WHOEVER LISTENS TO GOD's KATHA, IS ACTUALLY PERFORMING A GIGANTIC YAGNA #Blog0067

whoever listens to God's katha, is actually performing a gigantic yagna

आप केवल सुनिए, सुनने का प्रयास करिये, इतना तो आप से अपेक्षित है, भई आप को चल कर तो सत्संग में आना होगा 

you are only supposed to listen, at least this much is expected of you - to come to Satsang

आप कहेंगे कि TV में कथा देख लेंगे

you say that the same can be watched in TV also

TV की कथा TV की गंगा जैसी है, दर्शन तो हो जाता है, स्मरण भी हो जाता है 

TV katha is like seeing Ganga in TV, though you can see it & you can recall it 

लेकिन गंगा की जो शीतलता है, गंगा की जो पवित्रता है, गंगा की जो निर्मलता है 

but coolness of Ganga, its purity & its Transparency/Pureness/Whiteness/ Openness power cannot be felt on TV

तन का ताप ,गंगा जी का चित्र देख कर दूर नहीं होता, उसके लिए तो गंगा जी का प्रकट रूप से सेवन करना चाहिए 

the body heat cannot be extinguished by only seeing Ganga on TV but you have to actually take a dip in it

जब आप कथा श्रवण करते हैं, तो भगवान आपके ह्रदय में अपना स्थान बनाते हैं 

when you listen attentively & lovingly to God's katha, God positions Himself in your heart 

कथा सुनने बैठिये ऐसे की आपको प्रभु को अपने ह्रदय में आसन देना है 

your attitude while listening to katha should be with sincere intent to make way for God to seat Himself in your heart 

जो श्रवण कर रहा है ,वो बहुत बड़ा यज्ञ कर रहा है 

whoever listens to God's katha, is actually performing a gigantic yagna

BHAGVAT EVERY DEVOTEE IN KRSHNA CONSCIOUSNESS SHOULD ALWAYS BE AFRAID OF THE COMMON MAN ENGAGED IN PURSUING MATERIAL PROSPERITY. SUCH A PERSON IS DESCRIBED AS PRAMATTA, A MADMAN CHASING THE WILL-O'-THE-WISP  25TH JULY

TRANSLATION

Only by providence have I been forcibly brought under Your lotus feet and deprived of all my opulence. Because of the illusion created by temporary opulence, people in general, who live under material conditions, facing accidental death at every moment, do not understand that this life is temporary. Only by providence have I been saved from that condition.

PURPORT

Bali Maharaja appreciated the actions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although all the members of the demoniac families except Prahlada Maharaja and Bali Maharaja considered Vishnu their eternal traditional enemy. As described by Bali Maharaja, Lord Vishnu was actually not the enemy of the family but the best friend of the family. 

The principle of this friendship has already been stated. Yasyaham anugrhnami harishye tad-dhanam shanaim: the Lord bestows special favor upon His devotee by taking away all his material opulences. Bali Maharaja appreciated this behavior by the Lord. Therefore he said, daivena nitam prasabham tyajita-shrim: "It is to bring me to the right platform of eternal life that You have put me into these circumstances."

ACTUALLY, EVERYONE SHOULD FEAR THE SO-CALLED SOCIETY, FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE FOR WHICH HE WORKS SO HARD ALL DAY AND NIGHT. 

AS INDICATED BY BALI MAHARAJA BY THE WORDS JANAD BHITAM, EVERY DEVOTEE IN KRSHNA CONSCIOUSNESS SHOULD ALWAYS BE AFRAID OF THE COMMON MAN ENGAGED IN PURSUING MATERIAL PROSPERITY. SUCH A PERSON IS DESCRIBED AS PRAMATTA, A MADMAN CHASING THE WILL-O'-THE-WISP. 

