Bhagvat: In his bewildered state, the living entity, accepting the body and mind to be the self, considers some people to be his kinsmen and others to be outsiders. Because of this misconception, he suffers. Indeed, the accumulation of such concocted material ideas is the cause of suffering and so-called happiness in the material world, 14th Sept

Bhagvat: In his bewildered state, the living entity, accepting the body and mind to be the self, considers some people to be his kinsmen and others to be outsiders. Because of this misconception, he suffers. Indeed, the accumulation of such concocted material ideas is the cause of suffering and so-called happiness in the material world. The conditioned soul thus situated must take birth in different species and work in various types of consciousness, thus creating new bodies. This continued material life is called samsära. Birth, death, lamentation, foolishness and anxiety are due to such material considerations. Thus we sometimes come to a proper understanding and sometimes fall again to a wrong conception of life. We are controlled by higher authorities; our personal power or endeavor is not always supreme. We must therefore accept the position offered to us by the order of the Supreme.

TRANSLATION

In his bewildered state, the living entity, accepting the body and mind to be the self, considers some people to be his kinsmen and others to be outsiders. Because of this misconception, he suffers. Indeed, the accumulation of such concocted material ideas is the cause of suffering and so-called happiness in the material world. The conditioned soul thus situated must take birth in different species and work in various types of consciousness, thus creating new bodies. This continued material life is called samsära. Birth, death, lamentation, foolishness and anxiety are due to such material considerations. Thus we sometimes come to a proper understanding and sometimes fall again to a wrong conception of life.

TRANSLATION

In this regard, an example is given from an old history. This involves a discourse between Yamaräja and the friends of a dead person. Please hear it attentively.

PURPORT

The words itihäsam purätanam mean "an old history." The Puränas are not chronologically recorded, but the incidents mentioned in the Puränas are actual histories of bygone ages. Srimad-Bhägavatam is the Mahä-Puräna, the essence of all the Puränas. The Mäyävädi scholars do not accept the Puränas, but Srila Madhväcärya and all other authorities accept them as the authoritative histories of the world.

TRANSLATION

In the state known as Usinara there was a celebrated King named Suyajna. When the King was killed in battle by his enemies, his kinsmen sat down around the dead body and began to lament the death of their friend.

TRANSLATION

His golden, bejeweled armor smashed, his ornaments and garlands fallen from their places, his hair scattered and his eyes lusterless, the slain King lay on the battlefield, his entire body smeared with blood, his heart pierced by the arrows of the enemy. When he died he had wanted to show his prowess, and thus he had bitten his lips, and his teeth remained in that position. 

His beautiful lotuslike face was now black and covered with dust from the battlefield. His arms, with his sword and other weapons, were cut and broken. When the queens of the King of Usinara saw their husband lying in that position, they began crying, "O lord, now that you have been killed, we also have been killed." Repeating these words again and again, they fell down, pounding their breasts, at the feet of the dead King.

PURPORT

As stated here, rabhasä dashta-dacchadam: the dead King, while fighting in anger, bit his lips to show his prowess, but nonetheless he was killed by providence (vidhinä). This proves that we are controlled by higher authorities; our personal power or endeavor is not always supreme. We must therefore accept the position offered to us by the order of the Supreme.

TRANSLATION

As the queens loudly cried, their tears glided down their breasts, becoming reddened by kuìkuma powder, and fell upon the lotus feet of their husband. Their hair became disarrayed, their ornaments fell, and in a way that evoked sympathy from the hearts of others, the queens began lamenting their husband's death.

TRANSLATION

O lord, you have now been removed by cruel providence to a state beyond our sight. You had previously sustained the livelihood of the inhabitants of Usinara, and thus they were happy, but your condition now is the cause of their unhappiness.

Bhagvat: The soul is never the body but is always completely different from the body. Being eternal and inexhaustible, the soul has no death, but when the same pure soul desires to enjoy the material world independently, he is placed under the conditions of material nature and must therefore accept a certain type of body and suffer the pains and pleasures thereof, 13th Sept

Bhagvat: The soul is never the body but is always completely different from the body. Being eternal and inexhaustible, the soul has no death, but when the same pure soul desires to enjoy the material world independently, he is placed under the conditions of material nature and must therefore accept a certain type of body and suffer the pains and pleasures thereof. The body is just like a machine, and according to the living entity's karma, he is offered a particular type of machine to move here and there under the control of material nature. This continues until he surrenders to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Until he surrenders, the conditioned soul is carried from life to life by the arrangement of material nature.

TRANSLATION

The spirit soul, the living entity, has no death, for he is eternal and inexhaustible. Being free from material contamination, he can go anywhere in the material or spiritual worlds. 

He is fully aware and completely different from the material body, but because of being misled by misuse of his slight independence, he is obliged to accept subtle and gross bodies created by the material energy and thus be subjected to so-called material happiness and distress. Therefore, no one should lament for the passing of the spirit soul from the body.

PURPORT

Hiranyakasipu very intelligently described the position of the soul. The soul is never the body, but is always completely different from the body. Being eternal and inexhaustible, the soul has no death, but when the same pure soul desires to enjoy the material world independently, he is placed under the conditions of material nature and must therefore accept a certain type of body and suffer the pains and pleasures thereof. 

This is also described by Krshna in Bhagavad-gitä (13.22). Käranam guna-saìgo 'sya sad-asad-yoni janmasu: the living entity is born in different families or species of life because of being infected by the modes of material nature. When conditioned by material nature, the living entity must accept a certain type of body, which is offered by nature under the direction of the Supreme Lord.

"The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone's heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine, made of the material energy." (Bg. 18.61) 

The body is just like a machine, and according to the living entity's karma, he is offered a particular type of machine to move here and there under the control of material nature. This continues until he surrenders to the Supreme Personality of Godhead (mäm eva ye prapadyante mäyäm etäm taranti te). Until he surrenders, the conditioned soul is carried from life to life by the arrangement of material nature.

Bhagvat: "Those who are envious and mischievous, who are the lowest among men, are cast by Me into the ocean of material existence, into various demoniac species of life." He takes account of the conditioned soul's chanting of "Krshna, Krshna" so many times, 12th Sept

Bhagvat: "Those who are envious and mischievous, who are the lowest among men, are cast by Me into the ocean of material existence, into various demoniac species of life." He takes account of the conditioned soul's chanting of "Krshna, Krshna" so many times. He sometimes punishes such demons for one life by putting them in a lower species, but then, when they have stopped accusing Him, they are liberated in the next life because of chanting Krshna's name constantly. Krshna, being very kind, punishes the conditioned soul in one life for such sinful activities and then takes him back home, back to Godhead. When Krshna punishes a demon or conditioned soul, He stops that soul's habit of blaspheming Him, and when the soul becomes completely pure, the Lord takes him back to Godhead.

