to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Under the circumstances, how could Bali Maharaja claim that the body belonged to him?

Thus Vindhyavali, Bali Maharaja's intelligent wife, prayed that her husband be released, by the Lord's causeless mercy. OTHERWISE, BALI MAHARAJA WAS NOTHING BUT A SHAMELESS DEMON, SPECIFICALLY DESCRIBED AS tyakta-hriyas tvad-avaropita-kartr-vadam, A FOOLISH PERSON CLAIMING PROPRIETORSHIP OVER THE PROPERTY OF THE SUPREME PERSON. 

IN THE PRESENT AGE, KALI-YUGA, THE NUMBER OF SUCH SHAMELESS MEN, WHO ARE AGNOSTICS DISBELIEVING IN THE EXISTENCE OF GOD, HAS INCREASED. TRYING TO DEFY THE AUTHORITY OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, SO-CALLED SCIENTISTS, PHILOSOPHERS AND POLITICIANS MANUFACTURE PLANS AND SCHEMES FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE WORLD. THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING GOOD FOR THE WORLD, AND UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF KALI-YUGA, THEY HAVE PLUNGED THE AFFAIRS OF THE WORLD INTO MISMANAGEMENT. 

THUS THERE IS A GREAT NEED FOR THE KRSHNA CONSCIOUSNESS MOVEMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF INNOCENT PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING CARRIED AWAY BY PROPAGANDA OF SUCH DEMONS. IF THE PRESENT STATUS QUO IS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE, PEOPLE WILL CERTAINLY SUFFER MORE AND MORE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THESE DEMONIAC AGNOSTICS.

BHAGVAT MATERIAL OPULENCE IS SO BEWILDERING THAT IT MAKES EVEN A LEARNED, SELF-CONTROLLED MAN FORGET TO SEARCH FOR THE GOAL OF SELF-REALIZATION  26TH JULY

Extract from Srimad Bhagvatam

TRANSLATION

MATERIAL OPULENCE IS SO BEWILDERING THAT IT MAKES EVEN A LEARNED, SELF-CONTROLLED MAN FORGET TO SEARCH FOR THE GOAL OF SELF-REALIZATION. BUT THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, NARAYANA, THE LORD OF THE UNIVERSE, CAN SEE EVERYTHING BY HIS WILL. THEREFORE I OFFER MY RESPECTFUL OBEISANCES UNTO HIM.

PURPORT

THE WORDS ko vicashthe gatim atmano yatha INDICATE THAT WHEN ONE IS PUFFED UP BY THE FALSE PRESTIGE OF POSSESSING MATERIAL OPULENCE, HE CERTAINLY NEGLECTS THE GOAL OF SELF-REALIZATION. THIS IS THE POSITION OF THE MODERN WORLD. BECAUSE OF SO-CALLED SCIENTIFIC IMPROVEMENTS IN MATERIAL OPULENCE, PEOPLE HAVE ENTIRELY GIVEN UP THE PATH OF SELF-REALIZATION. 

PRACTICALLY NO ONE IS INTERESTED IN GOD, ONE'S RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD OR HOW ONE SHOULD ACT. MODERN MEN HAVE ALTOGETHER FORGOTTEN SUCH QUESTIONS BECAUSE THEY ARE MAD FOR MATERIAL POSSESSIONS. IF THIS KIND OF CIVILIZATION CONTINUES, THE TIME WILL SOON COME WHEN THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD WILL TAKE AWAY ALL THE MATERIAL OPULENCES. THEN PEOPLE WILL COME TO THEIR SENSES.

GITA-SHLOKA-4.10 BY THE PROCESS OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE, UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER, ONE CAN ATTAIN THE HIGHEST STAGE, BEING FREED FROM ALL MATERIAL ATTACHMENT 25th July

TRANSLATION

BEING FREED FROM ATTACHMENT, FEAR AND ANGER, BEING FULLY ABSORBED IN ME AND TAKING REFUGE IN ME, MANY, MANY PERSONS IN THE PAST BECAME PURIFLED BY KNOWLEDGE OF ME—AND THUS THEY ALL ATTAINED TRANSCENDENTAL LOVE FOR ME.

PURPORT

AS DESCRIBED ABOVE, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR A PERSON WHO IS TOO MATERIALLY AFFECTED TO UNDERSTAND THE PERSONAL NATURE OF THE SUPREME ABSOLUTE TRUTH.

GENERALLY, PEOPLE WHO ARE ATTACHED TO THE BODILY CONCEPTION OF LIFE ARE SO ABSORBED IN MATERIALISM THAT IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A TRANSCENDENTAL BODY WHICH IS IMPERISHABLE, FULL OF KNOWLEDGE AND ETERNALLY BLISSFUL.

IN THE MATERIALISTIC CONCEPT, THE BODY IS PERISHABLE, FULL OF IGNORANCE AND COMPLETELY MISERABLE.

THEREFORE, PEOPLE IN GENERAL KEEP THIS SAME BODILY IDEA IN MIND WHEN THEY ARE INFORMED OF THE PERSONAL FORM OF THE LORD.

For such materialistic men, the form of the gigantic material manifestation is supreme.

Consequently they consider the Supreme to be impersonal.

And because they are too materially absorbed, the conception of retaining the personality after liberation from matter frightens them.

When they are informed that spiritual life is also individual and personal, they become afraid of becoming persons again, and so they naturally prefer a kind of merging into the impersonal void.

Generally, they compare the living entities to the bubbles of the ocean, which merge into the ocean.

That is the highest perfection of spiritual existence attainable without individual personality.

This is a kind of fearful stage of life, devoid of perfect knowledge of spiritual existence.

FURTHERMORE THERE ARE MANY PERSONS WHO CANNOT UNDERSTAND SPIRITUAL EXISTENCE AT ALL.

BEING EMBARASSED BY SO MANY THEORIES AND BY CONTRADICTIONS OF VARIOUS TYPES OF PHILOSOPHICAL SPECULATION, THEY BECOME DISGUSTED OR ANGRY AND FOOLISHLY CONCLUDE THAT THERE IS NO SUPREME CAUSE AND THAT EVERYTHING IS ULTIMATELY VOID.

SUCH PEOPLE ARE IN A DISEASED CONDITION OF LIFE.

SOME PEOPLE ARE TOO MATERIALLY ATTACHED AND THEREFORE DO NOT GIVE ATTENTION TO SPIRITUAL LIFE, SOME OF THEM WANT TO MERGE INTO THE SUPREME SPIRITUAL CAUSE, AND SOME OF THEM DISBELIEVE IN EVERYTHING, BEING ANGRY AT ALL SORTS OF SPIRITUAL SPECULATION OUT OF HOPELESSNESS.

THIS LAST CLASS OF MEN TAKE TO THE SHELTER OF SOME KIND OF INTOXICATION, AND THEIR AFFECTIVE HALLUCINATIONS ARE SOMETIMES ACCEPTED AS SPIRITUAL VISION.

ONE HAS TO GET RID OF ALL THREE STAGES OF ATTACHMENT TO THE MATERIAL WORLD: NEGLIGENCE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE, FEAR OF A SPIRITUAL PERSONAL IDENTITY, AND THE CONCEPTION OF VOID THAT UNDERLIES THE FRUSTRATION OF LIFE.

TO GET FREE FROM THESE THREE STAGES OF THE MATERIAL CONCEPT OF LIFE, ONE HAS TO TAKE COMPLETE SHELTER OF THE LORD, GUIDED BY THE BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER, AND FOLLOW THE DISCIPLINES AND REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES OF DEVOTIONAL LIFE.