SUCH MEN DO NOT KNOW THAT AFTER A HARD STRUGGLE FOR LIFE ONE MUST CHANGE HIS BODY, WITH NO CERTAINTY OF WHAT KIND OF BODY HE WILL RECEIVE NEXT. THOSE WHO ARE COMPLETELY ESTABLISHED IN KRSHNA CONSCIOUS PHILOSOPHY AND WHO THEREFORE UNDERSTAND THE AIM OF LIFE WILL NEVER TAKE TO THE ACTIVITIES OF THE MATERIALISTIC DOG RACE. 

BUT IF A SINCERE DEVOTEE SOMEHOW DOES FALL DOWN, THE LORD CORRECTS HIM AND SAVES HIM FROM GLIDING DOWN TO THE DARKEST REGION OF HELLISH LIFE.

THE MATERIALISTIC WAY OF LIFE IS NOTHING BUT THE REPEATED CHEWING OF THAT WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN CHEWED. ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO PROFIT IN SUCH A LIFE, PEOPLE ARE ENAMORED OF IT BECAUSE OF UNCONTROLLED SENSES. Nünam pramattam kurute vikarma. 

BECAUSE OF UNCONTROLLED SENSES, PEOPLE FULLY ENGAGE IN SINFUL ACTIVITIES BY WHICH THEY GET A BODY FULL OF SUFFERING. BALI MAHARAJA APPRECIATED HOW THE LORD HAD SAVED HIM FROM SUCH A BEWILDERED LIFE OF IGNORANCE. HE THEREFORE SAID THAT HIS INTELLIGENCE HAD BEEN STUNNED. Stabdha-matir na budhyate. 

HE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD FAVORS HIS DEVOTEES BY FORCIBLY STOPPING THEIR MATERIALISTIC ACTIVITIES.

YOU ARE EITHER WALKING PURPOSELY IN RIGHT DIRECTION OR GOING HAYWIRE #Blog0066

You are either walking purposely in right direction or going haywire

एक है चलना एक है भटकना 

अगर चलना सही दिशा में हो

गंतव्य मालूम हो

तो चलने के साथ श्रम तो है

मगर प्रसन्नता भी है

मगर अगर गंतव्य (destination) मालूम नहीं 

तो श्रम (labour) तो है ही

साथ में भ्रम (illusion) भी है

जैसे दरिया में एक धारा बहती है धारा के साथ तो आदमी बह जाएगा मगर बीच में भंवर (vortex) भी आते हैं भंवर डुबा देता है

ONE THING IS WALKING – PROVIDED IT IS IN RIGHT DIRECTION, I.E., YOU KNOW THE DESTINATION, THEN ALTHOUGH IT IS A LABOUR BUT IT IS SATISFYING THAT YOU’RE NEARING THE GOAL

BUT IF DESTINATION IS NOT DECIDED, THEN NOT ONLY IS IT A USELESS LABOUR BUT ALSO A FEARFUL ILLUSION ALSO – LIKE IF YOU SIMPLY FLOW WITH THE RIVER, THOUGH IT’LL TAKE YOU SOME DISTANCE BUT SOONER OR LATER, YOU ARE LIKELY TO GET CAUGHT IN A VORTEX WHICH WILL DROWN YOU.

LIKEWISE  IF OUR GOAL OF LIFE IS FIXED (SURRENDER TO LORD) THEN LIFE BECOMES A PLEASURABLE JOURNEY – ELSE IT IS ALL A FRUITLESS LABORIOUS MEANDER WHICH WOULD LEAD ONE ONLY ONE WAY, I.E., TO LOWER SPECIES OF LIFE IN NEXT BIRTH - AS LORD SAYS I GAVE YOU THE WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO CEASE YOUR BIRTH DEATH CYCLE BUT YOU DID NOT CAPITALIZE ON THIS.

