Bhagvatam: Indians spend especially lavishly but the shastras prohibit the excessive expenditures involved in inviting many brahmanas and relatives,3rd July

Bhagvatam: Indians spend especially lavishly but the shastras prohibit the excessive expenditures involved in inviting many brahmanas and relatives

TRANSLATION

During the period for offering oblations to the demigods, one should invite only two brahmanas, and while offering oblations to the forefathers, one may invite three brahmanas.

Or, in either case, only one brahmana will suffice.

Even though one is very opulent, he should not endeavor to invite more brahmanas or make various expensive arrangements on those occasions.

PURPORT

As we have already mentioned, Srila Advaita Acharya, during the generally observed ceremony to offer oblations to the forefathers, invited only Haridasa Thakura.

Thus He followed this principle: na me'bhaktas catur-vedi mad-bhaktam sva-pacam priyam.

The Lord says, "It is not necessary that one become very expert in Vedic knowledge before he can become My bhakta, or devotee.

Even if one is born in a family of dog-eaters, he can become My devotee and be very dear to Me, in spite of having taken birth in such a family.

Therefore, offerings should be given to My devotee, and whatever My devotee has offered Me should be accepted.”

Following this principle, one should invite a first-class brahmana or Vaishnava—a realized soul—and feed him while observing the sraddha ceremony to offer oblations to one's forefathers.

TRANSLATION

If one arranges to feed many brahmanas or relatives during the sraddha ceremony, there will be discrepancies in the time, place, respectability and ingredients, the person to be worshiped, and the method of offering worship.

PURPORT

Narada Muni has prohibited unnecessarily gorgeous arrangements to feed relatives or brahmanas during the sraddha ceremony. Those who are materially opulent spend lavishly during this ceremony. Indians spend especially lavishly on three occasions—at the birth of a child, at marriage and while observing the sraddha ceremony—but the sastras prohibit the excessive expenditures involved in inviting many brahmanas and relatives, especially during the sraddha ceremony.

Gita shloka 3.28: A PURE DEVOTEE DOES NOT ENGAGE HIMSELF IN THE SENSES AND SENSE GRATIFICATION, 2nd July

TRANSLATION

ONE WHO IS IN KNOWLEDGE OF THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH, O MIGHTY-ARMED, DOES NOT ENGAGE HIMSELF IN THE SENSES AND SENSE GRATIFICATION, KNOWING WELL THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WORK IN DEVOTION AND WORK FOR FRUITIVE RESULTS.

PURPORT

THE KNOWER OF THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH IS CONVINCED OF HIS AWKWARD POSITION IN MATERIAL ASSOCIATION.

HE KNOWS THAT HE IS PART AND PARCEL OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, KRSNA, AND THAT HIS POSITION SHOULD NOT BE IN THE MATERIAL CREATION.

HE KNOWS HIS REAL IDENTITY AS PART AND PARCEL OF THE SUPREME, WHO IS ETERNAL BLISS AND KNOWLEDGE, AND HE REALIZES THAT SOMEHOW OR OTHER HE IS ENTRAPPED IN THE MATERIAL CONCEPTION OF LIFE.

IN HIS PURE STATE OF EXISTENCE HE IS MEANT TO DOVETAIL HIS ACTIVITIES IN DEVOTIONAL SERVICE TO THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, KRSNA.

HE THEREFORE ENGAGES HIMSELF IN THE ACTIVITIES OF KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS AND BECOMES NATURALLY UNATTACHED TO THE ACTIVITIES OF THE MATERIAL SENSES, WHICH ARE ALL CIRCUMSTANTIAL AND TEMPORARY.

HE KNOWS THAT HIS MATERIAL CONDITION OF LIFE IS UNDER THE SUPREME CONTROL OF THE LORD; CONSEQUENTLY HE IS NOT DISTURBED BY ALL KINDS OF MATERIAL REACTIONS, WHICH HE CONSIDERS TO BE THE MERCY OF THE LORD.

ACCORDING TO SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM, ONE WHO KNOWS THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH IN THREE DIFFERENT FEATURES—NAMELY BRAHMAN, PARAMATMA, AND THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD—IS CALLED TATTVAVIT, FOR HE KNOWS ALSO HIS OWN FACTUAL POSITION IN RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SUPREME.

LISTEN TO MY PLEADINGS, O LORD SITTING IN MY HEART #Blog0051

Listen to my pleadings, O Lord sitting in my heart         

बिनती सुनिए नाथ हमारी,  हृदयष्वर हरी हृदय बिहारी,     

Listen to my pleadings, O Lord sitting in my heart         

 

मोर मुकुट पीतांबर धारी,  बिनती सुनिए नाथ हमारी ॥                        

With peacock crown & yellow garment..