TRANSLATION
Because of the bodily conception of life, the conditioned soul thinks that when the body is annihilated the living being is annihilated. Lord Vishnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the supreme controller, the Supersoul of all living entities. Because He has no material body, He has no false conception of "I and mine." It is therefore incorrect to think that He feels pleasure or pain when blasphemed or offered prayers. This is impossible for Him. Thus He has no enemy and no friend. When He chastises the demons it is for their good, and when He accepts the prayers of the devotees it is for their good. He is affected neither by prayers nor by blasphemy.

PURPORT
Because of being covered by material bodies, the conditioned souls, including even greatly learned scholars and falsely educated professors, all think that as soon as the body is finished, everything is finished. This is due to their bodily conception of life. 

Krshna has no such bodily conception, nor is His body different from His self. Therefore, since Krshna has no material conception of life, how can He be affected by material prayers and accusations? Krshna's body is described herewith as kaivalya, nondifferent from Himself. Since everyone has a material bodily conception of life, if Krshna had such a conception what would be the difference between Krshna and the conditioned soul? 

Krshna's instructions in Bhagavad-gitä are accepted as final because He does not possess a material body. As soon as one has a material body he has four deficiencies, but since Krshna does not possess a material body, He has no deficiencies. He is always spiritually conscious and blissful. Isvaram paramam krshnam sac-cid-änanda-vigraham: His form is eternal, blissful knowledge. Sac-cid-änanda-vigraham, änanda-chinmaya-rasa and kaivalya are the same.

Krshna can expand Himself as Paramätmä in the core of everyone's heart. In Bhagavad-gitä (13.3) this is confirmed. Kshetrajnam chäpi mäm viddhi sama-kshetreshu bhärata: the Lord is the Paramätmä—the ätmä or Superself of all individual souls. Therefore it must naturally be concluded that He has no defective bodily conceptions. Although situated in everyone's body, He has no bodily conception of life. 

He is always free from such conceptions, and thus He cannot be affected by anything in relation to the material body of the jiva.

Krshna says in Bhagavad-gitä (16.19):
"Those who are envious and mischievous, who are the lowest among men, are cast by Me into the ocean of material existence, into various demoniac species of life." Whenever the Lord punishes persons like demons, however, such punishment is meant for the good of the conditioned soul. 

The conditioned soul, being envious of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, may accuse Him, saying, "Krshna is bad, Krshna is a thief" and so on, but Krshna, being kind to all living entities, does not consider such accusations. Instead, He takes account of the conditioned soul's chanting of "Krshna, Krshna" so many times. 

He sometimes punishes such demons for one life by putting them in a lower species, but then, when they have stopped accusing Him, they are liberated in the next life because of chanting Krshna's name constantly. 
Blaspheming the Supreme Lord or His devotee is not at all good for the conditioned soul, but Krshna, being very kind, punishes the conditioned soul in one life for such sinful activities and then takes him back home, back to Godhead. 
The vivid example for this is Vrträsura, who was formerly Chitraketu Mahäräja, a great devotee. 

Because he derided Lord Siva, the foremost of all devotees, he had to accept the body of a demon called Vrtra, but then he was taken back to Godhead. Thus when Krshna punishes a demon or conditioned soul, He stops that soul's habit of blaspheming Him, and when the soul becomes completely pure, the Lord takes him back to Godhead.

Bhagvat: In the material world a so-called family is a combination of several persons in one home to fulfill the terms of their imprisonment. As criminal prisoners scatter as soon as their terms are over and they are released, all of us who have temporarily assembled as family members will continue to our respective destinations, 11th Sept

Bhagvat: In the material world a so-called family is a combination of several persons in one home to fulfill the terms of their imprisonment. As criminal prisoners scatter as soon as their terms are over and they are released, all of us who have temporarily assembled as family members will continue to our respective destinations. Another example given is that family members are like straws carried together by the waves of a river. Sometimes such straws mix together in whirlpools, and later, dispersed again by the same waves, they float alone in the water. "The bewildered soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself the doer of activities, which are in actuality carried out by nature." To become a demigod or to become godly, whatever one's occupation, one must satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

Some of the demons took digging instruments and broke down the bridges, the protective walls and the gates [gopuras] of the cities. Some took axes and began cutting the important trees that produced mango, jackfruit and other sources of food. Some of the demons took firebrands and set fire to the residential quarters of the citizens.

PURPORT

The cutting of trees is generally prohibited. In particular, trees that produce nice fruit for the maintenance of human society should not be cut. In different countries there are different types of fruit trees. In India the mango and jackfruit trees are prominent, and in other places there are mango trees, jackfruit trees, coconut trees and berry trees. Any tree that produces nice fruit for the maintenance of the people should not be cut at all. This is a sästric injunction.

TRANSLATION

Thus disturbed again and again by the unnatural occurrences caused by the followers of Hiranyakasipu, all the people had to cease the activities of Vedic culture. Not receiving the results of yajna, the demigods also became disturbed. They left their residential quarters in the heavenly planets and, unobserved by the demons, began wandering on the planet earth to see the disasters.

PURPORT

As stated in Bhagavad-gitä, the performance of yajna brings reciprocal good fortune for both the human beings and the demigods. When the performances of yajna were stopped by the disturbances of the demons, the demigods were naturally bereft of the results of yajna and hampered in executing their respective duties. Therefore they came down to the planet earth to see how people had become disturbed and to consider what to do.

TRANSLATION

After performing the ritualistic observances for the death of his brother, Hiranyakasipu, being extremely unhappy, tried to pacify his nephews.

TRANSLATION

O King, Hiranyakasipu was extremely angry, but since he was a great politician, he knew how to act according to the time and situation. With sweet words he began pacifying his nephews, whose names were Sakuni, Sambara, Dhrshti, Bhütasantäpana, Vrka, Kälanäbha, Mahänäbha, Harismasru and Utkaca. He also consoled their mother, his sister-in-law, Rushäbhänu, as well as his own mother, Diti. He spoke to them all as follows.

TRANSLATION

Hiranyakasipu said: My dear mother, sister-in-law and nephews, you should not lament for the death of the great hero, for a hero's death in front of his enemy is glorious and desirable.

TRANSLATION

My dear mother, in a restaurant or place for drinking cold water, many travelers are brought together, and after drinking water they continue to their respective destinations. Similarly, living entities join together in a family, and later, as a result of their own actions, they are led apart to their destinations.

PURPORT

"The bewildered soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself the doer of activities, which are in actuality carried out by nature." (Bg. 3.27) All living entities act exactly according to the directions of prakrti, material nature, because in the material world we are fully under a higher control. All the living entities in this material world have come here only because they wanted to be equal to Krshna in enjoyment and have thus been sent here to be conditioned by material nature in different degrees. 

