Friday, March 12, 2021

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.

Thursday, March 11, 2021

It is your inner conscience, the voice of your own soul, that needs to guide and direct the mind that God is the only resort for eternal bliss. Then the mind will not run after anything else other than God #Blog0079


It is your inner conscience, the voice of your own soul, that needs to guide & direct the mind that God is the only resort for eternal bliss. Then the mind will not run after anything else other than God.


मन को तो वहीं जाना है जहां इसे सुख दिखाई पड़ता है

आप खूब संसार में रहिए   

मगर संसार में सुख बुद्धि ना रहे

और ऐसा कब होगा जब कोई आप को इशारा कर दे कि सुख असल में है क्या और कहाँ   

जैसे किसी ने सोना  हीरा ना देखा हो   

उसे एक हीरे के आभूषण की कल्पना करवाइए  

उसे समझ में नहीं आएगा  क्योंकि उसने कभी हीरा देखा ही नहीं  

ऐसे ही मन है  मन को मालूम नहीं कि भगवत सुख होता क्या है  

आप मन को आस्वादन करवाइए एक बार भगवत रस का  

फिर मन भगवत भजन रस को छोड़ेगा नहीं

Mind will go wherever it feels likelihood of pleasure

Be in the world but do not expect pleasures from this world because whatever seems to be sukh is actually dukh being the other side of the same coin.

Mind needs to be told where the eternal bliss is to be found. 

For example if somebody has not seen gold and diamond and you ask him to imagine the ornament made of diamond, he would not appreciate its value because he has never seen diamond. 

Similarly the mind does not know what is the level of pleasure offered by Lord.

 

It is your inner conscience on hearing the voice of your own soul that you need to you tell & direct the mind that God is the only resort for eternal bliss. 


Then the mind will not run after anything else other than God.


Once husk is removed from rice, it can never be combined with rice.


Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Bhagvatam: ONE MAY BE A BRÄHMANA IN TERMS OF HIS CULTURE AND FAMILY AND MAY BE EXPERT IN VEDIC KNOWLEDGE, BUT IF HE IS NOT A VAISHNAVA (PURE DEVOTEE OF LORD), HE CANNOT BE A GURU

Bhagvatam: ONE MAY BE A BRÄHMANA IN TERMS OF HIS CULTURE AND FAMILY AND MAY BE EXPERT IN VEDIC KNOWLEDGE, BUT IF HE IS NOT A VAISHNAVA (PURE DEVOTEE OF LORD), HE CANNOT BE A GURU


Sri Sukadeva Gosvämi said: O King Parikshit, who are so charitably disposed, when Vrträsura (demon) was killed, all the presiding deities and everyone else in the three planetary systems was immediately pleased and free from trouble—everyone, that is, except Indra.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, the demigods, the great saintly persons, the inhabitants of Pitrloka and Bhütaloka, the demons, the followers of the demigods, and also Lord Brahmä, Lord Shiva and the demigods subordinate to Indra all returned to their respective homes. While departing, however, no one spoke to Indra.


PURPORT

In this connection Srila Vishvanätha Chakravarti Thäkura comments:

Lord Brahmä, Lord Shiva and the other demigods returned to their respective abodes, but Indra did not, for he was disturbed at having killed Vrträsura, who was actually a brähmana. 

After killing Vrträsura, Indra went to the Mänasa-sarovara Lake to become free from sinful reactions. When he left the lake, he performed an ashvamedha-yajna and then returned to his own abode.


TRANSLATION

Mahäräja Parikshit inquired from Sukadeva Gosvämi: O great sage, what was the reason for Indra's unhappiness? I wish to hear about this. When he killed Vrträsura, all the demigods were extremely happy. Why, then, was Indra himself unhappy?

PURPORT

This, of course, is a very intelligent question. 

When a demon is killed, certainly all the demigods are happy. In this case, however, when all the demigods were happy because of Vrträsura's having been killed, Indra was unhappy. Why? 

IT MAY BE SUGGESTED THAT INDRA WAS UNHAPPY BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT HE HAD KILLED A GREAT DEVOTEE AND BRÄHMANA. VRTRÄSURA OUTWARDLY APPEARED TO BE A DEMON, BUT INWARDLY HE WAS A GREAT DEVOTEE AND THEREFORE A GREAT BRÄHMANA.