THE LAST STAGE OF THE DEVOTIONAL LIFE IS CALLED BHAVA, OR TRANSCENDENTAL LOVE OF GODHEAD.

According to Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, the science of devotional service:

adau sraddha tatah sadhu-sango 'tha bhajana-kriya

tato 'nartha-nivrttih syat tato nistha rucis tatah

athasaktis tato bhavas tatah premabhyudancati

sadhakanam ayam premnah pradurbhave bhavet kramah.

"IN THE BEGINNING ONE MUST HAVE A PRELIMINARY DESIRE FOR SELF-REALIZATION.

THIS WILL BRING ONE TO THE STAGE OF TRYING TO ASSOCIATE WITH PERSONS WHO ARE SPIRITUALLY ELEVATED.

IN NEXT STAGE ONE BECOMES INITIATED BY AN ELEVATED SPIRITUAL MASTER, AND UNDER HIS INSTRUCTION THE NEOPHYTE DEVOTEE BEGINS THE PROCESS OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE.

BY EXECUTION OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE SPIRITUAL MASTER, ONE BECOMES FREE FROM ALL MATERIAL ATTACHMENT, ATTAINS STEADINESS IN SELF-REALIZATION, AND ACQUIRES A TASTE FOR HEARING ABOUT THE ABSOLUTE PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, SRI KRSNA.

THIS TASTE LEADS ONE FURTHER FORWARD TO ATTACHMENT FOR KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, WHICH IS MATURED IN BHAVA, OR THE PRELIMINARY STAGE OF TRANSCENDENTAL LOVE OF GOD.

REAL LOVE FOR GOD IS CALLED PREMA, THE HIGHEST PERFECTIONAL STAGE OF LIFE." IN THE PREMA STAGE THERE IS CONSTANT ENGAGEMENT IN THE TRANSCENDENTAL LOVING SERVICE OF THE LORD.

SO, BY THE SLOW PROCESS OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE, UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THE BONA FIDE SPIRITUAL MASTER, ONE CAN ATTAIN THE HIGHEST STAGE, BEING FREED FROM ALL MATERIAL ATTACHMENT, FROM THE FEARFULNESS OF ONE'S INDIVIDUAL SPIRITUAL PERSONALITY, AND FROM THE FRUSTRATIONS RESULTING FROM VOID PHILOSOPHY.

THEN ONE CAN ULTIMATELY ATTAIN TO THE ABODE OF THE SUPREME LORD.

GITA-SHLOKA-4.9 ONE SHOULD CULTIVATE KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS WITH FAITH AND KNOWLEDGE, AND IN THIS WAY ATTAIN PERFECTION. ONE CANNOT ATTAIN SALVATION, SIMPLY, SO TO SPEAK, BY LICKING THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE BOTTLE OF HONEY 24th July

TRANSLATION

ONE WHO KNOWS THE TRANSCENDENTAL NATURE OF MY APPEARANCE AND ACTIVITIES DOES NOT, UPON LEAVING THE BODY, TAKE HIS BIRTH AGAIN IN THIS MATERIAL WORLD, BUT ATTAINS MY ETERNAL ABODE, O ARJUNA.

PURPORT

The Lord's descent from His transcendental abode is already explained in the 6th verse.

ONE WHO CAN UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH OF THE APPEARANCE OF THE PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD IS ALREADY LIBERATED FROM MATERIAL BONDAGE, AND THEREFORE HE RETURNS TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD IMMEDIATELY AFTER QUITTING THIS PRESENT MATERIAL BODY.

SUCH LIBERATION OF THE LIVING ENTITY FROM MATERIAL BONDAGE IS NOT AT ALL EASY.

THE IMPERSONALISTS AND THE YOGIS ATTAIN LIBERATION ONLY AFTER MUCH TROUBLE AND MANY, MANY BIRTHS.

Even then, the liberation they achieve—merging into the impersonal brahmajyoti of the Lord—is only partial, and there is the risk of returning again to this material world.

BUT THE DEVOTEE, SIMPLY BY UNDERSTANDING THE TRANSCENDENTAL NATURE OF THE BODY AND ACTIVITIES OF THE LORD, ATTAINS THE ABODE OF THE LORD AFTER ENDING THIS BODY AND DOES NOT RUN THE RISK OF RETURNING AGAIN TO THIS MATERIAL WORLD.

In the Brahma-samhita it is stated that the Lord has many, many forms and incarnations: advaitam achyutam anadim ananta-rupam.

ALTHOUGH THERE ARE MANY TRANSCENDENTAL FORMS OF THE LORD, THEY ARE STILL ONE AND THE SAME SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD.

ONE HAS TO UNDERSTAND THIS FACT WITH CONVICTION, ALTHOUGH IT IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE TO MUNDANE SCHOLARS AND EMPIRIC PHILOSOPHERS.

As stated in the Vedas:

eko devo nitya-lilanurakto bhakta-vyapi hrdy antaratma.

"THE ONE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD IS ETERNALLY ENGAGED IN MANY, MANY TRANSCENDENTAL FORMS IN RELATIONSHIPS WITH HIS UNALLOYED DEVOTEES." THIS VEDIC VERSION IS CONFIRMED IN THIS VERSE OF THE GITA PERSONALLY BY THE LORD.

HE WHO ACCEPTS THIS TRUTH ON THE STRENGTH OF THE AUTHORITY OF THE VEDAS AND OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD AND WHO DOES NOT WASTE TIME IN PHILOSOPHICAL SPECULATIONS ATTAINS THE HIGHEST PERFECTIONAL STAGE OF LIBERATION.

SIMPLY BY ACCEPTING THIS TRUTH ON FAITH, ONE CAN, WITHOUT A DOUBT, ATTAIN LIBERATION.

The Vedic version, "tattvamasi," is actually applied in this case.

ANYONE WHO UNDERSTANDS LORD KRSNA TO BE THE SUPREME, OR WHO SAYS UNTO THE LORD, "YOU ARE THE SAME SUPREME BRAHMAN, THE PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD" IS CERTAINLY LIBERATED INSTANTLY, AND CONSEQUENTLY HIS ENTRANCE INTO THE TRANSCENDENTAL ASSOCIATION OF THE LORD IS GUARANTEED.

IN OTHER WORDS, SUCH A FAITHFUL DEVOTEE OF THE LORD ATTAINS PERFECTION, AND THIS IS CONFIRMED BY THE FOLLOWING VEDIC ASSERTION:

tam eva viditvatimrtyumeti nanyah pantha vidyate ayanaya.

ONE CAN ATTAIN THE PERFECT STAGE OF LIBERATION FROM BIRTH AND DEATH SIMPLY BY KNOWING THE LORD, THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD.

THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE BECAUSE ANYONE WHO DOES NOT UNDERSTAND LORD KRSNA AS THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD IS SURELY IN THE MODE OF IGNORANCE.

CONSEQUENTLY HE WILL NOT ATTAIN SALVATION, SIMPLY, SO TO SPEAK, BY LICKING THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE BOTTLE OF HONEY, OR BY INTERPRETING THE BHAGAVAD-GITA ACCORDING TO MUNDANE SCHOLARSHIP.

SUCH EMPIRIC PHILOSOPHERS MAY ASSUME VERY IMPORTANT ROLES IN THE MATERIAL WORLD, BUT THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY ELIGIBLE FOR LIBERATION.

SUCH PUFFED UP MUNDANE SCHOLARS HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE CAUSELESS MERCY OF THE DEVOTEE OF THE LORD.