In the material world a so-called family is a combination of several persons in one home to fulfill the terms of their imprisonment. As criminal prisoners scatter as soon as their terms are over and they are released, all of us who have temporarily assembled as family members will continue to our respective destinations. Another example given is that family members are like straws carried together by the waves of a river. Sometimes such straws mix together in whirlpools, and later, dispersed again by the same waves, they float alone in the water.

Although Hiranyakasipu was a demon, he had Vedic knowledge and understanding. Thus the advice given to his family members—his sister-in-law, mother and nephews—was quite sound. The demons are considered highly elevated in knowledge, but because they do not use their good intelligence for the service of the Lord, they are called demons. The demigods, however, act very intelligently to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is confirmed in Srimad-Bhägavatam (1.2.13) as follows:

"O best among the twice-born, it is therefore concluded that the highest perfection one can achieve, by discharging his prescribed duties [dharma] according to caste divisions and orders of life, is to please the Lord Hari." To become a demigod or to become godly, whatever one's occupation, one must satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Bhagvat: People do not know that the highest goal of human life is to please Lord Vishnu. "If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it"9th Sept

Bhagvat: The discovery of nuclear energy has been disastrous to people in general because demons all over the world are manufacturing nuclear weapons. People do not know that the highest goal of human life is to please Lord Vishnu. "If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it." Fruits and flowers are very much pleasing to the Lord. If one wants to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he can simply offer fruits and flowers, and the Lord will be pleased to accept them.

TRANSLATION

Thus the demons, being fond of disastrous activities, took Hiranyakasipu's instructions on their heads with great respect and offered him obeisances. According to his directions, they engaged in envious activities directed against all living beings.

PURPORT

The followers of demoniac principles, as described here, are thoroughly envious of the general populace. In the present day, scientific advancement exemplifies such envy. The discovery of nuclear energy has been disastrous to people in general because demons all over the world are manufacturing nuclear weapons. 

The word kadana-priyäm is very significant in this regard. The demoniac persons who want to kill the Vedic culture are extremely envious of the feeble citizens, and they act in such a way that ultimately their discoveries will be inauspicious for everyone (jagato 'hitäm). The Sixteenth Chapter of Bhagavad-gitä fully explains how the demons engage in sinful activities for the destruction of the populace.

TRANSLATION

The demons set fire to the cities, villages, pasturing grounds, cowpens, gardens, agricultural fields and natural forests. They burned the hermitages of the saintly persons, the important mines that produced valuable metals, the residential quarters of the agriculturalists, the mountain villages, and the villages of the cow protectors, the cowherd men. They also burned the government capitals.

PURPORT

The word udyäna refers to places where trees are especially grown to produce fruits and flowers, which are most important for human civilization. Krshna says in Bhagavad-gitä (9.26):

"If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it." Fruits and flowers are very much pleasing to the Lord. If one wants to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he can simply offer fruits and flowers, and the Lord will be pleased to accept them. Our only duty is to please the Supreme Godhead (samsiddhir hari-toshanam). Whatever we do and whatever our occupation, our main purpose should be to please the Supreme Lord. 

All the paraphernalia mentioned in this verse is especially meant for the satisfaction of the Lord, not the satisfaction of one's senses. The government—indeed, the entire society—should be structured in such a way that everyone can be trained to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. 

But unfortunately, especially in this age, na te vidum svärtha-gatim hi vishnum: people do not know that the highest goal of human life is to please Lord Vishnu. On the contrary, like demons, they simply plan to kill Vishnu and be happy by sense gratification.

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.

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.

Bhagvat: through the popularizing of Hari-kirtana, or the saìkirtana movement, the brahminical culture and kshatriya government will automatically come back, and people will be extremely happy, 6th Sept

Bhagvat: through the popularizing of Hari-kirtana, or the saìkirtana movement, the brahminical culture and kshatriya government will automatically come back, and people will be extremely happy. Because the population of the modern world consists mostly of shüdras, the brahminical culture is now lost and is extremely difficult to reestablish in a proper way. Lord Chaitanya has recommended the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, which will revive brahminical culture very easily. Because of the poisonous effects of Kali-yuga, the government will adopt the policies of dasyus, or plunderers.

TRANSLATION

The basic principle of brahminical culture is to satisfy Lord Vishnu, the personification of sacrificial and ritualistic ceremonies. Lord Vishnu is the personified reservoir of all religious principles, and He is the shelter of all the demigods, the great pitäs, and the people in general. When the brähmanas are killed, no one will exist to encourage the kshatriyas to perform yajnas, and thus the demigods, not being appeased by yajna, will automatically die.

PURPORT

Since Vishnu is the central point of brahminical culture, Hiranyakasipu's plan was to kill Vishnu, for if Vishnu were killed, naturally the brahminical culture would also be lost. 

With brahminical culture lost, yajna would no longer be performed, and for want of yajna the regular distribution of rainfall would cease (yajnäd bhavati parjanyam). Thus there would be disturbances all over the world, and naturally the demigods would be defeated. From this verse we get a clear indication of how human society is disturbed when the Vedic Äryan civilization is killed and the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies performed by the brähmanas are stopped. Kalau südra-sambhavam: because the population of the modern world consists mostly of südras, the brahminical culture is now lost and is extremely difficult to reestablish in a proper way. 

Therefore Lord Chaitanya has recommended the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, which will revive brahminical culture very easily.

harer näma harer näma

harer nämaiva kevalam

kalau nästy eva nästy eva

nästy eva gatir anyathä 

Because of the increment in demoniac population, people have lost brahminical culture. Nor is there a kshatriya government. Instead, the government is a democracy in which any südra can be voted into taking up the governmental reigns and capture the power to rule. Because of the poisonous effects of Kali-yuga, the sästra (Bhäg. 12.2.13) says, dasyu-präyeshu räjasu: the government will adopt the policies of dasyus, or plunderers. Thus there will be no instructions from the brähmanas, and even if there are brahminical instructions, there will be no kshatriya rulers who can follow them. 

Aside from Satya-yuga, even formerly, in the days when demons were flourishing, Hiranyakasipu planned to destroy the brahminical culture and the kshatriya government and thus create chaos all over the world. Although in Satya-yuga this plan was very difficult to execute, in Kali-yuga, which is full of südras and demons, the brahminical culture is lost and can be revived only by the chanting of the mahä-mantra. 