 

जनम जनम की लगी लगन है, साक्षी तारो भरा गगन है

Since ages, I desire to be with You, stars in the sky are witness              

 

गिन गिन स्वास आस कहती है, आएँगे श्री कृष्ण मुरारी,              

Each breath counts itself, waiting for Your coming

॥ बिनती सुनिए नाथ हमारी...॥                             

 

सतत प्रतीक्षा अपलक लोचन, हे भव बाधा बिपति बिमोचन

Continuous (सतत) waiting for You to come amidst not even blinking (अपलक ) of my eyelids (लोचन=eyes), O remover of worldly cycle of sorrows & hurdles

          

स्वागत का अधिकार दीजिए, शरणागत है नयन पुजारी

Please give me right of welcoming You, I am already surrendered (शरणागत) to You, You can see it in my eyes  (नयन पुजारी)             

॥ बिनती सुनिए नाथ हमारी...॥                          

 

और कहूं क्या अंतर्यामी,  तन मन धन प्राणो के स्वामी            

What else should I say, Proprietor of my body, mind & soul

 

करुणाकर आकर के कहिए,   स्वीकारी विनती स्वीकारी

O Most Munificent, please say that You accepted my prayers      

॥ बिनती सुनिए नाथ हमारी...॥

 

हों तेरो दास आस, मोहे तेरी ईत दे कान मुरारी

I am Your eternal servant, Please lend me Your ears

 

दीनानाथ अनाथ का भला भया संजोग, जो आप तारोगे नहीं ,मेरी हंसी करेंगे लोग

O uplifter of downtrodden, it is good that I am able to say You something (भला भया संजोग) and now if You don’t relieve me of worldly birth death cycle,old age & disease, world would laugh at me.

 

श्रवण सुयश सुन आए हो प्रभु, भंजन भव भीन

I’ve listened to a lot of eulogising prayers, O slayer of problems

 

त्राहि त्राहि आर्त हरण, शरण सुखद रघुबीर

O remover of distresses, O giver of comforts to who take Your shelter

मौ सम दीन ना दीन, हित तुम समान रघुबीर

There is none more downtrodden than me & none as Great Munificent as You

अस विचार रघुवंश मणि हरहूं...

Feeling along these lines (अस विचार), I am able to get hold (हरहूं) of an invaluable gem (मणि )of God's love (रघुवंश)

 

रहीदास कहे भव तारणा प्रभू

O, Ultimate Solace of beings - this Rahidas (a great devotee) prays

 

अब विलंब केही कारणा अब की टेक हमारी रे    

now, what is the delay, I beseech (टेक) you

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOQwwqnWGgI

Gita shloka 3.27: THE BEWILDERED SPIRIT SOUL THINKS HIMSELF TO BE THE DOER OF ACTIVITIES, WHICH ARE IN ACTUALITY CARRIED OUT BY NATURE, 1st July

Gita shloka 3.27

TRANSLATION

THE BEWILDERED SPIRIT SOUL, UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE THREE MODES OF MATERIAL NATURE, THINKS HIMSELF TO BE THE DOER OF ACTIVITIES, WHICH ARE IN ACTUALITY CARRIED OUT BY NATURE.

PURPORT

TWO PERSONS, ONE IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS AND THE OTHER IN MATERIAL CONSCIOUSNESS, WORKING ON THE SAME LEVEL, MAY APPEAR TO BE WORKING ON THE SAME PLATFORM, BUT THERE IS A WIDE GULF OF DIFFERENCE IN THEIR RESPECTIVE POSITIONS.

THE PERSON IN MATERIAL CONSCIOUSNESS IS CONVINCED BY FALSE EGO THAT HE IS THE DOER OF EVERYTHING.

HE DOES NOT KNOW THAT THE MECHANISM OF THE BODY IS PRODUCED BY MATERIAL NATURE, WHICH WORKS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE SUPREME LORD.

THE MATERIALISTIC PERSON HAS NO KNOWLEDGE THAT ULTIMATELY HE IS UNDER THE CONTROL OF KRSNA.

THE PERSON IN FALSE EGO TAKES ALL CREDIT FOR DOING EVERYTHING INDEPENDANTLY, AND THAT IS THE SYMPTOM OF HIS NESCIENCE.