ONE SHOULD THEREFORE CULTIVATE KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS WITH FAITH AND KNOWLEDGE, AND IN THIS WAY ATTAIN PERFECTION.

कन्हैया को इक दिन रो के पुकारा Vinod Agarwal Bhajan lyrics - Kanhaiyya ko ek din ro ke pukara

“कन्हैया को इक दिन रो के पुकारा”

कन्हैया को इक दिन रो के पुकारा

Crying, I called Lord one day

कहा उनसे जैसा हूं अब हूं मैं तुम्हारा

I told Lord to please accept me as I am 

GOD ASKED ME:

“मुझ तक आने के लिए, साधन किए तूने क्या क्या”

What kind of efforts you are made to reach me

मैं बोला किसे तुमने साधन से तारा

I replied to Lord please tell me whether any one has been able to meet Him based only on his efforts ?

(प्यारे जब भी आपने किसी का उद्धार किया है, उसके गुणों या सतकर्मों को देख कर नहीं किया, आपने हमेशा अहेतु की कृपा ही बरसाई)

Whenever God has graced anybody, it has not been based on mere deeds (as no deed can be so powerful as to get to Lord) alone but because of causeless compassion shown by Lord

वो बोले कि दुनिया में ना आकर किया कुछ

God asked me whether I have done anything special having come to the world

मैं बोला कि अब भेजना मत दोबारा

I replied to Lord therefore not to send me again to the world 

वो बोले परेशान हूं तेरी बहस से

God said I am annoyed at your arguments

मैं बोला ये कहदो तू जीता मैं हारा

I said “ok” that God should agree that I won & He lost

वो बोले कि जरिया तेरा क्या है मुझ तक

God asked me what means I adopted to reach him

मैं बोला कि दृग बिन्दु का है सहारा

I said only “tears of love” have made me reach you

मेरी ग्यानियों में,बड़े ध्यानियों में, गुण मानियों में चर्चा ही ना हो 

I told Lord not to include me amongst wise people, people doing great meditation or other pure devotees

कभी बिन्दु अदालत में पहुँचूँ ,  सुकरम की एक गवाही ना हो

When I reach Your court, let not even pious deed be my witness

करते हो कृपा जो बिन कारण के, तो कृपा करने में कोताही ना हो

Since Your grace flows causelessly, please do not be a miser on showering Your grace on me

किसी कारण से करते हो कृपा, तो कृपा निधी ऐसी कृपा ही ना हो

If Your grace is triggered only by some cause, then O Ocean of Compassion, let me not be blessed by your grace 

(THE IDEA IS THAT SINCE GOD IS SO KIND, I INSIST THAT EVEN WITHOUT ANY PIOUS DEED, HE SHOULD SHOWER ME WITH HIS GRACE BASED ONLY ON MY LOVE FOR HIM)  

(Vinod Agarwal Bhajan lyrics)

Kanhaiyya ko ek din ro ke pukara

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2h9S8UZBkM&list=PLRAMvBuRmm0x5icxg4FEhUf0hhXnG8c1Y&index=2

 

#blogva027 

GITA-SHLOKA-4.6 THE LORD IS ALWAYS THE SAME ABSOLUTE TRUTH AND IS WITHOUT DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN HIS FORM AND SELF, OR BETWEEN HIS QUALITY AND BODY. HE DOES NOT CHANGE HIS BODY, AS THE COMMON LIVING ENTITY CHANGES FROM ONE BODY TO ANOTHER, 21st July

TRANSLATION

ALTHOUGH I AM UNBORN AND MY TRANSCENDENTAL BODY NEVER DETERIORATES, AND ALTHOUGH I AM THE LORD OF ALL SENTIENT BEINGS, I STILL APPEAR IN EVERY MILLENNIUM IN MY ORIGINAL TRANSCENDENTAL FORM.

PURPORT

THE LORD HAS SPOKEN ABOUT THE PECULIARITY OF HIS BIRTH: ALTHOUGH HE MAY APPEAR LIKE AN ORDINARY PERSON, HE REMEMBERS EVERYTHING OF HIS MANY, MANY PAST "BIRTHS," WHEREAS A COMMON MAN CANNOT REMEMBER WHAT HE HAS DONE EVEN A FEW HOURS BEFORE.

If someone is asked what he did exactly at the same time one day earlier, it would be very difficult for a common man to answer immediately.

He would surely have to dredge his memory to recall what he was doing exactly at the same time one day before.

And yet, men often dare claim to be God, or Krsna.

One should not be misled by such meaningless claims.

Then again, the Lord explains His prakrti or His form.

Prakrti means nature as well as svarupa, or one's own form.

THE LORD SAYS THAT HE APPEARS IN HIS OWN BODY.

HE DOES NOT CHANGE HIS BODY, AS THE COMMON LIVING ENTITY CHANGES FROM ONE BODY TO ANOTHER.

THE CONDITIONED SOUL MAY HAVE ONE KIND OF BODY IN THE PRESENT BIRTH, BUT HE HAS A DIFFERENT BODY IN THE NEXT BIRTH.

IN THE MATERIAL WORLD, THE LIVING ENTITY HAS NO FIXED BODY BUT TRANSMIGRATES FROM ONE BODY TO ANOTHER.

THE LORD, HOWEVER, DOES NOT DO SO.

WHENEVER HE APPEARS, HE DOES SO IN THE SAME ORIGINAL BODY, BY HIS INTERNAL POTENCY.

IN OTHER WORDS, KRSNA APPEARS IN THIS MATERIAL WORLD IN HIS ORIGINAL ETERNAL FORM, WITH TWO HANDS, HOLDING A FLUTE.

HE APPEARS EXACTLY IN HIS ETERNAL BODY, UNCONTAMINATED BY THIS MATERIAL WORLD.

ALTHOUGH HE APPEARS IN THE SAME TRANSCENDENTAL BODY AND IS LORD OF THE UNIVERSE, IT STILL APPEARS THAT HE TAKES HIS BIRTH LIKE AN ORDINARY LIVING ENTITY.

DESPITE THE FACT LORD KRSNA GROWS FROM CHILDHOOD TO BOYHOOD AND FROM BOYHOOD TO YOUTH, ASTONISHINGLY ENOUGH HE NEVER AGES BEYOND YOUTH.

AT THE TIME OF THE BATTLE OF KURUKSETRA, HE HAD MANY GRANDCHILDREN AT HOME; OR, IN OTHER WORDS, HE HAD SUFFICIENTLY AGED BY MATERIAL CALCULATIONS.

STILL HE LOOKED JUST LIKE A YOUNG MAN TWENTY OR TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OLD.

WE NEVER SEE A PICTURE OF KRSNA IN OLD AGE BECAUSE HE NEVER GROWS OLD LIKE US, ALTHOUGH HE IS THE OLDEST PERSON IN THE WHOLE CREATION—PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE.

NEITHER HIS BODY NOR HIS INTELLIGENCE EVER DETERIORATES OR CHANGES.

THEREFORE, IT IS CLEAR THAT IN SPITE OF HIS BEING IN THE MATERIAL WORLD, HE IS THE SAME UNBORN, ETERNAL FORM OF BLISS AND KNOWLEDGE, CHANGELESS IN HIS TRANSCENDENTAL BODY AND INTELLIGENCE.

FACTUALLY, HIS APPEARANCE AND DISAPPEARANCE ARE LIKE THE SUN'S RISING, MOVING BEFORE US, AND THEN DISAPPEARING FROM OUR EYESIGHT.