Therefore the Krshna consciousness movement, or the Hare Krshna movement, has been inaugurated to revive brahminical culture very easily so that people may become happy and peaceful in this life and prepare for elevation in the next. In this regard, Srila Madhvächärya quotes this verse from the Brahmända Puräna:

"O King, the demons think that Hari, Lord Vishnu, exists because of the brähmanas and yajna, but factually Hari is the cause of everything including the brähmanas and yajna." Therefore, through the popularizing of hari-kirtana, or the saìkirtana movement, the brahminical culture and kshatriya government will automatically come back, and people will be extremely happy.

Bhagvat: "I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all." The Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot be partial; He is always equal to everyone, 5th Sept

Bhagvat: "I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all." The Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot be partial; He is always equal to everyone. Therefore when the demigods are favored and the demons killed, this is not His partiality but the influence of the time factor.

TRANSLATION

O King, this time factor enhances the sattva-guna. Thus although the Supreme Lord is the controller, He favors the demigods, who are mostly situated in sattva-guna. Then the demons, who are influenced by tamo-guna, are annihilated. The Supreme Lord induces the time factor to act in different ways, but He is never partial. Rather, His activities are glorious, and therefore He is called Urusravä.

PURPORT

The Lord says in Bhagavad-gitä (9.29), samo'ham sarva-bhüteshu na me dveshyo 'sti na priyam: "I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all." The Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot be partial; He is always equal to everyone. Therefore when the demigods are favored and the demons killed, this is not His partiality but the influence of the time factor. A good example in this regard is that an electrician connects both a heater and a cooler to the same electrical energy. 

The cause of the heating and cooling is the electrician's manipulation of the electrical energy according to his desire, but factually the electrician has nothing to do with causing heat or cold, nor with the enjoyment or suffering that results.

There have been many historical incidents in which the Lord killed a demon, but the demon attained a higher position by the mercy of the Lord. Pütanä is an example. Pütanä's purpose was to kill Krshna. Aho baki yam stana-käla-kütam. 

She approached the house of Nanda Mahäräja with the purpose of killing Krshna by smearing poison on her breast, yet when she was killed she attained the highest position, achieving the status of Krshna's mother. Krshna is so kind and impartial that because he sucked Pütanä's breast, He immediately accepted her as His mother. 

This superfluous activity of killing Pütanä did not diminish the Lord's impartiality. He is suhrdam sarva-bhütänäm, the friend of everyone. Therefore partiality cannot apply to the character of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who always maintains His position as the supreme controller. The Lord killed Pütanä as an enemy, but because of His being the supreme controller, she attained an exalted position as His mother. 

Srila Madhva Muni therefore remarks, käle käla-vishaye 'pisitä. dehädi-käranatvät suränikam iva sthitam sattvam. Ordinarily a murderer is hanged, and in the Manu-samhitä it is said that a king bestows mercy upon a murderer by killing him, thus saving him from various kinds of suffering. Because of his sinful activities, such a murderer is killed by the mercy of the king. Krshna, the supreme judge, deals with matters in a similar way because He is the supreme controller. The conclusion, therefore, is that the Lord is always impartial and always very kind to all living entities.

Bhagvat: When the quality of goodness is prominent, the sages and demigods flourish with the help of that quality, with which they are infused and surcharged by the Supreme Lord. Similarly, when the mode of passion is prominent the demons flourish, and when ignorance is prominent the Yakshas and Räkshasas flourish, 3rd Sept

Bhagvat: When the quality of goodness is prominent, the sages and demigods flourish with the help of that quality, with which they are infused and surcharged by the Supreme Lord. Similarly, when the mode of passion is prominent the demons flourish, and when ignorance is prominent the Yakshas and Räkshasas flourish. The manifestations of the modes of goodness can be experienced when all the gates of the body are illumined by knowledge. When there is an increase in the mode of passion, the symptoms of great attachment, uncontrollable desire, hankering, and intense endeavor develop. When there is an increase in the mode of ignorance, madness, illusion, inertia and darkness are manifested.

TRANSLATION

My dear King Parikshit, the material qualities—sattva-guna, rajo-guna and tamo-guna—all belong to the material world and do not even touch the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

These three gunas cannot act by increasing or decreasing simultaneously.

PURPORT

The original position of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is one of equality.

There is no question of His being influenced by sattva-guna, rajo-guna or tamo-guna, for these material qualities cannot touch the Supreme Lord.

The Lord is therefore called the supreme isvara.

Isvaraù paramaù krshnaù: He is the supreme controller.

He controls the material qualities (daivi hy eshä guna-mayi mama mäyä).

Mayädhyakshena prakrtiù süyate: material nature (prakrti) works under His order.

How, then, can He be under the qualities of prakrti? Krshna is never influenced by the material qualities.

Therefore there is no question of partiality in the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

TRANSLATION

When the quality of goodness is prominent, the sages and demigods flourish with the help of that quality, with which they are infused and surcharged by the Supreme Lord. Similarly, when the mode of passion is prominent the demons flourish, and when ignorance is prominent the Yakshas and Räkshasas flourish. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is present in everyone's heart, fostering the reactions of sattva-guna, rajo-guna and tamo-guna.

PURPORT

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is not partial to anyone. The conditioned soul is under the influence of the various modes of material nature, and behind material nature is the Supreme Personality of Godhead; but one's victory and loss under the influence of sattva-guna, rajo-guna and tamo-guna are reactions of these modes, not of the Supreme Lord's partiality. Srila Jiva Gosvämi, in the Bhägavata-sandarbha, has clearly said:

According to this statement of the Bhägavata-sandarbha, the Supreme Lord, being always transcendental to the material qualities, is never affected by the influence of these qualities. 

This same characteristic is also present in the living being, but because he is conditioned by material nature, even the pleasure potency of the Lord is manifested in the conditioned soul as troublesome. In the material world the pleasure enjoyed by the conditioned soul is followed by many painful conditions. For instance, we have seen that in the two great wars, which were conducted by the rajo-guna and tamo-guna, both parties were actually ruined. 

The German people declared war against the English to ruin them, but the result was that both parties were ruined. Although the Allies were apparently victorious, at least on paper, actually neither of them were victorious. Therefore it should be concluded that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is not partial to anyone. Everyone works under the influence of various modes of material nature, and when the various modes are prominent, the demigods or demons appear victorious under the influence of these modes.

Everyone enjoys the fruits of his qualitative activities. This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gitä (14.11-13):

"The manifestations of the modes of goodness can be experienced when all the gates of the body are illumined by knowledge.

"O chief of the Bhäratas, when there is an increase in the mode of passion, the symptoms of great attachment, uncontrollable desire, hankering, and intense endeavor develop.

"O son of Kuru, when there is an increase in the mode of ignorance, madness, illusion, inertia and darkness are manifested."

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is present in everyone's heart, simply gives the results of the increase in the various qualities, but He is impartial. He supervises victory and loss, but He does not take part in them.

