Bhagvad Gita (shloka 2.58)-23rd May

Bhagvad Gita (shloka 2.58):

TRANSLATION

ONE WHO IS ABLE TO WITHDRAW HIS SENSES FROM SENSE OBJECTS, AS THE TORTOISE DRAWS HIS LIMBS WITHIN THE SHELL, IS TO BE UNDERSTOOD AS TRULY SITUATED IN KNOWLEDGE.

PURPORT

THE TEST OF A YOGI, DEVOTEE, OR SELF-REALIZED SOUL IS THAT HE IS ABLE TO CONTROL THE SENSES ACCORDING TO HIS PLAN.

MOST PEOPLE, HOWEVER, ARE SERVANTS OF THE SENSES AND ARE THUS DIRECTED BY THE DICTATION OF THE SENSES.

That is the answer to the question as to how the yogi is situated.

THE SENSES ARE COMPARED TO VENOMOUS SERPENTS.

THEY WANT TO ACT VERY LOOSELY AND WITHOUT RESTRICTION.

THE YOGI, OR THE DEVOTEE, MUST BE VERY STRONG TO CONTROL THE SERPENTS—LIKE A SNAKE CHARMER.

HE NEVER ALLOWS THEM TO ACT INDEPENDENTLY.

THERE ARE MANY INJUNCTIONS IN THE REVEALED SCRIPTURES; SOME OF THEM ARE DO-NOTs, AND SOME OF THEM ARE DOs.

UNLESS ONE IS ABLE TO FOLLOW THE DOs AND THE DO-NOTs, RESTRICTING ONESELF FROM SENSE ENJOYMENT, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO BE FIRMLY FIXED IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS.

THE BEST EXAMPLE, SET HEREIN, IS THE TORTOISE.

THE TORTOISE CAN AT ANY MOMENT WIND UP HIS SENSES AND EXHIBIT THEM AGAIN AT ANY TIME FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES.

SIMILARLY, THE SENSES OF THE KRSNA CONSCIOUS PERSONS ARE USED ONLY FOR SOME PARTICULAR PURPOSE IN THE SERVICE OF THE LORD AND ARE WITHDRAWN OTHERWISE.

KEEPING THE SENSES ALWAYS IN THE SERVICE OF THE LORD IS THE EXAMPLE SET BY THE ANALOGY OF THE TORTOISE, WHO KEEPS THE SENSES WITHIN.

Bhagvatam-DEVOTIONAL SERVICE is Dharma-23rd May

Srimad Bhagvatam

TRANSLATION:

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

PURPORT

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

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

Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.6) therefore concludes:

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

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

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

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

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

Bhagvatam-DEVOTIONAL SERVICE is Dharma-23rd May

Srimad Bhagvatam

TRANSLATION:

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

PURPORT

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

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

Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.2.6) therefore concludes:

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

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

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

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

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

How unfortunate I am, मैं कितना अभागा हूँ #Blog0002

How unfortunate I am

राधे राधे ॥ आज का भगवद चिन्तन ॥

1.

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

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

इतना अयोग्य है जीव

BEWILDERED, I INTROSPECT ON MY ILL FORTUNE OR MY INELIGIBILITY

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

&

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

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

2.

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

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

3.

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

Purport

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

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

4.

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

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

5.

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

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

6.

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

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

7.

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

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

8

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

http://mahavishnugoswami.com/gr/2287

Standby link (in case youtube link does not work)

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

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