HEREIN IT IS CLEARLY INDICATED THAT A PERSON WHO IS NOT AT ALL DEMONIAC, SUCH AS PRAHLÄDA MAHÄRÄJA AND BALI MAHÄRÄJA, MAY OUTWARDLY BE A DEMON OR BE BORN IN A FAMILY OF DEMONS. 

Therefore in terms of real culture one should not be considered a demigod or demon simply according to birth. In his dealings while fighting with Indra, Vrträsura proved himself a great devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. 

Furthermore, as soon as he finished fighting with Indra and was apparently killed, Vrträsura was transferred to Vaikunthaloka to become an associate of Sankarshana. Indra knew this, and therefore he was morose at having killed such a demon, who was actually a Vaishnava or brähmana.

A Vaishnava is already a brähmana, although a brähmana may not be a Vaishnava. The Padma Puräna says:

ONE MAY BE A BRÄHMANA IN TERMS OF HIS CULTURE AND FAMILY AND MAY BE EXPERT IN VEDIC KNOWLEDGE (MANTRA-TANTRA-VISHÄRADAM), BUT IF HE IS NOT A VAISHNAVA, HE CANNOT BE A GURU. 

This means that an expert brähmana may not be a Vaishnava, but a Vaishnava is already a brähmana. A millionaire may very easily possess hundreds and thousands of dollars, but a person with hundreds and thousands of dollars is not necessarily a millionaire. Vrträsura was a perfect Vaishnava, and therefore he was also a brähmana.

Tuesday, March 9, 2021

Bhagvat: BY ONCE CHANTING THE HOLY NAME OF THE LORD, ONE CAN BE FREED FROM THE REACTIONS OF MORE SINS THAT HE CAN EVEN IMAGINE PERFORMING, 18th Aug

Bhagvat: BY ONCE CHANTING THE HOLY NAME OF THE LORD, ONE CAN BE FREED FROM THE REACTIONS OF MORE SINS THAT HE CAN EVEN IMAGINE PERFORMING.     WHAT, THEN, IS TO BE SAID OF THOSE WHO CHANT THE HOLY NAME REGULARLY OR WORSHIP THE DEITY REGULARLY? FOR SUCH PURIFIED DEVOTEES, FREEDOM FROM SINFUL REACTION IS CERTAINLY ASSURED.


Sri Sukadeva Gosvämi answered: When all the great sages and demigods were disturbed by the extraordinary power of Vrträsura, they had assembled to ask Indra to kill him. Indra, however, being afraid of killing a brähmana, declined their request.

King Indra replied: When I killed Vishvarüpa, I received extensive sinful reactions, but I was favored by the women, land, trees and water, and therefore I was able to divide the sin among them. But now if I kill Vrträsura, another brähmana, how shall I free myself from the sinful reactions?

Sri Sukadeva Gosvämi said: Hearing this, the great sages replied to King Indra, "O King of heaven, all good fortune unto you. Do not fear. We shall perform an ashvamedha sacrifice to release you from any sin you may accrue by killing the brähmana."

The rshis continued: O King Indra, by performing an ashvamedha sacrifice and thereby pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the Supersoul, Lord Näräyana, the supreme controller, one can be relieved even of the sinful reactions for killing the entire world, not to speak of killing a demon like Vrträsura.

TRANSLATION

One who has killed a brähmana, one who has killed a cow or one who has killed his father, mother or spiritual master can be immediately freed from all sinful reactions simply by chanting the holy name of Lord Näräyana. Other sinful persons, such as dog-eaters and chandälas, who are less than shüdras, can also be freed in this way. But you are a devotee, and we shall help you by performing the great horse sacrifice. If you please Lord Näräyana in that way, why should you be afraid? You will be freed even if you kill the entire universe, including the brähmanas, not to speak of killing a disturbing demon like Vrträsura.

PURPORT

It is said in the Brhad-vishnu Puräna:

Also, in the Prema-vivarta by Jagadänanda Pandita it is said:

THIS MEANS THAT BY ONCE CHANTING THE HOLY NAME OF THE LORD, ONE CAN BE FREED FROM THE REACTIONS OF MORE SINS THAT HE CAN EVEN IMAGINE PERFORMING.

The holy name is so spiritually potent that simply by chanting the holy name one can be freed from the reactions to all sinful activities.