The various modes of material nature do not work all at once. The interactions of these modes are exactly like seasonal changes. Sometimes there is an increment of rajo-guna, sometimes of tamo-guna and sometimes sattva-guna. Generally the demigods are surcharged with sattva-guna, and therefore when the demons and the demigods fight, the demigods are victorious because of the prominence of their sattva-guna qualities. 

However, this is not the partiality of the Supreme Lord.

Bhagvatam:- Because of their offenses at the feet of devotees, two attendants of the Lord in Vaikuntha named Jaya and Vijaya became Hiranyakasipu and Hiranyäksha in Satya-yuga, Rävana and Kumbhakarna in the next yuga, Tretä-yuga, and Sisupäla and Dantavakra at the end of Dväpara-yuga, 28th Aug

Bhagvatam:- Because of their offenses at the feet of devotees, two attendants of the Lord in Vaikuntha named Jaya and Vijaya became Hiranyakasipu and Hiranyäksha in Satya-yuga, Rävana and Kumbhakarna in the next yuga, Tretä-yuga, and Sisupäla and Dantavakra at the end of Dväpara-yuga. Because of their fruitive acts, Jaya and Vijaya agreed to become the Lord's enemies, and when killed in that mentality, they attained salvation in oneness. Thus even if one thinks of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in envy, he attains salvation. What then is to be said of devotees who always engage in the Lord's service with love and faith?

“The Supreme Lord Is Equal to Everyone”

In this chapter, in response to a question by Mahäräja Parikshit, Sukadeva Gosvämi gives his conclusions concerning how the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although the Supersoul, friend and protector of everyone, killed the Daityas, the demons, for the sake of Indra, the King of heaven.

In his statements, he totally refutes the arguments of people in general who accuse the Supreme Lord of partiality.

Sukadeva Gosvämi proves that because the body of the conditioned soul is infected by the three qualities of nature, dualities arise such as enmity and friendship, attachment and detachment.

For the Supreme Personality of Godhead, however, there are no such dualities.

Even eternal time cannot control the activities of the Lord.

Eternal time is created by the Lord, and it acts under His control.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, therefore, is always transcendental to the influence of the modes of nature, mäyä, the Lord's external energy, which acts in creation and annihilation.

Thus all the demons killed by the Supreme Lord attain salvation immediately.

The second question raised by Parikshit Mahäräja concerns how Sisupäla, although inimical toward Krshna from his very childhood and always blaspheming Krshna, attained salvation in oneness when Krshna killed him.

Sukadeva Gosvämi explains that because of their offenses at the feet of devotees, two attendants of the Lord in Vaikuntha named Jaya and Vijaya became Hiranyakasipu and Hiranyäksha in Satya-yuga, Rävana and Kumbhakarna in the next yuga, Tretä-yuga, and Sisupäla and Dantavakra at the end of Dväpara-yuga.

Because of their fruitive acts, Jaya and Vijaya agreed to become the Lord's enemies, and when killed in that mentality, they attained salvation in oneness.

Thus even if one thinks of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in envy, he attains salvation.

What then is to be said of devotees who always engage in the Lord's service with love and faith?

Bhagvatam: Although He is full in Himself, He nonetheless becomes pleased when His devotee offers Him patram pushpam phalam toyam-a leaf, flower, fruit or water- in devotion, 29th Aug

Bhagvat: Although He is full in Himself, He nonetheless becomes pleased when His devotee offers Him patram pushpam phalam toyam-a leaf, flower, fruit or water- in devotion. Although He is full in Himself, He nonetheless wants all the living entities to surrender unto Him so that they may engage in His service. Sometimes He requests His devotee to preach His glories all over the world, although He alone is quite competent to perform this task. Even though the Supreme Personality of Godhead is endowed with all possessions and is self-sufficient, He depends on His devotees. The relationship of the Lord with His devotees is extremely confidential.

TRANSLATION

O my Lord, because You are endowed with causeless mercy, all opulences, all prowess and all glories, strength and transcendental qualities, You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of everyone.

PURPORT

In this verse the words tato 'si bhagavän prabhum mean "Therefore You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of everyone." The Supreme Personality of Godhead is endowed with all six opulences in full, and moreover He is extremely kind to His devotee. 

Although He is full in Himself, He nonetheless wants all the living entities to surrender unto Him so that they may engage in His service. Thus He becomes satisfied. Although He is full in Himself, He nonetheless becomes pleased when His devotee offers Him patram pushpam phalam toyam—a leaf, flower, fruit or water—in devotion. 

Sometimes the Lord, as the child of mother Yashodä, requests His devotee for some food, as if He were very hungry. Sometimes He tells His devotee in a dream that His temple and His garden are now very old and that He cannot enjoy them very nicely. 

Thus He requests the devotee to repair them. Sometimes He is buried in the earth, and as if unable to come out Himself, He requests His devotee to rescue Him. Sometimes He requests His devotee to preach His glories all over the world, although He alone is quite competent to perform this task. Even though the Supreme Personality of Godhead is endowed with all possessions and is self-sufficient, He depends on His devotees. 

Therefore the relationship of the Lord with His devotees is extremely confidential. Only the devotee can perceive how the Lord, although full in Himself, depends on His devotee for some particular work. This is explained in Bhagavad-gitä (11.33), where the Lord tells Arjuna, nimitta-mätram bhava savyasäcin: "O Arjuna, merely be an instrument in the fight." Lord Krshna had the competence to win the Battle of Kurukshetra, but nonetheless He induced His devotee Arjuna to fight and become the cause of victory. 

Sri Chaitanya Mahäprabhu was quite competent enough to spread His name and mission all over the world, but still He depended upon His devotee to do this work. Considering all these points, the most important aspect of the Supreme Lord's self-sufficiency is that He depends on His devotees. This is called His causeless mercy. The devotee who has perceived this causeless mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by realization can understand the master and the servant.

Bhagvatam:- Accepting her husband as the representative of the Supreme Person, a wife should worship him with unalloyed devotion by offering him prasäda. The family relationship of husband and wife should be established spiritually,26th Aug

Bhagvatam:- Accepting her husband as the representative of the Supreme Person, a wife should worship him with unalloyed devotion by offering him prasäda. The family relationship of husband and wife should be established spiritually according to the process mentioned above. Between the husband and wife, one person is sufficient to execute this devotional service. Because of their good relationship, both of them will enjoy the result.

TRANSLATION

You are both the supreme rulers and benedictors of the three worlds. Therefore, my Lord, Uttamashloka, may my ambitions be fulfilled by Your grace.