WHEN THE SUN IS OUT OF SIGHT, WE THINK THAT THE SUN IS SET, AND WHEN THE SUN IS BEFORE OUR EYES, WE THINK THAT THE SUN IS ON THE HORIZON.

ACTUALLY, THE SUN IS ALWAYS IN ITS FIXED POSITION, BUT OWING TO OUR DEFECTIVE, INSUFFICIENT SENSES, WE CALCULATE THE APPEARANCE AND DISAPPEARANCE OF THE SUN IN THE SKY.

AND, BECAUSE HIS APPEARANCE AND DISAPPEARANCE ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF ANY ORDINARY, COMMON LIVING ENTITY, IT IS EVIDENT THAT HE IS ETERNAL, BLISSFUL KNOWLEDGE BY HIS INTERNAL POTENCY—AND HE IS NEVER CONTAMINATED BY MATERIAL NATURE.

The Vedas also confirm that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is unborn, yet He still appears to take His birth in multi-manifestations.

The Vedic supplementary literatures also confirm that even though the Lord appears to be taking His birth, He is still without change of body.

In the Bhagavatam, He appears before His mother as Narayana, with four hands and the decorations of the six kinds of full opulences.

His appearance in His original eternal form is His causeless mercy, according to the Visvakosa dictionary.

The Lord is conscious of all of His previous appearances and disappearances, but a common living entity forgets everything about his past body as soon as he gets another body.

HE IS THE LORD OF ALL LIVING ENTITIES BECAUSE HE PERFORMS WONDERFUL AND SUPERHUMAN ACTIVITIES WHILE HE IS ON THIS EARTH.

THEREFORE, THE LORD IS ALWAYS THE SAME ABSOLUTE TRUTH AND IS WITHOUT DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN HIS FORM AND SELF, OR BETWEEN HIS QUALITY AND BODY.

A question may now be raised as to why the Lord appears and disappears in this world.

This is explained in the next verse.

IMPORTANCE OF LOVINGLY SERVING GOD #Blog0023

IMPORTANCE OF LOVINGLY SERVING GOD 

नारद जी भगवान (नारायण) के पास पहुंचे एक बड़ी सुंदर पुस्तिका देखी

भगवान से पूछा यह क्या है

भगवान ने उत्तर दिया इसमें उन भक्तों के नाम है जो मेरा भजन करते हैं

नारद ने कहा तो हमारा नाम भी होगा भगवान ने कहा देखिए, 

खोली पुस्तक - सबसे पहले नारद जी का नाम

नारद जी महाजन है परम भागवत है,भक्ति के सर्वश्रेष्ठ आचार्य हैं

जीव के कल्याण के लिए भक्ति का सांगोपांग (bhakti explained thoroughly) वर्णन सर्वप्रथम नारद जी ने किया है

इसलिए उनका नाम सबसे पहले था तो बहुत प्रसन्न हो गए 

उलट-पुलट सब देखा पुस्तक में हनुमान जी का नाम कहीं नहीं है

हनुमान जी का नाम नहीं है कहीं प्रभु - भगवान बोले हनुमान जी से पूछो

हनुमान जी बैठे थे कहीं राम कथा में, राम कथा हो रही थी, छिपाए अपने रूप को एक कौड़ी के भेष में, कथा सुन रहे हैं

पूछने पर हनुमान जी ने कहा कि हम इसलिए थोड़ी भजन करते हैं कि हमारा किसी पुस्तक में नाम हो

नारद जी फिर नारायण के पास पहुंचे 

वहां एक और सुंदर भव्य (divine) पुस्तिका देखी

पूरी उलट-पुलट कर पुस्तिका पूरी देख ली, उसमें फिर कहीं नाम नहीं हनुमान जी का

भगवान ने कहा कि प्रथम पृष्ठ आपने देखा ही नहीं 

उन्होंने प्रथम पृष्ठ देखा तो हनुमान जी का नाम सबसे ऊपर, केवल एक ही नाम

नारद जी ने प्रभु से पूछा प्रभु इस पुस्तिका में कौन से भक्तों की सूचिका है

नारायण ने कहा कि इसमें उनकी सूचना है जिनका भजन हम करते हैं, जो मुझे प्रिय है

देखिए श्री हनुमान जी केवल अपनी सेवा के बल से किस श्रेणी में पहुंच गए कि भगवान के हृदय के स्वामी हो गए

“राम दुआरे तुम रखवारे, होत ना आज्ञा बिनु पैसारे”

 Once Narada ji went to God and saw a beautiful book kept next to God. 

On asking about this book, God told Narada that it is the list of devotees who sing His bhajans. 

On exploring the book, Narada found his name on the top of the first page as Narada is forever ever chanting Lord’s name.

Naturally he was elated. But he was puzzled too why Hanuman ji's name was not there in that book.

On enquiry, God told Narada to ask Hanuman ji himself. 

So Narada went to Hanuman ji who was sitting in a Ram katha disguised as a leper at the back so that none could recognise him. 

Narada asked about the book with God. 

Hanuman ji replied that he is not concerned about his name appearing in any book & that he simply loves God for God’s sake.

Not satisfied with the answer Narada went to God again, then he saw another lovely book kept near God. 

On query, God offered him the book to browse. 

And in that book, Narada found Hanuman ji’s name at the top of the first page.

On asking what does this book contain, God said this is the list of devotees for whom God Himself sings bhajans.

Imagine the status achieved by Hanuman ji on the strength of seva to God that he is made to sit in God’s heart.

 

GITA-SHLOKA-4.4, THE ATHEISTS, WHO CONSIDER KRSNA AN ORDINARY MAN, MAY IN THIS WAY COME TO KNOW THAT KRSNA IS SUPERHUMAN, THAT HE IS SAT-CHIT-ANANDA-VIGRAHA—THE ETERNAL FORM OF BLISS AND KNOWLEDGE—THAT HE IS TRANSCENDENTAL, AND THAT HE IS ABOVE THE DOMINATION OF THE MODES OF MATERIAL NATURE AND ABOVE THE INFLUENCE OF TIME AND SPACE, 19th July

TRANSLATION

Arjuna said: The sun-god Vivasvan is senior by birth to You. How am I to understand that in the beginning You instructed this science to him?

PURPORT

Arjuna is an accepted devotee of the Lord, so how could he not believe Krsna's words? The fact is that Arjuna is not inquiring for himself but for those who do not believe in the Supreme Personality of Godhead or for the demons who do not like the idea that Krsna should be accepted as the Supreme Personality of Godhead; for them only Arjuna inquires on this point, as if he were himself not aware of the Personality of Godhead, or Krsna.

AS IT WILL BE EVIDENT FROM THE TENTH CHAPTER, ARJUNA KNEW PERFECTLY WELL THAT KRSNA IS THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, THE FOUNTAINHEAD OF EVERYTHING AND THE LAST WORD IN TRANSCENDENCE.

Of course, Krsna also appeared as the son of Devaki on this earth.

HOW KRSNA REMAINED THE SAME SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, THE ETERNAL, ORIGINAL PERSON, IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR AN ORDINARY MAN TO UNDERSTAND.

Therefore, to clarify this point, Arjuna put this question before Krsna so that He Himself could speak authoritatively.

THAT KRSNA IS THE SUPREME AUTHORITY IS ACCEPTED BY THE WHOLE WORLD, NOT ONLY AT PRESENT, BUT FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL, AND THE DEMONS ALONE REJECT HIM.

