Gita-shloka-5.4,- The soul of the material world is Visnu, or the Supersoul. Devotional service to the Lord entails service to the Supersoul, 26th Aug

Gita-shloka-5.4,- The soul of the material world is Visnu, or the Supersoul. Devotional service to the Lord entails service to the Supersoul. One process is to find the root of the tree, and next to water the root. The real student of sankhya philosophy finds the root of the material world, Visnu, and then, in perfect knowledge, engages himself in the service of the Lord.

TRANSLATION

Only the ignorant speak of karma-yoga and devotional service as being different from the analytical study of the material world [sankhya]. Those who are actually learned say that he who applies himself well to one of these paths achieves the results of both.

PURPORT

The aim of the analytical study of the material world is to find the soul of existence.

The soul of the material world is Visnu, or the Supersoul.

Devotional service to the Lord entails service to the Supersoul.

One process is to find the root of the tree, and next to water the root.

The real student of sankhya philosophy finds the root of the material world, Visnu, and then, in perfect knowledge, engages himself in the service of the Lord.

Therefore, in essence, there is no difference between the two because the aim of both is Visnu.

Those who do not know the ultimate end say that the purposes of sankhya and karma-yoga are not the same, but one who is learned knows the unifying aim in these different processes.

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.

Gita shloka 5.3: Knowledge that one is one in quality yet different in quantity with God, is correct transcendental knowledge leading one to become full in himself, having nothing to aspire to nor lament over 25th Aug

Gita shloka 5.3:  Knowledge that one is one in quality yet different in quantity with God, is correct transcendental knowledge leading one to become full in himself, having nothing to aspire to nor lament over. There is no duality in his mind because whatever he does, he does for Krsna. Being thus freed from the platform of dualities, he is liberated—even in this material world.

TRANSLATION

One who neither hates nor desires the fruits of his activities is known to be always renounced. Such a person, liberated from all dualities, easily overcomes material bondage and is completely liberated, O mighty-armed Arjuna.

PURPORT

One who is fully in Krsna consciousness is always a renouncer because he feels neither hatred nor desire for the results of his actions.

Such a renouncer, dedicated to the transcendental loving service of the Lord, is fully qualified in knowledge because he knows his constitutional position in his relationship with Krsna.

He knows fully well that Krsna is the whole and that he is part and parcel of Krsna.

Such knowledge is perfect because it is qualitatively and quantitatively correct.

The concept of oneness with Krsna is incorrect because the part cannot be equal to the whole.

Knowledge that one is one in quality yet different in quantity is correct transcendental knowledge leading one to become full in himself, having nothing to aspire to nor lament over.

There is no duality in his mind because whatever he does, he does for Krsna.

Being thus freed from the platform of dualities, he is liberated—even in this material world.

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.

Gita-shloka-5.2: Renunciation is complete when it is in the knowledge that everything in existence belongs to the Lord and that no one should claim proprietorship over anything,24th Aug

Gita-shloka-5.2: Renunciation is complete when it is in the knowledge that everything in existence belongs to the Lord and that no one should claim proprietorship over anything. One should understand that, factually, nothing belongs to anyone.Then where is the question of renunciation? One who knows that everything is Krsna's property is always situated in renunciation. Since everything belongs to Krsna, everything should be employed in the service of Krsna.

TRANSLATION

The Blessed Lord said: The renunciation of work and work in devotion are both good for liberation. But, of the two, work in devotional service is better than renunciation of works.

PURPORT

Fruitive activities (seeking sense gratification) are cause for material bondage. 

As long as one is engaged in activities aimed at improving the standard of bodily comfort, one is sure to transmigrate to different types of bodies, thereby continuing material bondage perpetually. Srimad-Bhagavatam confirms this as follows:

nunam pramattah kurute vikarma yad indriya-pritaya aprnoti

na sadhu manye yata atmano 'yam asann api klesada asa dehah

parabhavas tavad abodha-jato yavanna jijnasata atma-tattvam

yavat kriyas tavad idam mano vai karmatmakam yena sarira-bandhah

evam manah karma-vasam prayunkte avidyayatmany upadhiyamane

pritir na yavan mayi vasudeve na mucyate deha-yogena tavat

"People are mad after sense gratification, and they do not know that this present body, which is full of miseries, is a result of one's fruitive activities in the past.

Although this body is temporary, it is always giving one trouble in many ways.

Therefore, to act for sense gratification is not good.

One is considered to be a failure in life as long as he makes no inquiry about the nature of work for fruitive results, for as long as one is engrossed in the consciousness of sense gratification, one has to transmigrate from one body to another.

Although the mind may be engrossed in fruitive activities and influenced by ignorance, one must develop a love for devotional service to Vasudeva.

Only then can one have the opportunity to get out of the bondage of material existence." (Bhag. 5.5.4-6)

Therefore, jnana (or knowledge that one is not this material body but spirit soul) is not sufficient for liberation.

One has to act in the status of spirit soul, otherwise there is no escape from material bondage.

Action in Krsna consciousness is not, however, action on the fruitive platform.

Activities performed in full knowledge strengthen one's advancement in real knowledge.

Without Krsna consciousness, mere renunciation of fruitive activities does not actually purify the heart of a conditioned soul.

As long as the heart is not purified, one has to work on the fruitive platform.

But action in Krsna consciousness automatically helps one escape the result of fruitive action so that one need not descend to the material platform.

Therefore, action in Krsna consciousness is always superior to renunciation, which always entails a risk of falling.

Renunciation without Krsna consciousness is incomplete, as is confirmed by Srila Rupa Gosvami in his Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu.

prapancikataya buddhya hari-sambandhi-vastunah

mumuksubhih parityago vairagyam phalgu kathyate.

"Renunciation by persons eager to achieve liberation of things which are related to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, though they are material, is called incomplete renunciation." 

Renunciation is complete when it is in the knowledge that everything in existence belongs to the Lord and that no one should claim proprietorship over anything.

One should understand that, factually, nothing belongs to anyone.

Then where is the question of renunciation? One who knows that everything is Krsna's property is always situated in renunciation.

Since everything belongs to Krsna, everything should be employed in the service of Krsna.

This perfect form of action in Krsna consciousness is far better than any amount of artificial renunciation by a sannyasi of the Mayavadi school.