TRANSLATION

Sri Sukadeva Gosvämi continued: Thus one should worship Lord Vishnu, who is known as Sriniväsa, along with mother Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune, by offering prayers according to the process mentioned above. After removing all the paraphernalia of worship, one should offer them water to wash their hands and mouths, and then one should worship them again.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, with devotion and humility, one should offer prayers to the Lord and mother Lakshmi. Then one should smell the remnants of the food offered and then again worship the Lord and Lakshmiji.

TRANSLATION

Accepting her husband as the representative of the Supreme Person, a wife should worship him with unalloyed devotion by offering him prasäda. The husband, being very pleased with his wife, should engage himself in the affairs of his family.

PURPORT

The family relationship of husband and wife should be established spiritually according to the process mentioned above.

TRANSLATION

Between the husband and wife, one person is sufficient to execute this devotional service. Because of their good relationship, both of them will enjoy the result. Therefore if the wife is unable to execute this process, the husband should carefully do so, and the faithful wife will share the result.

PURPORT

The relationship between husband and wife is firmly established when the wife is faithful and the husband sincere. Then even if the wife, being weaker, is unable to execute devotional service with her husband, if she is chaste and sincere she shares half of her husband's activities.

TRANSLATION

One should accept this vishnu-vrata, which is a vow in devotional service, and should not deviate from its execution to engage in anything else. By offering the remnants of prasäda, flower garlands, sandalwood pulp and ornaments, one should daily worship the brähmanas and worship women who peacefully live with their husbands and children. Every day the wife must continue following the regulative principles to worship Lord Vishnu with great devotion. Thereafter, Lord Vishnu should be laid in His bed, and then one should take prasäda. In this way, husband and wife will be purified and will have all their desires fulfilled.

TRANSLATION

The chaste wife must perform such devotional service continuously for one year. After one year passes, she should fast on the full-moon day in the month of Kärttika [October-November].

Bhagvatam:- Vishnu is described as yajna personified, and mother Lakshmi is described as spiritual activities and the original form of worship. In fact, they represent spiritual activities and the Supersoul of all yajna, 25th Aug

Bhagvatam:- Vishnu is described as yajna personified, and mother Lakshmi is described as spiritual activities and the original form of worship. In fact, they represent spiritual activities and the Supersoul of all yajna. Lord Vishnu is the Supersoul even of Lakshmidevi, but no one can be the Supersoul of Lord Vishnu, for Lord Vishnu Himself is the spiritual Supersoul of everyone. Lakshmiji is the constant companion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vishnu, and therefore she is called anapäyini. She is the mother of all creation. As Lord Vishnu is all-pervading, His spiritual potency, mother Lakshmi, is also all-pervading.

TRANSLATION

One should offer obeisances unto the Lord with a mind humbled through devotion. While offering dandavats by falling on the ground like a rod, one should chant the above mantra ten times. Then one should chant the following prayer.

TRANSLATION

My Lord Vishnu and mother Lakshmi, goddess of fortune, you are the proprietors of the entire creation. Indeed, you are the cause of the creation. Mother Lakshmi is extremely difficult to understand because she is so powerful that the jurisdiction of her power is difficult to overcome. Mother Lakshmi is represented in the material world as the external energy, but actually she is always the internal energy of the Lord.

TRANSLATION

My Lord, You are the master of energy, and therefore You are the Supreme Person. You are sacrifice [yajna] personified. Lakshmi, the embodiment of spiritual activities, is the original form of worship offered unto You, whereas You are the enjoyer of all sacrifices.

TRANSLATION

Mother Lakshmi, who is here, is the reservoir of all spiritual qualities, whereas You manifest and enjoy all these qualities. Indeed, You are actually the enjoyer of everything. You live as the Supersoul of all living entities, and the goddess of fortune is the form of their bodies, senses and minds. She also has a holy name and form, whereas You are the support of all such names and forms and the cause for their manifestation.

PURPORT

Madhvächärya, the ächärya of the Tattvavädis, has described this verse in the following way: "Vishnu is described as yajna personified, and mother Lakshmi is described as spiritual activities and the original form of worship. In fact, they represent spiritual activities and the Supersoul of all yajna. Lord Vishnu is the Supersoul even of Lakshmidevi, but no one can be the Supersoul of Lord Vishnu, for Lord Vishnu Himself is the spiritual Supersoul of everyone."

According to Madhvächärya, there are two tattvas, or factors. One is independent, and the other is dependent. The first tattva is the Supreme Lord, Vishnu, and the second is the jiva-tattva. Lakshmidevi, being dependent on Lord Vishnu, is sometimes counted among the jivas. The Gaudiya Vaishnavas, however, describe Lakshmidevi in accordance with the following two verses from the Prameya-ratnävali of Baladeva Vidyäbhüshana. The first verse is a quotation from the Vishnu Puräna.

"'O best of the brähmanas, Lakshmiji is the constant companion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vishnu, and therefore she is called anapäyini. She is the mother of all creation. As Lord Vishnu is all-pervading, His spiritual potency, mother Lakshmi, is also all-pervading.' 

Lord Vishnu has three principal potencies—internal, external and marginal. Sri Chaitanya Mahäprabhu has accepted parä-shakti, the spiritual energy of the Lord, as being identical with the Lord. Thus she is also included in the independent vishnu-tattva."

In the Känti-mälä commentary on the Prameya-ratnävali there is this statement: "Although some authoritative Vaishnava disciplic successions count the goddess of fortune among the ever-liberated living entities (jivas) in Vaikuntha, Sri Chaitanya Mahäprabhu, in accordance with the statement in the Vishnu Puräna, has described Lakshmi as being identical with the vishnu-tattva. 

The correct conclusion is that the descriptions of Lakshmi as being different from Vishnu are stated when an eternally liberated living entity is imbued with the quality of Lakshmi; they do not pertain to mother Lakshmi, the eternal consort of Lord Vishnu.

Krshna cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted, 23rd Aug

Krshna cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted. A person trying to be perfectly Krshna conscious by hearing the words of Krshna from Srimad-Bhagavatamor Bhagavad-gita certainly has all the dirty things cleansed from the core of his heart.

TRANSLATION

Because King Yayati completely surrendered unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva, he was freed from all contamination of the material modes of nature. Because of his self-realization, he was able to fix his mind upon the Transcendence [Parabrahman, Vasudeva], and thus he ultimately achieved the position of an associate of the Lord.

PURPORT

The word vidhuta, meaning "cleansed," is very significant.

Everyone in this material world is contaminated (karanam guna-sango 'sya).

Because we are in a material condition, we are contaminated either by sattva-guna, by rajo-guna or by tamo-guna.

Even if one becomes a qualified brahmana in the mode of goodness (sattva-guna), he is still materially contaminated.

One must come to the platform of shuddha-sattva, transcending the sattva-guna.

Then one is vidhuta-trilinga, cleansed of the contamination caused by the three modes of material nature.

This is possible by the mercy of Krshna.