ANYWAY, SINCE KRSNA IS THE AUTHORITY ACCEPTED BY ALL, ARJUNA PUT THIS QUESTION BEFORE HIM IN ORDER THAT KRSNA WOULD DESCRIBE HIMSELF WITHOUT BEING DEPICTED BY THE DEMONS WHO ALWAYS TRY TO DISTORT HIM IN A WAY UNDERSTANDABLE TO THE DEMONS AND THEIR FOLLOWERS.

IT IS NECESSARY THAT EVERYONE, FOR HIS OWN INTEREST, KNOW THE SCIENCE OF KRSNA.

THEREFORE, WHEN KRSNA HIMSELF SPEAKS ABOUT HIMSELF, IT IS AUSPICIOUS FOR ALL THE WORLDS.

TO THE DEMONS, SUCH EXPLANATIONS BY KRSNA HIMSELF MAY APPEAR TO BE STRANGE BECAUSE THE DEMONS ALWAYS STUDY KRSNA FROM THEIR OWN STANDPOINT, BUT THOSE WHO ARE DEVOTEES HEARTILY WELCOME THE STATEMENTS OF KRSNA WHEN THEY ARE SPOKEN BY KRSNA HIMSELF.

The devotees will always worship such authoritative statements of Krsna because they are always eager to know more and more about Him.

THE ATHEISTS, WHO CONSIDER KRSNA AN ORDINARY MAN, MAY IN THIS WAY COME TO KNOW THAT KRSNA IS SUPERHUMAN, THAT HE IS SAC-CID-ANANDA-VIGRAHA—THE ETERNAL FORM OF BLISS AND KNOWLEDGE—THAT HE IS TRANSCENDENTAL, AND THAT HE IS ABOVE THE DOMINATION OF THE MODES OF MATERIAL NATURE AND ABOVE THE INFLUENCE OF TIME AND SPACE.

A devotee of Krsna's, like Arjuna, is undoubtedly above any misunderstanding of the transcendental position of Krsna.

ARJUNA'S PUTTING THIS QUESTION BEFORE THE LORD IS SIMPLY AN ATTEMPT BY THE DEVOTEE TO DEFY THE ATHEISTIC ATTITUDE OF PERSONS WHO CONSIDER KRSNA TO BE AN ORDINARY HUMAN BEING SUBJECT TO THE MODES OF MATERIAL NATURE.

GITA-SHLOKA-4.2 & 4.3 BHAGAVAD-GITA WAS NEVER MEANT FOR THE DEMONIC PERSONS. DEMONS DO NOT BELIEVE IN GOD BUT SIMPLY ENJOY THE PROPERTY OF THE SUPREME, 18th July

GITA-SHLOKA-4.2, BHAGAVAD-GITA WAS NEVER MEANT FOR THE DEMONIC PERSONS. DEMONS DO NOT BELIEVE IN GOD BUT SIMPLY ENJOY THE PROPERTY OF THE SUPREME, 18th July

TRANSLATION

This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost.

PURPORT

It is clearly stated that the Gita was especially meant for the saintly kings because they were to execute its purpose in ruling over the citizens.

Certainly Bhagavad-gita was never meant for the demonic persons, who would dissipate its value for no one's benefit and would devise all types of interpretations according to personal whims.

As soon as the original purpose was scattered by the motives of the unscrupulous commentators, there arose the need to reestablish the disciplic succession.

Five thousand years ago it was detected by the Lord Himself that the disciplic succession was broken, and therefore He declared that the purpose of the Gita appeared to be lost.

In the same way, at the present moment also there are so many editions of the Gita (especially in English), but almost all of them are not according to authorized disciplic succession.

There are innumerable interpretations rendered by different mundane scholars, but almost all of them do not accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, although they make a good business on the words of Sri Krsna.

THIS SPIRIT IS DEMONIC, BECAUSE DEMONS DO NOT BELIEVE IN GOD BUT SIMPLY ENJOY THE PROPERTY OF THE SUPREME.

Since there is a great need of an edition of the Gita in English, as it is received by the parampara (disciplic succession) system, an attempt is made herewith to fulfill this great want.

BHAGAVAD-GITA—ACCEPTED AS IT IS—IS A GREAT BOON TO HUMANITY; BUT IF IT IS ACCEPTED AS A TREATISE OF PHILOSOPHICAL SPECULATIONS, IT IS SIMPLY A WASTE OF TIME.

Gita Shloka 4.3

TRANSLATION

That very ancient science of the relationship with the Supreme is today told by Me to you because you are My devotee as well as My friend; therefore you can understand the transcendental mystery of this science.

PURPORT

There are two classes of men, namely the devotee and the demon.

The Lord selected Arjuna as the recipient of this great science owing to his becoming the devotee of the Lord, but for the demon it is not possible to understand this great mysterious science.

There are a number of editions of this great book of knowledge, and some of them have commentaries by the devotees, and some of them have commentaries by the demons.

Commentation by the devotees is real, whereas that of the demons is useless.

Arjuna accepts Sri Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and any commentary on the Gita following in the footsteps of Arjuna is real devotional service to the cause of this great science.

The demonic, however, concoct something about Krsna and mislead the public and general readers from the path of Krsna's instructions.

One should try to follow the disciplic succession from Arjuna, and thus be benefitted.

GITA SHLOKA 4.1, GITA WAS SPOKEN AT LEAST 120,400,000 YEARS AGO BY LOD TO SUN GOD; AND IN HUMAN SOCIETY IT HAS BEEN EXTANT FOR TWO MILLION YEARS. IT WAS RESPOKEN BY THE LORD AGAIN TO ARJUNA ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND YEARS AGO, 17th July

GITA SHLOKA 4.1, GITA WAS SPOKEN AT LEAST 120,400,000 YEARS AGO BY LORD TO SUN GOD; AND IN HUMAN SOCIETY IT HAS BEEN EXTANT FOR TWO MILLION YEARS.  IT WAS RESPOKEN BY THE LORD AGAIN TO ARJUNA ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND YEARS AGO, 17th July

TRANSLATION

The Blessed Lord said: I instructed this imperishable science of yoga to the sun-god, Vivasvan, and Vivasvan instructed it to Manu, the 

father of mankind, and Manu in turn instructed it to Iksvaku.

PURPORT

Herein we find the history of the Bhagavad-gita traced from a remote time when it was delivered to the royal order, the kings of all planets. This science is especially meant for the protection of the inhabitants and therefore the royal order should understand it in order to be able to rule the citizens and protect them from the material bondage to lust. 

HUMAN LIFE IS MEANT FOR CULTIVATION OF SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE, IN ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, AND THE EXECUTIVE HEADS OF ALL STATES AND ALL PLANETS ARE OBLIGED TO IMPART THIS LESSON TO THE CITIZENS BY EDUCATION, CULTURE AND DEVOTION. 

IN OTHER WORDS, THE EXECUTIVE HEADS OF ALL STATES ARE INTENDED TO SPREAD THE SCIENCE OF KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS SO THAT THE PEOPLE MAY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS GREAT SCIENCE AND PURSUE A SUCCESSFUL PATH, UTILIZING THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE HUMAN FORM OF LIFE.

In this millennium, the sun-god is known as Vivasvan, the king of the sun, which is the origin of all planets within the solar system. In the Brahma-samhita it is stated:

yac-caksur esa savita sakala-grahanam

raja samasta-sura-murttir asesa-tejah

yasyajnaya bhramati sambhrta-kalacakro

govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami

"LET ME WORSHIP," LORD BRAHMA SAID, "THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, GOVINDA [KRSNA], WHO IS THE ORIGINAL PERSON AND UNDER WHOSE ORDER THE SUN, WHICH IS THE KING OF ALL PLANETS, IS ASSUMING IMMENSE POWER AND HEAT. THE SUN REPRESENTS THE EYE OF THE LORD AND TRAVERSES ITS ORBIT IN OBEDIENCE TO HIS ORDER."