HE DOES NOT KNOW THAT THIS GROSS AND SUBTLE BODY IS THE CREATION OF MATERIAL NATURE, UNDER THE ORDER OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, AND AS SUCH HIS BODILY AND MENTAL ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE ENGAGED IN THE SERVICE OF KRSNA, IN KRSNA CONSCIOUSNESS.

THE IGNORANT MAN FORGETS THAT THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD IS KNOWN AS HRSIKESA, OR THE MASTER OF THE SENSES OF THE MATERIAL BODY, FOR DUE TO HIS LONG MISUSE OF THE SENSES IN SENSE GRATIFICATION, HE IS FACTUALLY BEWILDERED BY THE FALSE EGO, WHICH MAKES HIM FORGET HIS ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH KRSNA.

Bhagvatam THE SUPREME LORD GIVES LIVING ENTITY A CHANCE TO ENJOY IN THIS MATERIAL WORLD AS HE DESIRES, BUT HE WANTS IT TO FULLY SURRENDER UNTO HIM AND RETURN HOME, BACK TO GODHEAD,1st July

Bhagvatam: THE SUPREME LORD GIVES THE LIVING ENTITY A CHANCE TO ENJOY IN THIS MATERIAL WORLD AS HE DESIRES, BUT HE OPENLY EXPRESSES HIS OWN DESIRE THAT THE LIVING ENTITY GIVE UP ALL MATERIAL ASPIRATIONS, FULLY SURRENDER UNTO HIM AND RETURN HOME, BACK TO GODHEAD

TRANSLATION

THE LIVING ENTITY IS ETERNAL AND IMPERISHABLE BECAUSE HE ACTUALLY HAS NO BEGINNING AND NO END. HE NEVER TAKES BIRTH OR DIES. HE IS THE BASIC PRINCIPLE OF ALL TYPES OF BODIES, YET HE DOES NOT BELONG TO THE BODILY CATEGORY. THE LIVING BEING IS SO SUBLIME THAT HE IS EQUAL IN QUALITY TO THE SUPREME LORD. NONETHELESS, BECAUSE HE IS EXTREMELY SMALL, HE IS PRONE TO BE ILLUSIONED BY THE EXTERNAL ENERGY, AND THUS HE CREATES VARIOUS BODIES FOR HIMSELF ACCORDING TO HIS DIFFERENT DESIRES.

PURPORT

In this verse the philosophy of achintya-bhedäbheda—simultaneous oneness and difference—is described. The living entity is eternal (nitya) like the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but the difference is that the Supreme Lord is the greatest, no one being equal to or greater than Him, whereas the living entity is sükshma, or extremely small. 

THE SHÄSTRA DESCRIBES THAT THE MAGNITUDE OF THE LIVING ENTITY IS ONE TEN-THOUSANDTH THE SIZE OF THE TIP OF A HAIR. THE SUPREME LORD IS ALL-PERVADING (ANDÄNTARA-STHA-PARAMÄNU-CAYÄNTARA-STHAM). RELATIVELY, IF THE LIVING ENTITY IS ACCEPTED AS THE SMALLEST, THERE SHOULD NATURALLY BE INQUIRY ABOUT THE GREATEST. THE GREATEST IS THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, AND THE SMALLEST IS THE LIVING ENTITY.

Another peculiar characteristic of the jiva is that he becomes covered by mäyä. Ätmamäyä-gunaim: he is prone to being covered by the Supreme Lord's illusory energy. The living entity is responsible for his conditional life in the material world, and therefore he is described as prabhu ("the master"). 

IF HE LIKES HE CAN COME TO THIS MATERIAL WORLD, AND IF HE LIKES HE CAN RETURN HOME, BACK TO GODHEAD. BECAUSE HE WANTED TO ENJOY THIS MATERIAL WORLD, THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD GAVE HIM A MATERIAL BODY THROUGH THE AGENCY OF THE MATERIAL ENERGY. 

As the Lord Himself says in Bhagavad-gitä (18.61):

"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." 

THE SUPREME LORD GIVES THE LIVING ENTITY A CHANCE TO ENJOY IN THIS MATERIAL WORLD AS HE DESIRES, BUT HE OPENLY EXPRESSES HIS OWN DESIRE THAT THE LIVING ENTITY GIVE UP ALL MATERIAL ASPIRATIONS, FULLY SURRENDER UNTO HIM AND RETURN HOME, BACK TO GODHEAD.

The living entity is the smallest (sükshma). Jiva Gosvämi says in this connection that the living entity within the body is extremely difficult for materialistic scientists to find, although we understand from authorities that the living entity is within the body. 

THE BODY IS DIFFERENT FROM THE LIVING ENTITY.