BHAGVAT,  THE FALSE PRESTIGE OF THINKING "I AM VERY RICH, AND I POSSESS SUCH VAST PROPERTY" IS ANOTHER SIDE OF MATERIAL LIFE. EVERYTHING BELONGS TO THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, AND NO ONE ELSE POSSESSES ANYTHING. THIS IS THE REAL FACT 24th July

TRANSLATION

No one can surpass the time representation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by material power, by the counsel of ministers, by intelligence, by diplomacy, by fortresses, by mystic mantras, by drugs, by herbs or by any other means.

TRANSLATION

Previously, being empowered by providence, you defeated a great number of such followers of Lord Vishnu. But today those same followers, having defeated us, are roaring in jubilation like lions.

PURPORT

Bhagavad-gita mentions five causes of defeat or victory. Of these five, daiva (providence) is the most powerful (na ca daivat param balam). Bali Maharaja knew the secret of how he had formerly been victorious because providence was in his favor. Now, since that same providence was not in his favor, there was no possibility of his victory. Thus he very intelligently forbade his associates to fight.

TRANSLATION

Unless providence is in our favor, we shall not be able to gain victory. Therefore we must wait for that favorable time when our defeating them will be possible.

TRANSLATION

Shukadeva Gosvami continued: O King, in accordance with the order of their master, Bali Maharaja, all the chiefs of the demons and the Daityas entered the lower regions of the universe, to which they were driven by the soldiers of Vishnu.

TRANSLATION

Thereafter, on the day of soma-pana, after the sacrifice was finished, Garuda, king of the birds, understanding the desire of his master, arrested Bali Maharaja with the ropes of Varuna.

PURPORT

Garuda, the constant companion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, knows the confidential part of the Lord's desire. Bali Maharaja's tolerance and devotion were undoubtedly super excellent. Garuda arrested Bali Maharaja to show the entire universe the greatness of the King's tolerance.

TRANSLATION

Because you have been unable to give charity according to your promise, the rule is that you should go down to live in the hellish planets. Therefore, in accordance with the order of Shukracharya, your spiritual master, now go down and live there.

PURPORT

It is said:

"DEVOTEES SOLELY ENGAGED IN THE DEVOTIONAL SERVICE OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, NARAYANA, NEVER FEAR ANY CONDITION OF LIFE. FOR THEM THE HEAVENLY PLANETS, LIBERATION AND THE HELLISH PLANETS ARE ALL THE SAME, FOR SUCH DEVOTEES ARE INTERESTED ONLY IN THE SERVICE OF THE LORD." (Bhag. 6.17.28) 

A DEVOTEE ENGAGED IN THE SERVICE OF NARAYANA IS ALWAYS IN EQUILIBRIUM. A DEVOTEE ACTUALLY LIVES TRANSCENDENTALLY. ALTHOUGH HE MAY APPEAR TO HAVE GONE TO HELL OR HEAVEN, HE DOES NOT LIVE IN EITHER PLACE; RATHER, HE ALWAYS LIVES IN VAIKUNTHHA (sa gunan samatityaitan brahma-bhüyaya kalpate). VAMANADEVA ASKED BALI MAHARAJA TO GO TO THE HELLISH PLANETS, APPARENTLY JUST TO SHOW THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE HOW TOLERANT HE WAS, AND BALI MAHARAJA DID NOT HESITATE TO CARRY OUT THE ORDER. A DEVOTEE DOES NOT LIVE ALONE. 

OF COURSE, EVERYONE LIVES WITH THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, BUT BECAUSE THE DEVOTEE IS ENGAGED IN HIS SERVICE, HE ACTUALLY DOES NOT LIVE IN ANY MATERIAL CONDITION. Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, kitha janma hao yatha tuya dasa. THUS HE PRAYS TO TAKE BIRTH AS AN INSIGNIFICANT INSECT IN THE ASSOCIATION OF DEVOTEES. BECAUSE DEVOTEES ARE ENGAGED IN THE SERVICE OF THE LORD, ANYONE WHO LIVES WITH THEM ALSO LIVES IN VAIKUNTHHA.