As stated in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.17):

shrnvatam sva-katham krshnam

punya-shravana-kirtanam

hrdy antam-stho hy abhadrani

vidhunoti suhrt-satam

"Sri Krshna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramatma [Supersoul] in everyone's heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who has developed the urge to hear His messages, which are in themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted." 

A person trying to be perfectly Krshna conscious by hearing the words of Krshna from Srimad-Bhagavatam or Bhagavad-gita certainly has all the dirty things cleansed from the core of his heart.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu also says, ceto-darpana-marjanam: the process of hearing and chanting the glories of the Supreme Lord washes away the dirty things accumulated in the core of the heart.

As soon as one is freed from all the dirt of material contamination, as Maharaja Yayati was, one's original position as an associate of the Lord is revealed.

This is called svarüpa-siddhi, or personal perfection.

Bhagvat: One should be convinced that he is a spirit soul, part and parcel of the Supreme Brahman, Krshna, but has somehow or other been entrapped by the material coverings, 24th Aug

Bhagvat: One should be convinced that he is a spirit soul, part and parcel of the Supreme Brahman, Krshna, but has somehow or other been entrapped by the material coverings of the gross and subtle bodies, consisting of earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego. One should know that the association of society, friendship, love, nationalism, religion and so on are nothing but creations of maya. One's only business is to become Krshna conscious and render service unto Krshna as extensively as possible for a living being.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, Devayani, the daughter of Sukracarya, understood that the materialistic association of husband, friends and relatives is like the association in a hotel full of tourists.

The relationships of society, friendship and love are created by the maya of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, exactly as in a dream.

By the grace of Krshna, Devayani gave up her imaginary position in the material world.

Completely fixing her mind upon Krshna, she achieved liberation from the gross and subtle bodies.!!!

PURPORT

One should be convinced that he is a spirit soul, part and parcel of the Supreme Brahman, Krshna, but has somehow or other been entrapped by the material coverings of the gross and subtle bodies, consisting of earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false ego.

One should know that the association of society, friendship, love, nationalism, religion and so on are nothing but creations of maya.

One's only business is to become Krshna conscious and render service unto Krshna as extensively as possible for a living being.

In this way one is liberated from material bondage.

By the grace of Krshna, Devayani attained this state through the instructions of her husband.

Bhagvatam Whatever a devotee needs will be supplied by God. Therefore a pure devotee will not ask anything from the Lord. He simply offers the Lord his respectful obeisances, and the Lord is prepared to accept whatever the devotee can secure to worship Him, even patram pushpam phalam toyam—a leaf, flower, fruit or water. 22nd Aug

This chapter explains how Diti, Kashyapa Muni's wife, executed Kashyapa Muni's instructions on devotional service. During the first day of the bright fortnight of the moon in the month of Agrahäyana (November-December), every woman, following in the footsteps of Diti and following the instructions of her own husband, should begin this pumsavana-vrata. 

In the morning, after washing her teeth, bathing and thus becoming purified, she should hear about the birth mystery of the Maruts. Then, covering her body with a white dress and being properly ornamented, before breakfast she should worship Lord Vishnu and mother Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune, Lord Vishnu's wife, by glorifying Lord Vishnu for His mercy, patience, prowess, ability, greatness and other glories and for how He can bestow all mystic benedictions. 

While offering the Lord all paraphernalia for worship, such as ornaments, a sacred thread, scents, nice flowers, incense and water for bathing and washing His feet, hands and mouth, one should invite the Lord with this mantra: om namo bhagavate mahä-purushäya mahänubhäväya mahävibhütipataye saha mahä-vibhütibhir balim upaharämi. Then one should offer twelve oblations in the fire while chanting this mantra: om namo bhagavate mahä-purushäya mahävibhüti-pataye svähä. One should offer obeisances while chanting this mantra ten times. Then one should chant the Lakshmi-Näräyana mantra.

If either a pregnant woman or her husband regularly discharges this devotional service, both of them will receive the result. After continuing this process for one full year, the chaste wife should fast on the pürnimä, the full-moon day, of Kärttika. 

On the following day, the husband should worship the Lord as before and then observe a festival by cooking nice food and distributing prasäda to the brähmanas. Then, with the permission of the brähmanas, the husband and wife should take prasäda. This chapter ends by glorifying the results of the pumsavana function.

TRANSLATION

Mahäräja Parikshit said: My dear lord, you have already spoken about the pumsavana vow. Now I want to hear about it in detail, for I understand that by observing this vow one can please the Supreme Lord, Vishnu.

TRANSLATION

Sukadeva Gosvämi said: On the first day of the bright fortnight of the month of Agrahäyana [November-December], following the instructions of her husband, a woman should begin this regulative devotional service with a vow of penance, for it can fulfill all one's desires. Before beginning the worship of Lord Vishnu, the woman should hear the story of how the Maruts were born. Under the instructions of qualified brähmanas, in the morning she should wash her teeth, bathe, and dress herself with white cloth and ornaments, and before taking breakfast she should worship Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi.

TRANSLATION

[She should then pray to the Lord as follows.] My dear Lord, You are full in all opulences, but I do not beg You for opulence. I simply offer my respectful obeisances unto You. You are the husband and master of Lakshmidevi, the goddess of fortune, who has all opulences. Therefore You are the master of all mystic yoga. I simply offer my obeisances unto You.

PURPORT

A devotee knows how to appreciate the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

"The Personality of Godhead is perfect and complete, and because He is completely perfect, all emanations from Him, such as this phenomenal world, are perfectly equipped as complete wholes. Whatever is produced of the complete whole is also complete in itself. Because He is the complete whole, even though so many complete units emanate from Him, He remains the complete balance." Therefore, to take shelter of the Supreme Lord is required. 

Whatever a devotee needs will be supplied by the complete Supreme Personality of Godhead (teshäm nityäbhiyuktänäm yoga-kshemam vahämy aham). Therefore a pure devotee will not ask anything from the Lord. 

He simply offers the Lord his respectful obeisances, and the Lord is prepared to accept whatever the devotee can secure to worship Him, even patram pushpam phalam toyam—a leaf, flower, fruit or water. There is no need to artificially exert oneself. It is better to be plain and simple and with respectful obeisances offer to the Lord whatever one can secure. The Lord is completely able to bless the devotee with all opulences.

Bhagvat: Indra's release from sinful life and about his victory in fighting the demons after pleasing Lord Vishnu (Krishna) - by understanding this incident, one is relieved of all sinful reactions, 20th Aug

Bhagvat: Indra's release from sinful life and about his victory in fighting the demons after pleasing Lord Vishnu (Krishna) - by understanding this incident, one is relieved of all sinful reactions

As long as King Indra lived in the water, wrapped in the stem of the lotus, Nahusha was equipped with the ability to rule the heavenly kingdom, due to his knowledge, austerity and mystic power. Nahusha, however, blinded and maddened by power and opulence, made undesirable proposals to Indra's wife with a desire to enjoy her. Thus Nahusha was cursed by a brähmana and later became a snake.