WHAT, THEN, IS TO BE SAID OF THOSE WHO CHANT THE HOLY NAME REGULARLY OR WORSHIP THE DEITY REGULARLY? FOR SUCH PURIFIED DEVOTEES, FREEDOM FROM SINFUL REACTION IS CERTAINLY ASSURED.

THIS DOES NOT MEAN, HOWEVER, THAT ONE SHOULD INTENTIONALLY COMMIT SINFUL ACTS AND THINK HIMSELF FREE FROM THE REACTIONS BECAUSE HE IS CHANTING THE HOLY NAME.

Such a mentality is a most abominable offense at the lotus feet of the holy name.

Nämno baläd yasya hi päpa-buddhim: the Lord's holy name certainly has the potency to neutralize all sinful activities, but if one repeatedly and intentionally commits sins while chanting the holy name, he is most condemned.

These verses name the performers of various sinful deeds.

In the Manu-samhitä the following names are given.

A son begotten by a brähmana and born from the womb of a shüdra mother is called a pärashava or nishäda, a hunter accustomed to stealing.

A son begotten by a nishäda in the womb of a shüdra woman is called a pukkasa.

A child begotten by a kshatriya in the womb of the daughter of a shüdra is called an ugra.

A child begotten by a shüdra in the womb of the daughter of a kshatriya is called a kshattä.

A child begotten by a kshatriya in the womb of a lower-class woman is called a shväda, or dog-eater.

ALL SUCH OFFSPRING ARE CONSIDERED EXTREMELY SINFUL, BUT THE HOLY NAME OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD IS SO STRONG THAT ALL OF THEM CAN BE PURIFIED SIMPLY BY CHANTING THE HARE KRSHNA MANTRA.

The Hare Krshna movement offers everyone a chance to be purified, regardless of birth or family.

As confirmed in Srimad-Bhägavatam (2.4.18):

"Kirätas, Hünas, Ändhras, Pulindas, Pulkashas, Äbhiras, Sumbhas, Yavanas, members of the Khasa races, and even others addicted to sinful acts can be purified by taking shelter of devotees of the Lord, for He is the supreme power.

I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto Him.”

Even such sinful persons can certainly all be purified if they chant the holy name of the Lord under the direction of a pure devotee.

Herein the sages encourage King Indra to kill Vrträsura even at the risk of brahma-hatyä, the killing of a brähmana, and they guarantee to release him from sinful reactions by performing an ashvamedha-yajna.

Such purposefully devised atonement, however, cannot relieve the performer of sinful acts.

This will be seen from the following verse.


Monday, March 8, 2021

If you are lovingly devoted to Lord, then irrespective of whether you are doing it for selfless purpose or initially for selfish reasons for worldly gains or for liberation etc., you are on right path having “purified intelligence” (‘सुबुद्धि’) #Blog0078

If you are lovingly devoted to Lord, then irrespective of whether you are doing it for selfless purpose or initially for selfish reasons for worldly gains or for liberation etc., you are on right path having “purified intelligence” (‘सुबुद्धि’). Such devotees attain Godhead even after enjoying worldly pleasures.


"अकामः सर्वकामो वा मोक्षकाम उदारधीः।     

तीव्रेण भक्तियोगेन यजेत पुरुषं परम्।।"

https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/2/3/10/                 


इस श्लोक की सारार्थदर्शिनी टीका में ‘उदारधी’ शब्द की इस प्रकार व्याख्या की गई है-‘उदारधी’ का तात्पर्य है-‘सुबुद्धि’ कामसहित अथवा कामरहित हो


यदि वह भगवान् का भजन करता है, तो यही उसके सुबुद्धित्व का चिह्न है तथा ऐसी बुद्धि का अभाव ही दुर्बुद्धित्व का लक्षण है। 


कामरहित भक्तों की तो बात ही क्या, सकाम भक्त भी अपने अभिलषित भोगों को भोगकर भगवान् या भक्तों की कृपा से भगवत-धाम में भगवत्-सेवा प्राप्त करते हैं, इसलिए इनको उदार बुद्धिसम्पन्न कहा गया है


Though ULTIMATELY YOU WOULD TURN TO SELFLESS LOVING DEVOTION TO LORD BY THE POWER OF BHAKTI AS BEING SELFLESS IS THE FINAL STAGE BEFORE PERFECTION.