TRANSLATION

Being falsely proud of your possessions, you promised to give Me land, but you could not fulfill your promise. Therefore, because your promise was false, you must live for a few years in hellish life.

PURPORT

THE FALSE PRESTIGE OF THINKING "I AM VERY RICH, AND I POSSESS SUCH VAST PROPERTY" IS ANOTHER SIDE OF MATERIAL LIFE. EVERYTHING BELONGS TO THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, AND NO ONE ELSE POSSESSES ANYTHING. THIS IS THE REAL FACT. Ishavasyam idam samam yat kinca jagatyam jagat. Bali Maharaja was undoubtedly the most exalted devotee, whereas previously he had maintained a misunderstanding due to false prestige. 

BY THE SUPREME WILL OF THE LORD, HE NOW HAD TO GO TO THE HELLISH PLANETS, BUT BECAUSE HE WENT THERE BY THE ORDER OF THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, HE LIVED THERE MORE OPULENTLY THAN ONE COULD EXPECT TO LIVE IN THE PLANETS OF HEAVEN. A DEVOTEE ALWAYS LIVES WITH THE SUPREME PERSONALITY OF GODHEAD, ENGAGING IN HIS SERVICE, AND THEREFORE HE IS ALWAYS TRANSCENDENTAL TO HELLISH OR HEAVENLY RESIDENCES.

BHAGVAT HOW LORD MERELY IN 2 FOOT STEPS MEASURED AND COVERED HIS ENTIRE CREATION, 22nd July

BHAGVAT HOW LORD MERELY IN 2 FOOT STEPS MEASURED AND COVERED HIS ENTIRE CREATION 

TRANSLATION

These associates, headed by Sunanda and other chief associates and accompanied by all the predominating deities of the various planets, offered prayers to the Lord, who wore a brilliant helmet, bracelets, and glittering earrings that resembled fish. On the Lord's bosom were the lock of hair called Shrivatsa and the transcendental jewel named Kaustubha. 

He wore a yellow garment, covered by a belt, and He was decorated by a flower garland, surrounded by bees. Manifesting Himself in this way, O King, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose activities are wonderful, covered the entire surface of the earth with one footstep, the sky with His body, and all directions with His arms.

PURPORT

One might argue, "Since Bali Maharaja promised Vamanadeva only the land occupied by His steps, why did Lord Vamanadeva occupy the sky also?" In this regard, Shrila Jiva Gosvami says that the steps include everything, downward and upward. When one stands up, he certainly occupies certain parts of the sky and certain portions of the earth below his feet. Thus there was nothing uncommon for the Supreme Personality of Godhead when He occupied the entire sky with His body.

TRANSLATION

As the Lord took His second step, He covered the heavenly planets. And not even a spot remained for the third step, for the Lord's foot extended higher and higher, beyond Maharloka, Janaloka, Tapoloka and even Satyaloka.

PURPORT

When the Lord's footstep exceeded the height of all the lokas, including Maharloka, Janaloka, Tapoloka and Satyaloka, His nails certainly pierced the covering of the universe. The universe is covered by the five material elements (bhümir apo 'nalo vayum kham). As stated in the shastra, these elements are in layers, each ten times thicker than the previous one. 

NONETHELESS, THE NAILS OF THE LORD PIERCED THROUGH ALL THESE LAYERS AND MADE A HOLE PENETRATING INTO THE SPIRITUAL WORLD. FROM THIS HOLE, THE WATER OF THE GANGES INFILTRATED INTO THIS MATERIAL WORLD, AND THEREFORE IT IS SAID, PADA-NAKHA-NIRA JANITA JANA-PAVANA (DASHAVATARA-STOTRA 5). BECAUSE THE LORD KICKED A HOLE IN THE COVERING OF THE UNIVERSE, THE WATER OF THE GANGES CAME INTO THIS MATERIAL WORLD TO DELIVER ALL THE FALLEN SOULS.