THE SUN IS THE KING OF THE PLANETS, AND THE SUN-GOD (AT PRESENT OF THE NAME VIVASVAN) RULES THE SUN PLANET, WHICH IS CONTROLLING ALL OTHER PLANETS BY SUPPLYING HEAT AND LIGHT. HE IS ROTATING UNDER THE ORDER OF KRSNA, AND LORD KRSNA ORIGINALLY MADE VIVASVAN HIS FIRST DISCIPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE SCIENCE OF BHAGAVAD-GITA. 

THE GITA IS NOT, THEREFORE, A SPECULATIVE TREATISE FOR THE INSIGNIFICANT MUNDANE SCHOLAR BUT IS A STANDARD BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE COMING DOWN FROM TIME IMMEMORIAL. 

In the Mahabharata (Santi-parva 348.51-52) we can trace out the history of the Gita as follows:

treta-yugadau ca tato vivasvan manave dadau

manus ca loka-bhrty-artham sutayeksvakave dadau

iksvakuna ca kathito vyapya lokan avasthitah

"IN THE BEGINNING OF THE TRETA-YUGA [MILLENNIUM] THIS SCIENCE OF THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SUPREME WAS DELIVERED BY VIVASVAN TO MANU. MANU, BEING THE FATHER OF MANKIND, GAVE IT TO HIS SON MAHARAJA IKSVAKU, THE KING OF THIS EARTH PLANET AND FOREFATHER OF THE RAGHU DYNASTY IN WHICH LORD RAMACHANDRA APPEARED. THEREFORE, BHAGAVAD-GITA EXISTED IN THE HUMAN SOCIETY FROM THE TIME OF MAHARAJA IKSVAKU."

AT THE PRESENT MOMENT WE HAVE JUST PASSED THROUGH FIVE THOUSAND YEARS OF THE KALI-YUGA, WHICH LASTS 432,000 YEARS. BEFORE THIS THERE WAS DVAPARA-YUGA (800,000 YEARS), AND BEFORE THAT THERE WAS TRETA-YUGA (1,200,000 YEARS). THUS, SOME 2,005,000 YEARS AGO, MANU SPOKE THE BHAGAVAD-GITA TO HIS DISCIPLE AND SON MAHARAJA LKSVAKU, THE KING OF THIS PLANET EARTH. 

The age of the current Manu is calculated to last some 305,300,000 years, of which 120,400,000 have passed. Accepting that before the birth of Manu, the Gita was spoken by the Lord to His disciple, the sun-god Vivasvan, a rough estimate is that the Gita was spoken at least 120,400,000 years ago; and in human society it has been extant for two million years. 

It was respoken by the Lord again to Arjuna about five thousand years ago. That is the rough estimate of the history of the Gita, according to the Gita itself and according to the version of the speaker, Lord Sri Krsna. It was spoken to the sun-god Vivasvan because he is also a ksatriya and is the father of all ksatriyas who are descendants of the sun-god, or the surya-vamsa ksatriyas. 

BECAUSE BHAGAVAD-GITA IS AS GOOD AS THE VEDAS, BEING SPOKEN BY THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, THIS KNOWLEDGE IS APAURUSEYA, SUPERHUMAN. 

SINCE THE VEDIC INSTRUCTIONS ARE ACCEPTED AS THEY ARE, WITHOUT HUMAN INTERPRETATION, THE GITA MUST THEREFORE BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT MUNDANE INTERPRETATION. THE MUNDANE WRANGLERS MAY SPECULATE ON THE GITA IN THEIR OWN WAYS, BUT THAT IS NOT BHAGAVAD-GITA AS IT IS. THEREFORE, BHAGAVAD-GITA HAS TO BE ACCEPTED AS IT IS, FROM THE DISCIPLIC SUCCESSION, AND IT IS DESCRIBED HEREIN THAT THE LORD SPOKE TO THE SUN-GOD, THE SUN-GOD SPOKE TO HIS SON MANU, AND MANU SPOKE TO HIS SON IKSVAKU.

GITA SHLOKA 3.43 KNOWING ONESELF TO BE TRANSCENDENTAL TO MATERIAL SENSES, MIND AND INTELLIGENCE, ONE SHOULD CONTROL THE LOWER SELF BY THE HIGHER SELF AND THUS—BY SPIRITUAL STRENGTH—CONQUER THIS INSATIABLE ENEMY KNOWN AS LUST.16TH JULY

GITA SHLOKA 3.43 KNOWING ONESELF TO BE TRANSCENDENTAL TO MATERIAL SENSES, MIND AND INTELLIGENCE, ONE SHOULD CONTROL THE LOWER SELF BY THE HIGHER SELF AND THUS—BY SPIRITUAL STRENGTH—CONQUER THIS INSATIABLE ENEMY KNOWN AS LUST.

TRANSLATION

THUS KNOWING ONESELF TO BE TRANSCENDENTAL TO MATERIAL SENSES, MIND AND INTELLIGENCE, ONE SHOULD CONTROL THE LOWER SELF BY THE HIGHER SELF AND THUS—BY SPIRITUAL STRENGTH—CONQUER THIS INSATIABLE ENEMY KNOWN AS LUST.

PURPORT

THIS THIRD CHAPTER OF THE BHAGAVAD-GITA IS CONCLUSIVELY DIRECTIVE TO KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS BY KNOWING ONESELF AS THE ETERNAL SERVITOR OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, WITHOUT CONSIDERING IMPERSONAL VOIDNESS AS THE ULTIMATE END.

IN THE MATERIAL EXISTENCE OF LIFE, ONE IS CERTAINLY INFLUENCED BY PROPENSITIES FOR LUST AND DESIRE FOR DOMINATING THE RESOURCES OF MATERIAL NATURE.

DESIRE FOR OVERLORDING AND SENSE GRATIFICATION ARE THE GREATEST ENEMIES OF THE CONDITIONED SOUL; BUT BY THE STRENGTH OF KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, ONE CAN CONTROL THE MATERIAL SENSES, THE MIND AND THE INTELLIGENCE.

ONE MAY NOT GIVE UP WORK AND PRESCRIBED DUTIES ALL OF A SUDDEN; BUT BY GRADUALLY DEVELOPING KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, ONE CAN BE SITUATED IN A TRANSCENDENTAL POSITION WITHOUT BEING INFLUENCED BY THE MATERIAL SENSES AND THE MIND—BY STEADY INTELLIGENCE DIRECTED TOWARD ONE'S PURE IDENTITY.

THIS IS THE SUM TOTAL OF THIS CHAPTER.

IN THE IMMATURE STAGE OF MATERIAL EXISTENCE, PHILOSOPHICAL SPECULATIONS AND ARTIFICIAL ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL THE SENSES BY THE SO-CALLED PRACTICE OF YOGIC POSTURES CAN NEVER HELP A MAN TOWARD SPIRITUAL LIFE.

HE MUST BE TRAINED IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS BY HIGHER INTELLIGENCE.