Indra's sins were diminished by the influence of Rudra, the demigod of all directions. Because Indra was protected by the goddess of fortune, Lord Vishnu's wife, who resides in the lotus clusters of Mänasa-sarovara Lake, Indra's sins could not affect him. Indra was ultimately relieved of all the reactions of his sinful deeds by strictly worshiping Lord Vishnu. Then he was called back to the heavenly planets by the brähmanas and reinstated in his position.

O King, when Lord Indra reached the heavenly planets, the saintly brähmanas approached him and properly initiated him into a horse sacrifice [ashvamedha-yajna] meant to please the Supreme Lord.

The horse sacrifice performed by the saintly brähmanas relieved Indra of the reactions to all his sins because he worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead in that sacrifice. O King, although he had committed a gravely sinful act, it was nullified at once by that sacrifice, just as fog is vanquished by the brilliant sunrise.

King Indra was favored by Marichi and the other great sages. They performed the sacrifice just according to the rules and regulations, worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supersoul, the original person. Thus Indra regained his exalted position and was again honored by everyone.

In this very great narrative there is glorification of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Näräyana, there are statements about the exaltedness of devotional service, there are descriptions of devotees like Indra and Vrträsura, and there are statements about King Indra's release from sinful life and about his victory in fighting the demons. 

By understanding this incident, one is relieved of all sinful reactions. Therefore the learned are always advised to read this narration. 

If one does so, one will become expert in the activities of the senses, his opulence will increase, and his reputation will become widespread. 

One will also be relieved of all sinful reactions, he will conquer all his enemies, and the duration of his life will increase. Because this narration is auspicious in all respects, learned scholars regularly hear and repeat it on every festival day.

Bhagvatam Lord Krshna says Himself in Bhagavad-gitä (7.28)"Persons who have acted piously in previous lives and in this life, whose sinful actions are completely eradicated and who are freed from the duality of delusion, engage themselves in My service with determination”, 21st Aug

Bhagvatam  Lord Krshna says Himself in Bhagavad-gitä (7.28)"Persons who have acted piously in previous lives and in this life, whose sinful actions are completely eradicated and who are freed from the duality of delusion, engage themselves in My service with determination”

TRANSLATION

King Parikshit inquired from Sukadeva Gosvämi: O learned brähmana, demons are generally sinful, being obsessed with the modes of passion and ignorance. How, then, could Vrträsura have attained such exalted love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Näräyana?

PURPORT

In this material world, everyone is obsessed with the modes of passion and ignorance.

However, unless one conquers these modes and comes to the platform of goodness, there is no chance of one's becoming a pure devotee.

This is confirmed by Lord Krshna Himself in Bhagavad-gitä (7.28):

"Persons who have acted piously in previous lives and in this life, whose sinful actions are completely eradicated and who are freed from the duality of delusion, engage themselves in My service with determination.”

Since Vrträsura was among the demons, Mahäräja Parikshit wondered how it was possible for him to have become such an exalted devotee.

Demigods situated in the mode of goodness and great saints cleansed of the dirt of material enjoyment hardly ever render pure devotional service at the lotus feet of Mukunda.

[Therefore how could Vrträsura have become such a great devotee?]

In this material world there are as many living entities as atoms.

Among these living entities, a very few are human beings, and among them, few are interested in following religious principles.

Bhagvatam: Indra saw personified sinful reaction chasing him, appearing like a chandäla woman, a woman of the lowest class. Because she was afflicted with tuberculosis, her body and garments were covered with vomits of blood, 19th Aug

Bhagvatam: Indra saw personified sinful reaction chasing him, appearing like a chandäla woman, a woman of the lowest class. Because she was afflicted with tuberculosis, her body and garments were covered with vomits of blood. Breathing an unbearable fishy odor that polluted the entire street, she chased Indra to afflict him. 

TRANSLATION

Sri Sukadeva Gosvämi said: Encouraged by the words of the sages, Indra killed Vrträsura, and when he was killed the sinful reaction for killing a brähmana [brahma-hatyä] certainly took shelter of Indra.

PURPORT

After killing Vrträsura, Indra could not surpass the brahma-hatyä, the sinful reactions for killing a brähmana.

Formerly he had killed one brähmana, Vishvarüpa, out of circumstantial anger, but this time, following the advice of the sages, he killed another brähmana purposely.

Therefore the sinful reaction was greater than before.

Indra could not be relieved from the reaction simply by performing sacrifices for atonement.

He had to undergo a severe series of sinful reactions, and when he was freed by such suffering, the brähmanas allowed him to perform the horse sacrifice.

The planned execution of sinful deeds on the strength of chanting the holy name of the Lord or undergoing präyashchitta, atonement, cannot give relief to anyone, even to Indra or Nahusha.

Nahusha was officiating for Indra while Indra, absent from heaven, was going here and there to gain release from his sinful reactions.

TRANSLATION

Following the advice of the demigods, Indra killed Vrträsura, and he suffered because of this sinful killing. Although the other demigods were happy, he could not derive happiness from the killing of Vrträsura. Indra's other good qualities, such as tolerance and opulence, could not help him in his grief.

PURPORT

One cannot be happy by committing sinful acts, even if one is endowed with material opulence. Indra found this to be true. People began to blaspheme him, saying, "This person has killed a brähmana for the sake of enjoying heavenly material happiness." Therefore in spite of being King of heaven and enjoying material opulence, Indra was always unhappy because of the accusations of the populace.

TRANSLATION

Indra saw personified sinful reaction chasing him, appearing like a chandäla woman, a woman of the lowest class. She seemed very old, and all the limbs of her body trembled. Because she was afflicted with tuberculosis, her body and garments were covered with blood. Breathing an unbearable fishy odor that polluted the entire street, she called to Indra, "Wait! Wait!"

PURPORT

When a person is afflicted with tuberculosis, he often vomits blood, which makes his garments bloody.

TRANSLATION

O King, Indra first fled to the sky, but there also he saw the woman of personified sin chasing him. This witch followed him wherever he went. At last he very quickly went to the northeast and entered the Mänasa-sarovara Lake.

TRANSLATION

Always thinking of how he could be relieved from the sinful reaction for killing a brähmana, King Indra, invisible to everyone, lived in the lake for one thousand years in the subtle fibers of the stem of a lotus. The fire-god used to bring him his share of all yajnas, but because the fire-god was afraid to enter the water, Indra was practically starving.