Bhagvat THE GOAL OF LIFE IS TO BECOME A DEVOTEE OF LORD KRSHNA SO THAT ONE MAY BE FREED FROM THE BONDAGE OF MATERIAL EXISTENCE. THE SPIRITUAL MASTER HELPS THE DISCIPLE ATTAIN THIS STAGE BY DEVELOPING KRSHNA CONSCIOUSNESS,15th July

Bhagvat THE GOAL OF LIFE IS TO BECOME A DEVOTEE OF LORD KRSHNA SO THAT ONE MAY BE FREED FROM THE BONDAGE OF MATERIAL EXISTENCE. THE SPIRITUAL MASTER HELPS THE DISCIPLE ATTAIN THIS STAGE BY DEVELOPING KRSHNA CONSCIOUSNESS

TRANSLATION

Shri Shukadeva Gosvami said: O King Parikshit, when Bali Maharaja was thus advised by his spiritual master, Shukracarya, his family priest, he remained silent for some time, and then, after full deliberation, he replied to his spiritual master as follows.

PURPORT

Shrila Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura remarks that Bali Maharaja remained silent at a critical point. How could he disobey the instruction of Shukracharya, his spiritual master? It is the duty of such a sober personality as Bali Maharaja to abide by the orders of his spiritual master immediately, as his spiritual master had advised. BUT BALI MAHARAJA ALSO CONSIDERED THAT SHUKRACHARYA WAS NO LONGER TO BE ACCEPTED AS A SPIRITUAL MASTER, FOR HE HAD DEVIATED FROM THE DUTY OF A SPIRITUAL MASTER. 

ACCORDING TO SHASTRA, THE DUTY OF THE GURU IS TO TAKE THE DISCIPLE BACK HOME, BACK TO GODHEAD. IF HE IS UNABLE TO DO SO AND INSTEAD HINDERS THE DISCIPLE IN GOING BACK TO GODHEAD, HE SHOULD NOT BE A GURU. Gurur na sa syat (Bhag. 5.5.18). ONE SHOULD NOT BECOME A GURU IF HE CANNOT ENABLE HIS DISCIPLE TO ADVANCE IN KRSHNA CONSCIOUSNESS. 

THE GOAL OF LIFE IS TO BECOME A DEVOTEE OF LORD KRSHNA SO THAT ONE MAY BE FREED FROM THE BONDAGE OF MATERIAL EXISTENCE (tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti so 'rjuna). THE SPIRITUAL MASTER HELPS THE DISCIPLE ATTAIN THIS STAGE BY DEVELOPING KRSHNA CONSCIOUSNESS. Now Shukracarya has advised Bali Maharaja to deny the promise to Vamanadeva. 

UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THEREFORE, BALI MAHARAJA THOUGHT THAT THERE WOULD BE NO FAULT IF HE DISOBEYED THE ORDER OF HIS SPIRITUAL MASTER. HE DELIBERATED ON THIS POINT—SHOULD HE ACCEPT THE ADVICE OF HIS SPIRITUAL MASTER, AND SHOULD HE INDEPENDENTLY DO EVERYTHING TO PLEASE THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD? HE TOOK SOME TIME. Therefore it is said, tüshnim bhütva kshanam rajann uvacavahito gurum. AFTER DELIBERATING ON THIS POINT, HE DECIDED THAT LORD VISHNU SHOULD BE PLEASED IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, EVEN AT THE RISK OF IGNORING THE GURU'S ADVICE TO THE CONTRARY.

ANYONE WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE A GURU BUT WHO GOES AGAINST THE PRINCIPLE OF VISHNU-BHAKTI CANNOT BE ACCEPTED AS GURU. IF ONE HAS FALSELY ACCEPTED SUCH A GURU, ONE SHOULD REJECT HIM. Such a guru is described as follows (Mahabharata, Udyoga 179.25):

SHRILA JIVA GOSVAMI HAS ADVISED THAT SUCH A USELESS GURU, A FAMILY PRIEST ACTING AS GURU, SHOULD BE GIVEN UP, AND THAT THE PROPER, BONA-FIDE GURU SHOULD BE ACCEPTED.

"A SCHOLARLY BRAHMANA EXPERT IN ALL SUBJECTS OF VEDIC KNOWLEDGE IS UNFIT TO BECOME A SPIRITUAL MASTER WITHOUT BEING A VAISHNAVA, BUT IF A PERSON BORN IN A FAMILY OF A LOWER CASTE IS A VAISHNAVA, HE CAN BECOME A SPIRITUAL MASTER." (Padma Purana)

GITA SHLOKA 3.41 ONE SHOULD CURB THIS GREAT SYMBOL OF SIN [LUST] BY REGULATING THE SENSES, AND SLAY THIS DESTROYER OF KNOWLEDGE AND SELF-REALIZATION 14TH JULY

GITA SHLOKA 3.41 ONE SHOULD CURB THIS GREAT SYMBOL OF SIN [LUST] BY REGULATING THE SENSES, AND SLAY THIS DESTROYER OF KNOWLEDGE AND SELF-REALIZATION 

TRANSLATION

Therefore, O Arjuna, best of the Bharatas, in the very beginning curb this great symbol of sin [lust] by regulating the senses, and slay this destroyer of knowledge and self-realization.

PURPORT

The Lord advised Arjuna to regulate the senses from the very beginning so that he could curb the greatest sinful enemy, lust, which destroys the urge for self-realization, and specifically, knowledge of the self.

Jnanam (ज्ञान) refers to knowledge of self as distinguished from non-self, or, in other words, knowledge that the spirit soul is not the body.

Vijnanam (अध्यात्म) refers to specific knowledge of the spirit soul and knowledge of one's constitutional position and his relationship to the Supreme Soul.

It is explained thus in the Srimad-Bhagavatam: jnanam parama-guhyam me yad-vijnana-samanvitam / sarahasyam tad-angam ca grhana gaditam maya: 

"THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SELF AND THE SUPREME SELF IS VERY CONFIDENTIAL AND MYSTERIOUS, BEING VEILED BY MAYA, BUT SUCH KNOWLEDGE AND SPECIFIC REALIZATION CAN BE UNDERSTOOD IF IT IS EXPLAINED BY THE LORD HIMSELF." BHAGAVAD-GITA GIVES US THAT KNOWLEDGE, SPECIFICALLY KNOWLEDGE OF THE SELF.

THE LIVING ENTITIES ARE PARTS AND PARCELS OF THE LORD, AND THEREFORE THEY ARE SIMPLY MEANT TO SERVE THE LORD.

THIS CONSCIOUSNESS IS CALLED KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS.

SO, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF LIFE ONE HAS TO LEARN THIS KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, AND THEREBY ONE MAY BECOME FULLY KRSNA CONSCIOUS AND ACT ACCORDINGLY.

LUST IS ONLY THE PERVERTED REFLECTION OF THE LOVE OF GOD WHICH IS NATURAL FOR EVERY LIVING ENTITY.

BUT IF ONE IS EDUCATED IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, THAT NATURAL LOVE OF GOD CANNOT DETERIORATE INTO LUST.

WHEN LOVE OF GOD DETERIORATES INTO LUST, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO RETURN TO THE NORMAL CONDITION.

NONETHELESS, KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS IS SO POWERFUL THAT EVEN A LATE BEGINNER CAN BECOME A LOVER OF GOD BY FOLLOWING THE REGULATIVE PRINCIPLES OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE.

SO, FROM ANY STAGE OF LIFE, OR FROM THE TIME OF UNDERSTANDING ITS URGENCY, ONE CAN BEGIN REGULATING THE SENSES IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS, DEVOTIONAL SERVICE OF THE LORD, AND TURN THE LUST INTO LOVE OF GODHEAD—THE HIGHEST PERFECTIONAL STAGE OF HUMAN LIFE.

GITA SHLOKA 3.40  A HUMAN BEING WHO IDENTIFIES THIS BODY MADE OF THREE ELEMENTS WITH HIS SELF, WHO CONSIDERS THE BY-PRODUCTS OF THE BODY TO BE HIS KINSMEN, WHO CONSIDERS THE LAND OF BIRTH AS WORSHIPABLE, AND WHO GOES TO THE PLACE OF PILGRIMAGE SIMPLY TO TAKE A BATH RATHER THAN MEET MEN OF TRANSCENDENTAL KNOWLEDGE THERE, IS TO BE CONSIDERED AS AN ASS OR A COW. 13TH JULY

TRANSLATION

The senses, the mind and the intelligence are the sitting places of this lust, which veils the real knowledge of the living entity and bewilders him.

PURPORT

The enemy has captured different strategic positions in the body of the conditioned soul, and therefore Lord Krsna is giving hints of those places, so that one who wants to conquer the enemy may know where he can be found.

 Mind is the center of all the activities of the senses, and thus the mind is the reservoir of all ideas of sense gratification; and, as a result, the mind and the senses become the repositories of lust.

 Next, the intelligence department becomes the capital of such lustful propensities.

 Intelligence is the immediate next-door neighbor of the spirit soul.

 Lusty intelligence influences the spirit soul to acquire the false ego and identify itself with matter, and thus with the mind and senses.

 The spirit soul becomes addicted to enjoying the material senses and mistakes this as true happiness.

 This false identification of the spirit soul is very nicely explained in the Srimad-Bhagavatam:

yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke

sva-dhih kalatradisu bhauma idyadhih

yat-tirtha-buddhih salite na karhicij

janesv abhijnesu sa eva gokharah.

"A HUMAN BEING WHO IDENTIFIES THIS BODY MADE OF THREE ELEMENTS WITH HIS SELF, WHO CONSIDERS THE BY-PRODUCTS OF THE BODY TO BE HIS KINSMEN, WHO CONSIDERS THE LAND OF BIRTH AS WORSHIPABLE, AND WHO GOES TO THE PLACE OF PILGRIMAGE SIMPLY TO TAKE A BATH RATHER THAN MEET MEN OF TRANSCENDENTAL KNOWLEDGE THERE, IS TO BE CONSIDERED AS AN ASS OR A COW."

Bhagvat: ALTHOUGH THE BODY IS TEMPORARY, NOT ETERNAL, ONE CAN TAKE FROM IT THE BEST SERVICE AND MAKE ONE'S LIFE PERFECT,12th JUly

Bhagvat: ALTHOUGH THE BODY IS TEMPORARY, NOT ETERNAL, ONE CAN TAKE FROM IT THE BEST SERVICE AND MAKE ONE'S LIFE PERFECT

TRANSLATION

THEREFORE ONE WHO IS IN FULL KNOWLEDGE SHOULD DIVIDE HIS ACCUMULATED WEALTH IN FIVE PARTS—FOR RELIGION, FOR REPUTATION, FOR OPULENCE, FOR SENSE GRATIFICATION AND FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF HIS FAMILY MEMBERS. SUCH A PERSON IS HAPPY IN THIS WORLD AND IN THE NEXT.

PURPORT

The shastras enjoin that if one has money one should divide all that he has accumulated into five divisions—one part for religion, one part for reputation, one part for opulence, one part for sense gratification and one part to maintain the members of his family. 

At the present, however, because people are bereft of all knowledge, they spend all their money for the satisfaction of their family. 

SHRILA RÜPA GOSVAMI TAUGHT US BY HIS OWN EXAMPLE BY USING FIFTY PERCENT OF HIS ACCUMULATED WEALTH FOR KRSHNA, TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT FOR HIS OWN SELF, AND TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT FOR THE MEMBERS OF HIS FAMILY. One's main purpose should be to advance in Krshna consciousness. This will include dharma, artha and kama. However, because one's family members expect some profit, one should also satisfy them by giving them a portion of one's accumulated wealth. This is a shastric injunction.

TRANSLATION

The Vedas enjoin that the factual result of the tree of the body is the good fruits and flowers derived from it. But if the bodily tree does not exist, there is no possibility of factual fruits and flowers. Even if the body is based on untruth, there cannot be factual fruits and flowers without the help of the bodily tree.

PURPORT

This shloka explains that in relation to the material body even the factual truth cannot exist without a touch of untruth. The Mayavadis say, brahma satyam jagan mithya: "The spirit soul is truth, and the external energy is untruth." The Vaishnava philosophers, however, do not agree with the Mayavada philosophy. 

Even if for the sake of argument the material world is accepted as untruth, the living entity entangled in the illusory energy cannot come out of it without the help of the body. Without the help of the body, one cannot follow a system of religion, nor can one speculate on philosophical perfection. Therefore, the flower and fruit (pushpa-phalam) have to be obtained as a result of the body. Without the help of the body, that fruit cannot be gained. 

THE VAISHNAVA PHILOSOPHY THEREFORE RECOMMENDS YUKTA-VAIRAGYA. IT IS NOT THAT ALL ATTENTION SHOULD BE DIVERTED FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE BODY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME ONE'S BODILY MAINTENANCE SHOULD NOT BE NEGLECTED. AS LONG AS THE BODY EXISTS ONE CAN THOROUGHLY STUDY THE VEDIC INSTRUCTIONS, AND THUS AT THE END OF LIFE ONE CAN ACHIEVE PERFECTION. THIS IS EXPLAINED IN BHAGAVAD-GITA (8.6): yam yam vapi smaran bhavam tyajaty ante kalevaram. EVERYTHING IS EXAMINED AT THE TIME OF DEATH. THEREFORE, ALTHOUGH THE BODY IS TEMPORARY, NOT ETERNAL, ONE CAN TAKE FROM IT THE BEST SERVICE AND MAKE ONE'S LIFE PERFECT.

GITA SHLOKA 3.38, IN THE HUMAN FORM OF LIFE, ONE CAN CONQUER THE ENEMY, LUST (ROOT CAUSE FOR BONDING TO REBIRTHS), BY CULTIVATION OF KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS UNDER ABLE GUIDANCE, 11TH JULY

TRANSLATION

As fire is covered by smoke, as a mirror is covered by dust, or as the embryo is covered by the womb, similarly, the living entity is covered by different degrees of this lust.

PURPORT

There are three degrees of covering of the living entity by which his pure consciousness is obscured.

This covering is but lust under different manifestations like smoke in the fire, dust on the mirror, and the womb about the embryo.

When lust is compared to smoke, it is understood that the fire of the living spark can be a little perceived.

In other words, when the living entity exhibits his Krsna consciousness slightly, he may be likened to the fire covered by smoke.

Although fire is necessary where there is smoke, there is no overt manifestation of fire in the early stage.

This stage is like the beginning of Krsna consciousness.

The dust on the mirror refers to a cleansing process of the mirror of the mind by so many spiritual methods.

The best process is to chant the holy names of the Lord.

The embryo covered by the womb is an analogy illustrating a helpless position, for the child in the womb is so helpless that he cannot even move.

This stage of living condition can be compared to that of the trees.

The trees are also living entities, but they have been put in such a condition of life by such a great exhibition of lust that they are almost void of all consciousness.

The covered mirror is compared to the birds and beasts, and the smoke covered fire is compared to the human being.

In the form of a human being, the living entity may revive a little Krsna consciousness, and, if he makes further development, the fire of spiritual life can be kindled in the human form of life.

By careful handling of the smoke in the fire, the fire can be made to blaze.

Therefore the human form of life is a chance for the living entity to escape the entanglement of material existence.

In the human form of life, one can conquer the enemy, lust, by cultivation of Krsna consciousness under able guidance.